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TygrBright

(20,733 posts)
Wed Oct 21, 2015, 01:06 PM Oct 2015

Dear Vice-President Biden,

And I do mean, "dear."

I appreciate your wisdom, your humanity, your leadership and your dedication to public service, more than I can say.

While I do regret that America has not had, and now will not have, the chance to experience your leadership as President (I think you'd have been pretty damn' stellar, actually,) I do not regret your decision. I am grateful for it.

Here's what I think: What Jimmy Carter has been to the "ex-Presidency," Joe Biden will be as a "former Vice President." Your grace and humor, the courage of your convictions, and the experience of living publicly among the slings and arrows will be a foundation for moral leadership of great strength. I do not underestimate that power, and I know you do not, either.

I don't think public service is done with you, Joe.

I think there's more out there.

For now, though, your decision to put your not-inconsiderable weight behind the Democratic Party in the general election is appreciated. I don't know how that will play out, I *do* know that if you choose to make an explicit endorsement of one candidate at the primary level, it'll carry a lot of weight.

I suspect you may delay that decision, for the very good reason that in the long road ahead, there's a need to engage as many people who share the Democratic Party's expressed ideals as we possibly can. We need the energy, we need the conviction and the passion, and most of all, we need to hold the Party's leadership accountable for those very ideals, rather than for the corrupting calculations of triangulation and electability. That can come later.

Either way, you're a factor, and an important one. And I know that you'll use that wisely and well, based on your experience of the levers and buttons as well as your deep understanding of the human realities of government.

When this election has played out, I hope you are given some time to take a break from the public eye. You and your family have experienced much pain in the past few years. May you finally get some time to share the same love and support that has sustained you through the hard times, in more pleasant places and ways.

You did not undertake public service for personal reward, not for you, not for your family. May the future bring you the true rewards you have built for yourself: the knowledge of work well done, a life well lived, and communities and people the better for your work.

respectfully,
Bright

6 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Dear Vice-President Biden, (Original Post) TygrBright Oct 2015 OP
I co-sign your letter. Thank you. nt ChisolmTrailDem Oct 2015 #1
Thanks! n/t TygrBright Oct 2015 #3
Joe means well however Republicans ARE our enemies. gordianot Oct 2015 #2
Very well stated ! Thanks TB Laura PourMeADrink Oct 2015 #4
Beautiful tribute mainstreetonce Oct 2015 #5
Thank you, Joe, for *everything* (including this decision). n/t UTUSN Oct 2015 #6

gordianot

(15,226 posts)
2. Joe means well however Republicans ARE our enemies.
Wed Oct 21, 2015, 01:12 PM
Oct 2015

No less than any foreign threat we have ever faced.

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