16 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY July 4-10, 2024 www.montereycountynow.com suppress unfavorable stories—news that may have upended his first run for president had the public known he was an adulterer and liar. While some find Trump strong, even charismatic and charming, we do not—he is a threat to our society’s government and is unfit to lead. We are not knocking Biden for his age, 81. (Trump is 78.) With age and experience comes wisdom. But Biden was muddled, sometimes incoherent. He did not exude presidential capability. And to win against Trump, it will require someone who is strong, clear and ready for the most difficult job in a difficult time. What happens next is up to Biden. When delegates vote at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in August, it’s typically mostly ceremonial. Eleven delegates representing Monterey County’s two congressional districts (18 and 19) will be there, all pledged to Biden. They will join 3,937 pledged delegates from all over the country at the convention. If Biden were to drop out, pledged delegates could vote for any candidate they choose, in an open convention. An open convention would be wild. Kamala Harris is even less popular than Biden in polling, and he may hand over his delegates to her. But it could give the next generation of Democrats—with their own strengths and weaknesses, their own ideas and leadership styles—a chance to compete on a national stage. With Election Day on Nov. 5, it would still give voters plenty of time to fairly compare the choices, and for another debate. It’s a time for country first, over party. The Republicans have doubled down on Trump; that doesn’t mean the Democrats should follow suit and go party first. We expect more from our elected leaders. We urge our highest-level elected Democrats representing Monterey County, congressional representatives Zoe Lofgren, D-San Jose, and Jimmy Panetta, D-Carmel Valley, to urge Biden to step aside, to put country over personal ambition. If our elected leaders are not willing to do so, we need new leaders—it is only fair to expect boldness and a willingness to step outside of the party lines when duty to country first demands it. The party line remains: We support Biden unless and until he decides to back out. “As of now, the California Democratic Committee is with Biden, and we are subordinate to that,” says Karen Araujo, chair of the Monterey County Democratic Central Committee. “The president is a decent and good man, a true public servant, and has a proven record of passing historic legislation during his presidential term,” Panetta says. “Since he has already won the Democratic primary, only the president can choose to stand aside.” Biden may be listening to Democratic leaders, but he needs to listen to voters. The message from voters is clear: We need and deserve a president who can win, and more importantly, who can persuasively lead. “Whether our president had a flawless 90-minute debate or not, we are committed to magnifying the Democratic Party values,” Araujo says. “Everything Biden is promising to do, we are behind 100 percent, and almost every policy shared by the other candidate, we oppose. That has not always been the case between the Democratic and Republican parties, but that’s the way it is now.” It’s that wide gulf that makes it important for the Democrats to get a stronger candidate; the same goes for the Republicans, too. We don’t believe Biden will beat Trump. There’s too much at risk to let that happen. As Claudius says about Hamlet in Shakespeare’s great tragedy: “Madness in great ones must not unwatched be so.” The Weekly’s editorial board comprises Founder & CEO Bradley Zeve, Publisher Erik Cushman and Editor Sara Rubin. OPINION It’s a time for country first, over party. EDITORIAL continued from page 15 EDITORIAL Open Tue-Sun 11am-9pm and Mon 4-9pm Or order to-go,and take it home 2149 N. 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