Won’t happen, but it would help a lot if Biden addressed the issue directly, admitting he, too, is concerned about his perilous age and possible deterioration, has lots of advisors and stopgaps and plans to use them (and already is using them) and won’t be hanging on for power’s sake (as are far too many other aged politicians).
The last line says it all,”The stakes are too high to screw around.” Let’s take this as the potentially fatal to democracy event that it truly is. Failure is not an option, so let’s all roll up our sleeves and get together.
If the press and news outlets or opinion writers stop asking people. "Do you think Bidens too old?" No one would really consider his age. Where is the article that Trump is too old (77)? Give me a break. Try talking about how Biden works out 5 days a week. Or how much legislative experience he has. This interview was annoying and just an excuse to talk about what other Democrats might gain power over the next few years.
Now if you wanted to have a discussion about Kamala's lack of experience, I'd agree. He needs a much stronger VP. They should retire Feinstein and put Kamala in her seat. I voted for her for Senate but she needs more experience for the VP job. Witmer or Shapiro or Newsom come to mind, but I bet there are others more suitable for VP. The Republicans are already saying they are running against Kamala. We need to take that narrative away from them. Democrats also need a better team of Publicists. They're getting creamed by the Republican echo machine.
I agree that a Whitmer-Warnock ticket would be very compelling. Both are battle hardened, dynamic rising stars within the Democratic Party from key swing states and if the primary field were wide open I would be an enthusiastic supporter.
It's not going to happen in 2024 though. At least in this universe. The idea that Biden would step aside, then Harris would do the same or lose traction in a contested primary, and the Democrats would then quickly and decisively coalesce around Gretchen Whitmer and Raphael Warnock - is fantastical wish casting. Several highly improbable events would have to occur in quick succession.
So several months after announcing his re-election bid, Biden would say 'just kidding' and suddenly decide not to run again? Because he suddenly realizes he's 81 years old? And Hunter has a lot of issues? And he's being blamed for last year's high inflation? I'm sure he's thought about all of this before making his decision. Also, Biden has wanted to be president for a long time - he ran for the first time in the 1980s and after several attempts finally got elected - and I am sure is confident in his ability to continue to hold the office. He's just going to walk away? Won't happen!
Then there's Kamala Harris. If Biden did step aside, what would she do? As the incumbent vice president she is the heir apparent and would be in a very favorable position to become the nominee. Obviously, she also has presidential ambitions, given her 2020 run. I would be amazed if she also decided to step aside and basically acknowledge the media narrative that she's unpopular. Biden could simply cite his age; Harris would be seen as giving in to the critics and the haters. Not to mention how bad it would look for the Democratic Party if both the incumbent president and vice president stepped aside. Harris would definitely run for the nomination, and if anyone else wanted to challenge her there would be a very contentious and divisive primary that would weaken the ultimate nominee and divide and damage the party.
Let's go back to the alternate universe where Biden and Harris both step aside. Would Whitmer and Warnock even decide to get in? Who else would run? Maybe Mayor Pete, Elizabeth Warren and/or Bernie Sanders? Would there be a battle between the progressive wing and more centrist wings of the party, like in 2016 and 2020? Because of the proportional delegate system the Democrats use, the nominee might not be decided until May or June. Like in 2016. A protracted primary battle for a party nomination is great for media ratings; not so much for the party. A lot of money, hundreds of millions of dollars, would be raised and spent by the candidates running in the primaries; contrast this with Biden's and the DNC's campaign war chest that is ready to be deployed in the general election.
Biden is going to be the Democratic nominee and Harris will be his running mate. Period. Any speculation about a unicorn alternative ticket is at this point a counterproductive waste of time.
Biden and his administration are doing a good job and there’s nothing wrong with him. It’s all about perceptions and how did those get so twisted? Anyhow, if Kamala could be persuaded to step aside and be replaced with someone less controversial and potentially even positively viewed, that would be ideal. Any chance?
Biden is too old but I would vote for Biden any day, any time to prevent the end of U.S. democracy. The Biden campaign does really need to show that this administration's steady hand and solid leadership has helped this country navigate some extreme economic and political turbulent waters. Biden did come into office when Covid was still racing and evolving into more virulent permutations throughout the world, while the scientific community was still trying to understand the virus. He came into office when the economy had taken a serious hit (unemployment at 6.3% in Jan. 2021, 6M unemployment insurance claims), supply chains were busted, Russia was planning to go to war with Ukraine, and inflation was starting to rear its ugly head. They need to shout about the administration's accomplishments, but not in a wonky way.
Frankly, Trump will be navigating multiple indictments, and although there are far too many people who currently say that they would vote for Trump in 2024, those indictments will take a toll on Trump. He won't be able to be on the campaign trail, hollering about all the crap he's always hollering about. He is going to be stuck squealing and whining on social media about how evil the Democrats, the DOJ, the courts are and how unfairly he has been treated. All that non-stop whining, the never-ending victim hood, doesn't sound Presidential in the least and is extremely off-putting for many.
Also, it is apparent the extreme stress that Trump is feeling right now, in his frantic and shrill social media posts, now that these indictments have come down. As the court cases get rolling, he's really gonna lose his $h*+ and it won't be helpful to his bid to be re-elected. Sure, the real kool-aid drinkers won't fall off, but the more moderate Rs and Independents will find it all embarrassing, exhausting and frightening.
I think I'm in love with Mike Murphy. My husband understands.
Since time out of mind (as a political activist), I have begged, wheedled, whined unto the left to get its messaging in order. As in, "Sell the damn product!!" With strong voices and conviction!
CUT the deathless prose. Both content and length.
DON'T assume that everyone KNOWS what words/phrases like inflation, gross national product, etc., etc., etc. mean. Many may not.
DON'T cave to the response that to go simple means dumbing down. It doesn't.
PAY ATTENTION all along the way to the fact that individuals may have varied needs and understandings, but the common denominator is that there's some element of, "What's in it for me to vote for you? For my family? For my small business? In language I can understand!"
BE PRO-ACTIVE. For far too long a time, the left's apparent raison d'être is to respond to right, i.e., to be reactive. The right is much better at pro-active messaging (think GOP genius Frank Luntz) than the left has ever been. There's no place for timidity nor tippy-toeing lest someone be irked by strong truths.
GEEZ LOUISE! The way the left traditionally pedals weak messaging to we the people in an attempt to persuade us is like fighting a forest fire with a squirt gun.
As a writer/editor/communicator, I'm verklempt about all of this. Talk among yourselves.
If Biden loses, it will be because the voters think he’s too damn old and they hate Kamala. Ignoring the opinion of the majority, dismissing their concerns as trivial and unwarranted, is disrespectful and alienating. It risks losing their votes to a 3rd party candidate and suppressing turnout altogether. A Whitmer-Warnock ticket would be appealing to Dems, Indy’s, and disaffected Republicans. Having them jump in late would excite the electorate no end. Plus, it would knock Republicans off their game entirely.
I appreciate and respect Joe Biden, and he’s done a great job as president in this term. I’m not happy that he’s running again (thereby negating any other great candidate in 2024), and Kamala wasn’t my pick for VP, but democracy is truly at stake. I’m voting blue, blue, blue. This democratic republic’s survival depends on it.
“Hi, I’m Joe Biden. I might be in older but I can bench press Donald Trump’s pre-reported weight, go for a morning run, do a couple of rounds self-defense combat with the shepherds, have my Wheaties and still be at my desk by 8am. If you’re still on the fence, I beat Trump’s mental cognition test by taking it more than once! Six months later, I still got it: person, woman, man, camera, TV! Now that we got the important things out of the way, let me tell you where we were as a country when I took office, where we’re at, and where we still need to get to. Let’s not switch out the starter to put in a third string quarterback when we’re at 1st and goal in sudden death overtime! Why choose between age and beauty - I got both! I’m tall, too, and my ties are a normal length!”
Seriously, though, this constant focus on Biden’s age is a self fulfilling prophecy. It didn’t start out with the voters and filter up to the politics, it’s been drummed into them by political actors. The far left and far right are both harping on it for different reasons, none of them good for 2024.
Mike Murphy is hilarious; his rapid-fire repartee was really funny but also got to the heart of many of the issues in this political campaign. I didn't think I could laugh about any of this, but his images for the unfolding clown show really got to the heart of many issues. Regarding Biden's age, I find myself ticking off all of Biden's accomplishments to people who write off all he has done to focus on his age, but Mike is right. This perception needs to be recognized and managed. Biden has a stiff walk (arthritis, neuropathy in feet), and his tendency to make verbal mistakes on the fly is attributed to a lack of mental acuity. This is a shame because he has accomplished so much.
Will, Will, Will.... "But in the case of her husband, it's the book of revelations" - further evidence, (not that any is needed) that the genius move by The Bulwark of bringing Will on board is undeniable. Gold medal in the Olympics of Retorts.
The MAGA/GOP is doing their diabolical best to age Biden by going after his last surviving son. That stress is compounded by Joe not feeling he can intervene. He's in a lose/lose situation with Hunter and that ages you. The MAGA/GOP is truly despicable. I am ecstatic that Raskin is formally petitioning Comer to pursue an investigation of Jared Kushner's dealings with Saudi Arabia. I don't think this will effect TFG one bit, but it does level the playing field for Biden.
There is a good 7-min piece on Ch. 4 in Britain (find it on YouTube) about whether politicians should have a maximum age limit for office, taking on Biden, McConnell, et al. It is much more balanced reporting than we get in the US. It recalled Reagan's great line on "not exploiting his opponent's youth and inexperience."
Won’t happen, but it would help a lot if Biden addressed the issue directly, admitting he, too, is concerned about his perilous age and possible deterioration, has lots of advisors and stopgaps and plans to use them (and already is using them) and won’t be hanging on for power’s sake (as are far too many other aged politicians).
The last line says it all,”The stakes are too high to screw around.” Let’s take this as the potentially fatal to democracy event that it truly is. Failure is not an option, so let’s all roll up our sleeves and get together.
If the press and news outlets or opinion writers stop asking people. "Do you think Bidens too old?" No one would really consider his age. Where is the article that Trump is too old (77)? Give me a break. Try talking about how Biden works out 5 days a week. Or how much legislative experience he has. This interview was annoying and just an excuse to talk about what other Democrats might gain power over the next few years.
Now if you wanted to have a discussion about Kamala's lack of experience, I'd agree. He needs a much stronger VP. They should retire Feinstein and put Kamala in her seat. I voted for her for Senate but she needs more experience for the VP job. Witmer or Shapiro or Newsom come to mind, but I bet there are others more suitable for VP. The Republicans are already saying they are running against Kamala. We need to take that narrative away from them. Democrats also need a better team of Publicists. They're getting creamed by the Republican echo machine.
I agree that a Whitmer-Warnock ticket would be very compelling. Both are battle hardened, dynamic rising stars within the Democratic Party from key swing states and if the primary field were wide open I would be an enthusiastic supporter.
It's not going to happen in 2024 though. At least in this universe. The idea that Biden would step aside, then Harris would do the same or lose traction in a contested primary, and the Democrats would then quickly and decisively coalesce around Gretchen Whitmer and Raphael Warnock - is fantastical wish casting. Several highly improbable events would have to occur in quick succession.
So several months after announcing his re-election bid, Biden would say 'just kidding' and suddenly decide not to run again? Because he suddenly realizes he's 81 years old? And Hunter has a lot of issues? And he's being blamed for last year's high inflation? I'm sure he's thought about all of this before making his decision. Also, Biden has wanted to be president for a long time - he ran for the first time in the 1980s and after several attempts finally got elected - and I am sure is confident in his ability to continue to hold the office. He's just going to walk away? Won't happen!
Then there's Kamala Harris. If Biden did step aside, what would she do? As the incumbent vice president she is the heir apparent and would be in a very favorable position to become the nominee. Obviously, she also has presidential ambitions, given her 2020 run. I would be amazed if she also decided to step aside and basically acknowledge the media narrative that she's unpopular. Biden could simply cite his age; Harris would be seen as giving in to the critics and the haters. Not to mention how bad it would look for the Democratic Party if both the incumbent president and vice president stepped aside. Harris would definitely run for the nomination, and if anyone else wanted to challenge her there would be a very contentious and divisive primary that would weaken the ultimate nominee and divide and damage the party.
Let's go back to the alternate universe where Biden and Harris both step aside. Would Whitmer and Warnock even decide to get in? Who else would run? Maybe Mayor Pete, Elizabeth Warren and/or Bernie Sanders? Would there be a battle between the progressive wing and more centrist wings of the party, like in 2016 and 2020? Because of the proportional delegate system the Democrats use, the nominee might not be decided until May or June. Like in 2016. A protracted primary battle for a party nomination is great for media ratings; not so much for the party. A lot of money, hundreds of millions of dollars, would be raised and spent by the candidates running in the primaries; contrast this with Biden's and the DNC's campaign war chest that is ready to be deployed in the general election.
Biden is going to be the Democratic nominee and Harris will be his running mate. Period. Any speculation about a unicorn alternative ticket is at this point a counterproductive waste of time.
Biden and his administration are doing a good job and there’s nothing wrong with him. It’s all about perceptions and how did those get so twisted? Anyhow, if Kamala could be persuaded to step aside and be replaced with someone less controversial and potentially even positively viewed, that would be ideal. Any chance?
Biden is too old but I would vote for Biden any day, any time to prevent the end of U.S. democracy. The Biden campaign does really need to show that this administration's steady hand and solid leadership has helped this country navigate some extreme economic and political turbulent waters. Biden did come into office when Covid was still racing and evolving into more virulent permutations throughout the world, while the scientific community was still trying to understand the virus. He came into office when the economy had taken a serious hit (unemployment at 6.3% in Jan. 2021, 6M unemployment insurance claims), supply chains were busted, Russia was planning to go to war with Ukraine, and inflation was starting to rear its ugly head. They need to shout about the administration's accomplishments, but not in a wonky way.
Frankly, Trump will be navigating multiple indictments, and although there are far too many people who currently say that they would vote for Trump in 2024, those indictments will take a toll on Trump. He won't be able to be on the campaign trail, hollering about all the crap he's always hollering about. He is going to be stuck squealing and whining on social media about how evil the Democrats, the DOJ, the courts are and how unfairly he has been treated. All that non-stop whining, the never-ending victim hood, doesn't sound Presidential in the least and is extremely off-putting for many.
Also, it is apparent the extreme stress that Trump is feeling right now, in his frantic and shrill social media posts, now that these indictments have come down. As the court cases get rolling, he's really gonna lose his $h*+ and it won't be helpful to his bid to be re-elected. Sure, the real kool-aid drinkers won't fall off, but the more moderate Rs and Independents will find it all embarrassing, exhausting and frightening.
I think I'm in love with Mike Murphy. My husband understands.
Since time out of mind (as a political activist), I have begged, wheedled, whined unto the left to get its messaging in order. As in, "Sell the damn product!!" With strong voices and conviction!
CUT the deathless prose. Both content and length.
DON'T assume that everyone KNOWS what words/phrases like inflation, gross national product, etc., etc., etc. mean. Many may not.
DON'T cave to the response that to go simple means dumbing down. It doesn't.
PAY ATTENTION all along the way to the fact that individuals may have varied needs and understandings, but the common denominator is that there's some element of, "What's in it for me to vote for you? For my family? For my small business? In language I can understand!"
BE PRO-ACTIVE. For far too long a time, the left's apparent raison d'être is to respond to right, i.e., to be reactive. The right is much better at pro-active messaging (think GOP genius Frank Luntz) than the left has ever been. There's no place for timidity nor tippy-toeing lest someone be irked by strong truths.
GEEZ LOUISE! The way the left traditionally pedals weak messaging to we the people in an attempt to persuade us is like fighting a forest fire with a squirt gun.
As a writer/editor/communicator, I'm verklempt about all of this. Talk among yourselves.
If Biden loses, it will be because the voters think he’s too damn old and they hate Kamala. Ignoring the opinion of the majority, dismissing their concerns as trivial and unwarranted, is disrespectful and alienating. It risks losing their votes to a 3rd party candidate and suppressing turnout altogether. A Whitmer-Warnock ticket would be appealing to Dems, Indy’s, and disaffected Republicans. Having them jump in late would excite the electorate no end. Plus, it would knock Republicans off their game entirely.
I appreciate and respect Joe Biden, and he’s done a great job as president in this term. I’m not happy that he’s running again (thereby negating any other great candidate in 2024), and Kamala wasn’t my pick for VP, but democracy is truly at stake. I’m voting blue, blue, blue. This democratic republic’s survival depends on it.
Forgive my wicked humor:
“Hi, I’m Joe Biden. I might be in older but I can bench press Donald Trump’s pre-reported weight, go for a morning run, do a couple of rounds self-defense combat with the shepherds, have my Wheaties and still be at my desk by 8am. If you’re still on the fence, I beat Trump’s mental cognition test by taking it more than once! Six months later, I still got it: person, woman, man, camera, TV! Now that we got the important things out of the way, let me tell you where we were as a country when I took office, where we’re at, and where we still need to get to. Let’s not switch out the starter to put in a third string quarterback when we’re at 1st and goal in sudden death overtime! Why choose between age and beauty - I got both! I’m tall, too, and my ties are a normal length!”
Seriously, though, this constant focus on Biden’s age is a self fulfilling prophecy. It didn’t start out with the voters and filter up to the politics, it’s been drummed into them by political actors. The far left and far right are both harping on it for different reasons, none of them good for 2024.
Mike Murphy is hilarious; his rapid-fire repartee was really funny but also got to the heart of many of the issues in this political campaign. I didn't think I could laugh about any of this, but his images for the unfolding clown show really got to the heart of many issues. Regarding Biden's age, I find myself ticking off all of Biden's accomplishments to people who write off all he has done to focus on his age, but Mike is right. This perception needs to be recognized and managed. Biden has a stiff walk (arthritis, neuropathy in feet), and his tendency to make verbal mistakes on the fly is attributed to a lack of mental acuity. This is a shame because he has accomplished so much.
I guess Biden should just resign and hand it over to Trump.
Will, Will, Will.... "But in the case of her husband, it's the book of revelations" - further evidence, (not that any is needed) that the genius move by The Bulwark of bringing Will on board is undeniable. Gold medal in the Olympics of Retorts.
The MAGA/GOP is doing their diabolical best to age Biden by going after his last surviving son. That stress is compounded by Joe not feeling he can intervene. He's in a lose/lose situation with Hunter and that ages you. The MAGA/GOP is truly despicable. I am ecstatic that Raskin is formally petitioning Comer to pursue an investigation of Jared Kushner's dealings with Saudi Arabia. I don't think this will effect TFG one bit, but it does level the playing field for Biden.
There is a good 7-min piece on Ch. 4 in Britain (find it on YouTube) about whether politicians should have a maximum age limit for office, taking on Biden, McConnell, et al. It is much more balanced reporting than we get in the US. It recalled Reagan's great line on "not exploiting his opponent's youth and inexperience."
I really like to listen to Murphy but the last time he won an election was...never...?