I mentioned earlier holding off on some plans to connect more. It would be fairly perilous in an election year. People can be so annoying. More annoying than usual, I would say, except that some of the worst people are making that their personalities now. If I have old affection for them I hope they can come around, but this may not be the time to look for it.
Anyway, one of the minor issues -- and the reason that this post is specifically about Biden rather than Harris or Trump -- relates to the pressure on him to step down, followed by the outcry from those who cried that the previously professed loyalty to Biden was clearly insincere when everyone got so happy about Harris being the new candidate.
Allow me to clarify my thoughts.
I believe Biden has done a good job as president. I think that is more important than debate performance, especially when at our current level of polarization no one is watching the debates to make up their minds. They are watching the debates to reinforce what they already believe. The people who do not find Trump's narcissism, grift, and incessant lying disqualifying aren't going to change. It's awful, but that's how it is.
I would also like to throw out something that I read early on in his presidency, about how much danger there would be of more insurrection, which required some careful treading and diplomacy. Biden has faced a lot of open obstruction, but yes, there are people who were willing to hang a vice-president if it would bring them closer to their desired dictator for life. That group quite possibly includes members of the Secret Service, who are supposed to be the protectors. And with protocol and propriety, you have to send away the dog instead of them.
Then, that there was so much nitpicking at every minor gaffe as a sign of his age, when he has a speech impediment, he has always been kind of known for gaffes, and the competitor is Trump, who can barely string a coherent sentence together... pressuring Biden to step down seemed very misguided, except it was probably more racist.
Because we had a competent vice president right there, certainly more qualified than Vance. Except she's a Black woman.
There were just too many reasons to think that was part of the motivation.
Look, I can sympathize with a certain amount of fear about a woman losing to Trump; the last time was devastating. I still feel pretty strongly that the solution to fighting the racist misogynists is not becoming them. For one thing, the people who specifically want terrible white men will never be satisfied by one of ours.
So I was irritated with those -- and they were pretty much rich white men -- who were pressuring Biden to step down.
Then, when Biden stepped down endorsing Kamala Harris, guaranteeing that she was the choice going forward, it was beautiful.
First of all, Biden no longer has to bother with the debates, he can focus on governing. Good!
We did not suddenly become less progressive. Good!
It was a good move and well executed. I applaud (and only a little bit because it ticked off people who had ticked off me).
Is Biden perfect? Absolutely not. Harris won't be either.
People are upset about Israel and Gaza, including me. However, the guy who relocated the US embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem is not going to be better for Palestinians. Even if a third party candidate had a chance, looking at this crew, none of them should.
I would have gladly voted for Biden-Harris, and I gladly filled out by mail-in ballot Sunday night for Harris-Walz.
It is absolutely still important to push for change. Next week I hope to write more about that.
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