Saw this today, and ... well, I'm not going to be so forgiving to people suggesting to vote Third Party rather than vote for Biden. If Trump wants me to do something, and you want me to do that same something, that tells me you're aligned with Trump.
Oh no if only a single person on the internet hadn't upset them, they could have voted for harm reduction. But now they have to vote contrary to what they want. So tragic.
But how else can someone feel morally superior while simultaneously assisting the candidate that will accelerate any genocides going on in other countries?
looking to try to find ways to divide voters they fear will back President Joe Biden, by boosting other candidates and wedge issues in the Democratic Party.
That's been the Republican platform for several decades.
Its basic strategy in any campaign. Also, I'm not super convinced that RFK jr is really taking any votes from the left. The campaign seems to think they are, but isn't releasing any data on this.
The polls I've seen with/without RFK seem to be pretty back and forth. I wouldn't be surprised for them to be aware of how he impacts votes in very specific counties they feel they need to win.
Not really on basic principles. Just on methods and approaches. There's general agreement that the civilian casualties in Gaza are too high, for instance. The debate is do we try to maintain some influence over Netanyahu to try to sway him, or do we just cut them off and then whatever happens over there is whatever happens, we'd wash our hands of it.
Then the people that go after him more hardcore aren't exactly the strongest "supporters".
that go after him more hardcore aren’t exactly the strongest “supporters”.
Yeah that's just patently untrue. The people going hard in the paint on Biden from the left are your hardcore progressive and leftist base. People that actually volunteer on campaigns, donate, go door to door, sign people up to vote and otherwise do work to get people elected. Think our revolution, justice democrats, extinction rebellion etc... Its not people passively engaged in politics that are activated and engaged in these organizations which are fundamental to getting any Democrats elected. Its activated, deeply engaged, strongly opinionated people who do the work of getting Democrats elected.
And this highlights the divide in Biden's support. You have armchair centrists who basically do almost nothing and are only minimally engaged in the political process wagging their fingers saying "Any Blue Will Do" at the cohort of individuals who are being critical of Biden, but whom are also operate the cranks of the actual machines that gets Democrats elected. Any leftist worth their salt understands strategic voting, but that's not the point. The point has been that this neo-liberal, technocratic approach to voting that Democratic centrists are insisting on, is losing and will continue to lose this election. The only thing that has kept Biden in this game was an activist rebellion within the Democratic primary system that forced his response, and he's only really offered a papier-mâché stiffening of his rhetoric on Israel, but has done basically nothing to fix the underlying issue. IF Biden doesn't fundamentally shift his position on Gaza and Israel now, this is over. He's lost this election.
In this vein, the only thing that can actually save Biden from him self is a complete and total rebellion within the DNC voter base, and to basically drag Biden to a better policy position. Otherwise he will lose this election. The lame ass excuse of "Well Trump would be worse" is actually working against Biden right now, because Biden is actually the president, not Trump. The phrase "The buck stops here" is so apropos in this situation, that its almost comical.
My problem with the idiots screaming "Genocide!!!" is that they are overly simplistic in their understanding of the problem. First, if we cut Israel off, lots of very pro-Israeli donors carry out their threats to cut donations to the Left and give more to the Right. That's more ads, more canvassers, more campaign staff, and more polling moving from Team Blue to Team Red. As much as I hate the fact that $$$ rules everything in the fucking USA, it's still a fact, and the LAST thing Team Blue wants to have voters hearing is "America sold out Israel to Hamas after Hamas started the war." Think about how low-information so many voters are in the USA, and think about how EASY it would be for Russian-Amplified Republican Propaganda to convince low-information, and frankly low-IQ voters that Democrats are the antisemites in the discussion.
Speaking of Russian-Amplified propaganda, let me remind everyone of these fact:
Russia and Israel have historically had a friendly relationship with each other.
Israel has a strong Russian contingent. The language is the third most spoken language, and Israel is ranked third in the list of non-Soviet nations that speak Russian.
Netanyahu and Putin have particularly close ties, both being right-wing Authoritarian Jerks.
What is Russia trying to do? Reduce America's influence in the world so it can step in and take over (it will fail, and learn QUICKLY that it is China's bitch, but it doesn't know this yet...). What's the easiest way to do that? Have America cut off aid to Israel, then step in. Alternatively, if America STAYS supporting Israel, amplify the lie that Biden supports Genocide since he won't cut off aid to Israel, allowing Russia to step in.
We need to call this bullshit out here and now, and point out the fact that either people pushing this nonsense are useful idiots, pushing Putin and Trump's propaganda like the morons they are, or that they're actually in cahoots with Putin and Trump, and need to be called out as the shitheads they are.
I'm done playing nice. It's time to call a spade a spade.
I don't think the Gaza issue will end up being a big issue for Biden. Those wanting more action on Gaza are generally to the left of Biden. It's not likely that they will stay home on election day or vote 3rd party and help Trump that way. They'd much rather have Biden after all.
I think that few people are Biden supporters and more are "We have to get Biden in so that Trump doesn't get in and hopefully someone younger will come by for the next round but he's still better than the alternative by a mile".
We could have elected a shoe into office in 2020 the anti-Trump sentiment was so strong. Its not as strong now, and Biden is a worse candidate than he's ever been.
This thread is a dumpster fire. If you would vote for Biden but won't because of some Israel BS here then you are handing the vote for trump, who says:
Former President Donald Trump declared Tuesday that Israel must “finish the problem” in its war against Hamas, his most definitive position on the conflict since the terror group killed 1,200 Israelis and took more than 200 hostages on Oct. 7.
...
"When President Trump is back in the Oval Office, Israel will once again be protected, Iran will go back to being broke, terrorists will be hunted down, and the bloodshed will end.”
And we haven't even discussed trump essentially saying he'd let Russia take Ukraine.
Voting tor trump? This is what you'll get. So ***** you if you think not voting for Biden is some kind of solution, you'll just get trump letting the Israelis hunt everyone down.
Oh an anonymous little bird told them that all the people disgusted with Biden are actual trump supporters in disguise! I’m sure that’s true and not complete fabrication like the average nyt anonymous source…
Biden doesn't support genocide. He supports Israel's right to exist, and thinks that they have a right to defend themselves. And even he is saying Israel must start respecting the laws of war or lose US support. You know what Trump said? "Finish the problem". Even on this stupid level, you should be voting Biden because Trump is worse.
So, no, stupid person or Trump plant. That's not how my logic works.
He is materially supporting the genocide. Even you bounce between describing this genocide as "Israel's right to exist" and apologizing for Biden by citing his empty theatrical handwringing over Israel's obvious crimes.
Edit: Honestly, which is it? Is Israel "fighting a just war", or is it " going too far"? If it's "going too far" as Biden is hinting, where and when specifically has it gone too far? More to the point, if Biden doesn't take concrete steps to rein Israel in, what actual difference is there between Biden admin policy and Trump's statement of "finish the job"?
You morally should vote as effectively as you can EVERY TIME. EVERY vote on the left moves the conversation left.
What you're advocating is a disastrous take, and you're falling for classic voter suppression tactics. If you vote for Trump he backs Israel AND Russia. If you don't vote at all, or throw away your vote, you're helping politics move towards the right. It's like a game of tug of war and you're giving up before it starts.
Rush said it best "if you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice"
This is what I can't stand about these "I will not vote for Biden" Neanderthals. They're not making a point by abstaining; they're indirectly aiding Trump while pretending they have the moral high ground.
It’s a source talking to the NYT. If these were journalists with a long track record of deception, then I would raise questions, but the NYT is generally decent.
Anon sources are totally cool, but only if they’re being cited by someone that is trustworthy.
If these were journalists with a long track record of deception
Yes.
the NYT is generally decent.
I had a good laugh, thanks!
Anonymous sources aren't totally cool, they are the absolute bottom of the barrel of journalism.
They should absolutely not be used for opinion, and normally need to be backed up by third party evidence.
The AP routinely seeks and requires more than one source when sourcing is anonymous. Stories should be held while attempts are made to reach additional sources for confirmation or elaboration. [...] We must explain in the story why the source requested anonymity. And, when it’s relevant, we must describe the source’s motive for disclosing the information.