Editor's note: Bradley Blankenship is a Prague-based American journalist, political analyst and freelance reporter. The article reflects the author's opinions, not necessarily the views of CGTN.

On the third night of the Democratic National Convention (DNC), former U.S. President Barack Obama delivered a speech targeted squarely at incumbent President Donald Trump, describing him as a threat to the American democracy.

Former presidents always refrain from criticizing their successors, but apparently this election in particular is too consequential for even the cool and calm former president to ignore. Liberals largely viewed Obama's speech against his successor as chilling and optimistic for the future, but if indeed Trump is and has been so dangerous, where was this break in decorum earlier?

"I did hope, for the sake of our country, that Donald Trump might show some interest in taking the job seriously; that he might come to feel the weight of the office and discover some reverence for the democracy that had been placed in his care," Obama said, in line with the night's other speakers.

"But he never did," he continued. "For close to four years now, he's shown no interest in putting in the work; no interest in finding common ground; no interest in using the awesome power of his office to help anyone but himself and his friends; no interest in treating the presidency as anything but one more reality show that he can use to get the attention he craves."

Trump has allowed a host of right-wing ideologues to run the presidential show in terms of hard policy, further radicalized the previously insurgent GOP and enriched his fellow oligarchs – all in the span of roughly four years that began as nothing more than a vanity run for the presidency. America is in a far worse position than four years ago.

The administration itself has been poorly managed with an ever-revolving cast of cronies occupying high government offices, some being sacked for stepping out of the Trump line and others leaving on their own accord when time gets tough. This fundamental dysfunction has been reflected in the COVID-19 crisis that has led to the death of over 170,000 Americans and caused tens of millions to go jobless and potentially homelessness.  

Social division has only deepened as hatred against all manner of vulnerable groups has increased. The federal government has launched a war against immigrants, white supremacy has been emboldened, police violence continues unabated and discrimination against various groups has become a rallying point for the president's culture war.

The Trump tax cuts – the biggest legislative victory for the president during his term – have been disastrous. The nearly 1.5 trillion U.S. dollar tax cut was merely a continuation of neoliberal class warfare as more than 60 percent of the tax savings went to people in the top 20 percent of the income ladder, according to the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center. 

In addition, the corporate tax rate was axed by 40 percent to further validate exactly who the tax cuts benefit.

Internationally, America has lost its legitimacy under Trump. Friend and foe alike face obstacles from the erratic "diplomacy" of Trump and his Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Attempting to launch a new Cold War against China to distract from self-evident failures has only isolated the U.S. as it pulls away from multilateral institutions that form the backbone of 21st century international relations.

Why didn't Barack Obama speak up during all of this? Perhaps the answer can be found in his call to win back the country by "voting like never before – for Joe and Kamala, and candidates up and down the ticket, so that we leave no doubt about what this country we love stands for – today and for all our days to come."

Buried within this platitude is the sentiment that activism is useless and that fundamental faith in the political process, i.e. voting, can lead to transformative change.

Obama's two-term presidency itself shows just how untrue that idea is. He bombed seven countries, up from his predecessor's four; he's very close friends with wealthy oligarchs, refused to prosecute criminal bankers that crashed the global economy over a decade ago and bailed out big banks with taxpayer money.

In many ways, Obama's administration was just a less heavy-handed version of Trump's mess, but still out of touch with the needs of the American people. Obama's disagreements with Trump are thus less pressing and existential than the average American, who, as Democrats like to say every election cycle, are actually this time facing a complete catastrophe.

The timing of Obama's intervention is more about helping his former vice president Joe Biden win – a referendum on the Obama era and his legacy – than it is about helping the American people. If this was his primary concern, he would have broken decorum sooner.

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