In the end, it may not be any of the male-dominated democratic institutions that preserve American democracy in our time. Not an aged sitting president, a corrupted Supreme Court, an untimely and meek Justice Department with its fierce “special prosecutor,” the national security apparatus, the Joint Chiefs and their military generals, and certainly not a dysfunctional and a bit too comfortably handcuffed Congress. 

The testosterone and noise injected by all these protagonists has proved feckless and allowed a convicted sexual abuser, felon, fraudster, tax cheat and liar with a cult following and questionable national loyalty issues to become the leading candidate for president in 2024. But, without question long overlooked, there is a sleeping female “bear” in our midst that needs awakening.

Joe Biden’s four years of accomplishments as president are not and never have been the issue.  There is one issue: Biden’s infirmity. Early on, the right imagined and promoted it and now, in front of 90 million Americans, Biden has realized it. Famously, “we cannot unsee what we have seen.” (Corinthians, NY Times, etc.) And, surely, Joe Biden will not get younger in the months and years ahead. 

Joe Biden has always been an honorable public servant. In this presidential race of 2024, I believe, Biden should pass the torch to a ticket of Kamala Harris and either Illinois Sen. Tammy Duckworth or Michigan Gov. Gretchen Witmer. Either of these powerhouse tickets would be truly transformative and allow the Democrats to embrace a change that is long overdue in this country. These courageous women would be an antidote to the misogynistic Republican candidate and the threat he is to American democracy.

Democrats should unleash the power of women voters with unquestioned unity behind an appropriate team of enlightened and talented women. While president, Trumpf did very bad things to the U.S. and the world, but his attack on the rights and health care of women stands out and borders on criminal. Who better than women to reclaim and bolster those human rights? 

The Democrats must see this time not with alarm, but as an opportunity to right many wrongs and banish the wanna-be authoritarian and the abundance of wide-eyed enablers that used to be the conservative and respectable GOP.

John Pace lives in Honesdale, PA