Time to unify

Bernie Sanders's suspension of his campaign (overview here) means that the race for the Democratic nomination is over.  Sanders has contributed ideas and proposals of genuine value to the party and the nation, and his influence will continue to be felt.  But the party rank-and-file have made their choice.  It's Joe Biden who will go up against Trump from now until election day.  It's time to do what most of us have committed to doing since the race began, and unify behind our nominee.

Biden's statement in response to Sanders's concession was gracious, and others should follow his example.  I know some centrist Democrats find some of Sanders's fervent supporters exasperating, but the fact remains, most of them will vote Democratic in November, or can be persuaded to do so, even if it takes time.  Some of them will need time; they're coping with a bitter disappointment now, and may even say intemperate things while dealing with it.  Make allowances and be respectful.  Remember, if Sanders had won the nomination, you might now be the one having to reconcile yourself to voting for a candidate about whom you had serious reservations, out of the sheer absolute necessity of getting Trump out of office.  You, too, might have needed some time to come to terms with it.

We have seven months now.  Seven months for the struggle to remove the worst president in American history, and as many as possible of his toadies and enablers in Congress and in the state governments, so we can start the titanic job of repairing the tragic damage he and his party have inflicted on our country and its reputation.

Sanders obviously knows that at least some of what he fought for has a far better chance of being realized under a Democratic government than under people who are actively malignant.  He did the right thing and put the fight against Trump ahead of his own ambitions and aspirations.  This, too, is an example to follow.