Where do we go from here?

[Bobfripp]

Strongly disagree. I think it puts the Dems in a much stronger position if Biden announces he’s a one-term prez. It would’ve allowed time for our deep bench to mount their own campaigns, and we could’ve seen who’s ideas came out on top.

Again, Biden heavily insinuated during the campaign that he would be a one-term “bridge” to the next generation of Democratic leadership. A lot of people voted for him on this premise. I don’t think people would’ve felt some great betrayal. He could’ve used all his energy to make a difference in 4 years and then handed it off.

I don't recall Biden heavily insinuating during the campaign that he would be a one-term president. That seems like an insinuation that would have sunk his candidacy from the start. Who wants to vote for a 'caretaker' President?

 

[Paine]

It’s not semantics.

I was taught in 9th grade to not preface opinions with, “I think….” or “to be honest” or “I genuinely….”

You’re writing or speaking…..state your opinion…..

And, if you say something like, “To be honest…..,” I’m convinced you’re lying.

This is an internet message board, not an essay.

 

[Paine]

I don't recall Biden heavily insinuating during the campaign that he would be a one-term president. That seems like an insinuation that would have sunk his candidacy from the start. Who wants to hire a 'caretaker' President?

It’s sort of implicit in him being 78 at the time of inauguration. He insinuated it multiple times without coming right out saying it. Doesn’t matter anymore, so I don’t really care to argue about it.

 

[Zoo_View]

Strongly disagree. I think it puts the Dems in a much stronger position if Biden announces he’s a one-term prez. It would’ve allowed time for our deep bench to mount their own campaigns, and we could’ve seen who’s ideas came out on top.

Again, Biden heavily insinuated during the campaign that he would be a one-term “bridge” to the next generation of Democratic leadership. A lot of people voted for him on this premise. I don’t think people would’ve felt some great betrayal. He could’ve used all his energy to make a difference in 4 years and then handed it off.

January 21, 2021…….Joe Biden announces, “I’m not going to run for re-election.”

Does anything pass? Infrastructure? Ukraine support? Microchips? Judges/justices?

I doubt it.

If Biden announces in 2021 that he’s not running for re-election, who wins the nomination AND the general election?

 

[Paine]

January 21, 2021…….Joe Biden announces, “I’m not going to run for re-election.”

Does anything pass? Infrastructure? Ukraine support? Microchips? Judges/justices?

I doubt it.

If Biden announces in 2021 that he’s not running for re-election, who wins the nomination AND the general election?

All questions that could’ve been answered had he done it. That’s the point of a primary. Now, we’re stuck with Trump because of his hubris.

What’s the argument for nothing passing if Biden says he’s a one-term president? I really don’t follow that.

 

[stankeylegjones]

It’s not semantics.

I was taught in 9th grade to not preface opinions with, “I think….” or “to be honest” or “I genuinely….”

You’re writing or speaking…..state your opinion…..

And, if you say something like, “To be honest…..,” I’m convinced you’re lying.

You are weirdly taking offense to this, why? Just let it go. We all know what Paine meant.

 

[Zoo_View]

All questions that could’ve been answered had he done it. That’s the point of a primary. Now, we’re stuck with Trump because of his hubris.

What’s the argument for nothing passing if Biden says he’s a one-term president? I really don’t follow that.

I appreciate many of your posts.

I appreciate your passion.

Your socialist naïveté has tired me. I’m out.

 

[CarolinaFever]

Can't make someone see the truth is roughly half of the population are either stupid, horrible, greedy, or some combo of them all.

 

[aGDevil2k]

All questions that could’ve been answered had he done it. That’s the point of a primary. Now, we’re stuck with Trump because of his hubris.

What’s the argument for nothing passing if Biden says he’s a one-term president? I really don’t follow that.

He should have announced it in December 2022

 

[superrific]

It’s not semantics.

I was taught in 9th grade to not preface opinions with, “I think….” or “to be honest” or “I genuinely….”

And, if you say something like, “To be honest…..,” I’m convinced you’re lying.

That's a very poor assumption. I write "to be honest" and when I do, I'm not lying. Usually that phrase means, "I'm going to say something that perhaps neither of us really expect"

What you were taught in ninth grade was eons ago. If it was ever valid (it is in writing, though not universal; in conversation it's never been true), it isn't necessarily valid now

 

[superrific]

Strongly disagree. I think it puts the Dems in a much stronger position if Biden announces he’s a one-term prez. It would’ve allowed time for our deep bench to mount their own campaigns, and we could’ve seen whose ideas came out on top.

This strategy has a very poor track record. Competitive primaries are not great for winning elections. There was no way for the Dem nominee to separate from Biden. That just doesn't happen. Also, if the Dem candidate did manage to separate from Biden, how is that helpful? "Vote for this Dem, not the Dem you voted for four years ago, and I promise not to make the same mistakes" is not a winning message.

The problem with the "separate from the incumbent" approach is that one would imagine the separation to occur on an issue seen as weak for Biden. Like immigration. Great -- now the media will start talking about immigration non-stop, which is what the Dems don't want to happen. The tension between the president's views and the candidate's views would remain salient in the media for the whole campaign, because that's what the media does.

It's easy to come up with good plans so long as you don't ask a follow-up question about what would happen in response.

 

[Paine]

This strategy has a very poor track record. Competitive primaries are not great for winning elections. There was no way for the Dem nominee to separate from Biden. That just doesn't happen. Also, if the Dem candidate did manage to separate from Biden, how is that helpful? "Vote for this Dem, not the Dem you voted for four years ago, and I promise not to make the same mistakes" is not a winning message.

The problem with the "separate from the incumbent" approach is that one would imagine the separation to occur on an issue seen as weak for Biden. Like immigration. Great -- now the media will start talking about immigration non-stop, which is what the Dems don't want to happen. The tension between the president's views and the candidate's views would remain salient in the media for the whole campaign, because that's what the media does.

It's easy to come up with good plans so long as you don't ask a follow-up question about what would happen in response.

I understand the strategy has a poor track record. That’s because presidents as unpopular as Biden generally aren’t running for reelection. His age was unprecedented.

 

[superrific]

I understand the strategy has a poor track record. That’s because presidents as unpopular as Biden generally aren’t running for reelection. His age was unprecedented.

I simply don't think there was a Dem candidate who was going to win this cycle, given what we just saw.

In voters minds, the world was great under Trump; it became shitty under Biden. Maybe it was the economy, maybe it was "the border", maybe other things. But as long as that was the perception, and people voted on that perception, I just don't know what could have been done.

What has to happen is for people to be reminded of just how bad Trump was/will be. This is a great test case. The economy is strong now, at least per metrics. When the economy tanks, it's going to be Trump's fault and people will see that, I think.

Then the key is for Dems to never let Americans forget. We made a big mistake when we stopped talking about the financial crisis. We should have run for a decade on "look at what happened last time the GOP was in control." If what we think will happen happens, then Dems need to message this every day for an eternity. Every day. Not during campaigns only.