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Joe BidenCongratulations to our presumptive Democratic nominee, Joe Biden!
 

bitterross

(4,066 posts)
Sun Mar 31, 2019, 01:55 PM Mar 2019

Prediction - No Matter Who the Nominee is there Will be a Scandal. Because we allow it.

I'm predicting, with great confidence, the GOP opposition research machine is hard at work right now. They're scrutinizing the writings and pictures of every Democrat. All of their school newspapers and yearbooks. They're looking at every appearance and photo they can find.

If I were them, I'd find the most controversial stuff and hold on to it for the last few months of the general election. Maybe some stuff can be released during the primaries to manipulate who becomes the nominee. The Flores/Biden allegations may be just that.

Who can blame them for this strategy? It works beautifully. If you think Roger Stone is idle right now you're not thinking. I'd guess there's a "Leeann Tweeden" sort of kindling out there to start a fire for just about any candidate. Someone or something Stone or his one of his type, working with the GOP, can throw out there to get a good scandal under way. FOX will feature it 24x7 and then the rest of the "media" will have to cover it.

The real question is: Are we going to let them get away with it? Are we going to allow a "But her e-mails" October Surprise again this time to swing the election? It's clear that no amount of dirt and abhorrent behavior will ever bring down Trump.

We have to stop jumping on the GOP assassination squad every time they start a scandal. We have to start standing behind our people until there is more than a bunch of accusations. No, I'm not saying we have to support a sexual assault predator like a Trump, a Kavanaugh or a Roy Moore. I'm saying there is a huge difference between the validity of the allegations we accept as true, then dispose of a candidate and the reality of the candidate's behavior. I think everyone here on DU is familiar with the fact eye-witness testimony is the least reliable form of testimony. Ten people in the same situation will see the same event in ten different ways. None of them are lying or intentionally misrepresenting the event. We allow the GOP to use this with the accusations of people like Franken. Then, when there is a Kavanaugh, they use this to foster the "he-said/she-said" arguments and get away with it. Even though, when it comes to the GOP, there is usually a huge amount of corroborating evidence against the accused.

For a non-sexual assault example, think about VA Gov. Ralph Northam. Everyone wanted him to resign over 35-year-old pictures. Yes, they were racist photos. But they were from 35 years ago. No one wanted to stand up and say "Hey, wait a minute. Let's look at his record." Which, by the way, is clearly the opposite of a racist, white supremacist. We supported that GOP scandal and ratfuck.

Then there are the policy disagreements. The GOP knows we like to have purity in our candidates. Well, that's not going to happen. Do I love the "hard on crime" stuff Harris did while she was a prosecutor? Hell no, I don't. That's not going to stop me from supporting her if she's the nominee. I realize at the time and place she did that it was probably the best way to continue being prosecutor. Does that make her an opportunist - hell yes. But, FFS, ALL politicians are opportunists at some point.

We have to stop reacting to every piece of meat they throw out the way Lindsey Graham acts to affection from Trump. We can't get all spun up about every. single. thing.


-- Now, go ahead and pile on me and tell me how we have to be better than them. Note, I never said we didn't need to be better. I just said we need to be fair and confirm accusations, confirm racism and bigotry before we throw people away.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
8 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Prediction - No Matter Who the Nominee is there Will be a Scandal. Because we allow it. (Original Post) bitterross Mar 2019 OP
This primary is going to get ugly madville Mar 2019 #1
Great point. Our circular firing squad is always locked and loaded. bitterross Mar 2019 #3
It doesn't have to be. I for one am not knocking anybody. If we all think everybody is so UniteFightBack Mar 2019 #6
Yesterday on DU is a case in point. Deplorable! mobeau69 Mar 2019 #2
We sure do allow them, and it's a shame. CaliforniaPeggy Mar 2019 #4
Good post. BlueWI Mar 2019 #5
Tell us, what is an ACCEPTABLE negative story? brooklynite Mar 2019 #7
Part of the goal of a primary season is to serve as a stress test of the final candidate. Something WhiskeyGrinder Mar 2019 #8
 

madville

(7,397 posts)
1. This primary is going to get ugly
Sun Mar 31, 2019, 02:18 PM
Mar 2019

And the GOP won't have to lift a finger. I just hope our nominee doesn't get too damaged in the primaries from the circular firing squad.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

bitterross

(4,066 posts)
3. Great point. Our circular firing squad is always locked and loaded.
Sun Mar 31, 2019, 02:32 PM
Mar 2019

See we are pro 2nd Amendment.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

UniteFightBack

(8,231 posts)
6. It doesn't have to be. I for one am not knocking anybody. If we all think everybody is so
Sun Mar 31, 2019, 03:37 PM
Mar 2019

great why all the negative posts and op's?

Because people really give too much of a shit to see 'their person' win the nominee...yeah well at WHAT FUCKING COST? Last go round the costs were heavy when folks didn't drop out when they should.

The Dem's should make a pact -- no attacking each other...only rump. PLENTY to work with attacking rump.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

mobeau69

(11,074 posts)
2. Yesterday on DU is a case in point. Deplorable!
Sun Mar 31, 2019, 02:31 PM
Mar 2019
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

CaliforniaPeggy

(149,297 posts)
4. We sure do allow them, and it's a shame.
Sun Mar 31, 2019, 02:43 PM
Mar 2019

We have a great, deep bench! Let's look for the good qualities, shall we?

What a refreshing change that would be.

And also, your last sentence resonates with me: I just said we need to be fair and confirm accusations, confirm racism and bigotry before we throw people away.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

BlueWI

(1,736 posts)
5. Good post.
Sun Mar 31, 2019, 03:31 PM
Mar 2019

With 20% of internet posting being bots, vigilance may be the biggest key to effective politics.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

brooklynite

(93,844 posts)
7. Tell us, what is an ACCEPTABLE negative story?
Sun Mar 31, 2019, 03:43 PM
Mar 2019

Was the Donald Trump ACCESS HOLYWOOD video put out by an “assassination squad”? Or good reporting?

Oppo research and reporting has been an element of every election since Adams. Better get used to it.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

WhiskeyGrinder

(22,145 posts)
8. Part of the goal of a primary season is to serve as a stress test of the final candidate. Something
Sun Mar 31, 2019, 03:57 PM
Mar 2019

like Flores' complaint coming out now can even inoculate Biden against attacks from Republicans, if more complaints about him don't come out.

I think it's important we hold our candidates to a high bar, and these incidents highlight the importance of casting a wide net and running a deep bench in any race.

In this specific instance, I would not be surprised if more stories came out about Biden. His physical affection (described as friendly, creepy, paternal, forward, avuncular, and all sorts of other ways in public content and private communciation) was basically a meme for both sides when he was vice president. People are more aware of interactions with each other. Biden has shown himself capable of growing in some ways, and not others. We'll see where this goes.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
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