Demonstrations, Democrats, and New Wars

Newport, Oregon, June 14, 2025. No Kings Demonstration

On June 14th, I attended the “No Kings” demonstration in Newport. It was deeply gratifying to see so many members of our community show up — nearly 1,000 people strong. I was especially impressed by the creativity and passion reflected in the signs people carried. They addressed nearly every major issue that has emerged in the 100+ days since Trump returned to office: veterans’ concerns, the tax bill, tariffs, immigration, cuts to DOGE, civil rights, healthcare, education, attacks on higher education and research, the politicization of the Department of Justice, and the wars in Gaza, Iran, Yemen, Lebanon, and Ukraine, etc.

Polling consistently shows that the American people disapprove of how Trump has handled these issues. Yet, the GOP continues to rubber-stamp nearly everything he demands — despite clear public opposition. That’s not democracy; it’s the behavior of kings and dictators, where the will of the people is ignored.

 When Biden took office, he acted swiftly despite the chaos of Trump’s insurrection and sabotage of the transition. He tackled the COVID crisis head-on, provided aid to those affected, passed a long-overdue and historic infrastructure bill, and guided the economy to a soft landing. He revitalized NATO, stood firmly against Russian aggression in Ukraine, and supported expanding the alliance to include Sweden and Finland. Biden governed competently to the end.

His decision to step aside was well-timed. It prevented a bitter nomination battle and gave Kamala Harris time to unify the party ahead of the convention. Harris rose to the moment with energy, poise, and clarity. She built a broad coalition, from Bernie Sanders and AOC to Liz Cheney, raised record-breaking funds, and campaigned vigorously, especially in swing states. I saw no complacency from her.

Her first major decision — the selection of her running mate — was excellent. Of all the potential candidates, Tim Walz was the only one who carried his home state. Harris spoke directly and honestly about real problems and offered real solutions. Meanwhile, Trump peddled lies, hatred, conspiracy theories, and empty promises.

I will never understand how so many Americans voted for a convicted felon, a proven fraudster, a serial liar, a sexual predator, and an insurrectionist over a serious, capable leader like Kamala Harris. In the end, Trump’s margin of victory was just 1.5%. Polls showed that high-information voters backed Harris decisively. It was low-information voters — people unaware of the facts — who fell for Trump’s theatrics and deceit. Even some of his staunchest supporters now admit that what is happening in America is not what they voted for.

Yet, some Democrats are still wringing their hands, asking what the party did wrong. Most of the discussion focuses on “messaging” — whether Democrats should simplify their focus to one or two issues or challenge Trump across the board. But this isn’t a real dilemma. Democrats must speak out against every injustice, while also crafting an overarching narrative that ties them all together. Biden and Harris had a strong record, a clear message, and an effective messenger. If improving “messaging” means stooping to Trump’s level — abandoning truth for fantasy — then count me out. Stick to the truth.

Democrats need to stop blaming themselves. If you’re looking for someone to blame, blame Trump and the GOP — and the small percentage of uninformed voters who handed him the presidency. The American electorate made a terrible mistake. As the ancient knight in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade said, they “chose poorly.”

Now, we are in a war with Iran. When Israel began bombing Iranian nuclear sites, they crossed a dangerous line. This wasn’t just a military strike — it risked triggering a nuclear disaster. After 9/11, there was intense concern about terrorists using “dirty bombs” — conventional explosives laced with radioactive material—the choice of terrorists. Bombing an active nuclear research facility could cause exactly that.

And now Trump, again ignoring the will of the people,  has dragged the U.S. into this catastrophe.

Democrats — and anyone who cares about truth, justice, and basic human decency — must come together in a united front. We have a lot of damage to repair, and the next election is our chance to start.