Howey: Our American Shakespearean drama

INDIANAPOLIS — A Shakespearean tragedy is characterized by death and disaster, involving characters of high societal status: Prince Hamlet, King Lear, Julius Caesar, Lord Macbeth.

Macbeth lamented in Act IV, Scene III:

"I think our country sinks beneath the yoke;

It weeps, it bleeds; and each new day a gash

is added to her wounds"

Americans are now witnessing a Shakespearean drama with November's presidential race. But the historic anomaly is that it will be you, dear voter/citizen, who will write its final chapters.

This drama began as the Joe Biden vs. Donald Trump rematch from their 2020 showdown began evolving. The Democrat won by more than 7 million votes, and an Electoral College victory of 306 to 232 over President Trump. While the three-time Republican nominee is still saying that election was "rigged" and "stolen," he lost more than 60 court cases challenging the results. His own administration (including Attorney General Bill Barr) characterized it as a fair, accurate election. Republicans like Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger vouched for the results.

President Trump, in an attempt to remain in power despite losing the election, unleashed a mob on Jan. 6, 2021 that ransacked the U.S. Capitol, erecting gallows while they chanted, "Hang Mike Pence!" It was a coup d'etat attempt, Donald Trump-style, designed to thwart certifying the election.

In this year's drama, Act I found a decrepit 81-year-old President Biden believing that only he could vanquish Trump a second time. This reached a crescendo during the June 27 debate with Trump when Biden's ghostly pallor and halting delivery created a political disaster and impending doom at the ballot box. This political damage coming despite some 30 lies and misstatements uttered by Trump.

Act II was the assassination attempt against Trump in Pennsylvania. He recounted it at last week's Republican National Convention: "There was blood pouring everywhere, and yet in a certain way I felt very safe because I had God on my side." When Trump and legions of Republicans left the Milwaukee convention hall, they were convinced that a divinely-inspired victory was just four months in the offing, and it still may be.

Act III occurred at 1:46 p.m. last Sunday, when President Biden became the latest American Cincinnatus, the Roman statesman who voluntarily unsheathed his sword and gave up power. Biden joined Presidents George Washington in 1796 and Lyndon B. Johnson in 1968 in relinquishing power. "While it has been my intention to seek reelection, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and to focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term,” Biden said.

“Everyone was stunned by the news," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who as mayor of South Bend ran against Biden for in the 2020 Democratic primary. "It’s really important to note just how world-historically rare it is for the most powerful person in the world to set aside that power. That’s only happened a handful of times.”

Act III, Scene II came 20 minutes later in a second bombshell: “My very first decision as the party nominee in 2020 was to pick Kamala Harris as my vice president, and it's been the best decision I've made. Today I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year. Democrats — it’s time to come together and beat Trump.”

Thus, after the Republican National Convention had ended with U.S. Sen. JD Vance on the Trump ticket, after Sunday talk shows concluded, Joe Biden completely scrambled the story line. Trump and the GOP had been lambasting Biden by name, as well as his age and physical condition. By mid-Sunday, it was now Trump who seemed elderly and incoherent during his speeches and rallies. And Biden, while relieving the Democratic Party of his infirmities, completely out-maneuvered party henchmen seeking a truncated, open convention.

Biden passed the torch to a new generation, but he did it on his terms, at a time of his choosing.

Act IV found Vice President Harris quickly consolidating the Democratic nomination that will take place virtually on Aug. 10, less than two weeks before the DNC gathers in Chicago.

And Act VI?

In an Oval Office address Wednesday night, Biden drew up the new skirmish lines: “I revere this office, but I love my country more. It’s been the honor of my life to serve as your president. But in the defense of democracy, which is at stake, I think it’s more important than any title. This sacred task of perfecting our union is not about me. It’s about you, your families, your futures.  It’s about we the people. Nothing — nothing — can come in the way of saving our democracy. That includes personal ambition.

"America is an idea — an idea stronger than any ocean, more powerful than any dictator or tyrant," Biden said in a remark aimed at Trump saying he would be a strongman only on "day one" if he is elected.  "I have decided the best way forward is to pass the torch to a new generation," Biden continued. "That is the best way to unite our nation.

"Our republic is now in your hands."

That will be Act VII, determined by you.

Howey is a senior writer and columnist for State Affairs/Howey Politics Indiana. Follow him on X @hwypol.

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Howey: Our American Shakespearean drama