My unpopular opinion that I think a lot of people like me hold is that Biden has been a remarkably effective president who would have been better served by not running and letting a younger, more energetic, break-from-the-current-shit, candidate run on extolling his presidency.
@jsonbecker I agree, but I struggle on naming the “who” would run in his place. I feel like Biden is sacrificing a nice retirement because he believes he’s the only person who can win. He might be right.
@jsonbecker I’m not so certain that’s an unpopular opinion. I’m voting for the guy and his administration has gotten a lot of good stuff done, but it’s kind of only good relative to how crappy stuff was to begin with.
His tendency to cozy up to the middle and make kiss kiss faces at the moderate will continue to result in mediocrity and win-lose “compromises.”
We need someone who’s willing to fling some mud in some hypocritical sycophant faces, take decisive stands on important issues without compromising, pour some heavy salt on these political slugs that are holding back our society and our world, and start to make true progress once and for all.
Tender heartfelt speeches written by well meaning staffers ain’t the way to defeat these insane christofascist, corrupt, conservative wing nuts, and I’m certain whatever strategy is being employed is not the path to true progress.
(Soapbox, sorry) I also don’t think a rallying cry of “save democracy” will rally anyone who isn’t already paying attention. Not today. Not in these times. People don’t know what democracy is. They don’t care to know what it is. They’re got kids. They’ve got rent. They’ve got three jobs.
Besides, their voter registration got purged, the nearest polling place is an hour and a half away by bus, and there’s going to be some hick redneck idiot with a semiautomatic rifle on his shoulder who’ll say he’s there “just to watch the process” and the line is 45 minutes long and it’s illegal for anyone to give you a drink of water.
Calling on people to save democracy will not get disenfranchised eligible voters to the polls.
I don’t know what the rallying cry should be. But I just don’t think, “Let’s hold bipartisan hands and save America” is it.
There are 342 million people in the US (according to Alexa) and out of alllll those people these are the absolute best two our political parties could serve up for us?
America, I have some concerns…
Sorry for spewing, I guess I have some strong opinions on it! lol
@jsonbecker Not that unpopular. Two problems that made that impossible, really…
1) Can’t afford to take that kind of risk given the potential consequences of it not working (i.e. Tr*mp winning).
2) No real rising stars on the D side to choose from. They really need to work on their bench.
@patrickrhone @jsonbecker Do you still have to be born in the USA to take office? (Heard something about that they thought about changing that). I find this more scary than comforting. Maybe not now, but in the future.
@jsonbecker I think there needs to be less focus on the President and more on the Senate and Supreme Court, which is where the real carnage is being done. No law gets passed and no Justice gets seated without 60 senate votes.
@UndamnedOne I think his record of actual accomplishments extends considerably beyond heartfelt speeches or a rallying cry on democracy. But I think he’s not great at getting that message out or a lot of folks aren’t hearing it. That’s part of what I’m getting at.
@frankm sure but the Supreme Court is essentiallly the president and that ship has mostly sailed and the Senate is in a brutal spot.
@jsonbecker Justices don't seat without Senate approval. Whether or not Biden wins, the Senate is extremely important.
@jsonbecker Ok, that was what I really meant. I can see big potential and also very big problems with this. Progressive and inclusive people on one hand, and young, charismatic and excluding people on the other. I don’t think we have to look far to see the dangers.
@frankm @jsonbecker SCOTUS nominations no longer need 60 votes. Likewise for all federal judicial nominations. Part of the deal the two sides agreed on few years ago
There are 342 million people in the US (according to Alexa) and out of alllll those people these are the absolute best two our political parties could serve up for us?
India has 1.4 billion people and its two leading choices were much worse than what you have here.
In the U.S., who should run for office but has not?
@jsonbecker This decision was basically unrealistic once the primaries started. People have already made up their mind about Harris (unfairly) and would've Clintonized her if the switch was made. Any other choice would lead people to claim backroom deals by the Dem establishment by the same progressive people who now are hating on Biden.
@pratik agreed. The problem of not having a solid, clear rising star is real. But I think a lot of the “Biden shouldn’t have run” folks don’t think Biden should be proud of his record and that a different candidate should run on Biden’s presidency. But I think a strong proxy making the strong case Biden was great and they want to keep it going would have been the best choice. Sadly, that proxy failed to emerge.
@jsonbecker I was about to post something very similar earlier in day and didn’t get to it. I 100% agree - part of me thinks he should have just let the way for another democrat and just cemented his legacy instead of trying to save thankless Americans.
