# Anybody who’s on the fence about Biden, or think he’s “lost a step” mentally should listen to this interview **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [December 23, 2023, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-who-s-on-the-fence-about-biden-or-think-he-s-lost-a-step-mentally-should-listen-to-this-interview/995049 "2023-12-23T16:59:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2023, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-who-s-on-the-fence-about-biden-or-think-he-s-lost-a-step-mentally-should-listen-to-this-interview/995049/21 "2023-12-23T21:10:25Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > By this point, nothing short of a stroke or coma will convince the DNC to run anyone other than Biden. They’re hell-bent on Biden regardless of his approval ratings or whatever their voters may complain. So yes, it doesn’t matter what we think of his cognitive assessments, we’re stuck with him. > > The DNC doesn’t first look at merit, then decide on the best candidate. They first decide on a candidate, then try to figure out how to sell his/her merits to their voters. The DNC does not decide anything of the sort. The voters do. And right now, no other Democratic candidate comes close to Biden in the Polls, or comes anywhere near beating trump in 2024- except maybe harris, and that was one poll that showed she had a chance. So, Biden is the most popular Dem candidate and polls the best vs trump. So, we should pick someone else? Who? And there is absolutely no issue at all with Bidens “cognitive assessments”. In in 2024 the Dems voters pick another candidate, that is their right. Note that The DNC prefered H Clinton over Obama but the voters choose Obama in the primary. I dunno where you get the idea that the DNC “picks the candidate”- the voters do. > [@Velocity](#): > > If I go much further down this track it would derail the thread so I won’t, but - anyone who is well-accomplished in the Democratic world yet is substantially younger. Every one of whom would lose vs trump. And other than the nutcase Kennedy, they have mostly chosen not to run, since they know that in the primaries they would lose anyway. > [@What\_Exit](#): > > Biden is the incumbent so he will be the nomination and when it comes to the General Election, not voting for Biden will mean supporting the Republican agenda. > > It is pretty simple math really. Yep. You have two choices- A- Old dude Joe B. Fascist wannabe trump There is no choice C. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2023, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-who-s-on-the-fence-about-biden-or-think-he-s-lost-a-step-mentally-should-listen-to-this-interview/995049/22 "2023-12-23T21:23:50Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > I don’t see a reason to support him as the (D) nominee when there are many thousands of other, much-younger Democrats who are also as equally or more mentally sharp. How many of them have won an election against Donald Trump? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2023, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-who-s-on-the-fence-about-biden-or-think-he-s-lost-a-step-mentally-should-listen-to-this-interview/995049/23 "2023-12-23T21:30:31Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > How many of them have won an election against Donald Trump? Better yet-How many of them _could_ win an election against Donald Trump? The Polls say Harris has a small outside chance, but no one else has _any_ chance. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2023, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-who-s-on-the-fence-about-biden-or-think-he-s-lost-a-step-mentally-should-listen-to-this-interview/995049/24 "2023-12-23T22:22:03Z")
I saw someone griping about supporting Biden as the nominee and how so many other people would be better, and had to make sure this thread is from 2023 and not 2019… ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2023, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-who-s-on-the-fence-about-biden-or-think-he-s-lost-a-step-mentally-should-listen-to-this-interview/995049/25 "2023-12-23T22:28:24Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Who, besides Biden, has the best chance of winning against Trump? > [@Velocity](#): > > If I go much further down this track it would derail the thread so I won’t, but - anyone who is well-accomplished in the Democratic world yet is substantially younger. Can you actually name _one_ that would have the best chance of beating Trump? ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2023, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-who-s-on-the-fence-about-biden-or-think-he-s-lost-a-step-mentally-should-listen-to-this-interview/995049/26 "2023-12-23T22:44:54Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Yep. > > You have two choices- > A- Old dude Joe > B. Fascist wannabe trump > There is no choice C. I think lost in this debate is the fact that trump is just a few years younger than Biden, yet trump’s advanced age rarely seems to come up in the media. Trump himself was asked in an interview “does age matter?” And he answered “no, it’s not that Biden is too old, it’s that he’s lost it”. Or something to that effect. And the media seems to be fine with perpetuating that viewpoint to varying degrees. But it is a falsehood. Don’t get me wrong, if it’s a hypothetical choice between a half-comatose Biden and trump in November 2024, I would choose Biden, because he has built an administration with good people who will carry on an agenda I support. But my point with this OP is that that’s _ **not** _ the case. Biden is sharp, he’s a decent person who has values that I share, and he’s a good leader. I think this needs to be communicated more, so I’m going to continue trying to do what little I can to fight this attitude about Biden. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2023, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-who-s-on-the-fence-about-biden-or-think-he-s-lost-a-step-mentally-should-listen-to-this-interview/995049/27 "2023-12-23T22:54:07Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > don’t doubt that Biden may still be mentally sharp, but I don’t see a reason to support him as the (D) nominee when there are many thousands of other, much-younger Democrats who are also as equally or more mentally sharp. Biden’s the one who’s running. (And does anybody seriously think Trump will be better for the Palestinians? Build less wall? Burn less oil? No, Biden’s not perfect. Perfect ain’t gonna be on the ballot.) > [@Velocity](#): > > - anyone who is well-accomplished in the Democratic world yet is substantially younger. And are any of them running? Maybe they know more about Biden than you do. > [@DrDeth](#): > > You have two choices- > A- Old dude Joe > B. Fascist wannabe trump > There is no choice C. Fascist wannabe old dude Trump. ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2023, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-who-s-on-the-fence-about-biden-or-think-he-s-lost-a-step-mentally-should-listen-to-this-interview/995049/28 "2023-12-23T23:08:17Z")
Biden isn’t senile; far from it. He stammers, but that’s a speech impediment, not cognitive decline. And he’s folksy; always has been. But when an old person starts telling stories about some guy they once met, people might think of it as rambling, and may even misinterpret analogies as off-topic confusion. Biden is also not frail. A lot was made of the fact that he has stumbled and fell in public. For a typical octogenarian, that would mean a broken bone or stay in the hospital. Biden always shrugs it off. ---
**Author:** ![FlikTheBlue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fliktheblue/32/10972_2.png) [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2023, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-who-s-on-the-fence-about-biden-or-think-he-s-lost-a-step-mentally-should-listen-to-this-interview/995049/29 "2023-12-23T23:35:01Z")
> [@DavidNRockies](#): > > I think it’s fairly simple: > > - Trump’s great because RW news tells us he is > - Biden sucks because RW news tells us he does > > Wash. Rinse. Repeat. This is the actual problem. Trump is out there having rallies, getting his message out, and has his supporters / proxies doing the same. His campaign is in full swing. Now I have seen posts on this very board that the Biden campaign has spent about as much money as Trump has over the past few months. But I don’t see the results of that spending anywhere. As I’ve said before, Biden is doing a great job at being president, but a terrible job at running for president. ETA: Even Trump’s negatives (and almost all his stuff is negative) are his actual negatives. With Biden it seems the vast majority of the stories are about how he’s polling badly. The few stories that aren’t about that are about Hunter Biden. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2023, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-who-s-on-the-fence-about-biden-or-think-he-s-lost-a-step-mentally-should-listen-to-this-interview/995049/30 "2023-12-23T23:37:29Z")
> [@FlikTheBlue](#): > > Now I have seen posts on this very board that the Biden campaign has spent about as much money as Trump has over the past few months. But I don’t see the results of that spending anywhere. The question may be: in what state do you live? I wouldn’t be surprised if Biden’s spending is concentrated in battleground states; if your state is reliably blue (or reliably red), it may not be worth him spending a lot there, at this point, 10 1/2 months before the general election. Meanwhile, Trump gets lots of press coverage, because he does regularly stage rallies, and says inflammatory crap at them. ---
**Author:** ![FlikTheBlue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fliktheblue/32/10972_2.png) [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2023, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-who-s-on-the-fence-about-biden-or-think-he-s-lost-a-step-mentally-should-listen-to-this-interview/995049/31 "2023-12-23T23:40:33Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > The question may be: in what state do you live? I wouldn’t be surprised if Biden’s spending is concentrated in battleground states; if your state is reliably blue (or reliably red), it may not be worth him spending a lot there, at this point, 10 1/2 months before the general election. > > Meanwhile, Trump gets lots of press coverage, because he does regularly stage rallies, and says inflammatory crap at them. I’m in Texas. Biden has no chance here. But even then, he should be at least trying to steer the media narrative. It’s not like CNN, MSNBC, or the NYT changes what appears on my screen because I’m looking at their app / listening to them on Sirius XM / watching them on TV just because I’m in Texas instead of Georgia or Pennsylvania. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2023, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-who-s-on-the-fence-about-biden-or-think-he-s-lost-a-step-mentally-should-listen-to-this-interview/995049/32 "2023-12-23T23:41:40Z")
> [@FlikTheBlue](#): > > But even then, he should be at least trying to steer the media narrative. Not disagreeing, but that’s generally not a product of spending from your campaign war chest. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2023, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-who-s-on-the-fence-about-biden-or-think-he-s-lost-a-step-mentally-should-listen-to-this-interview/995049/33 "2023-12-24T00:01:35Z")
> [@FlikTheBlue](#): > > Trump is out there having rallies, getting his message out, and has his supporters / proxies doing the same. His campaign is in full swing. Now I have seen posts on this very board that the Biden campaign has spent about as much money as Trump has over the past few months. But I don’t see the results of that spending anywhere. As I’ve said before, Biden is doing a great job at being president, but a terrible job at running for president. Sounds exactly like the 2020 campaign to me. Remind me how that turned out? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2023, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-who-s-on-the-fence-about-biden-or-think-he-s-lost-a-step-mentally-should-listen-to-this-interview/995049/34 "2023-12-24T01:36:24Z")
> [@solost](#): > > I think lost in this debate is the fact that trump is just a few years younger than Biden, yet trump’s advanced age rarely seems to come up in the media. Trump himself was asked in an interview “does age matter?” And he answered “no, it’s not that Biden is too old, it’s that he’s lost it”. Or something to that effect. And the media seems to be fine with perpetuating that viewpoint to varying degrees. > > But it is a falsehood. Don’t get me wrong, if it’s a hypothetical choice between a half-comatose Biden and trump in November 2024, I would choose Biden, because he has built an administration with good people who will carry on an agenda I support. > > But my point with this OP is that that’s _ **not** _ the case. Biden is sharp, he’s a decent person who has values that I share, and he’s a good leader. Correct. If indeed Biden is too old, then trump is also. > [@thorny\_locust](#): > > Fascist wannabe old dude Trump. I am not gonna give trump the honor of calling him a “dude”. Fascist wannabe old asshole Trump. ---
**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:** [December 24, 2023, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-who-s-on-the-fence-about-biden-or-think-he-s-lost-a-step-mentally-should-listen-to-this-interview/995049/35 "2023-12-24T01:42:20Z")
What the DNC decides is irrelevant. It’s a largely ineffectual organization. Biden is almost certainly going to be the candidate because he’s the President and most Democrats like him. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2023, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-who-s-on-the-fence-about-biden-or-think-he-s-lost-a-step-mentally-should-listen-to-this-interview/995049/36 "2023-12-24T01:52:05Z")
> [@FlikTheBlue](#): > > Biden is doing a great job at being president, but a terrible job at running for president. I think he might be just a leeetle busy at the first of those right now. > [@DrDeth](#): > > > [@thorny\_locust](#): > > > > Fascist wannabe old dude Trump. > > I am not gonna give trump the honor of calling him a “dude”. > Fascist wannabe old asshole Trump. I was just paralleling the quote I was replying to. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2023, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-who-s-on-the-fence-about-biden-or-think-he-s-lost-a-step-mentally-should-listen-to-this-interview/995049/37 "2023-12-24T02:12:46Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > I said that it’s foolish to talk about wanting to replace Biden as the nominee. It’s not going to happen, so all such talk does is hurt the Democratic chances. Especially when the reason you give is a Republican talking point that makes Biden seem unfit. It’s all harm. Everyone here has already made up their mind on whom to vote for. So there is zero potential harm. > [@BigT](#): > > That’s not the same thing as saying you can’t criticize his actual policies, and try to influence him and the party in one way or another. I don’t think this will harm either, and for the same reason. But if I’m wrong, and what we do here is anything other than ineffectual fun, pushing Biden to take more progressive positions, when he is running for office in a center-right country, would also harm. We should just say what we think. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2023, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-who-s-on-the-fence-about-biden-or-think-he-s-lost-a-step-mentally-should-listen-to-this-interview/995049/38 "2023-12-24T02:14:39Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Can you actually name _one_ that would have the best chance of beating Trump? This is sort of an impossible question, because we can’t ever know, barring Biden’s death/resignation/some other incident. Could many of them beat Trump? Perhaps. But there’s no point in asking except for giggles until it’s realistic. Could Josh Shapiro, just to name one, beat Trump? Maybe. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2023, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-who-s-on-the-fence-about-biden-or-think-he-s-lost-a-step-mentally-should-listen-to-this-interview/995049/39 "2023-12-24T02:35:22Z")
Are you suggesting that we get rid of Biden first, _then_ seek out the young Democrat that is so much better than he is? ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2023, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-who-s-on-the-fence-about-biden-or-think-he-s-lost-a-step-mentally-should-listen-to-this-interview/995049/40 "2023-12-24T03:44:07Z")
No, not at all. I was just reinforcing the idea that pining for someone other than Biden is foolish. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-who-s-on-the-fence-about-biden-or-think-he-s-lost-a-step-mentally-should-listen-to-this-interview/995049.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-who-s-on-the-fence-about-biden-or-think-he-s-lost-a-step-mentally-should-listen-to-this-interview/995049.md?page=3)