mekka okereke :verified:
🤔Remember that time 4 years ago when we were inches away from a fascist election disaster? And we voted hard and avoided that disaster by mere inches? And then all the Black people said "Great! Here's how we can make sure that we never come this close to disaster again?" And all the white people we voted in power, mostly ignored us?😮
And Biden told us to STFU? And threatened to fire any of his staffers that talked to insurrectionist and said things like "Being an insurrectionist is bad?"
1/1
mekka okereke :verified:
And Biden acted like the big problem was not rising fascism or open attacks on the institution of US democracy but that there wasn't enough "civility in politics" anymore? And that we're all guilty of incivility?
Remember that garbage?
And remember how right after the "Black women will save us!" election, and all the promises of "We'll fix it after the election!" All we got was a few more "Black faces in high places" but we got *even more racist* on police reform and wealth inequality?🙂🙃
2/N
mekka okereke :verified:
Having feelings of existential dread about US elections every 4 years, is a choice, and not a good one. We don't need to do this every 4 years.
We could just listen to some of the Black people that we so depend on to protect us all from doom.
I told you 4 years ago, that if Biden screws up this gift of an election win, that Black man would not show up for him again in 2024. People who read about Black folk, but don't know Black folk, tried to write little tweets about why I was wrong.
3/N
mekka okereke :verified:
We literally put the entire planet at risk, because we don't want to listen to or be kind to Black people in the US. It's silly.
I've pointed out before many times, that Black men did not "turn to Trump." What happened was that out of 100 Black men voters, 20 Dem voters decided that they would never vote for Biden again. So instead of an 80/20 Dem/GOP split, we were headed for a 60/20 split, with 20 sitting out.🤦🏿♂️
20/100 is 20% support for GOP historically
20/80 is 25% support for Trump
4/N
mekka okereke :verified:
My humble suggestion, is that we don't give the entire planet adrenal fatigue again for the next 4 years. Let's get it right this time.
I say that Harris ran the best campaign in US election history, because she closed the gap and took the lead in such a short period of time. And her communication was so sharp. And because she was able to reverse the fortunes and win back most of those disillusioned Black men voters, despite what white press tells you about her having a problem with Black men.
🐧sima🐧
@mekkaokereke I really hope I don't have to read your threads again in 4 years
but realistically I think I need to hope that I read your threads again in 4 years. because the more likely alternative is that there's going to be even less of an election than now or 4 years ago, with even more tricks to make sure only the right (well, white) people can vote
mekka okereke :verified:
I'm not into brinkmanship. I don't think that's a good strategy. Because sometimes you have to see it through.
So I don't like brinkmanship. But I'm a wealthy, happy, comfortable Black man. Most Black men in this country are not wealthy, happy, or comfortable. And none of us are safe. Much less to lose.
Black voters don't trust you. In particular, Black men voters. "We'll fix it after the election!" Is a lie told one time too many. "We will protect you from the racists!" is also a lie.
5/N
mekka okereke :verified:
The rules have changed. The old assumptions no longer work. You cannot mistreat Black men, and expect them to vote for you. That no longer works.
You will be able to tell if Harris has a chance to win in 2028, within 90 days of her being sworn in on January.
Harris is much smarter than Biden, so she (probably?) won't make the same mistakes that Biden made in his first 90 days.
I'm not telling you what I want to happen. I'm telling you what's going to happen. And this isn't a debate.
6/6
mekka okereke :verified:
Fair question.
But Black men didn't abandon Biden because of his ability or inability to get things done. Read these 3 posts to see what Biden did in the 1st 90 days, and what future president Kamala Harris absolutely should not do.
https://hachyderm.io/@mekkaokereke/113122325567665180
And asking us to forgive insurrectionists that haven't even asked for forgiveness, or even stopped insurrecting? The answer is no.
This "harsh language for fascism victims, soft language for fascists," doesn't work for us.
Jameson
@mekkaokereke Your insights are always appreciated, and I hope the same mistakes won’t be repeated. Sincere question: let’s say she’s sworn in but the GOP has flipped the Senate, guaranteeing nonstop gridlock. What sorts of substantive efforts would you like to see from her in those 90 days?
wasabi brain
@mekkaokereke has been very hard for Harris to say “okay this time if you turn out to vote i absolutely will figure out making sure voting is treated as a right across all the states and we’ll get $15 minimum wage” when four years ago Dems ran on that same message, got exec + both legislative branches…and didn’t deliver. 2028 Ron desantis will be back promising trumpism. Can Dems be popular enough to not make it a close contest?
Tical
@mekkaokereke > You will be able to tell if Harris has a chance to win in 2028, within 90 days of her being sworn in on January.
Also, midterms. Obama's popularity year 1 didnt translate down ballot. The amount of victories that would be needed for a trifecta is not insignificant but she would need to translate that either in a few days or in 2 years.
Oliver Kohll
@mekkaokereke sending hope that she won’t 🤞
J Λ M Ξ S
@mekkaokereke Frederick Douglass complained about being told he must wait for coming change too. He was sick of the lie during the civil war, and still the lie persists today!
MLK was killed 100 years after Douglass complained to Lincoln about being told to wait. Rodney King, Trayvon Martin, George Floyd, all lived in a world where black people were told to wait for coming change.
Black voters are right to not trust whatever politicians say!
mekka okereke :verified:
Fair question! 2 things:
1) It's not about what she can or can't deliver in a blocked Congress. It's about not being actively harmful and disrespectful, like this. (Click through the nested threads).
https://hachyderm.io/@mekkaokereke/113419511471730321
2) Something that doesn't work on Black men voters any more, is the old ropa dope of
a) endorsing mansions and cinemas over progressive candidates, choosing your dance partners.
b) then crying about how you can't pull off the dance moves that you want to 🙂🙃
Josh Rivers
@mekkaokereke I agree with your entire point and would expand on it. But what can she do if there are no majorities? How would you have changed anything with Manchin and Sinema? Presidents can only do so much, and the Democratic coalition has recently only functioned at all by accepting that it is infiltrated. I’m so desperate to see what we’d get done if we had a 60% majority in congress, and I don’t know what I’d have had Biden do differently without that. Maybe this time we can ditch the filibuster…but we still need 50 votes.
To be clear: this isn’t your problem to solve. The damn electeds should be figuring something out. I just don’t know what options there are.
Diligence Jones
omg, i totally forgot that happened.
THANK YOU for reminding me why Joe is trash.
mekka okereke :verified:
Yep. Watch these videos, to hear the real fear and trauma in the staffers post Jan 6. Especially watch the one on the Black staffers.
They knew that some MAGA coworkers had given security details to the mob. And those coworkers were unapologetic and defiant.
And then understand the full context in Biden saying if you're not absolutely respectful (to the coworkers that just attacked you and tried to steal democracy) I will fire you on the spot.
mekka okereke :verified:
As long as Harris doesn't do a self-own like this in the first 90 days, she will have some time. Read the 3 posts in the thread.
https://hachyderm.io/@mekkaokereke/113122325567665180
Then watch these:
https://hachyderm.io/@mekkaokereke/113420269527791142
So Harris has some time. But by next election, she should figure something out...
Aviva Gary
@mekkaokereke Quick question:
I think you an I know what she needs to do and she might do it if she has the votes... (this would be on policy not on values etc)
what happens to this calculus if she doesn't have them?
I realize to history it doesn't matter but does it matter to this constituency? 🤔
(Also I do remember this and that was why I was very not hopeful for the future)
Aviva Gary
@mekkaokereke I don't think she will pull this shit
I do remember him somehow equating disrespecting your colleagues with Jan 6 and that was a no go (and the gall to no understand Jan 6 was disrespecting your colleagues)
However I have faith she will act/figure things out by next election
I just hope it is enough for Democracy's sake 🤞
Ed Sanders
@mekkaokereke there’s a lot of truth in this thread. The core of the Democratic Party (minorities [with Blacks first and foremost] & their true allies) and the leadership of the Democratic Party don’t necessarily have different values, but they definitely have different priorities.
With Biden (and the old guard he represents), that difference became a chasm that was about to tear the coalition apart. Harris put it back together, but there’s no way it holds without results.
mekka okereke :verified:
Yes.
Jürgen Hubert
@mekkaokereke Isn't "civility" in American politics a dog whistle for "minorities should shut up about discrimination"?
Mess around Marx
@mekkaokereke
"best campaign" in full support of #Gaza_genocide 🤢
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