Joe Biden’s Tuesday started when he had to deal with a Michigan union worker who tried to get in Biden’s face about how Biden would take away his guns. Biden’s malarkey-meter went off the charts and he got in the guy’s face and told the union worker that he was “full of sh-t” and that he supports the second amendment but it’s not an excuse to have an automatic weapon which can shoot “100 rounds” or something. The point is MALARKEY. And horsesh-t.
WATCH: "You’re full of sh*t," @JoeBiden tells a man who accused him of "actively trying to end our Second Amendment right."
"I support the Second Amendment," Biden adds while vising under-construction auto plant in Detroit. @CBSNews pic.twitter.com/sueOSBaY9P
— Bo Erickson CBS (@BoKnowsNews) March 10, 2020
That was the start of Biden’s day. He ended the day by winning Michigan, Idaho, Missouri and Mississippi. He probably lost North Dakota to Bernie Sanders and currently, Washington state is neck-and-neck, but that’s with less than 70% of the votes in. I turned off MSNBC early in the night, but from what I gather, several storylines are coming together. One, the “Obama coalition” is coming home for Joe Biden, meaning African-American voters, college-educated women, suburban women, seniors, etc. Two, Bernie Sanders is not winning the same states or turning out the same kind of vote (especially the youth vote) like he did in 2016. Three, the media is finally asking the question of whether Bernie Sanders’ support in 2016 was merely voters who were anti-Hillary Clinton, or just straight-up sexism towards any female candidacy, because Sanders’ voters aren’t turning out when he’s running against another dude.
There’s also a lot of focus on just how bad it was for Bernie’s “chances” when he lost Michigan by such a large percentage – Sanders only got 37% of the vote, and that was after Sanders poured a lot of resources, time and energy into the state. Which leads me to this Politico article about how many senior Democrats are talking amongst themselves about how to “nudge” Sanders out of the primary race because at this point, his candidacy is over. These Democrats seem to be putting a lot of faith in Sanders’ “pragmatism.” It’s almost like they’re forgetting that a 78-year-old man who had a heart attack several months ago probably isn’t running because he’s a pragmatist. He’s running because he’s on a f–king ego trip. But yeah, I think he’ll drop out at some point. Because this time, the nominee will be a man.
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red.
Good riddance, Bernie
Thank you! I was coming here to say that. I was really surprised when he didn’t speak to his voters last night. Shows a true lack of character. These people bought his BS & his promises that would never get congressional approval & yet they voted & attacked anyone who dared state the truth of his record & life of talk but no actions. He owed it to them to say thank you. He is an egotistical empty suit. Always has been.
I thought Joe’s speech last night was really good & quite Presidential. I say that having been Mayor Pete all the way. I will happily vote for Joe & hope he appoints Obama to the Supreme Court so all those racist republicans will have to say Hello Mr. President every effing day
Pete would be a great president. I still have hopes for VP for Pete and I’ll be watching jimmy kimmel on Thursday to see Pete host.
But I’m happy to vote for Biden, who is a good and decent man married to a wonderful woman. What a fucking relief it will be to have them in the White House.
Last night was bad for Sanders but next Tuesday is going to be even worse. He has no reason to stay in.
I vote on the 17th. Biden may be the only one on the ticket, but I was going to vote for him anyway. (Don’t tell my Bernie Bro relatives, but I was never going to vote for Sanders.) Pete was my first choice, then Warren; but I’m all aboard the Biden train now. Joe is a decent, compassionate human being. We need that in the WH.
148 delegates separate Bernie and Biden.
100ish delegates from states that have voted haven’t been allocated.
New York has 274 delegates.
Joe Biden is in severe cognitive decline
Sunday is the first one-on-one debate.
2,248 delegates remain.
Sanders is expected to hold a press conference today to announce he is not dropping out of the race. He will stay in until the bitter end like 2016 and probably won’t reign his supporters in to repeat 2016 as well I hope I’m wrong but . . .
he’s going to do the exact thing he did in 2016. This guy and his followers are the same leopard with the same spots.
Rashida, stop with this “sever cognitive decline” bullshit. It’s not true and this is some Bernie Bro crap.
And if you want to start looking at someone’s medical records, start with the guy who had a heart attack last fall.
@sandy Thank you for that. I’m sick of hearing the cognitive decline (straight from the Putin playbook) he has a stutter. Sanders fell in the shower & then had a heart attack. Then said he would release his medical records & then declined (I won’t mention he hasn’t released full taxes, filed his 2016 campaign FEC report & has multiple campaign finance violations w/ the ‘20 campaign.)
It seems like the sanders movement of ‘16 was more a HRC hate fest than an actual movement. I was completely Team Pete, but he endorsed Biden & I’m completely onboard. Mostly because Biden has a record of getting thing done & BS just talks.
I’m voting blue no matter who and it looks like it’s gonna be Joe. So be it. Trump has to go!
Second that!
So bummed out to be voting for Joe, but I just keep reminding myself it’s a vote to be rid of Trump, and that makes it palatable. Blue or bust!
Yes, Kateeee. I was Team Pete all the way and my heart still hurts, but beating Trump is the priority. I will vote for Joe and try to like it.
100% agree with you.
I feel the same way. Not happy to vote for Biden but I’ll do it.
End goal, indeed! Together we win.
The other party sticks together no matter what unfolds. Let’s take a page from their playbook!
Absolutely! Hope he picks an awesome VP.
Exactly. I’m not inspired or excited, like I would have been with Warren, but it’s the way it has to be.
I’m going to focus my donations and efforts on Senate challenges, keeping the House blue, and voter turnout. All those down ballot votes are crucial too.
Same!
Honestly, I think many voters are scared to death of another 4 years of Trump so are taking a pragmatic approach and have decided Biden has the best chance of beating Trump. Like I said last week – its not pro Biden, its anti Trump.
+1
With the exception of a few weeks, Biden has alway been the front runner in the race. He is not a safety choice. For all the talk of “establishment,” if Biden gets the nomination his will have the most progressive agenda of any Democratic nominee ever.
It wasn’t just a few weeks, it was longer than that, but at any rate – it doesn’t mean he’s not the safety choice. People are tired. They want someone they know and trust. Those aren’t digs at Biden.
45 has got to go!
Exactly.
Joe announce your VP already because I need something to feel inspired to campaign for again. I want to do more than just vote…but even without a woman running the shocking reality of the sexism is depressing.
There’s still some fun and inspiration to be had in the Senate races though.
That sexism is still such a factor is depressing. Two aspects of it are worse: that so many women participate happily in it and the gaslighting around it. “No, it’s not sexism, she was a bad candidate!” “Warren just wasn’t a good campaigner!” A woman online today said she would only vote for Biden/Harris if she toned it down, got calmer and more moderate. My brain hurts from the ingrained sexism.
If Harris got more moderate?! Mygawd she can’t win. She’s too tough on crime / too establishment / too far to the left. *puke emoji*
Bernie Sanders never asked himself why older, more reliable black voters didn’t turn out for him in 2020 is what I suspect. He didn’t think about how badly they’ve been burned by white voters over the last two decades where progressive candidates were concerned. Or how terrified they are of another four years. You have to tackle race conflict in America more significantly before they can even begin to trust us to do the right thing on the ballot.
Realistically, WI, MI, PA, and FL are the big swing ones that matter. Those will determine where this race ends up in 2020.
@Veronica Bernie’s never been one for self reflection to put it mildly. #BlueWave2020
@Veronica, what is a more reliable black voter?
the one that shows up to vote – which is older voters. Look at the news – no dramatic increase in younger voters in terms of turnout. I don’t know if that was what the original poster meant but that is what I think.
You mean….am I talking about the statistically backed older voters that show up more regularly to vote in every demographic? And in the case of black Americans, who tend to vote overwhelmingly democrat? Because you can look at these statistics anywhere if you wish. Numerous articles have discussed the demographics. Middle aged and elderly black votes went to Biden. Bernie got the younger black voters but only by a slim margin. Lots of think pieces out there about why that is.
That’s because Bernie Sanders has never bothered to know or talk to any black people.
Marcus Johnson is someone I follow on Twitter and I like his analysis, though die hard Sanders and Warren stans (which I am not) likely won’t (he posits that their messages lately appeal to white people who aren’t as wealthy as their parents and are pissed about it & I agree).
https://twitter.com/marcushjohnson/status/1180964166166822913?s=08
That’s actually a really great thread and honestly…fairly truthful, even if it burns a little to hear it as a white academic lol. But we need to hear it because a lot of the problem surrounding progressive interest groups is the silo they create around themselves that blinds them to the economic reality around them. I’ve been thinking about that a lot as I see angry Sanders voters – how much race really is such a powerful factor in all of this. US economic mobilization is literally built on oppression.
Not American; but in my opinion, Biden is a much better pick (and would be a much better candidate) than Sanders. There’s just something about Sanders that’s eerily familiar to Trump. It’s a certain viciousness that comes through when he speaks. Like Trump, Sanders – in my opinion- thinks it’s “his way or the highway”. If Sanders is a true statesman, he’ll do the honorable thing and throw his weight behind Joe, seeing as a large portion of the Democratic Party support the former VP. But then again, knowing Sanders, he’s probably waiting for the upcoming debate to fling mud at Joe…a situation that will not be good for the party. It’s not as if Biden is an outstanding candidate…he certainly has questionable flaws…however, if the goal is to defeat Trump, Sanders needs to coalesce around Biden and bring his supporters into the fold so they don’t end up sitting out the election again as they did with Hillary. Biden, no matter his flaws, will certainly not be as bad as Trump!
Are you sure you’re not American because that was very insightful and TRUE? 😉
I don’t even know what else to add because you really said it all!
Lol. I can assure you that I’m not American. Just someone on the other side of the world who is also eager to see Trump go!
Sometimes a person who is distant from the situation can see it with more clarity.
Very well put, my non-American friend!
Agree with your observations.
If they debate on Sunday, any mud throwing toward Joe will just provide footage for the opposing party’s commercials. The end goal is to unite and defeat the current occupant. Period!
Your opinion is spot on!
Bernie was not a good candidate because he’s not realistic and he’s trying to appeal to the whims of the young vote without considering that there are other voters in this country besides the just turned 18’s. All Bernie does is shout and tbh I wasn’t looking forward to four years of that
Biden will bring a powerful team of seasoned and good cabinet members to the table. This is more than about the presidency but about who is in charge of the Justice dept., Housing, Education, and the Supreme Court. I think Biden will make wise decisions here.
Hard agree with you. Just look at how Sanders treated Hillary after the primaries. He is not a peacemaker and he will not help unite the party, he is not even a Democrat at all.
Joe is more likely to bring in the Nevertrump Rs, something Bernie could never do. #VoteBlueNoMatterWho. #VoteBlueAsIfYourLifeDependsOnIt
This. He’ll get more from across the aisle than crazy, angry Bernie will.
Yesterday, I was so pleased when I was driving around North Scottsdale in AZ to see a bumper sticker that said “ANY ONE BUT TRUMP, Make America Sane Again”. I laughed out loud with delight! Particularly being in a red state I don’t get to see that too much. It made me feel like a light is now visible at the end of the tunnel.
If the Dems are smart, they will steer all conversation away from the idea that they’re trying to nudge Bernie out if the race (even if this is the case) or acting like Biden getting the nomination is already a done deal.
Even if Biden is the likely winner, he would be smart to continue to keep it level and talk about the kind of work he and Sanders could get done IF he wins it. He would also be wise to talk about what kind of roles other former rivals could have in his potential presidency and capitalize on the strengths that made people excited about them. Build a coalition instead of constantly shooting each other in the face over purity tests like we have been doing since the last election.
I feel like this is one of bests ways to create fertile ground for more progressive candidates and causes. We don’t have time to start from zero. Again.
I think Joe already has a hang of that. Last night he extended an arm of friendship to Bernie and his supporters. He definitely realizes that he would need those supporters to rally around him in order to get Trump out of the WH. The question now is “will Sanders put the greater goal above his personal interest?” I hope he does!
I’m not sure how he is going to deal with Bernie, but at his rally in Michigan with Cory Booker and Kamala Harris he made what I thought were some great statements about how he is a bridge. He said: “Look, I view myself as a bridge, not as anything else,” Biden said. “There’s an entire generation of leaders you saw stand behind me. They are the future of this country.”
I think this is a good strategy by Biden – he’s actually acknowledging the 77 year old elephant in the room and positioning himself not as the savior of the youth but as a stepping stone.
@LNG….I also love this idea. There were some truly fantastic Dem candidates. Biden getting their support leaves me hopeful that he’s thinking about the future and what they can bring to the table should he be elected.
I’d love it if he would start talking about who he would appoint to his cabinet. Knowing that we have seasoned and experienced folk in Education, Housing, etc.. would be a big draw for voters IMO.
That’s good to hear, and what I was hoping he would do, if the nominee. Right the ship as much as possible, and then pass the baton.
I’m in PA and still have the primary to vote in. I wanted to vote Warren, and since I’m in PA and my vote will actually matter, I’m still going to vote. While I don’t want either old white men, I’m choosing Biden because f*ck the Bernie Bros. And if Sanders somehow pulls this off, I’ll vote for him. Because anything is better than what we have now.
God, we have had some amazing women candidates who still get passed over for the less-than-inspiring old white men.
I really hope the ticket now will be Biden/Harris. With Warren as Majority leader.
Totally agree. I went form being undecided early on because there were too many candidates I wanted to vote for (my early favorite wasn’t even one of the women candidates, but I was really excited to vote for Warren as recently as 2 weeks ago), to now being resigned about voting for Biden.
A few thoughts after last night.
1/ It’s much easier to run against a woman who has been both the right and the left’s Boogeyman for decades than an established white male politician. Bernie’s white rural support especially has all but collapsed.
2/ Bernie’s support among Black voters, and especially the older ones, is weak af to say the least. That was already the case in 2016, and he has done nothing to correct course since then… except hiring well-known scammers like Shaun King (aka Martin Luther Cream or Alexander Scamilton).
3/ Bernie basically tried to win a Democratic primary without Black voters and they told him “Not so fast sir”. I hope he reflects on that but I know he won’t. I also hope all the tv pundits, podcasts hosts & all who were acting like Bernie’s win was a done deal after two primaries and a caucus in some of the whitest states of the Union will reflect as well.
4/ The Iowa caucus should be a thing of the past. Iowa should organize a primary, which is way more democratic and inclusive than a caucus. They also should not go first given that the state’s racial make-up is not representative of the country, let alone the Democratic party.
Second that on Iowa.
As long as Bernie stays in he is serving trump.
Perfectly put, @theothersarah 🙂
Can the media pundits (even the pod save America guys) please do some self reflection on their unconscious bias reg women candidates (not giving them enough air time as the male ones/ erasure)…when the dust has settled down if it ever does.
I’m glad Shaun King is finally getting the shit he deserves for his bullshit these last two elections. I can think of few white liberals who made me angrier in 2016.
Ah, my bad – just realized I was confusing King with another blogger in my head. I rescind the white liberal statement – he is biracial now that I recall. Still NOT a fan of his dramatics or his self-righteous posturing.
The #writeinbernie trolls are out in full force. All puffed up in their righteousness. When somebody tries to reason with them-you know, Supreme Court, children in cages, trump victory, etc.-their response is along the lines of “So be it.”
Sickening. That cult can’t go away fast enough.
Someone on twitter pointed out that a lot of that activity was going on during the middle of the night (US time). That would be early daytime in another country that seems to promote chaos and division.
I’m sure some of Putin’s workers are doing some of that. His puppet, donnie, is hard at work on twitter boosting Bernie. Maybe he’ll oust pence and run a trump/bernie ticket.
THIS. Russia’s fingerprints are all over this nonsense.
Absolutely. Russia and/or the GOP. They do not want a united Democrat party.
Honestly I wish people would stop giving so much time and attention to it, it just adds to the chaos. The voters are pretty clearly going for Biden.
Finally some good news to wake up to! I hope he picks a strong WOMAN as his vp choice. Let’s go Joe!
Bill de Blasio was trying to shame Elizabeth Warren in endorsing Sanders. Hahaha, what a fool.
Attacking other candidates and then expecting them to back you up is never a good idea.
I saw that yesterday. He has way bigger issues to worry about right now than telling a woman what to do.
Yet DeBlasio himself waited five months (!) after dropping out of the race to endorse Sanders.
And as for his claim that Bernie would have endorsed her already if the shoe were on the other foot …. he had that chance back when Warren announced her bid first. Instead of endorsing her Bernie told her a woman can’t win and dropped his own hat in the ring.
I fully believe that Bernie told Warren that a woman couldn’t win in order to justify his candidacy. The narrative seems to be that Warren was lying, but I just don’t buy it.
The results in Mich may be the best news, big turnout that reflected every group in every county, and after all the effort Bernie has put in there (had an office there for 4 years) it does look like the writing is on the wall for him. We all know, though, he’s not gonna go yet, I just hope he doesn’t use his debate time using trump talking points because it just makes him look small. Michael Moore, m.i.a. lately, was a sad mess on msnbc last night, insisting that the berners are getting such a raw deal…this again..
I read this article a few days ago, and I think it deserves a place here:
https://www.theroot.com/an-open-letter-to-white-liberals-blaming-low-informatio-1842100419
Biden may not be the best presidential candidate or even the best future president, but right now he is the best hope we have of avoiding another four years of descent into madness and a dictatorship. I will take my chances with Joe over Bernie every day.
Orange is clearly afraid of running against Joe, which is another reason to view him as a bridge to restoring some degree of normalcy.
I see that the Bernie bro’s are crying this morning on Twitter. What they don’t realize is giving Bernie a write in vote gives that vote to Trump. Medicare for all, while a noble idea was good but like free college and cancelling student debt they were pies in the sky. I know quite a few seniors who do not support the Medicare for all plan because 1. Bernie is vague about who is going to pay for it and 2. It’s not sustainable. The man has a lot of ideas but who is going to pay for it?
Biden wasn’t my first choice but if he is what it takes to get rid of the orange menace, I’ll vote for him.
I’m still truly heartbroken that I’m not getting my Warren/Harris ticket (girl can dream) but I get the Biden thing even if I think Bernie has some great policy ideas.
Biden is calm and stable and is promising organization and governing. if you look at everything going on right now the idea of someone who understands government, is calm and decent it makes sense. I truly believe Biden could handle the pandemic not as well as Warren or Harris but he would and he could rally the globe! This is needed and we know the value in it because we are living through not having it.
Also please note I will vote blue no matter who because Trump has to go.
Bernie needs to drop out, GENUINELY throw support behind Biden, and encourage his supporters to do the same by explaining how he plans to work with Biden to help promote his own policy ideas. Now, not later. I have people on my Facebook feed demonizing Biden and promoting Bernie as though he still has a chance at getting the nomination. I get that Biden isn’t ideal for a lot of us, but realistically, he’s our best bet at beating Trump. I will be so beyond outraged if we allow Trump to win again because “Biden and Trump are basically the same” nonsense like we got with Hillary and Trump. Enough. Let’s put our own opinions aside and put our country first, FFS.
My main problem with Bernie Sanders, is Bernie Sanders. I agree with his policies a lot, working in Europe for several years opened my eyes to how ingrained capitalism is in our culture and I appreciate to see a candidate that’s so angry about it. I don’t mind that he’s angry and that he yells. My problem is he seems so egotistical, so petty. “His way or the highway” as some other users have put it. And this is such a big problem for a politician, whose job is to get people to support him. Not just during the elections – those only happen every few years. He needs to gain the support of other politicians in the WH and all across the country.
Bernie seems so unpleasant to work with. Politicians aren’t just a cumulation of ideals, they are people, and no one likes working with unpleasant people. I always hear “politicians don’t have to be likeable” but yes, yes they have. They absolutely have to. Or they must at least be likeable enough so people don’t hate working with them. Otherwise they’ll never get anything done besides causing turmoil in their own party and give the opposition material to smear them with. You can see examples of this in history – politicians who really didn’t have bad ideas or policies at all but are remembered as tyrants simply (and rightfully) because of their arrogance.
Kelly, I agree. Bernie’s biggest problem is Bernie. Along with a Trump sized ego, there’s another similarity…Bernie doesn’t want the JOB of president, he just wants to boss people around and get his way. He’s not able to work both sides of the aisle, it’s unlikely that he’ll get many of his policies through and he’d be basically a lame duck. We don’t have four years to waste on another vanity project. Biden will be a lame duck as well, but he has a much wider world view than Bernie.
I’m also not impressed that Bernie didn’t use the past three years educating people on what he wants to change and what socialism really means. I’m in my sixties and realize that an appalling number of Americans equate socialism with communism. And that needs to change before we can move forward. But having some old guy screaming at people isn’t productive nor is a bunch of twenty something Bernie bros arrogantly assuming they have the only answers.
Biden is not my choice; I’m not a Bernie stan as y’all know, but I *am* a progressive and o hate neoliberalism and most of what capitalism brings with it. So I’m disappointed.
I did read a good piece on Slate that talks about how Biden is forcing Dems to let go of the need for a messianic savior president and be pragmatic and focused on down ballot races. So I guess that’s my silver lining?
Still. Ugh.
I’m trying to comfort myself thusly: progress comes by degrees, and if we get Biden (and keep the House and get the Senate) ENORMOUS progress over the last three years is assured. And if people remained tuned in and don’t skip the midterms, still more progress is assured. It’s a ham and Swiss on good bread instead of the Chateaubriand you hoped for, but at least it’s not the bulging can of mushy carrots Trump is. Better forward than backward.
(does anyone even eat Chateaubriand? I never have, lol)
I feel your pain. That said, NO progress will be made with a Republican as president. None. At least with Biden at the helm, and hopefully an all blue Congress, we have a chance of pushing through progressive policies. The folks in the race that we DID like will be able to work with Biden to push their agendas. I have a lot of hope.
We would’ve never bounced from Trump to someone super-progressive. That’s sadly not where the country is at right now, but Biden is a step in the right direction.
Lindy, you are my twin. I feel the same way. Not excited but voting blue no matter who.
For my fellow uninspired by Biden white ladies: there was a piece from Facebook authored by a black woman making the rounds yesterday (I don’t remember where I saw it or I would cite the writer!) in which she said that one of the reasons so many African American voters support Joe is that for eight years, he stood behind Obama, in every sense of the word. He supported him, he helped him, he didn’t undercut him, he never attempted to take his glory, and for that, for not being an a$$hole white douche, for being a good man, many African Americans support Joe.
I’m not black so I don’t know how true that is, but framed that way makes him sound like a really decent guy. I’m sad at the sexism that killed Warren’s campaign, but I can rally behind Joe just fine.
And in a few months when the little gop trolls come hopping up into the light, I will be 100% pro-Joe.
That was a great piece….
My question has to do with Sanders’ fundraising–he has raised a massive amount of money ($25 million in January alone). This cash is supposedly coming from individual micro-donations. So where are all those voters who made these donations? Why aren’t they showing up to vote for him? Things that make you go hmmm…