Biden Has Covid

[Joe Guy]

I don’t think it’s going to help him gain confidence from voters.

What next? Biden coughs up a lung?

[Bicycle Bill]

Never thought I'd see the day when a guy who's a convicted felon awaiting sentencing would be running for president, either.   
He's hardly the guy I'd use as the poster child for instilling confidence in anyone, either.

-"BB"-

[Big RR]

So Biden has covid; that's pretty much like saying he has the flu. It's not like 2020; covid is relatively mild--even at Biden's age, and it can be treated. I see no real reason for concern.

[BoSoxGal]

Biden has had covid twice before so it appears he's been healthy enough to cope with it. He's slender, physically fit, and I suspect Jill doesn't let him subsist on hamberders, ketchup and diet Coke.

But it seems the Democrats are determined to fuck with his reelection prospects by publicly signaling lack of confidence in him, despite all his legislative and foreign policy successes.

I'm resigned to the Donald 2.0 with JD Himmler by his side, and living through the dismantling of most everything I've loved about my country my whole life. Cursed to live in interesting times . . .

[Big RR]

Honestly, BSG, I think the bigger problem is that the rank and file dems are not excited by Biden and, I'm afraid, are not moved to flock to the polls. I can't blame Biden for this--he is pretty much the same as he always was (and is the first choice of very few, although most of them could not come up with a better first choice), but if the specter of four more years of Trump doesn't motivate people to go and vote for Biden, there is not much that can.

[MajGenl.Meade]

"Without this, I was within an inch of death. Mask, mask, mask!"

[BoSoxGal]

I disagree, BigRR.

I think the rank and file Democrats who voted for Biden in the primary are wondering WTF the party is doing airing this dirty laundry and lack of confidence on the airwaves and undermining Biden in the process.

I think the rank and file Democrats and many independents will be motivated to the polls in November by the prospect of Project 2025 and a national abortion ban and four more years of the chaos and ugliness that Trump spewed from the WH daily in his first term.

Biden is not a sexy guy, he never has been. He lacks the charisma of Kennedy or Obama. But he's the FDR of our times in terms of accomplishments and bettering the lives of working Americans. That is what Democrats should be prattling on about 24/7, instead of the nonsense about driving him from the office for which 81 million Americans hired him, and for which he was encouraged to continue running by millions of primary voters.

I am baffled by this BS when just a few months ago we were all cheering his SOTU performance and his record since then of interacting with the highest level people all over the globe while traveling all over the globe is clearly sound. All this because of one poor debate performance which followed two overseas trips and a bout of viral infection? HE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A GAFFE MACHINE. HE HAS NEVER BEEN SEXY OR CHARISMATIC.

Sorry I'm just pissed at the party. Those assholes are going to hand us another term - and maybe an endless term - of Trump and his minions.

[Big RR]

I think the rank and file Democrats and many independents will be motivated to the polls in November by the prospect of Project 2025 and a national abortion ban and four more years of the chaos and ugliness that Trump spewed from the WH daily in his first term.

I hope you are right and that it is enough to stop Trump; but what I am concerned about is that many will just stay home. I don't think this is the fault of the party leadership--FWIW, I don't think all that many people care about what party leadership says, they look to the candidate. And while I don't think Biden is the best person in the country to become president, I am thoroughly convinced that Temp is one of the worst, if not the worst. If that isn't enough to get people to the polls, if people would rather stay home because of comments of some party leadership, maybe we deserve what we end up with. Honestly, I think most people don't really care what party leadership says.

Sure, I can blame the party leadership, but I blame the unmotivated voters more, unless they really don't see a difference between the candidates (at which point I question their sanity). Voting against someone is not something most of us want to do, but it is preferable to remaining at home and then complaining afterwards.

As for Biden lacking charisma (or not being "sexy"), sadly, that is how we elect our representatives, especially in brad national elections. The candidates are sold like commodities and the image is sculpted to appeal to the base. I fail to see the charisma of some, but I think it's there. I don't think Biden was ever a good choice for a candidate, but he is what we have.

[BoSoxGal]

If it's not Biden, it has to be Harris or the rank and file voters will be PISSED.

So, what's your dream ticket from there? Harris/Buttigieg? Harris/???

[Bicycle Bill]

I see Harris as a liability because she's female and black.   Yeah, I know — it shouldn't make any difference, but get your mind out of Utopia and Nirvana and come back to America as it really is in 2024 (and has been pretty much since 1776).

I say leave Biden at the top of the ticket — remember the old adage about changing horses in the middle of a stream — and replace Harris with RFK Jr.   I think that's the Democrat's best option at this time, unless most of MAGA is inexplicably swept by a sudden wave of intelligence, logic, and reason and comes back to their senses... and my crystal ball doesn't show any signs of THAT happening anytime soon.

-"BB"-

[Big RR]

RFK Jr; I can't think of a more polarizing figure among the dems at this time (some of his conspitracy idiocy reminds me of Trump) FWIW, I don't see Harris as a negative on the ticket--replacing her will piss off the same people who would be pissed if she did not top the ticket after a Biden withdrawal. And if she were replaced, I think RFK Jr would seal the loss.

[MajGenl.Meade]

RFK Jr; I can't think of a more polarizing figure among the dems at this time (some of his conspitracy idiocy reminds me of Trump)

Amen

[Big RR]

And FWIW, since there is a significant chance of Biden dying in office and his VP becoming president, I don't think RFK Jr is that much better a choice than Trump. If you gave me a choice between Trump and Desantis, I would most likely stay home, and this ticket is almost as bad. It might be one which would keep me home and not voting.