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Tom Rinaldo

(23,012 posts)
Thu Jul 18, 2024, 06:55 PM Jul 2024

I don't believe there is a conspiracy against Biden. I don't believe it's "The Elites against The Base" [View all]

There are always factions in politics. There are always rivalries, "camps", special interests and hyper personal ambitions at work behind the facade of unity that every political party would prefer to project as their image. But the Democratic Party, as an institution from top to bottom, was solidly behind President Biden, until the Presidential debate.

There could have been one or more serious primary challengers to Biden this year, but there weren't. That should not be taken as a given. Ted Kennedy challenged President Jimmy Carter for the Democratic nomination in 1980, and Ronald Reagan challenged President Gerald Ford for the Republican nomination in 1976. Both of those contests went down to the wire, with uncertainty over the outcome up until the conventions. Yes Joe Biden won 14 million primary votes this year, and mine was one of them. I had no reason to have second thoughts over backing Biden for another term, and he had no serious opposition inside the Democratic Party.

Sure, i could have voted for a low profile back bench congressman with no national following instead, or for an inspirational author who failed to move the needle when she tried to run in 2020, but why? I believed that the man who I saw campaign against Donald Trump in 2020 could and would defeat Trump again after this presidential campaign. That was the consensus inside the Democratic Party, and despite all of the fore mentioned rivalries and factions no doubt present among Democrats, above all else Democrats wanted to win November's election. That was my mind set when i voted for Joe Biden. And the same was true no doubt for Nancy Pelosi and all of the other Democratic Party leaders who have subsequently advanced if not outright endorsed the idea of replacing Joe Biden as our nominee.

What changed? I think the honest answer is, Joe Biden. Yes President Biden remains a man of superior values, insights, instincts, and judgement. To use the baseball metaphor raised earlier today, as a pitcher he hasn't lost the strike zone, but his fast ball isn't the same as it was in 2020. Biden's team scheduled an early election debate this year for a straightforward tactical reason, to shake up the election race. Biden's team significantly outspent the Trump effort in the battleground states up until July, but Biden couldn't open up a lead over Trump. Meanwhile Democratic candidates for Senate were outperforming Biden in those same States. The reasoning was that an early debate would spark voters into making a direct comparison between Trump and Biden, focusing their attention on Trump's deficiencies. Instead it shifted the focus to Biden's deficiency. We needed one outcome but we got the opposite.

I could say that Pelosi, Schumer, Jeffries, Schiff, Raskin, and Obama and the like are all out of touch national elitists, but I don't really believe that. They are Joe Biden's partners in the Democratic Party, and they, like Biden himself, know how much of a disaster is will be if Trump gets elected and Republicans control both Houses of Congress. Joe Biden, along with Vice President Harris, has an excellent record in office. The public should appreciate that. Trump should be ten points behind in the race at this point. No one can, nor wants to, take Biden's record in office away from him. Whoever tops our ticket, Biden, Harris, or anyone else, will run on that record. For Democrats to win in 2024 we have to do better than we have at both selling that record and expressing opposition to the record of MAGA Republicans. That simply is a fact.

Some think Joe Biden is fully capable of still doing that. Others think not. But the clear majority of America's voters have been adamant now for over a year that they believe both Donald Trump and Joe Biden are too old to be elected President again. Unfortunately more feel that way about Biden than Trump. Those too are facts and they don't work to our advantage.

Over the last 15 years Nancy Pelosi has become my political North Star. She has her finger on more pulses than i can even imagine. Simply put i not only believe that she wants what is best for both our Party and our Country, I believe she more so than virtually anyone, know best how to navigate us toward that goal. Yes, there is politics afoot. Yes egos are involved. Yes, no one can say with absolute certainty what course of action at this critical juncture will most likely lead to victory. I trust President Biden, but he is not the only Democrat I trust. If he goes on to be nominated for a second term, he has my full support. If Vice President Harris instead becomes our nominee, she too will have my full support. But no one can say that Democrats have turned their backs on our base voters if we should run an African American woman for President.





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What does it matter what pelosi thinks BootinUp Jul 2024 #1
lol sure, Pelosi is an idiot SamuelTheThird Jul 2024 #26
I shouldn't type in haste or frustration about this, that was wrong of me. BootinUp Jul 2024 #35
+1. Pelosi is a political genius, radius777 Jul 2024 #69
"There should have been an open primary..." thucythucy Jul 2024 #103
Sitting presidents are rarely if ever challenged radius777 Jul 2024 #104
So the only way this could have been an "open primary" thucythucy Jul 2024 #112
"the data clearly shows" travelingthrulife Jul 2024 #108
The bridge to 2028 Dem4life1234 Jul 2024 #115
Pelosi is not infallible. edisdead Jul 2024 #80
Biden is not on her level as a political mind, few are. radius777 Jul 2024 #105
Thank goodness Biden isn't listening to anybody except we the people Skya Rhen Jul 2024 #114
oh is Pelosi going under the bus too now? Skittles Jul 2024 #86
I agree Tom, good post. Irish_Dem Jul 2024 #2
Appreciate the thoughtfulness liberalgunwilltravel Jul 2024 #53
It is a very stressful time right now. Irish_Dem Jul 2024 #64
Thanks liberalgunwilltravel Jul 2024 #71
We face losing a great deal. Irish_Dem Jul 2024 #95
Joe Biden stepping down grammiepammie Jul 2024 #106
I respect these people, but none of them have run and won a national campaign Walleye Jul 2024 #3
They still hold tremendous political power. Irish_Dem Jul 2024 #6
If trump hadn't screwed up covid so badly SamuelTheThird Jul 2024 #27
If Trump hadn't been such a racist and a menace, Biden probably wouldn't have run in the first place Walleye Jul 2024 #28
That's true SamuelTheThird Jul 2024 #30
The other side will just be saying that we forced Biden to drop out because we're afraid of Trump, which of course we ar Walleye Jul 2024 #46
Look at history and see how replacing an incumbent president works out Bettie Jul 2024 #59
Excellent Point, Walleye. 💙🌊🇺🇸🕊️🌈🕯️ Cha Jul 2024 #45
I'm pretty sure Biden would've stepped aside if Trump hadn't tried to run again Walleye Jul 2024 #49
Who knows.. from what I've seen Cha Jul 2024 #61
Exactly. He doesn't want to step aside just to have us lose. Walleye Jul 2024 #62
Using your own logic there, James Carville and David Alexrod are correct in calling for Biden to drop out. Celerity Jul 2024 #57
Sorry, I meant winning a campaign as a candidate, they've never run for anything Walleye Jul 2024 #58
Well, IF Obama suggests he drop out, and IF Bill Clinton says no, I guess we have a quandary at that hypothetical point, Celerity Jul 2024 #65
I've seen a definitive statement from Clinton. Obama has yet to speak publicly about it. Walleye Jul 2024 #68
Wasn't the Clinton statement "Keep donating to Biden/Harris"? AZSkiffyGeek Jul 2024 #78
+1. Most of the best political minds, whether radius777 Jul 2024 #73
yeah.... They knew in2016 too edisdead Jul 2024 #81
2016 is not analagous to this situation. /nt radius777 Jul 2024 #87
I believe that the best political minds collectively are the voters Walleye Jul 2024 #99
what data are you saying shows this clearly? travelingthrulife Jul 2024 #109
Exactly Emile Jul 2024 #98
Well said, Tom. BannonsLiver Jul 2024 #4
Some speculate that billionaire donors Mme. Defarge Jul 2024 #5
Because Obama is pragmatic. Self Esteem Jul 2024 #8
I think money is a part of it, but not all. Irish_Dem Jul 2024 #18
Perhaps it's... 2naSalit Jul 2024 #70
I'll be voting against Trump. Ping Tung Jul 2024 #7
THANK YOU Skittles Jul 2024 #88
There's ample enough evidence to suggest you're wrong. Self Esteem Jul 2024 #9
Fair weather friends Walleye Jul 2024 #31
Jeeze! TY for Candidly Tiff Cha Jul 2024 #56
But why do the donor class want a different candidate? AdamGG Jul 2024 #63
I don't know. Self Esteem Jul 2024 #66
They don't want a pro-union, pro regulated crypto president.nt Phoenix61 Jul 2024 #72
Regulations and trump tax cuts. edisdead Jul 2024 #83
If we bow to the oligarchs now..... edisdead Jul 2024 #82
Come on! Dorian Gray Jul 2024 #92
Media manipulation is powerful travelingthrulife Jul 2024 #110
I think this is delusional thinking Dorian Gray Jul 2024 #111
I think its a good bet that Democratic voters will vote for the candidate who gets the convention's approval. jaxexpat Jul 2024 #10
Put your money where your mouth is. Blue Full Moon Jul 2024 #11
There is no way to successfully change a presidential candidate with a little over three months to the election. waterwatcher123 Jul 2024 #12
Bill and Hillary are supporting Biden unc70 Jul 2024 #13
Well, according to anonymous sources, they are Fiendish Thingy Jul 2024 #16
Do you have a link to recent support. Irish_Dem Jul 2024 #19
Thank you, thank you, thank you! Fiendish Thingy Jul 2024 #14
Thank you!!!! nt LAS14 Jul 2024 #15
Nancy Pelosi is not infallible SocialDemocrat61 Jul 2024 #17
If it were just one person that would be Ok. Irish_Dem Jul 2024 #21
There was a time SocialDemocrat61 Jul 2024 #23
We don't know if they are right or wrong because they won't tell us what is going on. Irish_Dem Jul 2024 #24
That they have power and influence... edisdead Jul 2024 #84
IDK what Pelosi et al are doing. Irish_Dem Jul 2024 #94
Actually no one thought the world was flat. Blue Full Moon Jul 2024 #51
Actually some still do. edisdead Jul 2024 #85
That came later Blue Full Moon Jul 2024 #90
Flat Earth is a myth, a modern misconception Blue Full Moon Jul 2024 #91
Interesting, thank you SocialDemocrat61 Jul 2024 #100
We won't really know who is right or wrong about this until after the election. Walleye Jul 2024 #33
Exactly. This is the only metric which counts. Irish_Dem Jul 2024 #38
Not even then. TheKentuckian Jul 2024 #79
But at least Biden remaining on the ticket is supported by democratic voters Walleye Jul 2024 #93
Most from California.... Hmmm. Mr.WeRP Jul 2024 #37
What do you think that means? Irish_Dem Jul 2024 #39
I'm more curious as to what YOU think that means... Mr.WeRP Jul 2024 #48
I have no idea what you meant, or I wouldn't need to ask. Irish_Dem Jul 2024 #52
Why do you want Biden to resign? Mr.WeRP Jul 2024 #74
This message was self-deleted by its author DontBelieveEastisEas Jul 2024 #20
This message was self-deleted by its author DontBelieveEastisEas Jul 2024 #22
A very reasoned and measured post. marmar Jul 2024 #25
I totally agree with you Freddie Jul 2024 #29
"Another candidate"? Like a generic candidate? Walleye Jul 2024 #34
Vice President Harris Freddie Jul 2024 #40
Sounds like a great ticket. I don't think it would have a better chance than Biden though. Walleye Jul 2024 #42
I think the explanation is extremely simple Sympthsical Jul 2024 #32
If this is the take of DU, then the Dems are fucked, plain and simple. Mr.WeRP Jul 2024 #36
This message was self-deleted by its author bigtree Jul 2024 #41
I think it's mostly Republican and Russian trolls and a handful of comments. bullimiami Jul 2024 #43
You are wrong Tom. The big donor class is calling the shots against Biden. Don't piss on my leg and tell me it's raining ZonkerHarris Jul 2024 #44
May I disagree? hamsterjill Jul 2024 #47
To the OP: SCantiGOP Jul 2024 #50
De Toqueville said, hume Jul 2024 #54
Your examples show the fallacy in replacing Biden relayerbob Jul 2024 #55
Great post. Bleacher Creature Jul 2024 #60
I agree. There is a lot of emotions out there and kerry-is-my-prez Jul 2024 #116
This is a SICK political HIGHJACKING and nothing else. Fuck them! Deek1935 Jul 2024 #67
You're right. It's not a conspiracy. dchill Jul 2024 #75
Well said. MaryMagdaline Jul 2024 #76
Just stupid Tweedy Jul 2024 #77
The oligarch, wealthy donor and billionaire "class" evil conspiracy conspiracy plot is silly. betsuni Jul 2024 #89
We have no reason to question anyone's integrity in this matter Generic Brad Jul 2024 #96
It's a hostile takeover by rich donors who lost their influence in the GOP because MAGAT's Emile Jul 2024 #97
Why any of this talk? PennRalphie Jul 2024 #101
Very thoughtful and sober post Raven123 Jul 2024 #102
Well stated JohnnyRingo Jul 2024 #107
Many people see conspiracies everywhere. Elessar Zappa Jul 2024 #113
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