2024 U.S. Election of President and Vice President

[Amled]

Bullocks!!!
Sorry Joe, but if she won’t step up, then the Democratic Party will have to find someone equally well know, and of similar statute to contest with Trump in November.
If they don’t; then as Jefferson and de Maistre said, you (the American people) will end up with the government you deserve!
A Trump back in the Oval Office is something no one should deserve.

[TopHatter]

It’s also someone who might give Trump an apoplectic stroke if nominated!
Michelle Obama!!!

She's too smart to run for president. She saw how her family was treated the first time around.

[Amled]

If; and I know it’s a very big if, Biden would put his ego and pride aside for the sake of his country, and did step back;
then who in the Democratic camp would have the wherewithal to step up, and contest with Trump in the time remaining?
It would have to be someone who the American people already know. Also at the same time someone with the brains,
and also the political know-how to be able to go toe to toe with Trump.
There is such a person!
It’s also someone who might give Trump an apoplectic stroke if nominated!
Michelle Obama!!!

[S2]

"You were clearly wanting to know how/why 'a convicted felon out of office could muster more political capital than the standing president, a career politician and insider with all the power of the state at his disposal.'"

Not really. It was offered as an observation regarding the mechanisms behind the outcome. Trump DID exert more influence from outside than Biden could muster from within. While I don't deny Trump's control of his party (isn't that control the ambition of any presidential party candidate?), my comment was more a reflection of Biden's inability to provide the means and coverage/protection under which dissenting Republicans could rally while retaining full support from within the democratic party.

He'd been outmaneuvered despite the traditional advantages offered to a sitting President. Why? I have my thoughts. Both on the border and Ukraine I question his fitness and vigor. He doesn't sell very well. I'm reconciling myself to a lost vote and starting to rationalize that it'll be o.k. anyway. Trump will likely confront Iran far more directly than Biden. Trump will likely confront China more directly as well. I'd like that. Finally Trump might, after Ukraine tells him (hopefully politely) to go fcuk himself, recognize the consensus across the board in Europe and America and mitigate his anti-Ukraine and neo-isolationist anti-NATO shit.

Rationalizing. Any port in the storm.

Because the other guy can't walk and chew gum at the same time and, like DOR said, we sorta seem fresh out of workable ideas.

[DOR]

Sorry, we're fresh out of perfect politicians.
Live with it.

Now, back to the subject: What would be effective in stopping the felonious orange anti-Christ?

Pulling the other major party candidate (the incumbent) from the ticket?
Check history on that one: guaranteed failure.

Anyone got any workable ideas?

[TopHatter]

"It's terrifying that in 2024 there are still people who don't grasp the true state of what used to be a proud and distinguished political party."

Well...heck! Ain't that a shame that good ol' Joe just couldn't defeat the machine arrayed against him. Sleep soundly knowing you've got my disingenuous vote. Your problem isn't Trump but, you know...continue to point at him. Like I said earlier, Biden wins if this election becomes about Trump.

It's not. After the other night, the cat is finally out of the bag. Joe's been stage-managed for three years of office and this election will most decidedly be about Joe Biden. He got a pass in 2020. Not this time.

You were clearly wanting to know how/why "a convicted felon out of office could muster more political capital than the standing president, a career politician and insider with all the power of the state at his disposal."

I answered your query. That's why I pointed at Trump's power and influence over the former Republican Party, and a sitting president's Constitutionally limited abilities in the border bill case.

We've had this discussion about Biden and the Democrats before, remember? I'm not a Democrat or a Biden supporter. I'm not going to defend him any more than you are.

[tbm3fan]

Someone tell me that these Trump rallies do not remind anyone of Nuremberg? Go ahead. A sea of red flags. One with the swastika and the others with Trump's mug. Same, same to me. Hindenberg then dies and good old Adolf assumes both offices and is now a dictator. Of course, earlier he got the Enabling Law passed which then dissolved the Reichstag. Play within the system to dismantle the system.

Trump has the same knack he that he attracts rather those purposeless nationalists who are looking for someone to represent their cause and lead them to victory. Lunatic politics.

I don't know about others but I have started to equate the two when there is talk of Trump. I say, or ask, you are talking about Hitler just to make a connection between them.

[S2]

"It's terrifying that in 2024 there are still people who don't grasp the true state of what used to be a proud and distinguished political party."

Well...heck! Ain't that a shame that good ol' Joe just couldn't defeat the machine arrayed against him. Sleep soundly knowing you've got my disingenuous vote. Your problem isn't Trump but, you know...continue to point at him. Like I said earlier, Biden wins if this election becomes about Trump.

It's not. After the other night, the cat is finally out of the bag. Joe's been stage-managed for three years of office and this election will most decidedly be about Joe Biden. He got a pass in 2020. Not this time.

[TopHatter]

"...there was a deal that did more than anything had been done for immigration reform for 25 years but someone torpedoed it."

Consider this- a convicted felon out of office mustered more political capital than the standing president, a career politician and insider with all the power of the state at his disposal. Really?

Yes. Really.

Dude, seriously? What is this, 2015? It's terrifying that in 2024 there are still people who don't grasp the true state of what used to be a proud and distinguished political party.

Like Buck said, you're being disingenuous.

For starters the deal was torpedoed in the House of Representatives which is controlled by the former Republican Party.

A standing president, whether a greenhorn or a grizzled veteran politician can't dictate to an opposition-controlled House what they should and should not do. Especially not this one.

"the power of the state at his disposal." What? Again, seriously? What "power" does Biden have over the House? Threaten to send in the 75th Rangers? Even saying a positive word about Joe Biden is enough to get someone primaried by Trump's cult.

As for Trump being a convicted felon, haven't you been watching the news? His status as a convicted felon means nothing to the Republicans in Congress and even less to the voters that keep them in Congress. At best, it's only tightened his grip. Donald Trump could shoot a dog on Fifth Avenue and not lose a voter.

"Out of office"? Once again, this isn't 2015. It's a cult. Not a party. It doesn't matter if he's in office or not, that man controls every apparatus of the former GOP, up and down the line.

[Albany Rifles]

All the coverage I'm seeing in Australia asks the same question. Why doesn't he withdraw his candidacy? Whihc leaves the unanswered question. Where in hell would the Democrats find a half way plausible replacement?

Exactly! We are 4.5 months from the election. The time does not exist.

[Albany Rifles]

"...there was a deal that did more than anything had been done for immigration reform for 25 years but someone torpedoed it."

Consider this- a convicted felon out of office mustered more political capital than the standing president, a career politician and insider with all the power of the state at his disposal. Really?

That's just being disingenuous...come on!. You know Speaker Johnson was not going to sign on to anything which former President Trump said not to pass!! Trump came out and said he wants to use immigration as a campaign issue! Senate Republicans were for the bill until Trump spoke up...and then they weren't anymore when told to block. SEN Jim Lankford negotiated the bill, strongly supported against...and then voted against it when Leader McConnell withdrew his support!

This was no matter of President Biden lacking the political capital...he had already used quite a bit to get the bill crafted in the first place.

[Monash]

Well, assuming what you say is true as I see it there are basically only two (more or less positive) alternates.

1) Biden has a 'Road to Damascus' moment and realizes there's no gas left in the tank and decides to withdraw IMMEDIATELY. (IMO unlikely.) Or alternatively ...
2) The Party has a collective 'moment of clarity/panic' and realizes they have to find a better candidate pronto! (Also IMO unlikely.)

In reality? I'm old enough to realize that life isn't going to hand me what I want on a platter. So as much as I truly detest it? I'm bracing myself for four more years of 'the Donald' (assuming of course the US Constitution doesn't get thrown out the window and he gets a third term!

[rj1]

All the coverage I'm seeing in Australia asks the same question. Why doesn't he withdraw his candidacy?

Pride. Ego. Kamala Harris. Also consider he's surrounded by people that have the most political power they've ever held in their lives whose employment depends on him being President. Harris or anyone else becomes nominee they'll get their own people.

[Monash]

All the coverage I'm seeing in Australia asks the same question. Why doesn't he withdraw his candidacy? Which leaves the unanswered question. Where in hell would the Democrats find a half way plausible replacement?

[Officer of Engineers]

Living in Alberta in a deeply conservative district, my vote doesn't count for much anyway.

Oh hell NO! YOUR VOTE counts, just not in the way you think. It tells the your politicians (winning or losing) that there are certain LINES NOT TO CROSS.