EDITORIAL
BY DHIREN SHAH
Hello Readers,
The Fourth of July is a happy occasion for all of us. Originally, there was a ban on selling or using fireworks, except on July 4th. In 2017, they made the law legalizing ground fireworks like hand-held sparklers, smoke devices and party poppers. Is allowing fireworks in New Jersey a good idea? I asked a few people; some say children and some adults can have fun with fireworks, while others says that it is not a good idea. Aerial Fireworks are not allowed, but the fireworks are allowed to be sold and used in New Jersey.
This year, about 4,000 acres at Wharton State Forest was scorched in a fire in Burlington County, New Jersey, which was blamed on fireworks. This was not the largest NJ fire of all time, as there was a 5,000 acre fire in 2023, while the largest one back in 1920 was more than 10,000 acres. So, everyone has to be very careful using fireworks.
Hurricane Beryl first impacted Barbados, Jamaica and some surrounding Caribbean Islands. Then it impacted Mexico and finally landed in the United States. Over 2 million people were without power in Texas when Beryl landed as Category 1 Hurricane on July 7 and 8. Heavy rain and winds between 60 to 85 miles per hour battered many streets. Many large trees fell on in Houston and surrounding suburbs. One person died in Texas along with two persons in the Caribbean, but these numbers could change. The disruption of life was handled very good by the authorities in Texas as I’ve heard. Beryl was once a Category 5 while over the Atlantic Ocean.
President Biden has more troubling news. Parkinson disease expert Dr. Kevin Cannard visited the White House eight times between last summer and this spring. Dr. Cannard also contacted and met Biden’s personal physician once. This is a recorded data from the White House logbook. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre has been bombarded with questions about Biden’s health by the press, including those who used to favor Biden before. So far, the President has refused to step down. There was a closed door meeting of Democratic Party leaders on July 9, but no outcome of the meeting has been announced as of press time. However, there were many democratic leaders asking for Biden to withdraw as the Party’s nominee at the Democratic Party Convention.
If Biden does not withdraw, no one can do anything, as Biden won the delegates in all 50 states of the Democratic Primaries. He is officially the Democratic Party nominee, unless he himself withdraws his nomination. If Biden wins and he becomes weak or sick, VP Kamala Harris automatically becomes president. Also, if Biden wins and resigns after taking the oath of office, Harris becomes president. If Biden withdraws his candidacy, Kamala Harris is the best candidate to run against Donald Trump, as there is not enough time for a new candidate to campaign and win.
Trump is ahead of Biden by 3.6 points and ahead of Kamala Harris 3.3 points. So, Harris has a better chance to compete against Trump per these numbers. She calls herself Black, and does not count herself as Indian (her mother) or Jamaican (her father). However, she counts herself as Black (It was her mother’s Indian father who worked in Zambia decades ago, helping to settle refugees in the newly independent African country.) While Black women voters may not mind her too much, Black men are different, as they do not like her calling herself Black. Also, there is a feeling of resentment among Black men as Kamala made her name by locking up a lot of people during her legal career.
The Democratic National Convention will take place in August 19-22 in Chicago. There over one month left for the DNC and for the first time, Democratic leaders are talking about their nominee withdrawing his nomination. Some of the big donors have pulled their backing for Biden, including Abigail Disney, heiress to the Disney family fortune and some Hollywood power players, including Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings. It will be interesting to watch how the development will take place at the DNC!
Have a wonderful week. I’ll talk to you next week.
