I stopped taking CNN seriously during the 1996 presidential election, when their coverage consisted of segments extolling the virtues and popularity of Bob Dole on the the campaign trail, while constantly wringing their sweaty palms over Bill Clinton's "unfavorables." Then they would meekly (and briefly) show another poll that showed Clinton beating Dole by about 8-12 points.
It's all about ginning up a horse race, even when that horse is already dead.
Remind me where Joe Biden campaigned in the 2022 mid-terms.
Biden was pretty much persona non grata in most congressional districts; the Democrats did well for reasons other than Biden's standing as President, or anything he did. Basically, the overturning of Roe carried the Democrats to better-than-expected results. And, the quality of the Democratic candidates versus the disasters that were the Republicans on offer.
Yes, I will vote for Biden if that's my choice, but that's not what's important. What is critical is the enthusiasm with which his candidacy is viewed by people like me - I don't want to be putting any real money on him and KH and neither do middle-of-the-roaders. Quit telling me I don't see what I see when I look at Biden - a guy whose life expectancy is reached early in his second term, if he has one.
Life expectancy for an average American man of age 80 is 7 years. Biden's life expectancy is longer because he has always exercised and kept in shape, and has the most expensive medical care readily available if he needs it.
Oh, FFS. Again. Why can't these people understand something very basic? In a tolerably sane, rational world, Joe Biden would have been able to reestablish harmony, bask in the people's praise for his many accomplishments, and retire with pride. (It's asking an elderly person a hell of a lot to carry on with the most demanding of jobs--that much is true.) But we don't live in that world. We live in a world where Donald Trump, a shameless fascist with a large following of people (many of whom evidently hate democracy) is running for president to stay out of prison and to get revenge. That is not a world that will let a successful but tired old president retire and write his memoirs. Joe Biden's job is not done because the republic continues to be in grave peril, and it's hard to conjure up anyone who could easily replace him at this juncture. He beat Trump once, and if the people will put aside their ageist nattering, he can do it one more time.
"It will be too late for other Democrats, including Harris, to test themselves in primaries and see whether they have the stuff of presidential leadership."
almost positive they did that in 2020? if i'm not mistaken having the actual job of President and Vice-President demonstrates they have the "stuff of presidential leadership". it's like questioning if Neil Armstrong would make a good astronaut in 1972. like. it already happened? he was on the moon? what am i missing here?
Highly competent and calm guy who's done a good job throughout his presidency, or lazy ignorant fascist who did a terrible job throughout his presidency and ended it sitting in a chair watching TV as the mob he summoned tried to overthrow the government, but he's thee years younger.
Yeah, I can definitely see your point, Ignatius.
And what is it, exactly, other than the Blackness and the Womaness, that disqualifies Kamala Harris in Ignatius' eyes?
I love Biden. But while I do believe Joe is/would be a better president administratively and policy-wise, I think Buttigieg, Newsom, Whitmer, Klobuchar, Bullock, et al., are better in terms of political skill.
So would I have my Dems switch it up? No. I think Biden/Harris would have a tough fight against Haley, Christie, Hutchinson, and Will Hurd. And none of those people have a chance in hell in the GOP.
Ta, Dok. I appreciate the gift link, but I'm not going there. I just ate a lovely meal prepared by my adorable fiancé, and I don't want to give myself agita.
Air-fried breaded eggplant slices topped with cheese and chickpea pasta with heirloom tomato-oyster mushroom-eggplant sauce made from scratch. All vegan, of course. He and I are both great cooks, and he's gotten really good at veganizing conventional dishes. Yum.
Exactly! This goes beyond both sides. It’s like Ignatius’ bosses at WaPo asked one of their more esteemed writers to pull something out of his ass and stir the pot on the Democrats’ side to counterbalance that alley fight the Republicans are having. Unless something happens, Trump will be the nominee. Biden/Harris beat Trump last time. This article was all about shit. He was talking to Andrea Mitchell on MSNBC earlier and I think Morning Joe- dude is running to every tv need show he can find to promote this non thought provoking bit of garbage. Hey Ignatius! Want to write a compelling story? Ask how any of those morons on the Right are so goddamned stupid as to support a guy who lies to their faces and can’t string together a coherent sentence to save his life. I learned to compare and contrast in my high school English lit classes. How the fuck does every “journalist” in the Beltway miss that? Fucking Hacks!
". . . it’s been the subject of dinner-table conversations across America this summer”
given the limited circles these pundits travel in, I suspect these are the exact same dinner tables from which the Dersh has been banished.
I stopped taking CNN seriously during the 1996 presidential election, when their coverage consisted of segments extolling the virtues and popularity of Bob Dole on the the campaign trail, while constantly wringing their sweaty palms over Bill Clinton's "unfavorables." Then they would meekly (and briefly) show another poll that showed Clinton beating Dole by about 8-12 points.
It's all about ginning up a horse race, even when that horse is already dead.
Remind me where Joe Biden campaigned in the 2022 mid-terms.
Biden was pretty much persona non grata in most congressional districts; the Democrats did well for reasons other than Biden's standing as President, or anything he did. Basically, the overturning of Roe carried the Democrats to better-than-expected results. And, the quality of the Democratic candidates versus the disasters that were the Republicans on offer.
Yes, I will vote for Biden if that's my choice, but that's not what's important. What is critical is the enthusiasm with which his candidacy is viewed by people like me - I don't want to be putting any real money on him and KH and neither do middle-of-the-roaders. Quit telling me I don't see what I see when I look at Biden - a guy whose life expectancy is reached early in his second term, if he has one.
Life expectancy for an average American man of age 80 is 7 years. Biden's life expectancy is longer because he has always exercised and kept in shape, and has the most expensive medical care readily available if he needs it.
Oh, FFS. Again. Why can't these people understand something very basic? In a tolerably sane, rational world, Joe Biden would have been able to reestablish harmony, bask in the people's praise for his many accomplishments, and retire with pride. (It's asking an elderly person a hell of a lot to carry on with the most demanding of jobs--that much is true.) But we don't live in that world. We live in a world where Donald Trump, a shameless fascist with a large following of people (many of whom evidently hate democracy) is running for president to stay out of prison and to get revenge. That is not a world that will let a successful but tired old president retire and write his memoirs. Joe Biden's job is not done because the republic continues to be in grave peril, and it's hard to conjure up anyone who could easily replace him at this juncture. He beat Trump once, and if the people will put aside their ageist nattering, he can do it one more time.
"It will be too late for other Democrats, including Harris, to test themselves in primaries and see whether they have the stuff of presidential leadership."
almost positive they did that in 2020? if i'm not mistaken having the actual job of President and Vice-President demonstrates they have the "stuff of presidential leadership". it's like questioning if Neil Armstrong would make a good astronaut in 1972. like. it already happened? he was on the moon? what am i missing here?
Methinks a million fools in choir
are raving and will never tire.
Gothe's Faust (1808)
So, what is your alternative ticket to Biden/Harris?
"Doktor Zoom published and emailed this post before its time. He has been dealt with accordingly."
Did it involve Windows?10? 11?
Highly competent and calm guy who's done a good job throughout his presidency, or lazy ignorant fascist who did a terrible job throughout his presidency and ended it sitting in a chair watching TV as the mob he summoned tried to overthrow the government, but he's thee years younger.
Yeah, I can definitely see your point, Ignatius.
And what is it, exactly, other than the Blackness and the Womaness, that disqualifies Kamala Harris in Ignatius' eyes?
I love Biden. But while I do believe Joe is/would be a better president administratively and policy-wise, I think Buttigieg, Newsom, Whitmer, Klobuchar, Bullock, et al., are better in terms of political skill.
So would I have my Dems switch it up? No. I think Biden/Harris would have a tough fight against Haley, Christie, Hutchinson, and Will Hurd. And none of those people have a chance in hell in the GOP.
> Right now, there’s no clear alternative to Biden — no screamingly obvious replacement waiting in the wings.
Kamala Harris waves in Vice President.
Ta, Dok. I appreciate the gift link, but I'm not going there. I just ate a lovely meal prepared by my adorable fiancé, and I don't want to give myself agita.
Air-fried breaded eggplant slices topped with cheese and chickpea pasta with heirloom tomato-oyster mushroom-eggplant sauce made from scratch. All vegan, of course. He and I are both great cooks, and he's gotten really good at veganizing conventional dishes. Yum.
maybe this is another 'both sides' but this time they're trying to get the dems into the same shambolic shitpile the repukes are already in
Exactly! This goes beyond both sides. It’s like Ignatius’ bosses at WaPo asked one of their more esteemed writers to pull something out of his ass and stir the pot on the Democrats’ side to counterbalance that alley fight the Republicans are having. Unless something happens, Trump will be the nominee. Biden/Harris beat Trump last time. This article was all about shit. He was talking to Andrea Mitchell on MSNBC earlier and I think Morning Joe- dude is running to every tv need show he can find to promote this non thought provoking bit of garbage. Hey Ignatius! Want to write a compelling story? Ask how any of those morons on the Right are so goddamned stupid as to support a guy who lies to their faces and can’t string together a coherent sentence to save his life. I learned to compare and contrast in my high school English lit classes. How the fuck does every “journalist” in the Beltway miss that? Fucking Hacks!
the cynicism is all-pervasive at big legacy media
You do NOT relinquish the advantage of incumbency. PERIOD.
I don’t get it. Unless there’s someone on deck, let’s stick with the guy we got. Who’s the alternative?
It’s so silly. It’s Biden or bust, the analysis is not difficult. Stephen and I discussed this on the electronic tweeting machine a couple of days ago