this post was submitted on 10 Jul 2024
40 points (100.0% liked)
Politics
10176 readers
73 users here now
In-depth political discussion from around the world; if it's a political happening, you can post it here.
Guidelines for submissions:
- Where possible, post the original source of information.
- If there is a paywall, you can use alternative sources or provide an archive.today, 12ft.io, etc. link in the body.
- Do not editorialize titles. Preserve the original title when possible; edits for clarity are fine.
- Do not post ragebait or shock stories. These will be removed.
- Do not post tabloid or blogspam stories. These will be removed.
- Social media should be a source of last resort.
These guidelines will be enforced on a know-it-when-I-see-it basis.
Subcommunities on Beehaw:
This community's icon was made by Aaron Schneider, under the CC-BY-NC-SA 4.0 license.
founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
view the rest of the comments
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.
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.
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.
The cabinet and administration are not there to Weekend at Bernie's the President.
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.
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).
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?
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)
I would 100% support all 3 with no issue what so ever - they are all superb options. If I could just pick between Biden and those 3, I think I'd take Harris or Whitmer not to slight Buttigieg but I'd rather see a women in the role. I'm not sure who would be best, so let's make the US proud and elect a woman. I'd vote for Newsom but he'd be my 5th choice on this list I'm not his biggest fan but he's ok. That's a great list btw I don't know who else I'd consider.
But how could we realistically get to them? Biden says he is running and how's that going to change? That's the issue. Biden is the candidate so he has my support and I do believe in him. If he steps aside, I'll take what I can get that isn't the felon.
By making the larger conversation about "Biden needs to step aside", rather than being half split between "we need to all align behind Biden". There's still 4 months, and the convention hasn't happened.
And man, how fucking sad would it be (even if it would be very American) for our first woman president to get there by an old white guy dying and she being the default replacement?
Question: Could Biden get elected, then at some point decide he's no longer fit for duty? Would that still make Harris president?
Yes, if the president stops being president, for any reason, the VP becomes president. That's what I'm saying would be incredibly sad.
If he voluntarily stepped down, I don't think it would be that sad. Kind of sad that Americans are not yet ready to vote a woman into presidency, if that's what you mean, but otherwise it looks fine?
That's exactly what I mean.