Please be respectful of democrats at this moment in time

[boston bean]

feel as though the party has driven out a great man and taken their vote.

I do not feel this way.

But there are those that do and need time and understanding. They need to be able to voice their feelings. They are not bad democrats.

The last two weeks have been very difficult. A time of anger, confusion and fear as we had never witnessed what was going on. Nothing like this had ever happened in our life times.

Kamala is most likely to be our nominee. All of these people you know to be democrats and are still angry are going to vote for her. Don’t discount their feelings if you can help it. Be understanding.

[XanaDUer2]

1. TY

Strong JRB supporter. Almost cried yesterday. First thought was we are fucked. Guaranteed Trump 2nd term. Still a little scared now.


But, KH has sort of, invigorated me. She raised $50 million overnight. Maybe we will be ok. I will vote, GOTV, donate. Trump must never be President again. Praying for JRB. He may have saved us a 2nd time

[boston bean]

4. I have cried, even though I braced myself for this eventuality. Joe is a great man of our time!

[musette_sf]

2. I supported Harris in the 2020 primary

That doesn’t mean that Biden didn’t get royally ratfcvcked by the crypto bros and their D buddies (Schiff et al). I’m still angry and sad.

Edited because at this early hour on the West Coast, I forgot that although I bought her campaign swag, she didn’t make it to the finals.

[boston bean]

6. I was supporting her, but she dropped out before I had chance to vote for her.

I think I am remembering that sequence of events correctly.

[musette_sf]

8. Thanks, corrected

I bought the campaign swag so my memory was a bit off at this early hour.

[jmbar2]

3. Good post - thanks

I felt gut punched at first.

But suspect that Joe is pleased with the groundswell of support for Kamala -- a positive end to this deplorable moment in party history.

[True Dough]

5. Understanding and patience

are not too much to ask for. We know that our fellow Dems will rally when they're ready, be it in a week or a month or two. We'll gladly welcome them back whenever they're ready.

[mopinko]

7. revenge is a dish best served cold.

hold your nose and vote for them if they’re on your ballot. primary them next time.

[edisdead]

15. YEP!

Need to organize and primary them.

Angie Craig needs to be primaried.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

41. Think, when the time comes, and make sure you don't primary a seat into the red.

[mopinko]

49. i dont think there's any danger of that. if it's a dem now, it isnt gonna go red in 2 yrs.

[Probatim]

9. As my daughter told me last night - I'll be in line early to vote for Harris.

She followed that with "I'd vote for a piss-filled Gatorade bottle on the side of the road if the Dems decided that was our best option."

We all know how terrible a second term of FFF45 would be.

[meadowlander]

10. It cuts both ways though.

And I'll admit to finding it a little difficult to extend that grace after three weeks of being screamed at to STFU for having the audacity to take a different view on the facts.

I think we have to challenge a grievance narrative emerging that is not based on facts and which, by implication, delegitimises whoever the next nominee might be. Biden was not pushed out by some billionaire conspiracy stealing our votes and it's important that we manage to agree on that. He graciously decided to resign because he accepted that another candidate might have a better shot at it.

Feel your feelings by all means. But maybe think about the implications of what you are saying before you post something that will be damaging down the road to party unity.

[progressoid]

13. +1

[DFab420]

16. We had a fucking primary. You were more than welcome to vote in the primary

[edisdead]

17. that is not truthful

He was absolutely pushed out. Hell, pacs were formed to do just that. Party leaders told him he couldn’t win, when clearly they do not know that, donors were threatening down ballot candidates. And now they are doing it to Kamala.

Support the action all you want but don’t try to make it something it isnt.

[jaxexpat]

23. For whatever purpose, the PTB have spoken with their checkbook.

They are allowing us the illusion of a fair and free election. We should be satisfied they've discontinued debtors prison, though pillory is still an option.

At least it seems so.

[yardwork]

19. I understand what you're saying....

I too became weary of being told to STFU on DU when just about every Democrat I know IRL was expressing deep concern.

However, we don't really know all the facts and we never will. This is a situation where a lot of things are true at once. Billionaires definitely played a role and nobody believes that every one of them was altruistic. Does that mean this whole thing was a coup? I reject that premise, but I understand why others might not.

Rather than getting angry at one another for believing various sets of facts - any one of which may or may not be true - a stronger way forward is to forgive.

Forgiveness is a powerful force for good.

[Goodheart]

24. I'm going to take the high road.

I hope people here have learned a valuable lesson.

[jmbar2]

28. Both could be true at the same time

Biden was not pushed out by some billionaire conspiracy stealing our votes and it's important that we manage to agree on that.

I don't agree with that.

He graciously decided to resign because he accepted that another candidate might have a better shot at it.

Agree

[DeepWinter]

11. I'll vote blue

I'll vote blue. But I was just let known by the Elite 1% multi-millionaire power players who really calls the shots. It ain't any of us.

[yardwork]

20. That's been true since the SCOTUS Citizens United decision,

The worst Supreme Court decision ever, imo, because it handed our elections to billionaires all over the world.

The only way to fix this is to elect more and more Democrats and somehow turn SCOTUS around.

[StarryNite]

46. Yes, it's a big fat cat club and we're not in it.

[Deek1935]

12. What we saw before our very eyes was a massive pressure campaign and media onslaught. It was ROTTEN to the CORE.

We all know it. Now we need to UNITE IMMEDIATELY behind VP Harris, stop this civil war in the party, and get on offense NOW against The Sick Orange Rapist.

[LexVegas]

14. It seems that some are invested in portraying Biden as a weak pawn incapable of making a decision on his own. nt

[yardwork]

18. This!

Everybody handles unexpected news in different ways. Some of us went through grief, loss, and fear several weeks or even months ago. Others have a different path.

I've been reading and interacting with folks on DU for many years. One thing I've learned (And, boston bean, you helped me learn it!!) is that good, sincere people can have differences of feelings and opinions. It doesn't mean they're trolls, or bad people, or turncoats.

We're just handling this unprecedented situation in our own different ways. That's ok.

(The one exception I felt was in 2016, when a number of DUers apparently fell for Russian propaganda and turned on our candidate. This doesn't feel that way.)

[ForgedCrank]

21. I am

still pissed off today. Much less so than yesterday I think, but still pissed.
The more I spend time thinking about it, I believe I am mostly angry about all this secrecy and misleading or ,missing information. We are being treated like outsiders or something. We are left to speculate on what truly prompted this move. Is Joe Biden really in bad health? If so, why were we lied to about it and for how long? Or is it just that Biden's numbers are really low? If so, why were we told the exact opposite and for how long has this been going on? Where is this data? Who compiled it, how did they do it? I have lots of questions in that realm.
Someone high up in the party coming clean with all of this sure would go a long way in regaining my trust.

[Goodheart]

25. Was it really misleading information?

The only thing misleading was from Joe Biden's inner circle, itself, who kept insisting he would not withdraw. So, is it Joe Biden you're pissed at?

Aside from that we kept hearing from various sources that Biden was seriously considering dropping out, that he was resolved to his fate, that the outlook for his election looked grim, etc., etc., etc. .... And every time somebody reported those bits of information here he/she was castigated as a troll or a Russian bot.... and summarily deleted. The bubble was created.

I suggest that some people here take a look inward.... and assess whether they, themselves, are largely to blame for the shock they're now experiencing.

[ForgedCrank]

31. I don't

have answers. I don't even know for sure why Biden backed out. All I have to go on is speculation and what the dastardly media is spreading, and I most certainly don't trust them. Hell, I don't know who I CAN trust now.
I can tell you that for the past 6-12 months, the messages have been: Joe is going to win, by a LOT, Joe is in excellent health, just had an exam in Feb. I talk to Joe in private, I assure everyone that he is more than capable and strong. Joe is leading in the polls by xx points. Joe is 100% going to be the nominee. I could go on.
Turns out one or more of these things are not true. Joe Biden dropped out for some reason that may not even be related to what I just listed. And to make matters worse, now I don't know if I can even trust the people who have been telling me all of the above for so long. So the answer is, I don't even know WHO to be pissed off at. Biden and his campaign? DNC leaders? I have no idea, because some people are lying to us and I don't know who it is.
I am left confused and wanting.

[Goodheart]

32. Exactly why discussion boards should welcome MORE information, not less

Nothing I saw here was intended to destroy Biden's candidacy. Nothing. But information was being constantly attacked, castigated, and deleted... information that turned out to be true.

[ForgedCrank]

35. Right now

I'm just trying to get my attitude in check. It's not easy since I feel betrayed.
I'll get my shit straight sooner or later, it's just not a good feeling to put your complete faith and trust in something only to find out it was all a facade. I have to find a way to get past this and I don't know what that is quite yet.

[StarryNite]

47. You are not alone.

I think there are many of us who feel the same way.

[still-prayin4rain]

29. I think we have to keep in mind that they can't talk to US without also talking to THEM.

The other side is so incredibly mean, dishonest and dirty, they have to keep things under wraps in this cut-throat environment. I hope the despicable Trumpism finally washes off our country after Trump is defeated again in November and some basic civility is re-embraced.

[valleyrogue]

22. A party cannot run a credible campaign about the need for democracy when they don't follow it.

I think the real reason Biden stepped down is for health reasons, but given how the media are, he is not going to disclose it.

What happens if the "internal" polls show no change or even a decline? What then?

We have never had a situation where a sitting president was literally driven out of a campaign. LBJ was not driven out.

[beaglelover]

40. I also think it was health reasons. Something has changed recently as in the last few months.

Maybe he was the old Joe earlier this year, and maybe certain things began to accelerate a month or so ago. He sure didn't look the same in the last month or so. To me at least. I'm so happy he decided to pass the torch to Kamala so we have a serious shot of retaining the WH and keeping the Senate and regaining the House. I'm excited and enthusiastic!

[MaryMagdaline]

26. Agree. This is like a death in the family. People need time

[still-prayin4rain]

27. I think President Biden made the right choice, but I also cried when the news broke. nt

[Alice Kramden]

44. I do too and

I cried, too - in the end,, I trust his judgment

[still-prayin4rain]

48. Yes, me too! nt

[sanduca]

30. Blue no matter who!💪🏼🇺🇸

My heart is broken over President Biden as well but we have to move on and make sure Kamala is elected president of the USA.
President Biden's speech at the convention will tell us that. He's a man of integrity and honor and he will officially pass the baton to Kamala and people will accept.

[BluenFLA]

33. It's an all hands on deck moment

Yes, I still feel that Biden would have pulled it off and was betrayed by donors and the party. But to give into revenge now would play into the Republicans' hands. However once we get past this election, whether we win or lose there must be repercussions for how the party handled this and threw Biden to the curb.

[lark]

34. Thank you as I am one of those committed Joe folks.

I was screaming and yelling so much yesterday, my husband went outside and started working in the afternoon broiling heat - which he hates! I love Joe and think he's been the best president of my life and so resented the double std. being applied to him but not tcf. I was totally outraged and feeling so betrayed by Democratic donors and legislators. I just couldn't take the sadness and anger.

I turned off everything for hours. When I checked back in to see what the latest was, I heard about a great outpouring of support for Kamala and my brain started to calm down, finally some sensible and smart news for our party! I still grieve for Biden, but if the Dems movers and shakers coalesce around her I think we have a chance. Just hope the open convention noise dies down, disunity and internal fighting is the worst thing that could continue. I'm happy 6 states have committed their delegates to her and so surprised and happy to see FL on that list. I'd like to see another 46 states join!!!

Of course R;s will do everything to try and stop this, we just destroyed almost their entire narrative~ HA~
Unless SCOTUS goes even more rogue and abandons any pretense of actually being judges of the law, don't think they can do anything to stop her and us. Not a lawyer, so praying hard that this is true!!!!

So anyway, this devoted Biden person is willing to shift focus. Am I happy this happened, no, or maybe I should say not yet. However, do I think Kamala is a good replacement choice, yes, the best and really the only one that could be made.

Kamala Harris - 47th President~~~~

[da svenster]

36. i was angry...

...when i first saw the news. for All The Reasons.

i was angry when a former co-worker of mine texted me to jump up and down in glee (she'd been a harris supporter in 2020).

then...

within a matter of hours, things changed. not just for me, not just on DU. i saw almost universal support for this. i was frankly astonished.

and my mood changed. dramatically. some folks on DU even saw this in near real time (i've been around for > 20 years, most of that time as a lurker, and rarely post).

i've switched. i've gone through the stages of grief and come out the other side drained of (much of) the anxiety than i had 24 hours ago. and, much to my surprise, feeling hopeful and optimistic.

let's be clear - if by some chance kamala doesn't get the nomination, i'll still vote for whomever is at the top of the ticket. but right now, she has all my support and then some.

[Silver Gaia]

37. I hear you, and I agree. I am, or was, one of them. However,

I have also worked through the shock and pain and grief, and will continue to hold out a hand to help anyone who needs it to heal and cross over into the calm resolution I feel today. Every one of us is needed to save our democracy and we must work together. This is the crossroads and the time is now.

[TBF]

38. I think the convention will be exciting - with all the vying for VP

and the donations yesterday were through the roof. It will take time for some to adjust, not everyone processes change the same. But I think we will all work together this fall. I've got to believe that even if President Biden wasn't in on the plan right away, he had to have known towards the end because the transition and his endorsement were seamless. He's a consummate professional as well as a nice guy, we will all miss him.

[Blue Full Moon]

39. Condescending and patronizing

You're not bad?
But I am right

[Crowman2009]

42. The only Democrats (or formerly democrats I should say) I will not be respectful to are Sinema & Manchin.

What a couple of fuckin' sellouts! The Biden administration could have gotten a lot more done if those filibustering fuckheads didn't get in the way.

[still-prayin4rain]

45. OMG, yes! Ugh, they're the worst! nt

[Warpy]

43. Well, I do feel this way

but a good night's sleep has made me more sanguine about the whole thing because

1. Harris is great. Support seems to be strong and the party plutocrats are going to have a tough time pushing her out in favor of some compliant nobody.

2. The timing is absolutely wonderful. Biden caved to the intense pressure just as the last words of TFG's meandering, self aggrandizing, and utterly unhinged "acceptance speech" were still fading away. Now they're the ones stuck with a geriatric candidate who can't string 2 sentences together and can't even stick to what's on a teleprompter. Not good (for them).

3. As much as I wanted to see what a second Biden term would bring, I know he'd be 85 when he finished it. The presidency is a huge burden that ages young men, it likely would have killed him. At least Dr. Jill gets him now as he writes it all down for publication.

4. The idea of TFG and the appalling Vance losing to a WOC is just too delicious for words.