698 Comments
User's avatar
â­  Return to thread
Shane Gericke's avatar

Dangerous? The Bulwark isn't dangerous unless you believe it has the power to make YOU vote in a way counter to what you believe. It doesn't have that power over me. Bulwark has consistently explored all sides of Biden and Trump and decided--or most of its individual writers decided--that Biden cannot win and therefore needs to be replaced to save the Republic. Bulwark cites its evidence and shows its homework. What more do you want from an opinion publication?

"Replace Biden because he can't beat Trump" is a valid point of view, and intellectually honest. But it's not the only point of view, and nobody is required to believe it or vote accordingly.

That makes Bulwark not "dangerous," but refreshingly honest. Information is not Drano.

Expand full comment
TomD's avatar

But, like Drano, information can occasionally clear a plug. I would add that the Bulwark staff has burned plenty enough bridge and eaten plenty enough crow to have an opinion regarding the question who can beat Trump. Tim Miller wrote a whole book of crow, for chrissakes... .

Expand full comment
Bridget Collins's avatar

I read Tim's book. I have also listened to him tell Democrats to pursue the same GD strategies that drove the Republican party into the arms of nutcases.

Expand full comment
TomD's avatar

Which strategies are you thinking about?

Expand full comment
Bridget Collins's avatar

"Democrats don't know how to fight. Democrats don't know how to message to the average American. The average person doesn't care about policy."

Any of those sound familiar or should I go looking for more?

Expand full comment
Shane Gericke's avatar

You're spot-on, TomD.

Expand full comment
KMD's avatar

Great comment. Thank yoy.

Expand full comment
Shane Gericke's avatar

Much appreciate that, KMD!

Expand full comment
Dave Yell's avatar

Agreed!

Expand full comment
Shane Gericke's avatar

Thanks, Dave!

Expand full comment
Dave Yell's avatar

You 're welcome!

Expand full comment
Markus's avatar

thank you

Expand full comment
Old Chemist 11's avatar

I think he meant "dangerous" to Trump, which is what "refreshingly honest" is. I doubt Bulwark will change more than a handful of votes from Trump (or RFK Jr.) to the Democratic candidate (whoever he/she may be) but it might scare more than a few Never-Trump voters against staying home.

Expand full comment
User's avatar
Comment removed
Jul 12
Comment removed
Expand full comment
TomD's avatar

if there;s trashing, it's of his chance to win, period. No one blames him for aging.

Expand full comment
SandyG's avatar

Well put!

Expand full comment
User's avatar
Comment removed
Jul 12
Comment removed
Expand full comment
SandyG's avatar

Biden, of course. I'm a lifelong Dem. I've never voted R in my life because what the party stands for represents me better than the R party does. Whoever my party chooses as our nominee, I will do all I can to get him or her elected.

Do you really think a long-time and very active Bulwark subscriber would vote for Trump???

Expand full comment
User's avatar
Comment removed
Jul 12
Comment removed
Expand full comment
SandyG's avatar

Just to be clear, Max, I am not talking against Biden. I'm talking against his chances of beating Trump. Do you see the difference?

Expand full comment
User's avatar
Comment removed
Jul 12
Comment removed
Expand full comment
SandyG's avatar

Do you see the difference? To quote Kamala questioning Bill Barr, "It's a yes or no question."

Expand full comment
User's avatar
Comment removed
Jul 12
Comment removed
Expand full comment
User's avatar
Comment removed
Jul 12
Comment removed
Expand full comment
SandyG's avatar

Yes, Max. The reality of politics in America is that strong and wrong beats weak and right every time. That's from Bill Clinton. He ought to know, yes?

I hope you can see that this is so.

Expand full comment
Bridget Collins's avatar

So Joe Biden who went to the beaches of Normandy, went back to the Belleau Woods cemetery, took several campaign events is weak?

Compared to the guy who slept during his trial and needs a golf cart to get around?

Expand full comment
SandyG's avatar

Bridget, I cannot answer for the vast majority of voters who think he is too old to run for a second term. I'm just saying, by all accounts, they do.

As far as I'm concerned, when he decided to run again in April 2023, I felt he was the only Dem that could beat Trump. He had just come off of a terrific SOTU. I said at the time, "If he keeps this up, he'll win a second term." I didn't think much of Kamala at that time. I thought a great deal of Pete B and Whitmer, but I didn't think enough conservatives would vote for a woman, and I was sure they wouldn't vote for a gay man. I liked Shapiro and Wes Moore, but they had only just been elected.

Biden's abysmal debate performance and the dearth of appearances he made on TV immediately following it to assure the voters that it was an event, not a condition, as Pelosi put it, convinced me he's not the Joe I voted for in 2020 or the Joe at the terriffic SOTU last March and therefore he cannot beat Trump. That is the only thing that matters.

As to the alternative, Kamala is looking way better to me than she did 15 months ago. She's been killing it on the stump, and this podcast convinced me that she had to be something other than the law and order Dem she was known as in 2020 because of the political moment then (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KyvaxlKuOuE&list=PLdMrbgYfVl-szepgVpArP0obwYgbKdfvx&index=1).

Expand full comment
User's avatar
Comment removed
Jul 12
Comment removed
Expand full comment
SandyG's avatar

Well thanks for asking a question rather than just blasting me with statements. That's called having a conversation.

But your assumption that if I think Biden should drop out means I'm going to vote for Trump is completley wrong. Clinton's comment is not about me. It's about the average voter. Do you see the difference?

Expand full comment
User's avatar
Comment removed
Jul 12
Comment removed
Expand full comment
SandyG's avatar

Max, you missed my point: The average voter prefers a leader who appears strong even if he's wrong. Who I prefer is irrelevant.

I think "kamala will never win" is what's underneath your Biden loyalty. You sure seem sure about that. Why?

Expand full comment
Bridget Collins's avatar

Because Republicans proved they would vote for a used car salesman with no successful experience in anything but inheritance and reality TV over a competent woman.

It's not Kamala we have no faith in.

It's you.

Expand full comment
User's avatar
Comment removed
Jul 12
Comment removed
Expand full comment
SandyG's avatar

I'm ending this thread, Max. You refuse to get this is not about me or what I think.

Expand full comment
User's avatar
Comment removed
Jul 12
Comment removed
Expand full comment
SandyG's avatar

I think Clinton's assessment is correct. You don't. Fine. But I am not the average voter. You say you are and you see Biden as strong. Also fine.

Your repeated questions to me about Trump are irrelevant to my argument. That's why I'm ending this.

Expand full comment
Roberta Montgomery's avatar

It’s become unbearable to watch Biden. I was a big fan, and will vote for him. But no longer can he win. NY has become a battleground state? The Democratic Party is crumbling under Biden.

Expand full comment