Blitz Primary!
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I must be the only one who thinks he did OK. He displayed a fine command of situations and policies, and the why and wherefore of them. And he didn't tell any obvious bullshit stories. Other than "I was in the Senate a long time", he didn't repeat himself.
“I refuse to answer that question on the grounds that I don't know the answer”
― Douglas Adams -
I couldn't watch, but I believe the bar is set impossibly high at this point. He would have to prove that he was the Joe of 10 years ago. (who wasn't honestly that great in public...) There is this expectation that someone great on the stump or in a debate will translate into an effective person in government. I don't believe that to be true!
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@Mik I think he did ok, too, but I don't think I was expecting much from him. He did indeed demonstrate his command of foreign policy.
Most people don't go off the cognitive cliff in one leap; things happen gradually over time. My issue is that his performance is showing a definite decline. I don't think he has the stamina for another four years of a presidential schedule in him, even if he does pace himself better. I don't know how he'll even get through the campaign.
I see the polls aren't changing much. It may well be that this is a case of the not Trump/not Biden election, and that nothing is going to change people's vote. As I said before, I think another Trump presidency will be a dumpster fire, so I'll do everything I can to stop it from happening, so I'll be voting for Biden.
As usual, it's going to come down to that 5 or 10 percent of folks in the middle.
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Speaking of polls....
https://www.npr.org/2024/07/12/nx-s1-5036518/biden-trump-poll
I haven't seen polling at the state level for the battlegrounds...
It's gonna be a long slog till November, no matter what...
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I winced every time he got a name or a title wrong.
I thought the "Trump is on the golf course filling in his scorecard before he hits the ball" line was a good zinger, and it'll land with the audience of one.
He had a pretty impressive grasp of facts and foreign policy. And he's at his best when he's being human, making jokes or relating to people. Maybe that's why foreign leaders are supportive of him. But he also did a lot of verbal stumbling, and he seems old. He's not going to get younger over the next four-and-a-half years. Decline is progressive. The man he was four years ago is not the man he is today, and the man he is today will not be the man he is four years from now.
Still far, far better than Trump. Trump couldn't hope to hold in his head (and wouldn't try) all the facts and details that Joe rattled off last night.
But Trump also covers better for his dementia. He has a version the "for a variety of reasons" ducking and bobbing that a former boss of mine employed when he was on the ropes down pat. And almost all of his voters seem not to care when he babbles nonsense about batteries and sharks, or U.S. airports, or the danger to tourists who visit D.C.
People want to say that the press holds him to a lower standard, but really it's the public. If the press harps on Trump's gaffes, most of their readers yawn. They're giving readers what they want to read, and for some reason they want to read about how Joe seems really old and in decline.
I don't see how Biden wins, and, if he wins, I don't see how he serves four years. Even so, miles better than Trump. But I think we need to switch horses.
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I thought Biden did ok, but ok isn’t good enough at this point.
I agree w @wtg that his decline likely waxes and wanes and yesterday’s performance doesn’t mean we’re out of the woods.And I agree w @Quirt-Evans , we need to switch horses if we want to win.
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The party will have a hard time claiming to defend democracy while changing out the fair and square primary winner. It’s not like they didn’t know, they just thought they could get away with it. Now that they discovered they can’t they are handing Trump the White House. He will make big time hay out of the decidedly undemocratic candidate switch.
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@wtg said in Blitz Primary!:
Even if Biden withdraws voluntarily? I mean it won't happen without pressure, but he might still get to that decision.
It might be sold as voluntary but it won’t be and no one will buy that. It was never considered until they were losing. It’s pure power politics.
“I refuse to answer that question on the grounds that I don't know the answer”
― Douglas Adams -
@Mik said in Blitz Primary!:
It was never considered until they were losing.
I don't believe this to be the case. I think as soon as people started to see how bad his health/physical condition is, they started to be concerned.
This is 100% about his health and physical condition. It might seem like a fine distinction, but it's an important one IMO.
Nevertheless, your comments about what people in the MAGA camp will say are spot on...
I guess I don't really care what people will say. We need a candidate that Dem voters can feel confident in, and Biden voluntarily stepping down will be a big step in that direction.
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@Mik said in Blitz Primary!:
It’s pure power politics.
Isn't everything about power politics?
The people around Biden feverishly hid his condition.
Folks in the GOP gave fiery speeches about Trump and January 6th but went back to him on bended knee just weeks afterward.
Business as usual for both parties, doing what they think they have to do to stay in power.
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Maybe I'm not understanding your point, specifically about "these defenders of democracy". Who are you talking about? Looking for which groups (WH staff, administration, campaign staff, DNC, members of Congress or the Democratic party in total) or individuals you believe are the defenders of democracy who have now forfeited the moral high ground? Which, by the way, I never thought they had...they can talk all they want but I've always believed that it was about staying in power and not necessarily for the "good of the people and democracy".
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@Mik said in Blitz Primary!:
The party will have a hard time claiming to defend democracy while changing out the fair and square primary winner. It’s not like they didn’t know, they just thought they could get away with it. Now that they discovered they can’t they are handing Trump the White House. He will make big time hay out of the decidedly undemocratic candidate switch.
Which is why I hope Joe stays the course.
Will he win? I don’t know. Will he be able to do the job? Of course! He grew up on this stuff. He may stutter and it might take time to sort things through but Reagan did it and Reagan was an idiot.
Would switching to Harris be better? Oh hell no! She was the AG in CA and in no way has the chops that Biden has. She’s competent but green, and if you think Hillary had a hard way to go (Buttery mails!) just imagine what it would take to elect a multi racial woman.
She’s not Barack Obama.
His public speaking skills were never great, but Joe Biden knows how to get things done, and the pundits can go to hell.
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As I said, I’m much happier with him after the presser. He did pretty well. I suppose everyone will see what they wanted to see to begin with.
WTG, the entire Democrat party has been touting how you must vote for us to save democracy. For months. They’re very committed to it …until they think they’re losing.
