People fought like hell to get Biden elected

[StarfishSaver]

But now some people here are second-guessing him like he's Boo Boo the Fool.

Why can't folk recognize - or even just take a breath and consider the possibility - that President Biden has been around long time, knows the players and the game, and understands better than any of us what he can and can't get and how to negotiate the best possible deal for us and the country?

[lagomorph777]

1. It's my understanding that the United States Of America does not negotiate with terrorists.

The Republican Party is now a terrorist organization.

Ergo...

[StarfishSaver]

3. Lots of big talk

What exactly do you propose Biden do that he's not doing? Be specific. "Not negotiate with terrorists" or "get tougher" are just empty talk, not action steps.

[lagomorph777]

6. Recognize that no GQP member will ever vote for anything positive. Focus on our problem children.

There is some hope of getting our own idiots to vote to save the country.
There is zero hope of getting any Qpublican to vote to save the country.

It's a question of getting something, versus getting nothing.

Waiting for Q votes will get nothing, and squander our last chance.

[StarfishSaver]

9. That's not a thing either

What exactly do you think he should DO that will get the votes needed to pass the legislation we want?

[PortTack]

11. Biden knows the "lay of the land" it's politics. He is very popular and he has to make gestures

To show the American ppl, including republicans that support him that he was willing to go to the mat to get a bipartisan deal.

He put a time frame on it a few days ago of one week.

[MOMFUDSKI]

42. WOW

that is some good stuff. Manchin and the cookie from AZ should loose all their committees and have offices in broom closets. Some of us are a little tired of feathers being brought to gun fights. I do understand Biden's long history in politics but he has never seen days like this.

[StarfishSaver]

45. Interesting. But here's the thing

We're not Republicans and we don't punish members by taking away their committee assignments and offices because they don't vote the way we want them to vote. That's how Republicans operate, not us.

But even if we did do things that way, no one in their right mind could possibly think that would make Manchin and Sinema come around to voting the way Democratic leadership wanted them to vote. At best they would just dig in their heels and play it up for all it was worth back home. At worst, they would tell Democrats to shove it and become Independents or Republicans. But they would not change their mind about the filibuster or any other legislation because Democratic Leadership responded to their unwillingness to vote according to orders the same way they would treat a senator who'd been indicted or assaulted someone.

And I'm sure Biden knows very well - better than any of us - what kind of days he's seen over the years. He knows what he's doing. The people who are constantly second guessing him and accusing him of "bringing feathers to a gun fight," not so much.

[Hortensis]

53. +1000. We're not them, and Biden knows what he's doing.

[PortTack]

2. Thank you Starfish...we shouldn't 2nd guess President Biden or our dem leaders

They need our support..let’s make sure they have it

[LakeArenal]

14. It's always surprising to me that folks need to know everything before Biden does it.

To me, it’s grand NOT seconded, third, fourth guessing.

It’s not like Biden is telling us in two weeks.

[empedocles]

4. Folk need to recognize what Biden has done with threadbare margins in the House and Senate.

Biden, no doubt, has 2 year and 4 year game plans, for which he is not going for 'total transparency' - he understands better than all of us that some processes just need to play out for awhile.

[MineralMan]

5. Some people think only about and project their feelings in the moment.

Others may well be trying to sow discord.

It can be difficult to tell the difference, sometimes.

Either way, though, such attitudes detract from the overall mission of the Democratic Party. Either way, neither is a good thing, nor acceptable, in my opinion.

[RegularJam]

8. Well said. nt

[PortTack]

12. I second that ..thank you!

[mahina]

29. And sowing despair.

None of us are immune from a moment of it every now and again. But there are those whose steady refrain is that’s it for democracy, so long cruel world- agter we won the presidency end of majorities however slim in both houses.

I keep hearing a deal w Manchin in what’s left unsaid but I am an optimist. I’m delighted with Joe and agree, he knows the field very very well and is in the long game.

The clown show is officially Iff in a corner hustling change and Joe and Kamala are making a difference every day.

[RegularJam]

7. While I'm a big proponent of holding feet to the fire...

I can do without navel gazing, conspiracy theories, and the detachment from reality that comes about by group think fomented by small online forums. Our adversaries aren’t the only ones susceptible to such things.

The Biden administration has been kicking ass. I don’t hide my thoughts on this. They are doing far better than I thought they would and I’m very happy about it.

[StarfishSaver]

10. ...

[PortTack]

13. Absolutely!! Well said

[JustAnotherGen]

17. Amen

B

[sarisataka]

15. There is a steady procession

Of 'Democrats suck' threads. Some days I wonder if we have people here who would be less upset if we had lost.

[wnylib]

47. Some people are more inclined to

complain and whine than to give constructive criticism when they disagree. I don't expect to always agree with Biden but there is a difference between disagreeing and complaining/whining.

Disagreeing means you can state specifically what you disagree with and why, then suggest a constructive alternative. Complaining/whining means you focus on negatives in generalities, with no constructive alternative suggestions.

Whiny negativity expresses a "gimme" attitude without thinking through whether what you want is possible or what is the best way to do it. Better than whining is to ask onesself, "What can I do to improve things?" After all, it is our party, too.

So we have two Dem Senators who stand in the way of Biden's agenda. Our majority margin is too thin to ignore them. Short term solution - Biden negotiates. Longer term solution - We get more Dems elected to the Senate. We don't accomplish that by whining and bringing down party morale. We don't sit on our asses and ask, "So what are the party leaders going to do for me?" We call our county Dem office and ask how WE can help. We volunteer to do phone banking for out of state candidates. We go door to door for in state candidates. We donate money. We get informed on issues and candidates so we can talk about them constructively on social media.

Sometimes when I read the whiny, complaining posts and threads I think the poster took a wrong left turn on the Internet highway and really meant to take a right turn to Freeperville.

[JustAnotherGen]

16. 45 altered expectations

They expect Biden to tweet incessantly.

He's doing his job. He doesn't have time to engage in nonsense.

Its like there has been a collective loss of understanding that we now have A Statesman as Commander in Chief.

The most appealing thing to me about Biden was his experience and tribal knowledge of how DC works.

He knows what he's doing.

[StarfishSaver]

18. We saw the same thing with Nancy Pelosi

People were furious that she didn't deliver instant red meat gratification in the form of tough talk and minute-by-minute updates of her strategy and next move.

[PortTack]

21. Exactly! This isn't his first rodeo

[Hekate]

19. Kicking with thanks

[Fiendish Thingy]

20. Biden wasn't on my list of preferred candidates, but I am beyond pleased with him so far

I am looking forward to this summer, as I expect Biden, Harris, and Schumer to bring the heat to Manchin, Sinema and any other democracy-hesitant senators...

[PortTack]

22. ☝️☝️☝️☝️☝️

[IrishAfricanAmerican]

23. Well said!

Patience, people, patience. Biden is a lifelong professional politician and a master of "the game."

[634-5789]

24. AMEN!

[JoanofArgh]

25. The solution to our woes is electing more Democrats to the House and Senate and

getting bigger majorities. It would neutralize Sinema and Manchin.

[StarfishSaver]

28. Exactly

Unfortunately, attacking Biden and the Democrats will make that harder.

[JoanofArgh]

32. Yes, it will.

[mcar]

52. This +1000!

[joetheman]

26. Biden hasn't forgotten what the GOP under McConnel did to Obama. Only we seem to have forgotten. n

[George II]

27. I trust President Biden 110%. He may stumble once in a while, but he may be the most effective....

....President we'll see in our lifetimes. He certainly has been that for any 4-month Presidency. Of course that won't be good enough for those who demand perfection - those two or three stumbles will deem him a failure in the eyes of some.

He's done more than I ever expected already, and hopefully "the best is yet to come."

[The Mouth]

38. I loved Obama

But Joe was playing this game when President Obama and I (being the same age) were 11 years old. He knows how the Senate works the way Jimi Page knows how to play Stairway....

[LetMyPeopleVote]

30. I trust Joe and know that he is doing his best

Joe is a good man and is doing his best under the circumstances. The filibuster is blocking many actions and there is not the votes to eliminate the filibuster. People yelling and making threats will have no effect on Manchin or Sienema. Joe will get the best deal that is possible.

[arlyellowdog]

31. Everyone I know is happy Biden is president

What am I missing. Nevermind. I’m good

[Joinfortmill]

33. Fear, I think. Myself, I love Joe, have complete faith in him.

[dianaredwing]

34. THANK YOU

Haven't read any of the other replies, but I am so with you on this. JFC, what in the hell do people expect? Even those who don't FOX obviously watch too much unrealistic television and film to be living in the real world if they don't comprehend that we got through this by the skin of our teeth and should be thankful every breathing moment that Joe Biden lived long enough and has enough experience and loves America enough to do this job. Thanks again.

[secondwind]

35. Hear, hear! This can't be said often enough!

[budkin]

36. I've been pleased as pudding with how progressive he has been

I really thought he'd be way more moderate.

[The Mouth]

37. but.... purity!

[StarfishSaver]

39. Get TOUGH!

So what if we don't get anything out of it in the end.

Get tough anyway!

[SYFROYH]

40. Because Joe has made mistakes in the past and sometimes even admitted it.

Why would now be any different?

[Caliman73]

43. In general, I think it is okay to question and even critique.

However, I agree that there is a lot of what I would consider, over reaction, or responses that don't take into consideration, the complexity of issues.

I agree that Biden has a unique experience having served such a long time in Congress and having been the VP. He does know how legislation and policy are made.

As I said, I don't have a problem with criticism. We should always want to hold our elected officials accountable. The President, House Reps, and Senators are not our "leaders" in the sense that they are in charge of us. They are our elected representatives and should be responsive to our needs. Our needs and demands however, should be realistic. When we have people like Robert Reich asking dumb questions that point the blame at Democrats for a problem created solely by Republicans abusing the system, then there is a major problem.

We should push our leaders, write letters, tell them what we want and need. We should jump on every little bit of information that is "leaked" or sent out and proclaim doom. We should look into situations and try to find out the best information on what is really going on, and not jump to conclusions.

[StarfishSaver]

46. Exactly

I have no problem with questions and even criticism. What I do have a serious problem with are the "Biden doesn't know what he's doing" ... "Democrats need to learn how to fight" ... "Biden and the Democrats are bringing knives/feathers/cake to a gunfight" ... "Democrats always get rolled" ... "Why is Biden negotiating. He needs to get tough and not give them anything" barrages - mostly by people who have no idea what's involved in legislating and governing.

[Caliman73]

54. I understand the frustration. I feel it too, but when you control your emotions...

You realize that Democrats have to fight WHILE maintaining the integrity of our political system. Republicans have no such compunction. What I always say to the , "We need to fight like Republicans do" crowd is, "How?" What do you envision as "fighting like Republicans" because they cheat. They have little regard for the rule of law. If we cheat and disregard all law and tradition just to win, then what are we even fighting to preserve? We do need to be assertive with our messages. Call out the Republican BS. Be loud when we need to, use the rules and go it alone when we can and have to. BUT, we are already doing that to the best of our abilities.

[StarfishSaver]

55. "f we cheat just to win, then what are we even fighting to preserve DING DING DING!!!

[hunter]

44. I was fighting for Harris. Now she's Vice President.

Biden and Harris are excellent leaders well worth fighting like hell for.

[ecstatic]

48. I like and respect Biden and I think he's doing an excellent job, but I will second guess

him and his administration when things don't seem to be headed in the right direction.

Biden seems to be of the "make me do it" mindset. From his recent comments, its clear to me that our loud voices are having an impact and shaking shit up at the WH. Voting rights NOW. Police brutality laws NOW. Not later. And for the love of God, get the frauditors and domestic terrorists under control (and into prison where they belong)! Once these basic issues are addressed, you'll barely hear a peep out of me.

[XanaDUer2]

49. I trust President Biden and VP Harris nt

[mcar]

50. Some on social media go from

second-guessing Biden to second-guessing Pelosi. Funny that Schumer somehow doesn't get as much of it.

[mcar]

51. Just watched David Brooks on PBS NewsHour

in the Brooks/Capehart segment. He thinks that Biden is doing things exactly right, vis a vis the infrastructure bill. He feels, and I sure hope, that he and Manchin are playing it to get to "well, we did everything we could to get a bipartisan bill."

I'm not a Brooks fan, but he has a perspective from the more rational right that makes sense to listen to.

I trust Joe Biden.