Biden - Trump - Obama - Clinton...

[EasttoWest]

So around American politics.

Why the American nation being full of such great minds (as is our very own nation but that’s a thread for another day) why do they have Biden as the best opposition to Trump? Isn’t he old and I’m sorry and just past it? Why didn’t Hilary Clinton or even Barack Obama run again?

I do expect Michelle Obama to run one day. I do feel the US is destined to another 4 years of Trump as POTUS!

Barack Obama can't run again as he's been president twice.

Obama’s already had 2 terms 🤦🏽‍♀️

Barack Obama legally can’t run again, Hilary Clinton is not popular over there, plus there are still a large majority of Americans that won’t vote for a female president.

There is no one else popular enough to run and win.

Hilary running would have been insanity. She lost to Trump last time, she is deeply unpopular. Anyone should have stormed it against a candidate like Trump.
Biden should be storming it now, he's been a terrible choice for the Democrats.
I think he'll win after a couple of weeks of still counting.

The democrats had some really good candidates they could have picked, but they chose Hilary then Biden.

Biden has been selected by the Democratic Party because he is the former VP and for that reason had established name recognition. He is not the best candidate they've ever had. But he has "Better Than Trump"going for him. He would have run 4 years ago but the party line was it was "Hillary's time"

Hillary literally won the popular vote so isn't that unpopular. But she lost so you don't run again.

Michelle Obama has stated relentlessly she will never run but no one seems to want to accept that.

Trump is only running now because he holds the office.

He's not a "real Republican" and the GOP are somewhat stuck with him having done a "Win Or Bust" 4 years ago. Even just his candidacy 4 years ago is an anomaly. It's usually an established politician

Who runs in 4 years will be quite interesting. Biden is obviously not really up to it, and may only serve one term if his health declines.

I think Biden will win but only because of Trump’s response to Covid - otherwise he would have had a second term.

There's a great thread in classics which answered this same question 4 years ago

Spoiler: George HW Bush and George W Bush are not the same person

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/mumsnet_classics/2598200-to-wonder-why-Obama-isnt-running-for-president/

Trump is so toxic he taints all those who have to do with him, even when they oppose him. Biden is at the end of his career and has nothing to lose in this respect. He is about the same age as Trump and serves as a contrast to him - experienced, thoughtful, principled and empathetic. Trump is the malignancy that must be removed before American public life can recover, and younger people can take their turn.
Disclaimer: Biden isn’t in any way perfect, but his flaws are usual and minor ones. ( I’m very impressed by Pete Buttegeig (Mayor Pete), currently working on Biden’s transition team.)

Too many Americans are deeply conservative, which means white men get the top job. Obviously this is a massive generalisation (Obama), and of course I’m by no means talking about all Americans. There are plenty of progressive forward-thinking Americans, but seemingly nowhere enough of them.

Also, you have to be absolutely minted to run for president - and in the age of social media, have the hide of rhino on steroids. I mean, would you put yourself forward? I wouldn’t, not even if you paid me billions.

And a friendly reminder - Hillary was more popular than Drump in 2016 by 3 million votes

Thanks for the views. I thought even though Obama had two terms now he hadn’t been President could run again. Sorry my American Constitutional law is hopeless!

I too thought Hillary won the popular vote. I think she lost overall cos she’s a woman. So perhaps even harder for Americans to vote for a black woman?

No, she lost overall due to the Electoral College and the fact that smaller states (population-wise) have a disproportionate ‘voice’ in the outcome of presidential elections.

Although, yes, you could argue that it’s because she’s a woman, since the smaller states population-wise are often rural, and even more conservative.

If I can add another companion question to the op's: why is it that in such a hugely populous nation that calls itself the champion of democracy there is such a restricted pool of families that are drawn on to supply presidents, and why does no one over there see it as a problem? Or do they?
America is just too big for me to get my head around...

Poles so far are suggesting that Trump is winning in the swing states, so sadly I think a trump win is a foregone conclusion.

I see alexandria Cortez as a front runner for Democrats in the future. I think it will be another 4 years of trump and than the Democrats will come up with someone shiny and new who is relatively unknown right now.

@MayYouLiveInInterestingTimes

If I can add another companion question to the op's: why is it that in such a hugely populous nation that calls itself the champion of democracy there is such a restricted pool of families that are drawn on to supply presidents, and why does no one over there see it as a problem? Or do they? America is just too big for me to get my head around...

I posted something similar on another thread.

I first had an inkling Trump would win in 2015 when the Republicans rejected Jeb Bush (George's brother) as their contender.

The American electorate were absolutely sick to the back teeth of a small group of families - Kennedys, Bushes, Clintons - acting as though they have a divine right to rule America.

The fact the Dems were, shortly after the last election, pushing Joe Kennedy proved they just hadn't learned anything.

Trump - who wasn't even a politician - was a brick through the window of the establishment.

Having said all of that I think Michelle Obama would be brilliant.

Obama cannot run again, he's already done 2 terms.
I doubt Michelle will ever run.
Generally speaking the incumbent will get re-elected so the Democrats will be saving their best for 2024.
Biden is a safe, good choice for them. Former VP so well known, moderate, not much to dislike about him. Is he the best they have, no.

A billionaire who inherited hundreds of millions from his dad is a ‘brick through the window of the establishment?’

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

^ I don’t see it either, but that is the repeated claim. Here in Europe and the UK most of us are growing more and more concerned by the intertwining of big business and big political power. It’s becoming as much of a problem as the intertwining of religion and secular power was.

I don’t really grasp the way the presidency / executive is completely and totally separated from the legislative. I understand separation of powers as checks and balances, but what that freedom means is an automatic route into totalitarianism. Maybe it’s just the size and scale.

One thing is obvious, as people have observed throughout history, it’s not enough to protest: you need to know where you’re going. At the moment it seems our systems are out of date but there is no one and nothing capable of challenging the systems themselves. To be in them you have to be of them.

It does seem odd, that two old men way past retirement age are the best either party could field as a candidate.

Well shit is hitting the fan!