# 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:** 4
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2023, 2:28am 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/995049/61 "2023-12-25T02:28:34Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > Experience in high office is of trivial importance compared to good judgment, emotional intelligence, and foreign policy knowledge. All of those are needed. Ask Obama. ---
**Author:** ![CaveMike](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cavemike/32/16379_2.png) [@CaveMike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaveMike)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2023, 2:37am 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/995049/62 "2023-12-25T02:37:11Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > Experience in high office is of trivial importance compared to good judgment, emotional intelligence, and foreign policy knowledge. These are requirements, certainly for the reactive portion of the job, but they’re not enough. You need a network, you need allies, you need relationships. An outsider is lost without these and hiring an insider Chief of Staff is not enough. This is where Biden has been effective both as POTUS and Vpotus. ---
**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 25, 2023, 2:40am 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/995049/63 "2023-12-25T02:40:18Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > Experience in high office is of trivial importance compared to good judgment, emotional intelligence, and foreign policy knowledge. And every single one of them are unnamable by you, apparently. ---
**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 25, 2023, 2:42am 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/995049/64 "2023-12-25T02:42:43Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > However they cannot be nominated. That puts them pretty damn far down on any nominee list, wouldn’t you say? ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2023, 3:04am 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/995049/65 "2023-12-25T03:04:44Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > That puts them pretty damn far down on any nominee list, wouldn’t you say? I’m still waiting to see this legion of thousands of viable Democratic candidates. Or even half a dozen. Stranger ---
**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 25, 2023, 3:23am 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/995049/66 "2023-12-25T03:23:10Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > I’m still waiting to see this legion of thousands of viable Democratic candidates. Or even half a dozen. I mean, I don’t have anything planned for January 2025, so… ---
**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 25, 2023, 2:23pm 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/995049/67 "2023-12-25T14:23:18Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > I mean, I don’t have anything planned for January 2025, so… Hey, with your skill at channeling trump, you could be a Trojan horse candidate who gets MAGA votes! ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2023, 3:38pm 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/995049/68 "2023-12-25T15:38:25Z")
The problem is that you can’t just ‘pretend’ to be a fascist candidate to get the votes; you actually get seduced by the Dark Side and pulled into conspiracy to [ultimately become what you once aspired to undermine with your feckless and innocent enthusiasm.](https://youtu.be/myEpap3TxVs?si=WZeDP1JLWdPBM9fd) Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2023, 3:53pm 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/995049/69 "2023-12-25T15:53:47Z")
I wouldn’t doubt Biden isn’t quite as mentally sharp now compared to 30 years ago. But it doesn’t matter, considering the opposition. Melonville voters were smart enough to re-elect [Tommy Shanks](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWCN2baDBiM) as mayor over the sleazy Vic Hedges. ---
**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 25, 2023, 4:06pm 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/995049/70 "2023-12-25T16:06:02Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > The problem is that you can’t just ‘pretend’ to be a fascist candidate to get the votes; Yes, I’m aware of that; I was just joking. Some say I have a dry sense of humor. Other describe it as ‘subtle’ or ‘nonexistent’. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2023, 5:25pm 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/995049/71 "2023-12-25T17:25:56Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > I wouldn’t doubt Biden isn’t quite as mentally sharp now compared to 30 years ago. I’m only a few years younger than Biden and I’m a helluva lot sharper mentally than I was 30 years ago. I’ve been through and grappled with a bunch of stuff since then. I know more than I did at 45. I’ve read more since then than in the years previous. I’ve written more, thought more, and analyzed a lot more ideas and events in the past 30 years than in the first 45. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2023, 8:11pm 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/995049/72 "2023-12-25T20:11:00Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > I’m only a few years younger than Biden and I’m a helluva lot sharper mentally than I was 30 years ago. I’ve been through and grappled with a bunch of stuff since then. I know more than I did at 45. I’ve read more since then than in the years previous. I’ve written more, thought more, and analyzed a lot more ideas and events in the past 30 years than in the first 45. Yep. Not uncommon. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2023, 12:15am 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/995049/73 "2023-12-26T00:15:09Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > I’m still waiting to see this legion of thousands of viable Democratic candidates. Or even half a dozen. If there are not a half dozen viable Democratic candidates today, in the very unlikely event Biden drops out tomorrow, the Democrats are in big trouble for 2028. As for the idea that a Whitmer or Harris or Shapiro would have more good experience by 2028, yes, but they would be less viable because of four more years of life for opposition research to find material for a smear. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2023, 12:23am 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/995049/74 "2023-12-26T00:23:11Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > If there are not a half dozen viable Democratic candidates today, in the very unlikely event Biden drops out tomorrow, the Democrats are in big trouble for 2028. Well, the last time we did this shindig Biden came out clearly on top despite being the electoral equivalent of plain oatmeal. So, again, who are all of these highly appealing Democratic candidates who are going to sweep the field clear? > [@PhillyGuy](#): > > As for the idea that a Whitmer or Harris or Shapiro would have more good experience by 2028, yes, but they would be less viable because of four more years of life for opposition research to find material for a smear. It isn’t like the GOP has to do “opposition research”; at this point, they just make shit up out of whole cloth, and their base laps it up like cats in a gravy factory. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2023, 12:39am 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/995049/75 "2023-12-26T00:39:50Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > If there are not a half dozen viable Democratic candidates today, in the very unlikely event Biden drops out tomorrow, the Democrats are in big trouble for 2028. In order- Harris, Newsom, Adams and Whitmer maybe. So three solid choices. Maybe 5, Not bad at all. ---
**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 26, 2023, 12:43am 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/995049/76 "2023-12-26T00:43:48Z")
They’d be fine candidates if there wasn’t an incumbent who most Democrats like. They’re not running. Face it - Biden will be the nominee. I’m glad of that - he and his team have shown to be good campaigners. Their performance in '20 defeated an incumbent who improved their original vote total by millions (a rare feat that Obama, for one, didn’t achieve), and helped the Democrats to one of the best midterm incumbent-party performances in recent memory. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2023, 1:04am 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/995049/77 "2023-12-26T01:04:36Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > In order- Harris, Newsom, Adams and Whitmer maybe. Harris almost never broke single digits in opinion polls in the run-up to 2020 primaries even before she dropped out prior to caucuses. Newsom is an oily, charisma-less candidate who is really only fêted by the tech-bro crowd. Eric Adams has had so many obvious problems as mayor of NYC that he’s probably never going to be able to run for national office. Of your list, Whitmer is the only hypothetical candidate who might have broad appeal (based upon her performance in a purple-leaning toward red Michigan) but has made it clear that she’s staying in her current role for her next term. She’s a solid consideration for 2028 but the only way she steps out for this election is if Biden suddenly keels over in the Oval Office because she’s not about to be the candidate who cut in on an incumbent and then blew the whole election. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2023, 2:43am 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/995049/78 "2023-12-26T02:43:03Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > They’d be fine candidates if there wasn’t an incumbent who most Democrats like. Most Democrats like him. I like him. I know it is too late for Joe to drop out. But most of us registered Democrats wanted someone else: [https://thehill.com/homenews/3552202-most-democrats-prefer-new-presidential-candidate-in-2024-poll/](https://thehill.com/homenews/3552202-most-democrats-prefer-new-presidential-candidate-in-2024-poll/) > [@](#): > > I’m glad of that - he and his team have shown to be good campaigners. I hope you are correct. But the vast majority of voters have already made up their mind as to whether they will vote and who for. So being a great campaigner probably will not matter. Voters are not going to think that it is Labor Day, so now I should start reading the newspaper, or watching the CBS Evening News, so I can give Trump and Biden a fresh look. Maybe they should listen to the link in the OP, and some will, but too few to matter. Trump has been running a unhinged bad campaign that could never pass a general election swing voter focus group. His hideous Christmas messages, easily googled, will I predict, not hurt him in polls. This is because political messaging, whether competent or incompetent, doesn’t much matter when the candidates are as super-famous as Biden and Trump. To get a fresh look, Democrats needed a fresh candidate. Now the election will be close because both parties are highly likely to nominate unpopular weak candidates. ---
**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 26, 2023, 2:56am 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/995049/79 "2023-12-26T02:56:23Z")
Your hypothesis is unknowable. Based on past history, IMO any change is likely to be worse for Democrats because of the inevitable chaos that would occur. That’s also an unknowable hypothesis. But again, like it or not, Biden’s going to be the nominee. So why spend so much time and effort complaining about it? He’s a good president. Use that time and effort to explain to others why they should vote for Biden. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2023, 2:59am 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/995049/80 "2023-12-26T02:59:40Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > Most Democrats like him. I like him. I know it is too late for Joe to drop out. But most of us registered Democrats wanted someone else: > > [https://thehill.com/homenews/3552202-most-democrats-prefer-new-presidential-candidate-in-2024-poll/](https://thehill.com/homenews/3552202-most-democrats-prefer-new-presidential-candidate-in-2024-poll/) I know when I’m looking for a representative view of what America thinks the first source I turn to is _The Hill_. Stranger [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=3) [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=5)