How did I miss this fantastic response? I suppose because there’s so much to consume, so many forums to participate in. And then there’s real day to day life. Thank you; appreciate the deep response and referrals to other smart people. Trying to be optimistic, but it’s more and more difficult. America, when she’s unwell, the globe in dire danger. And here we are...
Jon, Blown away with your writings, your hitting the nail on the head, your clear-headed assessment of where we are, what we’ve come from and the only way out. Found you via your comments embedded in Steve Schmidt’s equally critical writings. And now, I’m falling down the rabbit-hole of satisfaction, a waterfall of hydration for my deeply-parched, thirstier than hell throat -metaphor for my need to hear bare-bones intelligent, clear-headed critique of the toxic moment in time we are knee-deep in. I want to be optimistic, to feel you’re prescription for the Democratic Party --she expand herself joined by anti-MAGAt GOP forces, rise up to fully, forcefully and wholly defeat the fascist monster banging at our door-- is the solution, but I’m deeply concerned. Deeply. For ‘24 we’ve the wrong messenger. Joe Biden should and could have elegantly passed the baton, after offering himself as America’s “one-term savior, pulling her back from the brink amidst Covid and Trumpler,” a post-Trumpler hero, but he seems to have missed the point. Joe, truly a good man with the right stuff, though decay of age, his longtime inability to articulate, never mind forcefully articulate, to command we sit up and hear him, to vociferously orate at the masses, it is null and void. Joe should have stepped back, providing a silky smooth pathway to legitimate democratic primary event full of robust debate amongst a bench of highly qualified next gens: Gavin, Gretchen, Kamala, Pete B., Dean Phillips, plus legit GOP anti-MAGAt leaders - so much talent. Alas, unwritten, barely mentioned rule, the one where what is best for the nation yields to polite acquiescence not to step before an incumbent POTUS. This is our plight. This ridiculousness will very well be the hammer in the final nail in democracy’s coffin. I’m pissed, I’m worried, I’m raging at the plight, but if it’s Joe, he has my vote, even if he’s in a coma. Every dem from dog catcher to POTUS has my vote over any R - ever. I will never forgive them for what they’ve brought to our doorstop.
Nicole, thanks for your comment. I am pleased to know that my thoughts resonate with you! I also hear your concerns about Biden, which of course, are pretty broadly shared. It’s a tough issue. Biden so far has been a terrific president in managing and having significant impacts on so many fronts, both domestic and international. And I believe he’s the only one of our candidate who could have beaten Trump.
This is, in many ways, one of the wisest administrations we’ve ever had. But the age thing — how it affects his popularity and how it creates worries about some sort of health event that could derail either his candidacy or presidency — is very present and very real.
My overall sense is that it’s hard to see how he can’t run for re-election. If he were to decide not to run, he would become a lame duck and most possibilities for forward progress would stop. Biden and his admin would then be overshadowed completely by a very messy, costly, and contentious primary that, among other things, would potentially undermine the efforts to build a broad coalition that are gaining traction across the country.
It’s possible that someone could primary him, but that too, but that could be a career-killer for that person, especially if the primary gets messy. And it’s far from clear whether we still have any candidate that could beat Trump. In any event, a primary would be fraught with all sorts of land mines, which, like a decision not to run, could undermine our cause.
However, I’m confident that this is all being discussed and “gamed-out” at the highest levels and I do believe that there’s reason to believe that Biden and his brain trust can be trusted to make the best possible calls around this decision. So, instead of worrying about Biden, I am focusing on the incredible work that is being done all across the nation by people like us who simply refuse to let the bullies and crazies win.
The States Project, for instance, is a great example of an organization building meaningful coalitions and contesting the MAGA folks in states at every level. If you haven’t done so, my recommendation is to dig into this sort of work somewhere and be with equally committed people and just do what you can to add to the camaraderie and the forces for freedom and democracy that are essential to our coming out on top.
And, if you are already (over!) engaged, I recommend finding as many authors as you can, people like Robert Hubbell and Simon Rosenberg, for example, who are sources of incredibly helpful and encouraging perspective and data.
Thanks again for commenting — and for your energy and outrage. As we all channel these things together, we will win!
How did I miss this fantastic response? I suppose because there’s so much to consume, so many forums to participate in. And then there’s real day to day life. Thank you; appreciate the deep response and referrals to other smart people. Trying to be optimistic, but it’s more and more difficult. America, when she’s unwell, the globe in dire danger. And here we are...
Jon, Blown away with your writings, your hitting the nail on the head, your clear-headed assessment of where we are, what we’ve come from and the only way out. Found you via your comments embedded in Steve Schmidt’s equally critical writings. And now, I’m falling down the rabbit-hole of satisfaction, a waterfall of hydration for my deeply-parched, thirstier than hell throat -metaphor for my need to hear bare-bones intelligent, clear-headed critique of the toxic moment in time we are knee-deep in. I want to be optimistic, to feel you’re prescription for the Democratic Party --she expand herself joined by anti-MAGAt GOP forces, rise up to fully, forcefully and wholly defeat the fascist monster banging at our door-- is the solution, but I’m deeply concerned. Deeply. For ‘24 we’ve the wrong messenger. Joe Biden should and could have elegantly passed the baton, after offering himself as America’s “one-term savior, pulling her back from the brink amidst Covid and Trumpler,” a post-Trumpler hero, but he seems to have missed the point. Joe, truly a good man with the right stuff, though decay of age, his longtime inability to articulate, never mind forcefully articulate, to command we sit up and hear him, to vociferously orate at the masses, it is null and void. Joe should have stepped back, providing a silky smooth pathway to legitimate democratic primary event full of robust debate amongst a bench of highly qualified next gens: Gavin, Gretchen, Kamala, Pete B., Dean Phillips, plus legit GOP anti-MAGAt leaders - so much talent. Alas, unwritten, barely mentioned rule, the one where what is best for the nation yields to polite acquiescence not to step before an incumbent POTUS. This is our plight. This ridiculousness will very well be the hammer in the final nail in democracy’s coffin. I’m pissed, I’m worried, I’m raging at the plight, but if it’s Joe, he has my vote, even if he’s in a coma. Every dem from dog catcher to POTUS has my vote over any R - ever. I will never forgive them for what they’ve brought to our doorstop.
Nicole, thanks for your comment. I am pleased to know that my thoughts resonate with you! I also hear your concerns about Biden, which of course, are pretty broadly shared. It’s a tough issue. Biden so far has been a terrific president in managing and having significant impacts on so many fronts, both domestic and international. And I believe he’s the only one of our candidate who could have beaten Trump.
This is, in many ways, one of the wisest administrations we’ve ever had. But the age thing — how it affects his popularity and how it creates worries about some sort of health event that could derail either his candidacy or presidency — is very present and very real.
My overall sense is that it’s hard to see how he can’t run for re-election. If he were to decide not to run, he would become a lame duck and most possibilities for forward progress would stop. Biden and his admin would then be overshadowed completely by a very messy, costly, and contentious primary that, among other things, would potentially undermine the efforts to build a broad coalition that are gaining traction across the country.
It’s possible that someone could primary him, but that too, but that could be a career-killer for that person, especially if the primary gets messy. And it’s far from clear whether we still have any candidate that could beat Trump. In any event, a primary would be fraught with all sorts of land mines, which, like a decision not to run, could undermine our cause.
However, I’m confident that this is all being discussed and “gamed-out” at the highest levels and I do believe that there’s reason to believe that Biden and his brain trust can be trusted to make the best possible calls around this decision. So, instead of worrying about Biden, I am focusing on the incredible work that is being done all across the nation by people like us who simply refuse to let the bullies and crazies win.
The States Project, for instance, is a great example of an organization building meaningful coalitions and contesting the MAGA folks in states at every level. If you haven’t done so, my recommendation is to dig into this sort of work somewhere and be with equally committed people and just do what you can to add to the camaraderie and the forces for freedom and democracy that are essential to our coming out on top.
And, if you are already (over!) engaged, I recommend finding as many authors as you can, people like Robert Hubbell and Simon Rosenberg, for example, who are sources of incredibly helpful and encouraging perspective and data.
Thanks again for commenting — and for your energy and outrage. As we all channel these things together, we will win!