Kamala Harris
Kamala Harris

President Joe Biden’s patriotic decision to abandon his re-election campaign removes a terrible weight from the shoulders of the US.

There was a collective sigh of relief across the land on July 21 after the 81-year-old president acted his age, and passed the torch to his vice president.

The Democrats now have at least a fighting chance to remain in the White House with Kamala Harris on top of the ticket.

Their long-shot prospects of maintaining control of the Senate have improved, while the road to retake the House remains wide open.

But more importantly, Harris injects life and enthusiasm into the Democratic bid.

That’s in sharp contrast to the Biden campaign, which was slow-walking zombie-like right off the cliff. Doom was assured.

The president’s historic decision won kudos from former VP Mike Pence, who thanked him for “putting the interests of our nation ahead of his own.”

In the aftermath of the attempted assassination of Donald Trump and Biden’s stepping down, Pence believes “it’s time for leaders in both parties to project calm and send a message of strength and resolve to America’s friends and enemies alike,” according to his June 22 post on the X platform. Nice thought, but it ain't going to happen.

In contrast to Pence’s show of class, Trump posted on Truth Social: “Crooked Joe Biden was not fit to run for President, and is certainly not fit to serve—And never was! He only attained the position of President by lies, Fake News, and not leaving his Basement. All those around him, including his Doctor and the Media, knew that he wasn’t capable of being President, and he wasn’t—And now, look what he’s done to our Country.”

Speaking of Biden’s Doctor, the nation deserves to find out whether Trump suffered brain trauma following the horrific attempt on his life. The former president had a CT scan at Butler Memorial Hospital following the attempted assassination but the results have not been released.

His post on Truth Social leads one to question Trump’s mental well-being.

Deere & Co. plows over DEI initiatives…. The $62M farm machinery maker has revised its diversity practices and will “no longer participate in or support external social or cultural awareness parades, festivals, or events,” according to its July 26 statement.

The Moline-based company will focus its outreach efforts in the areas of professional development, networking, mentoring and supporting talent recruitment efforts. It will audit all policies to ensure the absence of socially motivated messages, while being in compliance with federal, state, and local laws.

Deere reaffirms its position that diversity quotas and pronoun identification have never been and are not company policy.

The moves follow claims by conservative activist Ronny Starbuck that Deere sponsored a pride event of children as young as three, asked employees to provide their preferred pronouns, and participated in the United Way’s “United for Equity.”

The DEI takedown comes on the heels of $14B Tractor Supply Co.’s June statement that it would eliminate DEI roles and goals, no longer submit data to the Human Rights Campaign, and further focus on rural America’s priorities.

Those heartland priorities apparently include ending sponsorship of nonbusiness activities like pride festivals and voting campaigns.

Brentwood-TN-based Tractor Supply operates more than 2,200 stores in 49 states and generated $14.6B revenues in 2023.

The company says its goal is “Serving Life Out Here.” Tractor Supply may be in for a surprise when it finds out that there are gay people living out there.