Have a Good Weekend.

Yes, Kate, this exactly. Thank you for putting it so eloquently.

Yes!!! All of this! Thank you! Biden was never my first choice, but I will be there to vote for him come November. Our country will not survive another four years of Trump, and that’s what will happen if you vote third-party or stay home. It’s terrifying to think.

Jessica, I feel similarly. I went into preterm labor at 20 weeks and was told my daughter would likely not make it to viability (24 weeks). The odds they gave were grim. I was on bedrest at home and then hospital bedrest until I had her at 29 weeks. Every step of the way we were just so thankful that she made it and was relatively healthy. Many of my friends would feel sadness as their children grew (oh how are they 6 months/1 year/2 years already!). I didn’t feel this at all. Instead I celebrated every milestone since they weren’t a given and every pound gained. She’s 3.5 years old now and I am just starting to feel some sadness about her growing up. It may have something to do with coronavirus- we just pulled her out of preschool next year because she is considered high risk due to chronic lung and airway issues (which are honestly minimal but she does require steroids with every little cold or cough). Anyway, you aren’t alone. I too try to live in the moment and appreciate what we have. Her.

Can’t say I’m sorry to see you/this attitude go, though. It’s not Heathrow – no departure announcement needed. Au revoir!

D. If you want to think about a true socialist country, why not think about France (my country). Venezuela has such a complicated history and the socialism there is young and it’s more of a dictatorship. France has been socialist since the 30s and I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else: the way free education, social security and governmental help (well, our taxes) helped us go through the covid crises has been so reassuring.

D… I echo the comment about France being an excellent example of what socialism can accomplish. Another example here to the north, too… Canada! I am Canadian and our country is far more socialist than the USA. We have universal health care (Yes, it is possible! And our quality of life is generally very high!), so we don’t have to worry about health insurance or what will happen if we get ill. Kids have access to a high quality education, and post-secondary education is still accessible (though not cheap, it is still reasonable and accessible), there are all sorts of programs to help people, and Covid was dealt with quite effectively. I am not saying it is perfect, but overall there is a sense that we are being taken care of. I thank my lucky stars that I live here.

I laughed so hard at her comment as well!! I can totally picture someone sneaking up like a “freaky little dinosaur”

THIS!!!!!!!

Yes. Think of a vote for Biden as “who will choose the successor to Ruth Bader Ginsberg?”.

It’s really unnerving to see the assumption that everyone here is a Biden supporter. Tolerance is welcoming all views-even those you don’t agree with and I feel equally passionate about supporting Trump and pray he’s re-elected over a radical socialist with serious cognitive issues. Politics should not play a role on this blog unless both sides are welcome to discuss their policies and agendas. There are many like me out there-they are quiet because the backlash is usually not worth it as Liberal intolerance is ,unfortunately, rampant .But I’m optimistic that those who run this blog and the commenters will display tolerance and grace. Diversity in thought should be welcomed. So you Trump supporters get out there and vote!

Well said E.

Sorry but I don’t agree, Biden is not a solution to the problems we’re facing now under Trump. The single most important thing you can do is organize to build a strong political alternative to a corrupt two-party system that overwhelmingly privileges the rich, brutalizes people of color, and insists on tolerating sexual violence. The accusations against Biden are credible and it does enormous damage to victims to look the other way. The planet is burning, the stakes are too high, we need political courage.

I completely agree the “how can I vote for Biden” dialogue is concerning. It feels extremely naive and selfish, to be perfectly frank. We had the primary, Biden is the Democratic candidate. He wasn’t my first choice, but is he better than Trump? A million times!! There are countless other ways to try and fight for your personal values other than voting for president.

Shawn, so nice to see your comment on here. As a conservative Trump supporter, I normally stay quiet because the left is all about cancel culture and does not seem willing to hear other viewpoints.

Shawn, you’re welcome to write a comment with your views. In regards to your comment “politics should not play a role on this blog unless…”, this is COJ’s space. It is not a publicly funded space. She (and her team) can write about whatever she wants, including the politics she supports.

If you’ve spent any time in the comments section here, you’ll know Joanna’s responses are a masterclass in tolerance of differing viewpoints. I get the sense this is either your first time in COJ comments or that you’re not a regular reader of this blog.

@Rebekka, I can’t speak for Shawn but I will answer your question with my perspective. Many commentors here have invoked the bus analogy, that voting for president is not choosing a life partner but a means towards getting the country closer to what you believe should be the ultimate destination. Keep in mind that this analogy applies to both political parties.

Conservative voters are a heterogenous group, just as liberal and independent voters are, and I don’t claim to speak for all. However, some issues that are close to the heart of conservative Americans like me are individual rights – rights like due process for all (including men accused of sexual assault) and free speech (including speech I despise). I see that the Left is headed towards severely curtailing these rights.

As a conservative I take pride in U.S. history and the positive movement of our country towards a more free and equal society for all. (And no, I am not a white Southerner; as a group, conservatives are far more diverse than the media would have you believe). I see no contradiction between recognizing and making amends for the sins of the past and taking pride in the accomplishments of the founders. The Left wants to (quite literally) tear down our historical legacy and recreate the system from the bottom. I want a president who will serve as a bulwark against letting that happen. I believe we have something good going. We can always improve on it. I am afraid of what would take its place were it to be destroyed.

Finally, many commentors have mentioned federal judges as the reason they will vote for Biden. That is a reason I will vote for Trump.

We are all entitled to our opinions and beliefs. Diversity and inclusion should include viewpoint diversity. There is more than one way to see a situation. Don’t ascribe malice to people who see the world differently than you.

Thank you, Sara! I grew up in California and have watched the decline of it due to the liberal government. I moved away and am much happier in a state that defends my personal liberties. And I NEVER thought I’d be a person to talk about my freedom or liberties.

All my friends think I’m a Democrat, but I’m apart of the “silent majority” that will be voting for Trump this election.

@Kate
-on the subject of choice: conservatives generally believe (again, I can’t claim to speak for everyone) that life begins at conception and deserves to be protected. In that paradigm, the question isn’t about allowing or disallowing forbid women to make choices with their bodies, but about protecting the rights of a discreetly different human. I understand that this is a deeply charged issue, to put it mildly. To many women reading this, personal liberty and the pro-life stance are irreconcilably at odds. I’m not arguing on either side of the issue here but stating that to many other women, these values are perfectly aligned.

-on the subject of free speech: if I have to entrust the protection of my free speech to one flawed party over the other (and I do, in this system), I’m going to go with the Republicans. I am saddened and frightened by the prevalence of cancel culture on the Left and will use my vote to keep it out of the law itself as long as possible.

-states’ rights: Same. I have very mixed feelings about reopening schools this fall (I work in one) and I anticipate there being many lengthy debates on the subject where hopefully positive compromises can be reached, but the Republican party overall is more supportive of states’ autonomy and that’s where I will cast my vote.

I started watching this show with my daughter (10) and we are really enjoying it. So cool to have a show that we “share”.

Deb I think you’re on to something there :)

This situation has made me happier than ever about our decision not to have kids, at least for now. But I have a friend who wants them even more since this started!

My husband definitely has a lower sex drive. We have to schedule sex otherwise it never happens. It works for us though!

Yes! I had the exact same thought reading this article. Thank you for raising this. It helps to feel less alone. xo

Please visit joebiden.com and click on the Joe’s Plan tab for some policy. I would encourage anyone to read Jill Biden’s book too. I guess with the being too close to women thing, he’s already publicly apologized and stated he knows it’s a different time now, you cannot just go up and hug someone. He’s promised to do better, does not have 16+ counts against him, and has promised to have a female VP. Thanks for your interest and thoughtfully stating your comment.

I echo these concerns. You can’t cry “Me, too” and then ignore the credible allegations against Biden because they’re politically expedient. (And yes, I know Trump is also a scum bag.) I’m definitely not for Trump. But I’m not for Biden either. And I’m disappointed these are out two “choices.” Damnit America, we could’ve had Bernie. :’(

The way I see it is this… is Biden perfect? No. Biden is not my ideal candidate, but I am not choosing a boyfriend I’m choosing the better candidate for the office of the presidency. We only have two choices and the way I see it, Biden is much better for our country. The amount of racism, misogyny, xenophobia, lack of regard for the constitution or rule of law being shown by Trump and the republican party is not something I can support. Not to mention the response to the corona virus. The only way to stop this insanity is to vote for Biden.

I read this yesterday: You aren’t voting for Biden, you are voting for RBG’s replacement.

What Kristina said! I am not feeling super pumped to vote for Biden, but I AM feeling super pumped that Biden would get to select BRG’s (and Breyer’s?) replacement.

You’ve got to be kidding me. Biden is the consensus choice of the democratic party after an extended process where he won the most votes.
He is a sane and responsible person with decades of experience in government. By contrast, Trump has paralyzed and gutted the federal government, stocked the federal bench with unqualified religious zealots who will block progress for decades to come, allowed corporations and the rich to enrich themselves at everyone else’s expense, separated desperate families seeking asylum at the border because they are brown, encouraged police brutality, gassed and attacked peaceful protestors, failed to take basic pandemic response steps leading directly to the deaths of over 100,000 Americans, caused the economy to collapse because all we could do was hunker down once the virus was allowed in, is in the pocket of other, hostile governments, and is pretty much the worst person we’ve ever produced as a nation. This election is existential.

By all means, we should listen to and respect everyone who makes a sexual assault allegation, but then we also have to use reason apply them to the facts to assess whether the allegations have merit, rather than holding a grudge against the accused in perpetuity. In Tara Reade’s case, the allegations do not seem to have merit. Just to make sure we’re all up to date, please see:
https://www.politico.com/news/2020/05/15/tara-reade-left-trail-of-aggrieved-acquaintances-260771

https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/19/politics/tara-reade-biden-allegation/index.html

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/31/us/politics/tara-reade-joe-biden.html

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/biden-accuser-tara-reades-attorney-says-they-have-parted-ways/2020/05/22/92c38da4-9c3f-11ea-a2b3-5c3f2d1586df_story.html

Journalists had been aware of her allegations before they entered the mainstream consciousness and the reason her case was not front page news earlier was because they could not substantiate her allegations. She turns out to be someone who has very little credibility. She has frequently used different names, has a criminal record for check fraud, and exaggerated her academic qualifications, including while posing as an expert witness in criminal trials where her testimony may have led to convictions which may well be vacated due to the fraud she committed on the court. False allegations are not a reasonable basis for not voting for Biden.

I’m in the same boat here, a little bit. Biden was not my favorite democratic candidate but I did vote for him in the primary. I agree with a lot of what you have said, he doesn’t seem ideal in some ways. However, when I look at the disgusting, immoral atrocities that have occurred in the last four years and continue to occur, I absolutely do not see another choice. I’m not one who thinks voting for a third party or writing a candidate in, just to give myself a voice is productive. And I do have to believe that Biden will at least start to get our country back on track. I think it’s going to take a lot, I don’t think any one candidate could possibly do it, but to me, voting for Trump is simply impossible.

Honestly voting Trump of out office is life and death to me, raising my Black and Native daughter. It’s so frustrating to read this comment. Biden is not perfect, but we don’t have the luxury of ignoring what 4 more years would do.

You have a serious responsibility to educate yourself if you consider yourself an advocate to BIPOC, or if you say Black Lives Matter. This is not my job, but it’s so important, here are a few thoughts:

At this point, we are comparing a man who relishes separating babies from their parents, and a man who stop that practice. A man who relishes and foments the white supremacists/terrorists, anti-Semitic, homophobic, trans-phobic, and anti-Native supporters, and a man who does not.

I am a lawyer. This administration may seem like a joke to many, but has worked around the clock to make the country more unjust in so many ways, whether that means dismantling environmental regulations, appointments of many federal judges (for life), treating trans people with incredible cruelty, etc.

Finally, please look at all the unnecessary deaths to Covid-19, and consider how many more will come if we stay on an anti-science track.

Please G-d think outside of yourself when considering “staying home” or voting third party. Be realistic. Think of the rest of us.

KS, thank you for initiating this conversation.

I have been thinking about this deeply. Here are some thoughts:

(1) Power concedes nothing without demand. For those of us that live in reliably blue states (like myself in CA), I have the luxury of not voting for Biden. I will instead focus on down the ballot races, such as replacing Pelosi with Shahid Buttar and so on. While Biden (ie ANYONE) is better than Trump, we cannot give him a mandate and MUST continue to push him & hold him accountable.

(2) If I lived in a swing state/state in play, I would think long and hard and most likely vote for Biden (as I did for Hilary in 2016). Trump’s authoritarian bent in concert with unwavering support by nefarious actors such as Mitch McConnell, et al. is tremendously concerning.

(3) I know many Bernie Sanders supporters (including myself) were perplexed by his visible and prompt support for Biden. However, what I eventually realized is Bernie recognizes Biden is malleable. He can work with Biden and continue to push him to the left. And, of course, moderate/conservative Dems (and lobbyists) will also jockey for Biden’s ear.

(4) Biden is a deeply flawed and not particularly likable candidate. However, he is a mere symptom of a flawed system.
The Democratic and Republican parties are essentially one party, the “Business Party”. For example: Why is Biden against Medicare for All (in the midst of mass unemployment and a pandemic)? Answer: Insurance company lobbyists and lots of $$$$.

(5) So, what do we do? How do we maintain hope & purpose? By focusing on local elections and down the ballot races. There have been and are and will be many exciting races, such as Charles Booker in KY (lost by 3%, he has a bright future), Jamaal Bowman (defeated Eliot Engel, an entrenched career politician and war hawk), Shahid Buttar (challenging Nancy Pelosi, net worth $120 million, a history of conflicts of interest). Here in SF, we elected Chesa Boudin for District Attorney and he immediately ended cash bail and just commuted the death sentence of the last inmate on SF death row). Politics are local and, as Bernie reminded us, “Not Me. Us”.

You can defeat a person. You can disregard a person. But a movement? That has staying power. And youth.

Let me put it this way–the first time I ever canvassed for a candidate, made phone calls for a candidate, donated to a candidate was Bernie Sanders. He awakened hope in me.

And now I am a member of the DSA and will be making calls for candidates locally and in key races all over the country.

I am committed to the movement. I am one of many. And together, we are powerful.

Take a look at the video of Fredrick Douglass’s descendents reading his 4th of July speech. Near the end of the video (about 6 min in), one of the descendents talks about the speech in context with current events. He surfaces a powerful observation: Pessimism is the tool of white oppression.

Keep the hope, KS, and keep asking questions and being critical, pushing against the status quo. :)

“Numerous questionable sexual or questionable behaviors”……?? There has never been any evidence to support these “Trumped up” allegations about Joe Biden. And there’s absolute proof of Trumps demeaning behavior towards women all over the place.
You are voting for the Democratic Party to help restore our governments credibility and respect at home and internationally. Joe Biden is the person running, he’s not perfect, bet he has the proper experience and does not make unilateral decisions to the detriment of our country. I could go on, but I will stop now.

@Roberta P, I’m not sure how you interpreted my comment as “absolute confidence” in Biden when I shared an article about Bernie’s efforts to push Biden to the left, but since you wanted to say hi:

I gotta imagine you don’t also have loved ones working in the healthcare, restaurant, and delivery industries through a pandemic that this president won’t even try to contain. I have to imagine you’re not an attorney exhausted from fighting deportation orders for terrified immigrants, as if this system weren’t hard enough to navigate before he took office. I imagine no one’s spat at you on the street and called you a slur, emboldened by the President calling COVID the “Chinese virus,” or that your closest friends are folks from “shit hole” countries who’ve been going through some version of that at different time points over his term. I have to imagine that there’s no one you care about who’ll benefit from having marijuana convictions expunged from their record, which is currently on the Democratic Party platform. Voting Trump out is imperative to all of these concerns. And if we trust Bernie and care about progressive policies, his team’s work with the Democratic Party is a compelling reason to vote Biden in for this term: https://joebiden.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/UNITY-TASK-FORCE-RECOMMENDATIONS.pdf

It’s your prerogative to keep your vote blank because you didn’t like what a stranger had to say on the Internet. That’s a level of privilege–fragility, even–I will never know.

In past elections, turnout was pretty lukewarm because, on the whole, it didn’t matter enormously much to a lot of people. Each party would put out their candidate and the country would pretty much operate as per usual. I admit, I was often indifferent to voting myself. This time it’s different. So so different. We have seen what four years of non-leadership has brought us. The racist support, the lack of guidance, the perpetual cabinet turnovers, the constant egregious lies, the increased divisiveness, the hate, the international fall of the US reputation. None of this is or ever has been typical politics. Today, what this election is about is to bring back that normalcy and stability again. Biden may not be your favorite or the best candidate. He’s certainly not mine. But a vote for anyone else IS a vote for Trump because it doesn’t contribute to getting him out of office (Trump still has a very strong following). And I can’t imagine what four more years of this is going to do to our country in ways we cannot fix.

So many thoughtful comments in reply.

For me it’s just really simple, a Biden vote is a vote against Trump, that’s all. When it comes down to it, I’m not sure who is bad enough out there that I wouldn’t vote for them over Trump? I’m just focusing on *this is the first step in saving our country*. Like going to the dentist, a pap, a mammogram, picking up dog poop…… No one likes it really. Needs to be done. So just get on with it

One of my favorite quotes about voting: “voting isn’t marriage, it’s public transportation. You’re not waiting for “the one” who’s absolutely perfect: you’re getting the bus, and if there isn’t one to your destination, you don’t not travel–you take the one going closest.”

And then I loved these thoughts from Angela Davis in an interview this past June: “Well, my position really hasn’t changed. I’m not going to actually support either of the major candidates. But I do think we have to participate in the election. I mean, that isn’t to say that I won’t vote for the Democratic candidate. What I’m saying is that in our electoral system as it exists, neither party represents the future that we need in this country. Both parties remain connected to corporate capitalism. But the election will not so much be about who gets to lead the country to a better future, but rather how we can support ourselves and our own ability to continue to organize and place pressure on those in power. And I don’t think there’s a question about which candidate would allow that process to unfold.

So I think that we’re going to have to translate some of the passion that has characterized these demonstrations into work within the electoral arena, recognizing that the electoral arena is not the best place for the expression of radical politics. But if we want to continue this work, we certainly need a person in office who will be more amenable to our mass pressure. And to me, that is the only thing that someone like a Joe Biden represents. But we have to persuade people to go out and vote to guarantee that the current occupant of the White House is forever ousted.”