this post was submitted on 28 Jun 2024
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I love the part where the democratic leadership made sure there were no viable alternatives during the primary.
Its ok they'll be back in a few decades having learnt nothing.
How did they do that?
Didn’t have a primary in FL at all.
Okay, and? What is your point?
This is just a misunderstanding of how primaries work and basic civics. There are Democratic primaries in FL. For Senate seats, House seats, etc. Those primary dates differ state-to-state, and Florida's just so happen to take place in August. Nobody met the requirements to be submitted on the Florida ballot in time, and second to that, it wouldn't have made a difference ultimately as we would come to find out since nobody achieved any competitive results in earlier primaries or in national polling.
There wasn't a Primary for President because those who voluntarily threw their hat in the ring either (a) dropped out, (b) did not meet the minimum ballot requirements, or (c) Biden already earned enough votes for it to be irrelevant. Florida was never make-or-break for anyone else who, again, voluntarily threw their hat in the ring.
I was referring to the presidential primary (as that is the topic of discussion in this thread). Florida did not have one.
As was I, which I explained why it did not happen. Please read more closely.
Basic civics.
The “explanation” doesn’t change that it did not happen. My previous comment did not require a qualifier.
Basic reading comprehension.
Ok, cool? I simply gave context showing your factoid contributes nothing meaningful to the conversation.
I guess we’re both doing that. I never had a misunderstanding.
Ok bye.
None of these kids ever seem to know what they’re talking about. And the moment you point it out with any proof- they disappear to go post their shit elsewhere having not learned a thing.
It’s why I don’t bother anymore trying to persuade them with facts. I just call them out and move on.
Biden is the incumbent so obviously the only one that can possibly win. Crush all other prospects and tell them to wait their turn
furthermore any challengers are just giViNg tHe eLeCtIoN to trump
Nobody stopped people from running, though. In fact people did run they just lost like primaries are supposed to work?
I get so tired of seeing people hand-wave away democracy like it's some kind of amateur sport. This is not how fair and impartial primaries are ran. We can recognize the tech-monopolies and the unfair practices (and untold wealth) they use to squash competition but when it comes to elections? shrug
Even Bernie Sanders could've run again if he wanted to, but he chose not to. Nobody at the DNC "forced" him to not run as was suggested.
more hand-waving, "anyone can make a video platform". No, you need infrastructure, SEO attention, Creators, etc etc. You don't just "decide" to run in elections, the bar for entry is beyond anything a citizen or even most politicians can accrue. Bernie Sanders fell in line a long time ago with the same party he openly said was unfairly treating elections. Vote Biden if that's your choice and I fully support that, but we need to stop sugar coating and pretending everything is A-ok in the DNC if we ever want an elected official who represents the average voter in the party.
More hand-waving, indeed.
Bernie Sanders whose convictions and experience are without question understands the game better than anyone here, I suspect.
I'm okay with saying the DNC has poor strategy. But that is independent from claiming they prevented anyone from running. So I say again, NOBODY FORCED anyone to NOT Run, and zero evidence to the contrary has been provided. This is an obvious wedge-driving issue that originates from right-wing and foreign operatives intending to wedge-drive the Democratic coalition. Please, don't drink the kool-aid.
AIPAC Unleashes a Record $14.5 Million Bid to Defeat a Critic of Israel
Democratic officials keep other competitors off North Carolina ballot, leaving Biden the only choice
The Democratic Party promised to overhaul its primaries. Doing that has been anything but simple
Biden's Democratic challengers hit ballot access roadblocks
jfc, stop falling back to the easiest and lowest form of defense because of "rightwing and foreign operatives". This is a conversation between you and I. Bernie Sanders understands the game better than anyone here, and had to fall in line... how is that not a statement against what you're proposing here?
First link is inapplicable to DNC; blame conservative Supreme Court.
Second link is somewhat fair, but ultimately neither candidate adhered to local NC election policy; nor was either actually going to win the election there by the polling -- but I'll credit you this.
Tell me what you want me to take away from the 3rd link that supports your argument.
The fourth link is substantive and my stance is somewhat shifted. Some shady state-level shit, or at the very least inconsistency and incompetence.
But I have to step back and ask the following: Did these change the outcome in any conceivable way? Let's be abundantly-clear, here: Nobody who actually voluntarily threw their hat in the ring were achieving any modicum of momentum in public polling that would suggest they'd be a viable challenger. IF, there was someone who could win opening primary states and who had some semblance of national polling that competed with Biden at any level, then I'd be more inclined to agree. But there simply was no Obama waiting in the wings.
So to repeat: Nobody "forced" anyone to not run against Biden; they simply lost and could not make up either the numbers or longstanding state-level requirements to compete. That being said, was there an obvious top-down messaging campaign to rally behind the incumbent President? Absolutely. Do I agree? Not particularly.
And I'm sorry but it's a fact right-wing operatives routinely utilize this rhetoric to drive a wedge. Plenty of reporting on the Russian IRA Troll farms; are you unfamiliar? For fuck sake my man, you're the one who pointed out foreign interference with Israel dumping money and utilizing their own misinformation troll farm online.
Let's not presume upon what Bernie did; fall-in-line are your words based purely on speculation when they could've simply been "Bernie understood the dilemma and agreed with the top-down strategy at the time, and that no other candidate who voluntarily threw their hat in the ring had a better chance."
Seriously, thank you for taking the time to read and respond. The 3rd link is a long word salad of an article they probably could've done better with, some highlights:
It's effective when you take into consideration what DNC spokesmen require, "they did not reach the standards for their nomination: a candidacy that is "generally advocated and recognized in the news media,".
I can link articles and interviews by Bernie if you wish but I'm going to assume you know of the legal battles and statements made by him during the campaigning and after. "fall-in-line" is definitely my words, but then you go on to describe exactly what fall in line means. The term does come across as negative but the reality is he made declarative statements beforehand and has now changed his position in favor of what the DNC wishes to do... there are other terms I could use I guess but the general description is the same.
I incorrectly assumed you were using the "this is a foreign bot" defense and were telling other people to not drink the kool-aid that I see used all the time so actual conversations can't develop. It's why I included the you and I part so I do apologize for that.
I can't come to the same conclusion you have with the data, I've pointed out just a few of the ways in which the DNC jerryrigs their primaries and candidates. We see the manipulation of media and the cost of running a candidacy which completely undermines any contender. We aren't seeing any "viable challengers" because of decades of hurdles and organizations (both local and national) that limit those who are highlighted, which in turn allows the DNC to say "well we don't think they have a chance so they're not allowed to run". It's like a boxing match where every opponent of Biden's has to wear weights and have their hands tied but "Biden would've won anyways because he's the better boxer".
You've raise fair points, thanks. I think the reality of Bernie's position is that he wishes he was 20 years younger. In his view, neither himself nor anyone else could really say with certainty at the time last year that they would be better. After all, the economy was ticking up, abortion could be used, and Bernie got a lot of compromises and influence within the Biden administration since then. Ultimately, the Biden presidency did a lot of good work in the eyes of Bernie and a united front against Trump combined with incumbent advantages did seem to be a "safe bet" going into 2024. But we've seen quite an erosion of Biden's faculties just in the last 2 years let alone 4.
Having been one of the earlier supporters of Bernie in 2015 I do remember my frustrations with the DNC oftentimes shunning Bernie and not getting the attention he deserved. I do agree there is some favoritism seniority games at play in the DNC.
I just took issue specifically with the claim that DNC did not allow anyone to run. It's a little bit of DNC inertia, sure, but it's also quite a lot of, "well, no good Obama-esque candidate tried" either. Now I have half a dozen names I WISH would've run, but alas... Now nothing has really changed ever. Candidates have always needed 1-part name-recognition, 1-part viral grassroots momentum leading to greater media coverage, and 1-part establishment backing. Some lean into one of these more so than others; some magically have all three - such as Obama.
Alas I don't know, man. I'm at a loss. I am fundamentally disappointed at our prospects going forward and will advocate for an open convention or some alternative because this just isn't working. If it comes down to it and Biden is indeed the nominee I'll vote for him as well to avoid the other guy of course.
I just feel like Democrats are in a very awkward spot right now in terms of the quality of candidates they have to run; we're between generations where one set -- the Warrens, Bidens, Bernies -- are too old -- while the up-and-comers are just a shade too young yet -- such as AOC, Katie Porter, etc. I suppose Whitmer would probably be the best bet.
Aside from his age being an issue for him just as much as Biden, he knew that challenging the Democrat incumbent would just split the support he desperately needs further.
Pretty sure they dropped out one by one due to political pressure
Really? They didn't drop out because of lackluster polling? Can you point to them rapidly rising in national approval ratings?
No candidate would ever win a primary against an incumbent president. Which is why the right decision would've been for Biden not to run.
Name one real option the democrats has promoted.
The fact is that the democratic Party went all in on Biden early one and has refused to promote anyone else
Yes there's been a few candidates, but they are all largely unknown and no effort has been made to seriously bring them up.
Monkey paw curls a finger
DNC: We're please to announce Hillary Clinton will be the Democratic Presidential Nominee!
It's news to me that "democrats" (???) have to promote a candidate as opposed to a candidate running and captivating the primaries electorate... You know... As Barack Obama did in 2007.
Well I'm sorry but beggars can't be choosers.
You could've run; why didn't you?
But this beside the point, considering the goalpost has moved a mile from "The DNC didn't allow anyone else to run." lol. People here need a lesson in basic civics, clearly.
That's a lot of words in defence of a broken system.
That's a concise way to deflect without any substantive rebuttal.
It's also concise enough to explain why a rebuttal is not warranted. People complaining about a broken system don't need to be told they just don't understand.
Cool? If you're already convinced otherwise and you're not convincing me, why are you here?
Did you think this through?
Rhetorical question.
I thought you understood that we are just masturbating at this point
For one thing, they didn't have a primary candidate debate, which would have helped the challengers get some exposure.