Reader Thomas Goff posted this wise comment:
Yes, we live in a different world, one in which the decent man who holds our highest office is, in effect, now being asked to hand over the White House to a convicted criminal who will abandon Ukraine, kowtow to Putin, trash our environmental regulations, strip away the rights of women, BIPOC and LGBTQ people, and establish a right-wing dictatorship. Have we gone completely nuts?
Diane Ravitch's blog 
For the third time today I will write in response to Mr. Goff: people are not asking Biden to hand over the Presidency to Trump. They are asking him to step down so that he does not hand the Presidency to Trump.
Step down for whom?
A candidate “chosen by the DNC”? “Forced on us by the DNC”. How’d that work out in 2016?
Who is supposed to replace Biden?
It would have to be an open convention.
Clinton was nominated through the primary system.
Exactly. The primary system is far more democratic than an “open” convention where no one except DNC delegates gets to vote.
I still don’t understand who you believe would be a viable candidate coming out of the “open” convention would be. Can you name just a couple who are likely to beat Trump when no Republican primary opponent nor HRC could not?
^^a bunch of folks here say Bernie would have beaten Trump handily. Is Bernie Sanders one of those sure-fire replacement nominees who will defeat Trump?
Buttagieg
Shapiro
Newsom
Whitmer
Warnock
Flerp: do you envision a William Jennings Bryan type nomination? This v can pulse be exciting, but is rare in recent years.
Frankly I’m not sure what it would look like. This has never happened in my lifetime. The party structure and the way delegates are selected have changed a lot. I think Biden would have to release his delegates and then the delegates would have to sort it out. A lot of big decisions and power struggles would happen very quickly and it would be messy.
And goes without saying that money would matter.
I will repeat my suggestion of what I believe would be an ideal solution that I posted at the end of a long thread about the debate.
Biden stepping down would be a disaster and create chaos at the convention. It’s what the Republicans want.
Instead, Justice Sandra Sotomayor should announce her immediate retirement, followed shortly after by Biden nominating Kamala Harris for a seat on the Supreme Court. Harris should be confirmed as quickly as Amy Coney Barrett.
At the same time Biden should nominate Harris’ replacement for VP.
Since folks seem to think there is some ideal choice to replace Biden at the top of the ticket, that person should be VP so that any folks who don’t like Trump but think that Biden is too frail or demented or whatever will vote for the ticket.
I still have no idea who this magical Biden replacement would be who couldn’t be destroyed like almost every other Dem in my lifetime.
It’s revealing that Biden only has to have one bad night – something that plenty of younger presidential candidates have had at debates – to have folks give up on him. So typical of the Dems. Dukakis looked stupid in the army tank. That was all it took for the destruction of Dukakis to begin. In that case, the media and Dems piled on about how he shouldn’t have done this, the “perception” that he looked stupid. Recently looked at that video of Dukakis with a friend whose Army officer son rides tanks, and both are wearing the same helmet and ear protectors, as is the soldier sitting next to Dukakis. It is so easy for the Republicans to get us to eat our own candidates.
I am NOT afraid of Biden being re-elected.
If folks here are afraid of Biden being re-elected because they believe he is too demented and will be a grave danger to this country if he serves, then they shouldn’t vote for him.
I don’t have that fear. I do have that fear about Trump.
^^^ To be clear:
I gravely fear Biden will NOT be re-elected.
But I have no fear whatsoever that IF Biden is re-elected, then the country would be in grave danger because Biden’s dementia would cause him to make risky decisions very bad for our country.
NO FEAR OF THAT WHATSOEVER.
IF Biden is re-elected, I would be able to sleep well at night. Because I don’t fear for one minute that Biden is too cognitively unfit to be president right now, and I don’t fear for one minute that IF Biden’s health became an issue, he would step down.
Agree
“I still have no idea who this magical Biden replacement would be”
So, you are suggesting that Biden is the only Democratic politician in the country worthy of the presidency? Seems odd.
“It’s revealing that Biden only has to have one bad night”
The point of all the hoopla during and since the debate is that Biden’s performance was clearly indicative OF HIS GENERAL CONDITION, not simply of his condition ON BAD NIGHT. Yes, the White House has put out the cover that he had a cold. But those weren’t cold symptoms that the entire world that gives a darn witnessed. Those were OBVIOUS signs of advanced age and declining faculties.
Exactly. Knock-kneed, tongue-tied, cross-eyed, hunchback or crawling with 3rd grade “Cooties”. Biden & Team are on top of it in every way. Doesn’t he also stutter and don’t we classroom teachers know precisely what that means on so many deep levels?
So, enough already. Can’t believe he is willing to put up with this mess from the media and the American people. Shame Shame Shame.
This is exactly what Biden’s team needs to do. It needs to show the stark contrast between Biden and Trump’s agenda, and they need to do it loudly, clearly and repeatedly. They need to make the case that Joe Biden cares about America, its people and the world. Democrats need to work on rebuilding their relationship with the working class.
I’m with Goff.
Who is we? Why is it that about half of the country like Trump? At some point the democrats must take those people seriously. If you ask me and no one asked me, this is what happens when the liberals are ok with the lesser of two evils. It keeps getting worse.
Why should “the Dems” take more seriously the people who like Trump instead of the people who like Biden?
Because the people who like Trump are more likely to be white and Biden won the 2020 nomination because he had more support among Black voters in the primary?
If Black voters had rallied behind a different Democrat in 2020 primary, that Democrat would have won and been the nominee. But they preferred Biden. There’s nothing wrong with that.
There is something wrong with people who keep saying that someone else who white voters wanted more should have been the nominee because the Dems must take more seriously the (mostly white) voters who like Trump so much.
Biden wasn’t “the lesser of two evils” but he was smeared as such by folks who wanted to see him defeated. Biden was the choice of more Black voters in the primary, and since our democracy allows their votes to be counted, I don’t understand why you object.
I will ask WHY the Republican Party and so many allegedly religious voters are willing to accept a man who is a phony successful businessman(multiple bankruptcies, banks unwilling to loan money to him), a serial adulterer and sexual predator, a man who mocks and vilified anyone who disagrees with, or criticize him?
Please don’t feed me the palaver about “we are all sinners, we must forgive,blahblahblah”.
Trump is akin to a giant Id that tells his supporters that it’s OK to hate, to look down on people of color, on people who are LGBTQ+ .
In 2020 the GOP did not have a party platform. How is that acceptable?
Why is the bar for Trump set so low?
Your description of Trump voters is correct.
So why does chuckjordan1984 want Dems to take Trump voters seriously (whatever that means)?
Makes you wonder…..
I don’t want the Dems to appeal to the folks who are attracted to that kind of hate. If those folks like that, the Dems will never appeal to them without become the hateful party that the Republicans are.
“Trump is akin to a giant Id”
Wow. Best summary of Donald Trump I have ever read. You win the Internet today. This brief statement captures it all–the essence of the “man.”
NO ONE HERE IS SUGGESTING THAT BIDEN HAND THE OFFICE TO TRUMP. NO ONE. People are suggesting that Biden step aside TO AVOID HANDING THE OFFICE TO TRUMP.
Step aside for whom?
You may get your wish, and I hope that if you do, you get to say “I told you so” to me. But it’s more likely we will have “Democrats in disarray” headlines from now until September and that will hand over the election to Trump.
I still don’t understand which untested Dem could withstand the pounding when the right wing narratives about them are the only things that the voters hear.
Buttigieg
Newsom
Whitmer
Warnock
Shapiro
It’s true that selecting a replacement at an open convention risks chaos and dissension. But I think voters would ultimately rally behind any top-tier nominee and it’s a risk worth taking.
Bernie
I would be happy with any of those candidates but none of those is a sure fire victory. I suspect the RNC would be delighted with any of them replacing Biden.
A possible victory is better than a snowball’s chance in hell.
Shapiro supports vouchers. Not a great choice. And most of your other ideas have not run for president before, so why would they step into the mire now?
BECAUSE BIDEN LOOKS AS THOUGH HE MIGHTLOSE, AND THIS IS TOO GREAT A RISK TO TAKE. He is not going to attract the large numbers of young voters and independents. Not when he looks and acts as though he is on death’s door. WHY IS THIS NOT OBVIOUS AT THIS POINT.
I give up. We are going to have four more years of The Idiot, and he is going to appoint even more folks to the Extreme Court. We’re freaking doomed because of well-meaning but not very thoughtful Dimocrats.
Bob: How do we know ANY of those even WANT to run for President, let alone in a situation like this? Will donors agree? How does that even work in 6 weeks until convention?
Yes, Biden had a lousy night. But Trump didn’t cover himself with glory, either, and we are too close to a major election to roll over for Trump. Let’s get in and help Biden win, because we don’t have any other options.
I so wish Bernie was 30 years younger. All those people you mention, Bob, would be great but I don’t think they could beat Trump now. And the logistics of having a new candidate at this late date are problematic. We HAVE to go with Biden at this point. It’s too late for anyone else. I wish the Democrats would get 2 women for President and VP who want to run and start the ball rolling NOW. Take the bull by the horns and run on the abortion issue and civil rights issues, and the fact that they ARE WOMEN and have spent their entire lives scraping and working to move forward in a man’s world. (Remember Hilary Clinton WON the popular vote!) Emphasize that they have balanced budgets and raised families and are part of the MIDDLE CLASS and know their problems. THey’ve been in politics and KNOW the issues. Start educating the public on issues and not just spout platitudes. Start working on bringing everyone together and use the strength of our diversity to bind us together. Now is the time for Dems to stop using the “prevent defense.” They’ve got to take the long view and start putting a vision (which they need to get clear on) for the future into action.
Start educating the public on issues and not just spout platitudes.
If the folks running the DNC were competent and not beholden to the very rich, that’s what they would be doing.
They need to write a damn lesson plan, Bob!!!
Haaa, Mamie!!!! ROFL!!!! Yes.
People age at different rates. I am younger than either Trump or Biden. Once, when I was 22, I went five days and nights without sleeping to meet a Texas adoption deadline on which millions of dollars depended. I was 22. I could do that then. I could not do that now. When I was in my 40s and 50s, I was managing large editorial, design, composition, fact checking, and freelance teams on numerous enormous projects, each with as many as a hundred components, and I was able to keep all that in my head. I was in my 40s and 50s. I could do that then. I could not do that now.
I know more than I ever did. But some stuff is slipping. I find that I am slower than I used to be when doing math and logic problems. My short-term memory has taken a big hit. Sometimes I get up from my computer, walk through to my kitchen, and find myself standing there trying to remember what I am there for. There is no shame in this. Aging is normal.
Biden’s performance last night was terrible. He still has my vote. I think that he has surrounded himself with good people and provided them with direction, AND I TRUST THAT GROUP. They have done a great job so far.
That’s not the issue. Whether his second term will be as good as the first has been IS NOT THE ISSUE.
The issue is that this election is going to hinge on votes by undecided voters, swing voters, and young people, and Biden’s obvious extreme age is not going to bring those voters out to the polls. And Biden has been losing enormous ground with black voters, who were key to his win in 2020.
THE ISSUE IS NOT BIDEN. THE ISSUE IS TRUMP. IF BIDEN STAYS IN, TRUMP COULD WIN.
You know what a disaster that would be. BIDEN NEEDS TO STEP ASIDE. It is the statesmanlike thing to do right now.
Well said, Bob.
I know about slipping. I have been tearing a barn down for a friend. In this heat, about two hours in the early morning is all I have in me
Wow. I’m impressed. What are you doing with the reclaimed lumber?
The key will be the post-debate polls. If Biden tanks, the pressure for him to step aside will become enormous. If the polls are basically unchanged, then we muddle through. Seems plausible to me that the polls won’t change much.
No, undecided voters and Democrats are not asking President Biden to hand the White House and the country to Traitor Trump.
Still, some fear that too many independent and Democratic voters may stay home, not voting, and too many undecides who do not a have critical thinking skills may vote for Traitor Trump since he appeared more macho while lies trot out of his mouth like a Biblical flood of sewer sludge
If someone else ran against Traitor Trump, like Michelle Obama, who I’ve read would have better odds of beating the toxic orange turd, that does not equal an automatic win for the Orange Joker.
a Biblical flood of sewer sludge
That is exactly what occurred to me as I listened to this semi-human POS talk last night.
Wow, talk about dynamic octogenarians, Diane deposited 10 discussion topics today! I think that’s a record for one day, amazing.
Hey, Joe Jersey, I’m older than Biden. And I’m not slowing down. As a native Texan, I intend to die with my boots on.
Excellent! I’m also an octogenarian, just when I was getting used to being a septuagenerian, badda-bing, I get octogonized.
Just a few more words from the UK:
Suggestion:
Stay with Biden. Or replace him. Whichever you do. Get behind the choice you have made and with all might and determination make sure that Trump and the cult that put him there are discredited in the eyes and hearts of the USA people and cast down.
Total Political War by all means civil and legal.
Go to it
Roger UK.
Thank you, Determined!
I wish I could do more
Well, I guess that our plan, going forward, is to a) find sand and b) bury our heads in it.
I’m hoping for the best but preparing for the worst. I’m kinda tired of living this way…..having to keep my Spidey senses on 24/7 is exhausting!
same
I’ve been falling back on, “Well, perhaps this is what we have to go through. We have to put up with the CATASTROPHE that will be a second Jabba the Trump maladministration and then try to rebuild as best we can.”
I am extraordinarily disappointed in my fellow Democrats, who seem to live on planet Pipe Dreams.
The Boomers have really screwed the pooch all these years and now we are ALL in a bind (the slippery slope to the bottom). I’m a Boomer (born 1964 on the cusp!). The elite Boomers warped the system to their financial advantage and they skewed and extracted everything they could. Both sides have taken part. It has been getting worse every administration R or D (since 80’s). I think the older D’s see what they have done and would like to turn it around before retiring into their grifted wealth. Unfortunately, they are not as fast on their feet or in their minds to undo it.
I don’t worry about me or my husband because we will be OK….I worry about the world my young adult children are inheriting.
same
But, based off of how Biden “performed” “on stage,” he doesn’t seem to be, sound enough, to, lead an, entire, country, and, Trump’s NO good either, so, once again, the voters in the Nov. election are still faced with, bad vs. worse, worse vs. worst this year…and, either way, it’s ” We the people”, who have the most to, lose…
I’m really afraid that a lot of people, feeling that way, are going to stay home, especially young people and independents.
“based off of how Biden “performed” “on stage,” he doesn’t seem to be, sound enough, to, lead an, entire, country,”
This is definitely a winning message. Voters, you have had 4 years of very old Biden leading this country. It’s irrelevant how he did his job, because we Democrats want to warn you that he looks too old to be able to do lead the country and that’s why we will hold our nose and vote for the guy.
Another message might be, “based on how Biden has PERFORMED ON THE JOB for the last 4 years, we can’t wait to see him continue the good work so our country continues to recover from the disastrous Trump presidency and disastrous Republican rule that destroyed the middle class but made billionaires even richer and kept their taxes low.
It is heartbreaking that we have normalized the Republican narrative despite the Republican narrative’s complete and utter absurdity.
“Hey Joe, I know you have done a great job teaching kids and your students are now thriving in a way that no previous teacher has been able to do for decades, but the person who wants your job says you don’t SEEM able to do the job – you LOOK TOO OLD so we all have serious doubts that you can do the job you are doing right now very well. You are fired, and we are replacing you with the most unfit, pathological liar – he did this job previously and we are still recovering from the destruction his terrible teaching caused, but he doesn’t look as old as you. You “seem” unable to do the job you are doing right now so well, so you are fired and replaced with the unfit congenital liar who harmed so many students the last time he taught. Because that guy doesn’t “seem” old.”
Republicans always get us to internalize their talking points. Deficits don’t matter (under Republicans) so let’s have a huge tax cut for the wealthy. A Democrat just won and he must solve the huge deficit problem first – but not raise taxes – because deficits are terrible.
Inflation is higher and unemployment is low. It is a sign of the president’s successful stewardship of the economy (low unemployment) if the president is a Republican and it is a failure (high inflation) if the president is a Democrat.
An aging, elderly president brings the country back from the brink of disaster and the economy is thriving with more progressive legislation. Fire that guy for seeming to be too old to do the job.
An aging, elderly president who a pathological liar, steals money from a charity, and wants to be an autocrat who is above the law, destroys a thriving economy and nearly ruins the country. He seems like a valid choice for people to vote for because he doesn’t seem too old to do the job.
We now have internalized that past and current job performance is irrelevant – what matters is how old a candidate “seems”. The Republicans wouldn’t have the chutzpah to push such an absurd narrative in the past – they’d be considered jokes. But since the media legitimizes any Republican narrative no matter how nonsensical, we get propagandized to believe it.
We have always considered job performance important. We have never considered job performance important.
We live in Orwellian times.
We have gone completely insane. Trump’s is the star of a serial TV show. The more dastardly he is, the more he is worshipped. Biden stands for all the good of the WWII generation of his parents and the MAGA crowd’s parents and grandparents stand for. To support Trump is to defy the rules. His followers have not let go of their middle school minds. They remain stagnant and oppress and suppress everything and everyone who stands in their way without a thought to the future or a care to this legacy. It’s all about them.
Exactly.
The media used to present the followers of those kinds of politicians the way your describe. In 1991 when the NYT covered David Duke, they made it very clear what his followers were. If the NYT were covering David Duke’s campaign today, they’d have daily stories about how Dems need to listen to David Duke voters because they are the real Americans whose views are most important. In 1991, the NYT amplified the voices of the many people who opposed Duke, instead of legitimizing and amplifying the voices of his followers and presenting them as important people to listen to.
Even in this blog, I hear some folks saying that Dems need to listen to Trump voters and blaming Dems for not offering them what they want. Why? Because the views of what the MAGA crowd need to be heard while non-MAGA voters are irrelevant and marginalized?
People used to be embarrassed to be seen as white supremacists, even if they secretly agreed with them. Now they are celebrated as the important Americans and the media sympathizes with their views and blames Democrats for their hatred of the “other”.
Just to add to what I offered, a probably unsubtle satire:
Poor Old Joe?
He’s past it, Biden, he’s too old,
To beat the evil Orange Giant.
Giant’s too big, Biden’s too pliant.
We need a Super-President, bold
As never was in our republic.
White-charger-mounted, stainless hero
To rock the convention, big Jurassic
Strapping T-Rex dude, no zero
As is poor Biden—Super-Pres
With prairie muscles, beat Orange Giant.
Last-minute Savior, Simon says
Slay Orange Colossus, with defiant
Iron Man fists, heat vision, drill
The Big Orange crying fee, fie, foe, frump.
Swoop down last-minute, make your kill,
Invulnerable Anti-Trump.
Is this how far we’ve gone? You wanted
Maybe Abe Lincoln’s Second Coming?
Keep up your drumbeat, hum your slanted
Ageist-Talking-Pundit-strumming.
Your realism? Cynical
As hell, wiseass but ignorant.
Newspaper guff, dominical
As Christ, you think, but scant
On truth or grasp of politics.
I too know little, but I know
This much—you’re sickest of the sicks
If you can stomach ousting Joe.
“I know
This much—you’re sickest of the sicks
If you can stomach ousting Joe.”
People who think that Biden should step aside are, of course, right up there with pedophiles, serial murderers and rapists, and people who order genocides.