Josh Marshall's note to subscribers this afternoon, which I totally agree with:
I hope the leaders have given some good thought to what Kamala Harris’ campaign will look like and how it will do. That’s not at all doubting how she’ll do. It’s just a reflection of the fact that this is a really big decision. But don’t assume that they have …
Josh Marshall's note to subscribers this afternoon, which I totally agree with:
I hope the leaders have given some good thought to what Kamala Harris’ campaign will look like and how it will do. That’s not at all doubting how she’ll do. It’s just a reflection of the fact that this is a really big decision. But don’t assume that they have hidden knowledge that you or I don’t. This is fundamentally a guess that Harris will do better. An educated guess. But it’s still a leap into the unknown which sets aside a lot of really basic assumptions about how you win the presidency. And while I said I’m agnostic on who the candidate should be, I don’t think it can be anyone besides Joe Biden or Kamala Harris for reasons I’ve said before. I definitely think Harris can win. And I think there are various ways her selection can be a big shot in the arm for Democrats. The last three weeks of paralysis have been devastating and everyone wants to move past this. It won’t be the same campaign. There are slivers of the electorate that Biden has access to which I don’t think Harris does. But I think it goes the other way too. Harris can get to places Biden couldn’t. So it’s a different kind of campaign. It’s probably one where the southern tier states come a bit more into view and the blue wall states a touch less. There are lots of potential upsides and downsides. And everyone has to accept that range of possibilities and throw themselves into making it happen.
Final note. There are a lot of ordinary Democratic voters who are really pissed about the idea that Biden is getting forced out of the race. Anyone who doesn’t get that is totally, totally fooling themselves. And there are a lot of people fooling themselves. I’m pretty confident that is manageable if that happens. But it needs to be managed. The key thing is Biden embracing it and credibly embracing it. The other critical part is Kamala Harris being the next choice. And more generally it has to be done with a lot of smarts and grace to honor Biden’s presidency and not give anyone any sense that he’s being tossed aside or treated in an undignified way. We already had a primary process. Democratic voters chose Joe Biden. You only set that aside in the most extraordinary situations. And only Biden himself has the standing to do that and make it work and have Democrats accept it.
I feel as badly as I did the day my mother died in 1977. But what's going to happen will affect our country not just me. These people had a chance to rally around President Biden and help him and Harris across the finish line. Instead they knee capped him. It honest to God blows my mind.
Yes, Rita, if MAGAts win people will die or be imprisoned. That sadist, Stephen Miller, will be unleashed again to wreak havoc. The free press will be done away with. I could go on, but I'm making myself sick.?
I'm 76. I grew up on stories from my parents about WW2. They both loved FDR who was in a wheelchair and dying. So many of today's Dems are weak and worried about their congressional seats. They don't understand with Trump as President, their seat doesn't mean anything. They would sacrifice their mother to win. I told my husband it feels like the close of WW2 and we lost to Germany and Japan.
I'm Jewish. My kids are half Jewish. With anti-Semite Steven Miller in charge I'm afraid we're going to find ourselves in one of those "camps". But I'll have good company: Chuck Schumer, Jamie Raskin, Jared Moskowitz and many more.
My mom died in 1977 also, the earth shifted in ways that I couldn’t fathom. Our candidate being wounded by friendly fire is earth shifting for all of us, in ways that many of us can see, but cannot stop.
My mother used to tell me as a little girl that she was past angry all the way to downright mad. I am CUSSING MAD at the stupid rift the media and the Dem politicians have cooked up because Joe Biden did not perform like they expected in that stupid shitstorm referred to as a debate.
I’m sure they think they know best, but do they have to destroy the party with this fiasco. They remind me of the genuses at Enron a while back. Arrogant and willing to bet the future of the country.
If this bullshit does cause Biden to step down the Democratic party's most serious risk, I believe, is that many of their previously invested and supporting voters feeling betrayed, disenfranchised, and disgusted, therefore staying away in droves.
The geniuses with their shiny suits and chauffeurered services are simply just unable to understand how the people they are so out of touch with think & feel though, aren't they.
It's been like the invasion of the body snatchers. And honestly if this happens I may not vote. I worked so hard to help Biden in 2020 losing friends along the way. I've donated, I've supported. Hell, I'm all in on the dark Brandon coffee cup. But three months before the election to save democracy, these Democrats led by Obama knife the President??? This group would have pushed FDR's wheelchair over the cliff.
I fully understand, have felt and done the same in the past. That said, I think that the issues in this election are just too important to abstain from when anyone's vote may matter. Speaking personally, I would put my own feelings aside and pull the handle voting for every Democrat (asshole or otherwise) on the ticket over any and every singe Republican ankle.*
I have lived in Texas for almost sixty-five years. There are so many good, decent people here. We vote. We mobilize. We protest. Maybe we make some dents, but I'm not sure because regardless Maga Republicans control this state. Plus a federal judge Trump appointed is here to overturn any verdicts they don't like. If I was a young woman, I wouldn't live here. Ted Cruz is pure scum, and I am going to vote for Colin Allread. Even so Cruz will probably win because people have brain worms. At midterms nine million Texans stayed home. Nine million. I promise not to be one.
It is. Some still seem good at first glance, til you mention equality. Then it’s qualified in a million different ways that I had never noticed before.
Oh thank you. I have only been in Texas for sixty-two years. Loved it before W and the dirty tricksters. I will vote for Allred but think he was stupid to give up his seat when Ted is the slimmest cheater here. And that is a tall hill to climb. Texas is hopeless but hope not all swing states are. DFW would be purple, as Houston was, if not for the evil shenanigans
Josh Marshall's note to subscribers this afternoon, which I totally agree with:
I hope the leaders have given some good thought to what Kamala Harris’ campaign will look like and how it will do. That’s not at all doubting how she’ll do. It’s just a reflection of the fact that this is a really big decision. But don’t assume that they have hidden knowledge that you or I don’t. This is fundamentally a guess that Harris will do better. An educated guess. But it’s still a leap into the unknown which sets aside a lot of really basic assumptions about how you win the presidency. And while I said I’m agnostic on who the candidate should be, I don’t think it can be anyone besides Joe Biden or Kamala Harris for reasons I’ve said before. I definitely think Harris can win. And I think there are various ways her selection can be a big shot in the arm for Democrats. The last three weeks of paralysis have been devastating and everyone wants to move past this. It won’t be the same campaign. There are slivers of the electorate that Biden has access to which I don’t think Harris does. But I think it goes the other way too. Harris can get to places Biden couldn’t. So it’s a different kind of campaign. It’s probably one where the southern tier states come a bit more into view and the blue wall states a touch less. There are lots of potential upsides and downsides. And everyone has to accept that range of possibilities and throw themselves into making it happen.
Final note. There are a lot of ordinary Democratic voters who are really pissed about the idea that Biden is getting forced out of the race. Anyone who doesn’t get that is totally, totally fooling themselves. And there are a lot of people fooling themselves. I’m pretty confident that is manageable if that happens. But it needs to be managed. The key thing is Biden embracing it and credibly embracing it. The other critical part is Kamala Harris being the next choice. And more generally it has to be done with a lot of smarts and grace to honor Biden’s presidency and not give anyone any sense that he’s being tossed aside or treated in an undignified way. We already had a primary process. Democratic voters chose Joe Biden. You only set that aside in the most extraordinary situations. And only Biden himself has the standing to do that and make it work and have Democrats accept it.
Exactly, I’m One of those who is totally pissed at how he is being treated
I feel as badly as I did the day my mother died in 1977. But what's going to happen will affect our country not just me. These people had a chance to rally around President Biden and help him and Harris across the finish line. Instead they knee capped him. It honest to God blows my mind.
Yes, Rita, if MAGAts win people will die or be imprisoned. That sadist, Stephen Miller, will be unleashed again to wreak havoc. The free press will be done away with. I could go on, but I'm making myself sick.?
I'm 76. I grew up on stories from my parents about WW2. They both loved FDR who was in a wheelchair and dying. So many of today's Dems are weak and worried about their congressional seats. They don't understand with Trump as President, their seat doesn't mean anything. They would sacrifice their mother to win. I told my husband it feels like the close of WW2 and we lost to Germany and Japan.
We may have ‘won’ the Civil war but the segregationists are more powerful than ever!
And I thought it was repubs who sold their soul for a seat in Congress.
I'm Jewish. My kids are half Jewish. With anti-Semite Steven Miller in charge I'm afraid we're going to find ourselves in one of those "camps". But I'll have good company: Chuck Schumer, Jamie Raskin, Jared Moskowitz and many more.
My mom died in 1977 also, the earth shifted in ways that I couldn’t fathom. Our candidate being wounded by friendly fire is earth shifting for all of us, in ways that many of us can see, but cannot stop.
My mother used to tell me as a little girl that she was past angry all the way to downright mad. I am CUSSING MAD at the stupid rift the media and the Dem politicians have cooked up because Joe Biden did not perform like they expected in that stupid shitstorm referred to as a debate.
Whose idea was that debate anyway? The timing was abysmal and the evil, cruel Blabbermouth is incapable of debating or even telling the truth.
I'm with you, Ms. Chilcutt.
ESPECIALLY the bit about foregoing Kamala Harris. WTeverlovingF are they even thinking???
Totally ignoring the vote of the people. Damn, destruction derby time
We, too, are absolutely pissed off at the defection taking place.
At first I saw the word ‘defication’ instead of defection! Perhaps the former word is apt for this election cycle!
I’m sure they think they know best, but do they have to destroy the party with this fiasco. They remind me of the genuses at Enron a while back. Arrogant and willing to bet the future of the country.
If this bullshit does cause Biden to step down the Democratic party's most serious risk, I believe, is that many of their previously invested and supporting voters feeling betrayed, disenfranchised, and disgusted, therefore staying away in droves.
The geniuses with their shiny suits and chauffeurered services are simply just unable to understand how the people they are so out of touch with think & feel though, aren't they.
It's been like the invasion of the body snatchers. And honestly if this happens I may not vote. I worked so hard to help Biden in 2020 losing friends along the way. I've donated, I've supported. Hell, I'm all in on the dark Brandon coffee cup. But three months before the election to save democracy, these Democrats led by Obama knife the President??? This group would have pushed FDR's wheelchair over the cliff.
No. You cannot do that. None of us can. We have to be stronger than that if we will save ourselves. And now we know no one else is going to do it.
We must resist now because there won't be a later.
We must work even harder. Revenge will only serve chump
I fully understand, have felt and done the same in the past. That said, I think that the issues in this election are just too important to abstain from when anyone's vote may matter. Speaking personally, I would put my own feelings aside and pull the handle voting for every Democrat (asshole or otherwise) on the ticket over any and every singe Republican ankle.*
* Three foot lower than an asshole.
I have lived in Texas for almost sixty-five years. There are so many good, decent people here. We vote. We mobilize. We protest. Maybe we make some dents, but I'm not sure because regardless Maga Republicans control this state. Plus a federal judge Trump appointed is here to overturn any verdicts they don't like. If I was a young woman, I wouldn't live here. Ted Cruz is pure scum, and I am going to vote for Colin Allread. Even so Cruz will probably win because people have brain worms. At midterms nine million Texans stayed home. Nine million. I promise not to be one.
Thanks for the reminder that the Good People in Texas are Really Good People (cuz it's harder to do there)
It is. Some still seem good at first glance, til you mention equality. Then it’s qualified in a million different ways that I had never noticed before.
Oh thank you. I have only been in Texas for sixty-two years. Loved it before W and the dirty tricksters. I will vote for Allred but think he was stupid to give up his seat when Ted is the slimmest cheater here. And that is a tall hill to climb. Texas is hopeless but hope not all swing states are. DFW would be purple, as Houston was, if not for the evil shenanigans
Oh please, NO. Let’s use our rage to our purpose. If Joe can deal with this, so must we…
I hope nobody stays away. That would be crippling all of us, not just shooting Dems in the feet.