Democracy may be on the ballot. Less clear is what was on the menu.
President Joe Biden hosted a small group of scholars and historians for lunch on Wednesday as he gears up for a speech framing the upcoming election as a battle for the nation’s democracy.
The discussion revolved around “ongoing threats to democracy and democratic institutions both here in America and around the world, as well as the opportunities we face as a nation,” the White House said in a statement.
Princeton’s Eddie Glaude Jr. and Sean Wilentz, Harvard’s Annette Gordon-Reed, Yale’s Beverly Gage and Boston College’s Heather Cox Richardson were among the attendees, as well as presidential biographer — and occasional Biden speech writer — Jon Meacham.
Attendees were tight-lipped about what was discussed at the gathering. One would only go so far as to say they “talked about American history and its bearing on the present — a lively exchange of ideas.”
Another person in the room, who like the others was not authorized to speak publicly about a private meeting, said the historians urged the president “to call out the moment for what it is.” In blunt terms, the academics discussed looming threats to the nation’s democracy and warned about the slow crawl of authoritarianism around the globe.
I think it's important for Biden to call out this moment for what it is. It will be difficult to do, though, without alienating the people in the country who have incorporated Trump into their political identity. When you point out that their emperor has no clothes, they will feel exposed themselves and lash out at the truth teller.
Biden has to try and build a coalition of all sorts of people to meet this moment. Especially all the people who are disillusioned with the situation in Gaza right now. It amazes me how all those people would think Trump would be any better at that. Trump would sell out Gaza to build a resort if we let him.
Trump would gleefully see Gaza get destroyed. He would call on Israel to not slow down and allow aid to pass through, but do it faster. Like, “have it done by next Monday so I can take the credit for it”.
It will be difficult to do, though, without alienating the people in the country who have incorporated Trump into their political identity
They're already alienated, there's likely nothing Biden could possibly do that would earn him their votes.
The question is- can Biden afford to alienate the folks who are against US support of Israeli occupation and genocide? If they stay home, the GOP wrecking crew may get another 4 years of opportunity to dismantle American democracy. Is it safe to bet that they'll hold their nose and vote against the greater evil?
I'm not 100% sure how much of the Democratic party (or independents) would find it to be a deal-breaker if Biden were to take a critical stance of Israeli occupation and genocide, nor am I certain of how many likely-democratic voters find it a deal-breaker if Biden continues to give Israel military support without conditions. It seems likely to me that if Biden doesn't address this issue directly and clearly, he will lose one or the other of these groups and I worry he can't afford that in 2024
The great part is that there's nothing Biden can do that would be a deal breaker. I must vote for him because the way we vote is stupid. There's nothing that can make me not because the alternative is objectively worse.
So it's no wonder the DNC doesn't care what I think.
The people who need to feel consequences will not feel the consequences. People I care about will feel the consequences. The people running the Democratic Party will feel nothing.
In a certain kind of way, NOT voting for the party you support in a two-party run-off does amount to a fractional vote in favour of your opponent.
I can't draw a 2x2 table here, but I'll try to describe it. In the population of voters, you have 20 supporters of party A and 20 supporters of party B. So, there is 50% support for each party in the population of 40 potential voters. During the actual vote, 10 people in party A vote and 15 people in party B vote. The vote spread is 5 votes in favour of party B. Using proportions, that's 40% for party A and 60% for party B. Using these proportions on the original 40 people, this is the equivalent of a 16 people voting for party A and 24 people voting for party B, even though there are only 20 actual supporters of party B in the population! So, differential voting rates result in a higher proportion of votes going to the party with the higher voting rate, which means that staying home is not neutral. It is effectively a fractional vote for the other guy, where that fraction is a function of the differential voting rate among the two parties' supporters.
Of course, if enough left-wing supporters stay home, it might go so far as to lead to a win for the radical right under Trump. If that happens, all those on the left who refused to show support for Biden will be just as guilty as the MAGA idiots.
I’ll give you that that is a fair point, but the impact of my action doesn’t outweigh my conviction.
Hopefully more people aren’t like me I guess?
There is no way Israel would’ve had the balls to go as hard as they did. If they did not have us sitting there to make sure no one else got involved.
We supported the bully, or at least someone it turns out it was just as bad as the fucking other guy, and then we continue to do it after we saw all the dead children.
I’ve said it before I’ll say it again, I understand where they’re coming from but they’re still wrong, they’re still the bad guys in this, it just turns out there’s no good guys, but they keep calling themselves the good guys.
You guys have fun with genocidin biden, if he’s on the ballot I’m just staying home and staying quiet for the next 4 years
"genocidin Biden"? No wonder you're not voting, you sound like you're 12. Go to your room and think about what you just said, young human. It's not as deep as you think it is.
The situation in Gaza is tragic, and can't be solved with a soundbite. But anyone who thinks outcomes will be better with Trump in office is delusional. Trump has proven that he doesn't really care about human rights, he cares about enriching himself. The Palestinians will be sold to the highest bidder. Is that what you want?
Browbeating is satisfying, and is less work than addressing the issue and trying to make progress toward a resolution. Do you suppose that your response made it more likely that the person you responded to will behave in the way you want?
Dismissiveness indicates an aversion to introspection.
im voting for him regardless of his stance on israel/palestine. How is staying home going to help palestine??? Even for palestine, biden is the lesser evil on who runs the us.
Don't try to apply logic here. This shit doesn't make any since. Trump would 100% toss Ukraine to Russia and Palestine to Israel. All either countries would have to do is stuff some money in his pocket. They are fucking delussional thinking that theres some other option here. There isn't. Our political system is not being overhauled for 2024. A new party is not arising. There are no new front runners for either party. Its gonna be Trump v Biden 2: Misinformation Boogaloo and these people really think Trump would do this gracefully and with the safety and peace of all nations in mind. They are steeped in madness.
You're killing trans children at home. Other out groups as well. Thanks. And thanks for sharing and encouraging others. This is helpful. I'll remember your bravery and honor and this moment and the chair I'm sitting in, when they are separating my family at the gas chamber in 6 or 7 years. Bc you didn't know how to read the room.
You're kind of helping his argument, no? His choice is support genocide of his LGBT+ neighbors or Palestinians? Neither option presented sounds worthy of a vote.
Whether you like it or not, until we get RCV, approval voting, STAR, or some other method better than first-past-the-post (we don't even have majority!), it is a Democrat vs. Republican thing. Which I should mention, is also how YOU framed it in your post. The only thing I'm pointing out is that if you choose the option that's bad for LGBTQ+, it's also just as bad for Palestinians as the other option is.
This skios the part where the Dems act like Biden is the only candidate that can beat Trump. He may beat him, he also may beat him to his grave. He's too old and should be primaried out.
Who would run instead? Harris? I haven't seen a single article about her. Bernie? The DNC would never do that. Biden is the incumbent, and what other good options are there?
Republicans also jumped at the chance to feed Ukraine to Russia. Whats your point? Feed Ukraine to Russia so that Trump will protect Palestine? The Republicans already cut so much of Ukraine's funding that they are struggling. I really don't see what this better alternative is. We can't just say no. Too much of the country is okay with both parties.
The older Democrats and generation in general hold fast to Israel. Its what they're familiar with and have grown up "on their team". There is a divide in the age groups as the younger democratic officials support Palestine. What other elected officials of a different political party support Palestine and endorse it publicly? Do many Republicans? In American politics, those are your options without fundamental change to the voting system.
What other elected officials of a different political party support Palestine and endorse it publicly? Do many Republicans? In American politics, those are your options without fundamental change to the voting system.
I don't. I think we need to change how our voting system works. We don't have time before the next election. Thats my rationale. You have to choose now, this year. Ranked choice is not being implemented. So, you're getting Trump or Biden most likely. With this shitty voting system, anybody spitefully withholding votes is helping Republicans make a Theocracy.
With this shitty voting system, anybody spitefully withholding votes is helping Republicans make a Theocracy.
I am not advocating for not voting, nor am I advocating for voting for republicans.
I just pointed out that "we'll protect you from genocide" is no longer a convincing argument when it comes from a party that is currently supporting and enabling genocide.
Realistically, in real life, your other option is Republicans. Thats how American politics works. Until we fundamentally change the way our voting system works. So I'm curious what your rationale is. What are you going to do? Allow a man who straight up claimed he be a dictator to take over in spite? What is the goal?
You jumped in the chain literally about my reply to someone daying "have fun with genocidin biden". Thats part of the context. The democrats only have one thing going and its their lead not being a fucking psycho. We don't have time to implement ranked choice.voting across the country before this years elections. Thats all they have besides being centrist capitalists every else in the world, which is marginally better than raving theocrat. We need to change our system but we are forced to vote one more time first. Unless you have something better to propose.
I'm still not saying that anyone should vote for another party. I pointed out that Democrats cannot be trusted to prevent genocide, since they are currently enabling one.
Unless you have something better to propose.
I've answered this already. Democrats should stop supporting genocide.
Everybody does. Most US Politicians support Israel. Biden is handling this as shit as most other US politicians would. The list I shared is just newer congress members of congress too.