Update July 21. I am all in for Kamala. She was on the ticket I voted for. I accept that wholeheartedly.
Thank you, Robert. This is a coup from the left, from oligarchs, pundits and Hollywood stars throwing a temper tantrum and refusing to give money to Biden, overriding the votes of 14 million. If leadership caves, democracy suffers. All they have to do is let MAGA be MAGA, and let us do our grassroots work, and we can win. I am thoroughly disgusted with the press and Democratic leadership. I called both Chuck Schumer 's office (202) 224-6542 and Hakeem Jeffries' office (202) 225-5936 and shared how thoroughly disgusted I was with their willingness to disenfranchise voters. That's in addition to writing to news outlets, which I will continue to do, along with GOTV work. Thank you for speaking the truth so eloquently; it is validating in a time when so much doublespeak from the media makes my brain spin and my heart weep. And thank you for the action items. Let's do this.
ps. I have become a TPM Josh Marshall fan and subscriber; thanks for that tip, as well.
pps. edited to say that what I meant by the left is NOT the right, but rather Democrats. I agree that AOC and Bernie have been stellar, along with Jim Clyburn and the CBC, Black Voters Matter, etc. And yes, I will support whomever is the nominee, of course.
I disagree that this is a coup from the left. To me the left of the Democratic party is represented by AOC and Bernie. They have been among Biden's strongest supporters. The coup comes from big money, small politicians and an unprecedented campaign by the remains of the mainstream media.
Agree that Bernie and AOC have been among strongest Biden supporters. In fact, they are among the few who have spoken out in a prepared statement supporting Biden.
This is painful to write, but it needs to be said. I share the general sentiment here that the campaign to sideline President Biden has been appalling and dishonorable. But we must also acknowledge the effect that it's had.
John Heilmann on "Morning Joe" today made a sobering point. Though the potential voters' polls remain close, a growing number (more than 75%) no longer believe that Mr. Biden has the physical and/or mental capacity to serve. While we may argue that this is the result of incessant pounding of the anti-Biden drum by media, or the arrogance of big donors, or the cowardice of Democratic leadership -- whatever . . . It doesn't matter. We need to recognize that it's probably true.
And once that impression has taken root, it's indelible. It won't change regardless of what President Biden does.
As we know, the polls continue to show a close race. But it shouldn't be this close. Before the debate, momentum was shifting in our favor. Now it's headed the other way, and there's little reason to expect that to change so long as our candidate is seen as growing weaker.
Difficult as it may be, those of us who've stood loyally by President Biden's side need to recognize that we're losing this battle, before we lose the war. Time is not on our side.
Kamala Harris can change the momentum, and make this an election about the future. A burst of Black Woman Energy can blast that foolish old fat man off the debate stage in September, and lead a Blue Wave in November!
"Here are some highlights of AP-Norc’s fool-proof polling methodology:
1) “1,253 completed the survey.”
2) “the final stage completion rate is 15.8%”
3) “the weighted household panel response rate is 22.3%”
4) “In total, 69 interviews were removed for nonresponse to at least 50% of the questions asked of them, for completing the survey in less than one-third the median interview time for the full sample, or for straight-lining all grid questions asked of them.”
. . . They removed interviews if people failed to answer more than half of the questions. Umm. Why is half the bar? How many people, in total, actually finished the entire survey?? Is that the 15.8% number??? Did less than 16% of the people you interviewed complete the survey?"
"They did not say they were only recording Democrats? They didn’t say what the political affiliation of any of their interviewees were? They didn’t say how they determined which interviewee was what political affiliation, or how many?"
So, we're supposed to believe that millions upon millions of Ds who voted for Biden - he has over 3800 delegates! - don't count because 1000 people, not known if they're D or not, don't want him. PLEASE STOP INSULTING US, POLLSTERS!
I agree with you Jeff; my wording was middle of the night. I have added a postscript above to reflect this. I meant left as opposed to right, which was clear to me at that moment, but not such clear writing. Thank you for clarifying!!
You are so right Sandycreek- let's start hearing a lot of messaging regarding the fact that JD Vance is absolutely unqualified to be nominated as VP. How about the fact that trump walked out into the RNC arena to the song "It's a Man's world"? For crying out loud! These people give us so much material that will work against them!
I called ALL of Schumer's offices yesterday, and Hakeem Jeffries office as well. I will keep doing so until this madness stops, and we all need to keep calling right now. We need to keep up the pressure. It's best to try to talk to a staffer, but leaving a VM is fine if needed. The whole point is to inundate staff with the message of the voters- "we support Joe Biden" and "Joe Biden is the man to beat trump". I have also included the fact that black women have been the backbone of the Democratic party and " how dare they turn their backs on them!" Yesterday my message included "so while today the crazies at the RNC are wielding signs and chanting 'mass deportations now", the Democrats are pressing on with this ominous slip along racial lines and self- sabotage". How can these legislators not understand they are allowing a re-do of what happened in 2016?
Calls to legislators at a critical time like this are very important. It was a huge part of the campaign in NY to ban fracking- and we won!
House Minority Leader Jeffries: ""President Biden, as I've said repeatedly is our nominee," Jeffries said. "He has a tremendous track record of success. He is one of the most accomplished American presidents in our history and he has the vision, I believe the ability, the capacity, and the track record to make a case to the American people that will result in us being successful in November."
I really, really, really hope he tells the Ds abandoning Biden to shut the F* up until and unless they come up with the name of a person who has said they want the job, and how that person is supposed to raise money, get staff, etc., etc., and NAME RECOGNITION to convince 80,000,000 Ds to vote for them, assuming they can even convince nearly 4,000 D delegates to vote for them!
Lynn, thanks for this. I have been traveling and not keeping up, but people I talk to are expecting Biden to drop out. Why? Because of the kind of crap that Robert has highlighted here, the leaks by "insiders" who care no more about the democratic process of voting than MAGA Republicans. I am with Joe Until he says No. And he's not going to do that? Why? Because he believers in the process, the party, and the primaries and he is not going to turn his back on the work ahead in the hopes that some pixie dust will win the election.
I called his office to thank him and started crying on the phone. This has just been so stressful. His staffer was very kind when I apologized for crying.
I’m guessing staff understand and appreciate you sharing your feelings. It must be terribly stressful for them as well as Biden. And your call might give them some of the strength they need right now.
I appreciate your hard work and effort and I hope you continue to support whatever candidates the Democratic Party nominates as their President Elect. Loyalty is a wonderful thing but it’s Joe Biden alone who makes the decision and I hope he makes the right one.
If the "Democratic Party" nominates anyone other than the person who was nominated by Democratic primary voters, it will be a tough pill to swallow. Though this "other" choice seems to be a point that does not even deserve consideration, being as there has been no plan. No plan at all. Can you imagine any kind of business where the administrators kept telling the CEO "we are doing it wrong" over and over, with no solution of how to "do it right"? That would never happen, not when they have a business to run.
We need to move past this campaign of creating division between Democrats which actually has the ability to destroy the Democratic party and force the election of a convicted felon to the White House. I am floored by the fact that so many people do not understand this. We need to focus on the policies of the 2 parties. When that finally happens, Democrats will wipe the floor with the GOP.
Keep up the fight. I think so much of the attack on Biden is animosity because he's actually been re-empowering the middle and working class rather than pandering to "elites" and the rich.
John Kerry had the swift boat, Hillary had her emails and Joe has is his failing mental capacity. Democrats are fools to buy into the narrative and risk losing Congress and the oval office
I truly believe If the Democratic so called leadership would get behind Biden instead of in front of him his pole numbers would skyrocket. I think they are being very short sighted and not visionary at all. Everyone I know, EVERYONE... is in favor of Joe staying in the race. Not one person has had a change of heart. Of course, I can't imagine why ANYONE would vote for a republican.
Just as it is self-destructive for this high level infighting to be playing out in public, so too is the backlash against the Democratic leaders. The news media keeps stoking the smoldering embers and poking the bear in order to stir up controversy that they can then report on, and we fall for it every time.
It's fine to express your displeasure with how this has been handled and how President Biden has been and is being treated, but we must think beyond that. How are we going to unite the voters and win in November if we are obsessed with it?
As Robert says, let's keep our heads down and keep moving forward. Felonious T proved last night that his disingenuity knows no bounds, and his humility is less than skin-deep. Our job may have gotten harder over these past few weeks, but the stakes have become much greater.
Onward! A massive BLUE WAVE is what we need to wash away the toxic RED TIDE!!!
Thx for suggestion to call Schumer and Jeffries’ offices! I’ve stopped writing editors and journalists as they seem out of control in a feeding frenzy. We also can leave messages on their websites if offices are closed.
Thanks Sandycreek! I called both offices--spoke with someone in Schumer's office, who seemed sympathetic, left a message with Jeffries, letting them know that I don't like being disenfranchised... and that I'm from Whip Katherine Clark's district.
Robert, thanks for holding that fundraiser for Biden--we did well--average donation was $92 (mine was not nearly that much, but I will keep donating).
And thanks for the photo showing some of the Pelican Nebula. I really enjoy these photos.
The George Conway video is terrific. I've emailed it to my list. There is something about that guy that I really like.
Thank you for posting Schumer's and Jeffries phone numbers. It makes it that much easier to call. I spoke to an actual person in Schumer's office and left a message for Jeffries. I've written them both multiple times in the past couple weeks.
My script for the phone calls:
I voted for President Biden and I want my vote to count. Please stop undermining Biden's candidacy and turn your energies to exposing the horrors of Trump, Vance and Project 2025.
Trump, a criminal who did nothing for his country, not even for covid. Forcing states to compete for supplies. Stealing these supplies outright. Impeached twice.
Biden, the best president of the last 75 years. I think yeah shouldn’t have tried to do debates at all. But at least it happened in July and not October. And the polls show it is a tight race. That’s fine. Biden has an enormous ground game going and he is going to make the difference there. Trump has zero ground game and doesn’t seem to plan on having any. His goal is to try to pervert the post election process again, and is going to lie and say that nobody would vote for sleepy joe and that why it’s obvious cheating again!
I do not understand how democratic leadership do not see any of this.
I am angry at the press and yeah have unsubscribed everywhere. It felt like just flouncing for a long time, because yuck disagree but no. Not now.
It was not their place to have endless streams of Biden quit bs and it was not their place to harass Biden, and not critically analyze Trump.
I sincerely hope that Biden hangs in there. He can win. We have time, project 2025, a strong ground game, and decent people who don’t want abortion bans and other pernicious restrictions against bodies and people and lives.
Biden has done so much and will do so much. We just need a little faith and a little hope in ourselves and with each other.
It is so frightening to hear Trump supporters interviewed. They are totally brain washed, have no idea about the reality of our economy, our infrastructure, or the lives of the people employed under Trump and under Biden. Not a clue, and they are not interested. Not so long ago Trump’s cozy relationship with Putin would have been enough to have him disqualified. He would have been considered either a lunatic or a traitor or both. Now he is nominated for President? What has happened to America?
I totally agree, Terry. I heard one very nice woman say from the floor of the convention that she wants Trump because he will lower prescription drug prices — as if it were not the Biden administration that had done this and continues to push for more! I know it’s been easy to blame the Administration and Dems for “failing to get the message out,” but I don’t think they bear even half of the responsibility for this — the media does nothing to report on these developments nor fact check in real time.
Republican Senators and Congressional members vote against those measures but take credit for passing that legislation. Mushy-brained MAGAts are accustomed to believing it.
I realize that I am labeling these people, but the interviews convey to me that most of them are not very bright. At the very least, as you noted, they truly have been brainwashed and they appear not to be informed at all. They remind me of audiences at a rodeo, or wrestling match, or dog fights. Perhaps they are descendants of those who enjoyed watching gladiators fight each other? I think President Biden said it best - we will win with ballots, not bullets.
It brings to mind something once said about them, which was roundly criticized at the time. I think it was like "basket of.... Of.... Deplorables". That's it.
Any one of 50 remarks in 2015-16 would have previously sent his *** packing. The norms were being thrashed right from the start with no hitch. He's a "celebrity" from the world of make believe. Everyone wanted to be in "the show" and still do. By now they are more deeply conditioned and brainwashed, they are entirely in consonance with the narrative of unreality - - even though he is "a lunatic and a traitor". Couldn't agree more. It'll take a generation to burn off, unfortunately.
Hey DK, I see your regular posts and really appreciate your passion and commitment!
I agee. Acting in our own intelligence best interest is obviously the best course of action. I also see that anger can move people in action.
However, actions propelled by anger is being REACTIVE and NOT being in action. We are not actually acting, we are reacting. The two ways of acting are different. Hugely and critically different.
When we are acting reactively we are not thinking.
Our intelligence is not the agentcy behind our actions. It’s our emotions that are in the driver’s seat. While acting without thinking, while acting emotionally can sometimes produce a good result, it’s luck at best. We lose flexibility and adaptability and agility, and sensitivity. Compassion for ourselves and each other is nowhere in sight. We may win the fight but at the cost of our humanity and the ground will be left blood soaked again.
Seeing the world through the lens of us vs. them continues and we are no closer to unity than those we accuse of promoting various forms of separateness. The vision of a you and me world continues to fade off in the distance.
Usually, acting on emotions leads to bad outcomes. Notice the angry thoughts about the other side being stupid and unthinking and ask yourself if you want to join them.
Obviously, effective action must be taken. Fanning the flames of anger makes the flames grow. It makes for a bright and hot night. The next day, or the next when the passions cool and it time to clean up the mess most people go home and leave it to the few who stay behind to clean up as always happens.
The more things change, the more they stay the same.
The Bard wrote about this when he said “Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow creeps in this petty pace from day to day to the last syllable of recorded time…”
Yes, I’m asking you to do the difficult work of thinking. Firing up frightened people is like rolling downhill. The steep climb to thinking takes courage.
Bern, I am trying to motivate people to come out and vote blue and to stay on long lines and not be intimidated. I think being angry at what the GOP is planning for us will make them do that.
We should be angry! They hate us, it's beyond anger! To them we are groomers, baby killers, and now childless cat ladies. Being ridiculed just might p*** someone off! It's all deeply offensive. We just need to let it light the fire but be constructive in how we apply it.
"Trump has zero ground game and doesn’t seem to plan on having any. His goal is to try to pervert the post election process again, and is going to lie and say that nobody would vote for sleepy joe and that why it’s obvious cheating again!"
Just catching up. This is very cogent especially part about MAGA goal being to" pervert the post - election process ". Exactly. Perversion is their way, the way of the Authoritarian and the Sociopath. The Dems and National Security establishment need to be all over this. They need to have extensive plans. They need to think like terrorists and criminals or it will be like 9/11 level of failure. This election will need to o be won on Nov 5 and every day after until Harris is sworn in. MAGA will never stop the perversion and SCOMAGA will help in any perverse way they can. I hope I'm not taking your remarks too far but I believe the days after 11/5 will bring great peril.
“I do not understand how democratic leadership do not see any of this.”
They don’t see it because they are ignorant AND they don’t know they are ignorant. That’s call blindness. As you rightly point out, the blind do not see.
It’s more than a little disheartening to realize that our leaders are not who we imagined them to be. Just the blind leading the blind for the most part.
When you see this for yourself it all makes perfect sense.
“It all makes me angry”
What I learned about anger is that it is always, always a second emotion. What happens first is that we are startled or surprised. The anger is the natural heathy generation of energy to deal with the unexpected threat.
The only thing that reliably defuses the alarm response is noticing what it is that is alarming you AND discovering a perspective where you can own in a validating way what happened. In that moment you recover your power.
I can't tell you how grateful I am this morning for your newsletter. I had a hard evening and very short night because I have been so profoundly sad and angry about Democratic leaders whom I respect now coming out and urging Biden to withdraw. I myself feel strongly that the nation and the world need the Biden /Harris administration to continue. And I feel very sad for him personally. I have been especially angry at the mainstream media, the reliance on unreliable and basically irrelevant polls, and what I see as widespread ageism. It helped me greatly to read your newsletter and I am so glad George Conway is doing what he's doing. Thank you.
What everyone seems to forget is that when you elect a president, you are not just electing one person who makes all the decisions all by himself, you are electing his staff, his advisors, his vice-president and even the people.
I've said this many times. It should be a major message. President Biden sees the presidency as a team effort, for the common good. Felonious T sees it as himself, for himself.
Finally taking the gloves off Robert. Thank you for that. I believe in Joe Biden. I finally got a good night sleep last night by concluding that if Biden can find a way to stay in the race, as he should, he will do it. He is an exceptional human being. There is no doubt that the attacks will keep on coming from both within and without. There have always been and will always be authoritarians and their Nazi minions fighting openly against democracy and for ultimate power. Likewise there have always been the aspiring weak within who are beholden to the moneyed interests and will do anything to keep the pretense to power drug coming. Joe Biden is not like them. People don’t like to admit this because he seems such a common man, but JRB is a great president and a great man. I repeat, he is not like them. He was known as the poorest Senator for his entire career. He commuted back and forth to work by Amtrak daily. He has never invested in the stock market or used his power to help the rich and powerful get more so in exchange for a cut. Biden has never been in this for himself. The filthy rich power brokers and the transcendent political elite hate that more than anything. His humble defiance, his almost unbelievable ability to help "the little" people and make the world a safer place enrages them. He should be working more on their behalf and less on empowering the people - which effectively lessens their power. If I understand correctly, they plan to force his hand by shutting down the money pipeline. I believe that if he can find sufficient alternate funding he will do so. I want him to stay in the race. I believe he can win - I feel like I know it. I am with him to the end in what feel like a fight of light against darkness. Whatever happens, we have seen what a decent, honest, hard working, and yes, brilliant man can do with the reigns of power and set that as our standard.
This is my first ever response to your daily newsletter. I applaud your efforts and totally agree, we have to stay focused and keep supporting Biden by spreading the word.
Thank you for the Zoom call today. Will a copy of it be available to share? After watching the RNC tonight, how can the Dems think Biden Harris ticket won't be able to beat the Rs? I don't get it. And I so appreciate your rant on news vs. journalism. Thanks for all you and Jill do!
It was great to see you and Jill last night as you spoke on behalf of the Biden Victory Fund with Virginia McGregor of the DNC. Yay, you!
As for the underestimated volunteers, Jason Berlin - founder of Field Team 6 - had this to say in his email to us:
"Candidates do not decide elections. Voters do. And so do the activists who register and turn out those voters. So do not give in to the confusion and despair in the media. We know things they do not.
"The state of the Resistance is strong and getting stronger. Keep showing up - keep volunteering - keep donating. And in November, the media will report that by some inexplicable comeback miracle, WE WON."
People may be wondering why Joe Biden is not heeding the call from the "leaders" of the Democratic Party that he step down. IMO perhaps it is because he is listening to other voices he deems are more important, voices who he owes his allegiance to:
Ohio Congresswoman Joyce Beatty, a member of the Congressional Black Caucus who represent approx 120 million people, speaks to Roland Martin of Roland Martin Unfiltered on YouTube:
While Joe Biden may not have seen/listened to Jessica Craven's "Hey White Dudes" message on YouTube (more colorful language!), I thought it worth including here:
Check out the video "The Roads to Replacing Biden" on The Roads with Beau YouTube channel. Beau is another great resource for calm and thoughtful political and social commentary:
Unless those calling for Biden to step aside have a plan to offer that is more substantial than "We'll figure it out", then it's time to cease the academic discussion and get back to defeating tfg and Project 2025. The Dems calling for Biden to step aside must know this. I'm starting to wonder if they are trying to push Biden into some kind of deal or agreement in exchange for them to back down. Dumping Kamala? Extending the trump tax cuts that expire in 2025 for their mega donors?
Your two "Keeping My Head Down" columns express my own thoughts and beliefs exactly. I'm tempted to say that that makes them "brilliant" but that seems somewhat circular and self-congratulatory, so I'll go with "suberb" instead.
I think the reason the votes of 14 million Democrats are being disregarded is simple: Those doing the disregarding have made the probably correct calculation that those 14 million voters will vote for whomever the Democratic candidate is. It's kinda like the long prevailing attitude that Democrats don't really have to do much for African Americans because what are they going to do, vote Republican?
The arrogance of the following quote is astonishing and your description of it is dead on, except I wish it were an even stronger denunciation. "“a little bit of anti-democratic process in the primaries is acceptable because it will stave off a greater anti-democratic result in November.” Such reasoning is a slippery slope that has led to some of the greatest tragedies of the last century."
My perspective from the front lines and speaking only for myself is that the craziness of the past few weeks has already had a seriously demoralizing effect on grassroots workers even as they struggle to get past it. The whole sorry spectacle amounts to a gigantic failure of leadership masquerading as responsible leadership. Feh. But even more demoralizing is what you've been calling the normalization of Donald Trump by the media. The feelings of helplessness, confusion and dislocation it creates is like a cross between bad science fiction and bad political dystopia fiction made by a master craftsman at the level of Spielberg. It has become a frightening alternate reality with a life of its own..
Agree 100% it is having an impact and the Democrats need to energize and get everyone to rally around whoever the candidate is . Hopefully this will unite the party.
Rally around Biden, not ”whoever the candidate is”. This craziness needs to stop! Biden needs to be sported 100%. I believe that saying that Biden is senile and cannot win will demoralize voters and keep them from voting. This is making Democrats look incompetent and disorganized; unable ro run the country.
Okay, listen. I support Biden 100%, but we have to face the possibility that his own party has damaged his campaign beyond repair. Even if that isn't true, everybody needs to start rowing their oars in the same direction RIGHT EFFING NOW! Either try to salvage Biden’s candidate starting today or move on to Harris, TODAY! There is no time to wait. This is tearing the party apart on every level meanwhile, Captain Gauzepad and his Boy Nazi are gaslighting themselves to victory.
Kathy, you can hold multiple positions at once. I support, donate and am going to vote for Joe Biden, but there are a lot of people on the ground especially younger people who aren't going to vote for Trump but they don't necessarily want to vote for Biden and 2/3rds of polls show that Democrats want someone other than Biden even Kamala running instead. Congressional candidates in swing districts are hearing from their voters that they don't think Biden can do another 4 years. You have to listen to these people instead of just ignoring them, it's making us look like Trump supporters if we keep ignoring what polls and people are saying among likely voters and people on the fence. As long as Biden is the candidate in riding with Biden, but I have people I've spoken to here in Georgia who are friends and family who are not excited about this election and while they aren't voting for Trump they don't want to vote for Biden. Again it's anecdotal, but Biden doesn't need to appeal to voters who read this newsletter, he needs to appeal to the on the fence voters.
Thank you for expressing exactly what I have been saying to friends. The last time I can remember feeling as fearful as I do now was during the Cuban Missile Crisis, October 1962.
This is like WWll for Biden fighting two separate fronts, the GOP and his own party. The time for this was the primaries, not now. Why is it that the strength of the GOP is their ability to unify but the Democrats can not.
The next two weeks are critical. Thanks Robert for using those forbidden words and the pictures of a universe that will still be here millions of year past this moment in time.
Yes, I agree. Rs don't have to channel much effort into fighting Biden because members of his own party, the feckless media, trolls and bots are doing their work for them.WE have the strong record, not to mention the many successes of our party under Biden/ Harris. We have the platform to improve the lives of all Americans but this message is not being told because of childish, dangerous division and disinformation.Stop it. I am calling Schumer, Jeffries, the DNC and others today to voice my support behind President Biden.
Grateful for this. Thank you. Please be sure to check out AOC's Instagram post from early this morning. She presents a very important, astute assessment that made the case for me that staying with President Biden is the path forward. Worth the time to listen to it in full.
Thanks for your thoughts and guidance. When I watch media experts start with a declaration that “polls show a drop in support for Biden by X amount” I cringe and get angry. They make those statements as if they are fact without any challenge to their validity. As Heather Cox Richardson says, she does not believe polls on races but she believes polls on issues. I will do the same, turn off the turncoat media and sign up for your recommended independents.
Meanwhile, how about some writing on the Dems who are out there supporting Joe. Elizabeth Warren had a great interview on the View and Cory Booker was great in another interview.
I am channeling my anger into the work. There is so much work that is being done and needs to be done.
Field Team 6 and The Union are teaming up to text to register voters. They are sending millions of texts. It’s so easy. This is just one example and it’s tomorrow!!!
At least part of the problem is the absurd length of the Presidential campaign cycle, now 4 full years. While most voters (polls be damned) would happily see this discussion over and Biden be re-elected right now, that can't Constitutionally happen until Nov. 5 when the votes in the real poll are counted. In the meantime, everyone who makes their living by generating Likes, clicks, and 'Read' counts will continue to do whatever they can to keep the controversy going. As I noted yesterday, when the 82 million people who voted for Biden in '20 do so again, there will be egg all over a lot of very public faces and the NYT and WaPo will still have lost a lot of subscribers; permanently in my case. I'll use the money I save to take my daughter to a nice celebratory dinner when I get home from working the polling place.
Same goes for Adam Schiff and that is exactly what I told him in a phone call. He's been in politics long enough to absolutely KNOW that his remarks at a private fundraising event would be leaked. I'm so angry at him and all the rest. We voted them in we can vote them out.
Update July 21. I am all in for Kamala. She was on the ticket I voted for. I accept that wholeheartedly.
Thank you, Robert. This is a coup from the left, from oligarchs, pundits and Hollywood stars throwing a temper tantrum and refusing to give money to Biden, overriding the votes of 14 million. If leadership caves, democracy suffers. All they have to do is let MAGA be MAGA, and let us do our grassroots work, and we can win. I am thoroughly disgusted with the press and Democratic leadership. I called both Chuck Schumer 's office (202) 224-6542 and Hakeem Jeffries' office (202) 225-5936 and shared how thoroughly disgusted I was with their willingness to disenfranchise voters. That's in addition to writing to news outlets, which I will continue to do, along with GOTV work. Thank you for speaking the truth so eloquently; it is validating in a time when so much doublespeak from the media makes my brain spin and my heart weep. And thank you for the action items. Let's do this.
ps. I have become a TPM Josh Marshall fan and subscriber; thanks for that tip, as well.
pps. edited to say that what I meant by the left is NOT the right, but rather Democrats. I agree that AOC and Bernie have been stellar, along with Jim Clyburn and the CBC, Black Voters Matter, etc. And yes, I will support whomever is the nominee, of course.
I disagree that this is a coup from the left. To me the left of the Democratic party is represented by AOC and Bernie. They have been among Biden's strongest supporters. The coup comes from big money, small politicians and an unprecedented campaign by the remains of the mainstream media.
Agree that Bernie and AOC have been among strongest Biden supporters. In fact, they are among the few who have spoken out in a prepared statement supporting Biden.
Yes, Bonnie. Please see my postscript above. I wasn't as clear as I thought I was being...
This is painful to write, but it needs to be said. I share the general sentiment here that the campaign to sideline President Biden has been appalling and dishonorable. But we must also acknowledge the effect that it's had.
John Heilmann on "Morning Joe" today made a sobering point. Though the potential voters' polls remain close, a growing number (more than 75%) no longer believe that Mr. Biden has the physical and/or mental capacity to serve. While we may argue that this is the result of incessant pounding of the anti-Biden drum by media, or the arrogance of big donors, or the cowardice of Democratic leadership -- whatever . . . It doesn't matter. We need to recognize that it's probably true.
And once that impression has taken root, it's indelible. It won't change regardless of what President Biden does.
As we know, the polls continue to show a close race. But it shouldn't be this close. Before the debate, momentum was shifting in our favor. Now it's headed the other way, and there's little reason to expect that to change so long as our candidate is seen as growing weaker.
Difficult as it may be, those of us who've stood loyally by President Biden's side need to recognize that we're losing this battle, before we lose the war. Time is not on our side.
Kamala Harris can change the momentum, and make this an election about the future. A burst of Black Woman Energy can blast that foolish old fat man off the debate stage in September, and lead a Blue Wave in November!
.
WHERE IS THE 75% NUMBER COMING FROM????
Daily Kos analyzed the AP-NORC poll:
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2024/7/17/2255111/-So-Two-Thirds-of-us-want-Biden-to-drop-out-Huh?pm_campaign=trending&pm_source=sidebar&pm_medium=web
"Here are some highlights of AP-Norc’s fool-proof polling methodology:
1) “1,253 completed the survey.”
2) “the final stage completion rate is 15.8%”
3) “the weighted household panel response rate is 22.3%”
4) “In total, 69 interviews were removed for nonresponse to at least 50% of the questions asked of them, for completing the survey in less than one-third the median interview time for the full sample, or for straight-lining all grid questions asked of them.”
. . . They removed interviews if people failed to answer more than half of the questions. Umm. Why is half the bar? How many people, in total, actually finished the entire survey?? Is that the 15.8% number??? Did less than 16% of the people you interviewed complete the survey?"
"They did not say they were only recording Democrats? They didn’t say what the political affiliation of any of their interviewees were? They didn’t say how they determined which interviewee was what political affiliation, or how many?"
So, we're supposed to believe that millions upon millions of Ds who voted for Biden - he has over 3800 delegates! - don't count because 1000 people, not known if they're D or not, don't want him. PLEASE STOP INSULTING US, POLLSTERS!
As for other polls: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2024/7/18/2255246/-Dump-Biden-Are-We-Listening-to-the-Polls-Or-Aren-t-We-Cause-I-Got-News-for-You?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=trending&pm_medium=web
Polls are not to be believed. They are always ALWAYS skewed!
Completely agreed. I've been sent a few lately, and it's pretty clear how messed up they are. Yet, it's the polls that people are fixated on.
I agree with you Jeff; my wording was middle of the night. I have added a postscript above to reflect this. I meant left as opposed to right, which was clear to me at that moment, but not such clear writing. Thank you for clarifying!!
And by small thinking minds.
You are so right Sandycreek- let's start hearing a lot of messaging regarding the fact that JD Vance is absolutely unqualified to be nominated as VP. How about the fact that trump walked out into the RNC arena to the song "It's a Man's world"? For crying out loud! These people give us so much material that will work against them!
I called ALL of Schumer's offices yesterday, and Hakeem Jeffries office as well. I will keep doing so until this madness stops, and we all need to keep calling right now. We need to keep up the pressure. It's best to try to talk to a staffer, but leaving a VM is fine if needed. The whole point is to inundate staff with the message of the voters- "we support Joe Biden" and "Joe Biden is the man to beat trump". I have also included the fact that black women have been the backbone of the Democratic party and " how dare they turn their backs on them!" Yesterday my message included "so while today the crazies at the RNC are wielding signs and chanting 'mass deportations now", the Democrats are pressing on with this ominous slip along racial lines and self- sabotage". How can these legislators not understand they are allowing a re-do of what happened in 2016?
Calls to legislators at a critical time like this are very important. It was a huge part of the campaign in NY to ban fracking- and we won!
Today! We are turning the corner!
House Minority Leader Jeffries: ""President Biden, as I've said repeatedly is our nominee," Jeffries said. "He has a tremendous track record of success. He is one of the most accomplished American presidents in our history and he has the vision, I believe the ability, the capacity, and the track record to make a case to the American people that will result in us being successful in November."
https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/politics/my-answer-has-not-changed-hakeem-jeffries-says-hes-still-behind-president-biden-in-2024-campaign/5613168/
I really, really, really hope he tells the Ds abandoning Biden to shut the F* up until and unless they come up with the name of a person who has said they want the job, and how that person is supposed to raise money, get staff, etc., etc., and NAME RECOGNITION to convince 80,000,000 Ds to vote for them, assuming they can even convince nearly 4,000 D delegates to vote for them!
Lynn, thanks for this. I have been traveling and not keeping up, but people I talk to are expecting Biden to drop out. Why? Because of the kind of crap that Robert has highlighted here, the leaks by "insiders" who care no more about the democratic process of voting than MAGA Republicans. I am with Joe Until he says No. And he's not going to do that? Why? Because he believers in the process, the party, and the primaries and he is not going to turn his back on the work ahead in the hopes that some pixie dust will win the election.
Thanks for update. Jeffries is a leader. I’m so glad he’s where he is at this time.
I called his office to thank him and started crying on the phone. This has just been so stressful. His staffer was very kind when I apologized for crying.
I’m guessing staff understand and appreciate you sharing your feelings. It must be terribly stressful for them as well as Biden. And your call might give them some of the strength they need right now.
Thanks so much Bonnie. I really appreciate your thoughtful words.
I appreciate your hard work and effort and I hope you continue to support whatever candidates the Democratic Party nominates as their President Elect. Loyalty is a wonderful thing but it’s Joe Biden alone who makes the decision and I hope he makes the right one.
If the "Democratic Party" nominates anyone other than the person who was nominated by Democratic primary voters, it will be a tough pill to swallow. Though this "other" choice seems to be a point that does not even deserve consideration, being as there has been no plan. No plan at all. Can you imagine any kind of business where the administrators kept telling the CEO "we are doing it wrong" over and over, with no solution of how to "do it right"? That would never happen, not when they have a business to run.
We need to move past this campaign of creating division between Democrats which actually has the ability to destroy the Democratic party and force the election of a convicted felon to the White House. I am floored by the fact that so many people do not understand this. We need to focus on the policies of the 2 parties. When that finally happens, Democrats will wipe the floor with the GOP.
I absolutely will support Democrats. Thanks for checking...
Keep up the fight. I think so much of the attack on Biden is animosity because he's actually been re-empowering the middle and working class rather than pandering to "elites" and the rich.
John Kerry had the swift boat, Hillary had her emails and Joe has is his failing mental capacity. Democrats are fools to buy into the narrative and risk losing Congress and the oval office
I truly believe If the Democratic so called leadership would get behind Biden instead of in front of him his pole numbers would skyrocket. I think they are being very short sighted and not visionary at all. Everyone I know, EVERYONE... is in favor of Joe staying in the race. Not one person has had a change of heart. Of course, I can't imagine why ANYONE would vote for a republican.
Every time I call the office of these legislators that are backstabbing Biden I tell them that if we lose to trump, it will be THEIR doing!
Get with the Program, Folks!
Flailing is Failing!
👍👍✌️✌️👍
Just as it is self-destructive for this high level infighting to be playing out in public, so too is the backlash against the Democratic leaders. The news media keeps stoking the smoldering embers and poking the bear in order to stir up controversy that they can then report on, and we fall for it every time.
It's fine to express your displeasure with how this has been handled and how President Biden has been and is being treated, but we must think beyond that. How are we going to unite the voters and win in November if we are obsessed with it?
As Robert says, let's keep our heads down and keep moving forward. Felonious T proved last night that his disingenuity knows no bounds, and his humility is less than skin-deep. Our job may have gotten harder over these past few weeks, but the stakes have become much greater.
Onward! A massive BLUE WAVE is what we need to wash away the toxic RED TIDE!!!
I agree; no "backlash" in terms of withholding votes or donations. But express displeasure so they understand what they are attempting to do!
Thx for suggestion to call Schumer and Jeffries’ offices! I’ve stopped writing editors and journalists as they seem out of control in a feeding frenzy. We also can leave messages on their websites if offices are closed.
Thanks I just left messages.
Thanks - great idea. I left messages too
Thanks for the phone numbers! I’m calling today.
Thanks Sandycreek! I called both offices--spoke with someone in Schumer's office, who seemed sympathetic, left a message with Jeffries, letting them know that I don't like being disenfranchised... and that I'm from Whip Katherine Clark's district.
Robert, thanks for holding that fundraiser for Biden--we did well--average donation was $92 (mine was not nearly that much, but I will keep donating).
And thanks for the photo showing some of the Pelican Nebula. I really enjoy these photos.
The George Conway video is terrific. I've emailed it to my list. There is something about that guy that I really like.
All here is Pelosi's number: (202) 225-4965. I just called her as well.
Thank you for posting Schumer's and Jeffries phone numbers. It makes it that much easier to call. I spoke to an actual person in Schumer's office and left a message for Jeffries. I've written them both multiple times in the past couple weeks.
My script for the phone calls:
I voted for President Biden and I want my vote to count. Please stop undermining Biden's candidacy and turn your energies to exposing the horrors of Trump, Vance and Project 2025.
Thanks for posting the phone numbers.
Thank you for providing the phone numbers and making it easy!!! I just called them both. Spoke to one person and left a message for the other.
Tried to leave a voicemail message showing my support for President Biden, but neither phone number was accepting voice messages.
I'm calling Pelosi 9 hours after you called, and I was able to leave a voice message.
It all makes me angry.
Trump, a criminal who did nothing for his country, not even for covid. Forcing states to compete for supplies. Stealing these supplies outright. Impeached twice.
Biden, the best president of the last 75 years. I think yeah shouldn’t have tried to do debates at all. But at least it happened in July and not October. And the polls show it is a tight race. That’s fine. Biden has an enormous ground game going and he is going to make the difference there. Trump has zero ground game and doesn’t seem to plan on having any. His goal is to try to pervert the post election process again, and is going to lie and say that nobody would vote for sleepy joe and that why it’s obvious cheating again!
I do not understand how democratic leadership do not see any of this.
I am angry at the press and yeah have unsubscribed everywhere. It felt like just flouncing for a long time, because yuck disagree but no. Not now.
It was not their place to have endless streams of Biden quit bs and it was not their place to harass Biden, and not critically analyze Trump.
I sincerely hope that Biden hangs in there. He can win. We have time, project 2025, a strong ground game, and decent people who don’t want abortion bans and other pernicious restrictions against bodies and people and lives.
Biden has done so much and will do so much. We just need a little faith and a little hope in ourselves and with each other.
It is so frightening to hear Trump supporters interviewed. They are totally brain washed, have no idea about the reality of our economy, our infrastructure, or the lives of the people employed under Trump and under Biden. Not a clue, and they are not interested. Not so long ago Trump’s cozy relationship with Putin would have been enough to have him disqualified. He would have been considered either a lunatic or a traitor or both. Now he is nominated for President? What has happened to America?
I totally agree, Terry. I heard one very nice woman say from the floor of the convention that she wants Trump because he will lower prescription drug prices — as if it were not the Biden administration that had done this and continues to push for more! I know it’s been easy to blame the Administration and Dems for “failing to get the message out,” but I don’t think they bear even half of the responsibility for this — the media does nothing to report on these developments nor fact check in real time.
Republican Senators and Congressional members vote against those measures but take credit for passing that legislation. Mushy-brained MAGAts are accustomed to believing it.
I realize that I am labeling these people, but the interviews convey to me that most of them are not very bright. At the very least, as you noted, they truly have been brainwashed and they appear not to be informed at all. They remind me of audiences at a rodeo, or wrestling match, or dog fights. Perhaps they are descendants of those who enjoyed watching gladiators fight each other? I think President Biden said it best - we will win with ballots, not bullets.
It brings to mind something once said about them, which was roundly criticized at the time. I think it was like "basket of.... Of.... Deplorables". That's it.
Any one of 50 remarks in 2015-16 would have previously sent his *** packing. The norms were being thrashed right from the start with no hitch. He's a "celebrity" from the world of make believe. Everyone wanted to be in "the show" and still do. By now they are more deeply conditioned and brainwashed, they are entirely in consonance with the narrative of unreality - - even though he is "a lunatic and a traitor". Couldn't agree more. It'll take a generation to burn off, unfortunately.
Anger is the big motivator. It’s more powerful than fear. I’m angry !!!
Express your anger and keep fanning it so it spreads like a forest fire.
We’re mad as hell and we’re not going to take it.
THE GOP HAS PLANS TO RUN OUR LIVES. THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THEM IS TO VOTE BLUE.
Hey DK, I see your regular posts and really appreciate your passion and commitment!
I agee. Acting in our own intelligence best interest is obviously the best course of action. I also see that anger can move people in action.
However, actions propelled by anger is being REACTIVE and NOT being in action. We are not actually acting, we are reacting. The two ways of acting are different. Hugely and critically different.
When we are acting reactively we are not thinking.
Our intelligence is not the agentcy behind our actions. It’s our emotions that are in the driver’s seat. While acting without thinking, while acting emotionally can sometimes produce a good result, it’s luck at best. We lose flexibility and adaptability and agility, and sensitivity. Compassion for ourselves and each other is nowhere in sight. We may win the fight but at the cost of our humanity and the ground will be left blood soaked again.
Seeing the world through the lens of us vs. them continues and we are no closer to unity than those we accuse of promoting various forms of separateness. The vision of a you and me world continues to fade off in the distance.
Usually, acting on emotions leads to bad outcomes. Notice the angry thoughts about the other side being stupid and unthinking and ask yourself if you want to join them.
Obviously, effective action must be taken. Fanning the flames of anger makes the flames grow. It makes for a bright and hot night. The next day, or the next when the passions cool and it time to clean up the mess most people go home and leave it to the few who stay behind to clean up as always happens.
The more things change, the more they stay the same.
The Bard wrote about this when he said “Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow creeps in this petty pace from day to day to the last syllable of recorded time…”
Yes, I’m asking you to do the difficult work of thinking. Firing up frightened people is like rolling downhill. The steep climb to thinking takes courage.
Bern, I am trying to motivate people to come out and vote blue and to stay on long lines and not be intimidated. I think being angry at what the GOP is planning for us will make them do that.
Thanks for the thoughts.
We should be angry! They hate us, it's beyond anger! To them we are groomers, baby killers, and now childless cat ladies. Being ridiculed just might p*** someone off! It's all deeply offensive. We just need to let it light the fire but be constructive in how we apply it.
"Trump has zero ground game and doesn’t seem to plan on having any. His goal is to try to pervert the post election process again, and is going to lie and say that nobody would vote for sleepy joe and that why it’s obvious cheating again!"
Just catching up. This is very cogent especially part about MAGA goal being to" pervert the post - election process ". Exactly. Perversion is their way, the way of the Authoritarian and the Sociopath. The Dems and National Security establishment need to be all over this. They need to have extensive plans. They need to think like terrorists and criminals or it will be like 9/11 level of failure. This election will need to o be won on Nov 5 and every day after until Harris is sworn in. MAGA will never stop the perversion and SCOMAGA will help in any perverse way they can. I hope I'm not taking your remarks too far but I believe the days after 11/5 will bring great peril.
“I do not understand how democratic leadership do not see any of this.”
They don’t see it because they are ignorant AND they don’t know they are ignorant. That’s call blindness. As you rightly point out, the blind do not see.
It’s more than a little disheartening to realize that our leaders are not who we imagined them to be. Just the blind leading the blind for the most part.
When you see this for yourself it all makes perfect sense.
“It all makes me angry”
What I learned about anger is that it is always, always a second emotion. What happens first is that we are startled or surprised. The anger is the natural heathy generation of energy to deal with the unexpected threat.
The only thing that reliably defuses the alarm response is noticing what it is that is alarming you AND discovering a perspective where you can own in a validating way what happened. In that moment you recover your power.
That moment is always available.
I can't tell you how grateful I am this morning for your newsletter. I had a hard evening and very short night because I have been so profoundly sad and angry about Democratic leaders whom I respect now coming out and urging Biden to withdraw. I myself feel strongly that the nation and the world need the Biden /Harris administration to continue. And I feel very sad for him personally. I have been especially angry at the mainstream media, the reliance on unreliable and basically irrelevant polls, and what I see as widespread ageism. It helped me greatly to read your newsletter and I am so glad George Conway is doing what he's doing. Thank you.
Go George!!!
What everyone seems to forget is that when you elect a president, you are not just electing one person who makes all the decisions all by himself, you are electing his staff, his advisors, his vice-president and even the people.
I've said this many times. It should be a major message. President Biden sees the presidency as a team effort, for the common good. Felonious T sees it as himself, for himself.
Yeah, like "Find ME the 11,780 votes. C'mon fellas". What a creep.
Also, his Cabinet members!
Right, Lynell! Unlike the "Tool" Cabinet it replaced.
Thank you, Kaycheri! This aspect of the presidency is so rarely mentioned and is one of the finest in our history.
Finally taking the gloves off Robert. Thank you for that. I believe in Joe Biden. I finally got a good night sleep last night by concluding that if Biden can find a way to stay in the race, as he should, he will do it. He is an exceptional human being. There is no doubt that the attacks will keep on coming from both within and without. There have always been and will always be authoritarians and their Nazi minions fighting openly against democracy and for ultimate power. Likewise there have always been the aspiring weak within who are beholden to the moneyed interests and will do anything to keep the pretense to power drug coming. Joe Biden is not like them. People don’t like to admit this because he seems such a common man, but JRB is a great president and a great man. I repeat, he is not like them. He was known as the poorest Senator for his entire career. He commuted back and forth to work by Amtrak daily. He has never invested in the stock market or used his power to help the rich and powerful get more so in exchange for a cut. Biden has never been in this for himself. The filthy rich power brokers and the transcendent political elite hate that more than anything. His humble defiance, his almost unbelievable ability to help "the little" people and make the world a safer place enrages them. He should be working more on their behalf and less on empowering the people - which effectively lessens their power. If I understand correctly, they plan to force his hand by shutting down the money pipeline. I believe that if he can find sufficient alternate funding he will do so. I want him to stay in the race. I believe he can win - I feel like I know it. I am with him to the end in what feel like a fight of light against darkness. Whatever happens, we have seen what a decent, honest, hard working, and yes, brilliant man can do with the reigns of power and set that as our standard.
Fabulous stated, Becky! I agree with you, profoundly and completely. Thank you for sharing your remarks!
So glad to have a place to go in these perilous times.
Bravo, Becky!
This is my first ever response to your daily newsletter. I applaud your efforts and totally agree, we have to stay focused and keep supporting Biden by spreading the word.
Thank you for the Zoom call today. Will a copy of it be available to share? After watching the RNC tonight, how can the Dems think Biden Harris ticket won't be able to beat the Rs? I don't get it. And I so appreciate your rant on news vs. journalism. Thanks for all you and Jill do!
@ Karen: FIGHT BACK. Register new Democrats' to send Republicans packing.
https://www.fieldteam6.org/
Yesterday, we sent out over 46K texts and we’ll be sending more tomorrow in the #textbanking https://www.fieldteam6.org/fund-the-mission
I'm writing get out the vote cards every day, right now to Ohioans. I'll check out FieldTeam6.
It was great to see you and Jill last night as you spoke on behalf of the Biden Victory Fund with Virginia McGregor of the DNC. Yay, you!
As for the underestimated volunteers, Jason Berlin - founder of Field Team 6 - had this to say in his email to us:
"Candidates do not decide elections. Voters do. And so do the activists who register and turn out those voters. So do not give in to the confusion and despair in the media. We know things they do not.
"The state of the Resistance is strong and getting stronger. Keep showing up - keep volunteering - keep donating. And in November, the media will report that by some inexplicable comeback miracle, WE WON."
People may be wondering why Joe Biden is not heeding the call from the "leaders" of the Democratic Party that he step down. IMO perhaps it is because he is listening to other voices he deems are more important, voices who he owes his allegiance to:
Ohio Congresswoman Joyce Beatty, a member of the Congressional Black Caucus who represent approx 120 million people, speaks to Roland Martin of Roland Martin Unfiltered on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzNsVxjsLBs
Danielle Moodie who gives a PSA on Instagram to "White Establishment Democrats" (colorful language is used):
https://www.instagram.com/reel/C9iirz9u5iJ/?hl=en
While Joe Biden may not have seen/listened to Jessica Craven's "Hey White Dudes" message on YouTube (more colorful language!), I thought it worth including here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptRSoR1CKnk
Jessica Craven is brilliant!!! I HIGHLY recommend her youtube video, linked above. Warning: Contains swear words. All of them.
Great links! I would like to suggest another one.
Check out the video "The Roads to Replacing Biden" on The Roads with Beau YouTube channel. Beau is another great resource for calm and thoughtful political and social commentary:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPRxuOWkr1E
Unless those calling for Biden to step aside have a plan to offer that is more substantial than "We'll figure it out", then it's time to cease the academic discussion and get back to defeating tfg and Project 2025. The Dems calling for Biden to step aside must know this. I'm starting to wonder if they are trying to push Biden into some kind of deal or agreement in exchange for them to back down. Dumping Kamala? Extending the trump tax cuts that expire in 2025 for their mega donors?
Thanks, Antoinette! Beau is terrific.
I so hope Joe could see Jess and Danielle’s posts !
💙
Your two "Keeping My Head Down" columns express my own thoughts and beliefs exactly. I'm tempted to say that that makes them "brilliant" but that seems somewhat circular and self-congratulatory, so I'll go with "suberb" instead.
I think the reason the votes of 14 million Democrats are being disregarded is simple: Those doing the disregarding have made the probably correct calculation that those 14 million voters will vote for whomever the Democratic candidate is. It's kinda like the long prevailing attitude that Democrats don't really have to do much for African Americans because what are they going to do, vote Republican?
The arrogance of the following quote is astonishing and your description of it is dead on, except I wish it were an even stronger denunciation. "“a little bit of anti-democratic process in the primaries is acceptable because it will stave off a greater anti-democratic result in November.” Such reasoning is a slippery slope that has led to some of the greatest tragedies of the last century."
My perspective from the front lines and speaking only for myself is that the craziness of the past few weeks has already had a seriously demoralizing effect on grassroots workers even as they struggle to get past it. The whole sorry spectacle amounts to a gigantic failure of leadership masquerading as responsible leadership. Feh. But even more demoralizing is what you've been calling the normalization of Donald Trump by the media. The feelings of helplessness, confusion and dislocation it creates is like a cross between bad science fiction and bad political dystopia fiction made by a master craftsman at the level of Spielberg. It has become a frightening alternate reality with a life of its own..
Agree 100% it is having an impact and the Democrats need to energize and get everyone to rally around whoever the candidate is . Hopefully this will unite the party.
Rally around Biden, not ”whoever the candidate is”. This craziness needs to stop! Biden needs to be sported 100%. I believe that saying that Biden is senile and cannot win will demoralize voters and keep them from voting. This is making Democrats look incompetent and disorganized; unable ro run the country.
Okay, listen. I support Biden 100%, but we have to face the possibility that his own party has damaged his campaign beyond repair. Even if that isn't true, everybody needs to start rowing their oars in the same direction RIGHT EFFING NOW! Either try to salvage Biden’s candidate starting today or move on to Harris, TODAY! There is no time to wait. This is tearing the party apart on every level meanwhile, Captain Gauzepad and his Boy Nazi are gaslighting themselves to victory.
Yes! Start salvaging Biden’s candidacy right now! Stop all the damage being created by undermining him.
Kathy, you can hold multiple positions at once. I support, donate and am going to vote for Joe Biden, but there are a lot of people on the ground especially younger people who aren't going to vote for Trump but they don't necessarily want to vote for Biden and 2/3rds of polls show that Democrats want someone other than Biden even Kamala running instead. Congressional candidates in swing districts are hearing from their voters that they don't think Biden can do another 4 years. You have to listen to these people instead of just ignoring them, it's making us look like Trump supporters if we keep ignoring what polls and people are saying among likely voters and people on the fence. As long as Biden is the candidate in riding with Biden, but I have people I've spoken to here in Georgia who are friends and family who are not excited about this election and while they aren't voting for Trump they don't want to vote for Biden. Again it's anecdotal, but Biden doesn't need to appeal to voters who read this newsletter, he needs to appeal to the on the fence voters.
Thank you for expressing exactly what I have been saying to friends. The last time I can remember feeling as fearful as I do now was during the Cuban Missile Crisis, October 1962.
And 9/11.
And yes, I'm afraid.
I'm also mad as bloody hell!!
This is like WWll for Biden fighting two separate fronts, the GOP and his own party. The time for this was the primaries, not now. Why is it that the strength of the GOP is their ability to unify but the Democrats can not.
The next two weeks are critical. Thanks Robert for using those forbidden words and the pictures of a universe that will still be here millions of year past this moment in time.
Yes, I agree. Rs don't have to channel much effort into fighting Biden because members of his own party, the feckless media, trolls and bots are doing their work for them.WE have the strong record, not to mention the many successes of our party under Biden/ Harris. We have the platform to improve the lives of all Americans but this message is not being told because of childish, dangerous division and disinformation.Stop it. I am calling Schumer, Jeffries, the DNC and others today to voice my support behind President Biden.
Grateful for this. Thank you. Please be sure to check out AOC's Instagram post from early this morning. She presents a very important, astute assessment that made the case for me that staying with President Biden is the path forward. Worth the time to listen to it in full.
Thanks for your thoughts and guidance. When I watch media experts start with a declaration that “polls show a drop in support for Biden by X amount” I cringe and get angry. They make those statements as if they are fact without any challenge to their validity. As Heather Cox Richardson says, she does not believe polls on races but she believes polls on issues. I will do the same, turn off the turncoat media and sign up for your recommended independents.
Meanwhile, how about some writing on the Dems who are out there supporting Joe. Elizabeth Warren had a great interview on the View and Cory Booker was great in another interview.
I am channeling my anger into the work. There is so much work that is being done and needs to be done.
Field Team 6 and The Union are teaming up to text to register voters. They are sending millions of texts. It’s so easy. This is just one example and it’s tomorrow!!!
https://www.mobilize.us/theunion/event/643009/
At least part of the problem is the absurd length of the Presidential campaign cycle, now 4 full years. While most voters (polls be damned) would happily see this discussion over and Biden be re-elected right now, that can't Constitutionally happen until Nov. 5 when the votes in the real poll are counted. In the meantime, everyone who makes their living by generating Likes, clicks, and 'Read' counts will continue to do whatever they can to keep the controversy going. As I noted yesterday, when the 82 million people who voted for Biden in '20 do so again, there will be egg all over a lot of very public faces and the NYT and WaPo will still have lost a lot of subscribers; permanently in my case. I'll use the money I save to take my daughter to a nice celebratory dinner when I get home from working the polling place.
If Obama wants Biden out, he should say so unambiguously. No chickenshit hiding behind leaking minions. I’m still ridin’ with Biden.
100%
Same goes for Adam Schiff and that is exactly what I told him in a phone call. He's been in politics long enough to absolutely KNOW that his remarks at a private fundraising event would be leaked. I'm so angry at him and all the rest. We voted them in we can vote them out.