I am enraged.
I am gobsmacked.
I am heartbroken and miserable - and (somehow), surprised. Though I really should not be.
Between the pundits, the MSM talking heads and the usual suspects in the Democratic party (with one shock out of left field from Nancy Pelosi), there is now serious contemplation about getting Joe off of the ticket. Leveraged out like a stubborn rose bush. Made to step aside. Hit the road, Jack. Here's your hat, what's your hurry?
I have been calmly (mostly in comments), fending off naysayers and doom-screechers since the debate. I back Joe. That simple.
One of the best Presidents in the last several decades, if not in a lifetime. He and his administration pulled us back from the brink, gave us one of the best economies since the 50s and 60s. He managed to pass bills that could change our very futures for the better - and through a highly partisan Congress stacked heavily against him, the American people and even sanity!
But now? After endless flogging over his debate performance (even the Supreme Court handing the presidency a kingship couldn't slow it down!), handwringing by spineless Dems, pundits leaning into a media narrative that never favors the Democrats (which has always been shitty, a major complaint even here) is undoing a campaign over...a poor debate.
Now his mental health, his acuity, his every move is studied, combed through, breathlessly exclaimed over - and found wanting. In less than 24 hours, all the hysterical screeching and gleeful doom 'n' gloom have done for Trump what he, himself, could never come close to doing: putting an end to Joe Biden's second bite at the apple. The apple that (need I remind anyone), that he handily won the first time. By 7 million more votes. A record breaker, that.
And we are doing it to ourselves. We are killing our golden goose, while the GOP laughs at us and how easily they can control our narrative. The polls clearly show they are winning the slap fight that we merrily staggered into.
Though in the end, don't we always do it to ourselves? Happily. Obliviously. And we'll even come back for second helpings(!) - though we'll also complain while doing so, looking to find someone else to blame for our tailor-made, self-induced issues.
I'll back blue no matter who. I have never held my nose to vote - but then, I'm a realistic voter. I'm voting for people. Not saints. Not sinners. People. Seems not many out there can't see past their own noses, much less their need to be 'entertained' to grasp that little factoid.
But even as I know I will be casting my vote for the blue, I am throughly disheartened, dismayed and angry. I'm watching us trip over ourselves to fall on our faces and do so happily...over a man having a cold on a bad night.
I say if we do it, if we force this man off the ticket, we should go all the way. Make Kamala the incumbent and fire it out of a cannon. Incumbents just do better and it would settle the question of a woman President right off the bat. She is younger, so that settles that one too. She is experienced, tough and most of all sane. I can't see Trump stalking her around the stage, that's for sure!
I would rather vote for her in 2028, to be honest. I still have loads of reservations about her popularity and how voters will react to her being the candidate (especiallylast minute because....not a good look, guys) - which is why I say if you are going to do this, if you are going to fall on your collective swords, put some spine in it and DO IT 100 percent. Make her the incumbent or leave Joe as the Incumbent on the ticket. Don't do it by half. If you are gonna slap this man in the face to thank him for his service, at least don't half-ass it.
Go for broke, or shut the hell up and sit down.
Of course, we could still be handing it all to Trump on a gold-plated platter if we went this new route, because people as a collective can be quite stupid (see 2016, see Brexit, see any cult). But if you are going to railroad a man based on right wing hysteria, MSM horse-race tactics and smears, Democratic gaffes and general fuckery, you'd better be all in.
It feels humiliating. It feels sad, angering and baffling - and as much as I generally like the human race, I'm not really thrilled with a big chunk of it at the moment.
So yes, I am enraged.
I still support our current President, still hope I can look forward to all that he will do in the next four years. But if the winds are blowing as I think they are, I will back Kamala a lot earlier than I planned: but I also still believe this spineless, shivering douchebaggery will do us in. Like it always does. I can only hope that I can be proven wrong, though human history ain't famous for that.
I can only pray that no matter what, I can forgive. With all I've seen on this site the last week, that's a dubious hope in itself. And most of all, I hope that no matter what this next week brings, that it will lead to a better future. I'm not going to hold my breath, though.
Maybe it will look better when the rage and pain abates.
Maybe.
EDIT: I see I am somehow trending (sorry, not used to that! LOL!) — and I must thank you all. So many lively discussions and heartfelt communications! I will try to read and reply to each one of them (though I may not be as successful as I’d like). Thank you for sharing your own feelings, thoughts, and analyses. I see there are quite a few out here that feel as I do and there are a few that do not; but are still as determined to keep the country a democratic republic, despite the Other Side’s best efforts (and stupidly good luck...for now!)
All that to say: Vote Blue. Back Joe — and if that choice is taken from us, back whoever will be his pick (cause you know he’d have to have a say in that).
Be good to each other, be kind — and even if scared — use that to continue fighting. Cause we all have a long haul ahead — it will be less burdensome if we haul together.
Blessings to you all.
MandyDR