Summer is over, and the first votes of the 2024 election are less than six months away. The months ahead will be chaotic and dangerous for America because the risks of political and extremist violence will rise predictably with Trump’s incitements, winks and nods, conspiracy theories, defamations, threats and fundraising success that fuels the vicious circle. Judging from the first MAGA/GOP debate of cynics, demagogues, bullshitters, callow opportunists, hand-raising, finger-in-the-wind Trump sycophants and Governor Asa Hutchison, there will be no clear articulation of what the 2024 presidential election should be about, what the stakes are, what the Republican Party should be about, or how to move on from Trump. Aesthetically, the debate was simultaneously and contradictorily banal and mesmerizing, dishonest and illuminating, laughable and frightening, clownish and menacing, and utterly devoid of substance. It was thin fascist gruel, mixed with a few dashes of Fox Nation freak show tossed in. It was two hours about nothing. It lacked gravity and tethering to basic reality.
I don't know the answer. This is awful. It's just ageism to say Biden is incapable of another 4 years of astonishing successes given the obstacles he's had to overcome with the do-nothings in Congress. Pure ageism. Biden is as healthy as anyone over 50. We're all old with health issues. My sister is running a manufacturing company at 78 after her husband died. My best friend is 73, her husband is 83, and still going strong as as opinionated as ever. Look at Willie Nelson. Give the ageism a break. Biden has plenty of support staff to help when needed.
Pres. Biden has indeed been able to push through some major achievements, with Chuck Schumer's Senate majority and, while we had it, Nancy Pelosi's House majority (and despite Manchin & Sinema's obstinacy and lunacy in resisting the Build Back Better bill).
The economic message of Biden's team -- and any other incumbent Dem President past or future -- can always be the same: "DESPITE GOP POLICIES TO RUIN THE ECONOMY AND TAKE AWAY BENEFITS FOR THE MIDDLE CLASS AND STRUGGLING POOR PERSONS FOR THE SAKE OF GIVING EVERYTHING TO THEIR PLUTOCRATIC OVERLORDS,, WE DEMOCRATS HAVE AND WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE THE VISION AND VALUES TO MAKE THINGS BETTER FOR ALL....."
How can I click like 100 times!? I'm so tired of this blah-blah-blah about Joe's age. As you point out, it's only a number. Any one of us--looking at you Steve--could be hit by a bus tomorrow. And so what if Joe drops dead? You can't tell me the agenda would really change all that much. Really? Is Harris more scary and incompetent than Trump? And if she took over, she'd have a mountain of good people working for her and her administration, all of whom DO NOT want to overthrow the US government. She's only one person. Can't you take the lead here, Steve, and call it out for what it is--pure ageism? Please!?
Wake up people … BIDEN and the Blue ticket up and down Ballot has my Vote …I’m grateful BIDEN has accomplished everything that he has BRAVO BIDEN✅Marsha
Janet her cancer has spread from her Breast 4th stage to Bones and now to four sights on liver meds are all being changed and everything in flux she can barely walk and is in constant pain.. I’m privileged to
Be with my best friend of close to sixty years and her loving husband
And their standard poodle he has
Leukemia getting injections I will be surrounded by people who are my Anam Cara soulmates and feel so very very blessed to share life,
Love and joyful treasures of memories … Janet bless your sweet soul for remembering she is in Denver… my limo picks me up at 4:00am Sat ar in Denver by noon!
Plan is to return Sept 30th I’m less they need me to stay longer…
You get Angel smiles for remembering My BEST friend
My heart and soul give you loving
Gratitude and Bug Hugs! Marsha
You know if you don’t recognize pain you can’t recognize JOY❤️
The policies of the next President are the important issue. Dems should be bragging about the positive policy production of the past almost 3 years. Biden will be 83yrs old in 2025. At this stage, he can retire knowing he brought us through a rough time but the next pres. will face even tougher challenges. Please don't ask Pres. Biden to sacrifice more of his remaining years to the coming political battles.
Here, here! I’m willing to give President Biden the opportunity of 4 more years to continue what he has been accomplishing than allow trump and his treasonous cronies to destroy our democracy. We need to give him a Congress that will support his vision. Not the clown show that is masquerading as the 118th.
Janet I was in CT and all over New England states vacationing with my son and grandsons just got back to FL unpacked and packed and in two days I’ll be in Denver for a month!!!
I’ll fly out at 7:00!am so should be out ahead of hurricane Lee…
Previous hurricanes have hit west coast of Fl….if there’s a named
Storm I’ll get on a plane to anywhere… I leave !!!:) 🤗🌹
Promised my son when his brother died thirty years ago and I moved to east coast of FL … Jupiter I’d stay safe… really trust and appreciate
You are correct, the polling questions are not well designed to actually capture what people are thinking. The one that gets me going crazy is the one that says "Do you want to see a rematch between Trump and Biden?" What is this? A sports match where you might want to see the Chiefs play the Eagles again? Of course the answer is no (yes to the Chiefs vs Eagles). I don't want to see Trump run at all and I'm sure the Republicans (Maga or not) don't want to see Biden run again cuz he already beat their arses and he can do it again. The Republican Party isn't growing and it's not getting stronger. And I wish they'd stop calling those political beauty pageants debates because they're not debates and the questions are ridiculous.
Every time I listen to Trump, to borrow a phrase from Nicki Haley, I feel dumber. It’s a bunch of deranged non sequiturs all mashed up together that go on and on. And for some reason Biden’s age is the problem, not his. Thank you for that, News Media.
Shocker! Washington is out of step with reality! The only good news is that the republicans continue with their “anti-woke” agenda, even though America isn’t buying it.
Biden, fair or not, needs to prove he’s not too old for office. This means being out there, front and center, taking credit for the economy; talking about manufacturing jobs being created. His infrastructure bill, but also pivoting to his second term agenda. What comes next?
Republicans aren’t good when it comes to messaging, but they are great pointing out others failures, or misdirecting the relevant issues into nonsensical mixed word salads that somehow manage to confuse and confound most of us.
Personally, when it comes to Biden’s age, I don’t have as many concerns as most. The only time I think about his age is when the media keeps bring it up. So there’s that!
Pivoting to a different topic, it appears Trump might actually be draining the swamp after all! Not deliberately, but his crimes have ensnared the rest of his administration, and it looks like Navarro will be the first domino to fall. Meadows seems certain to be next, and the rest will be history.
Although, these are the small fish. The true swamp creatures are the money men. The billionaires pulling the strings. However, it’s a start!
Steve, you can square this circle of anxiety and hand-wringing with the following words of wisdom from Jonathan V. Last:
"Biden’s age is a salient issue for a large percentage of voters, AND"
"Biden could very well lose to Trump, AND"
"Biden is a stronger general election candidate against Trump than any hypothetical Democrat. In summary:"
"Biden is both a risky bet and the best available bet."
"People don’t like these sorts of contradictions. Human nature wants to both avoid risk and believe that all games are winnable."
"So when people look at the numbers surrounding Biden they sort into two camps. They either believe that:"
"1.) Since Biden could lose, there must be a better option; or"
"2.) Because there is no better option, Biden is going to beat Trump and the worries about him are overblown."
"The unhappy reality is that both of these positions are half-correct."
"Biden’s vulnerabilities are real. He could lose. There is no better option. The result of the 2024 election will be uncertain right up until the votes are counted."
"Our instincts rebel against this state of affairs. In high-leverage situations we want there to be a sure thing, a silver bullet that takes care of the monster for us."
"But that’s not on offer. What we have is a monumental, deeply important job. We have to preserve democracy. (Again.)"
"If we are lucky, then some of the Republicans who are now trying to unseat Donald Trump will contribute to democracy’s cause a year from now. If we’re unlucky, then these people will enable Trump, Biden will have a health event, and the economy will sour."
"But we don’t have control over luck. So steel yourselves."
"Start volunteering now. Help register voters in your area. Organize."
"The only way out is through; and the only way through is by working the problem."
The nation doesn’t want another Biden Trump match. Well, I have an broader understanding that there’s all sorts of stuff going on we don’t want or like very much, perhaps including this. I really don’t see the way around either if it’s to be. I support Biden. I think he’s these smart choice with all things on the table. I don’t see another person more capable or poised to take the Democratic nomination. Or hand it over to whom? I see it as Joe’s to use or decline which he’s chosen to run. That’s it. Who might realistically win the Dem nomination away? So, next Trump. He still has so many hurdles to clear. Between being crippled by all the litigation and the 14th amendment yet to clear, his chances are diminished daily. Trump’s a raging madman but even his power has limits.
A vote for Trump is to elect a president from prison, basically.
Which would lead, by necessity, to a literally lawless government. With all the chaos, purges, destruction of law and order, mass firing of the federal workforce, government turned into a weapon of destruction and vengeance against its own people, etc., etc., that entails. (And since this is America, the world's superpower, the chaos would be global.)
I can see why people haven't quite grokked that yet--it would be, technically, improper to cast judgement on Trump before legal proceedings have worked out. But it's the monster lurking in the background. When people realize it, watch out.
America may not Want a Trump/Biden rematch, but when we're faced with choosing between "Old Man Biden" and "Mad Man Trump," to sit out the election cannot be an option. My fear is that some voters will believe Biden has it "in the bag" over clownish Trump and they will stay home, to our Nation's peril.
If EVERYONE would stop talking about Biden's age, people wouldn't be thinking about it as the most important factor. Both Trump and Biden are up there in years; however, Trump is a lying, autocratic lunatic and Biden is an honest man trying to help make life better for all Americans !
I agree that the Democrats aren't the greatest when it comes to messaging. I've never understood why they don't have a guy like Luntz to test the perfect messaging with the general public.
I do agree that they need to start being more assertive in our messaging. I bet they are going to leave that to Barack Obama!
Preserving our democracy is the most important factor for the 2024 election. We need to stop wishing for the situation to be different, and make the most by dealing with what is. That's why I'm a big supporter of The Lincoln Project, of which Steve was a founding member. They are fighting the MAGA GOP machine.
Even though the members are no longer Republicans, they have not embraced all things Democratic, but are they are a pro democracy group.
Head in the sand? Forget about Biden's age? If we don't want Biden/Trump, why can't we find someone to take on the mantle of authority? If we don't want Harris, why can't we find others who are capable and also electable? We don't have a Biden cult do we. Biden deserves respect and acknowledgement for the past 3 years. Policy should be the strength of the Democratic party and vision for the future.
If Biden is the Dems nominee I will support him also. My point was the policy is what I vote for. I am thinking about 2025 in which the Biden of today might not be the same Biden in 2025. I expect Pres. Biden will decide to step aside as a candidate early in 2024.
I am now in the closing years of my ninth decade of existence on this planet. I have no problem with a younger man like Joe running again. I'm no longer riding a bike like Joe, but I still live at home and a caregiver for my wife.
To the point, you are exactly right. Hillary lost the election due to a severe and fatal case of overconfidence, and we must not make the same mistake again. It may be the Democrats' greatest problem
That is my fear also, we just don’t know if we can depend on the fact that there may be so many who think that way. Terrible what this man has done to our Country,,,though it goes without saying he had a LOT of help. Ugh🇺🇸
That’s It! You nailed it 🔨 a Trump Win will be your LAST VOTE. The nail in the coffin of the great American experience of constitutional democracy. That should be the message as that is the Vision of the Republican Party. There are no other words. Stay on message with each other folks while it’s free.
I’ve mentioned before that Trump is running for cover, and Biden is running because Trump is running. As usual and customary, the Dems lack the ability to get their message across. There IS a long list of Biden’s accomplishments, post them. Loudly, clearly and succinctly. But post them over and over again (similar to Trump’s lies...repetition is key). And it’s NOT JUST BIDEN...Look at his cabinet,...unlike Trump who had a clown-car of rotating people each day, Biden has assembled a stable of extremely competent and intelligent individuals who excel. This needs to be trumpeted loudly also. Lack of
Prognostication is not my strongest suit but I believe the closer we get to election day reality will prevail. We the people have been lied to by a constant stream of disinformation by Trump and his allies that it will take time to recover from our collective PTSD. If the economy continues to recover and blossom more people will awaken from their nightmare and realize that the sky is not falling and maybe they will give Joe his due and concede he is doing a good job.
I’m for Methuselah ... there’s an young 80 and an OLD 77+ The two are simply a few years apart. Trump looks like he could be gone any minute from a raging temper tantrum. And, as for the economy -- it’s doing GREAT. To think a movie about a DOLL has made over $1.38.BILLION dollars in just a few months is totally insane. That seems like a LOt of “discretionary funds” and people who feel they can spend it. Age is a ridiculous reason not to vote for a competent leader vs. a narcissistic mad man who loves Nazis and authoritarianism.
Perhaps it is blatant ageism pushed by some parties because they like the narrative of old senile vs mature and capable. Perhaps it’s the lack of drama as the books sales on Biden are tanking vs DJT sales.
Is inside the Beltway out of touch with outside. Yes forever and ever Amen. That’s to be expected. Do the two need to align yes. Sooner rather than later. Are there other Ds in the wings yes. But we will need all hands pulling together to ensure our 2024 election is not our last. The info on the 2025 project is chilling.
Elections are team efforts and we all need to be pulling for democracy. Let’s make sure we have a 2028 election
I'm glad you brought up the MAGA GOP Project 2025. I just recently read about it and am horrified 😱.
I think it's around 900 pages and is being sold in 3 books. This is their plan to deconstruct the entire Federal government (Steve Bannon's dream), give the President almost exclusive power, and impose their extreme Christian Right Wing beliefs on all Americans!
Voters need to wake up and understand that the 2024 election is more about the choice between two extremely different beliefs in how government should work, and it's affect on OUR LIVES, than in the individual candidates.
"A vote is not a valentine, you aren't confessing your love for the candidate. It's a chess move for the world you want to live in."
By chance, I happened to read about the GOP Project right before watching “A Small Light” about the woman who helped hide the Franks in an Amsterdam attic during WWII. The parallels are astounding and bone chilling. It was like reading their diabolical game plans; then seeing them play out in reality. THIS IS WHAT’S ON THE LINE IN OUR NEXT ELECTION. “NEVER AGAIN” IS ABOUT TO BECOME “HERE WE GO AGAIN.” Oh, but Bidenomics is working and we’re getting infrastructure repairs in the next year or so. And by the way, the cult is dangling the US Constitution over the growling paper shredder. That’s the sound. That’s the image. THAT’S THE MESSAGE.
“Inside the Beltway” live those of us who consistently vote Dem. even tho we are consistently ignored by the Party that is as silent on our plight as Biden is on Trump. The pundits - those referred to as “Washington” - who are referred to probably live in the Commonwealth of Virginia that gave us Youngkin. Our fate is dependent more than ever as states send anti-“Washington” representatives and what happens to the Pres election. Remember us.
Guilty as charged, but moved over here from the Maryland side due to work (still can't figure out what Larry Hogan thinks he is doing with No Labels. Hope Michael Steele will have a strong talk with him). Since Reagan, no one has run a pro-Washington platform.
Yes we have Youngkin, but we also have the full House and Senate up this November and working toward D majorities in both houses to keep VA sane.
Reagan hardly ran a “pro Washington” platform. In fact it was quite the opposite, which is one of the major reasons we are here. His whole message was anti-government, that government is the problem. Draw a direct line from his messages and policies to where we are today.
We can volunteer to help elect Democrats in other States. Right from your home, you can write postcards and letters, and make calls & send text messages directly to voters. I've done this for many States.
Helping to register new voters is very helpful. There really is something for everyone to do.... and we need everyone's help!
If you can't volunteer your time, please donate some money.🙏🏻
The stump speech President Biden has been giving for weeks now DOES take on Trump directly. (My favorite line: "They made 'infrastructure week' a punchline. We made it a headline.") It's just the national media completely failing (AGAIN) to report anything positive (or accurate) about the Biden/Harris administration.
Sorry Steve. I'm "Ridin' with Biden," and any sane person who cares about democracy should be too.
Democrats ( party) have been obscenely out of touch with what voters need.
There is no clarity. No pros, no cons, no commonality.
The media loves to tell The Trump Story.
Joe Biden did a good job with the four years he was given.
Under the current circumstances, I am not convinced he will be able to continue.
The atmosphere is too charged with hate as its energy.
Joe Biden believes un civility and compromise.
‘ reaching across the aisle’. To our ‘friends on the other side.’
In the current march to fascism, i believe its very dangerous to reach across that very clearly barbed wire border.
Part of the reason We have such lack of clarity is because we Democrats are given an example to remain peacefully unfettered by the calamity thats taking place right under our noses.
Im not sure that we are not allowing Republicans to maintain their queasy underlying power by projecting an air of our own powerlessness.
Why is Tommy Tuberville being allowed to continue his biased and dangerous control over our military.
If there is not currently a rule of law to dismantle this singularly, seriously flawed campaign , make one. Stop this crazy power seeking individual from holding this noose over our heads and the heads of the brave military men it penalizes. Speak out , stop muttering under our breath and tell the truth openly and clearly even if it pisses off the riot seeking Republicans.
The Media continues each day, minute and hour to tell everyone that tfg is getting more support each time he is indicted...Seriously??? Quit saying it out loud that he gains more support... I agree w/everyone else here, in respect that at least Biden has a sincere love for his country. There is NO question, DJT is a liar along with all his followers be deniers... no one has had this much from one man in America ever... 91+ in the indictments and all kinds of proof... and the r’s doNOT budge. VOTE VOTE BLUE is all we can honestly DO. Yet, can we trust the behind the scene LIARS... it is a bad situation for sure.
Dems need to push on and agonize over Trump’s age and health just as hard as Biden’s age and health are being pushed upon and hands wrung over. The , only three years younger, is demonstrably mentally challenged and not without risk regarding physical age and ability. I do wish Biden was taking a victory lap for a fantastic presidency that he could base on saving both American democracy and the path to the middle class. He could be out there using the bully pulpit to to burnish his notable career as one of the greatest in American political history while paving a road for the youth of the Democratic Party based on women’s rights, voting rights and a gerrymander-free nation, but instead we hear crickets. No wonder we worry. Here’s hoping there’s genius percolating behind the wall of silence. Ack.
This upcoming 2024 presidential election is being fought and won behind the curtains. Who is winning that war right now? The Republicans, that’s who. They are the anti democratic authoritarian White Christian Nationalist party that works best in the dark and has played the long game since Ronald Reagan to thoroughly infiltrate all levels of state and local government.
I don’t believe that is still the case. Trump and his merry band of Republicans have awoken a sleeping giant - the lethargic voter. Over the past 8 years, they have forced a lot of us - including me - to learn civics, which I must confess meant little or nothing to me in school. They have completely pissed off half of the population (and a whole lot of men) by appointing judges who decided to take away our bodily autonomy while continuing to try to pass draconian measures in all the red states to make sure we’re all barefoot and pregnant, dammit! And then there’s their nutso stances on gun control and climate change, all to appease the almighty corporate donor class and to hell with the rest of us. So, no, they aren’t winning any more. We’re on to them. And there’s more of us.
I don't know the answer. This is awful. It's just ageism to say Biden is incapable of another 4 years of astonishing successes given the obstacles he's had to overcome with the do-nothings in Congress. Pure ageism. Biden is as healthy as anyone over 50. We're all old with health issues. My sister is running a manufacturing company at 78 after her husband died. My best friend is 73, her husband is 83, and still going strong as as opinionated as ever. Look at Willie Nelson. Give the ageism a break. Biden has plenty of support staff to help when needed.
Hell, look at Mick Jagger!
Yes, the recent comparative photo of Mick vs Mitch McConnell ....no comparison
Mitch McConnell looks like the Wicked Witch in Wizard of Oz, after she melted....at least she still had some brain cells....Mitch don’t have jackshit
Botox?!
Yeah, look at ol’ Mick...He looks as old as King Tut but he’s still rockin’
Pres. Biden has indeed been able to push through some major achievements, with Chuck Schumer's Senate majority and, while we had it, Nancy Pelosi's House majority (and despite Manchin & Sinema's obstinacy and lunacy in resisting the Build Back Better bill).
The economic message of Biden's team -- and any other incumbent Dem President past or future -- can always be the same: "DESPITE GOP POLICIES TO RUIN THE ECONOMY AND TAKE AWAY BENEFITS FOR THE MIDDLE CLASS AND STRUGGLING POOR PERSONS FOR THE SAKE OF GIVING EVERYTHING TO THEIR PLUTOCRATIC OVERLORDS,, WE DEMOCRATS HAVE AND WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE THE VISION AND VALUES TO MAKE THINGS BETTER FOR ALL....."
Timothy KUDOS you your
Exquisite writing✅Marsha
Nobody complains about Trump's age and he and Biden are practically the same age.
Those closeup pics of Trump’s face look like the far side of Mars, orange and cratered...how old is Mars? 5 billion years old?
Haha!
Trump looks like an old turd
How can I click like 100 times!? I'm so tired of this blah-blah-blah about Joe's age. As you point out, it's only a number. Any one of us--looking at you Steve--could be hit by a bus tomorrow. And so what if Joe drops dead? You can't tell me the agenda would really change all that much. Really? Is Harris more scary and incompetent than Trump? And if she took over, she'd have a mountain of good people working for her and her administration, all of whom DO NOT want to overthrow the US government. She's only one person. Can't you take the lead here, Steve, and call it out for what it is--pure ageism? Please!?
Yes, and that's sexism. Why do most of the women in politics get a bad rap? Why can't we elect a woman president?
Marcy thank you BIDEN, FDR, LBJ
Wake up people … BIDEN and the Blue ticket up and down Ballot has my Vote …I’m grateful BIDEN has accomplished everything that he has BRAVO BIDEN✅Marsha
Lisa dearest soulmate Ty ❤️
Leave for CO on Sat for the month
My thoughts are with you:)Marsha
Janet her cancer has spread from her Breast 4th stage to Bones and now to four sights on liver meds are all being changed and everything in flux she can barely walk and is in constant pain.. I’m privileged to
Be with my best friend of close to sixty years and her loving husband
And their standard poodle he has
Leukemia getting injections I will be surrounded by people who are my Anam Cara soulmates and feel so very very blessed to share life,
Love and joyful treasures of memories … Janet bless your sweet soul for remembering she is in Denver… my limo picks me up at 4:00am Sat ar in Denver by noon!
Plan is to return Sept 30th I’m less they need me to stay longer…
You get Angel smiles for remembering My BEST friend
My heart and soul give you loving
Gratitude and Bug Hugs! Marsha
You know if you don’t recognize pain you can’t recognize JOY❤️
Treasure you , love Marsha 🌹
Keep in touch by texting me and
Remember to treasure each second of each day … you are a blessing
Brought into my life as is
Kathy Sherpa and Lisa Beardsley🌹
Hi Marsha and Janet! Maybe we will have a 'The Warning' 4th of July BBQ next year! YAY!🌹❤️
Sounds. ….Heavenly Lisa!
You know how I love and hold you in great esteem❤️🧡🌹🌹🌹
Monika thanks for your thoughtful response🌹Marsha
The policies of the next President are the important issue. Dems should be bragging about the positive policy production of the past almost 3 years. Biden will be 83yrs old in 2025. At this stage, he can retire knowing he brought us through a rough time but the next pres. will face even tougher challenges. Please don't ask Pres. Biden to sacrifice more of his remaining years to the coming political battles.
Here, here! I’m willing to give President Biden the opportunity of 4 more years to continue what he has been accomplishing than allow trump and his treasonous cronies to destroy our democracy. We need to give him a Congress that will support his vision. Not the clown show that is masquerading as the 118th.
Janet you get angel points
You keep writing your comments warm my heart
Thank you❤️marsha
Janet you’re always in my thoughts and prayers🌹Marsha
Janet I was in CT and all over New England states vacationing with my son and grandsons just got back to FL unpacked and packed and in two days I’ll be in Denver for a month!!!
I’ll fly out at 7:00!am so should be out ahead of hurricane Lee…
Previous hurricanes have hit west coast of Fl….if there’s a named
Storm I’ll get on a plane to anywhere… I leave !!!:) 🤗🌹
Promised my son when his brother died thirty years ago and I moved to east coast of FL … Jupiter I’d stay safe… really trust and appreciate
The Warning …it’s a blessing:)
Janet R …you have prayers for you every day promise and twenty four hour candles too.. know that you
Are treasured by me🌹Marsha
You are correct, the polling questions are not well designed to actually capture what people are thinking. The one that gets me going crazy is the one that says "Do you want to see a rematch between Trump and Biden?" What is this? A sports match where you might want to see the Chiefs play the Eagles again? Of course the answer is no (yes to the Chiefs vs Eagles). I don't want to see Trump run at all and I'm sure the Republicans (Maga or not) don't want to see Biden run again cuz he already beat their arses and he can do it again. The Republican Party isn't growing and it's not getting stronger. And I wish they'd stop calling those political beauty pageants debates because they're not debates and the questions are ridiculous.
Every time I listen to Trump, to borrow a phrase from Nicki Haley, I feel dumber. It’s a bunch of deranged non sequiturs all mashed up together that go on and on. And for some reason Biden’s age is the problem, not his. Thank you for that, News Media.
Shocker! Washington is out of step with reality! The only good news is that the republicans continue with their “anti-woke” agenda, even though America isn’t buying it.
Biden, fair or not, needs to prove he’s not too old for office. This means being out there, front and center, taking credit for the economy; talking about manufacturing jobs being created. His infrastructure bill, but also pivoting to his second term agenda. What comes next?
Republicans aren’t good when it comes to messaging, but they are great pointing out others failures, or misdirecting the relevant issues into nonsensical mixed word salads that somehow manage to confuse and confound most of us.
Personally, when it comes to Biden’s age, I don’t have as many concerns as most. The only time I think about his age is when the media keeps bring it up. So there’s that!
Pivoting to a different topic, it appears Trump might actually be draining the swamp after all! Not deliberately, but his crimes have ensnared the rest of his administration, and it looks like Navarro will be the first domino to fall. Meadows seems certain to be next, and the rest will be history.
Although, these are the small fish. The true swamp creatures are the money men. The billionaires pulling the strings. However, it’s a start!
Just some thoughts...:)
Steve, you can square this circle of anxiety and hand-wringing with the following words of wisdom from Jonathan V. Last:
"Biden’s age is a salient issue for a large percentage of voters, AND"
"Biden could very well lose to Trump, AND"
"Biden is a stronger general election candidate against Trump than any hypothetical Democrat. In summary:"
"Biden is both a risky bet and the best available bet."
"People don’t like these sorts of contradictions. Human nature wants to both avoid risk and believe that all games are winnable."
"So when people look at the numbers surrounding Biden they sort into two camps. They either believe that:"
"1.) Since Biden could lose, there must be a better option; or"
"2.) Because there is no better option, Biden is going to beat Trump and the worries about him are overblown."
"The unhappy reality is that both of these positions are half-correct."
"Biden’s vulnerabilities are real. He could lose. There is no better option. The result of the 2024 election will be uncertain right up until the votes are counted."
"Our instincts rebel against this state of affairs. In high-leverage situations we want there to be a sure thing, a silver bullet that takes care of the monster for us."
"But that’s not on offer. What we have is a monumental, deeply important job. We have to preserve democracy. (Again.)"
"If we are lucky, then some of the Republicans who are now trying to unseat Donald Trump will contribute to democracy’s cause a year from now. If we’re unlucky, then these people will enable Trump, Biden will have a health event, and the economy will sour."
"But we don’t have control over luck. So steel yourselves."
"Start volunteering now. Help register voters in your area. Organize."
"The only way out is through; and the only way through is by working the problem."
Link: https://thetriad.thebulwark.com/p/the-roots-of-biden-panic
The nation doesn’t want another Biden Trump match. Well, I have an broader understanding that there’s all sorts of stuff going on we don’t want or like very much, perhaps including this. I really don’t see the way around either if it’s to be. I support Biden. I think he’s these smart choice with all things on the table. I don’t see another person more capable or poised to take the Democratic nomination. Or hand it over to whom? I see it as Joe’s to use or decline which he’s chosen to run. That’s it. Who might realistically win the Dem nomination away? So, next Trump. He still has so many hurdles to clear. Between being crippled by all the litigation and the 14th amendment yet to clear, his chances are diminished daily. Trump’s a raging madman but even his power has limits.
A vote for Trump is to elect a president from prison, basically.
Which would lead, by necessity, to a literally lawless government. With all the chaos, purges, destruction of law and order, mass firing of the federal workforce, government turned into a weapon of destruction and vengeance against its own people, etc., etc., that entails. (And since this is America, the world's superpower, the chaos would be global.)
I can see why people haven't quite grokked that yet--it would be, technically, improper to cast judgement on Trump before legal proceedings have worked out. But it's the monster lurking in the background. When people realize it, watch out.
America may not Want a Trump/Biden rematch, but when we're faced with choosing between "Old Man Biden" and "Mad Man Trump," to sit out the election cannot be an option. My fear is that some voters will believe Biden has it "in the bag" over clownish Trump and they will stay home, to our Nation's peril.
If EVERYONE would stop talking about Biden's age, people wouldn't be thinking about it as the most important factor. Both Trump and Biden are up there in years; however, Trump is a lying, autocratic lunatic and Biden is an honest man trying to help make life better for all Americans !
I agree that the Democrats aren't the greatest when it comes to messaging. I've never understood why they don't have a guy like Luntz to test the perfect messaging with the general public.
I do agree that they need to start being more assertive in our messaging. I bet they are going to leave that to Barack Obama!
Preserving our democracy is the most important factor for the 2024 election. We need to stop wishing for the situation to be different, and make the most by dealing with what is. That's why I'm a big supporter of The Lincoln Project, of which Steve was a founding member. They are fighting the MAGA GOP machine.
Even though the members are no longer Republicans, they have not embraced all things Democratic, but are they are a pro democracy group.
Head in the sand? Forget about Biden's age? If we don't want Biden/Trump, why can't we find someone to take on the mantle of authority? If we don't want Harris, why can't we find others who are capable and also electable? We don't have a Biden cult do we. Biden deserves respect and acknowledgement for the past 3 years. Policy should be the strength of the Democratic party and vision for the future.
I think Biden is doing a fantastic job and I have no problem voting for him again.
If Biden is the Dems nominee I will support him also. My point was the policy is what I vote for. I am thinking about 2025 in which the Biden of today might not be the same Biden in 2025. I expect Pres. Biden will decide to step aside as a candidate early in 2024.
Come on Dave,
I am now in the closing years of my ninth decade of existence on this planet. I have no problem with a younger man like Joe running again. I'm no longer riding a bike like Joe, but I still live at home and a caregiver for my wife.
To the point, you are exactly right. Hillary lost the election due to a severe and fatal case of overconfidence, and we must not make the same mistake again. It may be the Democrats' greatest problem
That is my fear also, we just don’t know if we can depend on the fact that there may be so many who think that way. Terrible what this man has done to our Country,,,though it goes without saying he had a LOT of help. Ugh🇺🇸
Or the third party run which I see as a major problem ..
Thank you for your hard work on saving our great land.
What this moment is about from one 70 year old in SW Iowa.
1. The Republican Party is attacking our Constitution, women and our experiment in self-governance and calling it patriotism.
2. The economy is doing quite well.
3. Vote for Democrats to save America.
Thank you Bigjimbok. I agree with your concise points.
Thanks for the encouraging note.
Ken Burns The U. S. and the HOLOCAUST -watch it again, our silence is deadly.
That’s It! You nailed it 🔨 a Trump Win will be your LAST VOTE. The nail in the coffin of the great American experience of constitutional democracy. That should be the message as that is the Vision of the Republican Party. There are no other words. Stay on message with each other folks while it’s free.
I’ve mentioned before that Trump is running for cover, and Biden is running because Trump is running. As usual and customary, the Dems lack the ability to get their message across. There IS a long list of Biden’s accomplishments, post them. Loudly, clearly and succinctly. But post them over and over again (similar to Trump’s lies...repetition is key). And it’s NOT JUST BIDEN...Look at his cabinet,...unlike Trump who had a clown-car of rotating people each day, Biden has assembled a stable of extremely competent and intelligent individuals who excel. This needs to be trumpeted loudly also. Lack of
MESSAGING, as usual, is hurting the dems.
Prognostication is not my strongest suit but I believe the closer we get to election day reality will prevail. We the people have been lied to by a constant stream of disinformation by Trump and his allies that it will take time to recover from our collective PTSD. If the economy continues to recover and blossom more people will awaken from their nightmare and realize that the sky is not falling and maybe they will give Joe his due and concede he is doing a good job.
I’m for Methuselah ... there’s an young 80 and an OLD 77+ The two are simply a few years apart. Trump looks like he could be gone any minute from a raging temper tantrum. And, as for the economy -- it’s doing GREAT. To think a movie about a DOLL has made over $1.38.BILLION dollars in just a few months is totally insane. That seems like a LOt of “discretionary funds” and people who feel they can spend it. Age is a ridiculous reason not to vote for a competent leader vs. a narcissistic mad man who loves Nazis and authoritarianism.
Agree 100 percent!!!!
Perhaps it is blatant ageism pushed by some parties because they like the narrative of old senile vs mature and capable. Perhaps it’s the lack of drama as the books sales on Biden are tanking vs DJT sales.
Is inside the Beltway out of touch with outside. Yes forever and ever Amen. That’s to be expected. Do the two need to align yes. Sooner rather than later. Are there other Ds in the wings yes. But we will need all hands pulling together to ensure our 2024 election is not our last. The info on the 2025 project is chilling.
Elections are team efforts and we all need to be pulling for democracy. Let’s make sure we have a 2028 election
I'm glad you brought up the MAGA GOP Project 2025. I just recently read about it and am horrified 😱.
I think it's around 900 pages and is being sold in 3 books. This is their plan to deconstruct the entire Federal government (Steve Bannon's dream), give the President almost exclusive power, and impose their extreme Christian Right Wing beliefs on all Americans!
Voters need to wake up and understand that the 2024 election is more about the choice between two extremely different beliefs in how government should work, and it's affect on OUR LIVES, than in the individual candidates.
"A vote is not a valentine, you aren't confessing your love for the candidate. It's a chess move for the world you want to live in."
By chance, I happened to read about the GOP Project right before watching “A Small Light” about the woman who helped hide the Franks in an Amsterdam attic during WWII. The parallels are astounding and bone chilling. It was like reading their diabolical game plans; then seeing them play out in reality. THIS IS WHAT’S ON THE LINE IN OUR NEXT ELECTION. “NEVER AGAIN” IS ABOUT TO BECOME “HERE WE GO AGAIN.” Oh, but Bidenomics is working and we’re getting infrastructure repairs in the next year or so. And by the way, the cult is dangling the US Constitution over the growling paper shredder. That’s the sound. That’s the image. THAT’S THE MESSAGE.
Thank you for going into greater detail Steve is there any way you can deconstruct what the GOP is proposing in concise language m?
Ditto. It scares me and the issues of what they intend to do. Alas, too many voters know none of this.
“Inside the Beltway” live those of us who consistently vote Dem. even tho we are consistently ignored by the Party that is as silent on our plight as Biden is on Trump. The pundits - those referred to as “Washington” - who are referred to probably live in the Commonwealth of Virginia that gave us Youngkin. Our fate is dependent more than ever as states send anti-“Washington” representatives and what happens to the Pres election. Remember us.
Guilty as charged, but moved over here from the Maryland side due to work (still can't figure out what Larry Hogan thinks he is doing with No Labels. Hope Michael Steele will have a strong talk with him). Since Reagan, no one has run a pro-Washington platform.
Yes we have Youngkin, but we also have the full House and Senate up this November and working toward D majorities in both houses to keep VA sane.
Reagan hardly ran a “pro Washington” platform. In fact it was quite the opposite, which is one of the major reasons we are here. His whole message was anti-government, that government is the problem. Draw a direct line from his messages and policies to where we are today.
I am sorry if I misspoke. Regan was the first to run against DC and everyone e else just paved his footpath
We can volunteer to help elect Democrats in other States. Right from your home, you can write postcards and letters, and make calls & send text messages directly to voters. I've done this for many States.
Helping to register new voters is very helpful. There really is something for everyone to do.... and we need everyone's help!
If you can't volunteer your time, please donate some money.🙏🏻
The stump speech President Biden has been giving for weeks now DOES take on Trump directly. (My favorite line: "They made 'infrastructure week' a punchline. We made it a headline.") It's just the national media completely failing (AGAIN) to report anything positive (or accurate) about the Biden/Harris administration.
Sorry Steve. I'm "Ridin' with Biden," and any sane person who cares about democracy should be too.
Right On! Thanks.
Democrats ( party) have been obscenely out of touch with what voters need.
There is no clarity. No pros, no cons, no commonality.
The media loves to tell The Trump Story.
Joe Biden did a good job with the four years he was given.
Under the current circumstances, I am not convinced he will be able to continue.
The atmosphere is too charged with hate as its energy.
Joe Biden believes un civility and compromise.
‘ reaching across the aisle’. To our ‘friends on the other side.’
In the current march to fascism, i believe its very dangerous to reach across that very clearly barbed wire border.
Part of the reason We have such lack of clarity is because we Democrats are given an example to remain peacefully unfettered by the calamity thats taking place right under our noses.
Im not sure that we are not allowing Republicans to maintain their queasy underlying power by projecting an air of our own powerlessness.
Why is Tommy Tuberville being allowed to continue his biased and dangerous control over our military.
If there is not currently a rule of law to dismantle this singularly, seriously flawed campaign , make one. Stop this crazy power seeking individual from holding this noose over our heads and the heads of the brave military men it penalizes. Speak out , stop muttering under our breath and tell the truth openly and clearly even if it pisses off the riot seeking Republicans.
The Media continues each day, minute and hour to tell everyone that tfg is getting more support each time he is indicted...Seriously??? Quit saying it out loud that he gains more support... I agree w/everyone else here, in respect that at least Biden has a sincere love for his country. There is NO question, DJT is a liar along with all his followers be deniers... no one has had this much from one man in America ever... 91+ in the indictments and all kinds of proof... and the r’s doNOT budge. VOTE VOTE BLUE is all we can honestly DO. Yet, can we trust the behind the scene LIARS... it is a bad situation for sure.
Dems need to push on and agonize over Trump’s age and health just as hard as Biden’s age and health are being pushed upon and hands wrung over. The , only three years younger, is demonstrably mentally challenged and not without risk regarding physical age and ability. I do wish Biden was taking a victory lap for a fantastic presidency that he could base on saving both American democracy and the path to the middle class. He could be out there using the bully pulpit to to burnish his notable career as one of the greatest in American political history while paving a road for the youth of the Democratic Party based on women’s rights, voting rights and a gerrymander-free nation, but instead we hear crickets. No wonder we worry. Here’s hoping there’s genius percolating behind the wall of silence. Ack.
🎶 four-or-TEENTH ...Ah-ah-ah-amend-MUNT !!!🎶
Oh yeah that’s right oh yeah
I believe it’s the third art-ti - kalah 🎶
That’s right oh yes it is
Don’t’cha tell me it dunnit apply!
Oh no oh no no no🎶
Oh I believe, I believe that it duh-uhs
Yeah yeah yeah yeah!🎶
This upcoming 2024 presidential election is being fought and won behind the curtains. Who is winning that war right now? The Republicans, that’s who. They are the anti democratic authoritarian White Christian Nationalist party that works best in the dark and has played the long game since Ronald Reagan to thoroughly infiltrate all levels of state and local government.
I don’t believe that is still the case. Trump and his merry band of Republicans have awoken a sleeping giant - the lethargic voter. Over the past 8 years, they have forced a lot of us - including me - to learn civics, which I must confess meant little or nothing to me in school. They have completely pissed off half of the population (and a whole lot of men) by appointing judges who decided to take away our bodily autonomy while continuing to try to pass draconian measures in all the red states to make sure we’re all barefoot and pregnant, dammit! And then there’s their nutso stances on gun control and climate change, all to appease the almighty corporate donor class and to hell with the rest of us. So, no, they aren’t winning any more. We’re on to them. And there’s more of us.