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Continuing the Dialogue SCOTUS Decision on Birthright Citizanehipo | Political Bullying |
Real Leadership Requires Action | |
 Published by The Galveston County Daily NewsPublished: August 12, 2026 | |||
| President Joe Biden received over 14 million primary votes in his 2024 reelection bid before dropping out of the race. He won every primary with the exception of American Samoa, securing nearly all of the nation's Democrat delegate votes. But Mr. Biden was forced to withdraw before the Democrat national convention was held. The same day Mr. Biden withdrew, July 21, 2024, Kamala Harris launched her campaign for the nomination. Why did Mr. Biden withdraw? Reports from that time say it was because of his disastrous debate performance against Donald Trump. But it goes deeper than that. Party leaders [Hillary Clinton, Nancy Pelosi, and Chuck Schumer to name a few] were putting pressure on him. It's clear the political "elites" didn't want Mr. Biden even though the voters apparently did. The money from donors started drying up as the "political bullies" increased pressure on him. What happened to the will of over 14 million Biden-voters? He still could have run, he had the delegate votes, and unless there were some shenanigans he would have become the Democrat nominee. But the national leadership of the party decided they couldn't win with him and so they pressured him until he was forced to withdraw. Decide for yourself whether this was this right and fair, but regardless, it was bullying by powerful Democrat elites that forced their will upon Mr. Biden and his 14 million supporters. Fast forward to 2026 in the State of Maine where Graham Platner received 71.9% of the votes (154,058) in the Senate Democrat primary. After sexual assault allegations came to light, Democrat leaders called for Platner to step down and put on pressure to dry up his campaign funding sources. Once again, the will of Platner's voters was circumvented by Democrat elites and the candidate was bullied into stepping down. Some years ago, a Republican Congressional incumbent felt so threatened by a challenger -- one known by those close to him as person exemplifying integrity -- that this incumbent turned to bullying. In an effort to force the challenger from the race he threatened to spread rumors of sexual harassment. The purported rumor was eventually passed at polling places, ear-to-ear, and by the incumbent's campaign and family. At the challenger's request the rumor was investigated by a local newspaper and found to be baseless. Sadly, that didn't stop incumbent nor the rumors and showed a lack of integrity -- a character quality sadly lacking in the halls of Congress. It also exposed the representative as a bully while undercutting those instances where sexual harassment actually exists. Lessons: - First, truth is important. - Second, bullies don't like it when they are stood up to. - Third, if you make a mistake, take ownership of it like President John F. Kennedy did with the ill-fated Bay of Pigs invasion. And, - Fourth, if you are in the right, stick to your guns; standing up for truth. Actions: - Don't vote for bullies. - Don't vote for those they put in positions of power. And, - Pray for our nation |
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About the Authors/Columnists 2026 Bill and Mark have written over 300 guest columns and editorials together over the last ten years for numerous publications across the country and they continue to do so. Bill lives in Texas and Mark in Idaho. Both gentlemen ran against each other in the 2012 Republican Primary for Texas Congressional District 14. Since then they have become close friends and colleagues | |||
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