By Ken Zino

Ah, the changing of the seasons. President Biden’s second trip to Pennsylvania this week resulted in not only the great photographic backdrop of Independence Hall, but it allowed a framing of the crisis that has come from seasons of Republican-created catastrophic political climate change. This is now approaching the second brutal winter troubling the soul of American democracy since Biden won the 2020 election. Indeed, Biden won the last election by using the same theme, but until Thursday night Biden had been remarkably restrained from using it. Biden announced his bid for the presidency in 2019 close to Independence Hall. This was a compelling sequel. 

President Biden -- after clearing his throat into a live microphone -- got straight to the point. Trump (Biden until now referred to him as the “former guy”) and additional so-called MAGA Republicans espouse destructive ideas casting doubt on election results, spreading conspiracy theories and attacking law enforcement and American institutions.

“Donald Trump and the MAGA Republicans represent an extremism that threatens the very foundations of our Republic,” Biden said. …they “are determined to take this country backward” … “advocating authoritarian leaders and they fan the flames of political violence.”

Key points for patriots: 

•“As I stand here tonight, equality and democracy are under assault,” Biden said. “We do ourselves no favor to pretend otherwise.”

•“Not every Republican, not even a majority of Republicans, are MAGA Republicans. Not every Republican embraces their extreme ideology,” Biden said. “But there’s no question that the Republican Party today is dominated, driven and intimidated by Donald Trump and the MAGA Republicans. And that is a threat to this country.”

•“MAGA forces are determined to take this country backwards.” 

•“Backwards to an America where there is no right to choose, no right to privacy, no right to contraception, no right to marry who you love.”

•“For a long time, we’ve reassured ourselves that American Democracy is guaranteed. But it is not. We have to defend it. Protect it. Stand up for it. Each and every one of us.”

Yes, I know that MAGA Republicans are clutching more than all the Mikimoto pearls extant would allow. Republicans brought Biden’s real moral outrage on themselves. They are unfit to hold office as we move on to an improving and optimistic American democratic experiment. 

Remember 1776, when 13 colonies embarked on a distinguished experiment in self-governance as an independent, autonomous nation because the course of human events made it necessary to separate ourselves from our unjust rulers. That was the foundation of something immense, and thus far, enduring. The colonies had but 2.5 million people at that time reporting English and other ancestry. Small numbers in today’s world, but they were people with far bigger aspirations, following far bigger ideas.

We the People were refugees or immigrants, lettered or illiterate who were fleeing or escaping religious and political persecution. Biggest of all was the idea that led to the Articles of Confederation, and the Constitution of the United States. These ideals embodied in our laws say we will work together to be free of despots and kings.

That’s why it’s called Independence Hall. Not Despot-Lago.