I’m a middle of the road Democrat. If the GOP was still sane, I’d be a Jerry Ford to Nelson Rockefeller type Republican, but they’re not, so here I am.
For eight years, I grew to really like and grow cool with Joe Biden. He was the nation’s cool uncle, and was an awesome Robin to Obama’s Batman.
Biden to me has a certain anti-Establishment edge to him, in that he’s a gaffe machine, he’s blunt and honest. He may technically be an “Establishment Democrat”, but he doesn’t come off as corrupt or as spineless as someone like Nancy Pelosi does. He reminds me of a modern day Jimmy Carter, or a modern day Gerald Ford - a normal guy who happened to climb the ladder.
His politics generally align with my own, which is something I can’t really say for any of the other Democratic potentials. More importantly, he’s the only one I feel could win and capture independent voters. Sanders, Warren, etc are too far left IMO to capture Indies. Bullock and such lack star power and name recognition.
Biden is in the unique position of being able to ride on the Obama legacy without having the baggage of a Clinton. He’s a likable man, and the GOP hasn’t targetted him for destruction for nearly 30 years. He also doesn’t carry the “Socialist” label that would hurt Bernie (and by association, Warren). He’s well-known. In a debate, he wouldn’t play your usual polite politics - he would fucking WRECK Trump’s shit. He’s both eloquent, and yet also, badass. I can’t see any other candidate really getting into a verbal boxing match with Trump and beating him at his own game. Joe would fucking slaughter Trump.
Anyone else Biden or Bust with me? Ideally, for me, it’d be Biden/Gabbard.
I fell in love with Biden when he laughed in Ryan’s face* and made him look like a punk kid mouthing off to the only adult in the room. I believe if fate hadn’t conspired against him, he would have been a far better candidate than Hillary. I totally agree that he is possibly the most charismatic Democrat of the bunch, and probably would wreck the field.
I fear he may be too centrist, however. If he shifts left and galvanizes the left, then yes I would welcome Joe Biden. I wanted a Warren/Sanders ticket, but as that was not meant to be (even Bill Mahr couldn’t lure her to higher office with a to-her-face million dollar offer) I’d settle for a left swinging Biden, should that come to pass.
Business as usual gave us Trump. More of the same will likely give us worse. There is a lot to be gained on the left, but the Democrats have a habit of failing miserably to actually be a left wing party.
He’d be pretty old, but I’d be down with a President Biden. I kept hoping he’d hop in in 2016. I’d like Biden/Duckworth. But even better would be a charismatic young candidate that has yet to be fully introduced. Charisma matters.
I like Biden fine, but I’m not “Biden or Bust”. I’d strongly consider him along with several other possibilities, but I won’t make a decision until I see some debates at the very least.
If it’s Biden, the VP will be Harris, Warren, or Gillibrand.
I dunno, Warren is more of a polarizing figure. My BIL is a financial advisor and even though he is a Democrat, he would never support Elizabeth Warren as she has called people like him criminals.
She makes a great opposition spoiler and Senator, but I don’t think she’d make a viable President or VP candidate.
Biden is awesome and I’d love to see him as president. He’s as comfortable as an old easy chair and after 4 years of riding a bike without a seat we’ll be more than ready for his avuncular personality. But the Democratic stable is pretty well stocked, any of them would be preferable over the Orangeanus.
I’d be happy with a President Biden, as long as he chose a young running mate, and I’d have rather had him than Clinton. But I’m not “or bust”, as there are a number of other Democrats I’d also be happy with. If more than one of those people are running, then I’ll have to look into more detail to make a decision between them.
Biden will be, what, 78? Don’t get me wrong, I like Biden and kinda wish he would have run, but the Democrats really need to work on a) getting some kind of workable consensus on a platform beyond “Trump sucks” and b) cultivate a deep bench of candidates with a broader appeal that extends into the traditional working class. I think the ideal candidate would be someone from Middle America but with a progressive, urbane outlook.
Gabbard is too young and inexperienced to be VP for an elderly president.
Man, I wish this had been the ticket in 2016. It’s not ageist to recognize that humans are in serious decline as they reach 80 years of age. It’s a tough one, but I don’t think Biden has another run in him.
I think Booker and Harris are both worth a look, but I hope the Democrats can build a deep bench. I’m kinda surprised that Tulsi Gabbard hasn’t gotten more attention.
I like Biden an awful lot, and I do think that he would have likely been a better candidate than HRC in 2016, but I do agree that his age in 2020 would be a fairly big issue.
I also agree with asahi that the Democrats really need to work on cultivating their bench strength, and developing the next generation of party leaders.
Obviously he would have been a better candidate to win than Hillary Clinton but most any Democrat would have been.
However more than that he would have broad appeal across the aisle: anyone deeply in love with the Death Penalty, likes locking up drug-users and throwing away the key, hates marijuana with a passion, and enjoyed the Cold War would have automatically voted for Biden over Trump.
Of course the Democrats need to cultivate their bench, but running someone as a candidate for President is not how you do that. You might be able to cultivate someone as the running mate, but your presidential candidate needs to be someone who was on the bench already.
And really, the bench isn’t in as bad of shape as it’s made out to be. Any Democratic Senator or Governor is a plausible candidate. Most of them have low name recognition right now, but a campaign will fix that up very quickly.