girlfreddy

Can Biden be replaced as Democrat nominee? Who could replace him?

https://lemmy.ca/post/24019849

Can Biden be replaced as Democrat nominee? Who could replace him? - Lemmy.ca

The first presidential debate is done and the aftermath has not been good for the incumbent, Joe Biden. Some Democrat politicians and operatives reportedly texted CNN commentators with hopes that Mr Biden, 81, would step aside. Some floated the possibility of going to the White House and publicly stating concerns about him remaining as candidate. But if Mr Biden were to drop out, it would be a free-for-all. There is no official mechanism for him or anyone else in the party to choose his successor, meaning Democrats would be left with an open (Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago from August 19-22.

Jun 28, 2024 at 4:10pmWeb
Show threadgirlfreddyJun 28, 2024

I’d go for Bernie myself.

I mean just imagine that! In a year of some of the worst and craziest ‘first-time-evers’ Sanders could be the DNC’s candidate.

Show threadFlying SquidJun 28, 2024

You’d go for someone older than Biden?

I like Bernie, but that’s a ridiculous replacement.

Show threadgirlfreddyJun 28, 2024
I think at this point he has a lot going for him, ie: he’s recognizable, he’s popular with a large segment of Americans, he can play the game well (as seen when he graciously accepted the DNC’s bs in 2015), he’s kind, he’s rarely (if ever) been known to publically lie, he’s smarter than at least half of Congress and the House of Reps, etc etc.
Show threadFlying SquidJun 28, 2024
You can’t simultaneously argue that Biden is too old to be president and that we should have someone even older instead.
Show threadretrospectologyJun 28, 2024
Biden isn’t too old, he’s too mentally incompetent and decrepit.
Show threadFlying SquidJun 28, 2024
Good luck convincing all the people who have spent months saying that Biden is too old to be president to accept someone even older.
Show threadimaqtpieJun 29, 2024

You do realize that age is not a perfect proxy for mental competence? A good number of people remain mentally sharp well into their 90s, while others experience rapid dementia as early as their 60s.

I’m not saying his age wouldn’t be a talking point, but I’m damn sure Bernie could express his platform with more clarity and vitality than Biden at this point. Unfortunately I dont think it’s a real possibility, but it’s stupid to act like the the actual birth date matters. It’s the signs of cognitive decline that are problematic.

Show threadFlying SquidJun 29, 2024
When people are repeatedly arguing that Biden (and Trump as well) are too old to be president, I’m not sure why that wouldn’t matter.
Show threadimaqtpieJun 29, 2024
Uhh, I just explained why. People can argue whatever they want, but the actual behavior and performance of the candidate supercedes their biological age as a barometer for electability.
Show threadFlying SquidJun 29, 2024

It doesn’t supercede the “he could die at any time” part of the argument, which sure seems to be a big one.

Look, I get that you like Bernie. I like Bernie. But when you argue that Trump and Biden are too old to be president, you can’t suddenly say this older guy is not too old to be president. And it has been about “too old.” Go do a search for “Biden too old” or “Trump too old” if you don’t believe me.

Show threadimaqtpieJun 29, 2024

Trump, Biden, and Bernie are all too old. They could all die at any time, and thus it’s not an effective political argument for either side.

The reason why Biden is being attacked from that angle more effectively is because he is showing signs of dementia. That’s a whole other issue aside from the likelihood of death.

Show threadgirlfreddyJun 28, 2024

I never argued Biden was too old.

But if I had I would have argued that of any candidate in that age group, Bernie could defy the odds as far as ageism goes.

Show threadtamal3Jun 28, 2024

I hear you buddy, but I think that chance was squashed by the DNC last time around. He was old when he ran, and he’s 8 years older than that now. Besides, “the South won’t vote socialist” is still just as true now as then.

I wish it weren’t so!

Show thread𝕽𝖚𝖆𝖎𝖉𝖍𝖗𝖎𝖌𝖍Jun 28, 2024

Once again, we agree.

Why always with the old white men, when we have prominent politicians like Yang, Buttigieg, Klobuchar? And as for Bernie, if you want a firebrand who’s going to alienate moderates, why not AOC? Well, she’s too young to run, but she’s not the only truly liberal option. Warren is old enough, progressive enough, and a woman. But, no, Bernie Bros gotta Bro.

Show threadFlying SquidJun 28, 2024
I’m honestly trying to think of who they could run this late and I’m coming up short. Gavin Newsom is terrible idea in my opinion. Like you said, AOC is too young. Kamala Harris? People hate her.
Show thread𝕽𝖚𝖆𝖎𝖉𝖍𝖗𝖎𝖌𝖍Jun 28, 2024

Agreed, and agreed.

Why not Klobuchar? She’s got some national recognition from the 2019/20 cycle, politics are acceptable to moderates, progressive (enough), and she’d eat Trump for lunch in debates and on social media. Plus, she’s from the Midwest, and might pick up some folks for regional loyalty, and could play against the “slick New Yorker” which might still work.

The bases are going to vote party lines. I think undecideds and wavering moderates are the pick-up points, and I think Klobuchar could do that.

I like Yang’s politics, but he’s got a popularity problem, and Buttigieg - Trump would just harp on his sexual orientation, and I’m not confident enough that America’s ready yet to vote for a gay president. Hell, we can’t even get a woman into office.

IMO Klobuchar’s the safest bet against Trump.

Show threadFlying SquidJun 28, 2024
Klobuchar is definitely a good idea. Although I’m not convinced that replacing Biden this late in the game is going to save the presidency either. I don’t know what should be done.
Show thread𝕽𝖚𝖆𝖎𝖉𝖍𝖗𝖎𝖌𝖍Jun 28, 2024

🙁 🤝

Lemmy really, really needs emoji responses that don’t require and entirely new comment.

Show threadcatloafJun 28, 2024
You could just upvote it.
Show thread𝕽𝖚𝖆𝖎𝖉𝖍𝖗𝖎𝖌𝖍Jun 29, 2024

The problem is that upvotes serve two conflicting proposes. Upvoting raises visibility, so one use is to say, “this is a post people should see.” In that case, you may not necessarily agree with the content of the post, but rather believe it’s worthy of debate. A good example of this is c/unpopularopinion, where the community rules specifically state to upvote if you agree it’s an unpopular opinion, not whether you agree with the opinion.

The other, conflicting, use is to signal approval or disapproval.

You can’t do both at the same time. It’s a flaw in design Reddit had, which they fixed but monetized. Lemmy did not learn from Reddit’s mistake and instead repeated it.

Two conflicting uses for the same action is terrible UX design.

Show threadNobodyElseJun 29, 2024
The only reason to vote for Biden at this point is anti-Trump and Blue No Matter Who. Those still apply to anyone else that the DNC puts forward, as a base score, with any actual merits, charisma, or vigor adding to that. This should have been an easy decision six months ago and doing-nothing-and-hoping-for-the-best doesn’t seem to be making the prospects any better.
Show threadFlying SquidJun 29, 2024
anti-Trump sounds like a pretty damn good reason for me. Unless you think there’s a good reason to let a dictator win.
Show threadNobodyElseJun 29, 2024
You clearly didn’t read what I wrote, but you sure took the time to start talking some more.
Show threadFlying SquidJun 29, 2024
I read every word. I still maintain that “not dictator” is always a better vote than “dictator,” even if that is your only reason.
Show threadNobodyElseJun 29, 2024
I said that the DNC should run someone who is more charismatic and younger so that they could more easily beat Trump. Where are you getting the dictator garbage?
Show threadFlying SquidJun 29, 2024

Where are you getting the dictator garbage?

Seriously?

apnews.com/…/trump-hannity-dictator-authoritarian…

So, again, anti-Trump is a good enough reason to vote who whomever gets the nomination as far as I can tell. They could nominate clam and they’d get my vote.

Trump's vow to only be a dictator on his first day back in office

Donald Trump's assertion that he would only be a dictator on “day one” of a second term comes as he is facing growing scrutiny over his increasingly authoritarian and violent rhetoric. The consequences of that rhetoric were made clear following the deadly storming of the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, and after he tried to remain in power despite losing his 2020 reelection bid. The former president is now vowing vengeance and retribution as he runs again. He is outlining a second-term agenda marked by an unprecedented expansion of executive power and interference in the justice system, along with a massive civil service purge.

AP News
Show threadNobodyElseJun 29, 2024

That’s literally exactly what I said.

Geez, you make some good posts sometimes but interacting with you is a really horrible experience every time. So needlessly hostile.

Show threadFlying SquidJun 29, 2024

I don’t think I was the hostile party here:

Show threadlemonmelonJun 29, 2024
Then how does “needlessly argumentative” strike you? You misinterpreted the other poster’s point entirely, and then entered a cycle of doubling down without making any further effort to understand.
Show threadFlying SquidJun 29, 2024
Maybe I misinterpreted their point, but I’m not sure why I should have been expected to make much more of an effort after that first reply. And then I get blamed for being hostile all the time by that same person?
Show threadlemonmelonJun 29, 2024
My guess is that they’re conflating “stubbornly contradictory” with “hostile,” which isn’t accurate. Being labeled as or treated as hostile when you’re not is frustrating, and it leads to poor communication. That goes both ways, though, and I can see where you’d both be able to infer hostility that may or may not be intended by the other party.
Show threadFlying SquidJun 29, 2024
I don’t disagree, but I should point out that the conversation between the two of us also ended last night, so I think we have both ceased to engage.
Show threadOfCourseNotJun 29, 2024
I think what the other commenter meant was that for many people, like yourself, a D near the name is enough to vote for that person but the bar can be higher for other people. If the dems had put (might be time yet?) a not-absurdly-bad candidate, as they have now, they would've won easily. But seeing how it's going you guys are gonna enjoy four years (hopefully only four) of Trump as president, and the rest of the world will have to put up with all his crap as well.
Show threadZaktorJun 29, 2024
If that were all it took to win, we wouldn’t have been worried before the debate and twice as worried after. Not-Trump isn’t the autowin the establishment wishes it was.
Show threadFlying SquidJun 29, 2024
Whether or not it’s all it takes to win doesn’t mean it isn’t a good reason.
Show threadnjm1314Jun 28, 2024
Trump won’t agree to a debate with a new candidate. I doubt that there be another debate at all as is.
Show thread𝕽𝖚𝖆𝖎𝖉𝖍𝖗𝖎𝖌𝖍Jun 28, 2024

For sure. But there will be a lot of indirect debate on social media, because Trump can’t keep his burger-hole shut, and Klobuchar’s free to murder him (metaphorically) on public platforms. Even if he only posts to TruthSocial, everything he says gets parroted on X and Facebook, and that’s still where the most eyeballs are.

And old school public media picks this stuff up and repeats it - that’s mostly what they’ve been reduced to -but it still reaches a lot of eyes and ears.

And: Trump refusing another debate, she could just hammer on his cowardice, over and over. That’d be a win.

Klobuchar is tough. If nothing else, I’d love to see that fight. Only slightly less than I’d love to see an AOC v Trump fight; that’d be like watching a skinny junkie enter the MMA ring against Holly Holm. It’d be hilarious. But AOC is too young, and Trump will be either dead or in a home by the time she’s old enough to run. I just hope Bernie is still active enough by then to support her. I don’t know that she could get elected - she’s too polarizing - but it would be a marvelous spectacle.

Anyway, I prefer Yang’s politics, and I’d be thrilled to see Buttigieg in the White House, but I stand by Klobuchar as the best bet.

Show threaddogslayeggsJun 28, 2024
AOC turns 35 before the election, so she’s eligible. She might be “too young” to vote for but not too young to run.
Show thread𝕽𝖚𝖆𝖎𝖉𝖍𝖗𝖎𝖌𝖍Jun 29, 2024

She was born in October; shit, you’re right. She’ll be barely legal in time for the election, and certainly eligible by the time she’d take office. So she won’t be too young to vote for by the time of the general election.

Wow.

Show threadZaktorJun 29, 2024
And imagine the click-through rate for “hot barely legal candidate” ads going straight to a policy video.
Show threadironhydroxideJun 28, 2024
The age specifics might be important. AOC turns 35 in October, before she’d take office if elected. And therefore might actually be eligible.
Show threadFlying SquidJun 28, 2024
That would be the sort of legal battle that I could see taking too long to resolve.
Show threadJ.Sʜᴀʀᴘ🌍🇺🇦Fʀᴇᴇᴅᴏᴍ&DᴇᴍᴏᴄʀᴀᴄʏJun 28, 2024

@girlfreddy

Who could replace #Biden?

That's easy.

It's #California Democratic Governor...

#GavinNewsom.

Show threadgirlfreddyJun 28, 2024
He’d have to resign as Governor first, and seeing as the convention is less than 2 months away it’s unlikely he would/could do it.
Show threadPostProcessJun 28, 2024
Quick, change the law so he can run for president whilst being governor, worked for Florida.
Show threadtateJun 28, 2024
It didn’t work for Florida though. Desantis was running for the nomination, not for president. Had he won the nomination, he would have had to resign as governor.
Show threadSarcasticManJun 28, 2024
Your Naked Mother
YOUR NAKED MOTHER @ Fitzgerald's in San Antonio

YouTube
Show threadEvil_ShrubberyJun 28, 2024

There is no official anything when two duopolic corporations (with wildly similar interests) decide which candidates to bring forward. They decide which two will be the only viable choices.

Afaik there are no legal requirements binding them except the restrictions who is eligible (“being born in USA”, that sort of arbitrary weirdness).

Show threadTurboWafflzJun 28, 2024
Being born in the US is such a stupid requirement. Someone who immigrated here as a child in a relatively non-wealthy family would understand the average american so much better than the super wealthy politicians we have now
Show threadEvil_ShrubberyJun 28, 2024
Yeah.
No meritocracy at all.
Show threaddhorkJun 28, 2024

being born in USA", that sort of arbitrary weirdness

The actual requirement is “natural-born citizen”, which doesn’t really have a definition. John McCain was born on a US military base in Panama, Rafael Edward Cruz was born in Calgary, yet both were citizens at birth and nobody contested their status as “natural-born” when they ran for President

Show threadEvil_ShrubberyJun 28, 2024

So vaguely USA flag styled placenta & a gun, got it.

I remember the McCain debate, yes, it makes sense for the ‘citizen’ part. Not sure why does it have to be from birth tho. But it was prob written in colonial times or something.

Show threadcatloafJun 28, 2024
Are we sure that Ted Cruz was born and not hatched?
Show threadHenriVolneyJun 28, 2024
It’s time for Warren to step in!
Show threadBonesince1997Jun 28, 2024
It’s time for Warren G to regulate!
Show threadRusty ShacklefordJun 28, 2024
It’s the G-Funk era, funked out with a “gangsta twist”.
Show threadreddig33Jun 28, 2024
Elizabeth Warren is just as old.
Show threadZaktorJun 28, 2024
She’s too old to replace a president for being too old, but she’s younger than Biden was when he was nominated.
Show threadHenriVolneyJun 29, 2024
Who then?
Show threadZaktorJun 29, 2024

She was my favorite in 2020 and I’d personally love Warren to be picked. She’s got the stature, ability to draw volunteers and donations, and could put together the campaign infrastructure quickly. I just think Biden stepping aside puts a bad highlight on age that despite her being obviously more vital isn’t a good choice. Plus there’s no possible way the moderate establishment that runs Biden’s DNC would ever voluntarily choose her.

I’m at the point where anyone who’s younger and not a RINO is a valid choice. I found Buttigieg and Harris to both be uninspiring political chameleons without any core beliefs in 2020, but if that’s what it takes, so be it. My dream, but only minutely realistic pick for an under 70 replacement? Katie Porter.