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By Ray Hanania

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If the ugly, disrespectful politics of Orland Park has shown us anything, it is that individual selfish politics is driving America’s future. And this is going to be an ugly year for politics in America.

It all comes down to who is at the top of the political heap. Right now, dazed and confused at the top is President Joe Biden, who has no sense of what Americans need or the faculties to make it work.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is calling all the shots in our international foreign policy, and that is a disaster; a disaster resulting from the absence of leadership at the top.

Biden may be the president, but I am not sure he is present.

Let’s start with Ukraine. It isn’t the most important country for Americans. But one of the greatest threats that we face is the tyrant who is trying to destroy Ukraine, Vladimir Putin.

Putin is resurrecting the old Soviet Union, and is in a long-term game to destroy the West and its cornerstone of freedom and democracy, America.

Some people laugh at the idea that Putin wants to put nuclear weapons or systems that can destroy American weaponry in space, reminding us of the terrible time that gripped America back in the 1950s when the Soviets entered the space race first and launched Sputnik.

Putin attacked Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, specifically because President Joe Biden is a weak leader who can’t convey the kind of strength we need to defend this nation.

Worse is that Biden betrayed us when he said he would strive to bring America together. America is not together. We are a nation weakened by division. Instead of bringing us together, Biden has fueled the polarization.

Blinken, not Biden, is defining American foreign policy, including in the Middle East, where he has stated repeatedly in his actions that he only cares about one foreign country’s interests — a foreign country that gets $4 billion a year from America like a utility tax on American taxpayers. It gets another $32 billion and gives us nothing but disrespect from its leaders.

Israel’s influence is so great over American politics, fueling the bias of the mainstream American news media and our politics.

Some Americans criticize it as our 51st state, but when you look at the relationship today, it always seems to come first.

Israel has an absolute right to respond to the Hamas terrorism of Oct. 7, 2023. But it does not have a right to massacre thousands of civilians, mostly old men, women and children in the process of destroying Hamas.

Blinken and Biden have empowered that carnage. A strong president would have restrained Israel and reason would have driven the campaign, not the outright hatred that we see in the rhetoric of many of Israel’s elected leaders.

Putin sees Biden’s failed leadership as a sign that he can pursue his Soviet revival and he is doing just that, as the American Congress throws money at Israel, but fights against giving money to defend Ukraine.

Remember, it is not about Ukraine. It is about a tyrant, Putin. If Putin destroys Ukraine, whom do you think he will target next? He will build on his alliances with Iran, North Korea, China and other tyrannical regimes.

Biden needs to withdraw as a candidate. Americans need someone who will put American interests above the interests of foreign PACs and international bullying, and strike fear in the minds of the world’s tyrants.

Who are some of the alternatives? Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is one. West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin is another. Even former First Lady Michelle Obama would be a better candidate, although remnants of her husband’s administration continue to artificially prop up the dazed and confused Biden.

With 91 indictments facing him, it’s unlikely that Donald Trump can be president. His thin skin has also weakened this nation. Trump’s pettiness is so great he can’t address serious issues.

We have a lot of other serious issues that no one is addressing. Illegal immigration, including “migrants,” is at the top of the list and has been for 25 years. Homelessness is growing. Our economy is in turmoil. Families are struggling to survive.

Step down, Biden, and do America a real service.

Ray Hanania is a former Chicago City Hall reporter and award-winning columnist. Visit his hanania.com for more opinion.