We need to encourage one another to get out and vote! Deserting Biden at this point hands the country to the MAGA's. Protesting Biden's age, stance on Israel/Palestine, immigration, also gives the GOP the win by not voting. NOT Voting allows the other side to steal YOUR vote!
I agree. Remember that Biden has a strong bench behind him. Not a bunch of whack-jobs like 45. We're much, much better off if Biden prevails. I believe the chance of a new shiny Dem candidate successfully campaigning and winning in 4 months are vanishingly small.
I think that's why Trump stopped building and simply paid money to have his name put on buildings and golf courses. He certainly fell in love with smashing every toy in the sandbox.
I think replacing Biden will split the party, and some may not vote at all. Age discrimination is against the law but it is rampant throughout the US. If Biden wins,.it would do much good for all seniors like Obama's win did. Media has caused so much harm. I blame them if Biden loses.
I agree. You never know just who is sending out negative comments about our candidate. We must not be swayed by everything we see or read! They really don't have to do too much though.
They're nonexistent. In 1968 LBJ withdrew from his race as the incumbent president because of bad polling in New Hampshire. Chaos ensued and Democrats lost the election. Who'd we get instead? Nixon. Yup, him. We need to be careful what we wish for. A new candidate, by law, may not use campaign funds raised by Biden/Harris. That person would be starting from scratch. The chances of success would be close to zero. Also, remember that there are very few potential candidates that have Biden's foreign policy experience. Putting someone in without that experience, is playing a fool's game. Biden is our nominee. The naysayers need to stop, get on board, and get this victory done!
I just cancelled my NYT subscription because of its gratuitous Biden bashing. I'm donating the money I'm saving to campaigns for Biden and other Democratic Congressional campaigns. Onward!
All true, but watching the response some Dems had to the debate - as if 90 minutes facing off with the orange garbage mouth somehow ended his Presidency! It would seem we have our own bunch of sad sacks!
Agreed. If we really can get the blue tsunami rolling - sweeping the House and Senate, meaning, along with Kamala as VP, we'd likely have Hakeem Jeffries third in line. This is great back up! Better than anything Dems could otherwise cobble together between now and Septemberish when this really needs to be settled. (By the way, being a California Dem, I'm not particularly enamored with Gavin Newsome. I think many of us would go that way with tightly pinched nose if that became the only choice.)
I disagree Julie - I think opening it up makes our chances of beating Trump greater -- he has his patter about Biden down, and now lots of video clips to underline his criticisms of Biden being old and feeble. Opening the race up to another Democratic candidate would take away the rhetorical ammo that Trump has against Biden and bring in a wave of new energy
not doing it. Not after one stinky debate. You can bash Biden all you want - while ignoring the fucked up Felon ...you aren't doing anyone a service . Sorry..If Biden chooses to get out of the race ? okay that is his decision . If he stays ..he still gets my vote. there is Nothing more important that Trump being kicked to the gutter.
I am not ignoring the felon -- and I completely agree that he needs to be kicked to the gutter. You and I just differ on the best way to get there. I will of course vote for Biden if he stays in. I just think our chances are better with a different candidate. I am not bashing Biden - I think he has done a great job and is a wonderful man with a life of public service.
Here’s the most important point. Biden met with 20 democrat governors yesterday. They had a very frank conversation with Biden letting them know he is not stepping down. Every governor is resolute in backing Biden and are now back in their home states working hard to re-elect Biden.
President Biden has accomplished a lot of good for Americans with slim congressional support. He is an honorable man who understands deeply how to do his job and get things done. This talk of another candidate at this point is self defeating.
If you are resolutely behind our Democracy, we all need to stop wasting time on a different candidate and get busy doing everything each of us can do to get out the vote!! This is the only path we have at this time to prevent Project 2025 from being released to destroy our Democracy. The choice is stark. Work hard. Get out the vote! (GOTV). We can and we will win.
If Biden is my only choice I will vote for him. That would be the only reason. He has done a few good things during the last four years but not enough for me to think he’s the end-all, be-all that many people are claiming he is. I don’t know him personally so can’t claim he’s a wonderful man. I can look at how he and Jill ignored the existence of their 7th grandchild for 5 years and make a judgement of his (their) character based on that. (Children aren’t responsible for how they come into being.) He has been in public service for most of his life but that alone doesn’t mean it was all great. Anyone remember Anita Hill and how Clarence Thomas ended up on the bench?
We have to think about what is best for the country and first and foremost at this moment in time we must do what Garland refused to do and keep trump out of the White House.
Oh please. Joe and Jill clearly adore their family, that is obvious. Re the "7th grandchild", has it occurred to you that Hunter and the child's mother made the decision to protect the little girl in privacy? Until terms of custody, visitation, financial support, etc. were finalized? (I read somewhere that this process was long and contentious.) There is no way, NO WAY the Biden's would "ignore" a grandchild! They were asked to be silent in the best interests of the child until matters were settled. Can you imagine the publicity that Fox and the MAGAts would have generated? They have tried EVERYTHING to rip Hunter to shreds. Cudos to all the Biden family for keeping this a private matter, and I'm sure that was no easy task, being the nation's First Family and all.
I have wondered what Biden could do under the new “law”.
Could he arrest the 6 fascist judges for attempting to overthrow our Constitution? For aiding and abetting the insurrectionist by granting him immunity for his crimes of insurrection?
I’m not being facetious. I’m serious. All 6 are clearly aiding and abetting trump. They just laid the groundwork for him to become a dictator/monarch. Shouldn’t the DOJ be looking into this?
President Biden is the best president this country has had since FDR. He has done more for every single American, no matter their party, than anyone since. He inherited the country deep in a pandemic that the predecessor did nothing to try to block, resulting in the unnecessary death of hundreds of thousands of people. He helped the country come out of the pandemic economically better than any other country. He's never had affairs, never associated with (and evidence shows he is) a pedophile. Hasn't stolen national secrets (documents he did find were immediately turned in, at the same time Pence equally found documents in his possession). His administration has brought CHIPs, PACT, and manufacturing production back to the U.S. creating jobs and building the economy. 15.5M new jobs. Unemployment at sustained record lows. Repeated record highs of the stock market. And the reason he ran was because he saw what tfg was doing to our country, tearing it apart, filling everyone with hate and anger. He ran to give the 'soul' back to America and that is something that the fascist party assisted by the media and foreign parties bent on destroying the American experiment just won't allow to happen.
BTW, President Biden calls every single one of his children and grandchildren every single day to tell them how much he loves them and to check on them. He's an example to me. I'm lucky to talk to my kids once a week (adult children).
Laurie, There are 4 months and 1 day until the election.
1) Who would you like that "different candidate" to be?
2) Would there be a consensus for that person *now*, or would it not happen until the Democratic Convention that starts 6-1/2 weeks from now?
3) If there is a new candidate by the end of the Convention, any person other than Kamala Harris will have just over 11 weeks from then until the election to a) raise a ton of money to spend on campaigning, a task make very difficult by the fact that the Biden/Harris campaign funds cannot be spent by others, b) set up and staff local campaign offices, especially in the swing states (see point a) re money), and c) do everything possible to convince people, particularly new and younger individuals and those now saying they will simply sit out this election, to register and to VOTE!!!
They are trying to divide us to conquer us...and it works.
When the times are tough, the tough get going. We need to be better than the insurrectionists, their aiders, abettors apologists. Regardless of outcome, internal doubts, anxieties, we need to out register and out vote them despite the media blitz.. Uncle Sam needs us to step up.
I agree. Biden should stay put. I cannot wrap my head around the talk of replacing him. He has done fantastic work and one event cannot erase any of it. Isn't Kamala already his VP? If his health fails, isn't she already next in line for the position? Any debate within the party is nothing but harmful, and it weakens us.
Look at our history and all of the debates. People have lost debates and gone on to be elected. Why, oh why, oh why is everyone hung up on ONE debate when we have three and a half years of incredible accomplishments? Why is because the far-right media, owned by the fascists and MAGA donors make it so. Good grief, get over it and MOVE ON.
When some of us say that Joe Biden has been a great President, but that after watching the debate we don't think he has the strength, stamina, vigor or mental agility to RUN for President in 2024, that is not "bashing" Biden. That is facing reality.
It's incredibly important that Democrats win this election. If Joe Biden isn't up to Running for President, Democrats need to very quickly present some alternatives to the public. There are many excellent & popular Democratic Governors, some from "must-win" states like Wisc., PA & Mich., like Tony Evers, Josh Shapiro & Gretchen Whitmer. Others are Gov. Andy Beshear of KY, Gov. Jared Polis of CO, Gov. Wes Moore of MD, Gov. Gavin Newsom of CA & Gov.Phil Murphy of NJ.
There are also excellent Democratic Senators available: Sheldon Whitehouse of RI, Cory Booker of NJ, Bob Casey of PA, both VA Senators Tim Kaine & Mark Warner, Sherrod Brown of Ohio & Chris Murphy of Conn.
Available if they agree to run, that is. Passing over Kamala Harris would have consequences with women and especially with Black women, who are called the engine of the Democratic Party. Whatever we do is a gamble.
I was disappointed that Sherrod Brown would not run in 2020. He is 71 now. But he could play a president on TV, and he has been elected in Ohio for several terms.
Yes Carol, whatever we do is a gamble. These are unprecedented times, and that's an understatement. VP Harris is doing an excellent job, leading on women's rights and strong on the entire Dem platform. My question is, will the swing states vote for a Black woman Democrat for president? Democracy lives or dies on the voters in the swing states, and that's an unfortunate truth. The electoral college is a huge problem as we know.
Can the new horse, should we choose her, gear up and win the nation in time?!
But, can Biden recover?!
I have a rather pessimistic view of November.
Plus a Supreme Court that puts a Presidency on Steroids like a Dictatorship.
My little acreage in the Rheinpfalz near the Rhine River in Germany is looking better and better . . . And I am bilingual and have roots on the Rhein. Hmmm. We are in a helluva mess.
If media would stop gnawing that bone to dust and began to focus on all of the wonderful things he has done and will continue to do they would be a powerful force toward saving our country. They seem to be of the 'anything for a story' mentality no matter the damage.
How about Angus King, the Independent from Maine? If he were to have Harris as his running mate and promise to serve only one term and leave the future to the younger generation leaders, would that be a winning ticket?
How many voters even know anything about him? Same question about the individuals named by KMD above? All of those would be starting a presidential campaign with little money and both hands tied behind their backs.
The problem is not one bad debate. The problem is that Biden has not shown that he can follow up a bad debate with a high energy campaign. Any other candidate will be two decades younger than Trump and will make it obvious to Trump’s supporters how much Trump has slipped since 2016. A campaign that can attack Trump seven days a week will wear him down and make him mad. That’s when the crazy comes out. Not the right-wing crazy, but the sharks and batteries and “What the F#?k are you talking about?” crazy. That’s how we defeat Trump.
We do not want to be ruled by mortals, says our spirits. We are created and live because we are afforded by grace to remain. If truth and grace live in you, its power overcomes all obstacles. I live it everyday. I know the power of my Creator. I trust his judgements for they are right. His sons and daughters seek peace and love for all. Sex has nothing to do with love.
Good morning, Laurie…I must respectfully but forcefully disagree with your position on the current kerfuffle. Joe Biden is old, of that there is no refutation. But being old is not the cursed state of being that our egregiously ageist society is all too ready to promote without question. As a retired neurologist with a decidedly neuroscientific perspective, I know how the aging brain works and how off track—that is, blatantly wrong—our overly facile public interpretation of debate-gate has been from the outset during the national panic attack since the prime time fiasco on the 27th of June. There are millions of older Americans living in the shadows of forced retirement who have well developed and highly active intellectual potency that remains veiled by our lifelong, cultural conditioning that aging is synonymous with enfeeblement. Old brains are in many cases brimming with insights that have been successfully honed by years of learning, precision weighted by experience. In very many ways the aging brain operates more efficiently than the young and less experienced brain. Unfortunately, to get the the best out of an aging brain, the waning energies of the body housing the aging brain must be skillfully and intelligently managed. Joe Biden’s physical schedule for the 2 weeks heading into that fateful Thursday night a week ago was horribly mismanaged by his “team of handlers”! Heads should roll and their positions filled by folks who are far more enlightened as to the strengths and vulnerabilities of someone in the 9th decade of life. Rather than a fatal flaw, Joe Biden’s well-honed cognitive and emotional talents are the tonic this country most definitely needs—especially as a counterbalance to Drumof’s malevolent insanity. Besides, letting JB remain at the top of the ticket insulates Democrats from donning their traditional cloak as feckless bed wetters, bent on attracting ill-informed attention in a most crucial time of our nation’s history.
Thank you for this, Dr. Berarducci. Your defense of President Biden is beautifully stated and you speak with the authority of experience. I especially appreciate "...our lifelong, cultural conditioning that aging is synonymous with enfeeblement..:" and reference to President Biden's "well-honed cognitive and emotional talents". I remain convinced that he is the man we need at this critical point in our history.
Thank you for saying what I have believed all along. I really appreciate your clarity and your expertise. I am 79 and while my brain doesn't operate exactly the same as it has in the past, it still does a whole lot better than my body does. And there are many things I do better now than when I was younger, because my life experience has taught me a lot. I strongly believe that life experience as a teacher cannot be overrated.
What is strange is that Trump is not seen as too old. He is reported to take a couple of hours on his hairstyle and makeup before showing up for his duties around noon. Tweeting in the small hours of the morning. “Executive Time.”
The look in Trump’s eyes during at his recent trial, his falling asleep during testimony—these apparently aren’t to be compared with Biden’s stiff gait or losing his train of thought in the midst of the firehouse of lies. Trump’s train of thought was on a circular track. Horrible immigrants, horrible Biden, USA laughed at abroad, life was great when he was in charge.
Bravo for your exquisite statement, Dr. Berarducci! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 We cannot throw Biden under the bus and how shameful of some of us to think that way. We have an election to win against a 34 count indicted criminal and by gawwd, we’d better do it!
Thank you so much! I see people daily in my work who are in their 70s, 80s,.90s, and some over 100 who are just as sharp as those 20-30 years younger. They also suffer from the agism by not receiving the same quality of healthcare as one younger which is disgraceful, unethical, and frightening. We must look inside the package and ignore the wrapping paper, age! Biden has so much packed inside that will allow us to continue to enjoy the quality of life we consider our norm. Age does not define our ability not our worth! Get over it!
I appreciate your medical insight; however, I was amazed to see Biden appear in shock (i.e., staring w/mouth agape) for many moments during his stage time. I agree that he seemed “set up” by his campaign team. Elder abuse it certainly was - I wondered why they didn’t cancel/reschedule, and do it during the morning or daytime, after he recovered from his laryngeal problem! I support Biden having a thorough medical work up, and his stepping aside so Harris can continue the fight for the “SOUL of our Nation” - our Democratic Republic. We need to kill “project 2025” w/a thousand cuts!!
No need for chaos or neurotic grandstanding by democrats of any kind - Senator or Representative. Biden has been a “work horse” in service to the American people - there are other ways to LEAD - and one is to open the door for a new, energetic leader, like Harris.
(He also needs to be honest w/himself, end his defiance and denial, and watch his own “debate” - I hear he admitted to not seeing this truth, which was caught on camera!)
Harris can lead U.S. OUT/away from
Netanyahu’s genocide of Palestinians, she can galvanize WOMEN of all COLORS, including “immigrants” (we ALL are!), AND pull smart, young (and senior) VOTERS back from the brink of “uncommitted”! Harris-Biden has always been the long-term plan! Biden can continue to use his connections and intelligence to gut “project 2025” before any blood is let.
We need to plan for the worst, and hope for the best (Jack Reacher), as any Democratic TEAM must.
Deborah: I agree with the sense and wisdom of your approach to this question—all, that is, except changing candidates this late in the election cycle, as it will backfire loudly and spectacularly. LBJ exited the 1968 race because of flagging support for his handling of the war in Vietnam. The result: an unmitigated disaster of a nominating convention in Chicago ultimately giving us Richard M. Nixon. Also in related fashion, George McGovern caved and replaced Thomas Eagleton on the ticket when it became known that Sen. Eagleton had been treated with ECT for severe depression earlier in his life. Result: McGovern lost 49 states to 1 (Massachusetts) in the fall of ‘68. Our current conundrum is one likely best served without radical surgery (pushing excessively hard to oust JRB from the ticket for a younger candidate) when our situation demands first that we beat Drumpf in November. We then can turn hard into a truly Democratic (& democratic) handoff to the next generation. We face the greatest of all evils—abandoning our constitutional democracy by making the wrong set of moves now. As Thich Nhat Hanh points out in “No Mud; No Lotus”, there can be no unequivocal “good” (beauty of the Lotus) without the patience & experience skillfully to manage the “bad” (the foul smelling Mud in which the Lotus flourishes). Beat Donald Trump now to save our democracy; have at a spirited post-election debate AFTER his threat to our way of living has been thoroughly defeated in November!
Again, thank you. The Public also needs to know these details of the high cost of any deviation from the candidate chosen by the People in the Primaries. It is past time to hoist JRB on our shoulders and carry him to victory in November which will let the light of Democracy and freedom shine brightly forever.
Dr Berarducci, I greatly appreciate your post so much, but only those who visit this site will see it. The country needs to read your words. To have these truths you present here and not have them reach all who need to know it is a shame. I am not sure how, but if there is a way to get these words out to the public, it may curtail some of the cruel needless harassment being forced on President Biden. Media seems unwilling to give up their assault on him, so they need to have your words with encouragement to focus on them for a change. Please try to get this into the hands of those who can reach the People. It isn't fair to Biden or to us for people to vote without the truth and all of the facts. Kay B, AGNP-C
Thanks for the kind words, KayB…I will consider your suggestion seriously, as there does need to be a sensible counterweight to the ceaseless, hair-on-fire approach to every news tidbit (especially this one) in every news cycle, round the clock, day after day! “Death by a thousand paper cuts” is a very real, destructive, and unattractive phenomenon! Again, thanks for your suggestion.
If it can be presented without having it specifically related to B, that would serve to inform and may allow the focus to remain on the information and not on the best hope we have to continue to live free.
No, they wouldn't. History does not support that hypothesis. Only once in history in 1968 has an incumbent president withdrawn from the race. Chaos ensued, the Dems lost, and Nixon was elected. No other candidate has Biden's foreign policy experience, which is absolutely crucial, and Biden/Harris campaign funds, by law, may not be used by any other candidate. The notion of plopping someone else into the nomination to start from scratch thus disenfranchising millions of voters who voted for Biden in the primaries is ludicrous. We must win this election with Biden and prepare the younger candidate, whoever that is, for 2028. Get on board. We've got an election to win!
Hi Elizabeth, Thanks for neatly summarizing what I believe to be the two major issues here: Biden's invaluable foreign policy knowledge and experience, and the funding issue. Does anybody know if Harris, were she to become a replacement nominee, would have access to the Biden/Harris current funds? I gather nobody else would, and can't see how that would not be a major roadblock
“…. removing Joe Biden is the outcome Donald Trump hopes for the most. Is granting Donald Trump his fondest wish something that sounds smart?”
“the thing Trump most fears is Biden staying in the race“
I couldn’t agree more!! If Biden were to drop out Trump would feel like he’d won. He’d claim victory. He’d claim Biden was intimidated by him, was weak and that is why he dropped out. It would increase Trump’s the rhetorical ammo.
He’d use his dropping out to disparage all Democrats and the Democratic Party as being weak. He’d say the Democratic Party is in such chaos having their (new) candidate as President would be a disaster for our country. Biden dropping out is a sign any Democrat is unfit to be president.
He’d think his “tactics” worked and become even more emboldened and escalate his lying, bullying, threatening, disparaging remarks etc. be more ruthless in his attacks toward everybody he dislikes, toward any and every institution he dislikes (FBI, Justice Dept. etc).
Bottom line Biden dropping out is exactly what Trump wants!
Certainly we all agree! However, we must also focus on registering younger voters and particularly young women who are, and should be, very worried by the Republican assault nationwide on reproductive rights including IVF. How do we do that other than communicate the pressing need to register and vote within our own families and circle of friends? There are many groups doing voter registration work but there is one group of brilliant Harvard students who focus only on truly “competitive” congressional districts and Senate elections— www.TurnUp.US. There are only 38 such truly competitive House elections and 11 Senate elections! They focus on attracting young voters by concentrating only on abortion rights, gun safety and climate! It is a nonpartisan C3 so it’s tax deductible. Please visit their website today and contribute generously? They really know what they are doing and worked very effectively in 2023 by helping to win all 9 statewide elections on abortion rights. Thank you; TurnUp will register and turn out hundreds of thousands of new young voters in key elections! The key to victory!
I found it, downloaded the app and the app could not verify my cell number with a text message and allow me to create an account. I hope someone from turnup is monitoring this thread so they can fix the problem. Not very timely....
Finally; this is the kind of action from Democrats that we have been waiting for! I hope it's not too late. They have been reticent long enough. It's time to take the helm and steer before the boat sinks.
Thank you for sharing this, Joyce, and for keeping us informed in a time of greedy media sell-outs.
Stop Project 2025 Task Force! Excellent piece, thank you Joyce, Congressman Huffman and Jamie Raskin.
In our state, voting is so easy it's almost embarrassing. Our ballots are mailed to us and once completed we can either mail 'em back in postage-paid envelopes or drop 'em off in secure drop boxes all over town.
There's no standing in line for hours in sweltering heat as some actual patriots have to do.
Yet--- we sometimes get as little as 35% participation, and that is literally a shame on those who won't even make a tiny effort to BE a democracy.
Thanks for this Joyce. Safe to say we are all in a state of distress this July 4th. Whatever happens with President Biden, we need to stick together. We can disagree without attacking one another, just by realizing we are all terrified of what could happen. Joyce I work in the Attorney General's Office of my state and will raise this task force with her team --maybe there are things we can do at the state level, even in blue states. Everyone, celebrate America today and rededicate yourselves to spending the next four months doing everything you can to save our beautiful country.
Ginny, thank you! That is an excellent idea - sharing it with State AG. “Everyone, celebrate America today and rededicate yourselves to spending the next four months doing everything you can to save our beautiful country. “
Republicans continue to stress Bidens failure to address "kitchen table" issues affecting middle/lower income Americans. In combating Project 2025 you need to get specific for folks and highlight how detrimental ti's would be not only for our democracy (too theoretical for many) but specifically how it will disenfranchise each family.
With no trust from our allies, our international alliances will wither and the world will be a whole lot less safe. I care more about my grand-children than almost anything else. The world they will live i over the next 50 years can be destroyed by Trump, Bannon, Mike Flynn, Stephen Miller, et al.
“Heritage” and “Federalist”. Sounds so American! NOT! Americans value voting rights, civil rights, women’s rights, gender rights, education access, a protected environment and safe clean energy. We want workers earning an unlivable wage to be able to get by and increase their wages to a livable status. We want Social Security, Medicare, Childcare, Parental leave, Head Start, affordable insulin and hearing aids.
We want affordable education and training for everyone. We want equal justice school lunches. We want to bring down the cost of home rentals and home ownership. We want economic and environmental justice for everyone. We want no nonsense racial equality across the nation. We want to help businesses stop polluting our environment and seek a steadfast transition from burning fossil fuels. We want to meet the increased demand for energy with conservation strategies and more clean energy!
We can do this! That’s some of what’s in the American Project!
Add in a decent income for disabled veterans and a VA healthcare system that treats all veterans equally without the racism and misogyny that are currently baked into the system.
Crafting ideas and agendas that Harm the American People ..ALl of their agendas are focused on
Keeping the wealthy ..wealthier ..
and Keeping the Poor ..poorer - sick- uneducated if possible - and / or dead.
they seem to want a country where they the RICH can lord over the rest of us ...
and, If you refuse to play the long game ....you can die..they don't care.
attacking environment ... equals Death
attacking education ...equals, you won't know the difference because you're too stupid ..DEATH
Forced Child birth ..Mental illness, poverty , and Death .
this is why Covid was not that serious to the Republicans in congress or the President.
Before you read my next sentence ..Pause ...take a deep breath ..and think about it .
Maggot Republicans and republicans in general ..ALWAYS HAVE POPULATION PURGES / CLEANSES, ON THE MIND ..BECAUSE THEY WILL BE DAMNED IF THEIR TAX DOLLARS ARE GOING TO GO TO HELP ANY BLACK, ASIAN, BROWN , HISPANIC, ////YOU NAME IT ...PERSON .
Magdalena - Last month, on the same day, I had my MAGA brother-in-law and my 81-year-old MAGA friend tell me that to save the world, the world population must be cut in half…
It is time to oppose the Nazis (Project 2025 is a Nazi project; all supporters of Project 2025 are Nazis; no supporter of Project 2025 is a loyal American).
How bizarre is it that the opposition (Democrats) are publicizing the opposition (Republican) platform, while the latter tries to hide it because it is so unpopular with the voting public. Why would anyone want to vote against their own interests?
Yep. Hoosiers do so every election. They gladly elect politicians who destroy social programs and civil rights that they themselves would benefit from as long as doing so means keeping all those “others” from receiving the same. Hatred and fear, especially steeped in fundamentalism, are addictive drugs.
Steve Beschloss's Substack Patti offered this this idea.
Just sent this to the White House….Mr. President - I like you but let's face it - that debate was sadly a bomb. BUT...I am behind you 100%! YOU are my guy. I have a great idea that your high paid idea guys (that includes women) should think about. You have money. Buy media spots and have your Cabinet heads spotlight his/her counterpart of Project 2025 and what will happen to the American people if Trump is elected. You NEED to remind the American people that you are NOT a solo act. You are surrounded by talented, informed, well educated and dedicated to democratic principals people. By educating fellow Americans not only about your staff but about the truly terrifying Project 2025, it is win win for everyone. Help us help everyone by informing everyone of what WILL happen. Just look at the Supreme Court and what has happened there with a 4 year term and McConnell's corruptions. Think about it Mr. President. I hope you get this.
We need to encourage one another to get out and vote! Deserting Biden at this point hands the country to the MAGA's. Protesting Biden's age, stance on Israel/Palestine, immigration, also gives the GOP the win by not voting. NOT Voting allows the other side to steal YOUR vote!
I agree. Remember that Biden has a strong bench behind him. Not a bunch of whack-jobs like 45. We're much, much better off if Biden prevails. I believe the chance of a new shiny Dem candidate successfully campaigning and winning in 4 months are vanishingly small.
Republicans are trying to divide us - they know how we are
And they are doing an excellent job of it.
Destruction is easier than building something.
I think that's why Trump stopped building and simply paid money to have his name put on buildings and golf courses. He certainly fell in love with smashing every toy in the sandbox.
And more fun for some
They've been proving that over and over for years now.
Yes, and let us hope the Dems don't do the MAGAs work for them.
Seems to me we're dividing ourselves, without any help from the GOP. Will we, once again, snatch defeat from the jaws of victory? Stay tuned.
I think replacing Biden will split the party, and some may not vote at all. Age discrimination is against the law but it is rampant throughout the US. If Biden wins,.it would do much good for all seniors like Obama's win did. Media has caused so much harm. I blame them if Biden loses.
Yes
I agree. You never know just who is sending out negative comments about our candidate. We must not be swayed by everything we see or read! They really don't have to do too much though.
They're nonexistent. In 1968 LBJ withdrew from his race as the incumbent president because of bad polling in New Hampshire. Chaos ensued and Democrats lost the election. Who'd we get instead? Nixon. Yup, him. We need to be careful what we wish for. A new candidate, by law, may not use campaign funds raised by Biden/Harris. That person would be starting from scratch. The chances of success would be close to zero. Also, remember that there are very few potential candidates that have Biden's foreign policy experience. Putting someone in without that experience, is playing a fool's game. Biden is our nominee. The naysayers need to stop, get on board, and get this victory done!
I just cancelled my NYT subscription because of its gratuitous Biden bashing. I'm donating the money I'm saving to campaigns for Biden and other Democratic Congressional campaigns. Onward!
I canceled mine several months ago. Canceled WaPo yesterday. Was hanging onto it for Washington news. No more. Hard to find anyone to trust.
Go Joe Go !!!
My thinking exactly! Thank you for saying it out loud.
I did the same thing.
Yes.
All true, but watching the response some Dems had to the debate - as if 90 minutes facing off with the orange garbage mouth somehow ended his Presidency! It would seem we have our own bunch of sad sacks!
Agreed. If we really can get the blue tsunami rolling - sweeping the House and Senate, meaning, along with Kamala as VP, we'd likely have Hakeem Jeffries third in line. This is great back up! Better than anything Dems could otherwise cobble together between now and Septemberish when this really needs to be settled. (By the way, being a California Dem, I'm not particularly enamored with Gavin Newsome. I think many of us would go that way with tightly pinched nose if that became the only choice.)
I disagree Julie - I think opening it up makes our chances of beating Trump greater -- he has his patter about Biden down, and now lots of video clips to underline his criticisms of Biden being old and feeble. Opening the race up to another Democratic candidate would take away the rhetorical ammo that Trump has against Biden and bring in a wave of new energy
NOPE.
not doing it. Not after one stinky debate. You can bash Biden all you want - while ignoring the fucked up Felon ...you aren't doing anyone a service . Sorry..If Biden chooses to get out of the race ? okay that is his decision . If he stays ..he still gets my vote. there is Nothing more important that Trump being kicked to the gutter.
I am not ignoring the felon -- and I completely agree that he needs to be kicked to the gutter. You and I just differ on the best way to get there. I will of course vote for Biden if he stays in. I just think our chances are better with a different candidate. I am not bashing Biden - I think he has done a great job and is a wonderful man with a life of public service.
Here’s the most important point. Biden met with 20 democrat governors yesterday. They had a very frank conversation with Biden letting them know he is not stepping down. Every governor is resolute in backing Biden and are now back in their home states working hard to re-elect Biden.
President Biden has accomplished a lot of good for Americans with slim congressional support. He is an honorable man who understands deeply how to do his job and get things done. This talk of another candidate at this point is self defeating.
If you are resolutely behind our Democracy, we all need to stop wasting time on a different candidate and get busy doing everything each of us can do to get out the vote!! This is the only path we have at this time to prevent Project 2025 from being released to destroy our Democracy. The choice is stark. Work hard. Get out the vote! (GOTV). We can and we will win.
Well said, Dorlin. Thank you.
I agree with most of what is said here.
If Biden is my only choice I will vote for him. That would be the only reason. He has done a few good things during the last four years but not enough for me to think he’s the end-all, be-all that many people are claiming he is. I don’t know him personally so can’t claim he’s a wonderful man. I can look at how he and Jill ignored the existence of their 7th grandchild for 5 years and make a judgement of his (their) character based on that. (Children aren’t responsible for how they come into being.) He has been in public service for most of his life but that alone doesn’t mean it was all great. Anyone remember Anita Hill and how Clarence Thomas ended up on the bench?
We have to think about what is best for the country and first and foremost at this moment in time we must do what Garland refused to do and keep trump out of the White House.
Oh please. Joe and Jill clearly adore their family, that is obvious. Re the "7th grandchild", has it occurred to you that Hunter and the child's mother made the decision to protect the little girl in privacy? Until terms of custody, visitation, financial support, etc. were finalized? (I read somewhere that this process was long and contentious.) There is no way, NO WAY the Biden's would "ignore" a grandchild! They were asked to be silent in the best interests of the child until matters were settled. Can you imagine the publicity that Fox and the MAGAts would have generated? They have tried EVERYTHING to rip Hunter to shreds. Cudos to all the Biden family for keeping this a private matter, and I'm sure that was no easy task, being the nation's First Family and all.
Kasumii: I agree with what you state here.
Nevertheless, we must lawfully do all things necessary to keep neo-Fascist Trump and Project 2025 OUT of the White House.
All things necessary . . . within the law . . . ALL . . . without regard to person.
And while we are at it. The Supreme Court is busy on empowering the Presidency.
Maybe . . . Maybe Biden could use newly legal means . . .?!
I have wondered what Biden could do under the new “law”.
Could he arrest the 6 fascist judges for attempting to overthrow our Constitution? For aiding and abetting the insurrectionist by granting him immunity for his crimes of insurrection?
I’m not being facetious. I’m serious. All 6 are clearly aiding and abetting trump. They just laid the groundwork for him to become a dictator/monarch. Shouldn’t the DOJ be looking into this?
President Biden is the best president this country has had since FDR. He has done more for every single American, no matter their party, than anyone since. He inherited the country deep in a pandemic that the predecessor did nothing to try to block, resulting in the unnecessary death of hundreds of thousands of people. He helped the country come out of the pandemic economically better than any other country. He's never had affairs, never associated with (and evidence shows he is) a pedophile. Hasn't stolen national secrets (documents he did find were immediately turned in, at the same time Pence equally found documents in his possession). His administration has brought CHIPs, PACT, and manufacturing production back to the U.S. creating jobs and building the economy. 15.5M new jobs. Unemployment at sustained record lows. Repeated record highs of the stock market. And the reason he ran was because he saw what tfg was doing to our country, tearing it apart, filling everyone with hate and anger. He ran to give the 'soul' back to America and that is something that the fascist party assisted by the media and foreign parties bent on destroying the American experiment just won't allow to happen.
BTW, President Biden calls every single one of his children and grandchildren every single day to tell them how much he loves them and to check on them. He's an example to me. I'm lucky to talk to my kids once a week (adult children).
Laurie, There are 4 months and 1 day until the election.
1) Who would you like that "different candidate" to be?
2) Would there be a consensus for that person *now*, or would it not happen until the Democratic Convention that starts 6-1/2 weeks from now?
3) If there is a new candidate by the end of the Convention, any person other than Kamala Harris will have just over 11 weeks from then until the election to a) raise a ton of money to spend on campaigning, a task make very difficult by the fact that the Biden/Harris campaign funds cannot be spent by others, b) set up and staff local campaign offices, especially in the swing states (see point a) re money), and c) do everything possible to convince people, particularly new and younger individuals and those now saying they will simply sit out this election, to register and to VOTE!!!
They are trying to divide us to conquer us...and it works.
When the times are tough, the tough get going. We need to be better than the insurrectionists, their aiders, abettors apologists. Regardless of outcome, internal doubts, anxieties, we need to out register and out vote them despite the media blitz.. Uncle Sam needs us to step up.
https://www.fieldteam6.org/
I agree. Biden should stay put. I cannot wrap my head around the talk of replacing him. He has done fantastic work and one event cannot erase any of it. Isn't Kamala already his VP? If his health fails, isn't she already next in line for the position? Any debate within the party is nothing but harmful, and it weakens us.
Look at our history and all of the debates. People have lost debates and gone on to be elected. Why, oh why, oh why is everyone hung up on ONE debate when we have three and a half years of incredible accomplishments? Why is because the far-right media, owned by the fascists and MAGA donors make it so. Good grief, get over it and MOVE ON.
When some of us say that Joe Biden has been a great President, but that after watching the debate we don't think he has the strength, stamina, vigor or mental agility to RUN for President in 2024, that is not "bashing" Biden. That is facing reality.
It's incredibly important that Democrats win this election. If Joe Biden isn't up to Running for President, Democrats need to very quickly present some alternatives to the public. There are many excellent & popular Democratic Governors, some from "must-win" states like Wisc., PA & Mich., like Tony Evers, Josh Shapiro & Gretchen Whitmer. Others are Gov. Andy Beshear of KY, Gov. Jared Polis of CO, Gov. Wes Moore of MD, Gov. Gavin Newsom of CA & Gov.Phil Murphy of NJ.
There are also excellent Democratic Senators available: Sheldon Whitehouse of RI, Cory Booker of NJ, Bob Casey of PA, both VA Senators Tim Kaine & Mark Warner, Sherrod Brown of Ohio & Chris Murphy of Conn.
Available if they agree to run, that is. Passing over Kamala Harris would have consequences with women and especially with Black women, who are called the engine of the Democratic Party. Whatever we do is a gamble.
I was disappointed that Sherrod Brown would not run in 2020. He is 71 now. But he could play a president on TV, and he has been elected in Ohio for several terms.
Yes Carol, whatever we do is a gamble. These are unprecedented times, and that's an understatement. VP Harris is doing an excellent job, leading on women's rights and strong on the entire Dem platform. My question is, will the swing states vote for a Black woman Democrat for president? Democracy lives or dies on the voters in the swing states, and that's an unfortunate truth. The electoral college is a huge problem as we know.
Also huge financial consequences. The pot goes to Harris only if Biden doesn’t run.
KMD: We are in a rough spot.
It is late in the game to change horses.
Can the new horse, should we choose her, gear up and win the nation in time?!
But, can Biden recover?!
I have a rather pessimistic view of November.
Plus a Supreme Court that puts a Presidency on Steroids like a Dictatorship.
My little acreage in the Rheinpfalz near the Rhine River in Germany is looking better and better . . . And I am bilingual and have roots on the Rhein. Hmmm. We are in a helluva mess.
If media would stop gnawing that bone to dust and began to focus on all of the wonderful things he has done and will continue to do they would be a powerful force toward saving our country. They seem to be of the 'anything for a story' mentality no matter the damage.
How about Angus King, the Independent from Maine? If he were to have Harris as his running mate and promise to serve only one term and leave the future to the younger generation leaders, would that be a winning ticket?
It will be best if we get on the Biden train and stopped considering any other candidate. That alone divides us.
Angus, by the way is 80 years old himself.
I had thought he was 77 and clearly keen of mind.
How many voters even know anything about him? Same question about the individuals named by KMD above? All of those would be starting a presidential campaign with little money and both hands tied behind their backs.
The problem is not one bad debate. The problem is that Biden has not shown that he can follow up a bad debate with a high energy campaign. Any other candidate will be two decades younger than Trump and will make it obvious to Trump’s supporters how much Trump has slipped since 2016. A campaign that can attack Trump seven days a week will wear him down and make him mad. That’s when the crazy comes out. Not the right-wing crazy, but the sharks and batteries and “What the F#?k are you talking about?” crazy. That’s how we defeat Trump.
We do not want to be ruled by mortals, says our spirits. We are created and live because we are afforded by grace to remain. If truth and grace live in you, its power overcomes all obstacles. I live it everyday. I know the power of my Creator. I trust his judgements for they are right. His sons and daughters seek peace and love for all. Sex has nothing to do with love.
Allison: This is the most puzzling of the responses.
I wish you, and your sons and daughters peace and good health.
With Leonard Nemoy ("Spock" on Star Trek): "Live Long and Prosper!"
Good morning, Laurie…I must respectfully but forcefully disagree with your position on the current kerfuffle. Joe Biden is old, of that there is no refutation. But being old is not the cursed state of being that our egregiously ageist society is all too ready to promote without question. As a retired neurologist with a decidedly neuroscientific perspective, I know how the aging brain works and how off track—that is, blatantly wrong—our overly facile public interpretation of debate-gate has been from the outset during the national panic attack since the prime time fiasco on the 27th of June. There are millions of older Americans living in the shadows of forced retirement who have well developed and highly active intellectual potency that remains veiled by our lifelong, cultural conditioning that aging is synonymous with enfeeblement. Old brains are in many cases brimming with insights that have been successfully honed by years of learning, precision weighted by experience. In very many ways the aging brain operates more efficiently than the young and less experienced brain. Unfortunately, to get the the best out of an aging brain, the waning energies of the body housing the aging brain must be skillfully and intelligently managed. Joe Biden’s physical schedule for the 2 weeks heading into that fateful Thursday night a week ago was horribly mismanaged by his “team of handlers”! Heads should roll and their positions filled by folks who are far more enlightened as to the strengths and vulnerabilities of someone in the 9th decade of life. Rather than a fatal flaw, Joe Biden’s well-honed cognitive and emotional talents are the tonic this country most definitely needs—especially as a counterbalance to Drumof’s malevolent insanity. Besides, letting JB remain at the top of the ticket insulates Democrats from donning their traditional cloak as feckless bed wetters, bent on attracting ill-informed attention in a most crucial time of our nation’s history.
Thank you for this, Dr. Berarducci. Your defense of President Biden is beautifully stated and you speak with the authority of experience. I especially appreciate "...our lifelong, cultural conditioning that aging is synonymous with enfeeblement..:" and reference to President Biden's "well-honed cognitive and emotional talents". I remain convinced that he is the man we need at this critical point in our history.
Thank you for saying what I have believed all along. I really appreciate your clarity and your expertise. I am 79 and while my brain doesn't operate exactly the same as it has in the past, it still does a whole lot better than my body does. And there are many things I do better now than when I was younger, because my life experience has taught me a lot. I strongly believe that life experience as a teacher cannot be overrated.
Former teacher here, you're 100% correct Susan, A+
Thank you, Pamela! That may be the first A+ I've ever gotten.
What is strange is that Trump is not seen as too old. He is reported to take a couple of hours on his hairstyle and makeup before showing up for his duties around noon. Tweeting in the small hours of the morning. “Executive Time.”
The look in Trump’s eyes during at his recent trial, his falling asleep during testimony—these apparently aren’t to be compared with Biden’s stiff gait or losing his train of thought in the midst of the firehouse of lies. Trump’s train of thought was on a circular track. Horrible immigrants, horrible Biden, USA laughed at abroad, life was great when he was in charge.
Bravo for your exquisite statement, Dr. Berarducci! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 We cannot throw Biden under the bus and how shameful of some of us to think that way. We have an election to win against a 34 count indicted criminal and by gawwd, we’d better do it!
Thank you so much! I see people daily in my work who are in their 70s, 80s,.90s, and some over 100 who are just as sharp as those 20-30 years younger. They also suffer from the agism by not receiving the same quality of healthcare as one younger which is disgraceful, unethical, and frightening. We must look inside the package and ignore the wrapping paper, age! Biden has so much packed inside that will allow us to continue to enjoy the quality of life we consider our norm. Age does not define our ability not our worth! Get over it!
I appreciate your medical insight; however, I was amazed to see Biden appear in shock (i.e., staring w/mouth agape) for many moments during his stage time. I agree that he seemed “set up” by his campaign team. Elder abuse it certainly was - I wondered why they didn’t cancel/reschedule, and do it during the morning or daytime, after he recovered from his laryngeal problem! I support Biden having a thorough medical work up, and his stepping aside so Harris can continue the fight for the “SOUL of our Nation” - our Democratic Republic. We need to kill “project 2025” w/a thousand cuts!!
No need for chaos or neurotic grandstanding by democrats of any kind - Senator or Representative. Biden has been a “work horse” in service to the American people - there are other ways to LEAD - and one is to open the door for a new, energetic leader, like Harris.
(He also needs to be honest w/himself, end his defiance and denial, and watch his own “debate” - I hear he admitted to not seeing this truth, which was caught on camera!)
Harris can lead U.S. OUT/away from
Netanyahu’s genocide of Palestinians, she can galvanize WOMEN of all COLORS, including “immigrants” (we ALL are!), AND pull smart, young (and senior) VOTERS back from the brink of “uncommitted”! Harris-Biden has always been the long-term plan! Biden can continue to use his connections and intelligence to gut “project 2025” before any blood is let.
We need to plan for the worst, and hope for the best (Jack Reacher), as any Democratic TEAM must.
Deborah: I agree with the sense and wisdom of your approach to this question—all, that is, except changing candidates this late in the election cycle, as it will backfire loudly and spectacularly. LBJ exited the 1968 race because of flagging support for his handling of the war in Vietnam. The result: an unmitigated disaster of a nominating convention in Chicago ultimately giving us Richard M. Nixon. Also in related fashion, George McGovern caved and replaced Thomas Eagleton on the ticket when it became known that Sen. Eagleton had been treated with ECT for severe depression earlier in his life. Result: McGovern lost 49 states to 1 (Massachusetts) in the fall of ‘68. Our current conundrum is one likely best served without radical surgery (pushing excessively hard to oust JRB from the ticket for a younger candidate) when our situation demands first that we beat Drumpf in November. We then can turn hard into a truly Democratic (& democratic) handoff to the next generation. We face the greatest of all evils—abandoning our constitutional democracy by making the wrong set of moves now. As Thich Nhat Hanh points out in “No Mud; No Lotus”, there can be no unequivocal “good” (beauty of the Lotus) without the patience & experience skillfully to manage the “bad” (the foul smelling Mud in which the Lotus flourishes). Beat Donald Trump now to save our democracy; have at a spirited post-election debate AFTER his threat to our way of living has been thoroughly defeated in November!
Again, thank you. The Public also needs to know these details of the high cost of any deviation from the candidate chosen by the People in the Primaries. It is past time to hoist JRB on our shoulders and carry him to victory in November which will let the light of Democracy and freedom shine brightly forever.
Dr Berarducci, I greatly appreciate your post so much, but only those who visit this site will see it. The country needs to read your words. To have these truths you present here and not have them reach all who need to know it is a shame. I am not sure how, but if there is a way to get these words out to the public, it may curtail some of the cruel needless harassment being forced on President Biden. Media seems unwilling to give up their assault on him, so they need to have your words with encouragement to focus on them for a change. Please try to get this into the hands of those who can reach the People. It isn't fair to Biden or to us for people to vote without the truth and all of the facts. Kay B, AGNP-C
Thanks for the kind words, KayB…I will consider your suggestion seriously, as there does need to be a sensible counterweight to the ceaseless, hair-on-fire approach to every news tidbit (especially this one) in every news cycle, round the clock, day after day! “Death by a thousand paper cuts” is a very real, destructive, and unattractive phenomenon! Again, thanks for your suggestion.
If it can be presented without having it specifically related to B, that would serve to inform and may allow the focus to remain on the information and not on the best hope we have to continue to live free.
Bravo!
Well said!
Thank you!
totally agree
No, they wouldn't. History does not support that hypothesis. Only once in history in 1968 has an incumbent president withdrawn from the race. Chaos ensued, the Dems lost, and Nixon was elected. No other candidate has Biden's foreign policy experience, which is absolutely crucial, and Biden/Harris campaign funds, by law, may not be used by any other candidate. The notion of plopping someone else into the nomination to start from scratch thus disenfranchising millions of voters who voted for Biden in the primaries is ludicrous. We must win this election with Biden and prepare the younger candidate, whoever that is, for 2028. Get on board. We've got an election to win!
Hi Elizabeth, Thanks for neatly summarizing what I believe to be the two major issues here: Biden's invaluable foreign policy knowledge and experience, and the funding issue. Does anybody know if Harris, were she to become a replacement nominee, would have access to the Biden/Harris current funds? I gather nobody else would, and can't see how that would not be a major roadblock
Do you actually think it would take Trump -- and his surrogates -- longer than one nanosecond to develop "a patter" about any replacement nominee?
Julie a few well informed people wrote:
“…. removing Joe Biden is the outcome Donald Trump hopes for the most. Is granting Donald Trump his fondest wish something that sounds smart?”
“the thing Trump most fears is Biden staying in the race“
I couldn’t agree more!! If Biden were to drop out Trump would feel like he’d won. He’d claim victory. He’d claim Biden was intimidated by him, was weak and that is why he dropped out. It would increase Trump’s the rhetorical ammo.
He’d use his dropping out to disparage all Democrats and the Democratic Party as being weak. He’d say the Democratic Party is in such chaos having their (new) candidate as President would be a disaster for our country. Biden dropping out is a sign any Democrat is unfit to be president.
He’d think his “tactics” worked and become even more emboldened and escalate his lying, bullying, threatening, disparaging remarks etc. be more ruthless in his attacks toward everybody he dislikes, toward any and every institution he dislikes (FBI, Justice Dept. etc).
Bottom line Biden dropping out is exactly what Trump wants!
Biden should stay in! Period!
Certainly we all agree! However, we must also focus on registering younger voters and particularly young women who are, and should be, very worried by the Republican assault nationwide on reproductive rights including IVF. How do we do that other than communicate the pressing need to register and vote within our own families and circle of friends? There are many groups doing voter registration work but there is one group of brilliant Harvard students who focus only on truly “competitive” congressional districts and Senate elections— www.TurnUp.US. There are only 38 such truly competitive House elections and 11 Senate elections! They focus on attracting young voters by concentrating only on abortion rights, gun safety and climate! It is a nonpartisan C3 so it’s tax deductible. Please visit their website today and contribute generously? They really know what they are doing and worked very effectively in 2023 by helping to win all 9 statewide elections on abortion rights. Thank you; TurnUp will register and turn out hundreds of thousands of new young voters in key elections! The key to victory!
Thank you, shared the link with my 3 voting age grandchildren
Try to add a link to Turn Up USA, I'm going to find it right now!
It’s www.TurnUp.US
I found it, downloaded the app and the app could not verify my cell number with a text message and allow me to create an account. I hope someone from turnup is monitoring this thread so they can fix the problem. Not very timely....
Voting isn't enough. The ideology needs to be recognized for the sedition it represents.
Absolutely.
Finally; this is the kind of action from Democrats that we have been waiting for! I hope it's not too late. They have been reticent long enough. It's time to take the helm and steer before the boat sinks.
Thank you for sharing this, Joyce, and for keeping us informed in a time of greedy media sell-outs.
I agree. I read this and my first thought was “Finally!!”. My second was “Where in the %^*} has this response been?!”
I’m happy to support this work - if it truly gets off the ground and is as hard-hitting as it needs to be.
Stop Project 2025 Task Force! Excellent piece, thank you Joyce, Congressman Huffman and Jamie Raskin.
In our state, voting is so easy it's almost embarrassing. Our ballots are mailed to us and once completed we can either mail 'em back in postage-paid envelopes or drop 'em off in secure drop boxes all over town.
There's no standing in line for hours in sweltering heat as some actual patriots have to do.
Yet--- we sometimes get as little as 35% participation, and that is literally a shame on those who won't even make a tiny effort to BE a democracy.
Democracy is not what we HAVE, it's what we DO.
If we do not, we will have not.
Thanks for this Joyce. Safe to say we are all in a state of distress this July 4th. Whatever happens with President Biden, we need to stick together. We can disagree without attacking one another, just by realizing we are all terrified of what could happen. Joyce I work in the Attorney General's Office of my state and will raise this task force with her team --maybe there are things we can do at the state level, even in blue states. Everyone, celebrate America today and rededicate yourselves to spending the next four months doing everything you can to save our beautiful country.
❤️🤍💙
Ginny, thank you! That is an excellent idea - sharing it with State AG. “Everyone, celebrate America today and rededicate yourselves to spending the next four months doing everything you can to save our beautiful country. “
Republicans continue to stress Bidens failure to address "kitchen table" issues affecting middle/lower income Americans. In combating Project 2025 you need to get specific for folks and highlight how detrimental ti's would be not only for our democracy (too theoretical for many) but specifically how it will disenfranchise each family.
With no trust from our allies, our international alliances will wither and the world will be a whole lot less safe. I care more about my grand-children than almost anything else. The world they will live i over the next 50 years can be destroyed by Trump, Bannon, Mike Flynn, Stephen Miller, et al.
Like, no regulations on clean air or water.
Thank you for each day you work to keep us informed. Indeed, we’re in this together. Happy Independence Day!
“Heritage” and “Federalist”. Sounds so American! NOT! Americans value voting rights, civil rights, women’s rights, gender rights, education access, a protected environment and safe clean energy. We want workers earning an unlivable wage to be able to get by and increase their wages to a livable status. We want Social Security, Medicare, Childcare, Parental leave, Head Start, affordable insulin and hearing aids.
We want affordable education and training for everyone. We want equal justice school lunches. We want to bring down the cost of home rentals and home ownership. We want economic and environmental justice for everyone. We want no nonsense racial equality across the nation. We want to help businesses stop polluting our environment and seek a steadfast transition from burning fossil fuels. We want to meet the increased demand for energy with conservation strategies and more clean energy!
We can do this! That’s some of what’s in the American Project!
Add in a decent income for disabled veterans and a VA healthcare system that treats all veterans equally without the racism and misogyny that are currently baked into the system.
See Kasumii’s comment about including a decent wage and services for our disabled veterans!
REPUBLICAN MAGGOTS are good for ONE thing
Crafting ideas and agendas that Harm the American People ..ALl of their agendas are focused on
Keeping the wealthy ..wealthier ..
and Keeping the Poor ..poorer - sick- uneducated if possible - and / or dead.
they seem to want a country where they the RICH can lord over the rest of us ...
and, If you refuse to play the long game ....you can die..they don't care.
attacking environment ... equals Death
attacking education ...equals, you won't know the difference because you're too stupid ..DEATH
Forced Child birth ..Mental illness, poverty , and Death .
this is why Covid was not that serious to the Republicans in congress or the President.
Before you read my next sentence ..Pause ...take a deep breath ..and think about it .
Maggot Republicans and republicans in general ..ALWAYS HAVE POPULATION PURGES / CLEANSES, ON THE MIND ..BECAUSE THEY WILL BE DAMNED IF THEIR TAX DOLLARS ARE GOING TO GO TO HELP ANY BLACK, ASIAN, BROWN , HISPANIC, ////YOU NAME IT ...PERSON .
OTHER THAN WHITE
Pretty much sums it up for me. I'd add "males" too. The misogyny is baked into their roots.
Magdalena - Last month, on the same day, I had my MAGA brother-in-law and my 81-year-old MAGA friend tell me that to save the world, the world population must be cut in half…
There ya go
Isn't that an insult to fly larvae?
It is time to oppose the Nazis (Project 2025 is a Nazi project; all supporters of Project 2025 are Nazis; no supporter of Project 2025 is a loyal American).
Joyce, Thank you for this 🙏 , happy Independence Day!
All i can say is, about freakin time. Ty joyce. Ty congressman.
How bizarre is it that the opposition (Democrats) are publicizing the opposition (Republican) platform, while the latter tries to hide it because it is so unpopular with the voting public. Why would anyone want to vote against their own interests?
Amazingly people vote against their own interests all the time.
Yep. Hoosiers do so every election. They gladly elect politicians who destroy social programs and civil rights that they themselves would benefit from as long as doing so means keeping all those “others” from receiving the same. Hatred and fear, especially steeped in fundamentalism, are addictive drugs.
I ask myself that daily
This was a great interview! Thank you for the resources 🗽
Steve Beschloss's Substack Patti offered this this idea.
Just sent this to the White House….Mr. President - I like you but let's face it - that debate was sadly a bomb. BUT...I am behind you 100%! YOU are my guy. I have a great idea that your high paid idea guys (that includes women) should think about. You have money. Buy media spots and have your Cabinet heads spotlight his/her counterpart of Project 2025 and what will happen to the American people if Trump is elected. You NEED to remind the American people that you are NOT a solo act. You are surrounded by talented, informed, well educated and dedicated to democratic principals people. By educating fellow Americans not only about your staff but about the truly terrifying Project 2025, it is win win for everyone. Help us help everyone by informing everyone of what WILL happen. Just look at the Supreme Court and what has happened there with a 4 year term and McConnell's corruptions. Think about it Mr. President. I hope you get this.
It is good to know that there is an organization opposed to 2025.
Markers For Democracy is proud to be mentioned on the Defeat Project 2025 website as a means to take action!
https://defeatproject2025.org/take-action/