Member-only story
If you’re a member of the political left and angry and frustrated I sympathize. Even if you’re just a fan of democracy as a concept and you’re mad as hell I’m right there with you. We are watching a slow trainwreck of a coup unfold before our eyes and all but 4 GOP members of congress are silent and/or complicit in its wake.
And I don’t blame you if in addition to being outraged as the GOP attempt to steal another election that the Biden’s team is tepid in their response, acting as if the dismantling of democracy around them is merely a faux pas, to be dismissed with a polite chuckle. But I want to remind you to temper, if not your outrage, at least your surprise. Biden was brought out of retirement for just this purpose.
The donor class worried both about Trump’s instability and the possibility of true institutional change that Bernie posed, in their desperation pulled Biden out of retirement for this moment. To be the perfect anti-change candidate, a Democrat who wouldn’t rock the boat. Biden’s first fundraiser was replete with big donors, GOP and Democrat. And as soon as he won a primary the Dem establishment gave the order for the other 3 establishment candidates to hit the bricks, and like good soldiers they did. Because Bernie was an existential threat. Biden was a safe hand at the wheel.
