Mehdi’s Memo on the results of our new poll on Gaza and Iran
The biggest thing Biden could do to help him beat trump is stop funding a genocide…
Instead he’s talking about protestors like trump was during BLM.
It’s like Biden’s living some kind of Brewster’s Millions and we’re all John Candy.
It’s not though, unfortunately.
The biggest thing Biden could do is focus on domestic economics. On top of that, please do realize that even specifically for those under 35, it’s 60/40 for even sympathizing with Palestine in the conflict. That’s all separate from it being the right thing to do, which I also agree with. But the math is not looking good for this being the cornerstone issue for Democrats or even the youth electorate.
That’s not really true. Youth campaign workers have been reporting Gaza as the biggest issue in getting people to commit to voting for Biden. This chart as well makes it clear that stopping offensive aid would be popular among the people available to vote for him, (still looking and not completely opposed to voting D)
He’s beginning to do exactly that. Let’s hope they charge Israel over Rafah next.
https://apnews.com/article/biden-bombs-gaza-netanyahu-israel-rafah-432aa51e3569d1a73b22273295b1a53f
While it’s great there was eventually a line…
That’s a pause that can end at any moment, and it only effects 1 ton smart bombs.
Something that there is just no plausible way can be used in accordance with international law is an urban setting.
And the cynic in me can’t help but notice Israel just flat out doesn’t need these for their genocide. If you wanted to pick something for the optics that has no negative effect on Israel, this is right up there with sanctioning random settlers
If Biden wants props, the opportunity for him to do the right thing is coming.
It also comes as the Biden administration is due to deliver a first-of-its-kind formal verdict this week on whether the airstrikes on Gaza and restrictions on delivery of aid have violated international and U.S. laws designed to spare civilians from the worst horrors of war. A decision against Israel would further add to pressure on Biden to curb the flow of weapons and money to Israel’s military.
Which is why nows the time to be making news and demanding he do the morally right thing and acknowledge reality
The article points out that the pause is happening while the the US makes the decision to charge Israel with violation of US and International Law for the Rafah airstrikes.
https://apnews.com/article/gaza-israel-leahy-biden-nsm-military-aid-812864bc424b93c886226e33f5c3f0e5
Not voting for Biden is not a vote for Trump. For many young voters it’s a choice between Biden or 3rd party, because voting for Trump is out of the question. This is a matter of whether Biden cares about being vote-worthy himself, or if he will continue to prioritize his “Israel First” pro-genocidal strategy above winning the presidency. The fault of Biden’s inevitable upcoming loss is entirely his own, stop trying to blame voters for Biden’s garbage policies.
Like it or not (I for one do not), we live in a country where only two parties matter for the presidential election (third parties DO matter for state and even congress. just not executive).
If you are (American) left leaning and you vote Green party over Democrat? You are one less vote for the Democrats which is one more vote for the republicans when the math breaks down.
Younger folk (and older folk) don’t understand that because we do a horrifically bad job of teaching social studies in high school and tv shows love to emphasize “douche and a turd sandwich” logic to encourage abstaining.
Honestly? Fuck Biden. I have had serious issues with him ever since he was a wannabe cop pushing some really horrible drug legislation. But he is a Democrat and isn’t trump. It is as simple as that. Maybe he won’t help on a lot of issues I care about. He will help on a lot of other issues I do.
Which gets back down to it: if Palestine is the only issue you care about and the only issue anyone you care about cares about? Congrats, you won the privilege lottery and can skip the election. Otherwise? We have two candidates who basically have the same stance on Palestine and Israel (give money to the military industrial complex above all else). But they differ drastically on a LOT of other issues and a LOT of people will be harmed.
So if trans rights or women’s rights or even continuing to be a democracy-ish haven’t “earned your vote”? What does that say about you?
That Harvard link shows 34% percent of respondents issues considered it the most important…
But like, there’s a fundamental misunderstanding here, and I’m going to try and clear it up.
So generally speaking:
What will help the most is often not what most people consider to the most important issue.
Like, if everyone had it as their number 1, 2, or 3 but it wasn’t the most popular number 1?
It might still be the one thing that helps the most despite not being the most popular number 1 response.
Does that make sense?
Lots of people miss that when talking statistics. And since that first link has nothing to do with what I’m talking about, I’m assuming that’s what’s going on here.
It’s also not accounting for which repsondants were already voting for Biden when talking about most important single issue.
You think the pro trump respondents give a shit or will vote Biden for any reason?
Why is what they consider most important relevant to what we’re talking about?
You responded to the wrong person. I can reply here though, no worries.
You’re reading that 34% stat incorrectly. It is not saying that 34% of young people view that as the most important issue, they are saying that when asked about it when put head to head with another issue from that list, it only won 34% of the time. I believe that difference also mostly accounts for your 2nd/3rd choice dynamic as well, because it would have also been paired with those other topics and lost accordingly. Look at the other scores on that list. It’s clear that this conflict is not the primary driver of the election season right now.
Now, I’d love to see more stats, but between this and that recent Gallup poll, I’m going to start needing affirmative evidence in the other direction before I just start making leaps. For what it’s worth, I also find this conflict heinous. Israel is committing horrific war crimes. Global policy never outperforms domestic issues though. Caring about your own survival is human nature, so I kind of expect it.
Keep on advocating for Palestine and Gaza. I will be as well. Just don’t expect to be able to hold the election over their heads as leverage, because it’s becoming increasingly clear that leverage doesn’t exist.
I did not claim it is not an important issue.
What I continue to assert is: if you ACTUALLY care about the Palestinian people, will trump be better for them? Because if you don’t vote for Biden you are effectively voting for trump because of how we handle elections.
And if Palestine is the only issue you care about… you are an incredibly privileged person who only cares about incredibly privileged people. But, again, do you honestly think trump would be better for Palestine?
That’s nice.
But considering the US is a two party system at the presidential level: You are effectively voting for the candidate you otherwise wouldn’t if you abstain. So maybe grow up a bit and look at the issues that Biden and trump are actually going to differ on?
A majority of Republican voters also believe Israel is committing genocide, and that they should genocide harder.
And also they should get started on the second temple and breeding a red heifer
Too bad democratic leadership has their head so far up AIPAC’s ass they won’t do shit.
And yet they’ll still turn out to vote for the guys and gals doing the genocide
So they accept it is genocide and yet
