Joe Biden has been a great President. I know this because every weekday I read a fantastic diary on this site called Boosting Biden. Thanks to the remarkable work of this diligent diarist, I am able to read about all the inspiring things Biden has done during his Presidency: standing up for democracy, fighting climate change, protecting women’s rights,reducing student debt, improving our criminal justice system, strengthening Obamacare, resisting Putin’s aggression; appointing qualified judges, building the green economy, fighting gun violence, protecting LGBTQ+ rights, and the list goes on and on and on and on. Check it out for yourself! I think we all owe the diarist an incredible debt of gratitude for such tireless and truly important work.
The Boosting Biden diaries are not only informative, they also build enthusiasm for Biden’s re-election campaign. That enthusiasm is critical, because we know that it’s going to be an incredibly tough fight. According to recent polls, Donald Trump – in spite of everything – is actually leading in most of the swing states that Biden would need to carry. Just yesterday, I read that RFK Jr’s candidacy could pull vital support from Hispanic voters – quite possibly enough to put Trump on top in November. We know these polls aren’t always accurate, but are we going to risk the fate of the planet, democracy, women’s rights, and the progressive agenda on it? Not me!
No, I’m keeping the pedal firmly to the metal on this one. I know there isn’t a second to lose or a break to take in fighting for Joe – for me, for my kids, for future generations, for the world. I remember election night 2016, my regret at my complacency. I don’t want to be standing at my “Biden Victory” party in November staring at a re-elected orange monster and wishing I’d done more.
Do I love everything Joe Biden stands for? Of course not. I am appalled at his unwillingness to confront the Israeli government more forcefully on Gaza; I was beyond outraged at his permitting of the disastrous Willow Project fossil fuel extraction time bomb in Alaska; and I have serious reservations about his revival of cruel Trump-era asylum rules. These policies pain me deeply – my feelings of betrayal are very real.
But I also know the stakes. And so I know that in spite of my reservations, I don’t have the luxury of taking a break. Not now. Not with so much on the line.
No, I know that in this election, the fascist is the enemy of the good. I know that if I take a break, if I let my misgivings sap my enthusiasm, I risk letting the planet burn, democracy crumble, Putin re-occupy Eastern Europe, religious zealots outlaw abortion, racists rewrite our the history books to focus on the positives of slavery, xenophobes conduct mass deportations, and Jared Kushner turn Gaza into a Judeo-Christian theme park.
Since that’s true – since the situation is so crystal clear -- no one has to argue or “guilt” me into coming out strong for Joe Biden. No, I’m in it to win it for Dark Brandon. I agree with Rep. Pramila Jayapal, Chairman of the Congressional Progressive Caucus:
"I still believe that in the vast majority of areas that he has been terrific. And he is the most progressive president we've had. … I still believe that he’s done phenomenal things for this country. ... I literally sometimes just sit there and cannot believe that we've made the kind of transformation that we've made."
So I’m not taking a break, guys, and I hope none of you do either. Instead, I’m going to spend the next seven months doing everything in my power to re-elect a President who has already done so much to advance the causes I believe in, and who has laid out a bold agenda to do even more in his next term.
Now LET’S GO JOE!!!!!!!!!!!!