Let's be clear. I like Joe Biden. I agree with JVL's assessment of the man. I've commented in the past that he was the guy we all fell in line behind in 2020 beginning with South Carolina, it worked, his agenda more than exceeds my expectations. And of course I understand the misgivings today.
Let's be clear. I like Joe Biden. I agree with JVL's assessment of the man. I've commented in the past that he was the guy we all fell in line behind in 2020 beginning with South Carolina, it worked, his agenda more than exceeds my expectations. And of course I understand the misgivings today.
But the Bulwark and everyone else have an obligation to put names forward at this point. Tell me who's going to excite the entire base for a solid majority of a fragmented party in a fragmented country already disadvantaged by the Electoral College and gerrymandering. We don't have the luxury of grooming someone. The GOP crap machine will make hamburger out of anyone learning on the job, not because of the person's failings but because of voter failings in recognizing the stakes.
Throw serious names in the hat, now. Get them to express interest. Get people excited. Float trial balloons, whatever, because otherwise you're eroding Biden's advantage further, slicing the pie into smaller pieces. Set a date to fish or cut bait. Make it a contest and nail it down. No offense to Joe, but if a solid Democratic majority moves behind the potted plant in my living room I'm in. But not until then.
It isn't Joe that's not up to the job. He's proven himself. My fear is that the electorate is not up to the job, and there's no good answer for that.
Agreed. The Bulwark is acting like Trump - like the MAGA electorate - putting out the negative without the fix. That’s the entire MAGA policy. Just say no to everything except tax cuts and privatization. Don’t offer alternatives. Just complain about everything. And it works. Apparently with way too many people. Nobody is pushing MAGA candidates to outline a policy plan for fixing ANYTHING. Not inflation, not the border, not health care. Nothing. Just complain about whatever the Democrats try. Trump did nothing in office. Screwed up COVId, tariffs, put children in cages, no health care, no positive immigration fixes, no help for MAGA people. Nothing. But Trump validates their grievances. Apparently, that’s enough to be a saint and get elected.
You sound pretty certain. Could it be that it’s just that you don’t know who he is? In any case, I think you’re mistaken. And he has a record, in the Senate, as mayor of Newark. He has interesting policy ideas, too. Lot to campaign on. Many who don’t know him would like him.
I am not saying that he is in anyway a bad politician or that he wouldn’t be a good president.
I am saying that he has very very little name id. He ran for president in 2019 and lasted a month. He didn’t get more than 1% on any single poll during the month he ran for president. He had absolutely terrible fund raising numbers. That is just data either saying he is (1) not a good politician or (2) in my mind, more likely, no one knows who he is or what his positions are any given issue.
I am pretty up to date on politics and I honestly have no idea where he is on any issues. That says a lot for me who doesn’t live in New Jersey (I’m in California). Shoot I know a lot about Gavin because he is my governor but when it comes to national issues I couldn’t name any of his positions on federal issues
Yep any primary fight would be awful for democrats. Only solution in my mind is and has always been Biden. That doesn’t mean he will win but I have always thought he was our best chance at winning
Well said. This is the best--nay, only not-terrible--half-defense of replacing the incumbent Leader of the Free World I've read. I thank you for it.
P.S.: Though a commenter just said something that gave me even more pause:
Replacing Biden atop the ticket would unwittingly validate Trump's claims that the president is "illegitimate" and "stole his election". He'd argue Dems are so "afraid" of him that we replaced the "usurper". Almost exactly in those words.
Legitimizing that kind of public belief would have consequences I don't even want to contemplate. Making sure we don't is one way to cultivate the kind of electorate we need in our democracy in the fraught years ahead. My two cents, FWIW. :/
Let's be clear. I like Joe Biden. I agree with JVL's assessment of the man. I've commented in the past that he was the guy we all fell in line behind in 2020 beginning with South Carolina, it worked, his agenda more than exceeds my expectations. And of course I understand the misgivings today.
But the Bulwark and everyone else have an obligation to put names forward at this point. Tell me who's going to excite the entire base for a solid majority of a fragmented party in a fragmented country already disadvantaged by the Electoral College and gerrymandering. We don't have the luxury of grooming someone. The GOP crap machine will make hamburger out of anyone learning on the job, not because of the person's failings but because of voter failings in recognizing the stakes.
Throw serious names in the hat, now. Get them to express interest. Get people excited. Float trial balloons, whatever, because otherwise you're eroding Biden's advantage further, slicing the pie into smaller pieces. Set a date to fish or cut bait. Make it a contest and nail it down. No offense to Joe, but if a solid Democratic majority moves behind the potted plant in my living room I'm in. But not until then.
It isn't Joe that's not up to the job. He's proven himself. My fear is that the electorate is not up to the job, and there's no good answer for that.
This right here^
Tossing him would surly eject Trump
Agreed. The Bulwark is acting like Trump - like the MAGA electorate - putting out the negative without the fix. That’s the entire MAGA policy. Just say no to everything except tax cuts and privatization. Don’t offer alternatives. Just complain about everything. And it works. Apparently with way too many people. Nobody is pushing MAGA candidates to outline a policy plan for fixing ANYTHING. Not inflation, not the border, not health care. Nothing. Just complain about whatever the Democrats try. Trump did nothing in office. Screwed up COVId, tariffs, put children in cages, no health care, no positive immigration fixes, no help for MAGA people. Nothing. But Trump validates their grievances. Apparently, that’s enough to be a saint and get elected.
This is what makes me so angry with The Bulwark. Pounding on the negative, never proposing a viable solution
Said it already: Cory Booker. Good, kind, intelligent, politically experienced, locally and nationally.
Would NEVER win
STop I beg you.
Huh?
No one knows who he is. He has absolutely 0 name id
You sound pretty certain. Could it be that it’s just that you don’t know who he is? In any case, I think you’re mistaken. And he has a record, in the Senate, as mayor of Newark. He has interesting policy ideas, too. Lot to campaign on. Many who don’t know him would like him.
I am not saying that he is in anyway a bad politician or that he wouldn’t be a good president.
I am saying that he has very very little name id. He ran for president in 2019 and lasted a month. He didn’t get more than 1% on any single poll during the month he ran for president. He had absolutely terrible fund raising numbers. That is just data either saying he is (1) not a good politician or (2) in my mind, more likely, no one knows who he is or what his positions are any given issue.
I am pretty up to date on politics and I honestly have no idea where he is on any issues. That says a lot for me who doesn’t live in New Jersey (I’m in California). Shoot I know a lot about Gavin because he is my governor but when it comes to national issues I couldn’t name any of his positions on federal issues
Yep any primary fight would be awful for democrats. Only solution in my mind is and has always been Biden. That doesn’t mean he will win but I have always thought he was our best chance at winning
Well said. This is the best--nay, only not-terrible--half-defense of replacing the incumbent Leader of the Free World I've read. I thank you for it.
P.S.: Though a commenter just said something that gave me even more pause:
Replacing Biden atop the ticket would unwittingly validate Trump's claims that the president is "illegitimate" and "stole his election". He'd argue Dems are so "afraid" of him that we replaced the "usurper". Almost exactly in those words.
Legitimizing that kind of public belief would have consequences I don't even want to contemplate. Making sure we don't is one way to cultivate the kind of electorate we need in our democracy in the fraught years ahead. My two cents, FWIW. :/