Think of Joe Biden This Way: The One-Term Fixer

[MineralMan]

That's how I see him. I think he may well be thinking about a single term, during which he reverses the damage Donald Trump caused in his first term. Then, he sets the stage for the next generation of leadership in the United States. If I'm right, his choice of running mate might be even more important than we think.

If he is successful in his goals in that first term, he'll be in an excellent position to hand off to a younger vice-president who has been playing a very active role during Biden's first term. Who might be a good second to Joe Biden?

I like Kamala Harris. She's a young woman of color with a winning personality and a very serious nature when it comes to politics. She presents herself very well in public appearances, which is key to establishing a popular wave of support.

Joe Biden is an old-school politician. That's an ideal position to take in reversing Donald Trump's excesses. He knows Congress. He knows the White House. He knows world leaders. He's got a strong, likable personality. He can do the job that needs to be done right now. He's also a pragmatist, and knows that one term will let him do that job, and then hand off to the next generation of leadership.

Joe Biden wants most of all for this nation to succeed, whatever that takes. He'd love to have the job of pulling us out of the mess Trump has gotten us into. I suggest we give him that job and stand back. Then, four years later, we can elect a new generation of leaders to move us forward from there.

[samnsara]

1. joe knows where all the bodies are hid and who they are.. he may have put a few in himself!

[KPN]

2. I would buy into that if Biden would actually come out and make that promise as a candidate. I

would be more apt to support him in that case. Largely because there is validity in and I share your view that a first term would be taken up largely in reversing or applying after the fact mitigation for all of the damage tRump has created.

Without that, I'm going to have a hard time supporting Biden in the primary due to positions he has taken on economic and civil justice issues during his career.

[MineralMan]

5. He's not going to say it. That would be foolish.

Think about it.

[highplainsdem]

3. He's already said he'll serve for two terms.

Think about it -- he'll be making himself a lame duck if he even hints he might be thinking of serving only one term.

[MineralMan]

4. I'm not saying that he'll say he's a one-termer.

As you suggest, that wouldn't be a good idea. I'm saying that I see him that way.

[highplainsdem]

12. You might see him that way, but if most voters see him that way, he'll lose.

If his first term is successful, voters will want him to run for a second term, his health allowing -- and the "health allowing" part of it is true for all candidates.

If his first term ISN'T successful, then not only would that make it hard for him to win re-election, but even if he stepped aside, any candidates from the Democratic Party, let alone his VP, would have trouble getting elected.

[MineralMan]

13. That's too much finesse, really, at this early date.

Right now, we're still at the beginning of the primary campaign, with a field of 20. Really, more like 12, if you drop off all the ones who aren't doing well at all.

Right now, we're looking at a lot of things, but not much nuance, really. I mentioned how I see things going, but it's not a theme I'll be talking about six months from now, nor will Joe Biden ever mention that possibility. There's no risk mentioning it here. Nobody really pays attention to DU in the real world, anyhow.

[CaptainTruth]

6. I've been thinking along those same lines.

We need someone to return things to "normal," that was the point of my "elder statesman" post a few days ago.

Let's get the ship upright & patch all the holes in the hull, then we can go steaming forward.

[BannonsLiver]

7. The one term thing is fundamentally awful

It would make him a lame duck on day 1 and if he broke it it would make him look like he doesn’t keep his promises. I have no idea where it got started but it needs to be forgotten ASAP. Thankfully he seemed to take a step in that direction on the View.

[Demit]

8. Why would he pick Kamala Harris, do you think?

Aside from her winning personality, serious nature, and being able to present herself well in public, I mean.

[MineralMan]

10. She's a woman of color.

That's why, along with those other qualifications. She's also been Attorney General in our largest state, so has adequate government experience. Did I mention she is a woman of color? Two segments of the population we need very badly on our side.

[Thekaspervote]

9. I truly believe that if he finds himself unable to serve and effectively that he will bow out

[dalton99a]

15. No doubt. Joe and Jill Biden are honorable people

[sarabelle]

11. I do.

[Grasswire2]

14. I also believe the free world would breathe a sigh of relief were he the nominee.

He's not my first choice, but he is the wisest choice for the moment, I believe deeply.

World stability is important. A known known is important to that.

We Dems can sort out our policy purity while he sets things back on course here and abroad.

[Cha]

16. I read here that Biden said on The View

that he was "Not running for just one term".

[highplainsdem]

19. Yes, he did.

[Cha]

20. Age is just a number.. it

depends on who you are.. and that's not Joe Biden to run for one term.

[Autumn]

17. A one term President is a waste of time. There is too much that needs to be done for that

nonsense IMO.

[Rstrstx]

18. Harris would be a good pick for VP

She ticks off a lot of boxes that Biden can't fill for some of our party's voters (and vice versa).

[themaguffin]

21. He would be a lame duck