To think Joe Biden needs to be replaced as a candidate

[Viviennemary]

I just saw a headline saying Biden absolutely lost the plot last night and was totally incoherent. Why on earth is he bring put forward as a candidate. I know a lot of folk on here think nothing could be worse than Trump. Or does it not really matter who is President as somebody else makes the big decisions anyway and the President is just a figurehead. I find it a bit scarey that the USA can only come up with those two. Many Democrats are apparently calling for him to be replaced.

How do you get to be an adult in a western country and know so little about the way the world's biggest and most important democracy works?

No, the president is not just a figurehead.

I don’t know much about Gretchen Widmer, need to do some research.

Are you talking about last night's televised presidential candidate debate?

It wasn't an interview.

Why does the party "need her" ?

At the moment she looks like a liability.

If she were a strong candidate for Presidency it would certainly head off a lot of the concerns about Biden's health, because she would be there to replace him in the event of major concerns about his health.

Narcissistic megalomaniac who cannot be controlled by his party vs frail dementia sufferer who clearly is going to be a mere puppet for someone else in the White House is a horrendous choice. I still think the former poses a much greater threat to global stability, but the latter represents appallingly bad judgment on the part of the Democratic Party.

The thing is, if Biden were to go totally ga-ga in office, at least they'd replace him. But they'd let Trump keep right on going.

FWIW, I don't think Biden has dementia or anything, but he is too old; a lot of people, even very capable ones, just get a bit vague and forgetful when they're older and that's not ideal for POTUS.

I don't know what's going on with Trump, but he does seem to be getting increasingly incoherent and uncontrolled. I'm surprised there was so little comment on him using the word 'Motherfuckers' at a rally last year; I mean, its hardly a crime but its deeply inappropriate in that context and shows how little self control he has.

Yes why don't they have some younger candidates

@suburburban It’s not the done thing to run against the sitting President. If Biden had said that he was stepping down after one term, younger candidates would have stepped forward. But he didn’t.

After the debate,political commentators were discussing it and saying that Biden’s always been stubborn and determined-which can be positive if you’re trying to get something done, but not so great if you won’t accept that it’s time to step aside.

A Newsom-Harris ticket would be an all CA ticket. Traditionally, regional affiliation as well as group affiliation has been taken into account when choosing running mates.

Newsom would probably prefer to keep his powder dry until 2028.

Illinois governor JB Pritzker has been mooted as a potential Democratic candidate over the years. He is the heir to the Pritzker fortune, and has seen off a MAGA challenger by a wide margin. Again, he might prefer to wait this one out, and possibly end up as a VP candidate.

Senator Tammy Duckworth of Illinois (double amputee, Iraq war veteran, with Thai-American ancestry) might be persuaded to give it a go. Her senate seat would be up for grabs, but Illinois usually returns two Democratic senators.

It would be absolutely extraordinary to dump Biden at this point - it would take a major health event (heart attack, stroke, death) to male dropping out look credible. The Dems would then be left with Kamala Harris, who could also be replaced (has the charisma of a plank).

Poll numbers. She can read them as well as anyone else can.

The Dems would then be left with Kamala Harris, who could also be replaced (has the charisma of a plank). 🤣

@mathanxiety Do you think they’ll run Biden then and hope for the best? I have to admit that I’m reluctant to vote for him, but what choice do we have?

It’ll be a conservative woman someone like Kristi Noem (not her but someone similar)

I struggle with the size of the country and that the 'gruesome twosome' are the best the USA can come up with. There has to be a puppet master manipulating the presidential campaigns to acheive a master plan, or else the lunatics really are running the asylum!

I've been listening to a lot of podcasts today as I've been on a long train journey and many commentators are saying that it's very likely that the Democrats will now make a move to change their candidate (something Trumps camp would fear). Not just someone younger and better but to someone who can stand up to Trump's lies. Biden's performance was absolutely dreadful - he really was losing track of what he was saying and sounded senile but also it's not just how bad he looks now - it's how he could possibly perform the duties of office for 4 more years. It has to be done.

The alternative isn't another mad period under a Trump Presidency - it's much more dangerous than that. He has no seasoned experts around him just rampant right wingers and he could do great harm in the US tearing apart the civil service and civil rights but also give the green light to other autocrats across the world and put at risk those nations in the shadow of Russian and Chinese ambitions.

@YYURYYUCICYYUR4ME I think much of it is the amount of money that candidates need to run, plus the sheer brutality of American politics today.

Someone in my neighborhood ran for a city council seat and received personal threats. He was also torn to shreds online. He says that he’s never running for anything again and this was just the local council!

You’ve made some good points, particularly about an all CA ticket. I really don’t think an all female ticket is electable either, sadly. Pritzker-Harris might be viable.

I continue to hope Biden will do the right thing

The problem is that each state's laws determine who can be on the ballot, and it's already too late to replace Biden on the ballot in Wisconsin, a swing state that the Dems pretty much must win.

I dislike Trump on every level and think he is a rambling but dangerous idiot....very sadly and unbelievably Biden made him look like he was the better politician. 😥

Clinton became the first baby Boomer president 32 years ago. Both Biden and Trump are from the generation before.

Sunak is nearly only half Biden's age.

I wouldn't vote for Biden and wouldn't vote Trump.

The Democrats have got a lot to answer for. They got Trump in by stitching up Bernie for 2016 with the deeply divisive Hilary who Trump could play the anti establishment card against. Now they're putting up someone who would struggle to say his own name.

I am sure I read that the original plan/intention 4 years ago was that Biden would only do one term. I wonder why this changed.

It is sad to witness someone in poor health, but I agree. Even more so as not doing so is the best way to ensure President Trump come November.

Watching the debate last night was dystopian. The two men vying for becoming the leader of the most powerful country in the world arguing about who’s best at golf!? Calling each other losers and children?
more unreal. And watching Biden trail off and totally loose the plot was pitiful.
we’re truly watching the collapse of the US as the leader of the so called free world. Scared for what’s coming!

I thought Biden was going to do one term and "give the place" to Kamala Harris BUT she's really unpopular so he's standing again.

As @Bouledeneige has said - it's not only what Biden is like now at a chipper 81 year old bit what he'll be like in two or three years time - or by the end of 2028. My father is in great form for his age (86) but great form at ages over 80 is a very relative term and slides into old age get pretty steep.

I believe the minimum age to be President is 35. Maybe there should be a maximum age too.