and for the last year or so we held our breath every time Joe did an interview or a SOS address or a press conference...and yes, the debate stunned us but deep down we weren't surprised...so now we can breathe...thank you Joe...thank you Kamala

Not this one. I agree with you completely.

I had hoped he would decide not to run for a second term. The debate terrified me, as did his reaction and rationalizations - but my initial reaction was that the time to change was before he decided to run - and it was too late now. Even so, my reaction when he announced he was leaving the race was pure relief. I still (then) had doubts about the Democratic party's ability to pull it together behind a single candidate - and am excited, hopeful, etc. about how quickly we have coalesced around Harris.

and the continuing ageism--sometimes from those who although decades younger, have "deficiencies" of their own.

Yes, no one who saw the debate could not have had a visceral reaction and some such visual and very public episodes just don't allow for a "recovery of assessment." Relief is a good group adjective. But, so too is realism and respect. During that period there was a good bit of the former and all too little of the latter--once the media latched onto what they were being "anonymously" fed (for Biden's "own good," of course. )

Still, some of that ugly ageism and the failure to look at the individual, rather than the number--remains in discussions--even on this board with re: to potential VP picks. If there is lingering anger--that is it... not that we now have a vibrant, first-ever woman POC running on our behalf. I can't imagine many WOULD NOT get behind that--no matter their age (except for those harboring the worst misogynistic and/or racist attitudes--something we, fortunately, aren't seeing much)

But some of what was blasted most loudly were editorials, statements, which were doing just that - those from the perspective of people who not only saw the debate, but also has closer connections to Biden than those of us on the outside looking in, who were basing their suggestions that Biden drop out on their assessment of him as an individual. Yes, there was also a lot of the latter - assessments based on a number or a single performance.

But my anger at this process is focused on the inability of people to step back and separate calls based in large part on ageism from the assessments of Biden's current capabilities as an individual (who happens to be 81) which were made by those with enough access to be able to make personal observations; as well as the posture that a second term was a reward Biden was entitled to based on his performance in the first term (and in the 50 years before that). Any attempt to suggest otherwise was an attack on Biden rather than concern for his current (and near term future) to continue to serve with the competency he has always brought to the table.

Fortunately, Biden put country ahead of self.

And you're right about the potential VP picks. The "we can't put Buttigieg on the ballot because he's gay" is hurtful. I wouldn't necessarily put him as my top pick. But if he was the perfect candidate, based on an objective assessment of both skill and who he can bring to the table (e.g. swing vote states), the fact that he is gay should not be a reason anyone on DU advocates to keep him off the ticket.

I'm sorry it ended for Joe Biden the way it did. I found myself wishing this had been ten years earlier because I think he would have won two terms. But he stepped away with grace, integrity, and love of country (NOT of self, like somebody else we know and don't care for).

Yeah, it would have been nicer if he had won the office years ago. But, maybe the fates knew when we would need him most, and that he was the one leader who could pull us out of the morass TSF left.

Sad that he was hounded so harshly, and had to see his son so badly abused in public. But, then again, the fates gave him the chance to REALLY prove his metal, his love, his dedication to a better world. It will stand as on hell of an example to younger people considering public service.

He raised the bar for us all. Made us olds really take stock, show gratitude for past efforts and amazing work, then get a jolt of energy to roll up our winkled, worn out, patched sleeves to get this upcoming generation of Great Leaders off to a good start. His actions in the past week has shown us old how to gracefully step back and trust in the young people, but to be ready to help them as they shoulder the burdens of leadership.

When I take stock and say my gratitudes, I will state out loud that I am grateful beyond words for the tallest, most upright standing old ice cream lovin man in our nation. Gratitude for the kind man who stepped out of retirement when he realized he was the one to complete the task of healing us from all the damage TSF did. That we had Joe Biden mend us and to open the path ahead for others to carry on working for the dream that is America at its best.

I don’t know if we’ll EVER see anybody like Joe Biden. A true, faithful, genuinely nice, kind, humble, and caring. How were we so lucky that he came along? He’s gonna go to Heaven when he dies. And I’m guessing that God’s going to have to come find him because Joe will probably be waiting outside the Pearly Gates, unsure whether he’s worthy to enter.

it's just SO hard because the man did such an amazing job the last 4 years and did nothing to deserve having to bow out. (except being older I guess) Very mixed emotions for millions of supporters but luckily we're the pragmatic, sane, adult party and most EVERY Dem is behind Harris. Let's GO!!!!!!!!!!!

While it was universally agreed that he'd bombed, what bothered me the most was the media's absolutely relentless obsession with it, almost gleeful in their see-I-told-you-he-was-too-old evaluations. As an old person myself, I get kind of defensive when another old person is assumed to be mentally impaired just because they've lost some of their physical abilities. That Biden had aged was apparent (that job ages everyone), but after the debate he seemed to get some of his mojo back in other public appearances, notably the speech to NATO. I think he probably felt he could recover, as those appearances seemed to indicate, but he wasn't given even the benefit of the doubt. The more the media banged on his age and the debate the worse the polls got, and the worse the polls got the more the Democrats in Congress and the big donors freaked out. The whole thing became a doom loop he couldn't recover from, and the worsening polls and the falloff in donations finally convinced him he had to drop out because his odds of winning were slipping. As much as he might have wanted to run again, and probably thought he could have done it, he didn't want to be responsible for Trump getting a second term.

My initial reaction to the announcement was "Aww, fuck!" - probably like a lot of other people's reactions - but after I thought about it for a few hours I realized we'd be in a different and better place because the age issue was off the table on our side, and the Trump campaign was suddenly faced with someone who wasn't Biden - the only opponent they'd built their campaign on. But I was still worried that the party would seize defeat from the jaws of victory (as it has done so often in the past) by fighting over who was going to step in, and that someone would try to take out Harris. But it very quickly became apparent that that was not going to happen, and that the party and the donors and regular Democrats would unite behind her. It was a rather amazing turnaround.

Still, like you, I'm still a bit steamed by the rank displays of ageism and the public calls for Biden to step down. That had to have been hurtful. When you're old you know how that feels.

and, of course, I don't know if the issue is race/gender for him as a "Never-Trumper"--the latter which ought to make him prepared to vote for anyone but Trump-- but it would still hurt.

I don't know about your brother's reasoning, obviously, but men who react viscerally toward a woman candidate, a black woman candidate--for no other clear reason than that-- make me look so differently towards them. I'm not sure I'd get over it.

I was hoping that Trump would make him change but no. I asked how it felt voting for a creep and he tried denying that Trump was a creep. He wasn’t very firm in arguing for Trump though.

a Neger Trumper to voting for him? That’s puzzling. I could see sitting it out, but pro-actively voting since all that happened the last years was Trump being worse and worse.

Fox News I assume?

So I think he’s now looking at crazy sites and news sources. For awhile he was for RFK. He has a good friend who has really gone off the deep end but his sisters are also very liberal along with me. They are thinking their brother is close to being mentally ill. He has lost a lot of friends. I think some of these peoples identities are tied up in being stubbornly Republican. They were raised that way and had it drilled into their heads. And this guys sisters and I - the drill must have run out of power or something. We grew up when it was McGovern vs. Nixon. Most of the people I grew up with are now Democrats- unlike their parents. They made the mistake of sending us off to college - lol! A lot of University of Michigan grads. I notice the people who stay Republican went to some of the crappy colleges (not to be a snob).

friends, that I’ve kept up with, are liberal in red counties. Guess there’s a reason we maintained contact, but they for the most part were my best friends in puberty and young adulthood. I’m 73 and have wondered how we knew even back then … . But education, of being people who were clearly going to pursue it, must be the answer.

young and strong is not forever and the government ensures we will get an earned monthly stipend and healthcare. We do not want the governing state demolished as prescribed by the Trump cartel.

would have taken years off my life. I was getting more and more forgetful and having problems with the computer. I don’t miss working. I find things to do that are more enjoyable than work - I finally have time to do things I didn’t have time for before. I really don’t know how Biden was able to do what he was doing - he is 12 years older than me. He did it very well but was missing one aspect - the communication that is needed for his job. I hope he sticks around as an advisor.

I couldn't remember things Id been told numerous times and had a hey hard time technologically. It was horrible. Very embarrassing.

I’ve been really working on my memory by working with mathematics. Right now I’m obsessed with polls. I had been going down a bad road physically but I’m now working out in the pool like a mad woman. That’s my new job….

I'm especially glad, as so many of our generation voted for that geriatric bimbo, Ronald Reagan. I keep thinking back to 1968 and how different our lives could be today had Bobby Kennedy & Martin Luther King, Jr not been assassinated & Nixon had (deservedly) lost the election.

While a sizeable chunk of Boomers supported Reagan, I don't think it was a majority

I didn't realize that!

I think a lot about how different the world would be today had Al Gore not been kneecapped by the Supreme Court.

Somewhere there at least one Earth were JFK wasn't assassinated, one where Dr King wasn't hit, and same for Sen Kennedy.

Maybe one where they all lived to ripe old ages, and continued to serve our country, and world.

But we'll probably never know.

So supporting Kamala makes a shitload of sense.

Those who DO NOT want Social Security and Medicare will vote for the felon.

It is as clear as there is a nose on my face.

So it will still be there for younger folks. That should be one of highest priorities for the Harris admin.

All Gross Earned Income should be subjected to FICA taxes regardless if one is GROSSING $60,000 or $6 million a year.

Problem solved and SS is solvent for 100 years plus, and COLA increases can exceed at least double or triple the inflation rate without making a dent in the Trust Fund.

The baby boomer generation is defined as people born between mid-1946 and mid-1964, according to the United States Census Bureau. She is just barely not a boomer herself.

ignores that. Does anyone think someone born in 1964 has much in common with one born 1 year after the end of WWII? Really?

I have been saying that for years. I always thought that "boomer" meant those people who were born for the next five years or so after WWII ended. It was supposed to be because of all the men coming home and starting families. I'd actually say it was more like from 1946 - 1955.

I think the marketing people use the 1946 to 1964 as their demographic for business purposes.

He and his friends don’t consider themselves boomers

I think I recently heard someone refer to the Jones generation. They are divided by those who were too young to be drafted into Vietnam. They grew up with a different perspective

I am copyrighting and staking a claim to that term. You heard it first here.

yes indeed

Generation dates on the edges overlap, according to various definitions. Doesn't matter to me, I like her whatever generation she falls into.

which she most certainly is not

We've both been strong Joe Biden supporters but the course of events and smooth party transition from Joe to Kamala have made us both believers.

We're going to win this thing bc the enthusiasm and momentum are genuine.

We know the assignment and We Won't Go Back!

Parents - especially my Dad were Republicans. Almost everyone around him is now a liberal so I guess he will never change. I have a friend who also is the same way - grew up Republican - stubbornly Republican. I had her talked into voting for her first Democrat - Biden. Until that $&@# debate. She dislikes Trump. I don’t know what she going to do now.

you can always tell him, well, if you don't like trump and you don't like Harris, you can just not vote for prez.

less votes for the orange asshole is a win in my book.

She's the youngest a Boomer can possibly be, and he's amongst the oldest one can be.

Last edited Fri Jul 26, 2024, 05:36 PM - Edit history (1)

We NEED her more than you do... to finally change our image and legacy!

Actually, I have suggested (including to my GenX daughter) that Kamala can be the fusion candidate for GenX and Boomers, bridging the gap between the much ignored generation and the much maligned one!

Also Nixon, Vietnam, Kent State, the assasinations. But on the “fun side” - Abby Hoffman, the Chicago 7.

JFK being the first president I really was aware of. That was one of the first Magical political moments - Kennedy. I think that may have changed many of us from being the “good little obedient Republicans.” What really sealed the deal for me to being a Democrat was the Clarence Thomas nomination though.

I was in 8th grade, just parroting my parent's choice (Nixon) until I heard Robert Kennedy on the radio, and that was that. I was up watching the election returns the night he was killed, and was just devastated. Because my parents were pretty political, I had been vocal in my support of Nixon (without having a clue), so at my 8th grade graduation (the day RFK died), my English teacher asked me if I was happy! (That still stings...)

My parents were Southern Democrats from the MS Delta (I spent my first two years there, before they moved to Bakersfield), and when I was about 40, I learned my dad had been a member of the White Citizens Council, and that both parents knew the men who killed Emmett Till. (We lived in Glendora, and his body was pulled out of the river not far from there.) My mom attended the trail, and neither parent ever expressed any regret about the murder of a 14-year-old Black child. They had voted for JFK in 1960, but switched to the Republican Party once they found him too supportive of integration, especially in schools. We had an album by a kind of "folk" group called "The Goldwaters," that came out before the assassination, with a lot of songs mocking him and his administration: "Bobby, Bobby, we've been thinking, when you studied for the Bar, did you read the Constitution, did you ever get that far?" And: "Barry's gonna win in '64, the New Frontier will be no more..." Etc. (Including imitations of the Boston accent.)

My parents loathed JFK so much that I was stunned at the country's reaction to his death (when I was nine). I didn't "get" it at first, and just assumed everyone would be relieved. Within a few months, though, JFK had become my new hero, since I always fell hard for hagiographies. I really started departing from the family line about then, especially in questioning my parents' views on race... but after RFK, I was definitely never going to vote Republican.

I was 10 in '63. NYC'r, parents liberal Democrats. I was raised, and then continued that way.

As a 10 yr old I knew what happened was wrong. The adults around me were so sad. You could just about feel it in the air. But I was too young to know what we had lost until I began to understand a few years later.

Losing Dr King was shocking! But for me losing RFK was devasting! The USA went off into a different timeline as some of us science fiction fans would say.

...a boomer and I love her...

...Joe's speech cleared the bad taste from my mouth, he's a great guy...

...boomers around me are on board...

...all they had to do was think of the unbearably foul taste of a trump win and they climbed on board...

...we may be old but we ain't stupid...

Whom you say is a never Trumper now going to vote for him? It can't possibly be because Kamala is female is it? Women have been leaders of countries world wide for centuries as queens. PMs. Chancellor and Presidents. No one messed around with Merkel not even trump.

I'm excited about VP Harris as our candidate.

And I congratulate you for a thread where so many individual comments have many more recs for themselves than most other threads I have read here.
Ironically, even so many retired Republicans consider SS to be a leech on society that needs to be cut. You'd think they know better or at least have some empathy and compassion for those of us who worked some hard decades to earn a decent retirement.

I have been talking to her a lot about politics and trying to get her to vote against Bush and Trump. I was telling her the stuff about JD Vance. She now is leaning more towards the Dems. I think if she votes blue it may be the first time ever. She says if the VP pick would be Pompeo she would vote Dem but is going to watch the debate to make up her mind. I did not tell her that Pompeo is a Republican.

A black female President … our entire lives

And, what a woman she is. Painful as this was, it couldn't have had a better result - if Kamala Harris wins.

As Leofric said to Uhtred when speaking of King Alfred, "The bastard thinks".
Joe is no bastard, but he sure as hell thinks

Thank you, President Biden for your wisdom, your service, and for setting out your plans for the last 6 months of your presidency.
And now we work, donate, whatever we can do to GOTV and win.