I gotta say, as Bernie supporter in the primaries, Biden is absolutely killing it.

[DanTex]

The first debate, the town hall last night, the campaign overall, has been great. He's been the perfect antidote to Trump: calm, rational, and decent. I had my doubts, but I'm absolutely thrilled that I was wrong.

Of course, vote like we're 10 points behind, don't take anything for granted, etc. But, yeah, Biden, keep doing what you're doing.

[Voltaire2]

1. I agree

He has been doing a great job, starting with the convention and right through last night's excellent town hall.

[DownriverDem]

14. Of course

he is. Biden was my first choice. Why? Politically speaking Biden can beat trump. We have to have the votes of many. All along it's not been about who I like or who you like. It's who can appeal to the most voters in the most states to win the Electoral College.

[pazzyanne]

20. +1 nt

[texasfiddler]

2. I remember DanTex in the primaries. Thanks for this post!!

We are a big tent party and we need to unify after our primaries. I will do my best in the future to support the nominee if my preferred candidate doesn't win the primary. If we don't, the GOP wins and the country and the planet suffers. The GOP that I have known all my life are zombie voting robots that have the electoral college and senate bias on their side. When we are divided, they win.

[ihas2stinkyfeet]

3. the question about the crime bill- he all but said defund the police.

he didnt use the word, but he offered the exact same prescriptions. community policing, getting rid of bad cops, sending social workers on domestics, banning assault weapons, private prison reform, drug treatment instead of incarceration.

and the green new deal. seems to me the only thing he didnt like about it was the target dates. had some great ideas. the ag piece of the puzzle is something that doesnt get talked about, but it is huge.
my little urban farm has a HUGE negative carbon footprint. on less than 1/4 acre. if i had gotten paid for all the carbon i sequestered in the beginning, i would have turned a profit from day 1. hell, i could have bought another piece of land in year 2.

[DownriverDem]

15. Did you know that

in trump's budget, he will defund the police 20%?

[ihas2stinkyfeet]

19. and?

[PatSeg]

4. I'm absolutely thrilled you were wrong as well

Its funny, the primaries feel like years ago! How much things have changed at DU since then.

[DFW]

17. There is a reason for that

Some primary campaigns send "monitors" onto boards like ours to post only partisan messages about their candidate, and get nasty when someone says something they don't like. We had one here that ONLY posted rah-rah stuff about Bernie Sanders, and listed every event he was going to be at, right down to when he brushed his teeth, and with what brand of toothpaste. OK, not literally, but it felt like it. There is no other candidate in the world, etc etc. That kind of attitude. THAT poster disappeared when the primary board was shut down, and others of a similarly extreme bent mostly did as well. Those posters who supported someone other than Biden, but stayed around, showed that they are more interested in the big picture than whether or not their pet candidate won, and I applaud them. Maybe because my candidate didn't win either, but them's the breaks. Jay Inslee dropped out early, though his stressing of environmental issues has been proven right with all the melting glaciers, flooding, hurricanes and forest fires. I'm glad that we kept a close watch on that, even if not on Jay.

Though Joe Biden was not my first choice, he was always my prediction. Almost a year ago, I was asked my prediction for the Democratic ticket by a Republican strategist. Why an active Republican strategist cared in the slightest what MY opinion on the subject was, I still do not know. I'm certainly no pundit that people quote. But I told her at the time, I thought the ticket would end up being Biden/Klobuchar. She seemed very surprised, and said, "REALLY?" I emphasized that my choice for the top of the ticket was Inslee, but I thought that Biden would get in the race and win it. She seemed surprised, and appeared to walk away trying to figure out how I had come to such a conclusion.

I know Joe Biden had been played down in the media, and I surmise that many of them started to believe their own blathering. But I had met him at the Denver convention in 2008 right after he had been nominated. There was a LOT of substance to this man. I know that Obama had been presented with an embarrassment of riches when choosing his VP, and he went with Biden. There had to be a reason for that.

Biden had spent decades in the Senate too poor to buy a decent house in the DC area, and commuting the 90 minute train ride to and from Wilmington every day. As someone whose "commutes" to work take between 2 and 6 hours each way, depending on what country I have to be in the following day, I know what that takes out of you. You need to function long hours on little sleep, and you need to be able to do it a LOT. He spoke the language of a guy who was smart but knew the language of the working class. Where Humphrey, Mondale and Gore (other Democratic VPs I've had contact with over the years) were sophisticated, eloquent well-spoken men, Biden had an earth-tone to his speech the others did not. He's not less smart or aware, he just came from someplace else. Where the others said, "Hello, glad to meet you," Biden said "hey, how ya doin'?" It's a tiny difference, but it means a lot to those that he meets or addresses personally. He CONNECTS. That was the golden secret of Bill Clinton and Barack Obama. Biden learned it well. He connects with ordinary people as well as he connected with other Senators, or world leaders.

When I introduced my friend, the late Helen Thomas, to Howard Dean at a lunch I set up ten years ago, she gave him her highest praise: "He's not a politician!" I don't think she would have said that about Joe Biden, but Biden is a different kind of politician than what we are used to. He isn't given to posturing a lot. He has ideas, and isn't terrified of speaking spontaneously. If this nets him the occasional "gaffe," well, so be it. A politician who rarely says ANYTHING that comes out wrong is either a genius (e.g. Obama) or a complete robot (almost any Republican). Biden is no lightweight, he just also happens to be human, and isn't terrified to show it.

[PatSeg]

25. I learned with each primary

not to take too much of what some people post seriously. I observed after 2004 that many posters magically disappeared and of course, they were usually the "loudest" and most pushy. By 2015/16 I knew to pretty much just stay out of the Primary forum. It wasn't worth it. I spent more time there this past primary because I really had a strong feeling that Joe was going to be our nominee. I also predicted early on that he would pick Kamala Harris as a running mate in spite of her "I was that little girl" attack during a debate. This is the first time I've been right on both the president and the vice president! (I didn't like her comments, but I still felt she was the perfect choice.)

I was naïve in my early days at DU and didn't have a clue about temporary members and professional trolls. Over time, I learned to recognize the signs. Of course, I know there are regular Du'ers who get passionate over their candidates (some of them are my friends) but once the party picks a nominee, most of them tend to settle down. I was pleased to see how quickly they got behind Joe this time and most seem very enthusiastic too.

I agree with how you described Joe Biden. To me he is a politician who doesn't usually sound like a politician, and that is what attracted me to him over 15 years ago. I was getting so tired of all the scripted candidates, who didn't realize that voters want to vote for a real person, not a sack of talking points. One Sunday I saw Joe on Meet the Press and he was so refreshing. My son walked into the room and after listening for just a couple of minutes said, "Why isn't HE running for president?" After that my son, my daughter, and I all became big Biden supporters. In 2007, he gave a killer speech to the International Association of Firefighters, something straight out of an Aaron Sorkin film. Anyone we showed the speech to was hooked.

Not only is Joe more down to earth than most politicians, it is genuine. He is that rare person who really likes people and his interest in their lives is sincere. When he asks people for their phone number, that isn't a political stunt. He really does call them. The stories of his interactions with everyday people are extraordinary. He doesn't turn into someone else once the cameras are off. I've talked to people who have met him and they all walk away very moved by his genuine humanity. Of course, he's not just a nice guy, he really is very smart as well, which was obvious in last night's town hall. He just talks like the guy next door.

I really enjoyed your post!

[DFW]

26. I enjoyed yours, too!

[Wounded Bear]

5. K & R...nt

[Siwsan]

6. Early on, I was the lone Biden supporter in my crowd

Lots of Bernie and Elizabeth people. And I have GREAT admiration for Bernie and Elizabeth, but my gut told me that, at this point in history, Joe was the one. We had lots of spirited discussions - me alone on my side. But I told them all to LISTEN to Joe, give him a chance and maybe they will start to understand my enthusiasm for him.

So far, nobody has told me 'Yea, you were right!' but they are all now ardent Biden supporters.

[DownriverDem]

16. Just shows

how politically smart you are!

[calimary]

18. I was originally for Jay Inslee, but when he dropped out early, I went directly to Joe.

And I stayed there. Proudly. I didn't think Elizabeth Warren OR Bernie Sanders had what it took to get the maximum numbers of people from different corners of the Democratic tent together. Even though, if either one of them turned out to be our nominee, I would support either one vigorously and without question.

Joe Biden seemed the obvious best-bet, overall.

And he's STILL the best-bet overall.

THANK YOU for your post, DanTex. He's doing much better than I expected. I REALLY like the rapid response I've seen from his campaign, and in particular, from HIM. He doesn't let grass grow under his feet. It's more like "INSTANT response". Which I LOVE!

[yardwork]

7. Thanks for this post.

[berni_mccoy]

8. Agree. I supported Warren this time in the Primary. Happy with Joe

And how he’s run the campaign. Stellar job.

[NoMoreRepugs]

9. Therein lies the difference in Deplorable voters vs Democratic voters - we adapt to the real world.

[Raster]

10. Thank you for speaking out!!!

[Johnny2X2X]

11. I'll say it quietly, but...

Joe Biden has the most liberal platform for President in US history! $15 minimum wage, expansion of social security and Medicare, child care, environment, LGBTQ rights etc etc. Right down the line, he's been able to run as a moderate while having the most liberal platform ever.

[Upthevibe]

12. DanTex....

Thank you for your post. Of my group of close friends (that are like my family) - we were all over the place during the primaries here in California:

I, and two of my besties voted for Joe
4 voted for Warren
2 voted for Bernie
1 voted for Bloomberg

That's just off the top of my head......

[Upthevibe]

13. DanTex....

Thank you for your post. Of my group of close friends (that are like my family) - we were all over the place during the primaries here in California:

I, and 3 of my besties voted for Joe
5 voted for Warren
3 voted for Bernie
1 voted for Bloomberg

That's just off the top of my head......

[Ilsa]

21. The TV ads have been fantastic. I'd like to see them hammer

home the great responses Biden has received on his economic plan, that it beats Trump's winging it. There has been a recent economic plan ad, but no mention of the financial groups endorsing it.

[DFW]

27. I made up my own TV ad

Unfortunately, it runs too long to be commercially viable, but here it is:

[Ilsa]

30. I Love It! Send it to the campaign!

They might want go use part or all of it.

[DFW]

32. I did but no response so far n/t

[pnwmom]

22. He wasn't my favorite either, but he turns out to be the Mr. Rogers we need -- smart and kind. nt

[Demsrule86]

33. I remember pnwmom...we had some er discussions. But like me you support our nominee period.

And I have thought that Biden is such a good person that he would win over people. I worked with him a bit in 08 and 12 in Ohio.

[northoftheborder]

23. I also spoke out earlier for a candidate who was lesser known, but knew in my mind that Biden was

most likely THE ONE to take on Trump, and MOST qualified. So glad that I, and a majority of others ended up voting Biden in the primary. Very happy and cautiously hopeful!

[Mortos]

24. One of my republican, Trump supporting co-workers said:

Biden is like a butterscotch candy your grandpa gives you. I replied, well butterscotch candy is not my favorite candy. If I had my choice, I would choose a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup or a Snickers, but when we have been force-fed fetid bullshit for the last 3 1/2 years, that butterscotch sounds amazing!

Biden was not my first, second, or third choice, but goddammit, he is my choice now, at this moment, in this election, I am 100% ridin' with Biden. My wife and I voted absentee for him already, I have donated to his campaign more than any other campaign in my lifetime. I have a sign up in my yard and a bumper sticker on my car (in Oklahoma). I am volunteering as a poll worker. I have sent money to other Democratic candidates and I will happily eat hard candy for the rest of my life if it means we can end this Trumpian nightmare.

So, if the candidates are candy, Trump is those weird orange, circus peanuts coated with bitterness, bigotry, and Covid-19 and Biden is good old fashioned hard-candy butterscotch, like the ones given to us with empathy and support by a kindly grandparent to lift us up when we are feeling down. America needs butterscotch now, more than ever.

#ButterscotchBiden

[link:|

[link:|

[Tom Rinaldo]

28. Biden is the right man for these times, and he is acing it

Early in the primaries I decided not to get overly invested in pushing hard for any candidate, not even the ones who I supported most (Sanders and Warren.) I thought there were strong cross crosscurrents active in the public, and I didn't know which would ultimately be the strongest. One was a desire for fundamental change in America, with younger generations especially keen for that. The other was an almost desperate yearning for no drama responsible leadership, and a return to normality. Admittedly those are sweeping generalities. Sanders, for example, would have respected most of the norms that Americans take for granted and want preserved, like an independent Department of Justice. Biden embraced some major policy changes, and grasped that the times call for bold actions. I figured the public would let me know who would be best positioned to win. For a time it seemed it might be Sanders. What I feared most was a centrist administrator like Bloomberg winning the nomination, I think we would be in trouble today if Bloomberg was our candidate. But Biden emerged with the prize, and I was OK with that then and excited about that now.

Biden is surfing the cross currents as perfectly as possible, given that it isn't possible for him to be two ideological places at once. He is the man for this season, the Democrat best equipped to bury Trump on Election Day.

[NurseJackie]

29. ...

https://upload.democraticunderground.com/10139773

[Demsrule86]

31. Hi DanTex...nice to see you. I think Biden is doing great. But you know that Bernie would have

had my full enthusiastic support.

[DanTex]

34. Hi! Yes I do. And I have no patience for people like Brie Joy Gray right now.

Still, I don't think we're going to see much protest-voting from dead-enders on the left this time around. I mean, you don't get much more left-wing cred than Noam Chomsky, and even he's going around telling people that failure to vote for Biden is suicidal.

[MuseRider]

35. Same here.

Voted today and was so completely surprised at how stunningly wonderful it felt. It is always nice but damn, this was something else.

[Gothmog]

36. I was a day one contributor to Joe and maxed out when he needed the money last year

Joe is amazing. I got to meet Joe at two different fundraisers back in the good old days of pesonal fundraiser. He is amazing. We got to discuss stuttering and I got a Biden hug.

Joe is doing a great job against turmp. We need normalcy and Joe will have a ton of work to do restoring our country