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submitted 10 months ago by MicroWave@lemmy.world to c/politics@lemmy.world

President Joe Biden hosted a small group of scholars and historians for lunch on Wednesday as he gears up for a speech framing the upcoming election as a battle for the nation’s democracy.

The discussion revolved around “ongoing threats to democracy and democratic institutions both here in America and around the world, as well as the opportunities we face as a nation,” the White House said in a statement.

Princeton’s Eddie Glaude Jr. and Sean Wilentz, Harvard’s Annette Gordon-Reed, Yale’s Beverly Gage and Boston College’s Heather Cox Richardson were among the attendees, as well as presidential biographer — and occasional Biden speech writer — Jon Meacham.

Attendees were tight-lipped about what was discussed at the gathering. One would only go so far as to say they “talked about American history and its bearing on the present — a lively exchange of ideas.”

Another person in the room, who like the others was not authorized to speak publicly about a private meeting, said the historians urged the president “to call out the moment for what it is.” In blunt terms, the academics discussed looming threats to the nation’s democracy and warned about the slow crawl of authoritarianism around the globe.

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[-] dhork@lemmy.world 33 points 10 months ago

I think it's important for Biden to call out this moment for what it is. It will be difficult to do, though, without alienating the people in the country who have incorporated Trump into their political identity. When you point out that their emperor has no clothes, they will feel exposed themselves and lash out at the truth teller.

Biden has to try and build a coalition of all sorts of people to meet this moment. Especially all the people who are disillusioned with the situation in Gaza right now. It amazes me how all those people would think Trump would be any better at that. Trump would sell out Gaza to build a resort if we let him.

[-] aew360@lemm.ee 18 points 10 months ago

Trump would gleefully see Gaza get destroyed. He would call on Israel to not slow down and allow aid to pass through, but do it faster. Like, “have it done by next Monday so I can take the credit for it”.

[-] hglman@lemmy.ml 8 points 10 months ago

Then call on biden to act to stop the genocide and there wont be an issue.

[-] aew360@lemm.ee 9 points 10 months ago

Biden doesn’t control Netanyahu and Netanyahu would much rather have Trump back in power. Why the fuck would he do him any favors

[-] Ensign_Crab@lemmy.world 5 points 10 months ago

Biden doesn’t control Netanyahu

Did Netanyahu force Biden to sell him weapons?

[-] NoIWontPickaName@kbin.social 6 points 10 months ago

Hell did he force him to bypass congress to do so? Twice?

[-] agitatedpotato@lemmy.world 4 points 10 months ago

Or veto a UN resolution for ceasefire?

[-] BeautifulMind@lemmy.world 11 points 10 months ago

It will be difficult to do, though, without alienating the people in the country who have incorporated Trump into their political identity

They're already alienated, there's likely nothing Biden could possibly do that would earn him their votes.

The question is- can Biden afford to alienate the folks who are against US support of Israeli occupation and genocide? If they stay home, the GOP wrecking crew may get another 4 years of opportunity to dismantle American democracy. Is it safe to bet that they'll hold their nose and vote against the greater evil?

I'm not 100% sure how much of the Democratic party (or independents) would find it to be a deal-breaker if Biden were to take a critical stance of Israeli occupation and genocide, nor am I certain of how many likely-democratic voters find it a deal-breaker if Biden continues to give Israel military support without conditions. It seems likely to me that if Biden doesn't address this issue directly and clearly, he will lose one or the other of these groups and I worry he can't afford that in 2024

[-] Semi-Hemi-Demigod@kbin.social 6 points 10 months ago

The great part is that there's nothing Biden can do that would be a deal breaker. I must vote for him because the way we vote is stupid. There's nothing that can make me not because the alternative is objectively worse.

So it's no wonder the DNC doesn't care what I think.

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this post was submitted on 04 Jan 2024
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