My guess is Biden is having a pretty good day at the fundraising office, with or without Bloomberg.
Probably. And couple that WITH Bloomberg's contributions and Trump should just start packing his things now. It's over.
Assuming a “free and fair” election. Get ready for Putin on the ritz to make a push, the repub senate to gin up the investigation machine, Team Trump Treason to stand on the White House lawn, pull a piece of paper out of his jacket pocket, wave it around and claim that He has direct evidence that Biden took billions from the Ukraine and charges will be filed by CYA Barr soon and the republican establishment in red states to suppress voters by closing polling places and having too few machines, resulting in long waits, in majority dem and minority voting districts and wards. Team Trump Treason and Putin on the ritz will steal this election. Watch.
I wasn't being serious. I don't think Bloomberg's billions guarantee Biden anything. I still think Triple-T is the favorite to win. But I like the direction Biden is trending in for sure.
In a “free and fair” election or in the scenario I described?
Both...for now. Certainly I like Biden's chances against Sanders much more now than I did a week ago though. But I still think he's a somewhat weak candidate. I understand that Obamas (exciting candidates) don't just grow on trees. But in this, the most important election ever (or so I've been told), the election that will rid us of the diabolical Team Trump Treason, it's unfortunate that the Dems have to settle on Biden, who first ran for President THIRTY years ago.
But on the other hand, good for Biden. He's put in his time in that Democratic Party. And all these years later, he's still standing. I respect that. And he has my vote. So go get 'em, Joe.
That is why the base and moderates were 100% skeptical of bernie all along.
There's been alot of chatter that the millenial vote was down. It was in percentage but not in raw vote totals. The reason the percentage was down? Vanna?
I'm not saying his throwing money behind the cause of getting rid of Trump is a waste. His actual campaign for president was. In fact, I think he'd have been better off bankrolling Biden from the get-go, keeping a low public profile, and then emerging as Biden's running-mate.
The way Biden came back from the dead, literally and figuratively, is the perfect comeback kid story for the fall.
Biden took down Bernie with no "on the ground" resources and no TV ads.
I dont think we have ever seen a Lazarus story like this one.
He energized the base and the party saw what happened in SC and rallied to be at his side.
It's really amazing.. there's no parallel in modern political history. Now he has to close the deal.
That is why the base and moderates were 100% skeptical of bernie all along.
There's been alot of chatter that the millenial vote was down. It was in percentage but not in raw vote totals. The reason the percentage was down? Vanna?
I'm not saying his throwing money behind the cause of getting rid of Trump is a waste. His actual campaign for president was. In fact, I think he'd have been better off bankrolling Biden from the get-go, keeping a low public profile, and then emerging as Biden's running-mate.
The way Biden came back from the dead, literally and figuratively, is the perfect comeback kid story for the fall.
Biden took down Bernie with no "on the ground" resources and no TV ads.
I dont think we have ever seen a Lazarus story like this one.
He energized the base and the party saw what happened in SC and rallied to be at his side.
It's really amazing.. there's no parallel in modern political history. Now he has to close the deal.
Bill Clinton is the original “come back kid” during the primary and then against an opponent from the opposing party who enjoyed 90%+ approval rating.
I'm not saying his throwing money behind the cause of getting rid of Trump is a waste. His actual campaign for president was. In fact, I think he'd have been better off bankrolling Biden from the get-go, keeping a low public profile, and then emerging as Biden's running-mate.
The way Biden came back from the dead, literally and figuratively, is the perfect comeback kid story for the fall.
Biden took down Bernie with no "on the ground" resources and no TV ads.
I dont think we have ever seen a Lazarus story like this one.
He energized the base and the party saw what happened in SC and rallied to be at his side.
It's really amazing.. there's no parallel in modern political history. Now he has to close the deal.
I think those a little skeptical should look at Texas.
If my math is correct, tx turnout, with votes still to be counted, was up 520,000 - almost TRIPLETed Cruz' margin of victory in 2018. ( well more than double for sure)
If I were on team trump treason, I'd pay attention to that.
Yesterday, out of freaking nowhere, was a historic day for Democrats.
I'm not saying his throwing money behind the cause of getting rid of Trump is a waste. His actual campaign for president was. In fact, I think he'd have been better off bankrolling Biden from the get-go, keeping a low public profile, and then emerging as Biden's running-mate.
The way Biden came back from the dead, literally and figuratively, is the perfect comeback kid story for the fall.
Biden took down Bernie with no "on the ground" resources and no TV ads.
I dont think we have ever seen a Lazarus story like this one.
He energized the base and the party saw what happened in SC and rallied to be at his side.
It's really amazing.. there's no parallel in modern political history. Now he has to close the deal.
Bill Clinton is the original “come back kid” during the primary and then against an opponent from the opposing party who enjoyed 90%+ approval rating.
He was the original, you're right, but I don't think he came back from such poor showings in the first rounds. He was battling all sorts of personal demons of course... such was life with WJC.
I'm not saying his throwing money behind the cause of getting rid of Trump is a waste. His actual campaign for president was. In fact, I think he'd have been better off bankrolling Biden from the get-go, keeping a low public profile, and then emerging as Biden's running-mate.
Reread the article. He got in when Biden was faltering and a lot of us thought he might be done. I don't blame him for throwing his hat in the ring. His best case scenario didn't work out. Next best is still removing Trump. Don't think the hundreds of millions he has spent in advertising didn't have an effect on people realizing that beating Trump is the most important factor this year either. Look how much that moved the needle in a short time. Then extract that over the next 8 months.
Bloomberg at this point is still one of the most important people in this race.
I think you, Bloomberg, and every other devoted Democrat has made it loud and clear that beating Trump is the most important factor this year. And of course you don't blame him for throwing his hat in the ring. As you said, when Biden looked to be floundering, Bloomberg was your supposed savior. Basically it was a coordinated Democrat effort that 538 feels was a good idea. So OF COURSE you're going to be into it, Juggler. The only thing that would make it even more up your ally is if the Philly Phanatic was one of Bloomberg's advisors.
I agree he's still important in all this. Certainly more important than Warren who's "still in the race." And likely more important than Sanders following the convention. I just think Biden wasn't faltering as much as people think. Yeah he struggled in early states, but as he himself said, wait until South Carolina. And he was right. So Bloomberg sweeping in as a plan B to save the day might not have even been necessary. Just start bankrolling Biden the moment you feel he's struggling (maybe after New Hampshire). All of Bloomberg's money and experience doesn't mean a whole lot when he lacks a base of support, a personality, and an ability to connect with people outside of NYC, which are three things that Biden has going for him.
If the Dems (Warren and Pete in particular) had a lot of democratic voters convinced that Bloomberg was trying to buy the election, Trump will surly get that talking-point (that he's now trying to buy it for Biden) over with his crowd, and maybe with undecided voters as well. I dunno, I just think he'd have been better off behind the scenes of all this.
Bloomberg wanted to be POTUS. He isn't going to be a chump piggybank for anyone.
oh yes he is....
His campaign head was on MSNBC and said Bloom is giving his staff, infrastructure, everything to Biden. It's all paid for already through the end of the year.
looks like the DNC is raising the delegate threshold to keep Tulsi out of debates
good.
Good is right. It would be a joke if she was out there. It was a joke seeing her name last night frankly. And I actually like her. But when you’re beat, you’re beat.
Both...for now. Certainly I like Biden's chances against Sanders much more now than I did a week ago though. But I still think he's a somewhat weak candidate. I understand that Obamas (exciting candidates) don't just grow on trees. But in this, the most important election ever (or so I've been told), the election that will rid us of the diabolical Team Trump Treason, it's unfortunate that the Dems have to settle on Biden, who first ran for President THIRTY years ago.
But on the other hand, good for Biden. He's put in his time in that Democratic Party. And all these years later, he's still standing. I respect that. And he has my vote. So go get 'em, Joe.
I find the bolded words above interesting. We didn't have to settle. We had more than 20 candidates to pick from, with a variety of strengths and experiences and policy proposals. We just pecked at them one by one until they were forced to drop out because nobody would get behind them. "Too many candidates." "Not winnable." "Never heard of him." "Not ready for a woman." "He's gay." And now we're like, oh great, we're stuck with Joe Biden.
Both...for now. Certainly I like Biden's chances against Sanders much more now than I did a week ago though. But I still think he's a somewhat weak candidate. I understand that Obamas (exciting candidates) don't just grow on trees. But in this, the most important election ever (or so I've been told), the election that will rid us of the diabolical Team Trump Treason, it's unfortunate that the Dems have to settle on Biden, who first ran for President THIRTY years ago.
But on the other hand, good for Biden. He's put in his time in that Democratic Party. And all these years later, he's still standing. I respect that. And he has my vote. So go get 'em, Joe.
I find the bolded words above interesting. We didn't have to settle. We had more than 20 candidates to pick from, with a variety of strengths and experiences and policy proposals. We just pecked at them one by one until they were forced to drop out because nobody would get behind them. "Too many candidates." "Not winnable." "Never heard of him." "Not ready for a woman." "He's gay." And now we're like, oh great, we're stuck with Joe Biden.
Both...for now. Certainly I like Biden's chances against Sanders much more now than I did a week ago though. But I still think he's a somewhat weak candidate. I understand that Obamas (exciting candidates) don't just grow on trees. But in this, the most important election ever (or so I've been told), the election that will rid us of the diabolical Team Trump Treason, it's unfortunate that the Dems have to settle on Biden, who first ran for President THIRTY years ago.
But on the other hand, good for Biden. He's put in his time in that Democratic Party. And all these years later, he's still standing. I respect that. And he has my vote. So go get 'em, Joe.
I find the bolded words above interesting. We didn't have to settle. We had more than 20 candidates to pick from, with a variety of strengths and experiences and policy proposals. We just pecked at them one by one until they were forced to drop out because nobody would get behind them. "Too many candidates." "Not winnable." "Never heard of him." "Not ready for a woman." "He's gay." And now we're like, oh great, we're stuck with Joe Biden.
Ha! So true. There's only been 4 great Democrats in the past 80 years.. FDR, JFC, WJC and Barack. Yet we sit around and wait for one and complain.
we'll see what happens over the next 2 weeks and the results from those states. I expect here in Ohio we'll begin hearing Biden ads to replace the Bloomberg ones......
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
Both...for now. Certainly I like Biden's chances against Sanders much more now than I did a week ago though. But I still think he's a somewhat weak candidate. I understand that Obamas (exciting candidates) don't just grow on trees. But in this, the most important election ever (or so I've been told), the election that will rid us of the diabolical Team Trump Treason, it's unfortunate that the Dems have to settle on Biden, who first ran for President THIRTY years ago.
But on the other hand, good for Biden. He's put in his time in that Democratic Party. And all these years later, he's still standing. I respect that. And he has my vote. So go get 'em, Joe.
I find the bolded words above interesting. We didn't have to settle. We had more than 20 candidates to pick from, with a variety of strengths and experiences and policy proposals. We just pecked at them one by one until they were forced to drop out because nobody would get behind them. "Too many candidates." "Not winnable." "Never heard of him." "Not ready for a woman." "He's gay." And now we're like, oh great, we're stuck with Joe Biden.
Well me saying Dems “settled” is pretty much like you saying “stuck with.” But I understand what you’re lamenting. It’s like they’re afraid to try something new. Like really, in the technological world of 2020, who would you really want in charge? Andrew Yang or Biden? Biden probably doesn’t even know how to use email. There’s like a glass ceiling or something. It’s hard to get a real shot at the presidency. Either be a once-in-a-lifetime guy like Obama, or stick around very, very long like Dole, McCain, and Biden.
Both...for now. Certainly I like Biden's chances against Sanders much more now than I did a week ago though. But I still think he's a somewhat weak candidate. I understand that Obamas (exciting candidates) don't just grow on trees. But in this, the most important election ever (or so I've been told), the election that will rid us of the diabolical Team Trump Treason, it's unfortunate that the Dems have to settle on Biden, who first ran for President THIRTY years ago.
But on the other hand, good for Biden. He's put in his time in that Democratic Party. And all these years later, he's still standing. I respect that. And he has my vote. So go get 'em, Joe.
I find the bolded words above interesting. We didn't have to settle. We had more than 20 candidates to pick from, with a variety of strengths and experiences and policy proposals. We just pecked at them one by one until they were forced to drop out because nobody would get behind them. "Too many candidates." "Not winnable." "Never heard of him." "Not ready for a woman." "He's gay." And now we're like, oh great, we're stuck with Joe Biden.
Well me saying Dems “settled” is pretty much like you saying “stuck with.” But I understand what you’re lamenting. It’s like they’re afraid to try something new. Like really, in the technological world of 2020, who would you really want in charge? Andrew Yang or Biden? Biden probably doesn’t even know how to use email. There’s like a glass ceiling or something. It’s hard to get a real shot at the presidency. Either be a once-in-a-lifetime guy like Obama, or stick around very, very long like Dole, McCain, and Biden.
People are excited and I think that is great - but I agree totally the choice is not very inspiring. He is going to be 78 years old for FSM's sake! (If he were 15 to 20 years younger I would think he was the best choice of the candidates.)
Both...for now. Certainly I like Biden's chances against Sanders much more now than I did a week ago though. But I still think he's a somewhat weak candidate. I understand that Obamas (exciting candidates) don't just grow on trees. But in this, the most important election ever (or so I've been told), the election that will rid us of the diabolical Team Trump Treason, it's unfortunate that the Dems have to settle on Biden, who first ran for President THIRTY years ago.
But on the other hand, good for Biden. He's put in his time in that Democratic Party. And all these years later, he's still standing. I respect that. And he has my vote. So go get 'em, Joe.
I find the bolded words above interesting. We didn't have to settle. We had more than 20 candidates to pick from, with a variety of strengths and experiences and policy proposals. We just pecked at them one by one until they were forced to drop out because nobody would get behind them. "Too many candidates." "Not winnable." "Never heard of him." "Not ready for a woman." "He's gay." And now we're like, oh great, we're stuck with Joe Biden.
Well me saying Dems “settled” is pretty much like you saying “stuck with.” But I understand what you’re lamenting. It’s like they’re afraid to try something new. Like really, in the technological world of 2020, who would you really want in charge? Andrew Yang or Biden? Biden probably doesn’t even know how to use email. There’s like a glass ceiling or something. It’s hard to get a real shot at the presidency. Either be a once-in-a-lifetime guy like Obama, or stick around very, very long like Dole, McCain, and Biden.
People are excited and I think that is great - but I agree totally the choice is not very inspiring. He is going to be 78 years old for FSM's sake! (If he were 15 to 20 years younger I would think he was the best choice of the candidates.)
Hell, FOUR years younger. Back in 2016! I think he, as the sitting VP, could have beaten Hillary and then Trump. That was his window, after all those years, and he didn’t go for it. Maybe because his son had died (as my father argues), or maybe because the party masters felt it was Hillary’s turn (as I argue), but that was HIS time.
That’s not to say he can’t beat Trump now. But there’s not a doubt in my mind he would’ve beat him in 2016. For 2020, I have many doubts.
I'm not saying his throwing money behind the cause of getting rid of Trump is a waste. His actual campaign for president was. In fact, I think he'd have been better off bankrolling Biden from the get-go, keeping a low public profile, and then emerging as Biden's running-mate.
The way Biden came back from the dead, literally and figuratively, is the perfect comeback kid story for the fall.
Biden took down Bernie with no "on the ground" resources and no TV ads.
I dont think we have ever seen a Lazarus story like this one.
He energized the base and the party saw what happened in SC and rallied to be at his side.
It's really amazing.. there's no parallel in modern political history. Now he has to close the deal.
Bill Clinton is the original “come back kid” during the primary and then against an opponent from the opposing party who enjoyed 90%+ approval rating.
He was the original, you're right, but I don't think he came back from such poor showings in the first rounds. He was battling all sorts of personal demons of course... such was life with WJC.
He lost Iowa and NH. Back then, that was a death knell.
I didn’t expect Bernie to misrepresent so, so much. Desperado, you’ve got the weight of making cheese and ice cream on your shoulders and a ski lift on your arm............buh bye.
I am trying to remember the person I was in 1968. I was 22 years old and a recent college graduate. I was angry, infuriated by the war in Vietnam and racial segregation. It was my first chance to vote in a presidential election. I was living in New Jersey — very briefly — and I voted for Dick Gregory, the brilliant comedian running as a write-in candidate, instead of Hubert Humphrey, the Democrat running against Republican Richard Nixon. It was a protest vote, obviously. I regret it to this day.
Humphrey barely lost New Jersey to Nixon. Gregory’s 8,084 votes would not have turned the state. But I wonder: What would have happened if I, and hundreds of thousands like me nationwide, had given Humphrey the same level of energy, support and enthusiasm we lavished upon Eugene McCarthy and Robert F. Kennedy in the primaries?
Humphrey was the Joe Biden of his day, a standard-issue establishment Democrat. He was known to be a lovely man who had a problem with his mouth: He talked too much. He had started out as a civil-rights crusader in Minnesota, but that seemed like ancient history to me. Worse, he was Lyndon B. Johnson’s vice president and a supporter of the war in Vietnam until late in the campaign. We — the Bernie Bros of the moment — had driven Johnson from the race. It was infuriating that we’d done so in order to make the world safe for Hubert Horatio Humphrey.
In retrospect, my vote was an act of blind defiance. I was part of a generational movement — not just political but also cultural, perhaps more so. We were so different from our parents: Our music was different, we dressed differently — vehemently informal and provocative, we wore our hair long (letting our “freak flag fly,” in the words of a contemporary song). Our parents were so pathetic, especially when they started to imitate us by lengthening their sideburns and wearing, yuck, leisure suits.
We were counseled by our elders: Vote the lesser of two evils. But Humphrey’s kindness and humanity simply didn’t register. We saw only this wimpy, old guy who was probably lying about his newfound opposition to the war. And it didn’t really matter if Nixon won: We were young; we had a world to win, an establishment to overthrow. We had a plenty of time. Four years of Nixon would bring the country to its senses. What was one election?
It was more than 20,000 American deaths in Vietnam and uncountable numbers of Vietnamese people killed and wounded. It was the onset of a politics — Nixon’s Southern strategy — that began the process, which continues to this day, of white racial backlash. It was a descent, by many of us, into a reflexive, silly left-liberalism that caused the Democratic Party to suffer more than 20 years of defeat before being hauled back to reality by Bill Clinton in 1992.
In 2016, I asked Hillary Clinton if the 1968 version of herself — the antiwar civil-rights crusader — would have voted for Bernie Sanders or Hillary Clinton in the New Hampshire primary. She made a brave attempt to argue against a vote for Bernie, but we both knew the real answer.
We also knew what the 1968 versions of ourselves had learned in the 50 intervening years. We had learned the importance of stability, especially in a democracy. In Beirut in 1978, I had seen a sophisticated city ripped to shreds by tribalism … and had learned how fragile a civilized society can be. We had both learned how hard it is to make a difference, that the best change comes incrementally and only with a national consensus. We had both learned that idealism needs to be enhanced by civility and some institutional memory.
I am not trying to persuade young Sanders zealots that they should cast a vote for this year’s version of Humphrey. Not yet. In any case, they’re not going to listen to a geezer like me. I understand their impatience and anger, even if I don’t understand why a 78-year-old man insists on the puerile offensiveness of calling himself a “socialist” when the countries he purportedly admires — the Scandinavians — are bastions of free enterprise tempered by a robust welfare state. Perhaps Sanders needs to grow up a little, too.
My question to young voters is this: If Sanders loses the nomination to Biden, will you be as stupid as I was in 1968? Will you allow the country — the federal government, the Environmental Protection Agency, the judiciary, the diplomatic corps — another four years of President Trump? Are you entirely sure we can survive that?
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
Vote your conscience, but do so knowing your vote has consequences. I voted third party in 2016 and I don't regret it one bit, but I'm in Massachusetts. (I could have voted for Bozo and it wouldn't have mattered, and in Gary Johnson I pretty much did.) If you are in a contested state that is not a luxury you have. Every third party vote in a contested state is a vote for Trump.
Comments
But on the other hand, good for Biden. He's put in his time in that Democratic Party. And all these years later, he's still standing. I respect that. And he has my vote. So go get 'em, Joe.
Pearl Jam bootlegs:
http://wegotshit.blogspot.com
That is why the base and moderates were 100% skeptical of bernie all along.
There's been alot of chatter that the millenial vote was down. It was in percentage but not in raw vote totals. The reason the percentage was down? Vanna?
T-- B--- TU-- O-T
terrible turnout?
Pearl Jam bootlegs:
http://wegotshit.blogspot.com
Libtardaplorable©. And proud of it.
Brilliantati©
I think those a little skeptical should look at Texas.
If my math is correct, tx turnout, with votes still to be counted, was up 520,000 - almost TRIPLE Ted Cruz' margin of victory in 2018. ( well more than double for sure)
If I were on team trump treason, I'd pay attention to that.
Yesterday, out of freaking nowhere, was a historic day for Democrats.
I felt a tangible paradigm shift Monday night during the Amy/Beto endorsement rally.
The Golden Age is 2 months away. And guess what….. you’re gonna love it! (teskeinc 11.19.24)
1998: Noblesville; 2003: Noblesville; 2009: EV Nashville, Chicago, Chicago
2010: St Louis, Columbus, Noblesville; 2011: EV Chicago, East Troy, East Troy
2013: London ON, Wrigley; 2014: Cincy, St Louis, Moline (NO CODE)
2016: Lexington, Wrigley #1; 2018: Wrigley, Wrigley, Boston, Boston
2020: Oakland, Oakland: 2021: EV Ohana, Ohana, Ohana, Ohana
2022: Oakland, Oakland, Nashville, Louisville; 2023: Chicago, Chicago, Noblesville
2024: Noblesville, Wrigley, Wrigley, Ohana, Ohana; 2025: Pitt1, Pitt2
good.
Pearl Jam bootlegs:
http://wegotshit.blogspot.com
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
Pearl Jam bootlegs:
http://wegotshit.blogspot.com
(If he were 15 to 20 years younger I would think he was the best choice of the candidates.)
Pearl Jam bootlegs:
http://wegotshit.blogspot.com
Libtardaplorable©. And proud of it.
Brilliantati©
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_presidents_of_the_United_States_by_age
Libtardaplorable©. And proud of it.
Brilliantati©
By Joe Klein
March 04 at 4:39 PM EST
Joe Klein, a veteran of the New Yorker, Newsweek and Time, is the author of seven books, including “Primary Colors.”
I am trying to remember the person I was in 1968. I was 22 years old and a recent college graduate. I was angry, infuriated by the war in Vietnam and racial segregation. It was my first chance to vote in a presidential election. I was living in New Jersey — very briefly — and I voted for Dick Gregory, the brilliant comedian running as a write-in candidate, instead of Hubert Humphrey, the Democrat running against Republican Richard Nixon. It was a protest vote, obviously. I regret it to this day.
Humphrey barely lost New Jersey to Nixon. Gregory’s 8,084 votes would not have turned the state. But I wonder: What would have happened if I, and hundreds of thousands like me nationwide, had given Humphrey the same level of energy, support and enthusiasm we lavished upon Eugene McCarthy and Robert F. Kennedy in the primaries?
Humphrey was the Joe Biden of his day, a standard-issue establishment Democrat. He was known to be a lovely man who had a problem with his mouth: He talked too much. He had started out as a civil-rights crusader in Minnesota, but that seemed like ancient history to me. Worse, he was Lyndon B. Johnson’s vice president and a supporter of the war in Vietnam until late in the campaign. We — the Bernie Bros of the moment — had driven Johnson from the race. It was infuriating that we’d done so in order to make the world safe for Hubert Horatio Humphrey.
In retrospect, my vote was an act of blind defiance. I was part of a generational movement — not just political but also cultural, perhaps more so. We were so different from our parents: Our music was different, we dressed differently — vehemently informal and provocative, we wore our hair long (letting our “freak flag fly,” in the words of a contemporary song). Our parents were so pathetic, especially when they started to imitate us by lengthening their sideburns and wearing, yuck, leisure suits.
We were counseled by our elders: Vote the lesser of two evils. But Humphrey’s kindness and humanity simply didn’t register. We saw only this wimpy, old guy who was probably lying about his newfound opposition to the war. And it didn’t really matter if Nixon won: We were young; we had a world to win, an establishment to overthrow. We had a plenty of time. Four years of Nixon would bring the country to its senses. What was one election?
It was more than 20,000 American deaths in Vietnam and uncountable numbers of Vietnamese people killed and wounded. It was the onset of a politics — Nixon’s Southern strategy — that began the process, which continues to this day, of white racial backlash. It was a descent, by many of us, into a reflexive, silly left-liberalism that caused the Democratic Party to suffer more than 20 years of defeat before being hauled back to reality by Bill Clinton in 1992.
In 2016, I asked Hillary Clinton if the 1968 version of herself — the antiwar civil-rights crusader — would have voted for Bernie Sanders or Hillary Clinton in the New Hampshire primary. She made a brave attempt to argue against a vote for Bernie, but we both knew the real answer.
We also knew what the 1968 versions of ourselves had learned in the 50 intervening years. We had learned the importance of stability, especially in a democracy. In Beirut in 1978, I had seen a sophisticated city ripped to shreds by tribalism … and had learned how fragile a civilized society can be. We had both learned how hard it is to make a difference, that the best change comes incrementally and only with a national consensus. We had both learned that idealism needs to be enhanced by civility and some institutional memory.
I am not trying to persuade young Sanders zealots that they should cast a vote for this year’s version of Humphrey. Not yet. In any case, they’re not going to listen to a geezer like me. I understand their impatience and anger, even if I don’t understand why a 78-year-old man insists on the puerile offensiveness of calling himself a “socialist” when the countries he purportedly admires — the Scandinavians — are bastions of free enterprise tempered by a robust welfare state. Perhaps Sanders needs to grow up a little, too.
My question to young voters is this: If Sanders loses the nomination to Biden, will you be as stupid as I was in 1968? Will you allow the country — the federal government, the Environmental Protection Agency, the judiciary, the diplomatic corps — another four years of President Trump? Are you entirely sure we can survive that?
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
"...I changed by not changing at all..."