Now, why exactly don't we have vaccines for gonorrhea and syphilis?

[link]

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Because they're tricky bastards.

I still can't quite believe that the Dems managed to do this. It shouldn't have been a high bar of difficulty, but they've been tripping over that shit for years. But they coordinated a thing, and they shaped it well enough to get energy and momentum from that. Energy! From the Democrats!

There's a great NYT article about it, which reads like a West Wing script: [link]

Also, how Nancy Pelosi organized the push for Biden to pull out of the race: [link]

There's some feeling that Nancy regretted letting Diane Feinstein stay on so long, and also not getting in RBG's ear about retiring during the Obama adminsitration. Pelosi may not be the Speaker but she's clearly the most powerful Democrat in the country after the President.

But they coordinated a thing, and they shaped it well enough to get energy and momentum from that. Energy! From the Democrats!

I'm feeling completely different than I was on Sunday. I had no personal hope that the Dems would mobilize around Harris and I'm excited now that they have some fire and somewhat the same vision.

There's some feeling that Nancy regretted letting Diane Feinstein stay on so long, and also not getting in RBG's ear about retiring during the Obama adminsitration. Pelosi may not be the Speaker but she's clearly the most powerful Democrat in the country after the President.

Says the 84 year old. While Feinstein should have retired earlier and RBG definitely should have retired, I wonder if Pelosi realizes that she is also old and needs to step down.

Because they're tricky bastards.

Truth.

Nancy the call may be coming from inside the house.

I saw a TikTok of someone saying yes, first woman president would be awesome but have you considered instead the possibility of “last male president”?? Love it. Why not. Give us a couple hundred years to try.

Says the 84 year old. While Feinstein should have retired earlier and RBG definitely should have retired, I wonder if Pelosi realizes that she is also old and needs to step down.

She stepped down from Speaker and I think she's only hanging on to play a part in this election. And I think she did that.

After the Republicans won the majority, she did step down but I don't think that would have happened if they'd kept the majority in that election.

By now, she'd likely have stepped down but I really don't see Dems maintaining control and Pelosi still stepping down at the time she did without having lost that election cycle.

It's hard to let go of power, to let go and hand control over. Power is seductive.

She definitely was an effective Speaker and I'm glad for all she did.

After the Republicans won the majority, she did step down but I don't think that would have happened if they'd kept the majority in that election.

She had promised she would step down on the previous vote for Speaker. And she did.

She knows how old she is. She's tired.

She just sees Trump as a singular threat, and knew how best to play the hand dealt.

I truly don't believe she's in it for hanging on to power.

After this election I think she'll be done one way or the other. I think like she feels that she's just the best hand on the tiller through this rocky shoal. I agree with that.

She knows better than anybody how to pull the levers and grind the politics.

FWIW, Harris is now tied with Trump in the polls and slightly ahead when you throw in RFK, with an electoral advantage.

So I think it was the right call strategically.

She knows how old she is. She's tired.

14 years older than me, and I am tired. I certainly have never had any desire for power, but I have been telling my family for a while that I am over being indispensable. Responsibility gets heavier with age. I am over it. I can't imagine why people a decade older than me want all that. Chill. Read a book. Watch a sunrise. (I guess this is why I didn't go for power.)

So I think it was the right call strategically.

I know it's been less than a week, but it really does seem like it was the right call. When I watched Biden's address Wednesday, I was struck by 2 things: (1) he sure seems like he's able to serve a second time, but (2) wow, he is OLD. So I understand how him stepping aside for a younger candidate has absolutely energized Democrats (and anti-Trump people regardless of party affiliation).

We're leaving for vacation tomorrow morning, and fortunately I have the day off (well, 90% off) to pack and run last-minute errands and wrangle stuff. I desperately need this vacation.