The Right Track: Happy 4th of July 🎆

Good morning and Happy Independence Day to all!

Thanks for taking a minute to read this before you start grilling hot dogs and watching fireworks . I’ll be celebrating Texas-style, which means: Barbecue beef brisket, homemade margaritas with Texas tequila and fireworks on the lake after a day of boating. (We need to beat the heat, somehow!) How are you celebrating July 4th? I’d love to hear at nrussell@gannett.com .

During last week’s awful debate , where it became clear Democrats have been gaslighting Americans for months about President Joe Biden’s cognitive decline, I began to worry a bit. Usually, I love a good election cycle – it’s just such an American idea, choosing your leader every four years. But what about when the two main candidates are duds, or worse? (Frankly, “duds” is putting it nicely.) What about when the two people who are competing to lead this country are incompetent, incoherent, hypocrites?

Well, this week I wrote about how I still love America , even when I don’t like the guys running for president and think the election year will be a real slog. America isn’t just a place; it’s an idea. And for all her flaws – and there’s plenty we need to improve, including health care and deficit spending – I still think America has turned out to be an amazing experiment. Because of our form of government, coupled with our free market, America has the world’s largest economy and a robust military, and American citizens are among the most generous people in the world.

I love America , even when this election is stupid. What about you?

Joe Biden's debate aftermath is brutal

Speaking of debates, I couldn’t let this newsletter go by without mentioning it. Last week, I told you I was dreading it . Not to toot my own horn, but my predictions turned out to be spot-on . In fact, the debate may have been even worse than I predicted. The first 10 minutes were brutal, and it didn’t get much better as time went on. It became clear to the millions of Americans watching that President Biden is seriously struggling with mental and physical health. I feel bad for him, in a way.

However, running for president is the most important job in America. I wrote this week about how the Democratic Party and Biden’s inner circle had to have known his cognitive ability had deteriorated and thrust him into the spotlight anyway. They knew he was struggling to string sentences together and walk without help, and they still thought no one would notice? Democrats gaslighted Americans about Biden’s condition , and they need to be held accountable.

On Sunday, I’ll have a follow-up column that poses several vital questions for the Democratic Party. Questions they must answer about Biden’s health. Americans deserve it.

My colleague, Ingrid Jacques, wasn’t impressed with Biden’s performance at the debate and wrote just after it that he clearly has no business running for president. This week, she asks about Jill Biden’s role . The first lady had to have known about Biden’s poor condition. Yet, she is also insisting he’s the best man for the job. Ingrid makes some great points.

Here's what else my colleagues and I are writing about:

• Why this aging millennial still loves America, even if Gen Z doesn't get it
• Republicans deserve the version of Trump we saw during the debate. Too bad it won't last.
• Courts keep telling Biden his student loan scam is illegal. Will it stop him? Nah!
• I need the liberal Supreme Court justices to stop overreacting in their dissents.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: The Right Track: Happy 4th of July 🎆