Credit Where It's Due

During their speeches Saturday night, Kamala Harris and Joe Biden made a point of thanking their families, forbears, campaign workers, volunteers, the nation’s diligent election officials, and of course the pro forma reference to divine providence. Most of that gratitude was deserved. But I found it odd that there was no mention of the one person who, more than any other of the 7.8 billion humans on Earth, was chiefly responsible for the two of them standing on that stage in Wilmington, Delaware.

––––

I have brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, uncles and cousins, of every race and every hue, scattered across three continents, and for as long as I live, I will never forget that in no other country on earth is my story even possible.

— Barack Hussein Obama (1961-  ), 44th US president, then a senator, speaking at Philadelphia’s National Constitution Center, 2008 Mar. 18

120 Years Ago

 On the Supreme Court: “No matther whether th’ constitution follows th’ flag or not, th’ supreme coort follows th’ illiction returs.”

 —Mr. Dooley (actually Finley Peter Dunne), 1900

This Way to the Egress

 Photojournalism at its finest ...

Gutcheck

 A situation of national significance arises. It lands on the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office. What is the president’s initial reaction?

 • George H. W. Bush: “What is the decent thing to do?”

 • Bill Clinton: “What is the friendly thing to do?”

 • George W. Bush: “What is the expedient thing to do?”

 • Barack Obama: “What is the right thing to do?”

 • Donald Trump: “What is the profitable thing to do?”