I can’t believe I have to go through this again. The furor continues to grow. Biden has reportedly told his White House and campaign staffs that He’s not going anywhere. He’s in this race until the end, and we’re going to win. And at the same time, The New York Times is breathlessly reporting that Biden told a close ally that he’s considering whether or not to exit the race. Of course both things can be true, Biden can be putting on a positive face for his crew, while still at least considering dropping out of the race if the augers bode ill. But all it really is is a distraction and a major pain in the ass. Simple fact. Only Biden can decide whether or not to withdraw, everything else is jerking time.
But now that they’ve successfully stirred up this tempest in a teapot, these spoiled 4 year old brats are already squabbling about the conditions they are demanding if and for Biden to exit the race. Some are throwing their unqualified support behind VP Kamala Harris, while others are bitching and whining that it should be a battleground state Democratic Governor like Gretchen Witmer of MI, or Josh Shapiro of PA.
No, no, no, no, NO! What you sniveling, petulant little twerps must remember is that you’re in the minority! What the adults in the room realize and understand is that the results of a single debate aren’t worth a bowl of piss Jack Daniels. Especially four months before the election. And if you’re eating dinner at home and demand cake for dessert, then you don’t get to pick between German chocolate or cheesecake. Kitchen privilege.
One last time, get this through your thick, pissy skulls. If Biden steps down, there is no alternative, it’s Kamala Harris or bust! Nobody has the Biden-Harris campaign war chest. Nobody else has the national grassroots organization of Biden-Harris. Nobody else has the national ground organization of the DNC behind them. Nobody else has spent a year campaigning, holding rallies, and debating to get their message out. And nobody else has the national media bully pulpit that Harris does. Nobody else stands a chance in November.
But here’s the McGuffin. You guys really didn’t have to pick this fight. All you had to do was to rally one more time, organize and motivate, and get out and vote! The old guard has changed, the transition is complete.
Look, I’m 67 years old, I have glaucoma and balance issues, and I’m just goddamned tired. I’ve spent more than 50 years fighting the good fight. Hung placards on door knobs, went door knocking, phone banked, gotten petition signatures. My part now is down to making donations to favored candidates, and using my personal bully pulpit here. It’s up to you now to pick up the flag and charge the hill.
And you’re more than ready. After all, you got pretty much everything you wanted in the 2018 accord with Nancy Pelosi. She agreed to a two term maximum as House Speaker in order to oversee the transition. And House leadership like Elijah Cummings, James Clyburn, Steny Hoyer as well as Pelosi herself took promising young progressives under their wings to mentor them for leadership. And it’s happened. God rest Elijah Cummings soul and Clyburn, Hoyer and Pelosi have all stepped back from leadership. Hakeem Jefferies is poised to be the first African American Speaker of the House.
But I can only hope that all of you young leadership savants learned the lessons of civility, tactics, and political analysis that they taught you. As Kenny Rogers famously sang, You’ve got to know when to hold them, know when to fold them, know when to walk away, and know when to run. But this much is crystal clear, no matter who runs in November, it’s the last time you’ll ever face this issue. The future belongs to you and your movement.
It’s your turn, use it wisely to show your intelligence and savvy in your first turn at the wheel. You’ve already tasted battle, and learned the lesson. In 2018, when the Democratic Progressive caucus gained ascendence, they went to war with Nancy Pelosi. And they learned a lesson from the Grand Legislative Master. The segment is only as sweet as the whole orange. They got some concessions, and they gave some concessions. That’s how it works.
This is the next lesson. I know you want Biden gone, so that you can complete the transition at the highest level. But I’m about to write showing how both the polling, as well as national voting registration numbers are disastrous for Trump. Patience, grasshoppers. This choice is Biden’s, and nobody else’s, and he’s spent the same 50 years fighting to reach this pinnacle. If Biden stays in, please don’t pull a Bernie Bro’s from 2016, we all saw how tragically that turned out. As an undecided voter opined, President Biden on his worst day is better than Trump on his best day. I pray you consider the possible consequences of arrogance and intransigence. There is no choice but Biden, so put your big boy pants on, lock in, and get it done.
The future is yours, and I wish you well, but I’m also jealous. Never stop learning, wield the power you’ve been given wisely, and always remember to temper your expectations to reality, not ideology. Oh yeah, and one more thing. Always remember to put the toilet seat down, you crazy kids! Sliante!
I thank you for the privilege of your time.
“President Biden on his worst day is better than Trump on his best day.”
There is only one sane contender to vote for.
As a bonus he’s smart, reliable and gets things done.
Voting for Trump and all he stands for is as insane as he is.
I am 69 and heading to 70 on my next birthday early next year. I concur with you Murphy, completely! Biden/Harris all the way!!
Murf you’re a young man! I’m turning 71 in two months and neither of us will live to see the full hellscape Trump will usher in if he steals another election. The young will.
Jeez Scott, at a mere 71 you’ve got a very good chance of witnessing an entire Trumpler term, if the insane occurs and he gets back into the White House. Unless you have health issues of which we’re unaware, you’ll be around for quite a while yet.
Iam.older than all of you. I turn 75 in November. My first real.job was in D.C. as a researcher for two lobbying offices. I hated them so.much that I preferred working as a school librarian in inner city Baltimore. And yes even in the mid 70s that was occasionally dangerous (ask.me about disarming a 14 year old psychopath) but it was rewarding.
Biden isn’t exciting or dramatic or charismatic, all those things those who grew up.with cell phones and streaming tv. Decency, hard work, and plodding through the bullshit and mud men like Trump leave behind. Dealing with small, boring crises seldom are. And those smaller crises are what actually get the job done. They reveal your character in the way big speeches don’t. You can fake it in a debate or rally, but putting out the wildfires day after freaking day as Biden has had to.with the GOP House. He found waysnto.get stuff done.
A classic example is the Smothers Brothers show. I ‘d like to take all the nay sayers and have them watch episodes for three days straight with meals and bathroom breaks. Tommy was,IRL the wild dryer liberal and the comic genius, while his bro Dick was a quiet centrist Republican back when they still.existed. Tom hated censorship.with a passion. Every episode had to pass the network censors. He figured out pretty quickly that the work around was to include sketches the knew would never fly so he could get in the one he really wanted kept in.
Biden is a lot like Tom. He deliberately puts things in bills HD would actually love to.see passed but knows won’t fly. Go back and look.at the infrastructure bill and his handling of Covid. He isn’t flashy like some of those younger pols who appeal to Millennial voters, but if they are smart, they can learn a lot from him. He is practical and low-key but he gets the job done.