This is a scheduled post. If you’re logging in at 6am to yell at me, I promise I’ll still be asleep. I’m not a pundit or a political scientist and no one in any party has ever asked my advice. I don’t have a degree in anything. I’m a writer who was a cable guy and a bartender and a bouncer and I’m a veteran. I live in a blue city in a red state in a house I rent with my cousin and her boyfriend and my dog. I’ve lived in a few countries, visited a couple more. Lived in a few states and visited every state that isn’t Nebraska or Hawaii.
You have just excited me, and you changed my mind. Ms. Harris may be just the exciting and newsworthy event that gets people out to vote. What an excellent piece.
Truly glad you wrote about this. I'm on the same page. I don't want to live in fear of orange guy, so I'm not. Not because I'm dumb but I don't have the time. The chorus is growing, and maybe the Democrats will finally see that they are going about this all wrong and have for years. They are my people, but they just don't get it. Your point about Republicans ignoring what's right in front of them for years, and now the D's doing the same is so spot on. I think my newspaper would print your essay if they got it. (Hartford CT, Hartford Courant)
This is another reason I know you are good at your craft. You did not have a lot of time for this but you blew it out of the water.
Pundits and polls are BS. Knowing the cook, the barback, the gal who runs the gift-shop in town, and the dude with the neck tattoo behind the counter at the Conoco, that's where the realty is. Gotta do something. Damn, Lauren this is a fine piece of writing. Jim Clyburn & the rest of the graybeards need to read it.
I was giving myself a headache with all the vigorous nodding while reading this! Agree with all of it. I have been shouting that all we need is a Democrat that acts like they have a fucking backbone to rally voters. It doesn’t even matter what they say as long as they say it like they fucking mean it. At this point I’m not sure I believe anyone can beat Trump, but it would be nice to see the Democrats act like they are trying.
YES to every inch of this. It was the fucking golf moment that made me lose my mind. Suddenly it was clear that the only thing that could move Biden to clarity/anger/response was this totally pointless pissing contest… he snapped to, but NOT to say “are you serious? We’re debating over who leads the free world here, and you’re bragging about your golf game?!” but to jump in and defend his own stupid game and supposed man-strength. Where was that over the firehouse of lies about policy? That didn’t fire him up like the golf insult.
You’re right, Harris has everything we need: brains, energy, strength, and four years of in-house education for the job. What a legacy Biden could leave if he actually put his country first AND endorsed a south Asian/Black woman to do it? If he modeled HUMILITY, acceptance of his own limitations. What a shot in the arm that announcement would be… watch us all wake back up from this numb fear coma. Please, someone, get this article to Harris, Obama, Jeffries, and of course Biden NOW.
And is there any more symbolic representation of white male upper class privilege than GOLF? Who the hell can relate to that? And don't get me wrong, I appreciate 95% of what Biden has done. Good man, good president. It's just TIME. He could TRULY make history by doing the unexpected, gracious, intelligent, power move of saying "Let me make way for HER. Next time, let's watch HARRIS debate the fool." He could also RETIRE a relative hero, rather than be either defeated by a depraved bully pig OR have to work the world's most relentless job until he's dead.
The golf moment! SNL has never approached that level of farce. I'm feeling like you, hoping someone somewhere with any sway realizes how amazing this stepping down and endorsing could be.
She could trounce Trump, given the chance. Biden’s done plenty of good, but I can’t help feel like his unwillingness to face the facts/step aside is hubris. No one with half a brain thinks he can beat Trump, in spite of the fact that Trump’s a complete and utter disaster, waiting in the wings to dismantle anything good left that he didn’t manage to properly fuck up while he was in office. Ugh. Sick to my stomach and praying Joe wakes up and passes the baton. Thanks, Lauren. As usual: beautifully and thoughtfully written.
I keep struggling to find a way to meaningfully fight for better politics.
You express my feelings so well here. It’ll likely be dismissed, but I’m sending this to Tammy Baldwin, my senator, in the hopes more similar messages start to stick.
Follow up-write to/call your state democratic office. For obvious reasons, your representative cannot discuss/response to issues related to campaigning via their govt position.
I appreciate the hell out of this post, it's a perspective I don't have. I don't know wtf the answer is, but I'm scared to death of Trump winning, and it's looking like he's going to fucking win. I mostly just feel fear but when I allow myself to think about Kamala Harris and Gretchen Whitmer on the ticket together I feel hope. I don't know if they could win -- no one fucking does, but I would love them. I think about two strong, capable, experienced women taking the helm and how fucking amazing that would be. There's so much goddamn racism and misogyny who knows if they could actually get elected, but I, personally, would be energized as hell with that ticket.
She’s fantastic and I hope he decides to do the right thing here and let her go for it. She’s fiery, she’s smart as hell, she’s ready, and it’s a great story. This narrative that only Joe can defeat the other guy because he’s the only one who has lost all its weight last week. I think he’s done as good a job as anyone could with the shit-show he took over but it’s clear he’s too old now. I have such a pit in my stomach. Anyway, let’s hope for once an old white man in power thinks about the greater good. That would be an excellent legacy.
Mary, I hate that I agree with you. President Obama is one of the best presidents we have had, and yet he broke this country. The racists lost their minds and gave us the rump. The visceral hatred that will be heaped on Kamala will be awful.
This is a great read, and it was hard to read. It's all so murky as I read this and then the supreme court immunity ruling came out and my head is spinning today. Keep writing. Keep pointing to the uncomfortable truths.
Harris/Buttigieg 2024? (I love Joe and always have, but I was hoping for someone else in primaries, though he turned out to be a good foil in the end. However, I think you’re 100% spot on…his lack of ability to fire up the modern electorate is killing the party.)
You have just excited me, and you changed my mind. Ms. Harris may be just the exciting and newsworthy event that gets people out to vote. What an excellent piece.
Truly glad you wrote about this. I'm on the same page. I don't want to live in fear of orange guy, so I'm not. Not because I'm dumb but I don't have the time. The chorus is growing, and maybe the Democrats will finally see that they are going about this all wrong and have for years. They are my people, but they just don't get it. Your point about Republicans ignoring what's right in front of them for years, and now the D's doing the same is so spot on. I think my newspaper would print your essay if they got it. (Hartford CT, Hartford Courant)
This is another reason I know you are good at your craft. You did not have a lot of time for this but you blew it out of the water.
Pundits and polls are BS. Knowing the cook, the barback, the gal who runs the gift-shop in town, and the dude with the neck tattoo behind the counter at the Conoco, that's where the realty is. Gotta do something. Damn, Lauren this is a fine piece of writing. Jim Clyburn & the rest of the graybeards need to read it.
Thank you. For reals.
So true, you give me hope - hell, you even gave me chills...
I was giving myself a headache with all the vigorous nodding while reading this! Agree with all of it. I have been shouting that all we need is a Democrat that acts like they have a fucking backbone to rally voters. It doesn’t even matter what they say as long as they say it like they fucking mean it. At this point I’m not sure I believe anyone can beat Trump, but it would be nice to see the Democrats act like they are trying.
YES to every inch of this. It was the fucking golf moment that made me lose my mind. Suddenly it was clear that the only thing that could move Biden to clarity/anger/response was this totally pointless pissing contest… he snapped to, but NOT to say “are you serious? We’re debating over who leads the free world here, and you’re bragging about your golf game?!” but to jump in and defend his own stupid game and supposed man-strength. Where was that over the firehouse of lies about policy? That didn’t fire him up like the golf insult.
You’re right, Harris has everything we need: brains, energy, strength, and four years of in-house education for the job. What a legacy Biden could leave if he actually put his country first AND endorsed a south Asian/Black woman to do it? If he modeled HUMILITY, acceptance of his own limitations. What a shot in the arm that announcement would be… watch us all wake back up from this numb fear coma. Please, someone, get this article to Harris, Obama, Jeffries, and of course Biden NOW.
The golf thing. I can’t get past it. That’s what fucking woke him up. Golf.
And is there any more symbolic representation of white male upper class privilege than GOLF? Who the hell can relate to that? And don't get me wrong, I appreciate 95% of what Biden has done. Good man, good president. It's just TIME. He could TRULY make history by doing the unexpected, gracious, intelligent, power move of saying "Let me make way for HER. Next time, let's watch HARRIS debate the fool." He could also RETIRE a relative hero, rather than be either defeated by a depraved bully pig OR have to work the world's most relentless job until he's dead.
The golf moment! SNL has never approached that level of farce. I'm feeling like you, hoping someone somewhere with any sway realizes how amazing this stepping down and endorsing could be.
She could trounce Trump, given the chance. Biden’s done plenty of good, but I can’t help feel like his unwillingness to face the facts/step aside is hubris. No one with half a brain thinks he can beat Trump, in spite of the fact that Trump’s a complete and utter disaster, waiting in the wings to dismantle anything good left that he didn’t manage to properly fuck up while he was in office. Ugh. Sick to my stomach and praying Joe wakes up and passes the baton. Thanks, Lauren. As usual: beautifully and thoughtfully written.
Love this & agree completely.
Thank you!
I keep struggling to find a way to meaningfully fight for better politics.
You express my feelings so well here. It’ll likely be dismissed, but I’m sending this to Tammy Baldwin, my senator, in the hopes more similar messages start to stick.
Follow up-write to/call your state democratic office. For obvious reasons, your representative cannot discuss/response to issues related to campaigning via their govt position.
I appreciate the hell out of this post, it's a perspective I don't have. I don't know wtf the answer is, but I'm scared to death of Trump winning, and it's looking like he's going to fucking win. I mostly just feel fear but when I allow myself to think about Kamala Harris and Gretchen Whitmer on the ticket together I feel hope. I don't know if they could win -- no one fucking does, but I would love them. I think about two strong, capable, experienced women taking the helm and how fucking amazing that would be. There's so much goddamn racism and misogyny who knows if they could actually get elected, but I, personally, would be energized as hell with that ticket.
She’s fantastic and I hope he decides to do the right thing here and let her go for it. She’s fiery, she’s smart as hell, she’s ready, and it’s a great story. This narrative that only Joe can defeat the other guy because he’s the only one who has lost all its weight last week. I think he’s done as good a job as anyone could with the shit-show he took over but it’s clear he’s too old now. I have such a pit in my stomach. Anyway, let’s hope for once an old white man in power thinks about the greater good. That would be an excellent legacy.
You say things like you don't know much at all, but yet have the wisdom of Solomon. I wish you could get this message through to the powers that be!!!
I admire your faith in the American people to vote for a Black woman.
I can’t say I agree.
Maybe I am just too cynical at 65……
Mary, I hate that I agree with you. President Obama is one of the best presidents we have had, and yet he broke this country. The racists lost their minds and gave us the rump. The visceral hatred that will be heaped on Kamala will be awful.
Thank you Ms. Hough, for this extraordinary piece.
This is a great read, and it was hard to read. It's all so murky as I read this and then the supreme court immunity ruling came out and my head is spinning today. Keep writing. Keep pointing to the uncomfortable truths.
Harris/Buttigieg 2024? (I love Joe and always have, but I was hoping for someone else in primaries, though he turned out to be a good foil in the end. However, I think you’re 100% spot on…his lack of ability to fire up the modern electorate is killing the party.)
Also if she runs I hope she gets out of heels and a suit and they put her back in jeans and converse immediately
YES. she'll need that for how fast and hard she'll have to run....