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Edited by Mrph1 on Nov 30th 2023 at 11:03:59 AM

Draghinazzo (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: I get a feeling so complicated...
#338951: Nov 11th 2020 at 6:36:53 PM

A lot of people note that the continuous relief of Biden's cabinet picks being sane, reasonable, competent professionals is a sign of trauma. Because the Trump administration was just an embarrassing nightmare that never ended.

EDIT:

Biden has included trans people in his transition team, including Shawn Kelly who will oversee the Department of Defense.

Edited by Draghinazzo on Nov 11th 2020 at 11:46:46 AM

smokeycut Since: Mar, 2013
#338952: Nov 11th 2020 at 6:45:01 PM

This feels like a really great sign for his plans regarding trans rights.

Draghinazzo (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: I get a feeling so complicated...
#338953: Nov 11th 2020 at 6:46:14 PM

[up]He also pledged to sign legislation to further protect LGBT+ rights and make them a more important of the US' foreign policy.

The problem being of course, Mitch will never let that legislation pass as long as he controls the senate.

AlleyOop Since: Oct, 2010
#338954: Nov 11th 2020 at 6:48:17 PM

At the same time we should be cautious not to let the Trump administration set such a low bar that we should be satisfied with the Biden administration for being being the barest minimum of competent.

That said I am reasonably pleased with the news of Biden's choice of hires on their own merits, as he appears to be making efforts to be inclusive as opposed to merely resuming from where the Obama administration left off. I've already explained why I think Klain is a much better choice for Chief of Staff and how that potentially bodes well. And the fact that he's putting an effort into hiring trans people to tackle one of the most forward-facing civil rights issues of our era will engender some good will regarding his efforts at staying on top of social progress.

Edited by AlleyOop on Nov 11th 2020 at 9:51:07 AM

Draghinazzo (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: I get a feeling so complicated...
RainehDaze Nero Fangirl (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
Nero Fangirl
#338956: Nov 11th 2020 at 7:06:35 PM

Taking positive steps is more than the bare minimum. The bare minimum is doing nothing, since the Republicans are reactionaries.

singularityshot Since: Dec, 2012
#338957: Nov 11th 2020 at 7:14:36 PM

While I agree quietly competent is a significant step up from what we have currently, there is a part of me that does want appointees who are higher profile so that they can demonstrate what good administration looks like.

It comes back to the point that the Democrat agenda requires people to believe in the ability of the government to change their lives for the better, whereas for Republicans maladministration is a feature, not a bug.

It may not be sexy like sweeping legislation to fix the ills of society but a solid two years of governmental competence that we can celebrate may be the shift that is required to take control of the Senate in 2022.

That being said, the only reason the chief of staff position was so high profile in the current administration is because of how impossible their job was to 'manage' Trump. Somehow I don't think that Biden's chief of staff is going to have the same set of problems.

unknowing from somewhere.. Since: Mar, 2014
#338958: Nov 11th 2020 at 7:23:59 PM

Also it avoid the same mistake some peopel asign to obama to hype him as the super duper progresive mega politican who single handly resolve everything, boy that backfire a lot.

"My Name is Bolt, Bolt Crank and I dont care if you believe or not"
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#338959: Nov 11th 2020 at 7:35:01 PM

A Boring, but Practical administration sounds very appealing.

Disgusted, but not surprised
RainehDaze Nero Fangirl (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
Nero Fangirl
#338960: Nov 11th 2020 at 7:41:34 PM

I feel like some people in this thread are still being overly optimistic if they consider "inclusion of trans individuals" as a bare minimum to expect. Bare minimum to desire, maybe? But if that's your idea of basic expectations...

sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#338961: Nov 11th 2020 at 7:42:42 PM

I wasn't really expecting it one way or the other, so I see no reason not to be happy about it.

Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#338962: Nov 11th 2020 at 7:43:01 PM

Biden has never signaled hostility to the LGBTQ+ community, at least not in recent memory. Why would anyone expect him not to be inclusive?

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
RainehDaze Nero Fangirl (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
Nero Fangirl
#338963: Nov 11th 2020 at 7:44:40 PM

Because "not outright hostile" seems like a more reasonable expectation?

sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#338964: Nov 11th 2020 at 7:45:46 PM

I would like to request clarification, because I'm not sure where the issue is. Biden added a trans person to his team, people are happy about it, and that's a bad thing? Is the problem that Biden's not adding more trans or otherwise LGBTQ+ members to his cabinet? The expectation that he should be doing so?

I am legitimately unsure what you seem to be upset over, RainehDaze

Edited by sgamer82 on Nov 11th 2020 at 7:48:47 AM

M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#338965: Nov 11th 2020 at 7:49:00 PM

I think the idea is that this isn't a "bare minimum", but rather something that indeed should be commended.

Disgusted, but not surprised
RainehDaze Nero Fangirl (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
Nero Fangirl
#338966: Nov 11th 2020 at 7:50:50 PM

[up] That.

If he hadn't done so, I doubt most anyone would have noticed.

sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#338967: Nov 11th 2020 at 7:53:35 PM

Ok. I wasn't sure because it seemed like you were up in arms about something but couldn't figure out what, since you seemed to regard the thing you were apparently up in arms about as a positive.

I confess that [up] is basically what I meant when I said I hadn't expected it one way or the other. I hadn't really considered adding or not adding someone who was LGBTQ.

Robrecht Your friendly neighbourhood Regent from The Netherlands Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: They can't hide forever. We've got satellites.
Your friendly neighbourhood Regent
#338968: Nov 11th 2020 at 7:57:46 PM

Biden has never signaled hostility to the LGBTQ+ community, at least not in recent memory. Why would anyone expect him not to be inclusive?

For me personally mostly because Biden's primary campaign was designed to appeal to 'Moderate' Democrats (i.e. the people who don't care one way or the other about the disadvantaged as long as their own bread is buttered) and historically speaking whenever a candidate who appeals to those Moderates steps up when there's viable candidates from the Progressive wing of the Democrats (in this case Warren and, to a lesser extent, Sanders), they do so because they want the party to stay neutral with regards to minorities (i.e. ignore them).

But Biden's actually sending strong signals that he's planning to give minorities a voice. It remains to be seen whether he's going to listen to that voice, but... Well, it's something.

Angry gets shit done.
PushoverMediaCritic I'm sorry Tien, but I must go all out. from the Italy of America Since: Jul, 2015 Relationship Status: watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ
I'm sorry Tien, but I must go all out.
#338969: Nov 11th 2020 at 8:02:25 PM

Yeah, the "bare minimum" was not to hire any queer people at all. Hiring a trans person is above the bare minimum. It's not a gigantic step forward or anything, but it's better than nothing, and sets a positive precident for the future.

unknowing from somewhere.. Since: Mar, 2014
#338970: Nov 11th 2020 at 8:06:40 PM

Also the minium is not hiring people now but maybe a year or two in the future once thing have settle down, not outright hiring someone sound after being elected.

"My Name is Bolt, Bolt Crank and I dont care if you believe or not"
Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#338971: Nov 11th 2020 at 8:08:11 PM

[up][up][up]Exactly, Biden's pretty clearly a politically flexible guy but part of his support base are moderate Democrats who in practice tend to be right Democrats. It's pretty great (if not necessarily surprising) that he may be doing more than benign indifference.

"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang
Draghinazzo (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: I get a feeling so complicated...
#338972: Nov 11th 2020 at 8:09:50 PM

I just want to stress once more that Biden has promised to sign a pro LGBT+ legislation that will protect LGBT+ people from being discriminated by amending the 1964 civil rights act, and establish LGBT+ rights as a more important part of foreign diplomacy.

So at least, he has committed to doing a lot more than the bare minimum. I just hope that people remember that the republican senate is a problem he has to deal with assuming he has trouble getting it passed, it doesn't mean he didn't try.

Edited by Draghinazzo on Nov 11th 2020 at 1:11:13 PM

M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#338973: Nov 11th 2020 at 8:11:24 PM

NVM wrong thread

Edited by M84 on Nov 12th 2020 at 12:11:38 AM

Disgusted, but not surprised
unknowing from somewhere.. Since: Mar, 2014
#338974: Nov 11th 2020 at 8:40:50 PM

Once can said biden is doing what one could expect of a moderate democrat: while most of his rethoric center in making amends and being calm, he also willing to bring progresive politics into the road, which is a good thing.

time will tell if he keep this.

"My Name is Bolt, Bolt Crank and I dont care if you believe or not"
AzurePaladin She/Her Pronouns from Forest of Magic Since: Apr, 2018 Relationship Status: Mu
She/Her Pronouns
#338975: Nov 11th 2020 at 9:17:36 PM

Biden has never signaled hostility to the LGBTQ+ community, at least not in recent memory. Why would anyone expect him not to be inclusive?

.*coughs politely, and points to his Vice-President*

Edited by AzurePaladin on Nov 11th 2020 at 12:17:42 PM

The awful things he says and does are burned into our cultural consciousness like a CRT display left on the same picture too long. -Fighteer

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