Heidi Li FeldmanFriends, it is important to know that millions of rank and file Democrats are concerned about Biden’s health and/or his ability to beat Trump. Accusing them of wanting a Trump victory is neither accurate nor honest. We have to be the party where people can freely express concerns about Biden — otherwise, we risk degenerating into the current Republican situation, where all dissent has been quashed. 1/
As I have said before, my only interest in the upcoming federal elections is in Democrats holding the White House and Senate and, if at all possible, taking the House. My nightmare is a Republican trifecta at the federal level. None of us can know today the best way to produce the best outcome and avert the worst. Many of us are anxious and afraid. Some crave a certainty that is impossible to achieve until we have the election and winners are inaugurated. Understandable, but impossible. 2/
We have to be able to talk to each other, here and elsewhere, without unduly exacerbating each other’s vulnerabilities, anger, and fears regarding American politics at this particularly difficult juncture. I am grateful to those who clearly make an effort to respond in a measured way to those who differ from them in their assessments of Biden’s health and abilities. I am trying to absorb a wide range of views on these matters. I invite you to join me in this effort. 3/
Whatever your or my most ardent preference is for who does or does not head the Democratic ticket come November, we have to work together to put as many Democrats in office, at every level and every state. We can’t lose our focus on this. It has never worked for Democrats to insist that we all agree on everything. That isn’t the culture of the party nor the temperament of its rank and file. 4/
We don’t agree on when and whether we should discuss our differences. We don’t agree on any number of specific policy issues. I believe that we do agree on the importance of rule of law and secular, pluralistic democracy. In an era when so many do not, I am grateful for every one of you who does. 5/
Let’s be good to one another and hard as hell on the Republican crime syndicate and its theocratic, anti-democratic agenda. 6/6
okanogen VerminEnemyFromWithin@heidilifeldman
How about if we for once become the party that risks solidarity?
There's dissent, and then there is the selfish fuckery that helped Trump win in 2016, and looks poised to tank us yet again and elect Trump again in 2024.
There. Is. No. Way. To. Replace. Biden. At. This. Time!
Even if he died, the right-wing will find a way to prevent replacing him on ballots like Wisconsin, Nevada, etc.
The media knows this. We should, too.
How about if we for once become the party that risks solidarity?
There's dissent, and then there is the selfish fuckery that helped Trump win in 2016, and looks poised to tank us yet again and elect Trump again in 2024.
There. Is. No. Way. To. Replace. Biden. At. This. Time!
Even if he died, the right-wing will find a way to prevent replacing him on ballots like Wisconsin, Nevada, etc.
The media knows this. We should, too.
Louis Ingenthron@Okanogen @heidilifeldman Funny, because assuming our bad candidate will prevail and that we don't need to fix their failing candidacy is what sounds like 2016 to me.
@LouisIngenthron @heidilifeldman
Once again. There is no way to replace Biden. It will trigger thousands of right-wing lawsuits in front of corrupt right-wing judges to block his replacement and challenge their legitimacy if they do actually win. You know that. You aren't here for an honest discussion.
Once again. There is no way to replace Biden. It will trigger thousands of right-wing lawsuits in front of corrupt right-wing judges to block his replacement and challenge their legitimacy if they do actually win. You know that. You aren't here for an honest discussion.
@Okanogen @heidilifeldman
1) I hate to tell you this, but we're going to be going up against lots of right-wing lawsuits this election no matter what. You can't stop them. All we can do is make sure we're on the right side of the law.
2) The smug, condescending way that you assume you know my thoughts and intentions better than I do is everything that's wrong with online democrats these days. You're actively harming the party you claim to support. Take the day off for some introspection.
Kevin Leecaster@Okanogen @LouisIngenthron @heidilifeldman
He called the greatest POTUS in my lifetime that has begun the USA's transition away from fossil fuels a "bad candidate" has proven that he's either a Russian troll working for the fossil fuel industry or just a bad judge of character or something.
I don't want to assume.
@GreenFire @heidilifeldman I didn't say he was a bad president. I said he was a bad candidate. And I stand by that assessment. He just doesn't have the energy and enthusiasm he needs to GOTV or coherently rebut Trump in real-time anymore.
I watched the debate expecting Biden to smash Trump. I was horrified to watch the exact opposite unfold.
@LouisIngenthron @heidilifeldman
Well, you are welcome to vote for whoever you think is the better debater.
I choose to vote for the guy who has proven to be a great POTUS.
@GreenFire @heidilifeldman As I've said many times, it's not my vote you have to worry about.
@LouisIngenthron @heidilifeldman
I'm sticking with the voters on the left as seen in these two pictures from the two major party candidates' speeches given recently at Black churches and I've got an army of women willing to also stick with Joe Biden.
Black and Hispanic women voters provided Biden his winning edge in 2020, as 90 and 69 percent of those blocs respectively voted for him. He'll even when a majority of white women's votes this year post-Dobbs.
Chas Mcgroover@LouisIngenthron @Okanogen @heidilifeldman with all due respect, I don't think that is what is being said at all.
Yes, there will no doubt be legal challenges from the right and there will probably also be spates of violence if Democrats prevail. Trump may once again rally his MAGA zealots to try to seize power.
Many awful things are possible in this extremely fraught election.
But abiding by the rule of law is our shield and that is what Dems are trying to do.
@Okanogen @LouisIngenthron @heidilifeldman as Heather Cox Richardson pointed out last week, there is NO WAY to put another candidate on the ballot at this point. Those windows were securely closed and locked months ago.
The real question is how do we find a way to unite around the candidate we have and look to build support for our favored candidates AFTER we secure democracy? That is really the ONLY question on this ballot.
Onceoday 🩺🕊🏕
Woozle Hypertwin@heidilifeldman I agree that it's good for us to be able to question our choices. As Beau of the Fifth Column pointed out, we're having this discussion because our top candidate did poorly (by some reckonings) in a debate -- so where's the GOP, when their candidate did and has been doing far worse? They can't question their own decisions, and that's why they're fash and we aren't.
That said, it really feels like most of the worry about Biden has been induced by concern-trolling from Russian agitprop and the fash-owned big media.
Let's say it's the day Biden is sworn in. He suddenly drops dead. So what? What's important is the team he has built -- the team which has been doing most of the real legwork behind the scenes. That will go on, and we'll get a Black woman for president into the bargain.
I don't see the problem.
Frank Bennett 🇯🇵@heidilifeldman Actually I'm fine with otherwise sensible people branding me as a Russian asset. They mean well. ☺️
Tawtovo (ܬܘܬܒܐ)@heidilifeldman
What confuses me is how fully the narrative of "Biden's disastrous debate performance" has taken hold. I didn't watch the debate, but I read much of the transcript and many descriptions of the debate, and I don't see anything disastrous other than Trump's continuous falsehoods with no fact-checking from the venue. If Biden had spent all his time fact-checking Trump, he would be criticized for not putting forward a positive vision! Why do people think a quiet voice is a disaster?
What confuses me is how fully the narrative of "Biden's disastrous debate performance" has taken hold. I didn't watch the debate, but I read much of the transcript and many descriptions of the debate, and I don't see anything disastrous other than Trump's continuous falsehoods with no fact-checking from the venue. If Biden had spent all his time fact-checking Trump, he would be criticized for not putting forward a positive vision! Why do people think a quiet voice is a disaster?
@tawtovo @heidilifeldman
It's political technology that has learned to create public opinions using social media along with a few crooked media outlets and a bunch of complicit useful idiot ones that has convinced so many people that Biden lost that debate imo.
It's political technology that has learned to create public opinions using social media along with a few crooked media outlets and a bunch of complicit useful idiot ones that has convinced so many people that Biden lost that debate imo.
@GreenFire @tawtovo @heidilifeldman
Biden did not lose debate. He showed faint voice, lost gaze, incoherent rebuttals. His lisp did not help. His policy was supreme but was not audible
Biden did not lose debate. He showed faint voice, lost gaze, incoherent rebuttals. His lisp did not help. His policy was supreme but was not audible
Arena Cops 🇺🇦✌@Hash @GreenFire @tawtovo @heidilifeldman The covert successes of humble President Biden & his team, publicly not screamingly sold like DOA Trump "products", are, where they belong: In the hands & homes of the American people!
#AmericaMoves #BidenCares #AmericaWon #PresidentBiden #DefendDemocracy #Democracy #VOTE #YourVoiceMatters #YouMatter #USPol #USPolitics
Jonathan Kamens 86 47@tawtovo @heidilifeldman I did watch the debate. Biden's performance in the first half hour was terrifying. We need to be able to acknowledge reality, not gaslight people who know what they saw.
I assure you, the transcripts do not do it justice. I suggest you go back and watch a recording if you want to understand what people are and were concerned about.
I'm not advocating for him to drop out. I don't think that's the right answer. I just think we need to be honest with ourselves.
I assure you, the transcripts do not do it justice. I suggest you go back and watch a recording if you want to understand what people are and were concerned about.
I'm not advocating for him to drop out. I don't think that's the right answer. I just think we need to be honest with ourselves.
@tawtovo @heidilifeldman he was mixing up different points in his answers which did look pretty bad. I think it is a legitimate concern that people can draw from watching it rather than just listening to news outlets