• Storksforlegs@beehaw.org
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    4 months ago

    We get it, he’s old. But we should 100% be putting the effort of talking about how he’s old into raising the alarm about Trump.

    Concern about Biden should pale in comparison to the concern people should have about a potential Trump term.

    Biden might run, he might get replaced. Either way him or really ANY potential Democratic replacement are a thousand times better than Trump.

    • coyotino [he/him]@beehaw.orgOP
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      4 months ago

      Bruh we been raising the alarm about Trump for the past 8 years. It doesn’t move the needle. You know what does? A compelling alternative. The problem is, the way the primary is set up, only Joe Biden himself can make the choice to replace Biden on the ticket. He has the votes (thanks to running mostly unopposed), so the party can’t actually do anything without Joe’s consent. Many (including me) are still concerned that Biden should not be trailing Trump at all in the polls, given how many forces are running against Trump. This is why you continue to hear calls to replace Biden. Yes, you and me are going to vote Blue not matter who. But my moderate uncle in Wisconsin will not, and he’s the kind of voter that is going to decide this election. And you can say all you want about Project 2025 or felony convictions or whatever. These moderates are stuck on the idea that this election is simply “the old guy vs. the rude guy, again”, and raising the alarm about Trump just sounds like more liberal-whinging to these people.

      • Storksforlegs@beehaw.org
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        4 months ago

        I mean, you are correct also. These are all good points.

        But it’s just becoming the only thing people are talking about, at a time where pretty major trump news (Epstein papers) should be the major talking point. It’s overshadowing everything.

        • coyotino [he/him]@beehaw.orgOP
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          4 months ago

          i’m not saying that that isn’t big news, i’m just saying that Trump’s pedophilic tendencies have already been known to all of the people that might read a news article about the new details from the Epstein papers. Trump has also done 10x more things that are equally ugly and disgusting. I just don’t think there’s a point to reporting “Trump is gross and evil” anymore. Everyone knows and has made up their mind about him.

          • Storksforlegs@beehaw.org
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            4 months ago

            Id argue a lot of the same undecided voters might not have heard this before, and might be swayed. (Also might be swayed learning about project 2025 etc.)

            But the more we belabour Biden being old and needing to be replaced, the same undecided (not paying as much attention) voters might think there’s something wrong with him and sit out, or vote for Trump. I think that’s the danger of focusing on this too much

            • memfree@beehaw.org
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              4 months ago

              To woo voters, I think we should all write the White House and ask for a new candidate with a, “No Kings allowed” message – probably our VP, Kamala Harris. I think it would get the undecided to pay attention for a minute. I want her (or anyone) out there saying things like, “Dictator? We founded our nation because we knew Monarchs – and autocrats in general – were a bad idea!” and, “Nazis? White Nationalism? How many of you have family members who were killed or injured fighting that war? We know we don’t want that here. We know how that turns out if unopposed!”

              Lastly, the new message should be about government serving the PUBLIC instead of itself.

        • chaos@beehaw.org
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          4 months ago

          “The US President might be in cognitive decline” is a massive news story, as is “The only opponent to a fascist is one more bad night away from his campaign completely imploding,” and also “the President’s own party says behind closed doors that he’s in massive trouble, but is sticking with him in public.”

      • corsicanguppy@lemmy.ca
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        4 months ago

        Here’s the facts: replacing the incumbent in a primary is a guaranteed loss. We’re taking a risk keeping Biden in, but the alternative is horrific.

        So stop talking this shit like it’s anything other than a forfeit.

      • millie@beehaw.org
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        4 months ago

        If he’s unopposed, who exactly is this great new candidate who is going to magically appear?

    • coyotino [he/him]@beehaw.orgOP
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      4 months ago

      i mean, i’m still deeply alarmed about the inadequacy of Joe Biden as a candidate. And I don’t work in media. I just spent the weekend with moderate relatives that are ready to stay home instead of voting in November because they don’t like either choice, and the debate solidified that position. Why keep it alive? Because this is maybe the only chance Dems have to actually win this election, and we’re watching them slowly piss it away.

      • coffeetest@beehaw.org
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        4 months ago

        I would like a jelly bean tree, in the mean time I’ll stick with what I can get.

        Ok, I’ll bite. Name his inadequacies. I will not accept his debate performance as an answer. Because, while it was horrible, he has had plenty of excellent speeches before and after. For example one of the best SOTUs I have heard in my lifetime (I’m old) and his NATO address.

        For reference. Listen to the content.

        NATO https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQTY7nDi10I

        SOTU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=al7ont2noYA

        And to contrast and if you don’t mind losing brain cells. Trump Miami. Showed up an hour late. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cg-oo27ny4

        • memfree@beehaw.org
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          4 months ago

          Ok, I’ll bite back. The election is going to swing on low-information voters in a handful of states. Coyotino just told you about people who could sway the vote to keep Trump out, but are planning to STAY HOME. They’re going to swing us into fascism.

          Biden’s inadequacies:

          • he wasn’t winning in the polls before the debate
          • through the debate and since, he hasn’t defended the good people dedicated to keeping the government working, nor taken on any of the other horrors of the 2025 plan. He can’t. He can’t react in real-time to Trump lying in front of him, he certainly can’t refute why all of the 2025 plan is awful without someone feeding him what to say. Sure, he’s knows it is bad, but he can’t articulate why and in what way.
          • we all know he’s old and relying on others (God Bless Them) to keep things on an even keel – but he obviously can’t do things on his own and should not have to make the big decisions he must make. Example: he should have let Ukraine hit Russia sooner and harder, and should have re-upped that even further before now.
          • Today (Wednesday, July 10 2024), I watched Biden meet other officials with the NATO head. They stood in one place while digniaries came up, shook hands, got a photo, and moved on. Biden sparkled for each hand shake and photo, but because a lifeless zombie between people. It was unnerving. I felt sorry for him having to stand there like the dead until reanimated for the next required action, then back to death.
          • post debate, Biden is STILL losing in the polls

          \

          We need all eligible voters to show up and stop Trump. We need a Congress that will outlaw fascist actions rather than further enabling them.

          We need something to spark the apathetic potential voters to act to save Democracy because the risk is too great and right now the low-info folks aren’t hearing anything new.

          • coffeetest@beehaw.org
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            4 months ago

            So your comment about moderates not voting because… they do not like either and fascism and Project 2025 are not compelling augments? Reminds me of a friend who told me that he was not voting because it doesn’t matter to him. And them Trump tariffs hurt his business.

            Ok your list

            #1 You do not think he is winning #2 You do not believe he is capable of responding to Project 2025 because of his debate performance. #3 You’ve got an ageist argument and then connect that to his policy position on escalation management. #4 After a great speech you come away with not feeling good about superficial characteristics #5 You do not think he is winning

            “We need something to spark the apathetic potential voters to act to save Democracy because the risk is too great and right now the low-info folks aren’t hearing anything new.”

            I am here arguing for the most viable option. Let’s all do our best to help.

            I do not agree with everything he has done but his actions have proven to me that he has been an excellent president and is a good person. I also believe he is the only viable candidate we have. Is he old and does he seem old, yes. Will he be able to lead a good and effective administration, he has and he will.

            Do you think the Biden administration has been a good one and do you think a future Biden administration will be a good one?

            • memfree@beehaw.org
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              4 months ago

              I don’t think you read what I wrote.

              • I didn’t say “moderates not voting” I said “low-information voters.”
              • It isn’t that WE don’t have compelling reasons, it is that low-info folks are not LISTENING
              • My reasons:
              1. It doesn’t matter if I think he’s winning, the polls think that. Polls aren’t particularly accurate, but you are willing to risk Democracy on the hopes that it is OK for people who like neither choice to stay home. I want them in the streets and in the voting booth.
              2. I do not ‘believe’ he is capable of responding because I watched as he failed to do so. It is evidence based.
              3. I don’t care that Biden is old. Trump is old, too. I care that Biden is exhibiting evidence of a dramatic decline in ability both physical and mental.
              4. It was not a great speech. He stared at the teleprompter and punched up each word as hard as he could. Every President gets their speeches written for them, so I’m not criticizing that. but his delivery was strained. You are saying that and his zombie presence the next day are merely ‘superficial’, but his chances to give content have been empty. The debate, the Stephanopoulos interview, and every chance he’s had to say something meaningful. He’s not painting a picture of what would happen if Trump wins and how he’ll work to make sure no one gets that power. He’s only saying stuff he’s said before.
              5. Again, it does not matter who wins the popular vote. The election is about who is going to sit out in a few swing states.
              • I think Biden is a wonderful man who did wonderful things for the U.S. – maybe not enough, but Congress and the Courts blocked a lot. A neighbor complained that Biden went back on student loan debt forgiveness. I pointed out that, no, he didn’t – the courts blocked it. A week later, the same neighbor complained about it again. I spent five minutes explaining how the courts overruled the plan and who to be mad at. There was a similar but lesser issue with Dobbs.

              Look: The polls and pundits tell me a future Biden administration will only exist in our dreams, so the only choice is to find someone else or let Trump win.

              • coffeetest@beehaw.org
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                4 months ago

                I was thinking we were in a thread that started with:

                I just spent the weekend with moderate relatives that are ready to stay home instead of voting in November because they don’t like either choice, and the debate solidified that position.

                I didn’t say “moderates not voting” I said “low-information voters.”

                I don’t want to argue, I mean I admit I did but that’s not really want I was intending. I think you have a valid point of view but I do not see it the way you do.

                • memfree@beehaw.org
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                  4 months ago

                  I see what you are saying and I appreciate that we are both stating our positions. I;m grateful we have a place where we can express ourselves.

                  You are correct that the thread started that way. I was just saying that I then reframed that as low-info voters who may or may not be moderate. Someone in another thread had talked about some leftists in California who were going t skip voting as a protest to the war in Israel – which won’t matter because California is not up for grabs.

                  FWIW, I watched Biden’s press conference and was once again amazed as Biden reminded us of all the things he’s done. He’s been a great statesman and exactly the kind of world leader I want our President to be, and it baffles me that so much of the population want to pick a petty know-nothing bully like Trump.

        • t3rmit3@beehaw.org
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          4 months ago

          I will not accept his debate performance as an answer. Because, while it was horrible, he has had plenty of excellent speeches before and after.

          That’s not how mental decline works, my dude. It’s not some steady progression, it happens in fits and episodes. But it only gets worse. Like forgetting that someone you wrote a statement of condolence for is dead, and calling for her at an event (Rep. Wolarski), or thinking that you just had conversations with people who have been dead for years (Mitterrand, Kohl)

          If you legitimately have not seen someone go through this kind of mental decline, I am happy for you, because it sucks. My grandmother is getting really bad at this point, and it hurts to watch. But denying it and pretending these are just moments of normal forgetfulness rather than living in the past that is common for people in mental decline, is cruel and irresponsible.

          Is he in a really terrible place right now? Doesn’t seem like it. But neither was my grandmother just 2 years ago, and we’re not choosing him for how is is today, we’re choosing him based on how he might be the next 4 years.

          • coffeetest@beehaw.org
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            4 months ago

            I have seen it. More than once.

            Biden is one man and it is the Biden administration. We can’t predict the future and if there was a younger stellar dem candidate who could viable take on, ok then. But this is what we have. I’d take a President Harris no problem if it came to it. If Biden can stay the front man and have the right people behind him, which he will, it will be fine.

            People had no problem with a straight up psyco like Reagan in dementia as president.

            And really let’s say you are right about Biden. Then we get to chose between two people in the same boat. One’s a dangerous narcissist and one is a good man.

            • t3rmit3@beehaw.org
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              4 months ago

              Your argument is literally to give up and sit on your hands and just hope and pray that no one notices we’re putting a senile individual into the most powerful job position in the world. Oh, and whatabout Reagan.

              Biden is one man and it is the Biden administration.

              The cabinet and administration are not there to Weekend at Bernie’s the President.

              And really let’s say you are right about Biden. Then we get to chose between two people in the same boat. One’s a dangerous narcissist and one is a good man.

              Who is no longer in full control of his faculties. Which is a horrible choice. You’re arguing against trying to make that choice something else.

              if there was a younger stellar dem candidate who could viable take on, ok then

              There are, but no matter who anyone says, you’ll write them off for one reason or another.

              This is not strategy or sound reasoning, it’s fecklessness. It’s fear of making the wrong choice, so you’d rather walk away from the trolley switch and wash your hands of it. When Biden loses, all the people arguing for him to stay in won’t actually have to take any responsibility for their part in Trump being back in office. I’m sure they’ll just find a way to blame everyone else- probably for “not being on-board” enough (which is exactly why Biden shouldn’t still be running- candidates are supposed to be who people want running).

              • coffeetest@beehaw.org
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                4 months ago

                You don’t know me so do not tell me what I think or would say.

                What your viable alternative and how will it be achieved?

                • t3rmit3@beehaw.org
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                  4 months ago

                  Harris - if Biden steps aside right now, Harris would be the presumptive replacement without actually needing to wait until the convention.

                  Buttigieg - already has national recognition and is a proven effective and persuasive speaker- he literally gets sent on Fox News to debate them because he’s so cogent and fast that none of their talking heads can beat him, and if Biden exits and it does go to an open, televised, convention, he would be well-positioned to invigorate the base

                  Whitmer - less name recognition for her policies, she is a strong speaker, and doesn’t have the baggage that e.g. Newsom does (although to be fair it’s not Democratic baggage, it’s anti-California Republican rhetoric)

    • Che Banana@beehaw.org
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      4 months ago

      Because at the end of the day nothing… and i mean nothing will please me more than Trump losing for a second time to an old motherfucker because Americans hate him more than we like an alternative

  • Kissaki@beehaw.org
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    4 months ago

    I find it baffling how much criticism/this stuff goes around and gets published. Which may not be surprising, it’s central to the current politics, people are invested, and press is always interested in stuff like this. Hysteria and social media trends were a thing before too. Press always rides on about the same thing until it’s over or something better comes along.

    But with Russias huge investments in destabilizing the western nations with stuff like this, I have to wonder how much of it is caused or extrapolated by its involvement. Especially when I hear/read “on social media” in press, where Russias primary focus lies.

    There’s no simple or single answer in a complex world. But Russia is certainly looking at this in a very satisfied way. It and what follows with the election may very well be the culmination of many years of destabilization efforts.

  • millie@beehaw.org
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    4 months ago

    This is almost certainly a Russian talking point. It’s completely unstrategic, it’s spreading largely through broadcast media, and it’s easy to regurgitate with zero thought. Literally 10 articles per day about this, and none of them seem aware that the primary even existed.

    Bullshit. Propagandistic bullshit.

    • coyotino [he/him]@beehaw.orgOP
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      4 months ago

      the primary, where Biden ran mostly unopposed? that primary? i’m no russian, and i’ve been part of sharing these articles, because it’s a concern that I have as a fascist-fearing leftist.

      • millie@beehaw.org
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        4 months ago

        Right. The one where this magical replacement for Biden that doesn’t have a name or a face could have jumped on a primary ticket if they had wanted to.

        Do you really think that’s not a possibility? Did you forget 2016 already? Sanders certainly wasn’t wanted by the DNC establishment, and they even found ways to put their foot on the scale, but he was still on the ballot in a high-profile democratic primary.

        If someone had wanted to replace Biden, as in like, actually thought they had a good chance of winning and wanted to do the job, there was plenty of time for that before the Russian propaganda machine started wiggling its way into center-left media outlets.

  • AutoTL;DR@lemmings.worldB
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    4 months ago

    🤖 I’m a bot that provides automatic summaries for articles:

    Click here to see the summary

    Lawmakers have said both publicly and privately that the party is badly fractured on the issue, giving heightened power to drips of information from individual members who choose to voice their opinions.

    It is a high stakes battle within the party as most members agree there is little time to change course if Biden chooses to step aside.

    Oregon Democratic Senator Jeff Merkley, asked about Sen. Bennet’s comments told NPR, “I do share those concerns and so do many of my colleagues.”

    On Wednesday, New York Rep. Pat Ryan joined Rep. Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey as the latest at-risk Democrats calling on Biden to step aside.

    Even some close allies like former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., have carefully avoided speaking directly to questions about whether Biden should drop out.

    Speaking in an interview on MSNBC’s Morning Joe, Pelosi reiterated that she believes Biden has a great president but she took a careful approach to questions about his future.


    Saved 70% of original text.