By John Q. Hosedrinker 
In a recent interview, Pete Buttigieg addressed Kamala Harris’s criticism of President Biden’s re-election bid. Harris’s upcoming book excerpt reportedly calls Biden’s decision “reckless.” Buttigieg responded, indicating the president “should not have run.”
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Pete Buttigieg’s recent comments, suggesting that Joe Biden “should not have run,” are certainly generating a lot of buzz, aren’t they? It’s as if everyone is collectively saying, “Well, no kidding!” given the backdrop of Kamala Harris’s past assessment of Biden’s bid as “reckless.” It’s the kind of observation that lands with a resounding echo of “hindsight is 20/20”. It’s like watching a movie and shouting at the screen, “Don’t go in there!” after the monster is already revealed.
The timing of these pronouncements feels… a little off, to say the least. The sentiment from many seems to be that these are belated acknowledgements. It brings up a sense of “where were you when it mattered?” Why wasn’t this the sentiment when he was actively serving as a Cabinet member, with a chance to offer real influence on the situation? It feels like those earlier opportunities were missed. The question seems to be: why now? Is it the benefit of the rearview mirror?
There’s a clear sense of exasperation surrounding the situation. The general feeling is a frustrated mix of “we know” and “what now?” The focus is shifting to the critical need to address current pressing matters. People seem to feel that this is a distraction from the real and urgent issues. Instead, the emphasis is on combating what many perceive as a drift toward authoritarianism.
The responses appear to reflect a common frustration. Many feel that this isn’t new information. It’s old news. The key takeaway is what to do now to stop the forces that threaten democracy. The consensus seems to be that the focus needs to be on forward-thinking strategies and concrete actions. The focus should be on planning, executing, and ensuring that Trump and his movement do not have a path to returning to power.
The underlying sentiment among many seems to be that Biden’s decision to run was a misstep. It’s a view that seems widely held. There’s a palpable sense that this was known. But instead of reflecting on the past, the need is to unite and craft a vision to restore faith in American democracy. And, of course, implement laws that prevent certain actions from being repeated.
The whole situation underscores a deep-seated frustration with the pace and direction of the current political climate. The feeling is that the Democratic Party needs to move forward with concrete actions. It must prioritize the issues that matter most to voters and actively fight to counter the actions of those that would threaten the fabric of our society. The past is the past. Now what?