Joe Biden is a wartime President. By that I mean he is presently involved in supplying arms to, and supporting, Ukraine–both economically and politically–in its battle against Russia. He is also peripherally involved in the Middle East and Africa, where the United States is assisting “friends” in their ongoing conflicts. But, we must take this designation one step further; here at home, terrorism, a rise in crime, political violence, mass shootings, et al, are tearing at the social fabric of the country. In many respects, these domestic battles are proving more difficult to win than their foreign counterparts.

So why, with so much at stake in his attempt to secure economic, social and political stability, the President’s poll numbers remain low and his communication exchange with the American public muddled? The easiest answer is that “normal” political opposition (i.e. the Republicans), has been catalyzed by a Trump-led group of thugs and seditionists who seek their own power rather than maintain the security of the American people. Let’s look at gun control as a primary example of how this process is operating.

Americans, especially after the twin mass shootings in Buffalo, New York and Uvalde, Texas, are significantly in favor of laws designed to control mass killing by guns. Whether banning certain weapons, or impeding access to them, Americans from all walks of life want government to do something. Yet, at least for the moment, the violence goes on. Yes, there is a Second Amendment to the Constitution that regulates general legalities regarding weaponry. Thankfully, nowhere in its content is an individual granted the right to acquire AR15’s and other mass-casualty weapons of war. The Gun Lobby remains effective, but what about the right of the rest of us to insist that we–and especially our children–are not slaughtered by some 18 year-old hate-infused psychopath who is legally able to acquire these weapons? Greed and power are behind much of the lobby’s control, but we must reduce its potency. How?

First, political will and the passage of necessary laws are at the heart of a solution. Such legislation must remove the political and economic benefits accruing to those who sell such destructive weaponry. In turn, there must be found a better means to filter out those whose mental state demonstrates an inability to safely possess weapons-of-war.

In a war, Presidents need allies, especially bi-partisan ones. Unfortunately, one of our political parties has gone off the deep end. Extremism and cowardice, along with an overweening pursuit of power, now defines the Republican Party. But, the Democrats, too, are led by some who want to make political points at the cost of legislative accomplishment. Chuck Schumer, the Senate Democratic Majority leader, on both gun-control and abortion, recently pursued extreme legislation that was designed to make the Republicans look bad and accomplish nothing. Such grandstanding must stop. Please, Leader Schumer, learn from some of your predecessors, especially Lyndon Johnson and Harry Reid. They both had records of bi-partisan accomplishment. We are in trouble and need leadership, courage and talent. Otherwise, get ready for a new age of Trump and his cohorts. “Now is the time for all good” (people) “to come to the aid of their party.”