I have one good reason to support Joe Biden. It can be summed up in one five-letter word: Trump.
Reader Randy Abraham offers more reasons:
The twittersphere has recently been aflame over Bernie Sanders’ decision to suspend his presidential campaign, and then his recent endorsement of frontrunner, former Vice President Joe Biden.
His most fervent supporters contend that Biden offers them nothing beyond a “not-Trump” candidacy.
This is what I say to them.
How about a sane immigration policy that does not separate families in crisis or lock children in cages?
How about health care policy that would boost subsidies for struggling families, lower the eligibility age for Medicare, provide a public option, and negotiate drug prices with pharmaceutical firms?
How about forgiving student debts for low income students that were incurred at state and community colleges and historically black colleges and universities?
How about raising the minimum wage?
How about an end to trade wars that has led to closures of factories and job losses among exporting industries?
How about an end to reckless foreign policies that are bringing us to the brink of war?
That’s nothing?
Regardless, we don’t have the luxury of demanding enthusiasm, and pointing out a lack of enthusiasm can depress moral and voter turnout.
Fortunately, we don’t have to hold our noses to campaign, support, and vote for Biden.
This country is facing probably the most monumental challenge in its history. Our economy is on life support and a disease outbreak is rampaging through the country.
Our relations with our allies is in crisis, and in that vacuum of leadership authoritarians are on the march.
This is a time for tough, proven leadership that knows how to exercise the levers of power.
During the eight years that followed the debacle of the Bush-Cheney years, the Obama-Biden administration brought the economy back to almost full employment, reformed the healthcare industry and provided coverage for 20 million people, enacted banking reform to curb the worst abuses of the financial sector, rescued two iconic automakers from insolvency, made massive investments in renewable energy, restored our strained alliances and standing in the world community, and honorably ended an ill-conceived and ruinous war.
And Biden’s considerable talents and abilities were pressed into service on Day One.
In 2009 this nation was in the throes of what was then the worst economic and financial collapse of our lifetimes, and President Obama entrusted Vice President Biden to oversee the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act – better known as the stimulus.
And despite the controversy over the historic size of the stimulus package, the Obama administration met every spending deadline, and it kept costs so far under budget that it was able to finance over 3,000 additional projects with the savings.
And unlike the current coronavirus stimulus program, in 2009 we put active monitoring and oversight systems to avoid waste, mismanagement and fraud.
And VP Biden was able to convince three Republican Senators – Snowe, Collins and Specter – to break the logjam, cross the partisan aisle, and vote for the stimulus package.
A year later, he convinced Specter to switch parties and provide us with the deciding 60th vote for the Affordable Care Act.
His role in contentious negotiations with obstructionist Republicans also helped reauthorize unemployment insurance during the Great Recession, resolve a taxation deadlock, avoid a fiscal cliff, and diffuse the debt ceiling crisis.
Biden is also a recognized expert on international relations and a former Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and his stature and relationships with world leaders will be vitally needed as we try to repair the frayed relations that were a result of Trump’s misguided hyper-nationalist misadventures.
As a Senator, Joe Biden also chaired the Judiciary Committee and led efforts to pass the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act, which included the Assault Weapons Ban and the Violence Against Women Act.
As Vice President, he was integral in President Obama’s attempt to uphold our values and America’s leadership role.
As part of that effort, President Obama wisely enlisted Biden’s talents in the use of diplomacy to solve problems and bring people of various nations together.
When we convened the US-Africa Leaders Summit — and brought along 500 business men and women to forge greater economic ties with one of the world’s fastest growing regions — we reached out to these nations as equals, and that effort culminated in the renewal of the African Growth and Opportunity Act, which allowed sub-Saharan countries to sell their goods in the United States duty-free and forge stronger ties with American interests.
An historic agreement to limit Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for lifting economic sanctions provided the potential to prevent a nuclear arms buildup in an already unstable Middle East and ease regional tensions, and also possibly free up Iranian oil and gas for the European market, with the potential to undercut Russia’s ability to use its own oil and gas supplies as a geopolitical weapon to counter economic sanctions imposed by America and an energy-dependent Europe in response to Russia’s incursions into Ukraine and its illegal annexation of the Crimea.
Through years of negotiations and diplomacy, we managed to enlist the world’s great powers in the effort, overcame criticism that we would fail to engage the hostile and untrustworthy Iranians, and countered accusations that he was ensuring an Iranian doomsday bomb and exacerbating an existential threat to our ally Israel.
And finally, an agreement to limit Iran’s nuclear program to peaceful purposes — unprecedented in the scope and aggressive intrusiveness of its inspections and enforcement regime – had been passed unanimously by the United Nations Security Council and upheld by Congress.
And due to Biden’s mastery of diplomacy and his effective use of personal relationships, this historic effort was not derailed by China’s and Russia’s habitual use of their veto powers in the UN Security Council.
In addition, easing travel restrictions and normalizing relations with Cuba marked the end of the Cold War in the Western Hemisphere and promised to relieve isolation for Cuban citizens, marginalize hardliners, strengthen the hand of reformers, and undercut attempts by Russia and Venezuela to forge wider hemispheric links.
We also reached an agreement with China, the world’s largest carbon polluter, to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions — a first for China — and provide 20 percent of its energy from renewable sources by 2030; we secured an understanding with India on greenhouse gas emissions; and enlisted 190 countries, including China, to reach a historic agreement, the Paris Accord, to address climate change.
Also under President Obama and VP Biden, we also assembled a 65-nation coalition of allies — and adversaries — to combat the ISIS terrorist group, and overcame ethnic and regional rivalries in order to stand up a regional fighting force that also had the potential to serve as the model for wider regional cooperation, including eventually transitioning into an ongoing regional peacekeeping force and a regional economic development and trade partnership.
We beat back the H1N1, zika and ebola virus, and proactively placed scientists and health professionals in medical hot-spots around the world — including in China — to monitor the emergence or spread of dangerous contagious diseases.
Our attempts to broker a peace treaty between Israel and Palestine, our success in rallying Western Europe to sanction Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, our success in getting Syria to surrender its chemical weapons without a fight, our determination to assemble a coalition to combat the terrorist group ISIS on their home turf, and ongoing attempts to address Iran’s nuclear ambitions through diplomacy marked a renewed attempt to organize a world community around something besides war and an attempt to dominate other peoples:
Under President Obama and VP Biden, we strove to reaffirm and uphold the principles that inspired us to save the world from fascism and authoritarianism, and strengthen a community of nations with the capacity to coexist and resolve problems peacefully.
Free trade agreements under negotiation with European and Asia-Pacific powers promised to establish enforceable worker and environmental protections — standards that typically are not championed by the free trade advocates and have not been enforced in past agreements – and blunt the efforts of the investor classes and financial elite to outsource jobs and factories, exploit impoverished citizens in developing countries, pit countries against each other in competition for jobs and investment, and escape the labor and environmental regulations of developed Western nations.
But all that progress is now at risk under an administration that has overturned or undermined consumer protections and regulations designed to protect the public from predatory business practices and the environment from pollution and profiteering, and has alienated longtime allies and security and trading partners.
And so now here we are, facing a restive and anxious set of allies around the world who are now as uncertain of our commitments to them as we now are of our own place in the world — and in an international order which we ourselves largely created and have led for over 70 years.
And our adversaries are increasingly becoming emboldened, more adventurous, and eager to exploit those doubts that we have engendered by our lack of clarity and direction.
And in this rapidly changing state of affairs the world is being forced to call into question our previous assumptions and position of moral authority, status, and fitness for leadership.
And because of Trump’s moves to upend and withdraw from existing agreements and alliances, and because of the ambivalence he has displayed toward allies and security and trade partners, the world is now undergoing a realignment that threatens to leave the U.S. increasingly isolated diplomatically, economically, culturally, and militarily.
In just three years under Trump, the U.S. has gone from the recognized, respected, and undisputed Leader of the Free World to something akin to rogue superpower status.
And in the event of a miscalculation or ill-conceived policy that leads to a general economic reversal or collapse, a widespread outbreak of war, pandemic, or humanitarian crisis, the U.S. could find itself a pariah nation.
We now face a choice between two competing visions and sets of values.
One calls for us to work within and strengthen a hard-fought community of nations and shared values, and to coexist and resolve problems peacefully without a desire to dominate and exploit other peoples.
The other calls for us to look to other nations with suspicion, to enact policies that provide additional benefits and privileges to the richest and most powerful, that limit redress and representation among the most marginalized and powerless, and that act as the ‘muscle’ behind a new global colonialism driven by moneyed interests and unaccountable dealmakers loyal to no country’s flag and which do not enjoy the consent of its people.
For the past 70 years, we have led the way in making the world more free, more safe, and more prosperous, because the rest of the world was convinced of the strength, not just of our economy or military, but also of our principles.
We led because of our commitment to freedom, liberty and justice.
And today, if we are to regain our stature as the leader of the free world, that indispensable nation, and first among equals, we need to restore our moral leadership, and for that we need a man of honor.
And that man is Joe Biden.
This is a no brainer, of course I’m going to vote for Biden. I am choosing the much less damaging candidate, by far, who will not populate the SCOTUS and lower courts with far right wing libertarian apparatchiks. Period, exclamation point!
The “lesser of two evils” argument is made by moderate Democrats every four years.
Sorry but I don’t think Biden is the lesser of two evils. Trump is despicable and evil. Biden by comparison is a saint.
2016 redux.
Yes, 2016 redux. GOP operatives ran a smear campaign against Hillary Clinton, who was eminently qualified to be president, unlike the unscrupulous liar who won (even though she got 3 million more votes than he did). I will enthusiastically support Joe Biden. Without a moment’s hesitation.
I’ve been a Bernie supporter since before 2016. Just like in that election year, even though I hate the GOP Lite that the Democrats became, with their neo-liberal (conservative) economic policies that promote privatization and profits over people, with the occasional bone they throw at the base that’s usually just socially liberal, in 2020 I will most definitely vote for virtually any Democrat again.
Yes, that is primarily because he/she is “not-Trump,” which means:
Not a self-centered, hate-mongering bully who is a serial liar and dictator-wannabe that believes coming from the monied neighborhood of Queens confers his entitlement as if being from Kings, with a divine right to rule over commoners –whom he knows so little about that he believes we need (and should have) an ID to buy groceries and thinks we don’t know the difference between household cleaners and medications or personal preferences and science; i.e., not a self-aggrandizing, know-nothing putz
The “Hitler wasn’t so bad, just look how corrupt the guy running against him was revisionist history offered by people who profess great sadness that “the other evil ones” forced Germans to empower Hitler.
It’s shocking that anyone would reduce an election between those who value democracy and those who are trying to destroy democracy to sieze power as “the lesser of two evils”.
It is true that democracy is “less evil’ than fascism. Those who question how much less evil democracy is than fascism should be marginalized correctly as people who see no value in democracy at all.
Well said.
👍👍 and 🥂 or if you prefer, 🍻.
A nice summation that most of us wholeheartedly support. Anyone who is fearful of how much worse this so-called administration can damage this nation and the world is a fool to think otherwise. Actually, far worse than a fool–a collaborator. And should he be elected, let’s be ready to fight for education with that shadow cabinet leading the charge on Nov. 4.
I’ll vote for the toothbrush. I’d even vote for a toilet bowl brush to get rid of Trump, but I don’t have to like it. I’m really tired of the LOTE vote!…and my nose is sore from having to pinch it so hard and so often as I hold my breath to vote.
It’s all we’ve got. As I’ve cited here on more than one occasion, many presidents have championed great reforms that they either opposed or to which they were indifferent as candidates. The key is political engagement that gets stronger after elections, not before.
I would just beg, literally beg, Joe Biden to stop relying on the same 150 people to set policy.
I mean, come on. It’s a big country. We REALLY have to use Larry Summers again? Why is this so insanely narrow?
I don’t want to see the same names over and over and over my entire adult life! I am SURE there are smart qualified people who we aren’t tapping and never get a chance. I’m not talking about the Trump idiocy where they think “new” means “unqualified”. Find some DIFFERENT qualified people to take advice from. The view from Harvard is not relevant to 99% of people in this country. It’s too narrow.
Amen.
There will be time enough for squabbles at the family dinnertable after the Beast is gone.
And you don’t worry about the polish on the brightwork when there is a hole in the hull.
Bottom line: tRUMP works for Putin. Both are SLIME BAGS to the MAX.
How about this scathing editorial in the Las Vegas Sun yesterday: https://lasvegassun.com/news/2020/may/17/accommodating-gop-trump-are-transforming-america-i/
Wow. That’s one hell of a summary. What’s the general political view of this editorial board? Thanks for sharing!
YES. Dennis. Thanks for the link. This is from an independent newspaper in Las Vegas. It is really amazing. It could also be a checklist for Biden’s anti-Trump campaign and also illustrates Chiara’s point that Biden is all too comfortable with Obama holdovers.
I just read this for the third time and forwarded it to my circle of friends. Nothing new for those of us here, but the clear conclusions somehow hearten me in a way I haven’t been in quite some time. I know we’re not alone.
How utterly frightening!
Is This A Test, or “End Times”? (This also appeared in the Chillicothe Gazette)
By Jack Burgess
Hunkered down in our homes, trying to follow the rules, but getting stir crazy, we have to wonder, “Is this a test?” Are these “end times?” We’re certainly being tested, in some sense. If we’ve got food and shelter, and can pay the bills, it’s not a terrible time, but it is scary. This virus is no respecter of nationality, political party, or religion. It does not pass over the doors of Christians, Jews, Hindus, or Muslims.
I’m not a microbiologist or a prophet. And social science is not rocket science—it’s harder. It’s analogue. People and institutions behave in complex ways–but they’re usually understandable using logic. We know little in detail, but in probabilities, we know a lot. We know this virus has spread around the world, and has killed or injured over four million, with over one million in the U.S. The rate of new infections and deaths has leveled a bit in some places, but it looks like its hitting hard at places that are reopening. No respecter of persons, it’s in the White House. Of course, folks like the President and the super wealthy have access to testing, and treatment if necessary.
People and politicians argue about whether we should be starting back to work, and normal activities, such as eating out and shopping. If we go back too soon, more people will get sick and die. Being an octogenarian, I might be one of them, so I’m cautious. But for some, jobs or homes may disappear if they don’t go back. I’m concerned about that. I hope, though, that they don’t consider folks like me expendable.
In our idealized U.S. history, we win all our wars and survive all our problems. But, if you’re an Indian or from the South, we haven’t won all our wars. We have stopped diseases like the flu of 1918 and polio in the ‘50’s, though they still exist and can come back.
We’re also facing some other big problems which could compound the virus problem. The earth is getting overpopulated—from about 2 billion when I was born, to over 7 billion! We’re warming the atmosphere, using up our clean water and living space. We can’t all move to Labrador—the Canadians don’t want us anyway.
Our political system is not working as a majority of citizens want—we’ve had two presidential elections within 16 years where the person who had the most votes lost—so the idea that we’re a “democracy” is in trouble. We’ve got a President with zero previous experience in government. He’s misled us throughout this pandemic. Says he could shoot someone and grab women and get away with it. He clearly violated the law in the Ukrainian fiasco, leading to his impeachment, but the Senate is run by folks who seem to care only about their Senate seats. They’d have trouble winning elections if everyone votes, so they make voting harder.
Some people of good will, knowing most of this, still can’t see their way to support a candidate who’s maybe not wonderful, but less corrupt, and maybe even wanting to help—not just himself. Maybe help provide some form of organized health care for ALL Americans. I hope enough folks wake up to these probable, social science facts.
We can’t assume “History will prove us right.” History, if any, will be written by the winners. Because things have generally gotten better doesn’t mean they always will. Roosevelt’s generation saved the world from fascism. But who will play Roosevelt if we’re the fascists? Will our nation, as we’ve known it, survive?
It’s time for helpfulness and participation. We can hope for a miracle, or we can pitch in and help. If we have global flooding, that will make the next pandemic even harder to fight. If we don’t work together to solve our scientific, economic and political problems, and if we don’t care about the lives of people who are different from us—they may be operating the last rescue boats before the deluge. A wise saying has it, “The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men–and women–to do nothing.”
Jack Burgess is a retired teacher of American & Global Studies.
Thanks to Randy Abraham for bringing those increasingly rare commodities, to wit facts and reason, in public discourse to this discussion.
Reblogged this on Lloyd Lofthouse and commented:
If you want to know what Job Biden has done in his life, read this post and ignore Fox and Trump’s assembly line of fake allegations about Biden.
Here are some new ones: WaPo–Eric Trump telling Fox News’ Jeanine Pirro that the corona virus is a Dem hoax that will go away before the elections (too bad SNL is off for the season: would have been an ideal skit for Cecily Strong & the guy who plays Eric).
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/05/17/eric-trump-coronavirus/
& then, there’s this: NYT: “Despite Lack of Evidence That the Malaria Drug Hydroxychloroquine can Prevent Covid-19, President Trump Said He has Been Taking it.”
(You can get free online coronavirus updates from The New York Times just by signing up.)
He may “say” that he’s taking Hydroxychloroquine, but because he lies so much we will never know….unless he drops dead of cardiac arrhythmia? He’s probably just saying it so that his “base” will follow suit and Big Pharma will bow to his every whim. He doesn’t care one bit if anyone dies because of what he says….and I really can’t believe that so many would believe anything he has to say?
We must rid ourselves of this criminal family and restore our government to one that supports real people. I know that BIden will assemble real professionals that will come up with a bold agenda. Nothing less than a bold agenda is needed to undo the damage of the last 3.5 years. Additionally, laws must be passed to make sure that a president cannot ever again do what Trump has done. Maybe a constitutional amendment is needed for the people to recall a president if a part of congress goes AWOL. We need a minimum income so that no one can fall into abject poverty. There should be no hunger in this country and everyone should be entitled tin health care and a roof over their heads. I want to be proud again to be an American.
Reblogged this on NANMYKEL.COM and commented:
A useful perspective given…A Reblog