...I'm actually going to laugh instead of cry when the fat orange stupid guy wins again in 2020. Gosh I wish there was a viable Third Party.

I'm conflicted on Biden. On the one hand all statistics point to him being the most likely to beat Trump (but polls this early are not great indicators). On the other hand, I'm tired of this country being run by the boomer generation, its time for Gen X or the Millenials to start shaping the policies we live under.

golden sloth said:

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I'm conflicted on Biden. On the one hand all statistics point to him being the most likely to beat Trump (but polls this early are not great indicators). On the other hand, I'm tired of this country being run by the boomer generation, its time for Gen X or the Millenials to start shaping the policies we live under.

---

A reasonable argument, but until enough of us cynical old street smart boomers die off, the Progressive pie in the sky bat guano just won't fly.

Besides the grabby uncle stuff, there's the Clarence Thomas hearings that Biden chaired and it does not look good all these years later. The other issue is he's gaffe prone.

I like Uncle Joe but yeah it's time for a new generations of leadership. He still has a good chance of getting the nomination and I'll vote for him but given a choice I'd like someone younger.

Policy wise I don't think he has what it takes to lead forward, too beholden to old ways. Seriously what's his position on global warming and healthcare? Is it the same as Obama and moderate dems?

I do think Joe could be a good transitional POTUS, calm things down, let things "get back to normal" but is that a good thing? Why not just jump the shark now and try and fix and set up things for the future.

In any case, if we get 4 more years of Trump,...so be it. I'm going to call it karmic payback after years and years of absolutely horrific foreign policy and interference by the U.S. I DO NOT like the Russkies interfering with democracy but other countries have said the same about the U.S.

Mostly however if the system can't fix itself...it might as well go down in a heaping pile of burning garbage. I took a moderate, pragmatic approach to Trump/Russia/Mueller..that it's a democracy issue. But it's more than that. This is the unequal reaction to all the sh*t the U.S. has crapped on the world.

Bannon says that Harris/o'rourke is the best bet to beat trump.

Whatever you think of bannon's morals, the dude is smart and actually fairly honest (comparatively speaking)

bearister said:

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A reasonable argument, but until enough of us cynical old street smart boomers die off, the Progressive pie in the sky bat guano just won't fly.

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I'm actually not that progressive, I'm somewhere between a centrist and progressive. I'm for affordable education not free education. I'm for a public option in healthcare not getting rid of private insurance. I'm still for Free Trade, but I do want radical change on climate and structural changes to the political system to ensure a more equal and less political system. I'd say that with exception to climate (where I'm very progressive) and the structural changes to the political system (where I'm more naively idealistic than conservative or progressive), what I want is not within the progressive agenda.

bearister said:

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...I'm actually going to laugh instead of cry when the fat orange stupid guy wins again in 2020. Gosh I wish there was a viable Third Party.

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If there was a viable Third Party, Trump would win re-election easily.

I don't understand why people can't get that through their heads.

bearister said:

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...I'm actually going to laugh instead of cry when the fat orange stupid guy wins again in 2020. Gosh I wish there was a viable Third Party.

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Meh, he had nothing to offer anyway. Nominate a woman not named Hillary and clownstomp Trump easily.

bearister said:

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golden sloth said:

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I'm conflicted on Biden. On the one hand all statistics point to him being the most likely to beat Trump (but polls this early are not great indicators). On the other hand, I'm tired of this country being run by the boomer generation, its time for Gen X or the Millenials to start shaping the policies we live under.

---

A reasonable argument, but until enough of us cynical old street smart boomers die off, the Progressive pie in the sky bat guano just won't fly.

---

The thing is, from Millenials and Gen-Z's perspective, Boomers didn't leave any pie...just a big ole sh*t sandwich. Funny thing about a sh*t sandwich, people really don't like it. They actually get pissedoff, you know because of the sh*t...and the taste of sh*t and cleaning the sh*t out of their mouths.

I'm part of the Boomer generation but i'm dropping the cynical part because of the sh*t sammie left. I believe in the 7 generations model - policy should be geared towards sustaining seven generations beyond yours.

Disclaimer: of course it's not all Boomers but I think taking responsibility like a grown up is what's needed. So man up and look to the future with clear eyes and purpose instead of self-reflexive cuddling.

I want Biden/Harris ticket and then he can bow out after his first term and she can run. I really like the way she handles herself. Smart, dignified and professional.

Yogi Bear said:

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bearister said:

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...I'm actually going to laugh instead of cry when the fat orange stupid guy wins again in 2020. Gosh I wish there was a viable Third Party.

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If there was a viable Third Party, Trump would win re-election easily.

I don't understand why people can't get that through their heads.

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It's like nobody remembers their Duverger

With Biden we'd all get more of the same. Business as usual, not much chance for the structural reform that's so urgently needed. Plus, as an IR specialist, I found that listening to him ramble on in the Foreign Affairs Committee meetings in the 1990s was cringeworthy

"Former Vice President Joe Biden's spokesman said some of the photos being circulated on the internet that allegedly depict Biden inappropriately touching women and children have been mischaracterized and photoshopped, calling them "smears and forgeries." Axios

This is one of them:



Hey, I admit it, it made me giggle like a school girl.

BearsWiin said:

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Yogi Bear said:

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bearister said:

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...I'm actually going to laugh instead of cry when the fat orange stupid guy wins again in 2020. Gosh I wish there was a viable Third Party.

---

If there was a viable Third Party, Trump would win re-election easily.

I don't understand why people can't get that through their heads.

---

It's like nobody remembers their Duverger

With Biden we'd all get more of the same. Business as usual, not much chance for the structural reform that's so urgently needed. Plus, as an IR specialist, I found that listening to him ramble on in the Foreign Affairs Committee meetings in the 1990s was cringeworthy

---

I wholeheartedly agree, we need a visionary, but the first assignment is to stop the looting of America by the tRump Crime Family and that is only going to happen by walking some of the citizenry of the flyovers back from the Dark Side with baby steps. After we suck them back in we can pivot to FREE SHAKESPEARE FOR EVERYBODY!

Biden's run for President twice and failed to move the needle. He's a terrible candidate who would likely result in 2016 ver 2.0 with lots of apathy, insurrection and a second choice of Trump or going backwards. In fact he's the only candidate who'd likely provoke third party challengers from the left.

Plus Trump would eat him up. Can you imagine him in the debates- blubbering one moment, then challenging Trump to arm wrestle then bragging how he nailed Connie Chung on the hood of his Trans Am. Who would want to vote if these two trogdolytes were the choice?

golden sloth said:

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I'm conflicted on Biden. On the one hand all statistics point to him being the most likely to beat Trump (but polls this early are not great indicators). On the other hand, I'm tired of this country being run by the boomer generation, its time for Gen X or the Millenials to start shaping the policies we live under.

---

Joe Biden isn't a baby boomer.

bearister said:

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...I'm actually going to laugh instead of cry when the fat orange stupid guy wins again in 2020. Gosh I wish there was a viable Third Party.

---

Before you hammer progressives, just remember whose people put up the first Creepy Joe Biden video on the internet. Some Senator from New York who was seeking the Presidential nomination a few years ago. The threat was don't ruin against me Joe. I know people love her, but she did quite a number on the Democrat party, not the least somehow losing to Trump.

I'm kind of repeating what others have said, but...

1. I actually think that Biden will, yes, be Hillary 2.0. He'll be polarizing enough that people just won't bother to vote.

2. Trump voters are stuck on Trump. You're not going to change their minds with another old white guy. You have to get out the vote. Hillary couldn't get out the vote because 1) she looked like a shoe-in, 2) Trump looked like a loser, 3) people who would've voted for her weren't passionate enough to get in line to vote and 4) Third-party candidates.

3. The thing about Trump and Republicans is they like being hypocrites. They'll use his creepy behavior, his "racist" past, etc, against him with no hint of irony. And the result is it will turn off minorities/women.

4. You have to create excitement and passion. Joe Biden doesn't create excitement. He just creates a safe feeling.

5. It's best not to have the guy who it feels like he's been around Washington forever.

okaydo said:

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I'm kind of repeating what others have said, but...

1. I actually think that Biden will, yes, be Hillary 2.0. He'll be polarizing enough that people just won't bother to vote.

2. Trump voters are stuck on Trump. You're not going to change their minds with another old white guy. You have to get out the vote. Hillary couldn't get out the vote because 1) she looked like a shoe-in, 2) Trump looked like a loser, 3) people who would've voted for her weren't passionate enough to get in line to vote and 4) Third-party candidates.

3. The thing about Trump and Republicans is they like being hypocrites. They'll use his creepy behavior, his "racist" past, etc, against him with no hint of irony. And the result is it will turn off minorities/women.

4. You have to create excitement and passion. Joe Biden doesn't create excitement. He just creates a safe feeling.

5. It's best not to have the guy who it feels like he's been around Washington forever.

---

This is a bit off topic, and I should I preface this with saying I'm not a big Joe Biden guy, but who is Albert Burneko and why should I care what he thinks?

golden sloth said:

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okaydo said:

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I'm kind of repeating what others have said, but...

1. I actually think that Biden will, yes, be Hillary 2.0. He'll be polarizing enough that people just won't bother to vote.

2. Trump voters are stuck on Trump. You're not going to change their minds with another old white guy. You have to get out the vote. Hillary couldn't get out the vote because 1) she looked like a shoe-in, 2) Trump looked like a loser, 3) people who would've voted for her weren't passionate enough to get in line to vote and 4) Third-party candidates.

3. The thing about Trump and Republicans is they like being hypocrites. They'll use his creepy behavior, his "racist" past, etc, against him with no hint of irony. And the result is it will turn off minorities/women.

4. You have to create excitement and passion. Joe Biden doesn't create excitement. He just creates a safe feeling.

5. It's best not to have the guy who it feels like he's been around Washington forever.

---

This is a bit off topic, and I should I preface this with saying I'm not a big Joe Biden guy, but who is Albert Burneko and why should I care what he thinks?

---

He writes about sports and politics at Deadspin:
https://kinja.com/albertburneko


https://theconcourse.deadspin.com/brett-kavanaugh-is-a-man-the-right-can-get-behind-1829225731

https://theconcourse.deadspin.com/yep-americas-worst-human-is-still-president-1829025053

https://theconcourse.deadspin.com/no-its-not-good-news-its-never-good-news-and-never-wi-1829626537

https://theconcourse.deadspin.com/you-cant-bully-these-mother****ers-1825648283



Another Deadspin guy, Drew Magary, weighs in on Biden for GQ (his other gig):

I had uncles like Joe Biden who did the smothering and faunting uncle stuff, much like the faunting Auntie pinching cheeks and planting wet kisses on 8 y.o. kids. Sinatra era guys, and they were hammered a good deal of the time when visiting. Did the kiss the girls head stuff, a lot like Biden. My younger, very cute sister got a lot of it and it creeped her out. Mostly stuff like how cute she is, etc. It is weird and Nancy Pelosi is 100% right on this...it's not the intend but how it's received. The thing is, when it's your relatives and everyone knows you, it's one thing and weird. To do it strangers, that gets weirder and a line is crossed.

I want to speculate a bit. If Biden does not run, where do his votes go? Does Bernie get a big bump from being the next biggest name, do the centrists like Hickenlooper get a bump, or does it divide out relatively equally among the field?

Biden has a lot of union support. He also polls well with older African Americans. I'd guess Sanders and Harris may get a bump

golden sloth said:

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I want to speculate a bit. If Biden does not run, where do his votes go? Does Bernie get a big bump from being the next biggest name, do the centrists like Hickenlooper get a bump, or does it divide out relatively equally among the field?

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43% of the people eligible to vote in the last election didn't vote. The way things are going, I think it will be 45% or more in 2020. The fat orange stupid traitor wins it again.

bearister said:

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golden sloth said:

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I want to speculate a bit. If Biden does not run, where do his votes go? Does Bernie get a big bump from being the next biggest name, do the centrists like Hickenlooper get a bump, or does it divide out relatively equally among the field?

---

43% of the people eligible to vote in the last election didn't vote. The way things are going, I think it will be 45% or more in 2020. The fat orange stupid traitor wins it again.

---

I strongly disagree with this assessment. Both bases will be energized and protest voters have learned the error of their ways and will now vote for the lesser of two evils. The mid-terms had the strongest turn out since 1966, 2020 will continue this trend.

okaydo said:

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The Right is trying to use the Left's principles against them in an attempt to divide and conquer, or at the least quell enthusiasm. First, they took to Warren with Pocahontas, then Beto claiming 'white privilege', now they are taking on Biden with creepiness, they eventually make their way to Bernie, Kamala, Booker and Mayor Pete. The problem with a big and broad coalition is keeping the coalition together, the right knows they can't win on policy because nearly every policy initiative they implemented over the last 2 years has been unpopular, so they need left - center infighting to win.

Yup, the ol' divide and conquer trick. The Democrats need to learn to punch back (see and learn from AOC) and bring back the Clinton rapid response team that Bill used in the 90s. For any news event or GOP statement, the rapid response team would immediately prepare a response, anticipating attacks. A bit more difficult today but it worked so why not. Offense as defense.

golden sloth said:

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bearister said:

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golden sloth said:

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I want to speculate a bit. If Biden does not run, where do his votes go? Does Bernie get a big bump from being the next biggest name, do the centrists like Hickenlooper get a bump, or does it divide out relatively equally among the field?

---

43% of the people eligible to vote in the last election didn't vote. The way things are going, I think it will be 45% or more in 2020. The fat orange stupid traitor wins it again.

---

I strongly disagree with this assessment. Both bases will be energized and protest voters have learned the error of their ways and will now vote for the lesser of two evils. The mid-terms had the strongest turn out since 1966, 2020 will continue this trend.

---

It is the Progressives trying to take Joe down. When their various candidates fail to get the nomination, they will be crybabies and not vote.

Bernie Bros are doing what Hillary did to Bernie: shut him (Biden) down. It's payback. They view Joe as part of the same inept and senile machine as Hillary. It's politics. Even Nancy Pelosi, an insider, says Joe has to stop the handsy stuff, even if the intend is innocent, which I agree with. The optics are too strong and there's plenty of footage.

I think the vote (all demographics) will show up big time, just like in 2018...because the main theme is still "anyone except Trump". If the Dems focus on getting out the vote and anyone but Trump, they will win. Unless of course there's some Russkie interference, or Hillary-like incompetence. The DNC got that message since they've started to campaign heavily in the midwestern rust belt. Wisconsin in particular looks like a total flip away from Trump.

Is Joe Biden even going to run? His public statements have been making me wonder. He may run anyway just because he leads the polls right now, but how committed is he?

Also, when did Boomers become the cynical, street-smart generation? I thought that was Gen X.

This is ridiculous. I have no dog in this fight but Biden's an old goof. His 'handsiness' and 'foot in mouth syndrome' is about as innocent as it gets. He's not intentionally groping anybody, he's just a little spacey when it comes to boundaries. He's not even aware of it (and perhaps that's what he should be criticized for). He's not a predator or a deviant. Don't intentions and context matter anymore? Or are we out to destroy everybody who doesn't agree with us or does one thing that offends us? And Flores was so strong and assertive that she's complaining about two incidents like 5 and 10 years ago.

Hey, if you don't approve of the way somebody speaks or touches you, take responsibility and ADDRESS IT EXPLICITLY and UNEQUIVOCALLY with that individual. We're all adults.

If elected, Joe Biden will turn 80 during his first term. So will Bernie Sanders. I maybe over 60 myself, but a president in his late 70s is just too old to me.

Sadly, Biden missed his chance in 2016...JMO, he would have given a beat-down to the orange guy..
He had already lost his first wife and a daughter in a car crash. In 2015 his son died of brain cancer.
I understand why he didn't run.

The ghost of Lee Atwater (that was one mean SOB..but, he was good at what he did) is after him.