“We can have different political opinions but we must not be enemies!” That was part of what President Joe Biden said in his televised address to the nation last night. Biden pleaded that the heated temperature of the political debate must now come down, saying that the use of violence for political purposes is totally unacceptable. Biden’s main opponent, the Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, has also said after the assassination attempt this weekend that he wants to calm the feelings of his supporters. And that in his speech to the Republican party convention later this week, he will call for national unity against the violence. The tone has turned up considerably in recent years. The question is, however, whether the appeals of both political leaders will contribute to a more civilized climate in American politics. After all, the tone has turned up considerably in recent years and many Americans seem to perceive politics as something of a battlefield where basically any method can be used to defeat the opponents in the other party. What seems clear right now is that the attack this weekend is helping to increase support for Trump in his party. The Republican Party Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin begins today. By all accounts, the convention will culminate on Thursday when Donald Trump is “crowned” as the Republican presidential candidate in the November election. Criticism of the Secret Service At the same time, criticism is growing against the Secret Service, the police organization whose main task is to guard important public figures such as the president and other leading politicians. More and more information has now come to light that onlookers on the spot warned of an armed man on a rooftop. And one wonders why the Secret Service had not secured that particular roof, which was only about 150 meters from the stage built for Trump’s performance. The head of the Secret Service is now also called for questioning in the US Congress on Monday next week. Rest assured that he will face tough questions, primarily from the Republican Congressmen!
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