Democratic Primaries
Related: About this forumPeople trust Joe Biden... they like him on a gut level..
its not tearing anyone else down.. they just feel comfortable with Joe Biden.. They know what he has accomplished.. and that gives them comfort.. We have recently returned from a vacation in the upper Midwest.. and we heard it time and time again.. I like this person.. I like that person.. but I feel most comfortable with VP Biden.. I told this to some earlier today.. we ran into one person who put it the best I have heard yet.. they know if "VP Biden is elected they can sleep at night"
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
InAbLuEsTaTe
(24,122 posts)I just trust President Sanders will do the right thing. No doubt, Joe enjoys that kind of voter admiration. Wishing your candidate the best of luck in the primaries.
Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!! or
Elizabeth & Bernie 2020!!
Either way, welcome to the revolution!!!
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Wawannabe
(5,678 posts)He has not even come close to that position. Joe Biden has...
In my humble opinion Sanders will never receive that title and should not receive it under the Democratic party. He should try running under his own party... which is???
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Lordquinton
(7,886 posts)If that bothers you, well, too bad.
PS, you'll vote for Bernie if he's the nominee, right?
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
InAbLuEsTaTe
(24,122 posts)Why would anyone want Bernie to run under another party's banner?!
Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!! or
Elizabeth & Bernie 2020!!
Either way, welcome to the revolution!!!
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
hlthe2b
(102,357 posts)(Not fearful we'd wake up to a series of WWIII-provoking tweets?)
That sounds like Nirvana right now.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
OKNancy
(41,832 posts)He's progressive enough for me. He is a pragmatic progressive.
He's pro-choice, he has a good healthcare plan that may actually pass, his foreign policy experience is the strongest of all our candidates. He is smart and caring, and oh... Jill is so strong on education. She will be a wonderful asset.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
DonaldsRump
(7,715 posts)I'm of course supporting Biden now, but will support our candidate whoever s/he is. Totally and absolutely.
In a departure from the last several presidential elections, this election is about normalcy, not change by an outsider. If you consider the elections since 1976, almost all of them have been for an "outsider", except maybe Bush I.
I know several conservative Republicans in the South and the West that are disgusted by the Idiot occupying our White House, and either will not vote or will vote for someone besides Trump. I fully appreciate that dirty tricks, Russian interference and vote suppression may alter the balance, but I think all Democrats, most independents, and decent Republicans (of which there are plenty) are appalled.
I cannot believe the "gaffe" campaign by the media against Biden. This is the 2020 version of swiftboating, her emails, Donald Segretti-behavior etc. If that's all they have against Biden, he's going to win in a walkaway. I expect much worse, but I think he's prepared. After all, Biden would be going up against the greatest liar and gaffe-maker of them all, Donald John Trump.
I think most in this country want to get back to sanity. IMHO, a change election for an outsider won't happen until 2024 at the earliest.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
peggysue2
(10,839 posts)Yes. First things first as in shoring up everything Trump and his enablers have destroyed while pushing pragmatic legislation to ensure healthcare, get us back on the rails working on Climate Change, gun control, etc., reestablish our alliances and let our adversaries know what's what and maybe most importantly return a sense of trust in government that when working can produce the greatest good for the greatest number.
I think Joe Biden has the experience and skillset to do that and with a young, dynamic VP can kick Trump and his enablers into the next galaxy. Where they belong, btw.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
emmaverybo
(8,144 posts)and multi-faceted mop up job they would face in their first term to right the ship.
I dont think honestly they do get it because they have not had the experience living in that ship and being responsible for as much of it as Biden was.
Bidens understanding that this election is a fight for the soul of America is more compelling to me than the constant policy initiatives issuing from other candidates.
And do any of the others have a sense that foreign policy and relations are existential issues for the world? Not too long ago India and Pakistan came pretty close to nuclear war. So now, Kashmir, over which they have fought two conventional wars.
Iran, Russia, NK, China, the Middle East...the rise of the far right wing in Europe!
Only Biden has developed any substantial thinking on FP, delivering an address, and also authoring an Op-Ed on the failed policies we pursued in Central America which contributed to the humanitarian crisis at our borders. I am sure he has more to say, but Dems not sufficiently focused on these issues. Thank Goodness Biden is!
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Obama and Biden spent their first term digging us out from Bush and a near depression.
I remember it all well when far to many turned their backs on them saying they did not fulfill all their desires fast enough.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Kurt V.
(5,624 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
LakeArenal
(28,845 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
I noticed that too.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Anders8
(17 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
wsbradshaw
(41 posts)Do a little further research on Biden. If he wins the nomination Republicans will tear his character apart.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
honest.abe
(8,685 posts)Biden's advantage is his relatively clean history. They will be hard pressed to come up with any "earth shaking" scandals like Hillary's email server and Obama's birth certificate.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
wsbradshaw
(41 posts)Read up on Biden, not a clean history. Ask the family of the other driver in the accident that killed his wife.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
honest.abe
(8,685 posts)He has won about dozen elections since then.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Thekaspervote
(32,793 posts)Who it was
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
treestar
(82,383 posts)How is he supposed to feel about that driver?
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
LiberalLovinLug
(14,176 posts)You just proved how little of a "scandal" they need to create a mountain using their bully platform, and their friends in the RW media. Even the rest of the MSM wouldn't be able to resist milking Biden's gaffes for hits.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
honest.abe
(8,685 posts)No one is immune.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Kahuna7
(2,531 posts)glowing praise for how civil and kind he is.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Demsrule86
(68,667 posts)have pointed out, people are not that familiar with her. It could hurt her in a general...she has my vote of course in a general.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
honest.abe
(8,685 posts)And that might be all he needs to ride to the WH.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Response to Peacetrain (Original post)
crazytown This message was self-deleted by its author.
pnwmom
(108,994 posts)overly self-confident guy who led the unfair hearings against Anita Hill and caved in to the R's.
It's hard for me to trust him on a gut level.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Lady_Chat
(561 posts)And if she's ok with Biden, so am I. The other day I read an article about how the Trump administration is refusing to supply sanitary pads to immigrant women who have their period. They are suppose to bleed through their clothes. It's cruel and disgusting, but so is Trump.
I trust Joe Biden would never do that, or separate children from their parents and cage them, deprive them of food, water, soap or sanitary conditions, or spew hate 24/7, or call women, dogs, pigs, and "bleeding from everywhere" or sit on his ass and do nothing about gun control, among so many other horrible things we have seen Trump say and do.
Biden served in an administration that got us out of Recession, got gay marriage and the Affordable Care Act (ACA)passed, along with so many other good things that Trump has rolled back. Trump was handed a gift of an economy, and I wish more of our candidates would remind him and the voters of that.
And I'm so tired of hearing about age, too. Mayor Pete had the best response, it isn't about age, but about vision. Sanders, Warren, and even Trump are all in their 70's. And any one of them would be better than Trump.
The ultimate goal is to get Trump the hell out of office. While I haven't selected a candidate, because I wanted to watch all the debates, I can understand why a lot of people relate to Biden. He has a certain warmth, humor, and has dealt with a lot of in his life, personally, they can relate too. I think people also like the fact, he doesn't find a need to go after our other candidates. Of course he also brings back remembrances of Obama. Either way.. in the end..no matter who, I'm voting Blue.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/anita-hill-says-of-course-she-would-vote-for-biden-over-trump/2019/06/13/8f40d922-8e24-11e9-8f69-a2795fca3343_story.html?noredirec
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
pnwmom
(108,994 posts)and he won't be my primary choice either.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Gothmog
(145,554 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Stuart G
(38,445 posts)Trump lies so much that most people in the world do not trust him. Most people in the U.S.A. do not trust Trump. He lies about everything. And when I say most, I mean 62 or 63 percent will vote for Biden over Trump maybe more. Maybe 65 percent. Trump has proven that he is not to be trusted. Your words,.....,"if VP Biden is elected they can sleep at night."
...He will not suck up to Russia, He will not suck up to big business, he has seen some things people do not want to see. His experience and sensitivity will make Trump look like the piece of sh*t that Trump is. (apologies to those that use sh*t to fertilize anything)
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Nitram
(22,877 posts)That was what Trump ran on. That's what motivates his voters. Let's try to avoid gut feelings and stick to facts and issues. Just my 2 cents.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
griffi94
(3,733 posts)Frankly, I'm tired of being at the mercy of a bunch of old white guys
and their relationship with their gastrointestinal tract.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
whathehell
(29,090 posts)and into our brains.. Just sayin'.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
JGug1
(320 posts)Fine that he is trusted. His gaffs are bad enough to weaken him as a candidate.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Indykatie
(3,697 posts)You'll probably repeat your comment regarding Biden's gaffes throughout the campaign so you might as well use the proper spelling. The highly intelligent Mayor Pete would expect nothing less from a supporter.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Demsrule86
(68,667 posts)anyway maybe others don't either.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Gothmog
(145,554 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
trueblue2007
(17,238 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Indykatie
(3,697 posts)in my age cohort. A recent Q has Biden polling 41% with AAs. That's impressive in such a crowded field. He has a full reservoir of good will in the AA community for a number of reasons but his loyalty to Obama ranks high on the list. Attacks on Biden about the crime bill doesn't hurt Biden with AAs old enough to know what the environment was like in the 90s. Same with him working across the aisle. It's why he has managed to usher legislation through the Senate unlike some others who have little to show for their long Senate careers.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Thekaspervote
(32,793 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
NYMinute
(3,256 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Thekaspervote
(32,793 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
progressoid
(49,999 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Sloumeau
(2,657 posts)I am an enthusiastic Biden supporter!
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
eilen
(4,950 posts)in the primaries. I have a shortlist though and Biden is on it. Demographics wise I am 55, college educated, white middle class white woman that lives in the suburbs on the East Coast.
But it bothers me that he and his campaign do not take the time to be exact in stories like this-- to me it is an unforced error. He is a likable man. There are probably a hundred stories like this that can be sourced and fact checked before he tells them and still be genuine Joe.
I have had enough with bullshit with Trump. But at the same time, I feel like we should take the trouble to be truthful and honest about our narratives because it paves the way for trust when it comes to the big things. I am not saying we should be petty and pick at every little item --people are human beings and some are better at thinking on their feet and sometimes say things the wrong way or get something wrong... just admit it and put out the right thing, what you really meant.
I have to admit, I heard audio of Elizabeth Warren's dress story and was touched--it was emotional and I think touched at least 90% of the people that heard it. She was also very genuine and it was genius how she connected that to government policy and the kitchen table economy of the minimum wage.
I am also impressed by Senators Harris and Klobuchar. Senator Klobuchar is another one with a lot of pragmatic genuine communication. I know she was smeared for being a tough boss. Well, honestly, I don't care about her being bossy. I saw the documentary with Beto and he was tough too and I don't hear him being lambasted for it.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Demsrule86
(68,667 posts)It could and most likely was a hit job. I don't believe anything about biden these days...the media's attacks just make me like him more.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
AtheistCrusader
(33,982 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Cuthbert Allgood
(4,965 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
NeoGreen
(4,031 posts)...we have a winner!
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
emmaverybo
(8,144 posts)on white male privilege?
A guy I grew up,with, psychologist, started a course at a well known university dedicated to the study of white privilege many years before the term was common parlance.
He was woke and he woke many students.
He was a white male. He had privilege and used it in all the right ways. People can use their privilege for the good or be corrupted by it.
Biden is a very poor example of what it appears you are trying to get at here.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Act_of_Reparation
(9,116 posts)Fascinating.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
emmaverybo
(8,144 posts)as for his foreign policy cred, which Obama lacked. To your point, are you indicting Obama for knowing that politically he needed white as well as black voters, young and old, from a broad
spectrum left to center?
My point still stands. Biden has never been intoxicated with white male privilege. He is well aware of it however, and the intersectional economic resources that gave him, relatively speaking, an easier time dealing with raising two sons alone and going through Beaus grave illness. He has made a point of acknowledging this.
Our front-runner has fought for civil rights for all, going all the way back to his going toe to toe with George Schultz, by proxy, Reagan, over apartheid.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Act_of_Reparation
(9,116 posts)Because it reads more like a campaign ad.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Cuthbert Allgood
(4,965 posts)1. I don't think it is talking about Biden but those that trust him that are relying on race. Biden is just the recipient of the privilege in that people trust whites more.
2. Him being the recipient of privilege doesn't mean he is racist. I'm sure the guy you grew up with would agree that people trusting Biden more is likely a result, to a good degree, of that privilege. I know from their writings that Coates and Wise would agree with that.
And if we are going to excuse Biden from being the recipient of white privilege, then you are making the term meaningless. He clearly is the recipient of it.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
emmaverybo
(8,144 posts)years before it was even a common, named concept. As I said, one can do good or bad in the world with ones privilege. Biden has done a lot of good for civil rights for all.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
AtheistCrusader
(33,982 posts)Once upon a time, a woman was Precinct Committee Officer in my local precinct. I'd never met her. Never seen her. She didn't seem super active, or really, even present. No communications, no outreach, nothing. So I threw my hat in the ring.
I did no campaigning. No door to door. I knew fewer than 5 households in the neighborhood.
Guess who won handily?
And it's not like there was voter fatigue because her name didn't appear on the ballot year over year, unless/until challenged. Nobody knew who either of us were. I beat her by a 29% margin. Voter sample size of ~350
If you think I was suggesting *Biden* is "high on white male privilege", then I know you didn't understand me, and think you don't understand WMP, particularly how it relates to the calculus of candidate/voter appeal.
I'll give you a hint. When a Black man ran for president, the subtext of the OP was not applied to him. It was applied to Romney and McCain. Biden isn't applying it to himself, and McCain/Romney didn't apply it to themselves. It's done FOR them.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
emmaverybo
(8,144 posts)privilege well. You can disagree. The
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
AtheistCrusader
(33,982 posts)'He has used his privilege well' is not a useful counterpoint to an observation that 'he enjoys considerable white male privilege' while running against women, women of color, etc.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
emmaverybo
(8,144 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
AtheistCrusader
(33,982 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Scurrilous
(38,687 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Response to Peacetrain (Original post)
Name removed Message auto-removed
Gothmog
(145,554 posts)Link to tweet
As a raft of polls have shown, Biden is the front-runner for the Democratic nomination for president. Still, I couldnt shake the impression that the passion on that basketball court was more about defeating Trump than supporting anyone specifically. When I sat down with Biden for an interview on my Cape Up podcast last week, I asked him whether my impression was right; that what Democrats want most is to send Trump packing. They dont care who it is as long as they are convinced that who will succeed.
There is a real passion for getting rid of Donald Trump, Biden told me. But I think there is a lot of passion for electing somebody who they think can, in fact, repair the damage that Trump has done, and to actually bring the country back together and unite the country on the basic fundamental things that make America America. Sure, Biden thinks he is that person, and thats why hes leading the crowded Democratic field. Thats why I think you see the response to the soul-of-America argument Im making, he continued, because they know how deeply I feel it.....
Eugene Robinson got it right. Voters are making up their own minds about whats important in Bidens performance and whats not, Robinson wrote in his Monday column. I think theyre looking for electability, whatever that means; theyre looking for a fighter who wont back down; and theyre looking for leadership.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
emmaverybo
(8,144 posts)gaffe. Hes the one with the track-record at the higher level of government.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
PoindexterOglethorpe
(25,895 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
RockRaven
(14,998 posts)BUT I do not "trust Joe Biden" nor do I "like him on a gut level" nor does "what he has accomplished" "give me comfort" nor would I say that "if VP Biden is elected I can sleep at night"
I *will* say that if my choices are Biden or Trump for POTUS then I will vote for Biden faster than my VERY. NEXT. HEARTBEAT.
I see no need to engage in praising the Dear Leader or voicing other weirdo platitudes.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
TreasonousBastard
(43,049 posts)Face it-- very few people actually vote with their heads not their hearts. Everyone likes to claim they make informed choices, but how many really do? How many fully understand the issues they claim to be voting on?
What great plans did JFK have that led us to vote for him? Did Carter have great plans, or did we just trust him to set the ship of state right after Nixon upset it?
And on it goes. Every Presidential candidate since at least Jefferson has fed us a bunch of bullshit while running. "A chicken in every pot!" has always been the rallying cry and promised giveaway.
OK, maybe Ike didn't have to bullshit us-- we damn well knew what he did and could do.
So, to today...
The country was unhappy for some reason, and decided to give an untested outsider a chance. Bad idea. We ended up with the most corrupt, incompetent, troublesome choice we ever had. Why on earth would anyone choose another wild card with no real track record?
Nope, the country wants to return to stability and world leadership. No more chances with wild cards that could make things worse.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Gothmog
(145,554 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Peacetrain
(22,878 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Gothmog
(145,554 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Gothmog
(145,554 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
qazplm135
(7,447 posts)Make Biden inevitable?
If he wins, he wins. If he doesn't, he won't.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Gothmog
(145,554 posts)Link to tweet
This is the grouchy-white-guy-in-the-diner problem all over again. Reporters are blinded by their own age, background, education and geography. Instead of going to West Virginia diners to find the Trump voter, reporters should go talk to the residents of The Villages in Florida, the African American churchgoing ladies and the buttoned-down professionals in the affluent suburbs (the Romney-Clinton voters). These people have endured a noisy, offensive and intrusive presence in the White House. They dont necessarily want a different noisy, intrusive presence even one they agree with on substance.
Part of the mystery of Bidens appeal would be solved if the moderators flipped their questions, as one smart Democrat not in the Biden camp put it. Instead of asking Biden or another moderate, Why arent you going with the big, bold idea of Medicare-for-all?, the moderators might consider asking Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) or Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Why blow up Obamacare, and why dont you trust people to choose Medicare if given the option? Instead of assuming that extreme proposals are the standard, requiring the moderates to explain why they are such wet blankets, the moderators should press the super-progressives on questions such as: What makes you think that voters want to go through another health-care makeover? Why should poorer people pay for richer peoples health care or subsidize their college debt?
Better yet, ask the candidates to relate the personal story from a voter who moved them the most, or the last voter whose phone number they took so that the candidate could call later, or the most insightful thing they have heard from a voter. It might reveal who is talking at voters and who is listening to them.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Gothmog
(145,554 posts)This is one of the reasons why I think that Joe Biden is the best candidate. Who ever is the nominee will have to be prepared to fix all of the damage that trump has done to our government. https://beta.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-hardest-job-for-the-next-president-may-be-fixing-trumps-mess/2019/09/16/e16216fe-d8bf-11e9-ac63-3016711543fe_story.html
One of the most underreported stories about the Trump administration is its basic incompetence. Perhaps Trumps biggest con of all was convincing his supporters that he was some sort of business wizard with a genius for management. In truth, the Trump Organization was a mom-and-pop family business that he repeatedly micromanaged to the brink of collapse. He is doing exactly the same with the government of the United States.
The White House itself is less like The West Wing than Game of Thrones. Courtiers vie for the favor of the Mad King, unable or unwilling to perform normal duties for fear of risking Trumps ire. Usually, the White House is a place where information from outside sources is synthesized and digested so the president can make the best possible decisions. Under Trump, the flow is reversed his whims, however ill-informed or contradictory or just plain loopy, are tweeted out and must be made into policy.
Agencies vital to our national security including the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency lumber along, month after month, without permanent leadership. Its easier to make moves when theyre acting, Trump has said, but really the situation reflects his own insecurity. By keeping his underlings weak and beholden only to him, he limits their power and thus hamstrings the departments they nominally lead.
Joe Biden is the best candidate to repair the damage done by trump. I think that the repair of this damage will keep the next Democratic President very busy.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Gothmog
(145,554 posts)Link to tweet
The most obvious is Bidens consistent strength in head-to-head polls against Trump. You can remind people all day long that these are unreliable indicators of how a general-election campaign will actually play out, but they wont be able to ignore them. And Bidens advantage here is significant. There is not a single poll in the RealClearPolitics database of 2020 trial heats between Biden and Trump in which Biden does not lead. His current lead in RCPs polling averages is an enormous 11.5 percent (Sanderss is 7.0 percent, and Warrens is 5.2 percent, but both have trailed Trump in some surveys).
A second factor making Biden Mr. Electable is the widespread belief among pundits and voters alike that, all things being equal, proximity to the political center is a general-election asset. The more we approach a three-candidate nominating contest in which Bidens only real challenge comes from Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, the more Bidens relative moderation will become evident. That may hurt him with some primary voters, but it could at the same time enhance his perceived electability.
A third factor some analysts focus on is the practical ability to win voters the party lost in 2016 either to Trump or to third parties or to the living-room couch. Theres at best limited evidence that Biden is more popular than other Democrats in the much-chewed-over white working-class demographic (especially Obama-Trump voters). But he certainly talks about his focus on these voters a lot, which enhances the perception they are his people. And he certainly has conspicuous strength among African-American voters, whose fall-off in turnout was a big problem for Hillary Clinton in 2016. Biden does not look like a good bet to energize younger voters, but Trump might well do that for him...
Risk-averse is probably the most important term to remember in assessing Democratic voters heading toward 2020. They still dont entirely understand how Hillary Clinton managed to lose to Donald Trump in 2016, but they arent inclined to take anything for granted this time around. And that will make it difficult for candidates other than Biden to convince Democrats their other qualities are worth taking a bit of a risk on. Sure, Biden could in theory blow himself up with some high-profile gaffe that undermines the very premise of his candidacy. But thats not within anyone elses control.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Peacetrain
(22,878 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden