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2024 Presidential Election Thread - Let's keep the party going.


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Posted
27 minutes ago, Nicole44 said:

The WH is about to have a briefing. “They” are going to strong arm him out is how it feels like. Whoever “they” is comprised of. 

Put me down as rooting for "them."

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Posted

I think it's hilarious for Delaware "Never met a credit card lobbyist I didn't like" Joe Biden is now trying to pass himself off as an anti-establishment candidate.

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Posted
35 minutes ago, Bateshorn said:

I realize you are a troll, but come on man:  We got the 25th Amendment (and possibly WW2) because of Woodrow and Edith Wilson's pigheaded-ness. 

december 7, 1941.  a date that will live in infamy.  the united states was suddenly and deliberately attacked by the naval and air forces of edith wilson. 

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Posted
6 minutes ago, chainsaw said:

I think it's hilarious for Delaware "Never met a credit card lobbyist I didn't like" Joe Biden is now trying to pass himself off as an anti-establishment candidate.

This could work though. 

Posted

How sad is it that a one-termer with Parkinson's is objectively the most accomplished and best president of our lifetimes. Thanks for getting us out of covid, turning things around economically, and running the country properly. Now get the fuck out of the way.

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Posted
7 minutes ago, chainsaw said:

How sad is it that a one-termer with Parkinson's is objectively the most accomplished and best president of our lifetimes. Thanks for getting us out of covid, turning things around economically, and running the country properly. Now get the fuck out of the way.

Kenan Thompson Eating GIF by Saturday Night Live

Posted
17 minutes ago, chainsaw said:

I think it's hilarious for Delaware "Never met a credit card lobbyist I didn't like" Joe Biden is now trying to pass himself off as an anti-establishment candidate.

And Hilary was too close to Wall Street, ergo, both sides. 

Biden has never even inferred that he's anti-establishment, to the contrary, it's why he's managed to maintain solid support from the corporate class. He has, however, come out stronger some on populist causes. I think it's both that (1) he's genuinely evolved on some issues, and (2) he's willing to take populist positions on issues where the majority of voters will support, or where he'll gain some support without losing more. Marijuana is a good example. It wasn't that long ago that he was still solidly against legalization, but now is working to have it rescheduled off of Class 1. I don't know if he genuinely has changed his opinion or if he's reading the tea leaves within his own party, but it really doesn't matter to me, it's the right decision both socially and politically, so he's done it. 

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Posted
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ROSS DOUTHAT

The Question Is Not if Biden Should Step Aside. It’s How.

Feb. 10, 2024
 

Surrounded by darkness, a lectern with the presidential seal and a person standing behind it, his face not visible. Credit...Damon Winter/The New York Times

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Ross Douthat

By Ross Douthat

Opinion Columnist

Joe Biden should not be running for re-election. That much was obvious well before the special prosecutor’s comments on the president’s memory lapses inspired a burst of age-related angst. And Democrats who are furious at the prosecutor have to sense that it will become only more obvious as we move deeper into an actual campaign.

What is less obvious is how Biden should get out of it.

Note that I did not say that Biden should not be the president. You can make a case that as obvious as his decline has been, whatever equilibrium his White House has worked out has thus far delivered results largely indistinguishable from (and sometimes better than) what one would expect from a replacement-level Democratic president.

If there has been a really big age effect in his presidency so far, I suspect it lies in the emboldenment of America’s rivals, a sense that a decrepit American chief executive is less to be feared than a more vigorous one. But suspicion isn’t proof, and when I look at how the Biden administration has actually handled its various foreign crises, I can imagine more disastrous outcomes from a more swaggering sort of president.

Saying that things have worked out OK throughout this stage of Biden’s decline, though, is very different from betting that they can continue working out OK for almost five long further years. And saying that Biden is capable of occupying the presidency for the next 11 months is quite different from saying that he’s capable of spending those months effectively campaigning for the right to occupy it again.

 
 

The impression the president gives in public is not senility so much as extreme frailty, like a lightbulb that still burns so long as you keep it on a dimmer. But to strain the simile a bit, the entire issue in a re-election campaign is not whether your filaments shed light; it’s whether voters should take this one opportunity to change out the bulb. Every flicker is evidence that a change is necessary, and if you force Biden into a normal campaign-season role, frequent flickering (if not a burning out) is what you’re going to get.

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Let’s give him the benefit of the doubt, and assume that Biden senses this, that he isn’t just entombed in egomania, but he feels trapped by his own terrible vice-presidential choice. If he drops out and anoints Kamala Harris, she’s even more likely to lose to Donald Trump. But if he drops out and doesn’t endorse his own number two, he’d be opening himself to a narrative of identitarian betrayal — aging white president knifes first woman-of-color veep — and setting his party up for months of bloodletting and betrayal, a constant churn of personal and ideological drama.

There is no easy escape from these dilemmas. But the best approach available to Biden is a distinctively old-fashioned one. He should accept the necessity of drama and bloodletting but also condense it all into the format that was originally designed for handling intraparty competition: the Democratic National Convention.

That would mean not dropping out today or tomorrow or any day when party primaries are still proceeding. Instead Biden would continue accumulating pledged delegates, continue touting the improving economic numbers, continue attacking Donald Trump — until August and the convention, when he would shock the world by announcing his withdrawal from the race, decline to issue any endorsement, and invite the convention delegates to choose his replacement.

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Pain would follow. But so would excitement and spectacle, the things that Biden himself seems too old to deliver. Meanwhile, any agony would be much briefer than in a long primary battle between Harris and Gavin Newsom or Gretchen Whitmer. The proximity of the general election would create stronger incentives for Harris or any other disappointed losers to accept a behind-the-scenes proffer and fall in line if the convention battle doesn’t go their way. And the format would encourage the party as institution, not the party as mass electorate, to do a party’s traditional job and choose the ticket with the most national appeal.

 
 

Would Trump and Republicans have a field day attacking Democratic insiders for pulling a fast one on the public? Sure, but if the chosen ticket was more popular and competent seeming, less shadowed by obvious old age, the number of relieved voters would surely outstrip the number of resentful ones.

This plan also has the advantage of being discardable if I’m completely wrong, Biden is actually vigorous on the campaign trail, and he’s ahead of Trump by five points by the time August rolls around. Like my past suggestion that Joe Manchin should run as a third-party candidate provisionally (also still a good idea!) to see how the Trump-Biden race shapes up, contemplating a convention bow-out gives Biden a way to be responsive to events — sticking it out if he really sees no other options, but keeping a path open for his country to escape a choice that right now seems like divine chastisement.

 

The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. We’d like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. Here are some tips. And here’s our email: letters@nytimes.com.

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Ross Douthat has been an Opinion columnist for The Times since 2009. He is the author, most recently, of “The Deep Places: A Memoir of Illness and Discovery.” @DouthatNYT  Facebook

A version of this article appears in print on Feb. 11, 2024, Section SR, Page 3 of the New York edition with the headline: Biden Should Step Aside. But How?. Order Reprints | Today’s Paper | Subscribe
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I forgot that we were talking about this back in February.  This Op-Ed just said: stall until the convention then drop out and don't endorse anyone.

Posted (edited)
1 hour ago, immamac said:

What does a post 2024 win by Biden look like? That's the question that should be answered. 

I think it's actually a huge missed opportunity that leveraging the latest technology available isn't the core focus of these administrations. 

Codifying Roe V Wade, passing the John Lewis VRA, replacing Alito/Thomas, and possibly Sotomayor, with progressives, ending trickle down economics, deregulation, and tax cuts for the 1%, continued support for Ukraine and NATO, and continued transition to renewable energy and limiting global warming to 1.5-2ºC. In addition, Trump not getting re-elected means Alito/Thomas/Sotomayor don’t get replaced with disgusting, and regressive Federalist freaks, and 1,000 of the other nightmarish policies the Heritage Foundation cooks up don’t get made law. Finally, ensuring that Trump doesn’t install himself or the theocratic/anarchocapitalist/autocratic/neonazi criminals he surrounds himself with into power permanently. 

 

Anybody else can certainly chime in on something they feel like I missed.

Edited by Zonahorn
Posted
1 minute ago, Zonahorn said:

Codifying Roe V Wade, passing the John Lewis VRA, replacing Alito/Roberts, and possibly Sotomayor, with progressives, ending trickle down economics, deregulation, and tax cuts for the 1%, continued support for Ukraine and NATO, and continued transition to renewable energy and limiting global warming to 1.5-2ºC. In addition, Trump not getting re-elected means Alito/Roberts/Sotomayor don’t get replaced with disgusting, and regressive Federalist freaks, and 1,000 of the other nightmarish policies the Heritage Foundation cooks up don’t get made law. Finally, ensuring that Trump doesn’t install himself or the theocratic/anarchocapitalist/autocratic/neonazi criminals he surrounds himself with into power permanently. 

 

Anybody else can certainly chime in on something they feel like I missed.

How will they replace lifetime appointed justices? 

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Posted
1 hour ago, chainsaw said:

It's a bad sign that Trump is actively trying to court the center by "softening" the platform. That tells me both campaigns have seen the data and moderates are back in play due to Biden's historically bad debate performance.

Drop Out, Joe.

giphy.gif?cid=6c09b9524lsztgynzeyhmm9c9y

wolf-of-wall-street-not-leaving.gif

wolf-of-wall-street-the-show-goes-on.gif

pletter.gif

 

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Posted
11 minutes ago, immamac said:

How will they replace lifetime appointed justices? 

Thomas is 76, Alito is 74, and Sotomayor is 70. She’s also a diabetic.

Posted
1 minute ago, Sbbruin said:

Unfortunately I don't see Dems winning the White House whether or not Joe stays in.  It seems like a lose/lose.

I think their chances are solid if he drops out.

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Posted
5 hours ago, Pam Cummings said:

I don't think that not supporting Biden = supporting Trump. But I think the only way Trump wins is if there is a very public discussion about Biden being old and senile. Which is fucking stupid. That's what they want. Don't fall for that shit.

 

Every news network on earth jumping on a guy because he stumbled in a "debate" where the 2 candidates argued about their golf scores for fucks sake. And not one outlet questions the sanity of Trump? It's all about Biden? GTFO.

Dude. It’s already happened. It’s all people are talking about. The damage has been done. You are in complete denial. 

5 hours ago, Pam Cummings said:

The blame for all of this lies with the media. They are more concerned with money than being informative. They don't push back on bullshit. They allow a landscape to exist where people call Biden old and senile but Trump is perfectly fine. This is really their fault. I think that a lot needs to change in our media landscape for shit to go back to normal.

First of all, it’s absolutely NOT just the media. His own party, including Pelosi (!) has called him out. Why are you denying reality? And yes the media has been unfair. So what. It is what it is. Deal with it, by addressing the media concern. Because the Dems sure can’t message their way out of a bottle. And regarding your comment below, whine all you want, on the way to losing the election. 
 

4 hours ago, Pam Cummings said:

If you were really that concerned about it you would be upset at our media. 

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Posted
1 hour ago, Mo Horn said:

Biden is doing exactly what 95% of politicians, athletes, or others in high profile visibility professionals, do. They just can't walk away. The power, limelight, and  stardom, feeds them and they don't want to / can't give that up. He, and many others, need to follow the example set by Barry Sanders. Know when to walk away. Sadly, in this case, it isn't just a football season that will be lost. 

It’s like the end of Last Crusade, when Indy is reaching for the Holy Grail. But instead of Sean Connery telling him to let it go, Biden has Hunter whispering in his ear to keep reaching for it. 

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Posted
2 hours ago, Captainant said:

You ever have to take the keys away from Grandpa or an elderly parent? It looks and feels quite a bit like this

Took away my father’s keys. Alzheimer’s. Worst day of my life.

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Posted
19 minutes ago, SimonBolivar said:

They should really lean on #20. That seems like a winning play to me.

Wonder what metric they plan to use. Because dow jones consistently hitting record levels isn’t producing much unity. 

Posted
Quote

 

Katie Rogers
July 8, 2024, 3:49 p.m. ET44 minutes ago
44 minutes ago
Katie RogersReporting from the trail with Jill Biden

I talked to some voters at Jill Biden’s Tampa event. Madison Janner, 20, who lives in St. Petersburg, Fla., said that she was not sure that she would vote for President Biden given the aftermath of the debate.

“Honestly that’s part of the reason I came here,” she said. “I do feel like I need some reassurance right now. I’m a registered Democrat, and I personally thought I was going to vote for Biden, but I don’t know what to think at this point.”

She added, “What would reassure me is seeing our president perform and not someone coming out for him.”

 

From the NYT

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Posted
57 minutes ago, tx 3 putt said:

Free ad ….

 

 

41 minutes ago, tx 3 putt said:

Why only Latinos ?

 

Are there more to these clips, because I watched both and never heard the words Medicare, social security, Project 2025 or Latinos?

Posted (edited)
8 minutes ago, Don Johnson said:

 

Are there more to these clips, because I watched both and never heard the words Medicare, social security, Project 2025 or Latinos?

"They empty their jails in Central America"

Edited by Schulz2.0
Posted
3 hours ago, Pam Cummings said:

This is, of course, fucking stupid. If any of this was true you and all of your little republican friends would line up behind and love Biden, because you would be gleeful to know you can beat him. But you can't beat him so your only move is to troll and lie.

 

If Biden truly was inept you'd want him on the ballot. You wouldn't be trying to gaslight everyone into replacing him before he can beat trump.

Always Sunny Fx GIF

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Posted
32 minutes ago, Willfully Horn said:

Took away my father’s keys. Alzheimer’s. Worst day of my life.

It’s terrible. I lost my aunt to early onset vascular dementia (genetic) last year and my grandmother to a separate kind of dementia in 2018. I’m not suggesting the President has either type of dementia. But at some point we will all have to have this conversation with a loved one. It’s heartbreaking. On a positive note they have shown with the results of a 5 year study which will be released later this summer that exercise, eating a largely plant based diet, doing cognitive exercises and being social with loved ones has shown better results in 40% of the participants (that were in that study) and may help decrease the acceleration of the disease. Which was heartening to hear. I watched Dr Sanjay Gupta’s special last night. That radical lifestyle change works better than any meds available so there is a small glimmer of hope for some patients.

i think TPTB (elite or not-the powers that be) will yank Biden off the stage. The info keeps dribbling out. The WH presser today with KJP was largely contentious regarding exactly how many times the particular Parkinson/neurology specialist has come to the White House and did he see Biden all those times even if signed into to see two other people (one is the WH physician.) the most contentious exchange happened between KJP and a CBS reporter. 
 

if he does not step off the stage gracefully I fear he will be thrown off. If it is shown that a disease has been covered up (particularly from the delegates who voted for him) it will be disastrous. TPTB play hard ball. If he won’t exit gracefully they will destroy him to ensure that Trump doesn’t win and in their view destroy the country. Shitshow.

 

It’s depressing. No one wants to see this. It’s a moment without hope. For Joe. Jmo. 

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Posted
1 hour ago, immamac said:

How will they replace lifetime appointed justices? 

Joe Biden can place an order that he be given personal control of an armed drone, take out whatever SCOTUS justices he sees fit, and it's legal now.

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Posted
13 minutes ago, Nicole44 said:

It’s terrible. I lost my aunt to early onset vascular dementia (genetic) last year and my grandmother to a separate kind of dementia in 2018. I’m not suggesting the President has either type of dementia. But at some point we will all have to have this conversation with a loved one. It’s heartbreaking. On a positive note they have shown with the results of a 5 year study which will be released later this summer that exercise, eating a largely plant based diet, doing cognitive exercises and being social with loved ones has shown better results in 40% of the participants (that were in that study) and may help decrease the acceleration of the disease. Which was heartening to hear. I watched Dr Sanjay Gupta’s special last night. That radical lifestyle change works better than any meds available so there is a small glimmer of hope for some patients.

i think TPTB (elite or not-the powers that be) will yank Biden off the stage. The info keeps dribbling out. The WH presser today with KJP was largely contentious regarding exactly how many times the particular Parkinson/neurology specialist has come to the White House and did he see Biden all those times even if signed into to see two other people (one is the WH physician.) the most contentious exchange happened between KJP and a CBS reporter. 
 

if he does not step off the stage gracefully I fear he will be thrown off. If it is shown that a disease has been covered up (particularly from the delegates who voted for him) it will be disastrous. TPTB play hard ball. If he won’t exit gracefully they will destroy him to ensure that Trump doesn’t win and in their view destroy the country. Shitshow.

 

It’s depressing. No one wants to see this. It’s a moment without hope. For Joe. Jmo. 

Staying off Rainey St. increases those odds even more. 

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Posted
37 minutes ago, Duane Moore said:

Seems pretty clear which way the wind is blowing on the Hill:

 

32 Dems? That's all he could muster in one week?

Trump could get over 200 house members by 3. With nail polish.

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Posted
32 minutes ago, Schulz2.0 said:

Must be nice for some people to live in an idealistic world while the rest of us are forced to live in reality.

There is no panacea.  No utopia. No dystopia.  No 1984.  No idealistic world.  No reality.  
 

The tower enacted punitive rules on pro-Palestinian rallies last week only to try to encourage them now next when Biden is town on BoR orders.  
 

We finally get literate and have open access to all the information of humanity.  And we’re just spinning in circles, surrounded by people chanting how stupid they are.  
 

We will not be saved by anyone.  Something has to turn us off and turn on again.  85 years of relative global peace is about to up in smoke.  See y’all on the dark side of the moon. 
 

 

Posted
3 minutes ago, YGIFS said:

We finally get literate and have open access to all the information of humanity.  And we’re just spinning in circles, surrounded by people chanting how stupid they are.  

It's amazing how skittish animals can be when they know they're going to die.

Posted
12 minutes ago, Underdog said:

Staying off Rainey St. increases those odds even more. 

No sport in drugging and drowning elderly or dementia/Alzheimer’s patients. Luring some out of town nondescript random guy away from his group takes skill. Just sayin’
 

Posted
12 minutes ago, chainsaw said:

32 Dems? That's all he could muster in one week?

Trump could get over 200 house members by 3. With nail polish.

And a hawk tuah.

Posted
7 hours ago, Pam Cummings said:

I refuse to be a part of any political discourse that holds one candidate to a different standard than the other. I refuse to sit by and watch people talk about Biden being unfit while the alternative candidate is a raving lunatic. I refuse to watch or consume any of this concern trolling that is happening in the media, who is only concerned with dividing so that they can make more money for their shareholders.

Pardon me, but your “refusal” implies that you are privileged enough to escape the consequences should Trump win.  
Must be nice!

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Posted

A whole lot of noise. Excepting a resignation, is there a path forward that does not have Biden as nominee? We’re fucked.

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