Too soon to start thinking about 2024?

[stessier]

It is an option if Biden want to. He can withdraw and endorse someone else. But he is probably too selfish to do that.

I wouldn't term it selfish - more ego. Either way, it's too late. That decision was needed way before the first primary/caucus.

[Victoria Raverna]

It is an option if Biden want to. He can withdraw and endorse someone else. But he is probably too selfish to do that.

I wouldn't term it selfish - more ego. Either way, it's too late. That decision was needed way before the first primary/caucus.

Why is it too late? If Biden unable to continue tomorrow, Democrats isn't going to have any candidate because it is too late? So Trump is the president if Biden doesn't last until the election?

[stessier]

It is an option if Biden want to. He can withdraw and endorse someone else. But he is probably too selfish to do that.

I wouldn't term it selfish - more ego. Either way, it's too late. That decision was needed way before the first primary/caucus.

Why is it too late? If Biden unable to continue tomorrow, Democrats isn't going to have any candidate because it is too late? So Trump is the president if Biden doesn't last until the election?

Practically, yes.

[Alefroth]

At this point, I think Biden is the only Democrat that can lose to Trump.

That's okay, you've got very little credibility on the issue.

[waitingtoconnect]

The time to replace Biden was two years ago. Now we just need to hope his health holds up and polls indicating a 48-42 to trump in the wake of Gaza and the border don’t sink democracy.

In my local circle of idiots trump is more vibrant because he colors his hair. Seriously it’s maddening.

[ImLawBoy]

At this point, I think Biden is the only Democrat that can lose to Trump. He seriously need to step aside and endorse a younger and better candidate if he really want to save US from Trump.

Focusing on whether the Ds can find someone better to run against Trump than Biden is missing the point. They aren't going to find someone better because they're not looking. Further, they're not going to look. Barring death or debilitating stroke or something along those lines, the die is cast. Biden is the nominee, full stop. No third party will come to the rescue. No darkhorse D candidate. It's Biden vs. Trump. That's simply reality.

Continuing to focus on his age or whether the Ds can find someone else isn't helpful or productive to getting him reelected.

[Kraken]

In my local circle of idiots trump is more vibrant because he colors his hair. Seriously it’s maddening.

Voters like his swagger and his bluster. They pay more attention to how it's delivered than to what's said.

[LordMortis]

https://www.cnbc.com/2024/03/05/elon-mu ... orida.html

Tesla CEO Elon Musk met with former President Donald Trump on Sunday in Palm Beach, Florida, along with unnamed wealthy Republican donors, the New York Times reported, citing three people briefed on the meeting.

Trump is courting donors as he gears up for a general election campaign against President Joe Biden. It’s not yet clear whether Musk will financially back or endorse Trump and his 2024 campaign.

Musk and a representative for Trump’s campaign didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.

Private jets belonging to Trump and Musk were spotted landing within less than an hour of one another at a Palm Beach airport on March 2. The jets’ whereabouts were first reported online by the service known as “Elon Jet,” which uses publicly available data to track more than 125 jets belonging to politicians, celebrities and executives.

[Carpet_pissr]

They can be anything, as long as they are loyal.

Well they need to be old and not have independent thinking skills...

Nope, just loyalty.

The rusted on loyalty is insane.

The attitude here is insane.

I’m not voting for Trump in the primary because he is an unhinged lunatic but in a general election match up between Biden and trump I’m voting for trump!

What’s happened to critical thinking. Does everyone live with this cognitive dissonance now?

Scary as hell, but I already suspected this was true (with the caveat that those videos are selected to tell a narrative, and interviews were edited and selected to support that narrative).

It’s like they initially show all these R primary voters being reasonable, just absolutely dumping on Trump, how they think he’s a liar and cheater…then effectively showing how they will absolutely and totally vote for him when it comes to the general election. Fucking depressing.

[coopasonic]

Scary as hell, but I already suspected this was true (with the caveat that those videos are selected to tell a narrative, and interviews were edited and selected to support that narrative).

It’s like they initially show all these R primary voters being reasonable, just absolutely dumping on Trump, how they think he’s a liar and cheater…then effectively showing how they will absolutely and totally vote for him when it comes to the general election. Fucking depressing.

It boils down to something pretty straightforward:
"Trump is truly awful, but at least he's Republican!"

[Carpet_pissr]

Yep.

[Carpet_pissr]

Yep.

Ben Franklin is somewhere shaking his head right now, going ‘this was our concern, Dude’

[Unagi]

We need to see more of this:

House Republican Says He’s Retiring So He Doesn’t Have to ‘Lie on Behalf’ of Trump and the GOP
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics ... b21e&ei=12

You know, the time is right. I’m at a point in my life where I want to do different things. I want to enjoy my family more, I want to [do] less business travel and more recreational travel. There are a lot of things that went into the decision.

But really we’re at a time in American politics, that I am not going to lie on behalf of my presidential candidate, on behalf of my party. And I’m very sad that others in my party have taken the position that, as long as we get the White House, it doesn’t really matter what we say.

[YellowKing]

I know many, many people who would never vote for a Democrat, even if the Republican candidate stood in opposition to every belief they held. The tribalism is insane.

[hepcat]

Oh Mitch, you spineless piece of shit. When I thought you couldn't sink any lower as a human being, you go ahead and win the limbo award.

“It is abundantly clear that former President Trump has earned the requisite support of Republican voters to be our nominee for President of the United States,” McConnell said in the statement.

McConnell said, “It should come as no surprise that as nominee, he will have my support.”

You could have done the right thing and spoken out against the person who has called you every name in the book except competent. But you chose the path that every other sycophant has.

[El Guapo]

I mean, he's not wrong that it should come as no surprise.

[Kraken]

That's a pretty tepid endorsement.

[stessier]

He chose party over country long ago... Why did you think it would be different now?

[Carpet_pissr]

I know many, many people who would never vote for a Democrat, even if the Republican candidate stood in opposition to every belief they held. The tribalism is insane.

Works both ways I think. The people that I know that are Democrats would also never vote R. It certainly FEELS like ‘the other side is worse about this!’ but I get very…wary when I hear myself thinking that way.

[hepcat]

He chose party over country long ago... Why did you think it would be different now?

I thought he would just slink away without saying anything, to be honest. I know he's not gone YET, but I figured he was gone in spirit and actions.

[Holman]

Dean Phillips suspends his campaign and endorses Biden.



Alas, poor Dean. He never even got his own candidate thread.

(It's actually a very gracious and positive endorsement.)

[Pyperkub]

Oh Mitch, you spineless piece of shit. When I thought you couldn't sink any lower as a human being, you go ahead and win the limbo award.

“It is abundantly clear that former President Trump has earned the requisite support of Republican voters to be our nominee for President of the United States,” McConnell said in the statement.

McConnell said, “It should come as no surprise that as nominee, he will have my support.”

You could have done the right thing and spoken out against the person who has called you every name in the book except competent. But you chose the path that every other sycophant has.

Eh, we know Mitch lies. He will support Trump doing things Mitch likes, and will let the new GOP Senate leader deal with the bullshit.

[Carpet_pissr]

Oh Mitch, you spineless piece of shit. When I thought you couldn't sink any lower as a human being, you go ahead and win the limbo award.

“It is abundantly clear that former President Trump has earned the requisite support of Republican voters to be our nominee for President of the United States,” McConnell said in the statement.

McConnell said, “It should come as no surprise that as nominee, he will have my support.”

You could have done the right thing and spoken out against the person who has called you every name in the book except competent. But you chose the path that every other sycophant has.

Eh, we know Mitch lies. He will support Trump doing things Mitch likes, and will let the new GOP Senate leader deal with the bullshit.

When his synapses are properly firing.

[Pyperkub]

I know many, many people who would never vote for a Democrat, even if the Republican candidate stood in opposition to every belief they held. The tribalism is insane.

Works both ways I think. The people that I know that are Democrats would also never vote R. It certainly FEELS like ‘the other side is worse about this!’ but I get very…wary when I hear myself thinking that way.

In my case at least, this isn't true. I'd vote for a decent R, and have in the past, if the D candidate sucks.

E.G. I voted for the governator in CA over a Democratic worm in Phil Angelides. Ahnold was at least strong on the environment, tho he did try to do some seriously evil GOP sh*t (sell state property and lease it back? what a short term stupid idea that would only benefit grifters. place limits on unions but not other PACs/Corps? Another sell out of the state designed to enrich the oligarchs). Thank god neither got anywhere.

On the other hand, Ahnold was the last even close to sane GOP person to run in CA. Hell, the GOP is putting up talk show hosts for Governor and Serial Adulterer Baseball players who probably don't even have a college degree for the Senate. The lesson the GOP has learned from Ahnold is that dumb celebrities should be the candidate rather than being sane on policy.

So, yeah. Find me a decent, sane GOP candidate who isn't a celebrity and has actual governing experience (aka won't be a muppet and hasn't sold their soul to MAGA culture wars) and we'll talk.

[Zarathud]

My mother’s best friend was fired by Ahnold after messing up a grant for her department. She admitted that she didn’t hold it against him and thought his administration was decent to work for.

[Exodor]

Dean Phillips suspends his campaign and endorses Biden.

I wish I still had a Twitter account so I could tell him to go fuck himself.

Because fuck that guy.

[waitingtoconnect]

I know many, many people who would never vote for a Democrat, even if the Republican candidate stood in opposition to every belief they held. The tribalism is insane.

Works both ways I think. The people that I know that are Democrats would also never vote R. It certainly FEELS like ‘the other side is worse about this!’ but I get very…wary when I hear myself thinking that way.

In my case at least, this isn't true. I'd vote for a decent R, and have in the past, if the D candidate sucks.

E.G. I voted for the governator in CA over a Democratic worm in Phil Angelides. Ahnold was at least strong on the environment, tho he did try to do some seriously evil GOP sh*t (sell state property and lease it back? what a short term stupid idea that would only benefit grifters. place limits on unions but not other PACs/Corps? Another sell out of the state designed to enrich the oligarchs). Thank god neither got anywhere.

On the other hand, Ahnold was the last even close to sane GOP person to run in CA. Hell, the GOP is putting up talk show hosts for Governor and Serial Adulterer Baseball players who probably don't even have a college degree for the Senate. The lesson the GOP has learned from Ahnold is that dumb celebrities should be the candidate rather than being sane on policy.

So, yeah. Find me a decent, sane GOP candidate who isn't a celebrity and has actual governing experience (aka won't be a muppet and hasn't sold their soul to MAGA culture wars) and we'll talk.

I found Arnold to be much more thoughtful and intelligent than many of his Republican peers. Surprisingly. He has very specific views forged from that he succeeded despite a hard upbringing and he thinks everyone should do that too that are pretty much Reaganism which I believe have been discredited. It’s clear you can’t tax cut and sell public assets asa path to prosperity. The balance provided by the Roosevelt-Truman-Eisenhower years is what’s needed.

But for his faults he lived in the real world. Certainly he’s miles ahead of any Republican we see in public life now who now to the billionaires and trump.

[Pyperkub]

But for his faults he lived in the real world. Certainly he’s miles ahead of any Republican we see in public life now who now to the billionaires and trump.

Mostly agree. As indicated, he did try to pull some of the billionaire bullshit, especially WRT to selling off the State Land and buildings and making the State a renter of its own property from the billionaires who would have snapped it up in a heartbeat.

[Zarathud]

Arnold invested in real estate and other deals, so it makes sense to him. Plenty of artists sell their rights to get cash to live today. It’s at least within his life experience.

[waitingtoconnect]

Arnold invested in real estate and other deals, so it makes sense to him. Plenty of artists sell their rights to get cash to live today. It’s at least within his life experience.

Certainly as with most Republican presidents and leaders since 2000 I much prefer him out of office than in office. Seems they only grow a spine once they leave public life.

And I never saw myself agreeing with LizCheney.

Certainly based on the billionaire festival we are seeing in Palm Springs right now this isn’t just a trump Republican possible takeover. It’s a super rich takeover.

[Pyperkub]

Arnold invested in real estate and other deals, so it makes sense to him. Plenty of artists sell their rights to get cash to live today. It’s at least within his life experience.

Yeah, but that's part of the problem in electing people with no Public Service history - they don't fully grok working in service to an entity which will outlive them by decades, if not centuries (and we're back to the problem of inexperienced Celebrities getting played).

[Zarathud]

It’s the myth Republicans have peddled so well…anyone can do the government’s job better. That’s just not true, it’s often working on hard issues where economics alone produce bad results — assuming the people in charge care enough to try and aren’t grifting.

Trump brings out the worst, as his followers don’t believe in making government work, and only getting their money from the system. Any rational observer would see it is a bad combination, which is why Trump sells the scam of “feelings.”

[Kraken]

I know many, many people who would never vote for a Democrat, even if the Republican candidate stood in opposition to every belief they held. The tribalism is insane.

Works both ways I think. The people that I know that are Democrats would also never vote R. It certainly FEELS like ‘the other side is worse about this!’ but I get very…wary when I hear myself thinking that way.

In my case at least, this isn't true. I'd vote for a decent R, and have in the past, if the D candidate sucks.

Likewise. I've voted for Republicans like Bill Weld and Charlie Baker because they were the better choice. I might have voted for John McCain if he hadn't dug up Sarah Palin. Of course this was all before the party went down the MAGA hole. Just a couple of weeks ago I voted for Nikki Haley and two non-MAGA candidates in the R primary -- not because I supported them, but in hopes of resisting MAGA.

Even though the party is now thoroughly tainted by trump, I would still consider supporting an old-school, fiscally conservative and socially moderate New England Republican, if any still exist.

[Kurth]

I know many, many people who would never vote for a Democrat, even if the Republican candidate stood in opposition to every belief they held. The tribalism is insane.

Works both ways I think. The people that I know that are Democrats would also never vote R. It certainly FEELS like ‘the other side is worse about this!’ but I get very…wary when I hear myself thinking that way.

In my case at least, this isn't true. I'd vote for a decent R, and have in the past, if the D candidate sucks.

Likewise. I've voted for Republicans like Bill Weld and Charlie Baker because they were the better choice. I might have voted for John McCain if he hadn't dug up Sarah Palin. Of course this was all before the party went down the MAGA hole. Just a couple of weeks ago I voted for Nikki Haley and two non-MAGA candidates in the R primary -- not because I supported them, but in hopes of resisting MAGA.

Even though the party is now thoroughly tainted by trump, I would still consider supporting an old-school, fiscally conservative and socially moderate New England Republican, if any still exist.

Same all around. All of these - McCain (pre-Palin), Weld, Baker, all sane GOP politicians who presented a viable alternative in a functioning two party system. I don't care how partisan you are: Everyone should be longing for the days when those alternatives existed. It's why the "vote for the worst" strategies the Dems have latched on to boosting MAGAt lunatics in primaries b/c they will be easier to beat in generals rub me the wrong way so much. They are so, so short-sighted.

[Jaymann]

Aaaaand Haley is outtahere. Plus she did not endorse the Man from Vlad.

[waitingtoconnect]

I know many, many people who would never vote for a Democrat, even if the Republican candidate stood in opposition to every belief they held. The tribalism is insane.

Works both ways I think. The people that I know that are Democrats would also never vote R. It certainly FEELS like ‘the other side is worse about this!’ but I get very…wary when I hear myself thinking that way.

In my case at least, this isn't true. I'd vote for a decent R, and have in the past, if the D candidate sucks.

Likewise. I've voted for Republicans like Bill Weld and Charlie Baker because they were the better choice. I might have voted for John McCain if he hadn't dug up Sarah Palin. Of course this was all before the party went down the MAGA hole. Just a couple of weeks ago I voted for Nikki Haley and two non-MAGA candidates in the R primary -- not because I supported them, but in hopes of resisting MAGA.

Even though the party is now thoroughly tainted by trump, I would still consider supporting an old-school, fiscally conservative and socially moderate New England Republican, if any still exist.

Same all around. All of these - McCain (pre-Palin), Weld, Baker, all sane GOP politicians who presented a viable alternative in a functioning two party system. I don't care how partisan you are: Everyone should be longing for the days when those alternatives existed. It's why the "vote for the worst" strategies the Dems have latched on to boosting MAGAt lunatics in primaries b/c they will be easier to beat in generals rub me the wrong way so much. They are so, so short-sighted.

This is why despite disagreeing with him on many many things I agreed with Arnold Swartznegger on the issue of gerrymandering: he believes this led to representatives not voting for the best policies even if they agreed with them because they would face censure and expulsion in their primary elections from their party bases. In the general they’d be untouchable.

So he had to his credit tried to fight it and I agree with him on this. Certainly we’ve seen in Ohio and Wisconsin in particular gerrymandering leading to grossly distorted results.

[El Guapo]

[Daehawk]

Anyone remember the show 3rd Rock From the Sun? Remember how the character Harry would suddenly stop what he was doing, throw up his hands, shake his body and say "Incoming message from The Big Giant Head!"

I imagine Tucker Carlson doing that and saying "Incoming message from The Big Orange Turd!"

[Carpet_pissr]

I REALLY need to stop watching these. It's too fucking depressing.

[Exodor]

It's why the "vote for the worst" strategies the Dems have latched on to boosting MAGAt lunatics in primaries b/c they will be easier to beat in generals rub me the wrong way so much. They are so, so short-sighted.

What do you mean that worked out great in 2016.

I know it's a long time until November but these polls showing Biden down in swing states really worry me. I think a lot of folks who don't pay attention to politics have kind of forgotten how awful Trump is and just what a trainwreck his administration was. I've heard the DNC is planning to ramp up ad spending after the state of the untion - I hope so. They need to be broadcasting his "I'll be a dictator on Day 1" and "I'm responsible for getting RvW overturned" comments everywhere.