Obviously president is a big job. But I think it's nonsensical to act like it's some sort of athletic gig. There's a staff, advisers and experts to confer with on any issue that comes up during a presidency. There's a constitutionally created succession plan in a vice-president should anything happen to a president. Biden's got 2 jobs right now - to be the president AND to win an election in November. I don't know if he can convince enough of our superficial and impressionable citizenry to bother voting for him again, and the discussion of a practical alternative exists, but the only realistic, real world alternative to run in Nov. is Harris. That's just the reality when considering name recognition and pledged delegates and even a bit of racial identity (and gender) in the mix.Stop, just stop, with the argument of "how will he be in 4 years". If he gets re-elected, a VP with exactly the same administrative staff will step in.
That's a might big "if." I am not troubled by his serving four more years as President for the reasons you cite. The problem is he's not going to get that chance because nearly 75% of the public doesn't think he's fit for another term. That's just reality. Biden is likely going to lose if the Ds don't change their nominee.
I do not have your crystal ball. As a European I assure you Trump scares all of us. He will pull out of NATO and stop support for Ukraine. Not to mention all the new power he was given by the Supreme Court. We all need to recognize the job Biden has done and will do. Not to mention the superior people he has elevated to important roles.
Biden will have the Admin. needed to continue. Replacing him now (rather than in '23 or early '24) is foolish. The mass population should all support Biden as Trump has already told the elites what he'll do to help them. Trump has the wealthy/big business, the Republican pols, right-wing SCOTUS, and the magas. The remainder of Republicans, hopefully, will finally understand his indecency, ineptness, greed/narcissism, disinterest in laws binding him from what he feels he needs to do to increase/keep power.
Sure the people should all support Biden, but the reality is they won't, and there is nothing we can do about that, and neither can Biden. Concerns about his age will not go away. It's too late for Republicans, they are lost in a cult. No one on their side is going to save us.
The reality we live in. In no reality will the great majority of voters in this country all of a sudden see the light regarding Trump (within the next four months!) and vote for Biden. The post I was replying to implied that we can't replace Biden because the people (including independents and "sensible" Republicans) should support him and turn against Trump. Sorry, that's just not going to happen.
You're right on his chances seeming pretty slim. But if they end up keeping Biden as the candidate anyway, I would hope the 'next 4 years' point doesn't get beaten to death and become another 'brainworm' in the average low-info voter's mind.
Yes, we have a VP "if" he gets elected who can step in, but you have to agree that this is not an ideal situation that will convince undecided voters to vote D. "Don't worry, the VP can step in if the President is mentally incapable" does not make a compelling campaign message!
They aren't ready until they are, it has to happen sometime. Regarding the polls, she's certainly doing well enough to be within the margin of error. Sure, they aren't 100% reliable, but there is a difference between polling say 2 pts behind vs 20 points behind.
Every single pundit, newspaper editorial board, columnist, and Democratic congressperson (fuck off, Lloyd Doggett, IтАЩd voted for you in Texas every two years since the тАШ70s) should make it super-clear тАФ all day, every day and in a voice that can be heard тАФ that nothing less than American democracy is at stake this November. That conversation should start happening right now.
V
The chaos Biden's alleged unfitness has unleashed doesnтАЩt come close to whatтАЩs actually at stake this November: Americans voting either to recommit themselves to Democracy or to surrender to fascism. ThatтАЩs it. Treason is legal now.
You vote for Biden or for Harris or for whoever is the head of the Democratic ticket; or you prepare for a life run by fascists. Should you not vote at all or choose to vote for a third party candidate, expect an autocracy.
No. Only if the VP dies before a successor VP is chosen by them. That choice has to be approved by both chambers of congress, but it won't be the House leader.
I'm always confused by this. People (generally on the Left and Democratic voters) insist that America will never elect a woman to the presidency because of sexism/misogyny, or a black person because of racism (Obama was the exception that proves the rule I guess?). Then why do these same people insist that the party diversify and nominate more women/people of color and stop having old white guys at the top of the ticket? Don't the Dems want to win?
It's not easy, but not impossible. All of Trump's weaknesses you mentioned in another previous post still apply vs Harris (and his age being a big weakness). Counterintuitively it would probably be easier for the GOP to get a woman or non-white candidate elected president, except they don't have enough of either to be taken seriously. Tribalism is a much bigger factor than ethnicity and sex when it comes to politics in America. Anyone who wouldn't vote for Harris because she's a black woman probably wouldn't vote for Biden either, because that voter is already firmly in the GOP camp.
Obviously president is a big job. But I think it's nonsensical to act like it's some sort of athletic gig. There's a staff, advisers and experts to confer with on any issue that comes up during a presidency. There's a constitutionally created succession plan in a vice-president should anything happen to a president. Biden's got 2 jobs right now - to be the president AND to win an election in November. I don't know if he can convince enough of our superficial and impressionable citizenry to bother voting for him again, and the discussion of a practical alternative exists, but the only realistic, real world alternative to run in Nov. is Harris. That's just the reality when considering name recognition and pledged delegates and even a bit of racial identity (and gender) in the mix.Stop, just stop, with the argument of "how will he be in 4 years". If he gets re-elected, a VP with exactly the same administrative staff will step in.
"superficial and impressionable citizenry" You hit the nail on the head with that description!
"If he gets re-elected..."
That's a might big "if." I am not troubled by his serving four more years as President for the reasons you cite. The problem is he's not going to get that chance because nearly 75% of the public doesn't think he's fit for another term. That's just reality. Biden is likely going to lose if the Ds don't change their nominee.
I do not have your crystal ball. As a European I assure you Trump scares all of us. He will pull out of NATO and stop support for Ukraine. Not to mention all the new power he was given by the Supreme Court. We all need to recognize the job Biden has done and will do. Not to mention the superior people he has elevated to important roles.
Biden will have the Admin. needed to continue. Replacing him now (rather than in '23 or early '24) is foolish. The mass population should all support Biden as Trump has already told the elites what he'll do to help them. Trump has the wealthy/big business, the Republican pols, right-wing SCOTUS, and the magas. The remainder of Republicans, hopefully, will finally understand his indecency, ineptness, greed/narcissism, disinterest in laws binding him from what he feels he needs to do to increase/keep power.
Sure the people should all support Biden, but the reality is they won't, and there is nothing we can do about that, and neither can Biden. Concerns about his age will not go away. It's too late for Republicans, they are lost in a cult. No one on their side is going to save us.
The reality we live in. In no reality will the great majority of voters in this country all of a sudden see the light regarding Trump (within the next four months!) and vote for Biden. The post I was replying to implied that we can't replace Biden because the people (including independents and "sensible" Republicans) should support him and turn against Trump. Sorry, that's just not going to happen.
Will Biden make them understand that?
You're right on his chances seeming pretty slim. But if they end up keeping Biden as the candidate anyway, I would hope the 'next 4 years' point doesn't get beaten to death and become another 'brainworm' in the average low-info voter's mind.
You realize that is all in the past, right?
Of course its not about who to vote for.
It's about who can campaign effectively
Yes, we have a VP "if" he gets elected who can step in, but you have to agree that this is not an ideal situation that will convince undecided voters to vote D. "Don't worry, the VP can step in if the President is mentally incapable" does not make a compelling campaign message!
Not sure about that, at least one recent poll has Harris doing better against Trump vs Biden against Trump.
They aren't ready until they are, it has to happen sometime. Regarding the polls, she's certainly doing well enough to be within the margin of error. Sure, they aren't 100% reliable, but there is a difference between polling say 2 pts behind vs 20 points behind.
It's the campaign he can't do
Every single pundit, newspaper editorial board, columnist, and Democratic congressperson (fuck off, Lloyd Doggett, IтАЩd voted for you in Texas every two years since the тАШ70s) should make it super-clear тАФ all day, every day and in a voice that can be heard тАФ that nothing less than American democracy is at stake this November. That conversation should start happening right now.
V
The chaos Biden's alleged unfitness has unleashed doesnтАЩt come close to whatтАЩs actually at stake this November: Americans voting either to recommit themselves to Democracy or to surrender to fascism. ThatтАЩs it. Treason is legal now.
You vote for Biden or for Harris or for whoever is the head of the Democratic ticket; or you prepare for a life run by fascists. Should you not vote at all or choose to vote for a third party candidate, expect an autocracy.
Since Mike Johnson is 2nd in line for the presidency, does that make him vice president?
No. Only if the VP dies before a successor VP is chosen by them. That choice has to be approved by both chambers of congress, but it won't be the House leader.
Thank you. I was worried about that.
I'm always confused by this. People (generally on the Left and Democratic voters) insist that America will never elect a woman to the presidency because of sexism/misogyny, or a black person because of racism (Obama was the exception that proves the rule I guess?). Then why do these same people insist that the party diversify and nominate more women/people of color and stop having old white guys at the top of the ticket? Don't the Dems want to win?
It's not easy, but not impossible. All of Trump's weaknesses you mentioned in another previous post still apply vs Harris (and his age being a big weakness). Counterintuitively it would probably be easier for the GOP to get a woman or non-white candidate elected president, except they don't have enough of either to be taken seriously. Tribalism is a much bigger factor than ethnicity and sex when it comes to politics in America. Anyone who wouldn't vote for Harris because she's a black woman probably wouldn't vote for Biden either, because that voter is already firmly in the GOP camp.