Since a Biden replacement is increasingly likely, I need to start preparing my reasons why every individual alternative besides DotP is bad

So I was thinking - what exactly is it that liberals find so exceptionally scary about Trump? Well, the obvious answer is that he's rather far to the right. And I do think it's reasonable to say (correct me if I'm wrong) that Trump is the furthest right GOP candidate for at least several decades. But a lot of liberals seem to see his influence as sort of unprecedented, which you can see from their apparent nostalgia for the "good old days" of sorts when the big bad evil guy was Mitt Romney or George Bush. I think liberals have a tendency to think of Trump as a fluke, a flaw in the system of sorts, who by all accounts should never have been a mainstream politician. I also don't think this way of looking at it is correct. Trump seems like the culmination of where the GOP was already headed before him, with the final nail in the coffin being how much he appealed to the older, whiter, more racially resentful coalition who were fired up from the Obama years. In short, the system is what brought us Trump; he is a symptom of a flawed system, not a flaw in an acceptable system.

So this brings us to the upcoming election. As everyone knows, liberals have been begging people to vote for Biden, using the "lesser of two evils" and "most important election" rhetoric a lot. I'm starting to wonder if the implicit assumption here is that if Biden wins, Trump and his base will be essentially defeated. And yeah, they won't get the presidency, and Trump will probably die before the next election, but it's not like the supporters and the ideas will just go away. When Biden became president-elect liberals were saying things like "the nightmare is over", only for Biden to basically continue a lot of Trump's policies with better optics and for Trump and his goons to continue trying to reclaim power with Biden doing little to stop it. Likewise, if Biden wins again, it's just going to be four more years of the status quo with the MAGA types struggling for power. And if things keep going in this direction, Trumpists are going to get that power back eventually. (Democrats haven't won three consecutive presidential elections since the 1940s.) Suddenly its not project 2025 but project 2029 or 2033. You can vote for Hindenburg and Hitler might lose but he's not going to give up there.

And the worst part about this is that liberals will cling onto the "lesser evil" argument to the point of excusing Biden's support of Israel despite their atrocious actions (which many libs even openly recognize as such!) as well as his fulfillment of the core promise, "nothing will fundamentally change". For the former they usually claim Biden is actually sympathetic to Palestine (see this comic) and for the latter they usually fool themselves into believing the "most progressive president since FDR" line by pointing to things like the IRA, completely ignoring the lack of any meaningful change. All of this because "he's better than Trump" despite everything in the second paragraph and the absence of substantial policy differences.

So to summarize, liberals see Trump as an exceptionally extreme figure despite the rise of such a figure being unsurprising in retrospect, and use that to justify supporting a man with policies that are hardly any better, despite neither that man nor liberals themselves doing anything meaningful to fight back against Trump and the far right.

What do you think? Have I generally reached a good conclusion here or am I mistaken on some points? Perhaps both? Please inform me, I am relatively new to leftism and only recently escaped the liberal mindset I have attempted to describe.

vote Healthcare/Debtrelief '24

>To qualify, candidates had to be on enough state ballots to reach 270 electoral votes, or enough to win. They also had to receive at least 15% in four separate national polls, among those specified by the network. > >Kennedy had reached that threshold in three polls, but was on the ballot in only 10 states, short of the 270 electoral votes, according to NBC News. The Kennedy campaign had said that it had enough signatures in 23 states, with 310 electoral votes. But those signatures still need to be verified by state elections officials.

>Kennedy will have more time to qualify for the next presidential debate, scheduled for Sept. 10. ABC News is hosting that debate with similar criteria to CNN’s guidelines.

>The last independent candidate to participate in a general election debate was Ross Perot, who took part in the 1992 debates along with Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush. Perot ran again in 1996 but did not qualify to the debates that cycle.

I get 1-2 of these per day, paste in my question, and never hear back.

>I will do everything you want

>Ha-ha dnc machine goes brrrr

linky

fair is doing fundraising now !Care-Comrade

and they have mastodon account !lemmitor

Two options really:

1. Neoliberal parties don't know this and need to be convinced
2. Neoliberal parties do know this and welcome the phenomenon

https://votesocialist2024.com/volunteer :bloomer:

https://archive.is/MLLyS

For years, Hexbearians have wondered - "Who is the type of guy who has supported Trump for years, but will refuse to do so a bad paperwork conviction?"

>A New York Times/Siena College Poll study of nearly 2,000 voters found modest good news for Mr. Biden. While the vast majority of people had not changed their position on the two men, more voters moved away from Mr. Trump than toward him.

>Follow-up interviews with these post-verdict switchers offer a window into the minds of still-persuadable Americans.

The best they can do -

1. A small business tyrant who's pro-choice and doesn't seem to have voted for Trump in the past (he may now go for RFK Jr.)

2. A tech guy who voted against Trump twice but is pissed at Biden for not forgiving student loans

3. Someone who "volunteers with people trying to rebuild their lives from addiction and prison sentences" and never would have voted for Trump in the first place (but may still vote for Biden despite the genocide)

4. An account executive who voted for Biden but "watched Mr. Biden perform the job as president and could not envision voting for him again."

Source - Green Party campaign email

The last few years there has been a dark cloud hanging over Pride Month as we’ve seen an alarming escalation of legislative attacks against hard-won 2SLGBTQIA+ rights.

The full scope of this assault is difficult to measure. The ACLU is currently tracking 515 pieces of anti-LGBTQ legislation across the country, yet Trans Legislation Tracker has clocked nearly 600 bills attacking the trans community alone.

The vast majority of these bills fail, but that isn’t the point. The constant drumbeat of anti-LGBTQ rhetoric is fueling a toxic environment that openly encourages physical violence and social isolation of our friends, neighbors, and loved ones.

As a result we’ve seen increasing rates of self harm and suicidal ideation, particularly among young people. According to the Trevor Project, as many as 70% of LGBTQ+ teens reported symptoms of anxiety within the past year, and 57% symptoms of depression.

They are aching for mental health support but the majority of them can’t get it – whether it’s too expensive or their state has literally banned the gender affirming care they need.

This is a national public health crisis, and as your president, I would treat it accordingly.

My administration will leverage the full powers of the executive branch to guarantee the human rights of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.

I will pressure Congress to pass the Equality Act, the PRIDE Act, the Every Child Deserves a Family Act, and other bills to instill ironclad protections for LGBTQ+ rights at the federal level – effectively ending the vast majority of the attacks from these radical, right-wing lawmakers and their weak liberal enablers.

We will support legislation that expands healthcare access for vulnerable populations and continue the push for universal healthcare – which is a top priority for my administration.

We will develop and implement a broad scale public education program to counter the extremist, right-wing rhetoric fueling many of these bills, and direct the Department of Education to develop curriculum and support school programs to protect LGBTQ kids.

We will declare trans murder and suicide rates a national public health emergency – which they are – and instruct the DOJ to track and investigate hate crimes against the LGBTQ community at the federal level. This will help us better identify trends and spot early warning signs of new attacks BEFORE they can escalate to the levels we currently see.

These are just a few of the solutions our administration will pursue. You can read my full platform on LGBTQIA+ rights here (you’ll find it under “People”).

---

Jill's Policy copied from campaign page

2SLGBTIQIA+ RIGHTS

A Jill Stein Administration will guarantee the human rights of the 2SLGBTIQIA+ community.

Violent attacks on transgender women (particularly Black and other transgender women of color), recent stripping of state protections, lack of legal protection after negative court rulings, and long-standing historical inequities continue. We will end the acceptance of a violent culture that devalues the humanity of our 2SLGBTIQIA+ siblings. We will fight for the liberation of 2SLGBTIQIA+ people around the world.

Here’s how:

• Support the Equality Act, the PRIDE Act, the Every Child Deserves a Family Act, and other bills to prohibit discrimination by the U.S., the military, state or local governments, or private industry

• Support the PrEP Access and Coverage Act (until universal healthcare is implemented).

• Develop and implement 2SLGBTIQIA+ inclusive public education to combat bullying

• Include 2SLGBTIQIA+ history in school curricula, provide school and community trainings and 2SLGBTIQIA+ specific school counseling

• Federally prohibit the harmful practice of “conversion therapy”

• Fund housing relief programs for 2SLGBTIQIA+ youth, who are disproportionately represented in unsheltered populations

• Remove punitive and cumbersome legal name change requirements and fees Declare trans murder and suicide rates a national emergency

• De-gender or add nonbinary gender options to all Federal public documents

• De-gender school dress codes, and guarantee protection from discrimination as a result of dress in workplaces

• Publish the original Equal Rights Amendment in the National Archives, effectively bringing it into law.

• Prohibit insurance companies from denying trans-affirming procedures

• Remove “transmedicalist” language from all educational materials relating to trans individuals

• Specifically prohibit disciplining or firing trans employees for acknowledging their gender/pronouns with customers, clients, or other individuals in the workplace

• Legally prohibit mutilative surgeries on intersex infants

• Pass legislation to mandate that police adopt policies to ensure fairer interactions with transgender people, especially transgender women of color, who are disproportionately impacted by disparities in policing

• Outlaw misgendered imprisonment nationwide and end “gay panic” and “trans panic” defenses for violent crimes

• Prevent and repeal any legislation that purports to protect religious liberty at the expense of the rights of others

• Ours is the only campaign that will be on the ballot across the country this November that is fighting for people, planet, and peace – and the only credible challenge to empire, genocide, and hate.

___

.

Remember: the first Pride was a riot. Patrons of the now legendary Stonewall Inn stood up to continuous harassment and police brutality targeting New York's thriving LGBTQ community.

From the beginning, Pride Month has been about challenging structural hate and dismantling systems that exclude, silence, and sideline people because of who they are and who they love.

It is long past time the LGBTQIA+ community had a true ally in the White House.

We will end the acceptance of a violent culture that devalues the humanity of our LGBTQIA+ siblings. We will fight for the liberation of LGBTQIA+ people around the world.

In solidarity and gratitude,

Jill

linky

Are you going to vote? Did you vote already? Who for? Why?

Idk I'm curios, !i-voted despite initially not wanting to. Gave my vote to the party of our favorite Greek succdem Yanis idk, they seemed the least bad of the ones available to me in my country.

linky

vote for vote so you can vote

!long-corbyn

Honorable mention !

If I was in charge of The Regime I’d have trouble convincing myself to not keep the libertarian party around as !twisted twisted !twisted jesters for the masses

(It can’t be the prohibition party btw because I already have plans for it- it’d be so easy to get 20 of yall to go to their next convention in some Best Western in Gainesville probably and nominate one of us)

fucking !chefs-kiss interview even if they don't eat shit in elections, they are eating shit by having these guys around

!say-the-line-bart-1 In a 6-3 decision !say-the-line-bart-2

this sucks so bad

“bUt TrUmP WiLL tUrN AmERicA fascist”

Don’t care, we’re already there anyway and the Democrats were the junior partners in making this place a fascist hellhole anyway.

I literally do not care what happens to this country anymore. We deserve sooo much worse than 9/11. If there’s a god then this country deserves divine judgement. Death - and I cannot emphasize this enough - to America.

I will vote for anyone who promises to stop American imperialism. But since that describes precisely no one in either of the two major parties, I guess I’m not voting for any of them then.

I've got multiple white queer friends who are staunchly "vote blue no matter who" and dissolve into a trembling breakdown whenever they're asked about it, talking about how if republicans win the world is going to end etc. Like, full on angry-crying wojak, talking about third-party voting being a waste, Project 2025, etc. Coincidentally, these friends hardly ever engage with activism.

How do you choose to engage with these kinds of people? What's the general opinion on the vote in leftist circles, considering so many are refusing to vote for Biden (just checking the water temp since I've been largely offline save for activism and work lately)?

I've been away from Hexbear for a minute, apologies if this has been discussed!

!walter

Edit: Really appreciating all the replies! Really glad I can reliably come here for good discussions. Thanks everyone !quokka-smile Slash gen., in case it's needed.

[insert Skibidi Pomni Ohio Gyatt Rizz joke here]

Basically they’ll only certify a candidate if they’re officially nominated by August 7 and the DNC only starts on the 19th lol

RFK’s gonna get second place in a state let’s gooo !agony-wholesome

ratchet effect on full display

>The ‘working definition of antisemitism’ was never intended to silence speech, but that’s what Trump’s executive order accomplished this week

This is from a Green Party email from Jason Call. Jill Stien got shoved in the face with a bike from the pigs. Jason Call got a knee on the neck.

-----

I’m in Missouri right now with Dr. Jill Stein. We’re in the midst of a nationwide tour visiting states where we are working to get her on the ballot for November.

While we were in St. Louis, students from Washington University asked us to join them at their Gaza Solidarity encampment. Of course we went. At the request of student organizers, we engaged with the Vice Chancellor and the Director of Student Affairs in an attempt to de-escalate the scene while the police presence ramped up.

!

As police moved in, we linked arms to defend the students.

Absolutely none of the protesters instigated ANY violence. Police moved in, grabbed us, pushed us, struck us with their equipment, and began violently arresting people.

!

!

At least 4 cops dragged me to the ground. There was a brief, incredibly terrifying moment, where one cop put his knee into my back and I realized I couldn’t breathe.It lasted all of 30 seconds. I yelled “I can’t breathe!” repeatedly until they let up. Afterwards, I couldn’t stop thinking about George Floyd who endured 9 tortuous minutes of that feeling until his life was snuffed out.

All told, I was detained for 7 hours. We got out around 2:00am local time. Around 100 people were arrested, most of us charged with trespassing – a few with resisting arrest.

!

This is my first protest arrest in 34 years of activism. I don’t regret a thing, but I am disgusted by the police conduct last night. There was no instigating incident that justified a violent police response. Students were seated and eating snacks while we surrounded them with arms linked.

The violence from the officers had only one purpose: To squash future dissent. And it won’t work. The harder the cops crack down, the more we will resist. Our country is perpetuating a genocide – in our name and with our money. We won’t stop until Palestine is free.

The principal demand of Washington University students is for their school to divest from Boeing – a key manufacturer of munitions being used against the people of Gaza just 30 miles from campus.

Edit -

Dr. Jill Stein says she is going to the ER after arrest at student protest

> Green Party presidential candidate Dr. Jill Stein said she may have suffered a rib fracture after she says she was knocked to the ground and assaulted by police during her arrest at a pro-Palestine protest at Washington University in St. Louis.

> “Today I have really sore ribs, I’m going to the emergency room to see whether I have a rib fracture because they were using their bikes as a weapon,” Stein said during a Sunday interview on “NewsNation Prime.” “Basically ramming the handles of the bike into our chests and into my ribcage and trying to flip us over.”

> Stein, 73, who was arrested Saturday, spent six hours in police custody and is facing charges of assaulting a police officer. “I wiggled out of that assault, and was told by the officer that I was assaulting him, which is absolutely ludicrous,” Stein said.

Edit 2 added video link to main URL

both Trump and Biden become nonviable either legally or via ill health or death

the Dems and Repubs scramble to find candidates, but they are all terrible !jokermala

the PSL ticket takes the White House and uses all the extralegal powers granted to the Executive Branch over the decades to upend capital power across the US

the long term biden and trump results ARE THE FUCKING SAME WE ALL STILL DIE

go away you freak

!brump !a-little-trolling

!waow-based

What’s with the soft white underbelly thumbnail filter lmao

Abdullah has had some uhhh interesting takes !

https://twitter.com/AdImpact_Pol/status/1778173672454345185

He was against the Iraq war. Helped with shenanigans against the establishment at the 2016 convention. That said he's subject to the One Good Shot rule and will likely be compromised in some way.

No ActBlue on his donation page so that's something.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dennis_Kucinich

He wanted to impeach Dick Cheney for his shenanigans and !obama-sad for invading Libya. He ran for president in 2008 supporting single payer. He was a Bernie supporter. Regular thorn in the establishment's side. Protected a public utility from being sold in Cleveland

He has warnings about the WHO on his issues page and recently a campaign manager for RFK Jr.

https://apnews.com/projects/election-results-2024/wisconsin/?r=50001

Not sure what the NY option is, probably Orb Lady.