Go with me in your mind’s eye to 2016. What did you think about the election? What were your friends and family saying? Did it seem like we were in a make or break moment for democracy?
I recall being dismayed Trump was getting so much time on cable news with his rallies constantly covered. I recall discussions with my friends about what might happen if a Republican was able to appoint multiple SCOTUS justices. I was worried about the rhetoric and discourse, but I wasn’t worried about the election itself. I did not do anything other than vote and watched from Disney World as the results came in and I was beside myself.
Goodness, I haven’t thought about all of that in a very long time.
But I did yesterday because someone on Substack someone tried to tell me we are sleepwalking into 2024 like we did in 2016 so I gave it some thought. My response was, “Tell me you don’t know any women without telling me you don’t know any women.” No woman out there is in the same headspace they were in 2016. NO ONE.
There are people who continue to push the fantasy that Biden can and will drop out and be replaced by someone younger and ‘more appealing’ whatever that means. Joe Biden is going to be the Democratic nominee for president in 2024. I know that thrills some of you, upsets some of you, and most of you are in the middle. Those feelings and $6 will buy you a cup of coffee.
I don’t even want to discuss the silly fantasy of Biden dropping out because it’s not going to happen, but clearly there are a lot of people who do. Every round of bad new polling begins a fresh round of clickbait Biden should step aside articles. The only reason they do this is for money. I’ve spoken with multiple people on both sides who all agree on this. Media is a huge business and we have to be aware they exchange our clicks and views for advertising dollars. They’re paid the same whether or not you believe what they are telling you. The most important metrics are your clicks and how long you engage.
In addition to the work we’re doing, which I wrote about yesterday, we should be talking about what’s on the line. Reed Galen wrote an excellent piece that is well worth a read.
Short answer: Everything that is most important to me is on the line and that’s why I need to be fully engaged in the fight rather than have my head in the clouds dreaming up an all-star team Democratic ticket that is never going to happen. I will save my day dreaming for a visions of what our country will look like when we are no longer living with the looming threat of authoritarianism.
I can't believe these people who want Biden to step aside. What in the blue Hell are they thinking about? Biden has done an excellent job. Instead of whining and hand-wringing, get to telling people about what has been accomplished and how dangerous Trump is. Like it or not, it's Biden vs. Trump.
I think I keep trying to forget my feelings about the 2016 election. For 3 days after Election Day I had the worst headache of my life. I actually tried thought I might have a tumor. In January of 2017 a group of Democratic women started a book club as our way of trying to understand what happened and how to move forward. What started as a group of 10 is now a group of 32. Obviously not everyone comes to each meeting but we are still supporting each other. Anyone who says no one is excited about this election has not met the women in this country. Joe Biden old? So are a lot of the women. We refuse to have this criminal with the mentality of a 5 year old get near the WH again. We are voting blue straight down the ticket.