General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThere is one person I believe would, absolutely, positively, beat Trump - Joe Biden.
If Joe runs, Joe will win. We must win.
in2herbs
(2,945 posts)(and other senior democrats) holding some cabinet or administrative position that closely advises the new president. Thus, I think the candidate that makes it to the finals must openly lay claim to the use of long-term dems for advice.
dchill
(38,489 posts)Intelligence, compassion, wisdom - rarer in youth than in age.
Laura PourMeADrink
(42,770 posts)picture - above personal preferences. I think if we go with someone with the core values deep in their soul, we can't go wrong. Along with someone who has enough experience to know what will go over with masses - or at least can think incrementally, as not to scare everyone away.
trof
(54,256 posts)I'm 77.
My short term memory is zip.
I have limited vision.
ARMD
Biden is a year younger than I am.
In 2020 he'll be 78.
He's a nice, smart guy.
I like him, but he would be the oldest president ever elected.
We need younger candidates.
calguy
(5,306 posts)The better I used to be.
treestar
(82,383 posts)That is what does it.
Biden, Pelosi and others did not.
That keeps their short term memories good.
See also RBG.
Laura PourMeADrink
(42,770 posts)hlthe2b
(102,253 posts)Personally, I think a Biden/Harris team would be nearly unstoppable.
Laura PourMeADrink
(42,770 posts)how old they are should be second.
Stuart G
(38,421 posts)be a secondary consideration to a great majority of voters in the U.S.A. right now. Joe Biden has proven is competence, and Donald Trump has proven his "incompetence" And Joe will win if he runs.
in2herbs
(2,945 posts)turned so gray in just 8 years. Being a good president is a tough job. I want someone who will be physically and mentally able to do the job for one or two terms, and if older, not be chosen because of the choice of a VP to qualify for the top job.
Bradshaw3
(7,520 posts)treestar
(82,383 posts)Due to progression from age 47 to age 55. That happens no matter what stress you have. Obama was not stressed by the presidency. He is the ultimate of aplomb. Genetics too. I had a lot of grey before 40 and was never president. It was going to happen whether I felt stress or not.
oberliner
(58,724 posts)Laura PourMeADrink
(42,770 posts)to blue - just because of the inherent sexism/racism that still abounds (with this generation at least).
oberliner
(58,724 posts)With her at the top of the ticket.
Kingofalldems
(38,454 posts)Any polling to back that up?
oberliner
(58,724 posts)Like Kamala Harris.
In NC, Trump barely squeaked by in 2016 - I think Harris could help get out the African-American vote even more strongly - enough to put the state in the D column.
Florida was similarly extremely close in 2016, and I feel like she could put us over the top there as well.
No polling yet - but I am not sure that polling this far out would be particularly instructive to be honest.
standingtall
(2,785 posts)and the cheaters are now in control of the of the states election machinery to cheat even more. I do not see why someone from California would do any better there. For Democrats to win in right leaning swing States they have to be at least 5 to 10 points better to overcome voter suppression and the cheating tactics of republicans.
Dem_4_Life
(1,765 posts)Too much Racism and Sexism still exists but there is also a lot of Trump hatred that if we pick the right candidate then we could possibly turn TX Blue.
Laura PourMeADrink
(42,770 posts)know in your gut, based on knowing the people around you, who could win and would would definitely not win. It's my selfish motive - turn TX blue !!
Dem_4_Life
(1,765 posts)Plus not hearing people saying Texas will never turn blue or maybe in 4-8 years HAHA
It is finally time if we have a solid middle of the country type of candidate.
Laura PourMeADrink
(42,770 posts)at Facebook and the tortured, negative, phony ads that went viral.
If we pick up TX then not as much pressure on FL and OH
Amishman
(5,557 posts)I see overlap with where and how we under performed in 2016
Biden would do very well in PA.
oberliner
(58,724 posts)Also North Carolina.
Laura PourMeADrink
(42,770 posts)oberliner
(58,724 posts)I feel like she can have the same success that Gillum did plus a bit more, enough to put her over the top there. She has a lot of the same policy proposals as Gillum with more experience on the national stage and a higher profile.
Dream Girl
(5,111 posts)oberliner
(58,724 posts)And that was with all the Russian crap going on and before these years of Trump's awfulness as POTUS.
I really feel like Kamala Harris would be able to win the state.
Laura PourMeADrink
(42,770 posts)TX blue. Feel like we are being left behind here.
But, I'll take a breath and not get too depressed yet Who knows.
Just left pedicure where two women who sat next to me said "Democrats" like we are the devil incarnate, and when Pelosi came on TV, they said "I HATE her, she reminds me of Hillary (again spewing it like she was total evil). Right wing media and Mom-book did a number on her, for sure. We're talking very low info people here in red part of TX.
Lesson learned for me - don't HATE all republicans. Consider nuance and save HATE for those who truly deserve it.
Amishman
(5,557 posts)It's part of what would hurt her in PA as well, some states really love their guns.
Laura PourMeADrink
(42,770 posts)really know who we are running against. What if it's a liberal republican. LOL
Doreen
(11,686 posts)He is just as a wonderful man as Obama. We are always talking about Obama and put Biden in the background. Yes, he was the "vice" president but he was one hell of a good "vice" president. He is my first choice and I hope he runs for president. Oh yeah, just a dream of mine but I would love a Biden/Beto ticket. Yes, you do not have to tell me it won't happen but it is a nice dream.
Laura PourMeADrink
(42,770 posts)not wait until the convention. Ya, he's old, but there's youth with him to counterbalance. Also like the slogan BB2020
You hit the nail on the head - after Trump, I think people are craving decency, wisdom, caution, and tradition. The anti-thesis of DJT
33taw
(2,440 posts)Beto get his teeth cleaned, didnt do a lot to instill confidence in his judgment.
Hoyt
(54,770 posts)thing -- and his herky jerky dance he does when giving a speech -- just doesn't do it for me (hope he doesn't have some kind of physical challenge I don't know about). He will fade fast.
Plus, I am totally against two white men on the ticket. Just think that is wrong for Democrats in 2020, even if it were a guaranteed winner.
pnwmom
(108,977 posts)the Republican running for re-election in Congress in 2018, and refuse to even talk to the Democrat about an endorsement?
His supposed reason was because they guy voted for Biden's cancer research bill -- but Upton also tried to repeal the ACA. He's not an ally.
Bradshaw3
(7,520 posts)You make it sound like he took money to "help Fred Upton, a repub running for re-election" as though he was helping his campaign. He took it as part of a speaking engagement related to Upton's support for cancer research. I think it was the wrong thing to do but to make it sound like he was supporting a repub's re-election is dishonest.
pnwmom
(108,977 posts)campaign ads about Biden's appearance at Upton's event.
And what was his excuse about not even speaking to the Democrat? That he only endorsed candidates in races that would matter. Well, it could have mattered A LOT in this race, but Biden wouldn't even return a phone call.
Bradshaw3
(7,520 posts)You say Biden knew that it would help the repub. Just how do you know that? Have a quote from him from a reliable news source? I doubt he knew that commericals would be made from it; you can blame him for naievte but you are doing it again: implying that he knowlingly was trying to help the repub candidate with no proof of that whatsoever. It was a dumb thing he did, and he shouldn't have done it but there is nothing to indicate he did it to help the repub.
pnwmom
(108,977 posts)that Upton would milk this for all it was worth. No, Biden is NOT that naive. He also knew he took his $200K speaking fee from Republican sponsors including the Frederick S. Upton Foundation, connected to Representative Upton's family.
You still haven't explained why Biden refused to even talk to the Democrat's campaign about endorsing the Democrat.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/23/us/politics/biden-speech-fred-upton.html
Eric Lester, a retired physician who chaired the Democratic Party in Berrien County, Mich., during the midterms, said he viewed Mr. Bidens supportive remarks about Mr. Upton as a betrayal. Mr. Lester, who attended the speech, said he had confronted an aide to Mr. Biden in the hallway, telling him the former vice president had badly damaged the Democratic cause.
It just gives Fred Upton cover and makes it possible for him to continue to pretend to be a useful, bipartisan fellow, Mr. Lester recalled saying, adding, I entered the hall with positive feelings about Mr. Biden and felt very frustrated.
SNIP
The speaking contract for Mr. Bidens October appearance in Michigan suggests that the popular Democrat would have known he was addressing a Republican-leaning crowd. The speaking series was underwritten in part by organizations connected to Mr. Uptons family: Among the biggest sponsors listed on the Economic Clubs website are the Whirlpool Corporation, which was co-founded by Mr. Uptons grandfather, and the Frederick S. Upton Foundation, a family charity named for the same man.
The contract for Mr. Bidens visit shows he was paid $200,000 for his appearance, including a $150,000 speaking fee and a $50,000 travel allowance. It also specifies that the audience would be primarily older, conservative Republicans and local community members. The document was disclosed in response to a Freedom of Information request made by America Rising, a Republican group that conducts research on Democratic candidates.
Desert grandma
(804 posts)Joe brings experience and the ability to appeal to a large number of working class people in the Midwest and elsewhere. He is likeable and I could see a ticket with Joe and any one of our great progressive candidates. Others could be appointed to a Biden cabinet, maybe? Attorney General Kamala Harris, perhaps?
Laura PourMeADrink
(42,770 posts)departments. Just think bigger and stand down just so we are SURE we can get rid of the monster. Besides, we are already scaring people with the republicans and media saying we will raise taxes to 70%. (They don't hear the fine print). Or that thousands upon thousands of private health care providers will lose their jobs when those companies belly up.
Spend some time coming up with a way to figure out a transitional, incremental approach to medicare for all. Cut off a chunk and pass it. I don't know if there are examples of countries that weren't socialist in nature already that went big bang - from for-profit, capitalist health care to single payer. Maybe there are some - just haven't researched.
delisen
(6,043 posts)Biden was vp. He got re-elected in 2012 but the party did not recover.
He Wrote and voted for the Crime bill that the far left used to vilify H Clinton (when she did not even hold elective office).
He is a reliable supporter of big banks and the credit card industry-and let interest rates rise to serious rates on credit card -plunging many into bankruptcy for trying to pay off medical bills.
Biden will be decimated by Russian interference-which has not yet been successfully combated.
He issued no warnings to us voters in 2016 about Russian interference.
I don't recall his doing much about the Rust Belt during his decades in office.
(The rust belt rusted a long time ago. Michael Moore detailed the downfall of Flint, Michigan in the 1980s. The runaway shop and globalization actually started two decades earlier when the New England industries fled the higher-wage and higher taxed north to the American south to take advantage of the low wage, low tax, anti-worker territory and thence onward to Mexico).
Lots of union members got early retirements when the various companies absconded. In fact that entire early generation is now mostly dead. Another contingent comprised "Democrats of Reagan."
Biden is a non-starter-and I have't even got into his performance regarding Anita Hill
Laura PourMeADrink
(42,770 posts)high back then, weren't they? And, I would say most of the population has changed their attitudes since a million years ago in Anita Hill days. To blame us losing 1000 seats on Biden is a real stretch.
my two cents
delisen
(6,043 posts)subject to bs attacks just as Clinton was. He will be subject to Russian interference just as Clinton was.
Of course it is possible that Putin may prefer a Biden to a damaged Trump or to whatever other candidate Republicans may turn to.I have no way of knowing. It is quite likely that Trump will not be running.
In any caseI don't think Biden will be effective as either a candidate or a president-the issues we are facing are immense.Climate change is accelerating and comes with likely mass migrations, disruptions and many unknowns, many unknowns, we are no longer regarded as leaderof the free world, we are soon to be no longer the world's biggest economy. We may be facing a jobless future for many.
The freedom movement of women worldwide is growing rapidly, as are the anti-democracy.fascism forces. We are in a new-style Cold War. Russia breached our defenses with a non-military attack. I think Biden was clueless
I don't think he has vision or the background to handle this; nor do I think he can rally the right people.
Maven
(10,533 posts)through bankruptcy.
He will make young progressives flee the party. Not to mention dampening enthusiasm among women, people of color, and other vital constituencies in a year when we have the most diverse roster of candidates ever.
Doremus
(7,261 posts)We nominate him at our own peril. 2016 redux anyone?
Laura PourMeADrink
(42,770 posts)Beto and we'd have a very high probability of taking TX. Maybe that's the future model? forget FL and OH - and shoot more toward turning GA, TX and AZ blue.
Gothmog
(145,195 posts)Laura PourMeADrink
(42,770 posts)Gothmog
(145,195 posts)enough
(13,259 posts)If he is our candidate, I will vote for him, of course.
bdamomma
(63,849 posts)this would be an interesting pair Biden/Harris or Biden/Warren. hmm............. what do you DU'ers think?
pnwmom
(108,977 posts)that enthusiastic about him, but I don't happen to know any.
Laura PourMeADrink
(42,770 posts)Sugarcoated
(7,723 posts)Many of them women. I really underestimated the dislike here to her. They either voted just for the down-ticket, or for Clinton very unenthusiastically. "If only Joe had run...." I've heard this more than once from some of these people. Men, women, we all love Joe Biden here and he would win Pennsylvania back easily.
pnwmom
(108,977 posts)preferences in places like PA might not matter that much.
Sugarcoated
(7,723 posts)and probably the other rust belt states.
pnwmom
(108,977 posts)Laura PourMeADrink
(42,770 posts)Bright blue nominating progressive and rest center left. Hope I used those terms correctly. Do you think it might it breakdown similar to Bernie & Hillary?
pnwmom
(108,977 posts)but it's just a feeling, nothing more.
And now there's the Schultz wild card. Ugh.
Laura PourMeADrink
(42,770 posts)Seriously. Of course I wanted to get rid of bush too. But it wasn't a matter of life and death. (Except for the Iraqis for sure).
I feel like DU is split already. Half think it's a prime time to finally get a true progressive in. The other half are more cautious and and getting Trump out and winning the White House back is the most important thing.
But like you say..too early..bet he won't even run.
pnwmom
(108,977 posts)I don't know who that will be yet, but I don't think it will be Biden, Sanders, or Clinton.
But it could possibly be someone considered more centrist, but still a solid Democrat, like Klobuchar or Brown. (Brown is actually progressive.)
Laura PourMeADrink
(42,770 posts)Why Sheldon Whitehouse doesn't consider. Think he's cool.
Just hit me that a Castro/Castro ticket would be cool.
Laura PourMeADrink
(42,770 posts)Report as bad as we think..it will be a totally different repuke. Best case they nominate Dipshit pence.
pnwmom
(108,977 posts)they're going to see the light and nominate Nikki Haley.
Imagine the first woman President being Nikki Haley. It's not beyond the realm of possibility, no matter what DU thinks about her. She has managed to keep her head above water, and I've never heard anyone (except maybe here) say she was unlikable. If the Rethugs were smart, they would turn the page on Trump forever by nominating her.
So we have to calculate who would be best against people as different as Donald Trump, Mike Pence, and Nikki Haley. Good luck on that!
Laura PourMeADrink
(42,770 posts)servant would.
Fashion major Haley. Great creds!
Sugarcoated
(7,723 posts)then he will
treestar
(82,383 posts)Who can win the swing states? That is what matters
pnwmom
(108,977 posts)to the primaries.
Please see my post below. This is the conventional white guy wisdom talking, and it completely misapprehends who is driving the re-invigoration of our party -- women, people of color, young people. Joe isn't going to win back MAGA cultists, either.
RT Atlanta
(2,517 posts)I personally believe age should be considered for all candidates as a factor in their current competency to both campaign and also to serve out the term for which they are running.
There are other persons - whether declared or not - that can beat donnie t and his russian supporters.
In any event, I will vote for Joe, a yella dog, or whomever is the D nominee.
Laura PourMeADrink
(42,770 posts)RT Atlanta
(2,517 posts)Kamala's message resonates well and having her on the ballot along with, I am proud to say, my rep Lucy McBath, would bring a lot of good folks to the polls.
The challenge here in GA is the whole 'fair fight' - purged voter rolls and the god-damned mechanism for taking the votes. Diebold is what we have had for years with no verifiable way to audit. The issues with purged voters from last year's gov. race were well publicized.
Laura PourMeADrink
(42,770 posts)RT Atlanta
(2,517 posts)but if she references voter purgers, etc., it will probably be in a broader context (e.g. Kansas efforts) and not just GA specific.
I hope she'll also reference McTurtle's disgusting comments yesterday rebuffing the D's efforts to make the national election day a national holiday to ensure the electorate has an easier time getting to the polls to vote.
Farmer-Rick
(10,169 posts)It's time for anyone else. And I say that as an old white man myself.
Doremus
(7,261 posts)Biden's dragging around heavy baggage. Younger candidates are much more promising imo.
treestar
(82,383 posts)Are fine with me.
Stuart G
(38,421 posts)Michelle Obama. And yes, I would send money and vote for Michelle..
Celerity
(43,349 posts)Shame she will not run.
Sugarcoated
(7,723 posts)Pennsylvania and the other blue collar-blue states that we lost for sure, maybe even Ohio.
honest.abe
(8,678 posts)I can just hear Trump making jokes about Biden's age... calling him a old has been, confused old man.. reminding us of the gaffes Biden has made in the past. Not sure Biden will be quick enough to counter Trump's biting insults. Trump is an idiot but he is certainly good at the insult game. That's how he got the Republican nomination in 2016. Biden is a good ole boy and not sure he wants to play the insult game. He is likely to just smile and let it ride. I love Joe but it's time for a new, fresh, younger face to counter Trump. Someone who is quick on their feet and not hesitant to attack Trump right back.. someone like Kamala Harris.
Sugarcoated
(7,723 posts)It'll be the blue collar champion vs Richie Rich.
mainstreetonce
(4,178 posts)Joe is 61 years old
I believe it.
emulatorloo
(44,120 posts)You must have not seen Biden debate Ryan if you think he would hesitate to attack or wont play the insult game
I dunno who I support yet but not ruling Biden out if he runs.
honest.abe
(8,678 posts)but I just think Kamala is better bet at this point in time.
emulatorloo
(44,120 posts)I am very impressed
womanofthehills
(8,703 posts)She speaks so well - and is inspirational. Love her smile. Most all of my women friends love her.
colsohlibgal
(5,275 posts)First off he is just too old. I like Joe but....remember Reagan his last year or 2?
I think we have more than a few younger potential candidates who could beat this abomination, Kamala Harris, Elizabeth Warren, Sherrod Brown and others.
It would be a 100% lock if we did not still have the ridiculous Electoral College. If we were not still stuck with that scam no Trump no Dubya.
BTW Columbus, where I live has about twice as many people as Wyoming, Wyoming gets two senators just like oh, California does, California having a population larger than a lot of countries.
The built in advantage for the right is just not fair in this day and age.
obnoxiousdrunk
(2,910 posts)Trump only if he can win the primary.
OhZone
(3,212 posts)OhYeah!
And I had friends say I was a Hillary Only fanatic on my FB and one of my wacky forums.
But, no, I'm almost any Dem over a Con!
Thekaspervote
(32,764 posts)OhZone
(3,212 posts)"How did Biden succeed in neutralizing Paul Ryan when Ryan was making nearly the same case in nearly the same way Mitt Romney did last week? He broke the Gish Gallop.
Named after the creationist Duane Gish, the Gallop is a tactic wherein a debater spews so many lies and half-truths that rebutting each one is impossible. The technique leaves their opponent shaken and unable to make clear arguments.
Biden clearly made the decision that he was going to impede Ryans ability to lie confidently. Ryan went at the vice president with distortions on every issue from Iran to abortion. And Biden refused to let any go. He used his facial reactions and interjections to contest the lies, demanded his equal time and tied it all together with his somewhat mocking, Senatorial use of my friend. What was key to his strategy is that he actually spent little of his time rebutting facts. Instead he quickly bridged to his own arguments."
peggysue2
(10,828 posts)laughed right in Ryan's face during the debates as Ryan trotted out the standard GOP line of a 20% tax cut and making America safe in the world again. Item by item, Joe Biden pulled down Ryan's pants on his ideological nonsense, threw his hands up with Ryan's outlandish claims and made a stark contrast between someone who knew what he was talking about vs Ryan's thin, soul-weary script.
I have no doubt that Joe Biden would make hash browns out of the Trumpster's no-nothing posture and bloviating claims.
No competition, not even close.
Joe Biden has yet to commit. But if he does, the pre-primary race will take a sudden U-turn.
Maven
(10,533 posts)Biden has as many liabilities as any other candidate. 2018 was defined by women and people of color in the Democratic base propelling us to victory and changing the face (literally) of the House of Representatives. Now we're going to pick an old white dude as the party leader? In 2020?
Bottom line, choosing Biden will dampen the enthusiasm of important constituencies within our party and I'm not convinced that he's got the magic touch to bring back Midwestern MAGAs as so many have claimed. Those people are in a cult. They aren't coming back.
OhZone
(3,212 posts)It was very close in the swing states. With Trump losing bits of his base, it's going to be hard for him to win the Midwest again against any Democrat, but Biden has roots and is loved in PA and other places by many.
Being so close, his slight Midwest positive might be all we need there.
underpants
(182,797 posts)SCantiGOP
(13,869 posts)Joe941
(2,848 posts)Go Biden!
Stuart G
(38,421 posts)win by a large enough margin to beat Trump so there is no recount. No closeness. No question of the outcome.
Please note that Mr. Trump has done nothing on a nation wide basis to ensure that questions about the closeness of the outcome are not repeated..(that is questions of cheating and changing votes)
...He has done nothing. No national laws that I know about to make elections totally safe and reliable. therefore, we must win big. I think Trump is so bad that the Democrats will win big. I sure hope so.
marybourg
(12,631 posts)one of the other, younger, more progressive candidates.
tavernier
(12,388 posts)and show him the way out of the servants entrance of OUR WHITE HOUSE.
Kurt V.
(5,624 posts)Stuart G
(38,421 posts)long as we WIN..
Kurt V.
(5,624 posts)mostly male opponents worries me.
womanofthehills
(8,703 posts)The straw polls are all over the place. Here is Daily Kos first primary straw poll with 35,000 voters. i voted in this poll for Kamala.
shanny
(6,709 posts)But as much as I like Joe Biden, as a person, I don't think he's the right guy, at this time. Joe represents a return to the status quo ante and while that is a far better place than this, the nation has moved on. We have a ton of issues that are hanging fire and getting back to where we were is not gonna fix them. I don't see Biden leading the charge to transform this country and the world.
Stuart G
(38,421 posts)she isn't running. And I know Hillary represents the some of the past. But Hillary could wipe his ass. Sorry I had to say it. Yes, people will argue with me on that. So I will name another lady who would do the exact same thing: Michelle Obama. end of rant. (besides it ain't going to happen, that is ok, this is a discussion about an election more than 20 months away)......and again, ..We must WIN (and which ever Democrat runs,...We MUST WIN !!!!)
obamanut2012
(26,071 posts)Predictable as fuck.
WeekiWater
(3,259 posts)Last edited Thu Jan 31, 2019, 09:57 PM - Edit history (1)
I really am not big on these arguments. They are almost alway void of any argument that would work for others, or simply void of any argument at all.
I like Biden but he doesnt excite me as a possible primary entrant. I do like it when he speaks for us, sometimes.
Stuart G
(38,421 posts)WeekiWater
(3,259 posts)Autumn
(45,072 posts)emulatorloo
(44,120 posts)Autumn
(45,072 posts)Stuart G
(38,421 posts)On Feb 11, 2007 a senator from my state, Illinois, announced he was running for President. When he did that, I didn't think he had a chance, and boy was I wrong...WRONG, WRONG AND WRONG..!!!!!!
So it is so early, that anything can happen, and often does...(Who is in the WHITE HOUSE NOW?)
Crunchy Frog
(26,582 posts)I think it's very dangerous to view any potential candidate as a certain win. We saw how that went in 2016.
Complacency is the last thing that we can afford right now.
MadDAsHell
(2,067 posts)Though I said the same when we were running the most qualified candidate in history.
democratisphere
(17,235 posts)Something to consider.
Joe941
(2,848 posts)LakeArenal
(28,817 posts)Go With Joe. Bet On Beto.
Im ready for 2020
pnwmom
(108,977 posts)How would that make any sense for the Democratic ticket?
LakeArenal
(28,817 posts)Also I dont have to validate to anyone my opinion. Im not alone in that opinion.
Maybe take up your sarcasm with them.
McCamy Taylor
(19,240 posts)At least that is what some folks keeping telling me. And "some folks" would not lie. Would they?
WheelWalker
(8,955 posts)The times are not ordinary. Now is the time for Joe Biden.