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Joe BidenCongratulations to our presumptive Democratic nominee, Joe Biden!
 

Recursion

(56,582 posts)
Fri Dec 27, 2019, 08:25 AM Dec 2019

Unpopular opinion: it doesn't matter much who our nominee is

The data keep showing that campaigns don't actually matter much. So I'm not terribly convinced that some candidates bring a natural antidote to Trump.

A President's policy preferences don't particularly matter much either, because that's controlled by the 51st Senator and 218th Representative -- for that matter it's absolutely crazy that we spend so much time asking Presidential candidates about policy and so little time asking House and Senate candidates about policy. That's backwards: the Presidency isn't really a policy job to begin with.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
21 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Unpopular opinion: it doesn't matter much who our nominee is (Original Post) Recursion Dec 2019 OP
My bumper sticker says, "Any Democrat 2020." I live in a late primary state, so I likely won't Squinch Dec 2019 #1
FWIW, here's the schedule for the 2020 POTUS primaries. . . DinahMoeHum Dec 2019 #6
Thank you Dinah! And Happy New Year! Hope we run into each other in the new year! Squinch Dec 2019 #18
When the results are as close as the disasters of 2000 and 2016 crazytown Dec 2019 #2
In both years the Greens delivered he elections to the Republicans. comradebillyboy Dec 2019 #10
In 2016, there were more factors in play than the Greens crazytown Dec 2019 #11
Comey, the NY Times, the Russians, the cable nets, the Greens and some others comradebillyboy Dec 2019 #13
My thinking is that there are many different components that make up a successful election. abqtommy Dec 2019 #3
Give us that and we would've had Gore, Kerry and Not tRump. If only. JudyM Dec 2019 #16
Seems that we got "that" in 2018 and that turned out pretty good! If only we woulda won in abqtommy Dec 2019 #17
It ain't close to being fixed. And I'd bet good money that the Rs are putting a ton of strategizing JudyM Dec 2019 #19
I agree. The reTHUGS have got to go with their old tired corrupt schemes. Bless their hearts. abqtommy Dec 2019 #20
If we want to 'undo' traitortrump's efforts, we must win big. empedocles Dec 2019 #4
Foreign policy is largely up to the President. As for domestic policy... thesquanderer Dec 2019 #5
That's a fair point Recursion Dec 2019 #15
getting Moscow Mitch out of office would be so amazing mucifer Dec 2019 #7
In normal times, I would agree, but trump has executive ordered us into one mess after another. MerryBlooms Dec 2019 #8
Who has the best chance of winning Wisconsin exboyfil Dec 2019 #9
I think that's Klobuchar's biggest selling point Recursion Dec 2019 #14
K&R betsuni Dec 2019 #12
Most POTUS are re-elected unless there is an economic downturn Gothmog Dec 2019 #21
 

Squinch

(50,773 posts)
1. My bumper sticker says, "Any Democrat 2020." I live in a late primary state, so I likely won't
Fri Dec 27, 2019, 08:42 AM
Dec 2019

have much say in who we nominate. And I don't care. I only care that our nominee wins because the only important thing is that trump is sent packing.

That all being said, I don't completely agree with you. Trump's presence has had an immediate effect on policy if only to legitimize and strengthen the resolve of Republicans to promote all their idiocy. And he has had a long term effect on policy through his stacking of the courts with unqualified imbeciles who will decide on the legality of various policies for a generation.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

DinahMoeHum

(21,737 posts)
6. FWIW, here's the schedule for the 2020 POTUS primaries. . .
Fri Dec 27, 2019, 09:43 AM
Dec 2019
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/us/elections/2020-presidential-election-calendar.html

"Super Tuesday" is March 3, 2020:
Super Tuesday accounts for about 40 percent of total delegate allocation.
Because it has the largest delegate trove in the country, California is key to Super Tuesday.


New York's primary is April 28, 2020, along wih Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island:
This may be the last big delegate day of the race. If one candidate dominates every state this late in the primary, party leaders will likely move to get behind that person and seek to bring the race to an end.

etc.
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/us/elections/2020-presidential-election-calendar.html

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

And because New York has now consolidated election primariy dates, the other federal, state, and local primaries are now scheduled for June instead of September.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

Squinch

(50,773 posts)
18. Thank you Dinah! And Happy New Year! Hope we run into each other in the new year!
Fri Dec 27, 2019, 02:47 PM
Dec 2019
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

crazytown

(7,277 posts)
2. When the results are as close as the disasters of 2000 and 2016
Fri Dec 27, 2019, 08:45 AM
Dec 2019

mattering a little is a lot.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

comradebillyboy

(10,119 posts)
10. In both years the Greens delivered he elections to the Republicans.
Fri Dec 27, 2019, 12:55 PM
Dec 2019

By the thinnest of margins.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

crazytown

(7,277 posts)
11. In 2016, there were more factors in play than the Greens
Fri Dec 27, 2019, 01:02 PM
Dec 2019
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

comradebillyboy

(10,119 posts)
13. Comey, the NY Times, the Russians, the cable nets, the Greens and some others
Fri Dec 27, 2019, 01:19 PM
Dec 2019

all worked hard to elect Trump. Yet Hillary still won the popular vote.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

abqtommy

(14,118 posts)
3. My thinking is that there are many different components that make up a successful election.
Fri Dec 27, 2019, 08:50 AM
Dec 2019

To me the most important component is that the election be fair and secure. Give us that and we're gonna win this thing!

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

JudyM

(29,122 posts)
16. Give us that and we would've had Gore, Kerry and Not tRump. If only.
Fri Dec 27, 2019, 02:31 PM
Dec 2019
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

abqtommy

(14,118 posts)
17. Seems that we got "that" in 2018 and that turned out pretty good! If only we woulda won in
Fri Dec 27, 2019, 02:42 PM
Dec 2019

2018! oh wait...

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

JudyM

(29,122 posts)
19. It ain't close to being fixed. And I'd bet good money that the Rs are putting a ton of strategizing
Fri Dec 27, 2019, 03:00 PM
Dec 2019

into gaming and cheating the system again.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

abqtommy

(14,118 posts)
20. I agree. The reTHUGS have got to go with their old tired corrupt schemes. Bless their hearts.
Fri Dec 27, 2019, 03:09 PM
Dec 2019

But I have hope that if the squeaky wheel gets the grease and we all squeak loud and long enough
then we'll get what we want.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

empedocles

(15,751 posts)
4. If we want to 'undo' traitortrump's efforts, we must win big.
Fri Dec 27, 2019, 08:59 AM
Dec 2019

Winning big, both Senate and House, is key to getting a lot done, if we win the WH.

A strong, across the board nominee, is key to all that.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

thesquanderer

(11,953 posts)
5. Foreign policy is largely up to the President. As for domestic policy...
Fri Dec 27, 2019, 09:15 AM
Dec 2019

...you're right that it's ultimately more controlled by Congress, but a popular President--especially with a Congress of his/her own party--can strongly influence Congress.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

Recursion

(56,582 posts)
15. That's a fair point
Fri Dec 27, 2019, 01:56 PM
Dec 2019

Though if anything this administration has shown that the President doesn't have nearly as much control over foreign policy as he wishes he did.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

mucifer

(23,371 posts)
7. getting Moscow Mitch out of office would be so amazing
Fri Dec 27, 2019, 09:48 AM
Dec 2019
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

MerryBlooms

(11,728 posts)
8. In normal times, I would agree, but trump has executive ordered us into one mess after another.
Fri Dec 27, 2019, 09:59 AM
Dec 2019
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

exboyfil

(17,857 posts)
9. Who has the best chance of winning Wisconsin
Fri Dec 27, 2019, 12:15 PM
Dec 2019

I really don't care about specific policy positions so long as broad goals are outlined. Even if you control both Houses of Congress it will be a negotiation like ACA.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

Recursion

(56,582 posts)
14. I think that's Klobuchar's biggest selling point
Fri Dec 27, 2019, 01:55 PM
Dec 2019

She brings MI and WI with her, presumably, at which point the election is much more academic. (I think there's a similar argument for Biden and PA.)

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

Gothmog

(143,998 posts)
21. Most POTUS are re-elected unless there is an economic downturn
Fri Dec 27, 2019, 04:43 PM
Dec 2019

We need an electable candidate and a good GOTV effort campaigns can matter

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
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