An Open Letter to the Democratic Party Leadership
I hold the following truths to be self-evident…
I hold the following truths to be self-evident…
Dear Democratic Party Leadership,
I have voted for a Democratic candidate in every election I’ve been eligible to vote for. It’s the party beliefs that most align with my own. If I can’t have what I want, I’ll take a Democrat.
But Joe Biden? Really?
Here’s the cold hard truth folks. Donald Trump will be almost unbeatable in November. I’m not saying that he can’t be beaten, I believe he can be. However, I just don’t think Joe Biden will be the guy to do it.
The only two who have/had the best shot at defeating that magnificent dolt are Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren.
In partnership with the ad driven corporate media and your big ticket supporters, you marginalized Warren and made damn sure you “kept that woman in her place.”
Fuck you very much for that.
With Sanders, you, again in partnership with the ad driven corporate media and big ticket donors, have gone to virtually every length imaginable to see that Bernie gets squeezed out. Valiant attempt, but doesn’t seem to be working…but then I suspect you (and the media) are far done from trying.
Quick note to ad supported corporate media: what’s up with your almost compete focus on the Democratic dysfunction and blatant avoidance of highlighting just how popular Donald Trump is? Polls are shit, so stop jamming that down our throats (100% of the people reading this right now agree with me — that’d be me). Why are the late night comedy shows the only ones highlighting his inexplicable popularity? (I know, it’s probably racist.)
Quick note to Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar: dropping out right before one of the most important primary days in the season? You should’ve done that weeks ago and the fact that you didn’t…AND then threw your support to Joe Biden one and two days before Super Tuesday is painfully obvious political grandstanding and absolutely humiliating to those who supported you. I understand that you’re both politicians so shame is not part of your emotional database, but still…shame on you.
Democrats have/had ONE chance to unseat Donald Trump and as it stands now, that can only be Bernie Sanders.
Yes, with Sanders there are concerns:
His age. (a solid concern.)
His past association with some politically questionable figures. (He’s explained this…non-issue to anyone with an IQ over 75.)
His political bent.
Thanks to your lack of leadership, you — and Sanders’ avoidance— you’ve done a poor job in explaining what Democratic Socialism means. Ya know who else would fall under that umbrella? FDR & RFK. Remember them?
Is your fear that Democratic Socialism aims to help the many and not only the few? Or is it that it threatens the very political and financial ecosystem in which you thrive? Or both?
It sure as hell beats the governmental socialism that you and the Republicans support now.
SOCIALISM FOR ALL:
The Post Office
The US highways
Public libraries
Medicaid/Medicare
Social Security
SOCIALISM FOR THE FEW:
Tax breaks for the wealthy
Privatization of government programs
Government contracts to the same companies for decades
Loosening restrictions at the behest of corporations
Suffice it to say, Bernie Sanders over the course of his political career and in two presidential attempts, has been thoroughly vetted.
Has Joe Biden been equally as vetted?
Here are just a few of the big ticket concerns about Joe Biden:
The Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 — after being a co-sponsor and very supportive of this, he’s walked it back somewhat because it’s one of the racial punitive acts in modern history. Over time, a disproportionate amount of minorities ended up within the American prison system as a result of this act.
— Highlights of this include:
* 60 new death penalty offenses under 41 federal capital statutes
* overturned a rule permitting prison inmates to receive a Pell Grant for higher education.
* provided incentive grants to build and expand correctional facilities to qualifying states that enforced mandatory sentencing of 85% of a person’s sentence convictionAnti-drug Abuse Act of 1986 — Joe Biden helped create the sentencing disparity between crack and powder cocaine. Powder and crack cocaine are pharmacologically almost identical. You know the difference— crack is more commonly used by black Americans.
Comprehensive Control Act of 1984 — Biden, in partnership with long-time racist and dead South Carolina Republican Senator Strom Thurmond, co-sponsored this gem that takes all your stuff if you’re arrested for drugs. This doesn’t bother me so much EXCEPT THAT IT’S DONE BEFORE PROOF OF GUILT OR INNOCENCE!
The Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005 — Joe Biden voted against borrowers drowning in medical debt, seniors, service members, union members, and victims of deadbeat dads.
There is a reason he was openly, and not so jokingly, referred to as the “Senator from MBNA” (MBNA is a former bank). A swath of other corporate monoliths — including financial institutions — keep their corporate residence in Biden’s home state of Delaware (the new Luxembourg). Suffice it to say, they’re big contributor’s to Joe Biden. To the horror of these banking companies, in 1991, Biden supported an amendment to impose a nationwide cap on credit card interest rates…how’s that workin’ out for you?
And I’ll just briefly mention his support of war. He’s for it, a lot.
What else is out there?
If he ends up the Democratic Nominee, are we sure Biden is as vetted as he should be? I’m not.
Look, in fairness, Biden has owned SOME of this shit. I also don’t necessarily penalize a guy for political missteps over the course of a 45+ year career in Washington, D.C. That’s gonna happen. But the stuff I’ve highlighted has had very real long-term damage. Worse still is that they’ve impacted the very people he CLAIMS to support.
However, the fact that NO ONE (including Sanders and Warren) went after Biden during the debates on most of this their own fault. Does anyone think Trump and his league of morons and sociopaths are going to hold back on ANY of this? FUCK NO!
If the other democrats had held his feat to the fire during the debates, at least Biden would’ve had some practice. If you think he bumbles a lot now, what until he faces Donald Trump.
I’ve never been ashamed to be a Democrat…until now.
I will support whoever gets the nomination because I’m terrified of America under four more years of Donald Trump.
Just take a moment and imagine if Trump wins re-election, the Republicans take the House of Representatives back and keep the Senate. Oh yea, make no mistake, he’ll get at least one more Supreme Court appointment (in addition to the hundreds of other judicial appointees he’s made and hundreds more he WOULD make in a second term).
It’s feasible that a second term could land Donald Trump in charge of ALL branches of America’s government — that’s terrifying.
Fuck “electability.”
As Democrats we have a real chance at real change with a candidate like Bernie Sanders. Do I think he would accomplish much? No. I’m not naive enough to think that can be done in four, or eight, years.
BUT, if elected, Sanders could set in motion changes that could help re-define what America is and how it treats its citizens and how it interacts with the world. And it’s only Sanders left standing of the two candidates who offered REAL solutions to ALL Americans.
Donald Trump has the interest of only one American — Donald Trump — in mind. And the rotating cast of minions in his administration are horrifying sociopaths…on their best day. Whatever their vision may be, I can assure that it’s terrifying.
So Democratic Party leadership, you, along with the ad supported corporate media companies and big donors have chosen to circle your wagons around the ONE candidate who quite literally had NO vision or plan for America. The one candidate who has openly promised us a trip back to mediocrity and stasis. Well done.
If Biden ends up with the nomination (as is growing more likely) we as Democrat’s will do what we do — turn the other cheek and support a candidate so many of us just don’t want.
Joe Biden has the energy and political fortitude of over-cooked linguini.
To be clear, I don’t hate Joe Biden. I just firmly believe he is the wrong person for the job.
I’ve not been shy that Elizabeth Warren had 100% of my support. She was the ideal candidate for me. I really thought you’d come around and see how Warren was the best candidate but you have your reasons — and I’m guessing they’re primarily fear and gender related.
My second choice was Bernie Sanders…and now you’re pushing him aside. What in the ever holy fuck do you want?!
Gird your loins citizens. We’re gonna get four more years of Donald Trump.
If 2016 taught us anything, it’s that anything is possible. Hopefully I’m wrong but I just don’t think I am.
Dear Democratic party leadership, you’ll have to answer for what you’ve done here in 2020…now is not that time.
But you can count on my support. Begrudgingly.
I’ll take mediocrity and stasis over a second term of that malignant narcissistic moron.
Sincerely,
Keith R. Higgons