For Kamala Harris, the hot election campaign phase is now beginning, while US President Joe Biden is going on vacation. And who will take care of government business in the meantime?
Anyone who has ever spent a few days at a festival, perhaps at Rock am Ring or Wacken, knows the feeling when they come home: exhausted but inspired, ringing in the ears but contentment in the stomach. Kamala Harris is probably feeling something similar right now – after the euphoric non-stop party in Chicago. Where the Democratic Party celebrated itself, and the new presidential candidate, and her vice president, known as Coach, and all the ex-presidents, and generally the resurrection from the valley of tears.
Kamala Harris: Full speed ahead into the election campaign
“Yes, she came” is now the triumphant slogan of the Democratic campaigners – a slogan symbiosis of Barack Obama’s “Yes, we can” and the first name of the Vice President. Even Joe Biden, who is still head of state and the original candidate, was allowed to receive applause at the party convention, only to then immediately jet off to California for vacation. In summary: The President is relaxing, the Vice President is campaigning – and who is running the country at that moment?
“Joe Biden is not a lame duck. He is not even a duck. He is the legitimate president, but certainly not the de facto president,” writes right-wing US blogger Jordan Schachtel, concerned and indignant. In fact, Schachtel continues, Biden has all but disappeared after his withdrawal from the presidential race: “You hardly see or hear him these days.”
Some believe in the Deep State
Even if the question of who is running the country is legitimate, in some circles it has a clear conspiracy undertone. Many American right-wingers are convinced that it is not the elected representatives who determine the fate of the country, but dubious powers in the background: opaque state apparatuses, billionaire major donors, foreign forces – the infamous “deep state”. There is no evidence or even proof of a state within a state, but that does not stop many Americans from believing in it.
The question remains as to who will govern the USA when the two heads of state are on vacation and/or campaigning. The answer is relatively simple: Both Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are briefed every day and are in constant contact with their team in the White House. Vacation at this political level means only three or four hours of work instead of 13 or 14. In addition, all the relevant staff are occupied in faraway Washington, but there is one thing that is neglected during the vacation period: legislation.
No government failure due to election campaign this year
Biden says he wants to resume his work after the summer break. “I will finish the job,” from the presidential races. There is no need to fear a government shutdown due to the election campaign. Especially not in this election. Because unlike US presidents who have both run for office and served in office (i.e. all of Biden’s predecessors who served a second term), the 81-year-old does not have to bear the double burden of reigning and campaigning. For the vast majority of Americans, this is good news.
Sources: DPA, Reuters, RollCall.com, NY1.com
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
