this post was submitted on 09 Jan 2024
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[–] NotBillMurray@lemmy.world 120 points 9 months ago (4 children)
[–] Ashyr@sh.itjust.works 67 points 9 months ago (5 children)

Everyone complains about Biden's age, but this guy actually tries to primary him and it gets a collective yawn from everyone.

I wish Biden weren't super old, but throwing our weight behind anyone but the incumbent just seems like a bad idea to me.

[–] LEDZeppelin@lemmy.world 43 points 9 months ago (4 children)

Only republicans yell about Biden’s age. Everyone who’s not braindead repube cares more about democracy vs fascism than someone’s age.

[–] Communist@lemmy.ml 27 points 9 months ago (1 children)

I care a lot about bidens age, actually, I just care that he isn't trump a lot more.

[–] TechyDad@lemmy.world 18 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Also, if Biden's age is a factor, then Trump's age has to be a factor too. Trump is 4 years younger than Biden. That's nothing at their age. It would be like me saying that I'm 48 and a friend of mine is 50. All other things being equal, there would be little to no difference between us at our ages.

Of course, all other things aren't equal. Trump has demonstrated some worrying signs of cognitive decline. For example, claiming that he's running against Obama or claiming that he beat Obama in 2016. Yet the media seems to keep dismissing that as "Trump says weird stuff all the time." But if Biden has the tiniest slip-up, they'll scream "DEMENTIA" for weeks.

To me, there's another factor too. Let's say that either Trump or Biden, after winning in 2024, would have a major medical event and would be propped up Weekend At Bernie's style. For whatever reason, they'll still appear to be President, but the administration would actually run the show. Which administration would you want running things? Biden's or Trump's likely administration?

It's not even close in my book.

[–] prole@sh.itjust.works 7 points 9 months ago

Seriously... Listen to Biden's recent interview on Conan O'Brien's podcast. He was surprisingly lucid, and I was very impressed by how he handled himself.

[–] meco03211@lemmy.world 22 points 9 months ago

Don't vote for the 81 year old guy. Vote for the 77 year old young guy!

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[–] themeatbridge@lemmy.world 31 points 9 months ago (5 children)

It's not just his age. I don't like Biden as a candidate or as a president. I want to vote for someone more progressive, and I wish he were a stronger competitor who guaranteed a victory. He is supremely beatable in November.

But hes the incumbent president, and there's no other Democrat who would be a better choice. Unless he dies or is otherwise incapacitated, he will be the nominee, and he's the best chance at keeping Trump, or any conservative, out of office.

This guy in New Hampshire, I've already forgotten his name and it's literally only a short scroll away, he isn't a serious contender. I don't care what he does because it is irrelevant.

[–] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 40 points 9 months ago (1 children)

I don't like him much, but he's a better president than I thought he would be. He's actually moved us down a more progressive path than I expected, especially considering he's had to fight every step of the way. He just never promotes any of it for some reason. The Inflation Reduction Act was a pretty good start on rebuilding our infrastructure even if the climate change goals were torpedoed by Manchin and even though Biden couldn't go as far as he wanted with his American Rescue Plan. He's been filling the federal courts with left-wing judges. He's done a huge amount to repair our international reputation after Trump threw it in the trash (although we'll see if that's still true considering Biden's Israel stance). He allowed Medicare to negotiate drug prices, which lowered the cost of insulin for millions of Americans. He got a ton of people's student loans forgiven, although not nearly as many as he wanted.

Do I wish we had an even better president? Absolutely. But he has been better than I expected and he has never had enough of congress on his side to get his agenda passed anywhere near the way he wanted it.

[–] Ashyr@sh.itjust.works 36 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (2 children)

Build Back Better is the single largest investment in green infrastructure by any nation anywhere.

I want more, but I don't know that a more progressive president could have done better in this environment.

[–] Ensign_Crab@lemmy.world 3 points 9 months ago

Build Back Better was killed by centrist darling Joe Manchin.

Do you mean some other piece of legislation?

[–] FuglyDuck@lemmy.world 2 points 9 months ago (4 children)

it's tax incentives for things those corporations were going to do anyhow.

you can see where biden really is on climate, with his actions pertaining to oil. His presidency has seen more oil released from the national stockpile than all others combined, he took the positive action of personally authorizing the Willow Project in alaska (drilling on national lands); and he's authorized increased production elsewhere.

also "this environment" was democratic control of both houses of congress (albeit with really narrow margins)

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[–] ashok36@lemmy.world 10 points 9 months ago (1 children)

The best way to get more left leaning candidates is to move the Overton window left by destroying the repubs at the polls time after time.

[–] TechyDad@lemmy.world 3 points 9 months ago

Right. This isn't a sprint, it's a marathon. One of the most frustrating things I've seen progressives do is not get everything they want and then rage quit politics without realizing that this is even worse than only getting some of what you want.

In one respect, I wish progressives could be more like Republicans. After Roe v Wade, Republicans didn't rage quit politics. They pushed for abortion bans, lost, tried again, lost, and repeated until they got some small concession. Then they used that to slowly, over 50 years, build until they overturned Roe.

Now, obviously, I disagree with their goals. However, I can admire the long term effort put into this. If progressives could do this (with much better goals, of course), we might be able to do some amazing things. Yes, it would be slow at first and that can be frustrating, but imagine if we could have a country 30-50 years from now as far to the left as the Republicans are to the right (but much more sane).

[–] sxan@midwest.social 2 points 9 months ago (1 children)

I don't like his position on Israel, but I believe any other position would be political suicide, and with fascist traitors waiting in the wings for a second try, he can't afford to rock that boat. He's doing pretty well, considering how divided the country is, and the hand he was dealt.

Something has to give; our democracy is fraying. If not Orange Stalin, we are in serious danger that the next Republican will be someone more clever, but just as amoral. God forbid we see another Nixon.

[–] themeatbridge@lemmy.world 3 points 9 months ago (1 children)

You're not wrong, but I think that says more about his ability as a leader than it does about the populace. If he were stronger, had better convictions, made better arguments, he probably would not be backed into so many corners.

But I also don't think he has strong opinions. I think he's an octogenarian politician who just wants to ride out the wave of circumstance into the history books. He was the right guy in the right place at the right time, offending the fewest and opposing the worst of humanity.

[–] sxan@midwest.social 2 points 9 months ago

You know, I think you're right. If it were Obama, he could afford to be stronger. Heck, if it were Bill, I wouldn't worry as much about Cheeto Hitler. Clinton was even more centrist, and also not my favorite, but he was a charismatic fucker. And Obama was just bulletproof.

You're right; Biden's a good statesman, but he just hasn't been able to motivate people. He won only because of the two-party system, and b/c the majority were done with Drumpf, not through any great leadership.

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[–] Darorad@lemmy.world 4 points 9 months ago

I mean, I don't want biden, but Phillips is basically just biden except young, basically every policy he has the same or worse position as biden.

[–] lurch@sh.itjust.works 3 points 9 months ago

Well, at least he tried 😄 second winner 😄

[–] FuglyDuck@lemmy.world 1 points 9 months ago

he's basically a younger version of biden. keep in mind, most democrats are not complaining about his age, rather... literally everything else. though also his age is a concern in the implications. (He's been a senator longer than I've been alive... he's literally partly responsible for how we got into this mess.)

[–] Donjuanme@lemmy.world 20 points 9 months ago

Glad I'm not the only one, apparently all of new Hampshire as well.

[–] ZeroCool@slrpnk.net 9 points 9 months ago
[–] myrandomnname@lemmy.world 2 points 9 months ago

Uh, not Bill Murray....

[–] Maddie@sh.itjust.works 32 points 9 months ago (2 children)

His girlfriend would've been there, but she goes to another school

[–] OpenStars@startrek.website 5 points 9 months ago (1 children)

In Canada, you don't know her, but he has a pic proving that she is real! :-D

[–] tpihkal@lemmy.world 1 points 9 months ago

That chick from Vancouver? I heard she sucks like a Hoover.

[–] FurtiveFugitive@lemm.ee 2 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

You're thinking of Tim Scott.

Edit: So sorry for the typo Tom!!

[–] jordanlund@lemmy.world 15 points 9 months ago (1 children)

"Government Repair Truck Coffee Conversations"

WTF does that even mean? Maybe that's part of the problem?

[–] tpihkal@lemmy.world 13 points 9 months ago (2 children)

It was literally like the first really cold day after the first decent snow storm this winter in New England, and it's a weekday. I wouldn't have gone even if I knew who the hell he is.

The primary candidate has already been chosen for the Democrats. Biden is probably the only candidate that stands a chance against Trump which is pretty fucking sad.

[–] Zaktor@sopuli.xyz 6 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

He's the only one who stands a chance because he's effectively demanding the nomination (not an unusual stance from the party's incumbent). Any prominent Democrat could beat Trump, and probably more reliably than Biden given the polling and his unfavorables, but no one of stature will challenge Biden and risk splitting the party. Biden is not our best chance, but he's the only chance we're going to get.

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[–] xc2215x@lemmy.world 11 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Even more people know who Cenk Uygur is.

[–] Diplomjodler3@lemmy.world 4 points 9 months ago (1 children)
[–] Cheese@lemmy.world 7 points 9 months ago (1 children)
[–] tpihkal@lemmy.world 2 points 9 months ago (1 children)
[–] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 2 points 9 months ago (1 children)
[–] tpihkal@lemmy.world 1 points 9 months ago (1 children)

I strongly believe that the US Native rule is imperative to US Sovereignty so I would never agree to revoking it. You want to lead the country, you have to have a life long investment it.

[–] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 1 points 9 months ago (1 children)

I am honestly neutral on this subject. I don't think it would affect my vote, but the constitution says that you have to be native born, so that's kind of it.

[–] Zaktor@sopuli.xyz 3 points 9 months ago

Same. It'll maybe exclude some people with just as much investment in America as a native born citizen, but we're a country of 300M+, we shouldn't have trouble finding scores of equally talented candidates. And yet we're getting a rematch of two extremely old men who are both disliked by most Americans. Our problem isn't the presidential qualification requirements.

[–] mateomaui@reddthat.com 9 points 9 months ago

outside

amazing planning

[–] robocall@lemmy.world 2 points 9 months ago

I wonder if he is making money, or at least getting fundraising dollars

[–] robocall@lemmy.world 1 points 9 months ago (1 children)

marianne williamson is more interesting than this guy

[–] pregnantwithrage@lemmy.world 2 points 9 months ago

Dean Phillips is literally just a younger Joe Biden, he is running on "I'm not old". Williamson is running on Bernie's platform and is actually running on a platform of reform, regardless if you like her or not she is actually something different imo.

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