My first impression: Biden is on the right track already.

[CincyDem]

IMHO, this is not just a message about Charlottesville and racism. Yes, that's the catalytic event, but I think he's taking on all the -isms that have been emboldened by Trump and "the base".

I heard two messages that I think will resonate broadly:

1) This is NOT who we are. If I've heard that once, I've heard it a million times. Across race, gender, age...it captures the frustration and disgust that many feel about most (if not all) of the actions of this administration.

2) Make America America. He's painting a picture of America moving forward as an inclusive society, celebrating vs. moving backward into white male supremacy and all it brings with it.

Net, I think this announcement reframes 2020 for what it really is - a battle of good vs. evil for the soul of our country. This is how "the base" views it and we need to engage at that level if we're going to get back on track.

All IMHO of course. Obviously, independent of any primary loyalties that might develop, come november 2020 it's Blue Wave time for every Dam candidate on the ballot.

[brooklynite]

1. Not a bad message; I'm just not sure it's Biden's...

[Funtatlaguy]

3. Can I ask you a personal question?

Your posts always fascinate me.
Many times you share information about the Dem party or candidates and say that you are meeting with them.
I’ve always wondered if you work for the party or are a political strategist?
Are you at liberty to tell us that?

[brooklynite]

7. I don't and I'm not...

I'm a Transportation Planner and College Professor. However, my wife and I have engaged in political activity in our free time since our college days when we were Ward Committeemen in Philadelphia. For better or worse, when we shifted gears to financial support, we began to find contacts at DNC, DSCC, DCCC, DGA, and many of the Independent Expenditure groups who either pitched requests for support or gave us guidance on where to focus our attention. And I found that it made more sense to apply a dispassionate data analytics approach to deciding where we should provide financial support, rather than respond emotionally.

As for Joe Biden: I have great respect for him, and have attended small group lunches and dinners with him. Despite his reputation for "gaffes", he's very well spoken on policy matters. I just don't know if he's a compelling GE candidate at this point, and I wonder if his campaign structure isn't firing on all cylinders.

[Funtatlaguy]

8. Wow. That was very generous of you to tell us all of that.

I am quite impressed.
And may I say thank you for all that you do for the Democratic Party.
I greatly value your opinions and now even moreso.

[CincyDem]

4. Maybe. I kind of see it as his version of Hope and Change.

I think his equity is speaking from the heart to the heart so in that way, it feels like it’s his. That said, I agree with you that inclusion hasn’t beef his brand.

So we’ll see.

[LongtimeAZDem]

6. It's all of ours. That's the point.

[cwydro]

2. K and r! nt

[WeekiWater]

5. K&R NT

[WhiskeyGrinder]

9. Interesting, I see it a little differently.

1) This is NOT who we are. If I've heard that once, I've heard it a million times. Across race, gender, age...it captures the frustration and disgust that many feel about most (if not all) of the actions of this administration.

I think part of the non-political confusion and frustration over BLM, #metoo and other movements is that many of us feel that "this" is, in fact, what America is. It may not be who we want it to be, or think it should be, but it is, right now, a place that voted for Trump and will happily do it again, as long as it makes the right people unhappy. I think it's an important distinction, and we lose a lot of forward progress if we pretend that Trump is an aberration rather than a symptomatic outcome.

2) Make America America. He's painting a picture of America moving forward as an inclusive society, celebrating vs. moving backward into white male supremacy and all it brings with it.

Biden is clearly painting himself as a "reset" button, a cool hand on the nation's fevered forehead, and a lot of people are responding to that. But to me, that implies a resumption, a going back. Nostalgia is a populist tactic that can be hurtful, and I hope he doesn't try to sell it on the campaign trail.

[CincyDem]

10. Good points. And I'm pretty sure that I agree with a lot of it.

1) re: Trump being an embodiment of who we are now.

I'm not sure that I fully agree. It's 3 million votes less than who we are now with voter participation at about 60%. To me that means that a minority of 50% of the people located in the right places made the difference.

That said, I agree that if we see Trump as a root cause of the issue vs. being a symptom of something much deeper, we will have failed. Winning the House in 2018 was the first domino. Winning the WH in 2020 is the second and in a perfect world, winning the Senate is the third. Given McConnell's commitment to the dark side, I'm not sure that we can start repairing until we turn the Senate but I think with the WH in 2020 we can at least turn in the right direction. Winning the WH in 2020 is just the beginning and there's a lot of "stuff" that we've got to sort out with "the base".

Biden's comments about the Constitution...how we don't always live up to those ideals and, in fact, even Jefferson failed at it...those comments say we're aren't there yet but we have to keep striving. Those ideals our the real Shining City on the Hill...and we're not there yet but his message that if we stop striving for it, we fail...that's a pretty good message. I know we're not there on BLM and metoo (and I would add reproductive rights and fundamental gender acceptance) but we have to keep making tomorrow better than yesterday.

2) re: reset button.

I agree with you that it implies resumption but we're not talking about resuming the 1950's (as I think Trump would like). I think, in general, a lot of Dems and Independents through we were on a reasonable to right path in 08-16. We've lost our way in the last 2 years (4 as of 2020) and saying "let's get back on track" isn't about going way back into nostalgic history. I think it's about "hey, we took a wrong turn back that at that last major intersection...let's get back on track".

I agree that it's populist but in a way that actually incorporates the entire population in creating the intention vs. Trump's brand of populism that only incorporates white (predominantly male) fear.

Anyway, maybe I'm not making sense here but I think we agree for the most part. As I think about all the announcement videos and speeches, this is the one that really spoke to me and this is my first impression. As it sits with me, things may change. What never changes is Blue 2020 !!!!!