I doubt age factored into his decision. He was too old ten years ago. If he had kept control of his party, he'd be clinging to power all the way to the morgue.
It's difficult. On one hand, it is a fucking atrocity, and it's hard to blame people for being upset that someone with the power to at least lessen the harm, isn't.
But on the other hand, ensuring the greater evil gets in does nothing. No Palestinians are saved by a Trump presidency - and it's very likely that MORE will die compared to a Biden administration, considering Trump's all-in attitude with Netanyahu. Not only are no Palestinians saved, but many Ukrainians, Americans, and Taiwanese will likely suffer and die in not inconsiderable numbers directly due to a Trump presidency.
As such, it's difficult to look at someone grieving and saying "Everyone's throat should be cut, not just my son's!" and react with sympathy when that has very real effects on whether or not everyone's throat gets cut.
United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain, who announced the group's endorsement of President Biden for reelection last week, explained why the union endorsed Mr. Biden, noting a "very clear difference" between him and former President Donald Trump.
"One of them, President Biden, has always been on the American worker and stood with the American worker and he proved that during this presidency," Fain told "Face the Nation" on Sunday. "For the first time in U.S. history, we had a sitting president join striking workers on the picket line."
Protection from projectiles from behind, maybe? Not sure. It would probably be terribly inconvenient to get concussed in the middle of a fight, even if your helmet stopped the projectile.
Is it a break with previous policy on Israel? Also yes.
I doubt US support will stop before Israel's current genocide attempt ends (though that would obviously be VASTLY preferable to being complicit in it). But I do have hope that this will finally destroy the 'sacred cow' status of Israel in US politics.
It's sad when realistic hopes are still immensely shitty options.
I just hope it doesn't have repercussions in the general.
EDIT: Oh, it was only 13%? That's actually something of a relief. Stuck here in the Fediverse (and in a rural area where fellow Democrats are rare as unicorns) I was ready to hear 40% or something terrifying.
I mean, 14% isn't something to scoff at either. I only meant that I was prepared for much more of a crisis scenario to come out of this.
As it stands, a 40% increase in uncommitted votes compared to the last time an incumbent ran is bad, but it's not as bad as I feared, especially considering all the other issues swirling around Biden at the moment.
I know these numbers are taking some liberties but it’s really just to show that a lot of people just didn’t vote. Which I take to mean they just didn’t care to and a lot of those could be seen as uncommitted.
Civic understanding in this country is fucking terrible. A good number of them, I'd wager, aren't even aware there's a primary on.
It seems insane to those of us who follow politics at all, but having spoken to some people, the surprise is... often genuine. Politics is marginal as an interest for most people in this country.
Stairs to the top of Macchu Pichu, Peru
McConnell will step down as the Senate Republican leader in November after a record run in the job (apnews.com)
Mitch McConnell says he'll step down as Senate Republican leader in November.
If Biden loses in November, don’t blame voters who are angry over Gaza | Arwa Mahdawi (www.theguardian.com)
“We Are The Majority”: Workers at Mercedes-Benz's Largest US Plant Announce Majority Support for Movement to Join UAW (uaw.org)
Kiribati warrior with coconut fiber armor and shark tooth spear, 1925?
It all makes sense now. (lemmy.world)
Scoop: U.S. wants Israeli written assurances on using U.S. weapons in Gaza by mid-March (www.axios.com)
George Lucas really looked to the stars to see America's future (lemmy.ml)
PS. Not American so don’t hate me for misrepresenting or muddying the waters....
Emerald cup from the Mughul Empire, 17th century AD?
But the Poles are REALLY overdressed, I think they have a shot
The races adapted for the modern day!
French military cyclists, WW1? 1914-1918?
16th century Spanish conquistadors
Michigan Primary getting competitive (lemmy.world)
Kirby: US will not be sending troops to Ukraine (kyivindependent.com)
The U.S. will not send American troops to Ukraine, U.S. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said at a press conference on Feb. 27.
If the art of war were nothing but the art of avoiding risks, glory would become the prey of mediocre minds... I have made all the calculations; fate will do the rest. (sh.itjust.works)
(source)