I mailed in my Colorado ballot several weeks ago. The Democratic one. And I didn’t give a lot of thought to the process other than destroying the GOP ballot. (As an Unaffiliated voter, I get to choose which ballot to use.) Among the half dozen names listed, Joseph R. Biden, Jr., was the obvious choice. The others were virtual unknowns and the “Uncommitted” option at the bottom struck me as dangerously vague. Why let someone else use my vote to choose a candidate I might not even know?
Then came Tuesday’s Michigan primary, where 13.2% of Democratic votes went to “Uncommitted.” The reason most often cited was disappointment and/or anger at Biden’s continuing support of Israel in its war with Hamas.
And I began thinking that perhaps I should have voted Uncommitted. For the same reason. It would have been my chance to say I, too, have been very unhappy with Biden’s failure to condemn, censure, or at the very least criticize Israel’s continuing slaughter in Gaza.
(I don’t understand why, if Israel knows where the Hamas tunnels are — there are even tunnel maps online — they continue bombing on the surface, destroying infrastructure and homes and killing civilians by the tens of thousands. Why not a more targeted approach? Why not send troops, tunnel rats, into the tunnels to find and kill Hamas fighters and destroy their tunnels once and for all? Israel’s “concern” for the rights and safety of Palestinian civilians is and for many years has been patently obvious.)
But I didn’t vote Uncommitted. I was afraid it would help a different Democrat get nominated, possibly one I wouldn’t like. Or, in November, somehow take votes away from Biden and ensure a Trump victory. And as much as I would love to see a younger candidate — running with anyone other than Kamala Harris — I can’t think of one more likely to beat Trump. Especially one whose campaign wouldn’t even get started until this summer’s August convention.
I wish I could add “unafraid” to my title, but I can’t. Watching Biden totter down the sidewalk alarms me. Seeing any image of Trump sickens me.
Nevertheless …
Thanks for sharing this idea Anita
And thanks for reading. It’s going to be a long, stressful year, I’m afraid.
👍
Sadly, I feel the dems are making a big mistake with Biden.
But who else would they name? And would anyone else have time to mount a successful campaign? I generally like Biden and he’s very experienced, but he’s not exactly a picture of health and strength. I’m afraid the veneration of elders and their wisdom has become an outdated concept. And the thought of Kamala Harris as president is … no, just no.
You voted: good for you, Colorado ! Never forget those words written by David Foster Wallace:
https://imgur.com/gallery/t1acbAc
There was much talk in Michigan of the “couch” vote. Exactly what Wallace was talking about. It is as much to be feared as a third-party candidate who takes but a tiny percent of the total away from the Democratic candidate … yet enough to give Trump the victory. Of course, the same thing could happen on the Republican side. Whatever, you can count on me to vote. It’s the only voice I have.
I, too, thought about voting as uncommitted as a protest against Biden’s lack of courage in condemning the Israelis for their reckless killings of women and children in Gaza. Like you, I’m not sure what it would indicate. Yes, wouldn’t it be wonderful to list ourselves as “unafraid”? It’s been a long time since I’ve felt that.
Afraid, for sure. I feel a sense of dread about so many things, all the way from mindless shootings in the city to national and international politics. I get angry and frustrated about things I can’t change and that others won’t change. I get depressed and even weep sometimes over things that I feel deeply about but can do nothing about. I don’t understand Biden at all. Why won’t he speak out against Israel’s action in Gaza? Congress isn’t stopping him. Allies should be able to speak frankly with each other. If Biden won’t say anything, maybe he should do something … like cutting back on aid to Israel and maybe slow what’s happening there. Or at least get busy pushing tons of aid into Gaza. I don’t know; the people in Washington are supposed to know how to handle these things, but they are too busy fighting with each other.
Like you, I can’t understand why Biden isn’t doing more to hold back Israel. But the Arab-Americans in Michigan who say they’ll vote for Trump (as president) as a protest vote against Biden are not making sense. Trump loves strong men like Netanyahu. The war on Gaza would only be worse.
Well, finally. I just heard on this evening’s news that the US is going to start air drops of food into Gaza. It’s a bit late, given 30,000 civilians have died so far and at least another 100 died yesterday just trying to get food. But still no admonition to Netanyahu.