I disagree with Biden's speech (somewhat)

[Dirty Socialist]

I like it that Biden has his gloves off in attacking Trump, but I find a problem. I have learned that when dealing with a bully, one must seperate the bully from his followers. While it may be true some of his followers are semi-faschists, he should have isolated his attacks to Trump and his circle. Also, he should have differentiated the conservative Republicans from the MAGA Republicans more. The conservative Republicans I jnow think he was limping all Repubs together.

[Scrivener7]

1. OK.

[Wounded Bear]

2. I don't think you heard the same speech I did...

he pointedly addressed his "attacks" at MAGA republicans. If they ain't MAGA, they shouldn't take offense. So unless the republicans you know are typical whiny trump apologists I don't find your opinion very convincing.

Pres Biden talked about cooperating with republicans in his speech. Those with selective hearing might have missed it.

[Mister Ed]

3. "Lie down with the dogs, wake up with fleas."

The conservative Republicans who have been happy to make common cause with MAGA Republicans when it served their purposes must now choose between their country and the insurrectionists. I think that choice is up to each of them, and not up to Biden.

[nini]

4. No

The Republican Party allowed this. It’s on all of them.

We are basically at war with these idiots to save democracy. If we had taken that approach in WWII we’d be speaking German in this country.

F their feelings.

[Chainfire]

5. Linking all Republicans to Trump is a valid proposition.

They are either Fascist, they support Fascist, or they try to ignore the Fascist. Anyone who still self-identifies as a Republican today is responsible for Trump and Trumpism. Until there is a Republican revolution to take the party back from the Magas, they are all guilty.

[Dirty Socialist]

11. It's a matter of tactics

I think seperating the bully from his followers is the best way to go. Sure there are some true faschists there, but I think Biden can pry more Republicans away by focusing like a laser on Trump

[grumpyduck]

6. An occupational hazard of being POTUS.

No matter what you say or how you say it, some people are always going to disagree.

And like he said, this is a democracy, so it's okay.

[dchill]

7. They're ALL bullies. So.

[Gore1FL]

8. The entirety of the MAGA republicans need to be separated from the GOP

Trump isn't the the whole problem; MAGA is collectively.

In my observation, he basically did what you said. He simply cut into more of the surrounding cancer.

[Phoenix61]

9. The conservative republicans you know heard what they wanted to hear.

Biden repeatedly used the word MAGA Republican. He specifically noted he can work with Republicans.

[brush]

16. Yes. Exactly. The poster needs to listen to the speech again.

[cate94]

10. Perhaps you should take another listen

He specifically separated The Maga crowd from other Republicans.

[H2O Man]

13. Recommended.

Years ago, I had a phone call from a father of a female college student. He thanked me, as my son stopped her boyfriend from slapping her one evening on campus. I asked my son about this, as he had not told me anything.

He said he was walking to his dorm, when he saw a guy slapping his girlfriend. He told the guy to stop. The guy had two friends with him, and was not listening to my boy because he felt that he and his friends outnumbered my son. But my boy remembered my lesson about how one fights in this situation. Take out the "leader" in a devastatingly quick fashion, and the other two are reduced to spectators. He said that worked, exactly how I had said.

Thus, I will say that the best way to separate a bully from his gang is to leave him splattered on the ground. In this case, that means charging Trump with the serious crimes he is guilty of commiting.

[kcr]

14. I don't think you really liked that Biden "took his gloves off"

[mnhtnbb]

15. This is one reason I posted the transcript of the speech in a separate thread

which can be accessed here: https://www.democraticunderground.com/100217112686

It is a brilliantly crafted speech. There are some lines for the ages in it.

[PortTack]

17. A cult and their leader really cannot be separated. Attacking the leader is an attack on them

The regular republicans, as they were referred to last night know the magats are a threat and want them called out

Go look at what Liz Cheney, Adam Kinzinger, bill Krystal, Steve Schmidt, Michael steel, Rick Wilson have to say. They call them out even more and are far from offended by President Biden or any other person that does so.

It wouldn’t have mattered to the magats how mild President Biden might have been, they are not salvageable. They hate him and all of us.

[Zambero]

18. Hillary jumped the gun on that one

...with her basket of deplorables characterization. No quotes used and none needed, since it was absolutely correct. There was backlash following that remark, as many saw her comment as a blanket insult toward anyone not supporting her candidacy, which would have been better-served if those words had not come forth.

With the passage of time along with unfolding events, Hillary's description of MAGA was spot-on. From the neo-Nazis at Charlottesville, through the January 6th insurrection, it has become abundantly clear that Trump and his followers represent a peril to American democracy. In reiterating what we know to be true and factual, Biden did not mince words. The MAGA crowd has had six years to come to its senses, and sadly this does not appear to be happening any time soon. The leader must be called to account, as do his followers who spread conspiracies and make violent threats. Kudos to President Biden for taking this step.

[marmar]

19. Umm, that's exactly what he did.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

20. Obviously, you did not listen to or read the speech.

REMARKS BY PRESIDENT BIDEN ON THE CONTINUED BATTLE FOR THE SOUL OF THE NATION

[ ... ]

Now, I want to be very clear — (applause) — very clear up front: Not every Republican, not even the majority of Republicans, are MAGA Republicans. Not every Republican embraces their extreme ideology.

I know because I’ve been able to work with these mainstream Republicans.

But there is no question that the Republican Party today is dominated, driven, and intimidated by Donald Trump and the MAGA Republicans, and that is a threat to this country.

These are hard things.

But I’m an American President — not the President of red America or blue America, but of all America.

[ ... ]

[MerryBlooms]

24. 💯

[chowder66]

37. +1

[agingdem]

21. no..in case it's not obvious

Dems are done making nice...no more "when they go low, we go high"..when they go low, we kick them in the balls...we're done parsing Republicans..good Republicans/ bad Republicans... they voted for a deranged narcissistic megalomanic twice and they would have not qualms doing it again...

[uponit7771]

22. Biden explicitly isolated normal republicans and MAGA republicans in his speech.

[Baggies]

23. I hear what you're saying

What I’m reading on conservative pol sites and blogs this morning is “Biden believes anyone who doesn’t vote Democratic is a Nazi.” He didn’t say that directly but, as you noted, sometimes it’s what your words imply more than what you say. If enough see it that way, and chances are they will, then the speech will not have accomplished what they claim they wanted to accomplish.

[Demsrule86]

28. Who gives two fucks what Trump

Supporters think.

[Torchlight]

32. I don't think Biden made any implication of the sort.

I do however, think Trump's idiot base will infer anything that best serves their desire to feel oppressed.

But after a time, what others infer from what we may state directly becomes their responsibility.

[Baggies]

36. I realize that.

But like I said, it’s not just Trump supporters, so leave them out of it. I’m talking about Republicans in general. They believe Biden’s base will infer anything that best serves whatever makes them feel however they want to feel at the moment. They view Biden as a liar. They view Democrats as liars. And we do the same to them, to be fair.

Just because we may say something directly doesn’t mean it is believed. Again, that works both ways. That’s where the problem will continue to occur; both sides believing they’re the purveyors of truth and the other side is full of lies. But until this is recognized and admitted, it won’t stop. And trying to hold a country together that’s divided will become impossible.

It’s also difficult to make the argument that democracy is in danger when The Democratic Party holds the WH, Senate, and House. People start saying “You say it’s in danger, but you’re holding all the cards”. I’ve got no answer to that, nor have I heard one worth repeating.

[jcgoldie]

25. The point is to give pause to those that would follow Trump

If you don't want to be lumped with undemocratic "maga republicans" then you won't continue to support him.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

26. Wha? Biden specifically called out MAGA Republicans.

He even highlighted the point that not all Republicans are MAGA and that he'd work with those who were not.

I'd suggest re-watching Biden's fine speech.

[Demsrule86]

29. Some just don't like Biden it seems and

and must complain about something. One wonders at such comments as in this OP.

[Demsrule86]

27. None of what you say is true. Not sure

What speech you listened to.

[Dirty Socialist]

30. So I stand corrected on lumping all together

I still think he should have tried to isolate Trump more, but he did differentiate well enough.

[ibegurpard]

31. They've had 7 years to separate themselves

And we've seen the fates of those that do. Meanwhile Republican primary voters continue to elevate MAGA candidates. I suggest you ask your conservative friends why that is.

[treestar]

33. well they are the ones responsible for TFG's ongoing attention getting

It's a choice they made.

[Meowmee]

34. I don't think he did that as others said here

I did not hear the speech. But as someone said this is a cult, the cult members, except for a few, can never be separated from the leader. Also in my mind anyone who voted for him not once but twice is a fascist and supports fascism. Anyone who has left the cult and denounces him and fascism is redeemable. There was plenty of time to figure out what he was from the first nazi campaign rallies and before that. Yet look at how many millions still voted for him in the second election. If they want to be redeemed let them do so by voting against fascism, at the least, in every election.

[Renew Deal]

35. Did the "conservatives" vote for Trump in 2020

If yes, they are not just lumped together. They are the same group.

[Nevilledog]

38. If you're supporting fascists, you are a fascist.