Congratulations to our presumptive Democratic nominee, Joe Biden!
In Praise of Joe Biden, and in Defence of Bernie Sanders
As a Canadian following the primaries here on DU, for those interested I'd like to provide the perspective of an outsider looking in regarding the hostility sometimes displayed between members of the Biden & Sanders camps.
Regarding Joe Biden:
First off I must admit that Biden is my favorite Presidential candidate. Not that it matters much what this non-US citizen thinks, but here goes:
I agree with the consensus of many on DU that Mr. Biden is the most likely candidate to beat Trump in the 2020 GE. Here is a man with true progressive views. One with a plan to protect and build on the Affordable Care Act, one who helped pass the Brady bill to end handgun violence, one who will put his money where his mouth is regarding critical infrastructure projects like NY's Gateway Tunnel and one who has broad support from AA communities & leaders .
Biden's good natured & down-to-earth demeanor must surely appeal to those seeking a return to civility after the last 3-1/2 years. On the flip side, I also believe his impeccable experience and international recognition mean that he will be able to hit the decks-a-running and lead the USA at a time when experience like his is most needed.
Repeated attempts by the GOP to target Biden only serve to confirm, in my opinion, that he is the one whom the GOP believe most likely to unseat Trump.
For those who's views might be a little further to the left of center, the reality of politics is that people don't always get their first choice of party leaders.
I know. I am a Canadian who often tended to lean further left of center than what some might call 'mainstream' Liberals.
At some point I had to ask myself how many of the policies dear to me would get passed under a slash & burn right-wing government should I decide to stay home on election day simply because my preferred candidate wasn't leading in the polls among the other progressive candidates.
That being said, if I were American I would have no qualms voting for Mr. Biden, secure in the knowledge that a man who often shuns travel by private jet in favor of public transportation is indeed a true, blue progressive.
One who will take the fight to the GOP & win.
Regarding Bernie Sanders:
There seems to be consensus among some DU'ers of Sanders being a "fair-weather" democrat for the purpose of running as a Presidential candidate for the upcoming GE. To that, my answer is count yourselves lucky that you have a two-party system.
Unlike the USA, Canada has 3 major parties: Liberals (the Canadian equivalent to Democrats), Conservatives (moth-eaten imitation Trumpers), and the NDP (Social Democrats). From this it's easy to see that the vote on the left here is split between Liberals & NDP, placing progressives at a distinct disadvantage. Here we had to adapt to become fluid and learn to vote strategically for the progressive party most likely to win, be it Liberal or NDP. Sometimes with success, sometimes not.
Yes Mr. Sanders has a history of sometimes taking stabs at both major US parties, but from my viewpoint he seems to be reserving his sharpest and most effective barbs for Trump & the GOP.
I do not believe for one nanosecond that Mr Sanders has anything but the best intentions at heart for the American people.
To me it seems that Sanders' edginess might be due to the fact that, for whatever reason, he chose to run as an Independent for such a large part of his career making it exceedingly difficult & frustrating to get his progressive agenda passed.
He might be the grumpy old uncle we have in all our families, but he's not a bad man. He is in fact a good man. A very good man. One trying to bring the political barometer back left after drifting right for years and with proposals that apparently resound with a majority of Americans, such as the idea that health care should be a right & not a privilege.
Sometimes the world needs people like Sanders. If there were no Tommy Douglas, Canada would not have universal health care.
I'm not saying that misguided jabs from Sen. Sanders about the Democratic Party should be condoned, and his doing so will undoubtedly cost him going forward in the primaries.
Some might disagree with the methods by which Mr. Sanders chooses to deliver his message, but his message is one of hope for all Americans, regardless of income & social status. It should not be lightly brushed aside.
In an ideal world, people like Biden and Sanders would be working together to further their progressive policies, policies which are seemingly not all that dissimilar from each other. The same goes for their supporters who should be working toward the common goal of winning the election.
Besides, isn't division and discord among Democrats what Putin wants?
Here's to another another blue wave in 2020.
If I were to vote in a presidentialprimary today, I would vote for: Undecided
= new reply since forum marked as read
If I were to vote in a presidentialprimary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Likewise, the last time I was through Iowa was back in 2014 on a very memorable trip with my wife on Amtrak's California Zephyr (Chicago-Burlington-Denver-Salt Lake-Reno-Sacramento).
If I were to vote in a presidentialprimary today, I would vote for: Undecided
...and your support.
Will you adopt me if it doesn’t go well here? 
If I were to vote in a presidentialprimary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
In all seriousness I've got a feeling that Uncle Joe's got this.
If I were to vote in a presidentialprimary today, I would vote for: Undecided
If I were to vote in a presidentialprimary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
If I were to vote in a presidentialprimary today, I would vote for: Undecided
If I were to vote in a presidentialprimary today, I would vote for: Undecided
If I were to vote in a presidentialprimary today, I would vote for: Undecided