# 538 is now saying Biden has a Lock on it **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [March 8, 2020, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/538-is-now-saying-biden-has-a-lock-on-it/849101 "2020-03-08T13:44:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2020, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/538-is-now-saying-biden-has-a-lock-on-it/849101/161 "2020-04-06T02:02:30Z")
I think that ship sailed when Biden announced he would pick a woman for VP. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2020, 9:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/538-is-now-saying-biden-has-a-lock-on-it/849101/162 "2020-04-06T09:53:15Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > I think that ship sailed when Biden announced he would pick a woman for VP. Huh? Are you one of those assuming that a woman can’t be well qualified, or best qualified, for a position like VP? ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2020, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/538-is-now-saying-biden-has-a-lock-on-it/849101/163 "2020-04-06T15:59:42Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > But a cadre of slave-raping, white male land-owning geniuses imposed this undemocratic system on the country hundreds of years ago. How dare you criticize, complain or disagree? We must genuflect before these ‘founding fathers,’ for they are clearly our betters. :rolleyes: You are free to criticize the founding fathers. You are free to amend the constitution. In fact we amended the constitution to get rid of slavery. All you have to do is follow the rules. if you don’t like that the rules were created by slaveowners, then just call a constitutional convention. In any argument the burden of persuasion lies with the person advocating change. I don’t have to convince you that your idea is bad. You have to convince me that your idea is good. And AFAICT your idea is driven largely by partisan interest. ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2020, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/538-is-now-saying-biden-has-a-lock-on-it/849101/164 "2020-04-06T16:04:39Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Huh? Are you one of those assuming that a woman can’t be well qualified, or best qualified, for a position like VP? How the hell did you reach THAT conclusion? Perhaps he was just assuming that Bernie was not a woman. ---
**Author:** ![Manwich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e480ec/32.png) [@Manwich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manwich)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2020, 9:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/538-is-now-saying-biden-has-a-lock-on-it/849101/165 "2020-04-08T09:14:10Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Bernie spent millions on TV ads claiming falsely that Biden wants to cut Social Security. > > How is that “a man of conviction”? And tha_t is_ helping trump. It didnt help Bernie, that’s for sure, and those ads were after Super Tuesday, when Bernie has pretty much lost. > > And by continuing to stay in the election, he is thus encouraging his Bernie-Bros to keep attacking Biden. Which they are. Your own links showed Biden did want to cut social security, just that he claims otherwise now. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2020, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/538-is-now-saying-biden-has-a-lock-on-it/849101/166 "2020-04-08T13:39:51Z")
> [@Damuri\_Ajashi](#): > > In any argument the burden of persuasion lies with the person advocating change. I don’t have to convince you that your idea is bad. You have to convince me that your idea is good. And AFAICT your idea is driven largely by partisan interest. That doesn’t mean it isn’t a good idea. ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2020, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/538-is-now-saying-biden-has-a-lock-on-it/849101/167 "2020-04-08T16:11:30Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > That doesn’t mean it isn’t a good idea. Yes but partisan arguments are not really compelling policy arguments. The burden of proof lays with the person advocating change. In this case, they can’t seem to reach the constitutional threshhold of persuasion necessary to get the change they want. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2020, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/538-is-now-saying-biden-has-a-lock-on-it/849101/168 "2020-04-08T19:09:25Z")
> [@Manwich](#): > > Your own links showed Biden did want to cut social security, just that he claims otherwise now. No, he never wanted to, and Politifact agrees. Yes, at one time he called the GOPs bluff on balancing the budget, and said “Ok, we will cut _everything_ across the board then”- knowing full well the GOP wouldn’t go for it. That’s not “wanting” to cut Soc Sec. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2020, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/538-is-now-saying-biden-has-a-lock-on-it/849101/169 "2020-04-08T19:32:45Z")
> [@Damuri\_Ajashi](#): > > Yes but partisan arguments are not really compelling policy arguments. > > The burden of proof lays with the person advocating change. In this case, they can’t seem to reach the constitutional threshhold of persuasion necessary to get the change they want. That may be, but again, it does’t mean the arguments are wrong. Frankly, a lot of arguments that were very sound based on logic and the public good have been made on the SDMB about doing away with the Electoral College. It’s disingenuous to pretend those arguments haven’t been made. ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2020, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/538-is-now-saying-biden-has-a-lock-on-it/849101/170 "2020-04-10T22:19:17Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > That may be, but again, it does’t mean the arguments are wrong. Frankly, a lot of arguments that were very sound based on logic and the public good have been made on the SDMB about doing away with the Electoral College. It’s disingenuous to pretend those arguments haven’t been made. Which arguments do you find to be the most persuasive. Because I have not found any of them particularly persuasive. People act like voting for president on a popular vote is somehow superior by default and that’s not the case. The burden of persuasion is on you and the hurdle is very high ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2020, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/538-is-now-saying-biden-has-a-lock-on-it/849101/171 "2020-04-11T00:03:07Z")
> [@Damuri\_Ajashi](#): > > Which arguments do you find to be the most persuasive. Because I have not found any of them particularly persuasive. People act like voting for president on a popular vote is somehow superior by default and that’s not the case. The burden of persuasion is on you and the hurdle is very high It’s persuasive if you believe the concept “one person one vote” is generally the right idea for choosing a leader of government. That’s the argument I’ve been making, over and over – that everyone’s vote should count exactly the same, no matter where they live. Apparently you don’t share my support for this concept, since the EC is in direct conflict with “one person one vote”. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2020, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/538-is-now-saying-biden-has-a-lock-on-it/849101/172 "2020-04-11T12:41:58Z")
If the Dems had any guts, they should not just add DC as a state next year (assuming they win the Senate as well as the White House). No, with the cooperation of the current DC government, they should break DC up into dozens of pieces, and _add each piece as a state_, with _each piece_ getting a Representative, two Senators, and three EVs. Since DC isn’t a state already, there’s nothing in the Constitution to prevent it from being broken up into dozens of pieces, with each piece being admitted as a state. Just like what happened with the Dakota Territory on its way to statehood, only more so. Once that’s done, we could likely get GOP support for a Constitutional amendment to elect the President by national popular vote. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2020, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/538-is-now-saying-biden-has-a-lock-on-it/849101/173 "2020-04-11T13:10:05Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > If the Dems had any guts, they should not just add DC as a state next year (assuming they win the Senate as well as the White House). > > No, with the cooperation of the current DC government, they should break DC up into dozens of pieces, and _add each piece as a state_, with _each piece_ getting a Representative, two Senators, and three EVs. > > Since DC isn’t a state already, there’s nothing in the Constitution to prevent it from being broken up into dozens of pieces, with each piece being admitted as a state. Just like what happened with the Dakota Territory on its way to statehood, only more so. > > Once that’s done, we could likely get GOP support for a Constitutional amendment to elect the President by national popular vote. I doubt that would get a majority, and I doubt the public would see this as legitimate (I’m not even sure I would!). But DC and PR could almost certainly get a majority, if the Dems had the House, Senate and WH. Maybe Guam could to – maybe even the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and the Marianas. Breaking DC up is too cute. The others are all real defined places with their own histories, people, etc., and could easily gain legitimacy with a referendum that showed overwhelming local support. DC and PR should be the #1 first priority. The rest can maybe come soon after they hold referendums. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2020, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/538-is-now-saying-biden-has-a-lock-on-it/849101/174 "2020-04-11T13:36:14Z")
These Democratic pipe dreams of flooding the senate with faithful Dem microstates are always amusing. Never a concern for whether they want statehood or any idea how they might vote. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2020, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/538-is-now-saying-biden-has-a-lock-on-it/849101/175 "2020-04-11T15:04:28Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > These Democratic pipe dreams of flooding the senate with faithful Dem microstates are always amusing. Never a concern for whether they want statehood or any idea how they might vote. DC definitely wants statehood. PR probably does. Neither one conceivably qualifies as a “microstate”. I don’t know about the rest, but it’s not a sure thing they’d say no in a referendum. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2020, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/538-is-now-saying-biden-has-a-lock-on-it/849101/176 "2020-04-11T15:47:58Z")
PR probably doesn’t. I just looked at US Virgin Islands wiki page: their last referendum was in '93 where the results were for maintaining status quo but it wasn’t considered valid because of less than 30% turnout. Same reason the last statehood referendum in PR wasn’t really considered invalid. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2020, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/538-is-now-saying-biden-has-a-lock-on-it/849101/177 "2020-04-11T15:52:48Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > PR probably doesn’t. The polling I’ve seen indicate it probably would. [2017 Puerto Rican status referendum - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2017_Puerto_Rican_status_referendum#Opinion_polls) > [@](#): > > I just looked at US Virgin Islands wiki page: their last referendum was in '93 where the results were for maintaining status quo but it wasn’t considered valid because of less than 30% turnout. Same reason the last statehood referendum in PR wasn’t really considered invalid. I’m not nearly so confident about the others, but with serious campaigning by pro statehood advocates, maybe it could go up. At the very least it’s an open question. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2020, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/538-is-now-saying-biden-has-a-lock-on-it/849101/178 "2020-04-11T16:08:46Z")
It’s not an open question. Trying to set up some pro-state movement in these territories, actually get one scheduled and win it would take over a decade. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2020, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/538-is-now-saying-biden-has-a-lock-on-it/849101/179 "2020-04-11T17:02:26Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > It’s not an open question. Trying to set up some pro-state movement in these territories, actually get one scheduled and win it would take over a decade. Your certainty is awesomely convincing! Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2020, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/538-is-now-saying-biden-has-a-lock-on-it/849101/180 "2020-04-11T17:35:54Z")
If a project would take tremendous effort, has a completely unknown chance of success and you haven’t even started working on it then that, I’m afraid, is the definition of a pipe dream. Stay as unconvinced as you like. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/538-is-now-saying-biden-has-a-lock-on-it/849101.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/538-is-now-saying-biden-has-a-lock-on-it/849101.md?page=10)