A year and ten days ago, I switched my preference here from Undecided to Joe Biden.

[highplainsdem]

As I explained at the time

https://www.democraticunderground.com/128744526

I was doing so mainly to show support for Biden as I defended him against what I saw as unfair attacks, and not because I was positive he'd be my choice at the end of the primary race.

But as time went on, I couldn't think of a single reason to change my preference to anyone else, or to Undecided again.

Like so many other Democrats, I'm sure, I was so used to Joe Biden, so comfortable with him -- so assured of what a great, honorable person he is -- that I hadn't had to give much more thought to my opinion of him.

Biden was there, as a very good option, and I was very glad he was there.

I had a high opinion of him then, but it's much higher now, after a year of watching him deal with an unbelievable amount of incoming fire from both the right and the left, the overwhelming majority of those attacks completely unfair and often dishonest.

He's handled the attacks with grace, wit, unwavering strength, and unshakeable decency, fairness and empathy.

I've watched him start to talk much more about his stuttering, helping others and showing great dignity in the face of some really despicable attacks from people who didn't understand or didn't care that his stuttering often leads him to edit himself mid-sentence.

I've watched him show unfailingly how much he cares for others, in the face of sniping from people who seem incapable of caring about anyone, except possibly themselves and a few others around them.

I've watched his core values shine for a year, in a profession that often undermines and devalues those core values, at a time when many were saying such values would mean Biden wouldn't be tough enough for this race.

He showed those critics were wrong.

And we are so very, very fortunate he's still standing. Still strong. Still a shining example of so much that we admire.

Not quite a year ago, I posted an OP about old videos of Biden I'd been watching on YouTube while eating lunch that day. The videos had made me feel both wistful about the Obama-Biden administration, and hopeful for the future.

This is the original OP with those videos

https://www.democraticunderground.com/128779006

but I'm going to copy them below as well, since there's no way to kick that old topic.

And I think they'll again evoke the wistfulness as well as the hope they evoked then, especially for any newer members of this forum who haven't seen all of them yet.

Here they are, with the text of that old OP:

__________


I spent lunchtime watching old videos of Joe Biden on YouTube...


All sorts of things. All bringing a smile. All great reminders of what a profoundly good, caring person Joe Biden is.

Everything from a cute interaction with his dog during a CBS interview three years ago

to a blunt attack on Trump early last year on CNN

to his receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Obama

and the 2012 DNC video biopic.

I looked at videos about his bromance with President Obama

and Michelle and Jill talking about their husbands' bromance (and their own friendship).

I want to see Joe and Jill in the White House...and their good friends Barack and Michelle visiting often.

[UncleNoel]

1. It has been great being here with you and all the great Biden supporters, highplainsdem

Great selection of videos. Loved seeing Dr. Jill with Michelle. Jill is familiar with the WH so she will be right at home next January.

[Just_Vote_Dem]

2. Thanks for posting.

It will be nice to get back to normal after 4 years of utter insanity

[GeorgiaPeanut]

3. You worked tirelessly to promote Joe Biden with several OPs per day

Your OPs were always positive and informative.

Thank you for your service to this community and to Democrats in general.

[Demsrule86]

4. And you went all in...and are a great Biden supporter...so much so I feared for your DU safety. I

think I messaged you once or twice! And here we are today. Biden is the nominee...so proud of Biden and all of us.

[denem]

5. And you were /are a fierce and fearless advocate for Joe Biden,

always ready to back up your posts with meticulous research. A credit to DU

[Cha]

6. Thank you, highplainsdem, for your

review of Vice President Biden and how you came to support him!

It's been a rollercoaster through thick and thin and back again, with all our fellow Biden Supporters, here on DU. Almost a year ago Biden released his launch vid and it got right to the heart of why he was running for President.

And it really got to me.. I want trump out above all else and I decided Biden is the one to do it.. Plus when he does win.. he has the chops, qualifications, and Experience to start getting us out of the abyss Immediately if not Sooner!

He'll put together the greatest Team being a Team Player.. another thing I like about him... he's a Uniter not a divider.. that means a lot to me. Just look at the coalitions he's built so far.. So grateful for the POC who came out to Vote for him in South Carolina.. and James Cylburn, who endorsed him on Wednesday, after he talked to Jannie Jones a few days earlier!

[William769]

7. Thank you for this.

[Peacetrain]

8. All I can say highplainsdem is

[BGBD]

9. I wasn't here then

but I was on Biden from well before he declared.

Beto, Booker, Harris, Gillibrand, etc. But I just kept coming back to Biden as the guy who could get this thing done. I couldn't be happier.

[peggysue2]

10. Thanks for the OP, highplainsdem

Been great ridin' with Biden with you. May the journey head straight for the White House and a Dem majority in the fall.

AGO4JOE2020