Biden mistakes Theresa May for Margaret Thatcher ... again

[LonePirate]

Link to tweet

Daniel Dale @ddale8

Biden referred to Theresa May as “Margaret Thatcher” tonight, the second time he’s done that since May.

Once could be seen as an unintentional mistake. But twice? Given his poor kids/white kids flub this evening as well, it's taking the shine off his speech on Wednesday. He was not in my Top 3 prior to this week and he's certainly not there now. I will vote for him in the general; but I cannot give my primary vote to him.

[Buzz cook]

1. Not a real big deal.

Sometimes associations get stuck in your head.

But more to the point, Biden has a very long record with many things in it that are worthy of criticism. Why are people not going after that instead of these types of trivialities?

This is just too banal for words.

[applegrove]

2. He's still way behind of Trump as # of gaffes go. And ahead in knowledge and decency.

Last edited Fri Aug 9, 2019, 02:54 AM - Edit history (2)

And character. And vision. And qualifications. And electability.

[emmaverybo]

4. And foreign policy expertise and experience, so sorely needed now and in the unpredictable

future.

India and Pakistan present but one possible worst-case scenario. They have fought two wars over Kashmir. We have never been closer to nuclear catastrophe, not only in that huge part of the world, but with more nuclear arms in the whole planet than ever before in history.

[applegrove]

7. Trump has undone everything and now it looks like he is going to have to redo

everything like the Iran deal. He has already reinvented the wheel with NAFTA.

[thesquanderer]

33. Talk about a low bar!

But I'm pretty confident that there is nobody here who doesn't think Biden would be a huge step up from Trump.

[tblue37]

3. It could just be how the 2 names are coded in his memory. I have always had a tendency to

call my daughter by my sister's name and vice versa. My daughter is 38 now, but I have done that since she was a baby.

[emmaverybo]

5. Should be a category called "Biden oral speech glitches." Then you could all pile on there and revel

in the gaffes made by a man who had a very bad stutter into his twenties, but went on to be one
of our longest serving public servants with a distinguished career, respected here and abroad,
now the Democratic Party primary front-runner.

[Princetonian]

18. Beautiful

[dhill926]

20. bravo!

Jesus fucking christ, the people...

[secondwind]

6. I love Joe Biden, but he seems a little

“off” to me sometimes. I can’t quite put my finger on it. Anyone else feel the same?

I wish he hadn’t had that facelift also, he’s lost most of his laugh lines.

[Skya Rhen]

14. Yes, he's "off" to being the next President of the United States. I choose well...

[Cha]

17. Perfect, Skya! I was thinking

about how to answer that insult.. but you said it Perfectly for me!

[emmaverybo]

25. Ho ho ho. Yes. And yes, you choose well.

[secondwind]

36. I was not meaning to insult Biden. I'm a 72 year old

woman who has seen it all. I’ve marched for civil rights, equal pay, and protested my ass off, sometimes with a baby on my back.

As I said before, I LOVE JOE BIDEN, but he doesn’t seem — to me, anyway — that he is as sharp as he used to be. Maybe he gets exhausted like everyone else.

[Princetonian]

42. I am nearly half his age. God knows Joe speaks better than I do when I am exhausted from a long day.

Much respect to you for your life of political activism.

Your baby must have gotten quite an education in civics from her determined mama!

[Hassin Bin Sober]

49. You are not the only one

[Demsrule86]

54. You love Joe Biden? Doubtful...but I do and those who support him see through this sort of thing.

I will take genuine over glib any day.

[secondwind]

56. Yes, I love Joe Biden and I was feeling worried.

Thankfully, someone posted that he had struggled with and had overcome stuttering.

[Drunken Irishman]

8. This is funny. I wonder if a memo went out to post as many Biden misspeaks as possible?

Remember when everyone on the right went after Sen. Harris for stating she smoked weed in college while listening to Tupac and Snoop, despite the fact she had actually graduated college before either had released their first albums? Yeah. That was just as ridiculous as this. It's stupid, trivial bullshit that is used to demean Biden's age.

Was Obama too old when he said there were 57 states in 2008?

[applegrove]

9. I think Biden gets alot of his support from people who don't want pointy headed

intellectuals in charge. Gaffes worked to humanize Trump. I think it will work for Biden. I'm pro Biden right now but will support anyone who can beat him in electability on the democratic ticket.

[Drunken Irishman]

11. Not just Trump - it also endeared Bush to the people.

But I sense there's an ulterior motive here by focusing on Biden's flubs. It's suggesting mentally he is not up to the challenge because of his age. I disagree with this. Biden just flubs things. It's something he's done his whole political career. It's only being tied to his age because people want to weaponize it. I don't like that. It makes me feel uneasy because I'll tell you, Biden seems as sharp today as he did in 2008.

[applegrove]

21. He's so personable in person. I love it when he does interviews. He is electric.

[Cha]

26. Lol.. have you seen this?!

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1287&pid=233071

[secondwind]

37. There is no motive. For crying out loud, I'm

WORRIED. That is all. Somehow the DU that I love seems to disappear at election time. Please stop trying to analyze what I said. I’m a little worried, is all. And YES, I will vote for him in the general if he is the candidate. Peace

[Cha]

27. Yeah, apparently it's just BIDEN! And, evidently

it's been going on for a looooonnnng time. rofl

This is from betsuni..

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1287&pid=233071

[cannabis_flower]

23. Maybe...

she did smoke weed listening to Tupac and Snoop but later. I mean a lot of people smoke weed and don't admit to it.

[Drunken Irishman]

24. Maybe...but people misspeak.

Biden is not as polished as many other candidates but his goofs seem to be played up to belittle him as slow or too old when in reality, he probably just gets tongue-tied. I'd wager a good amount of the gaffes are tied to his stutter, and how he trained himself to speak without it.

[Skya Rhen]

35. I believe that there is a connection, as well.

[secondwind]

38. I didn't know that. Thank you so much for bringing that up.

[cannabis_flower]

63. I think you are responding to the wrong comment

[Cha]

10. OH NO!!!!!!

File that under.. I don't give a shite. Even if he weren't my candidate.. I don't give a shite.

[DesertRat]

12. Oh no

Social media will have a field day with this.

[Cha]

16. Yeah, I'm sure they will. Not what's

important.. but yeah.. so they will.

[Cha]

13. OH NO!!!

Again.. don't give a shite.. try to make the most of it Biden Detractors.. it won't work.

[Princetonian]

15. Who cares? Joe is not running for British Parliament.

[ucrdem]

28. LOL

I am sure Theresa May is secretly pleased

[Princetonian]

43. lol... very pleased.

[Funtatlaguy]

29. Biden misspeaks a lot. It's baked into cake. Who cares.

No matter how many times he does so, it is less than Trump.
His heart is in the right place.
Get over it.

[hlthe2b]

30. Honestly, can anyone really say they didn't do this themselves in their twenties? There are 2 actors

who I ALWAYS confused. Honestly, I never really knew either name unless I really thought about them (both were well known but not superstars nor legendary figures). But, I'd see their image on tv/movies or in a magazine and it would start that frustration all over again--that feeling that I should, once and for all, get their names straight and remember them for the future. Somehow it was never that important to do so, and I still confuse them. I also used to do this with the name of the giant dog breed (that I love) known as Mastiffs. I just couldn't place the name. One day, I spent 30 seconds thinking about how MASSIVE those dogs were and the connection stuck then and ever since. Sometimes it as simple as that. Just taking a moment to let the "neural connection" to be formed and "stick." Hard to do when you are on the run all the time.

Every President we have had has committed gaffes or malapropisms. Remember Obama and his having visited "57 states" when he was tired on the campaign trail? Why do we forgive what we know we all did in our relative "youth" but are so unforgiving later on?

[quickesst]

31. LOOK!!

Way down there in the bottom of the barrel, I think I see something!!

[democratisphere]

32. "TM" and "MT". So what!

More nitpicking BS!

[texasfiddler]

34. These mistakes have always been a part of Biden

Yeah and he says "folks" a lot in his speeches. I actually think the gaffes help him shed the out of touch pointy headed liberal caricature that the right frames on Democratic candidates to make them seem out of touch with working class people. Unfortunately, that seems to work. GWB could get away with knowing how hard it is to put food on your family. I think Biden will be fine.

[Autumn]

39. Biden also got confused about the locations of the shootings in El Paso and Dayton

He and Trump both gaffed on that. Trump got mocked for his Toledo. Never hear a word about Bidens till today.

President Donald Trump and Democratic 2020 presidential hopeful Joe Biden both got confused in regards to the locations of mass shootings in El Paso and Dayton over the weekend, mentioning inaccurate cities when discussing the violence.

During a Monday address from the White House, Trump, 73, shared condolences for the victims "in Toledo," apparently mixing up the Ohio city with Dayton, where nine people were killed and dozens more were wounded on Sunday morning.

"May God bless the memory of those who perished in Toledo," the president said toward the end of his speech. "May God protect them."

Biden, 76, who previously served as vice president under former President Barack Obama and is currently leading in the Democratic presidential primary polls, made a similar gaffe on Sunday evening while addressing attendants of a fundraiser in California. He referred to the mass shooting as "the tragic events in Houston today and also in Michigan the day before." Although the politician later corrected his mistake, he seemed to be confusing Houston, which is also in Texas, with El Paso and mixing up Ohio with its fellow midwestern state of Michigan.

https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-joe-biden-mixed-locations-mass-shootings-1452646

[Princetonian]

40. There had been 245 mass shootings in 215 days at that point. Joe probably spoke about most of them.

Weariness and heartache has an effect on some people. Go figure.

[Autumn]

44. Yes, you go with that. Personally I'm fed up with Trumps gaffes and misspeaks, we mocked

him saying the shootings were in Toledo :eyes and I'm not going to go around saying gaffes and misspeaks are now okay because that special someone making those gaffs and misspeaking happens to be a Democrat. YMMV This is happening too often and we have plenty of candidates who are not misspeaking and making gaffes. Candidates who have also been campaigning while speaking about and feeling the weariness and heartache of the 245 mass shootings in 215 days you reference.

[Princetonian]

59. Thank you for explaining your viewpoint, Autumn.

You make valid points and I understand what you are saying but I forgive Joe for his all too relatable human foibles. I cannot cast stones because I am not without sin - so to speak - in the same regard, as my son and husband will tell you. God only knows what would come out of my mouth on the campaign trail!!!

Joe is a good man with the most executive and legislative experience and has the best chance of defeating Trump. Steyer said, "Americans needed to "get rid of a dramatically reckless, dangerous and lawless president."' I and others are simply supporting Tom's notion by supporting Joe.

[Autumn]

61. Don't get me wrong. I respect Biden very much, but his time is past and we need someone

who can right our nation without giving the Republicans ammunition to use against that candidate. I don't agree that Biden has the best chance of defeating Trump.

[BannonsLiver]

68. Yes, we all know you were really disappointed more wasn't made of Biden's gaffe.

[Autumn]

74. Don't worry yourself about me. There will be plenty more gaffes, after all

Biden himself says he's a gaffe machine.

[zackymilly]

41. How does Winston Churchill feel about this? n/t

[Autumn]

46. Since he's dead and not running for President I don't see how what he feels is relevant.

He's not on the national stage mistaking world leaders and getting confused as to where mass shootings occur.

[zackymilly]

47. When did Margaret Thatcher come back to life? n/t

[Autumn]

50. She didn't. She's still dead but that didn't stop Biden from confusing Theresa May with her.

[Princetonian]

48. Tell us when Joe did that when he was Vice President for eight years.

[Autumn]

51. Joe isn't Vice President any more, he's now campaigning for President. And he has been on

stage mistaking world leaders and getting confused as to where mass shootings occur. Recently.

As for gaffes when he was VP? There were plenty of those, well documented.

[Princetonian]

55. Joe was a great VP for this nation. He will be an even better President after Russian Asset leaves.

If there are so many, then document them in the categories which you listed that offend you so much: mistaking foreign leaders names and switching up mass shooting locations.

[Autumn]

58. No one denies that he was good VP.

Biden mistakes Theresa May's name for Margaret Thatcher, yesterday.
https://www.democraticunderground.com/1287233010

Biden confuses El Paso and Dayton with Houston and Michigan when speaking of the shootings this past weekend.

https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-joe-biden-mixed-locations-mass-shootings-1452646

[Princetonian]

60. You said he made plenty of gaffes while VP. I asked for examples of the categories you mentioned...

... in your Reply #46 where you said Joe was "on the national stage mistaking world leaders and getting confused as to where mass shootings occur."

When did he make these kind of gaffes as VP? Do you have "plenty of those" examples?
https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1287&pid=233301

If not, then perhaps this to shall pass with the primary season.

[Autumn]

62. The two categories I mentioned are recent events. Do you think that he's not campaigning

on the national stage mistaking world leaders and getting confused as to where mass shootings occur? All our candidates are on the national stage. He confused Theresa May for Margaret Thatcher and he confused El Paso and Dayton with Houston and Michigan, this last week. I gave you links. Ignore them or don't.

I made no claim he made those mistakes I posted about as VP. You can search out his gaffes as VP if you chose, they were well documented.

Autumn (35,550 posts)

51. Joe isn't Vice President any more, he's now campaigning for President. And he has been on

stage mistaking world leaders and getting confused as to where mass shootings occur. Recently.

As for gaffes when he was VP? There were plenty of those, well documented.

[Princetonian]

70. Okay but as far as I know, voters don't give a sh*t. Joe's foibles are endearing to many. Sorry.

[Autumn]

75. A lot of people, even Republicans are getting fed up with Trumps misspeaks and gaffes.

We ignore Biden's gaffes on the news because we know Biden. Others who are not politically inclined as DUers are, they will give a shit. The media will say Trump's idiotic statements don't matter because Biden does it too.

[Princetonian]

82. Hmmm. You've made salient points.

Likeability counts for alot, though. Trump's likeability rating is underwater. I think it has hit a stable rock bottom of around 42% or so. Biden's is much higher. I do not see how Joe could lose. His malapropisms are not dealbreakers after four years living with the Russian Asset's tweets.

Furthermore, right now, based on RCP's state poll average, Biden would best Trump with 396 electoral votes. Hat tip to Drunken Irishman:
https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1287&pid=233265



Joe is doing alot better than Clinton did four years ago. His likeability is alot higher than hers was, too. 2020 may be a year where we could take back the Senate on Joe's coattails especially if the public keeps seeing Trump fomenting hate at his white supremacist campaign rallies while Joe will have Jill and Barack and Michelle at his side. Visuals matter.

Can you imagine the airtime, the images, the interview requests, the domestic and international media frenzy?

Elections these days are won by independent voters, a majority of whom disapprove of Trump and conversely approve of Joe. And that is the way Joe will win: he will have Obama's coalition voting for him with his beloved brother Barack campaigning by his side like old times.

[bluewater]

65. Top 10 Joe Biden Gaffes, First 3 are from when he was VP

Top 10 Joe Biden Gaffes
Throughout his decades of public service, the former Senator and current Vice President has earned a reputation for often saying the wrong thing at the wrong time

http://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/completelist/0,29569,1895156,00.html

[Princetonian]

69. Thanks, I absolutely loved "Off Color Approval"!! I have two big f*cking deal T-shirts. lol

Joe said absolutely the right thing at the right time.

[zackymilly]

83. I like when Obama poked Biden at Justice Roberts' swearing in. LOL.n/t

[KayF]

45. I've mistaken Cate Blanchett for Tilda Swinton

[awesomerwb1]

52. Oh my.....God

[NoMoreRepugs]

53. Did Biden then explain how Revolutionary Forces captured

the airports? No???? Then shut the fuck up Daniel Dale. The purity tests are expanding their scope.

[NewDayOranges]

57. AND?

[stonecutter357]

64. good let's go Joe !

[Politicub]

66. It's more of a malapropism than a gaffe

But I guess a malapropism could be thought of as a type of gaffe.

A malapropism (also called a malaprop or Dogberryism) is the use of an incorrect word in place of a word with a similar sound, resulting in a nonsensical, sometimes humorous utterance. An example is the statement by baseball player Yogi Berra, "Texas has a lot of electrical votes", rather than "electoral votes".[1] Malapropisms often occur as errors in natural speech and are sometimes the subject of media attention, especially when made by politicians or other prominent individuals. Philosopher Donald Davidson has said that malapropisms show the complex process through which the brain translates thoughts into language.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malapropism

I have a malapropism problem in both spoken and written language, and the most annoying thing is I don't know I've used one until someone points it out (or I catch it in proofreading).

News articles that pivot on a malapropism seem petty and contrived.

[Princetonian]

71. I would bet most reporters can't spell "malapropism" much less understand the difference.

That is a good analysis.

"the most annoying thing is I don't know I've used one until someone points it out (or I catch it in proofreading)"

Same here.

[peggysue2]

67. Taking the shine off his speech on Wednesday?

Well, that's the point. Biden gave a brilliant speech, took the case to Donald Trump directly and received a begrudging nod even from his critics.

And now, there's a full 'gaffe' meme afoot.

Because?

Joe Biden gave a brilliant speech. He rocked the socks off people. So the big guns stuffed with sour grapes have been rolled out.

Easy-peasy.

[Skya Rhen]

72. +1000

[Gothmog]

73. Watch this video

Link to tweet

[Grasswire2]

76. phooey

Just stop with the trivialities.

[samnsara]

77. geez im 10 yrs younger than he is and I make that kind of mistake all the time...

...hubby has worked with a woman for 30 years and he STILL calls her the wrong name. So...no big deal.

[highplainsdem]

80. And it's perfectly normal:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/1287233461

[rzemanfl]

78. This is not a holy Toledo moment. n/t

[happy feet]

79. Trivial

If your point is that Biden is too forgetful or dumb to be the Democratic candidate, I'm not buying it. People mis speak --- it happens and more as one grows older. Biden is not stupid and knows Margaret from Theresa.

Going forward I'll trash posts like this when I'm so angry about what Trump is doing to our country. and he doesn't mis speak --- he IS intentionally uninformed and dumb.

[Skya Rhen]

84. +1,000,000

[MarcA]

81. Aaron Blake had an interesting article on this in today's

Washington Post The Fix.