Death of an Office

President Joe Biden must be an even bigger threat to Republican presidential contenders than conservatives are letting on, as the latest strategy seems to anoint killers as heroes. Remember when Kyle Rittenhouse killed two people during a Black Lives Matter protest against police brutality? Notice how right-wing media and leading conservative voices came out in support of Rittenhouse calling him a “hero” for killing two people while carrying a weapon in the middle of a protest? Rittenhouse was portrayed as the “victim” even though he was armed with a heavy police presence at the protest, somehow two people died. Why should an individual with a weapon clearly seen be allowed to walk around a volatile situation when that individual is not trained to be in such a situation? That question wasn’t answered by right-wing media. The incident happened before the 2020 presidential election, as the talk was about the right to bear arms(as always) for one to “protect” him/herself, the old stand-your-ground argument to shoot/kill even if the other person is(Trayvon Martin) unarmed. Rittenhouse, like George Zimmerman who was acquitted of killing Trayvon Martin, was also acquitted of killing those two protesters, which elevated him to stardom among conservatives on media networks like Fox. The latest individual that is receiving the same kind of star or hero treatment is Daniel Penny. Penny, you might recall, is the New York subway passenger who killed Jordan Neely, a homeless Black man in a chokehold earlier in May. Police/media reports say that Neely was acting “erratically” and that he “agitated” some passengers asking for food, he did not touch anyone, nor was he armed. Even with that, Penny, a former Marine, decided that he “had to” act. Penny approached Neely from behind, placing him in a chokehold, and allegedly didn’t let go until Neely breathed his last breath. Penny was charged with manslaughter which riled up many conservatives including some who are running for president. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis called Penny a “Good Samaritan”, throwing a religious tone to voters who vote for Republicans in elections whether religion has anything to do with the issues. Obviously, the governor hasn’t read or learned anything from the Bible. DeSantis has company, as Nikki Haley who wants to be the next Sarah Palin, said that New York’s Gov. Kathy Hochul should, get this, “pardon” Penny whether he goes to trial or not. Then there is Donald Trump, who swoops in(like on the tape), saying that Penny and the passengers “were in great” danger, though the facts do not support their assertions. As of now, a fundraiser for Penny’s defense has raised over $2.6 million dollars. The issue of race surfaced once again as Penny who is white is out on bond after having killed a Black man, as Blacks are convinced that if the situation was different, a Black man would still be in jail. Penny was quoted as saying, “It’s a little bit comical”, as he loves all people, all cultures, and that he is not a white supremacist. Penny then said that what happened to Neely “was tragic”, hoping that we can change the system that failed us because he did what “he thought was right”. Is Penny saying that “the system” is the reason why Neely is dead, even though it was his hands around Neely’s neck? DeSantis, Haley, and Trump won’t touch that with a ten-foot pole. They know that neither can tip their hand on how they will attack President Biden just yet. DeSantis has his problems with Disney, as the corporation has shown DeSantis that the state of Florida does not have all of the best lawyers that money can buy. Trump will play DeSantis like a fiddle on that issue. Nikki Haley will need strong women’s support, but she has to get by Marjorie Taylor-Greene first who is all for Trump. The rest like Sen. Tim Scott is a long shot at best because Democrats are not ready for a “Black Barack Obama” who sounds like Trump or any other conservative contender. The office of the president of the United States meant something at one time when great, principled men sat in the White House. Abraham Lincoln, Barack Obama, and Jimmy Carter, no scandal among them, led in troubled times. This nation is dying a slow death. But as we see now that even the death of the least among us, will not stop some from using that death to promote themselves to that office. Remember, the world is watching. So is God.