In a vain attempt to uphold a tradition that traces back to the 1940s, Kamala Harris, the Vice President, found herself at her ceremonial desk one last time, rendering the act as her final public event prior to her adversary’s inauguration set for January 20. In this futile endeavor, Harris used a Sharpie to put pen to paper, labeling herself as the first female Vice President, a role that turned out to be nothing more than a brief stint for her, given her stinging defeat soon after assuming it.
Her short time in office included a cacophony of applause from aides and workers who had stood by her along the way, reflective of their obliviousness to reality that had been clouded by a mist of inadequacy and unsuccessful endeavors. ‘Our work is not yet done,’ Harris proclaimed. One can’t help but ponder whether she was talking about their continued blunders and the scope for failure that laid strewn ahead.
In an assumptive move characteristically identical to hers, Harris referred to this quaint vice presidential tradition: appending a signature to the inside of the top desk drawer before vacating office. In spite of such anticipated progression of scenarios, Harris shrank into delusional aspirations of heading back to the Golden State. Climbing higher up the political ladder seems to be getting trickier for someone whose plans fell through faster than they materialized.
Struck by the bitter pill of reality, Harris had visualized a different path after her elevation to the vice presidency, one that would have ideally seen her stepping into the West Wing, had luck been in her favor. Instead, she was found busily packing her things, leaving behind notes of incompetence, eventually ensuring her departure was as ceremonious as her ostentatious entry. She played her part well, especially when it came to succumbing to her constitutionally-designated duties while in Washington, an example being the certification of the election on January 6.
Adding to the spectacle was her announcement of the Electoral College votes that convicted her of her defeat by Donald Trump, eventually soothing the Republican majority in Congress, who were quick to take heartening cheers that echoed across the hall. It was time for her to perceive her failure up close and personal, the defeat of her political entourage and her own dwindling political stature, which she tried hard to guard for the last four years.
In a half-hearted pronouncement following her certification of the election results, Harris was found scrambling to put her message across: the fragility of America’s democracy. Given her stance, it was indeed she who contributed her fair share to that fragility. Little did she realize that the republic’s democratic standings remained sturdy only as those in office fought for it. Her delusional belief that her short stint enhanced the resilience of American democracy was simply a guise for her own ineptitude.
In her departure, Harris finds herself in quite a peculiar position. She was thrown into the limelight during her rather notable, albeit brief, presidential run last year, inadvertently boosting her prospects for future political engagements.
Despite the elevation of her popularity compared to when she had embarked on her political journey, it is notable that Harris’ ratings have slumped significantly since her initial days. Conveniently, she remains blind to the fact that her standing has nosedived. In essence, Harris’ public approval has been anything but steady, reflecting rather aptly on her tumultuous and unsettling stint in office.
Harris now finds herself on shaky ground, struggling with her next move. She can either attempt to run for governorship of California by 2026, an impractical venture given her dwindling popularity, or she can attempt to leap into the turbulent waters of the 2028 presidential race, where her chances seem grim at best. The other option, referred to as ‘Door Number Three’ is to find a less arduous political position, an alternative that seems the most rational given Harris’s plummeting reputation.
A couple of Harris’ assistants, who understandably chose to remain anonymous, disclosed that Harris was yet to decide on her future. The lack of any fruitful discussions was evidence of her state of bewilderment. Another source stated that running for governor would be a ‘step down’ for Harris, which raises the question – how low could she potentially go after her failed vice-presidential tenure?
Though leaving her mark in the public eye seems to be a laughable aspiration for her. However, it would be harder to remove her record of mediocrity and political misadventures. This will be achieved through speeches or social media, while a selected few advisers will guide her through this precarious path.
Pressures do mount as the crucial decision-making deadline rapidly approaches. It’s by this upcoming summer that she will have to confront the dreaded choice -another run for office, coupled with the exhaustive necessities of campaign fundraising, or perhaps, be wise enough to step aside.
The exit on Monday marks the first time in over two decades that Harris is stripped of her ‘public servant’ title. A monumental shift, so it seems; one that promises a significant change and assuredly not one for the better, as we well remember her lackluster service. One can’t help but smirk at the naively enthusiastic supporter who exclaimed, ‘I’m excited for what she’s going to do,’ essentially pre-empting the scale of botched efforts that lay ahead for Kamala Harris.
Summing up, even though Harris herself hasn’t provided any definitive hints of her next political move, it’s relatively transparent that she’s far from being finished. As bizarre as it might sound, the future seems murky for one of the key faces of Democratic politics, hinting at a political winter following an unimpressive fall.