Harris/Duckworth '24

It's Time

(WARNING: Rank political punditry ahead. Remember: we welcome all voices who are affected by war, not just the voices who agree with us politically)

We come from different political traditions.

Kate was raised in a nonpolitical, conservative-leaning family. She’s fond of telling people that her childhood exposure to ethics and politics was limited to her beloved Calvin and Hobbes books. As an adult, she’s a registered Independent with liberal-leaning views—a beautiful enigma, if you will.

Will’s political path is a bit more direct: he’s a John McCain Republican. Somehow, that became out of vogue in the Republican Party, so he left in 2016 and has remained Never-Trump ever since. Will grew up on The Weekly Standard, National Review, and The New Republic—occasionally, he’d throw in something from The Nation. He grew up on George Will, Anne Applebaum, Cathy Young, Bill Kristol, Charles Krauthammer, and Kevin Williamson. As he is fond of saying on X, “Say it loud—I’m neocon and proud.”

As an adult, it wasn’t foretold that Kate would develop her political voice.  She has spent ten years as a civil servant in the realm of veterans law, and while the Department of Veterans Affairs is certainly touched by the changing administrations, it isn’t necessarily shaped by it. In contrast, Will served under four administrations and remained engaged with his political leanings despite the obvious limitations on servicemembers’ capacity to speak freely on these topics.  But, he was embarrassed by President Trump’s boorish behavior in the international arena, especially watching January 6 unfold while deployed to Afghanistan. 

And this is where our paths converged: in the mutual shame of watching President Biden’s despicable retreat from Afghanistan and subsequent refusal to engage with the nation or Afghanistan’s veterans in any meaningful way. Every week, President Biden’s administration heaps on more helpings of moral injury by playing around with terrorists like Sirajuddin Haqqani, accomplishing little more than escalating our national threat profile.

To make matters worse, President Biden dishonored scores of Afghan combat veterans with these horrendous comments made during the recent debate:

The truth is, I'm the only president this century that doesn't have any-this decade-any troops dying anywhere in the world like he did. 

Does President Biden honestly believe this? He lost 13 at Abbey Gate and also 3 in Jordan. We’ll likely never know the true number of Afghan military allies murdered by the Taliban while we suffer the indignity of hearing Biden blame our allies for his misdeeds. Sure, Biden is not solely responsible for Afghanistan, but he pretends like he did the world a favor instead of creating a terror state.

While we come from different political traditions, we do agree on this election: We will hold our noses and vote for President Biden if necessary. 

But let’s be honest here: it shouldn’t come to that. If he genuinely cares about the future of this country and hopes to repair his legacy as a patriot, President Biden should immediately withdraw from the race.  He is not only incapable of leading this country for four more years but barely seems up to the task right now. Physically and mentally, he seemed weak and uncertain, and the masses saw it unfold in real time.  This is a true standstill moment in our nation’s history, where neither option is desirable.

And here’s where we go big: it’s time for Kamala Harris. (There’s something Will never thought he’d type.) We’re both aware of her sometimes humorous speaking moments and her unease at making risky political decisions. Nevertheless, she’s more than capable and competent to take on a man who was found civilly liable for rape, is a convicted felon, and tried to overthrow the government.

Many will roll their eyes at this argument. “Her?” Yes. Vice President Kamala Harris, the former Senator from California and its Attorney General. She has more than enough chops to handle the job. While we both wouldn’t love all of her policies (especially Will), she possesses the strength and experience to handle Trump better. Just contrast her recent responses to President Biden’s. 

It would be nice to have an open convention where everyone gets a chance at the crown. However, given the limited time remaining, that seems unlikely. Ideally, Biden would’ve moved on after 2022, allowing a younger generation a chance to compete. That younger generation–Amy Klobuchar, Mayor Pete, etc.--stepped aside for President Biden in 2020 so he could defeat Bernie Sanders. It’s time for President Biden to return the favor. 

Since we’re in West Wing territory, we have some additional thoughts for you. First, lean into the Democratic Party’s future: pick another woman of color. Why the hell not? Make it a contrast. Sure, Trump is going to pummel them for being woke, etc., but it won’t matter if Dems nominate the right person.

We have a suggestion: Senator Tammy Duckworth from Illinois. Senator Duckworth is an American hero. Born in Bangkok (hello, attracting allies versus China), Duckworth was getting her PhD when she deployed to Iraq in 2004. She became a double amputee after the UH-60 helicopter she piloted crashed after being attacked by insurgents utilizing rocket-propelled grenades. Last year, she even took the time to meet with Kate and several of our Afghan allies, listening to their stories with a genuine interest and desire to help. She’s capable AND she cares.

Please read this Stars and Stipes article—and then come back.

Who’s going to challenge her patriotism? Let them try it. The Democrats need someone who can protect their national security flank. They’re going to get pilloried—they already are—for Biden’s abysmal Afghanistan record. Why not pick someone who can help shore that up while also providing VP Harris some much-needed national security bonafides?

Harris/Duckworth 2024: It’s time.

It’s time for something different. It’s time to finally say, “I’m with her.” It’s time for a new generation of Americans to challenge the status quo while maintaining the principles that made this country great. 

We like the sound of that.

We’re not picky. There’s a case to be made for countless Democratic politicians, ranging from Wes Moore to Gretchen Whitmore to Gavin Newsom (Will’s least favorite option). We’re sure that they all make sense for the Democratic coalition in one way or another. However, seeing Harris and Duckworth accepting the nomination would send a powerful message to the country.

And what is that message? It should sound familiar to pre-Trump conservatives: we’re a diverse coalition standing athwart history (i.e., maintaining our position), yelling STOP. We’re a diverse coalition that can set aside their differences—as we do here at GCV+F every day—to focus on preserving the integrity of our nation and the liberal international order that our grandparents fought for on the beaches of Normandy and Iwo Jima. Let’s honor their sacrifices and those of generations to come by selecting a Democratic ticket with even a slight chance of success and the subsequent ability to, in fact, lead a nation.

Harris/Duckworth 2024: It’s time.