Opinion This was the speech Joe Biden’s worked his whole life to give

https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-opinion/joe-biden-dnc-speech-kamala-harris-rcna167174

26 Comments

  1. I can’t say I agree with a lot of what he did, including his being an early drug war proponent, but I have tremendous respect for Biden’s many years of service to America and his decision to step aside for the good of everyone. His legacy is rock solid, he’s a good man, and deserves a lot of respect doing for many difficult things very well.

  2. Certainly a better headline and piece than the NYTimes one on the same topic: [The Speech Biden Never Wanted to Give.](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/20/us/politics/biden-convention.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare&sgrp=c-cb)

    Edit: I want to say I think there’s surely undertones of people being happy he stepped aside, but I think the main sentiment most harbor and what the audience at the DNC showed last night is the feelings of admiration for Biden stepping aside when so few presidents have willingly done so. He could have stayed, but since dropping out he’s even said that questions about his health would be overshadowing his race at this time if he stayed in. He made the decision to pass the torch and he was one only one who could have made that choice regardless of any narratives trying to be pushed by the right.

  3. He’s always been my political idol, and I was genuinely disappointed when I heard he was stepping down. Harris has been a whirlwind but he will forever be my favorite president, especially given the grace he showed in stepping aside so a new generation can lead us. Thank you Joe!

  4. We may not have agreed with his politics throughout the years but there’s one thing that you can say about Joe Biden:

    He did it for his country.

    Godspeed, Amtrak Joe.

  5. lawschoolthrowaway36 on

    Unfortunately for Joe he was scheduled last in a line of speakers that went 90+ mins past schedule. By the time he was speaking (11:30 pm) it was no longer prime time. Millions of Americans went to bed before seeing him speak, including my parents who have adored him for 40 years.

    Just an appalling lack of care shown toward the sitting president. It’s unfathomable the number of speakers who got a prime time audience at his expense.

  6. LongDukDongle on

    He gave a great speech. I’m over 50 and it may seem crazy to say about a guy who never seemed to be anybody’s first choice but he has been the best president of my lifetime.

  7. Animated_effigy on

    The emotion in that room for Joe is born from the deep understanding that he is doing what is best for all of us while giving up the thing he wanted most in the world. It is the essence of patriotism and sacrifice, and none of us are certain we could do what he did if we were in his place. We know Trump wouldn’t. It’s so incredibly rare to see a politician do anything anywhere near this selfless. This is General Washington passing the torch when he didn’t have to. History will forever link Trump and Biden as the President who tried to hold on to power and the President who gave it up willingly, the two sides of the American coin.

  8. anOvenofWitches on

    I haven’t been able to spend much time thinking about Biden since July 14 because I get teary eyed. I am hoping history remembers him well.

  9. RedditAdminsWivesBF on

    I want to take a moment to thank Joe for everything he has done and to applaud his grace and dedication to the country.

    Putting his country before his ego is something we couldn’t even imagine Trump doing. Never in a thousand years, in this world or any other would Trump ever put anything before his ego.

  10. Lanolin_The_Sheep on

    Hope he’s remembered very well in the history books. We slung a lot of mud in the 2020 primaries (I’ll admit I did more than I should have, though I pushed back against people doing even worse), but the dude loves his country. Can’t say that about a single republican since McCain kicked the bucket.

  11. DontEatConcrete on

    Isn’t it actually wild that biden was there to be VP to the first black president, and now he’s passing the torch to the [hopefully] first female president?

  12. spacemonkeykakarot on

    It really was an incredible speech and very ‘presidential’. Imo Biden and Warnock gave the best speeches. AOCs was great too, although I think its be better if she let her words sink in a bit more/pause and take in the applauses a bit more before moving to the next point or sentence.

  13. bozoclownputer on

    It really was a moving speech that serves as a close to his remarkable career as a public servant. It must have been bittersweet for him to prepare for, but man, I’m so thankful for him and his administration. He’s accomplished more than any president in my lifetime and I think history will hold him in high regard as we move away from the extreme vitriol of the right.

    I would’ve listened to him speak for another hour. What a way to pass the torch.

  14. He stuttered at one point. I’m just waiting for every conservative news outlet to latch onto that. These people grasping for anything they can hold onto.

    The contrast between the DNC and RNC is startling. Normal vs. outlandish delusion.

  15. something_borrowed_ on

    He has his fair share of mistakes but he needs to be remembered as one of the most selfless and honored presidents we ever had. The line “I love this job, but I love my country more” is exactly the kind of selflessness we need to embrace today.

    Joe, you will be missed. Thank you for your service.

  16. we_are_sex_bobomb on

    He was on fire. He seemed like a huge burden had been lifted off his shoulders, knowing that he’d done his best and that the future was in good hands.

    And it was great to see the “We love Joe” signs. He’s devoted his entire adult life to America, he led us out of one of the darkest times this generation has witnessed, and he deserves to be celebrated.

  17. Also lol’ing at the shit Trump was spewing about how Joe was going to storm into the DNC and demand the nomination back from Kamala.

    The narcissistic collapse and desperation is real.

  18. His legacy will be through the freaking through if Kamala wins. Granted, he’s already been a great president. But one actually stepping down from power and elevating his VP to step up and serve with the country’s interest at mind was generally previously unheard of.        

     Just a few weeks ago, many people were against Kamala being the replacement  nominee. Even plenty of Dems were arguing that “it’s her time” didn’t work for Hillary and it won’t work her her, so there should be an open casting call to pick someone like Whitmer, Newsom, etc.     

     The last few weeks have been just absolutely insane like a Hollywood story arc. Few anticipated Kamala would be this embraced so quickly and guess who believed in her the most besides herself and family/closest friends? Joe Biden.

  19. Did anyone else think that his entry and exit songs were perfect for the moment? Such uplifting, celebratory songs. They made the whole thing that much more emotional for me, at least.