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In many ways, I am a small and bitter man. So I hope you can forgive me - everyone's a bit of an arse from time to time - but I'm gonna have a bit of fun.
This thread is about the epic number of political illiterates on this platform who insisted that Biden would lose.
This thread is about the epic number of political illiterates on this platform who insisted that Biden would lose.
I also want to make something clear before I begin. Everyone makes wrong calls. I have plenty of times. The problem is the constant dogma and ideology which lies behind calling it so wrong, ie.
"I'm a socialist. Biden is a centrist. Ergo, Biden will lose!"
"I'm a socialist. Biden is a centrist. Ergo, Biden will lose!"
Not only that, but:
"You are crazy / you are a disgrace for supporting Biden / thinking he'll win!"
That level of dogmatic tribalism is a massive problem on social media. But I hope those I highlight in this thread will at least think about it. Reflection is good for everyone.
"You are crazy / you are a disgrace for supporting Biden / thinking he'll win!"
That level of dogmatic tribalism is a massive problem on social media. But I hope those I highlight in this thread will at least think about it. Reflection is good for everyone.
Let's start here. I've always known Biden had the qualities necessary to beat Trump. I was saying so 4 years ago.
https://twitter.com/shaunjlawson/status/796625954101723138
My reasoning? The same as this year. That he'd have held on to the rust belt with a broad national appeal no other Democrat could match.
https://twitter.com/shaunjlawson/status/796625954101723138
My reasoning? The same as this year. That he'd have held on to the rust belt with a broad national appeal no other Democrat could match.
Anyway, let's move things on towards the present. Biden was always the clear favourite to win the Democratic primaries: apart from a MAJOR wobble in January and February.
This is from July last year, for example.
This is from July last year, for example.
Now, I wasn't blind to his weaknesses at all, and said as much (see tweets in the same thread I'm quoting from here). But I also pointed out:
https://twitter.com/shaunjlawson/status/1159221605567991809
Was I wrong?
https://twitter.com/shaunjlawson/status/1159221605567991809
Was I wrong?
Even my support was, at this stage, only moderate/lukewarm. But at least I could see the woods for the trees. https://twitter.com/shaunjlawson/status/1159226618038108160
Unlike, *ahem ahem* https://twitter.com/mellassaurus/status/1159241401546215424
YOU WERE SAYING https://twitter.com/mellassaurus/status/1159241765943205889
To be fair to Suburban Mom, Biden in 2020 is clearly not as impressive a figure as in 2008-2016. And Trump did bring up Hunter at every opportunity. But because Americans trust Biden (they know him) and don't trust Trump (they know him), it didn't work. https://twitter.com/ddrosenthal13/status/1208607392226775041
In Jan and Feb, I was worried. Bernie was ahead in the early primaries practically by default - because Biden was performing so so badly. Yet nationally? Nationally, Biden was still doing better than Sanders. https://twitter.com/shaunjlawson/status/1221904657779392512
Here's someone who knew exactly what she was talking about. Well played Paola! 
https://twitter.com/realpaolathomas/status/1221904904203141121
https://twitter.com/realpaolathomas/status/1221904904203141121
Here's someone who, er, didn't. And is the perfect example of what I mentioned at the start. Chances of him learning anything whatsoever? Somewhere between slim and nil... and slim just left town. https://twitter.com/WarmongerHodges/status/1221906101651890176
Yes. Well played Dawn Butler. 
https://twitter.com/respeak_uk/status/1223765972571607041
https://twitter.com/respeak_uk/status/1223765972571607041
This is the kind of ludicrous dogma I'm talking about. "I won't vote for Dawn Butler for Deputy because she, a black woman, wants the candidate most likely to beat Donald Trump, the most racist President since the civil war" - or words to that effect. https://twitter.com/JakiWhyte1/status/1224321592328687617
In late Feb, Biden was thought by more or less everyone to be toast. Until the last debate before South Carolina and Super Tuesday. He won that debate - and I picked up on it. https://twitter.com/shaunjlawson/status/1232544934089154561
At which point, cue the intervention of an unadulterated eejit. I did warn him I'd bookmarked it! https://twitter.com/perilsofbirding/status/1232548050402365442
What Biden did in the debate - before an absolute landslide in South Carolina - had eased my doubts about him. I'd always known that nationally, he'd have a much better chance than Bernie.
Yet check out this guy's disgusting (and very antisemitic) take: https://twitter.com/Karlos_2049/status/1234262999755632642
Yet check out this guy's disgusting (and very antisemitic) take: https://twitter.com/Karlos_2049/status/1234262999755632642
No Karlos. I've called out the Israeli government's treatment of the Palestinians time and time and time again. And Bernie's positions are much closer to my own than Biden's are.
BUT BIDEN HAD A MUCH BETTER CHANCE OF BEATING TRUMP.
BUT BIDEN HAD A MUCH BETTER CHANCE OF BEATING TRUMP.
It was indeed an indictment of them. Marcus. The indictment read:
"You want to win a general election? How dare you?" https://twitter.com/goia_marcus/status/1233956621270896642
"You want to win a general election? How dare you?" https://twitter.com/goia_marcus/status/1233956621270896642
You were saying, Puckhead? https://twitter.com/Puckhead48E/status/1234699340431544321
Meanwhile, my take on the morning of Super Tuesday (ie. before those elections) was: https://twitter.com/shaunjlawson/status/1234693538580967424
Sorry for picking you out Grr - I like you! And you're not one of the dogmatic, ideological ones I'm criticising! But still... https://twitter.com/Grraarrgh/status/1234744406093320192
This guy though? 
But - massive credit to him - he owned it. I wish more people would do the same. https://twitter.com/clavedements/status/1234773955753500673
But - massive credit to him - he owned it. I wish more people would do the same. https://twitter.com/clavedements/status/1234773955753500673
To be fair to Grr, he was just a bit behind what was happening at this point. He had that in common with massive numbers on here. https://twitter.com/Grraarrgh/status/1234125958342299649
He was the correct choice, Jeffrey. And you know next to nothing about US politics. Own it. https://twitter.com/jeffrey_bowers/status/1234218781964197889
False - as I highlighted above in this very thread (the one I'm writing right now, I mean): https://twitter.com/jeffrey_bowers/status/1234315074283737090
The arrogance and ignorance of people like this dude below is completely off the charts.
For the record, Bernie lost Michigan by OVER SIXTEEN POINTS. And lost Wisconsin by OVER THIRTY-ONE POINTS.
Inform YOURSELF, you buffoon. https://twitter.com/JaysDoy/status/1235257693679517696
For the record, Bernie lost Michigan by OVER SIXTEEN POINTS. And lost Wisconsin by OVER THIRTY-ONE POINTS.
Inform YOURSELF, you buffoon. https://twitter.com/JaysDoy/status/1235257693679517696
EPIC FAIL. YOU HAVE FAILED, MADAM. https://twitter.com/ddrosenthal13/status/1234694460761628672
This was written ON THE VERY SAME DAY as Biden increased turnout to an astonishing extent across the country. Before going on to win far more votes than any Presidential candidate in history: part of an election with the biggest turnout in over a century. https://twitter.com/ddrosenthal13/status/1234701506307338243
You were saying, Steve? https://twitter.com/StevePowers_/status/1235371947271258112
Nope. It's because he knew he'd smash Sanders and would be in big trouble v Biden. https://twitter.com/OnmywaytoaCorb1/status/1235365363120041985
I learned PLENTY from 2019. It's you who didn't. https://twitter.com/respeak_uk/status/1234746588494532610
One down, one to go. Care to reflect at all? https://twitter.com/yakubutsu7/status/1234765294834417664
Okaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyyyyy. https://twitter.com/Sinurata346/status/1234799251978362880
Another electoral mastermind speaks. https://twitter.com/symmo1969/status/1234839750865031168
No. Why are YOU so completely, unbelievably ignorant? https://twitter.com/DeCurvf/status/1234930466773512199
Now: plenty of people are bound to respond: "But Biden only won because of Coronavirus!"
Which, er, was already in the US when the laughably ridiculous assertions above were being made. By people with no awareness whatsoever.
I knew it was important. https://twitter.com/shaunjlawson/status/1235099375593861120
Which, er, was already in the US when the laughably ridiculous assertions above were being made. By people with no awareness whatsoever.
I knew it was important. https://twitter.com/shaunjlawson/status/1235099375593861120
One day after he'd massively increased turnout everywhere, our friend Mrs Epic Fail - who clearly doesn't *do* evidence - continued to assert this.
Fool me once, shame on me. Fool me twice, shame on you. https://twitter.com/ddrosenthal13/status/1235104005459546112
Fool me once, shame on me. Fool me twice, shame on you. https://twitter.com/ddrosenthal13/status/1235104005459546112
For the record: absolutely not. I love the man. The reason I backed Biden was because he had a much, much, much better chance of beating Trump. Simple really. https://twitter.com/stephen_such/status/1235848540808601600
An 'awful candidate' - who's won far and away more votes than anyone else in American history. https://twitter.com/headpress23/status/1237707726936997891
As Coronavirus started to really take hold across the US, here's this brilliant piece of invaluable insight. https://twitter.com/MartynInEurope/status/1237713443861540865
This sums the whole thing up perfectly. By now, Bernie was being thrashed, annihilated, everywhere. And yet...
1. THIS MUST BE A DNC STITCH-UP (no, it's called democracy: try it sometime)
2. HOW DARE YOU ASSESS THINGS OBJECTIVELY, WITHOUT BLINKERS ON? https://twitter.com/Illumination100/status/1237713569036337152
1. THIS MUST BE A DNC STITCH-UP (no, it's called democracy: try it sometime)
2. HOW DARE YOU ASSESS THINGS OBJECTIVELY, WITHOUT BLINKERS ON? https://twitter.com/Illumination100/status/1237713569036337152
It was 150,000 Americans, as it turned out. https://twitter.com/OnmywaytoaCorb1/status/1235116072702861314
Oh, I see. It's not Democratic voters giving Joe Biden a landslide. It's Israel 
https://twitter.com/Illumination100/status/1237719769010315264
https://twitter.com/Illumination100/status/1237719769010315264
3 swings, 3 complete misses for poor old Grr. https://twitter.com/Grraarrgh/status/1235254413163405312
Notice how the same slogans just kept getting trotted out by people incapable of critical thinking (or any kind of thinking)? https://twitter.com/SUTONGIROTCIP/status/1235262225323036674
Unlike Reechard here. Reechard gets it. https://twitter.com/reflectiveminds/status/1237761923782971392
Wrong, wrong, wrong, and wrong again. It's practically impossible to be more wrong. In practice, reason triumphed over nonsense. https://twitter.com/OzMyHomeMAC/status/1237888117920550913
'Denial'?!?!
BIDEN WON!
As for 'delusion'? Ever heard of projection at all? https://twitter.com/OzMyHomeMAC/status/1237891775873708036
BIDEN WON!
As for 'delusion'? Ever heard of projection at all? https://twitter.com/OzMyHomeMAC/status/1237891775873708036
It was actually the complete opposite. https://twitter.com/OnmywaytoaCorb1/status/1235365363120041985
Never in human history have so many people so sure of themselves been so miserably wrong about something of such consequence. https://twitter.com/KonMChittka/status/1237551596285779973
My view at the same time? See the thread below. https://twitter.com/shaunjlawson/status/1237553892495224832
Cataclysmically wrong on pretty much everything.
https://twitter.com/MarxistPikaJew/status/1237800050966790144
https://twitter.com/MarxistPikaJew/status/1237800050966790144
I did. Many many many times. And I was right. https://twitter.com/LargeWlarge63/status/1237791226256113666
Yes. Pretty much any that aren't based on your biases. https://twitter.com/s_everson/status/1237854729788510208
Imagine having 'dementia', yet somehow being as strong and solid as a rock for the last 8 months amid the highest pressure political contest on planet Earth? https://twitter.com/Darius363/status/1238003754345156608
This is what's known as living in your own alternative reality. https://twitter.com/MattPDickinson/status/1238109797527977989
That'd be the very same Trump who's never produced any kind of healthcare plan in 4 years. Because he doesn't have one. https://twitter.com/Grraarrgh/status/1246709823372169216
I think Rob's brilliant much of the time. But again, his biases were showing here, horribly. https://twitter.com/robbro7/status/1248125103864332288
Indeed it's not. He won by appealing across the country - which is exactly what Starmer wants to do too. https://twitter.com/donsimon814/status/1248203743763578880
Au contraire, Blackadder. https://twitter.com/Klodian1244/status/1248234590105460738
