Letter to the editor: Smoke and mirrors

OPINION:

Like the contrived “joy” at the Democratic National Convention, the recent Reuters/Ipsos poll claiming that Vice President Kamala Harris has a 4 percentage-point lead over former President Donald Trump and that Democratic voters are more energized about voting for Ms. Harris than they were about President Biden is a case of smoke and mirrors.

The reality is that the Democrats are deeply fractured. Millions realize that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is correct in saying the party no longer embraces the values that made him a lifelong Democrat. There are also millions who support the “woke” socialist platform of Ms. Harris. At the same time, polls have consistently shown that more than half the Democrats believe the U.S. is headed in the wrong direction.

Democratic insiders are cringing at Ms. Harris’ CNN interview performance during which, in between telling outright lies, she claimed her values had not changed, only her political positions had. These insiders realize their undemocratically installed candidate is no match for Mr. Trump. 

We should not be surprised if they reverse that decision and replace Ms. Harris with a more acceptable candidate — probably Michelle Obama. To make that switch, Ms. Harris will be given the consolation prize of becoming acting president after Mr. Biden either resigns voluntarily or is removed by the 25th Amendment.

The 2024 presidential election has become a contest between “We, the People” and the unelected oligarchy that has usurped power for decades.

DUNCAN DU BOIS

Durban, South Africa