# Biden v Trump. Why? Please explain to an Aussie **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [February 12, 2024, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-v-trump-why-please-explain-to-an-aussie/997464 "2024-02-12T07:30:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2024, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-v-trump-why-please-explain-to-an-aussie/997464/161 "2024-02-14T17:07:28Z")
**Moderating** : This Millennial, Boomer, Gen Xer bit is becoming a hijack. Take it to a new thread please. It needs to end here. * * * * * * And thank you @gnarator. ---
**Author:** ![gnarator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gnarator/32/8266_2.png) [@gnarator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnarator)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2024, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-v-trump-why-please-explain-to-an-aussie/997464/162 "2024-02-14T17:08:40Z")
Deleted hijack ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2024, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-v-trump-why-please-explain-to-an-aussie/997464/163 "2024-02-14T17:17:08Z")
> [@Mnemnosyne](#): > > This, to me, proves that literally anyone who is **not** incredibly stupid and malicious could actually do a pretty decent job. Probably not be the greatest president ever, but if you pick a random person off the street that has good intentions, they will not wreak havoc out of ‘lack of experience’. I don’t see how that can be concluded. Much of the damage was ameliorated by the initial presence of high level professionals (many of whom subsequently were fired or quit) and thousands upon thousands of average Joe bureaucrats who kept things running. After a couple years to get rid of several of those folks, we saw the result on the high end - lots of cabinet level officials and their subordinates who weren’t very good at their jobs. And at the low end, one of the things that Trump and his associates eventually pushed to do was unilaterally fire civil servants to more easily install loyalist flacks in the ranks. To the extent it shows anything, it’s that in the short term, the damage an average, non-malicious person can do can be held in check by momentum - by the “grownups in the room” so to speak who have been doing those types of jobs for years and are experts at it. The long term depends on those people actually staying on and being allowed to do what they’re good at. If the argument is that a puppet President can do a decent job (defined by, I guess, just keeping things rolling?) if surrounded by career politicians and bureaucrats to make all the actual decisions, sure. But if you are relying on such a person for actual policy decisions, it doesn’t follow at all. What happens in this situation when Russia decides to invade another country? Or there’s a global pandemic? In acute emergencies, people look to a central voice of authority, and that just doesn’t exist in this case. We all saw how badly that went when it became clear Trump wanted to actually make important policy decisions and surrounded himself with loyalists rather than experts. Things gradually started to careen badly out of skew after the competent ones left or were kicked out. And should such a person be POTUS with an actively hostile Congress? Forget about it. Stuff just won’t get done. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2024, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-v-trump-why-please-explain-to-an-aussie/997464/164 "2024-02-14T17:41:26Z")
Right. As we are seeing right now, with just one chamber of Congress being controlled by recalcitrant burn-it-all-downers, someone “not stupid or malicious” would not be _allowed_ to do the work. … In any case and back to the thread title: if **as was expected by many before election day** Trump’s defeat would have resulted in the customary _just going the Hell away_ and the party looking for who’s next (or the longed-for fantasy of many others of him **promptly** being put in jail or bankrupted into indigence by plaitiffs), that is, the opposition NOT being Trump or people who obey Trump, Joe Biden would have had an expectation of serving just as the restorer of “normality” and there would have been an argument for honorably stepping away to let normal life resume. Normal life has not resumed and the opponent of normality is still Trump & acolytes. Who feel that _their_ job is not done until they DO destroy the Establishment and only Trump does not give a f\*\*\*\*\*\* about what that entails. And in turn that means there’s no “your job is done” narrative to push on Biden. Thus it’s still them. ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2024, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-v-trump-why-please-explain-to-an-aussie/997464/165 "2024-02-14T18:48:51Z")
> [@Great\_Antibob](#): > > And should such a person be POTUS with an actively hostile Congress? Forget about it. Stuff just won’t get done. I think we also have to be mindful of the non-zero chance that a Trump 2.0 could bring us a packed and stacked Supreme Court that virtually empties the bench at the Federalist Society. ---
**Author:** ![survinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cab0a1/32.png) [@survinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/survinga)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2024, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-v-trump-why-please-explain-to-an-aussie/997464/166 "2024-02-14T19:42:33Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > I presented that in a way that I thought would be recognized as obviously snarky hyperbole and not intended as a serious comment. What I do seriously believe, though, is that commercial media in America does a terrible job of informing American voters about the vital issues that they need to know about if democracy is to function. That, plus the proliferation of sleazy lying RW media, the lack of truly vibrant public broadcasting, and the incredible degree of public apathy about the issues and policies that affect them, pretty much explains why Trump’s vapid and deceitful demagoguery has been so successful. OK, I see where you’re going on this. I would note that there is a lot of misinformation out there about Biden’s condition. And it seems to be making an impression even overseas (to the Aussie OP of this thread, for instance). ---
**Author:** ![survinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cab0a1/32.png) [@survinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/survinga)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2024, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-v-trump-why-please-explain-to-an-aussie/997464/167 "2024-02-14T19:45:28Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > Yes, he’s been far more effective than i expected. I voted for him with some reluctance due to his age, but i will vote for him enthusiastically this time around. He’s actually a better, and more effective president than either Bill Clinton or Barack Obama. He strongly governs in ways they never could. But he won’t get the credit unfortunately. I think Clinton & Obama are better natural speakers and politicians. Biden is better at the sausage-making itself. Not so good at public speaking. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2024, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-v-trump-why-please-explain-to-an-aussie/997464/168 "2024-02-14T20:17:57Z")
I just want to say that while I think is age is a major concern regarding his re-electability, I think Biden is an excellent President, especially as my respect and admiration for him has grown tenfold in the past few months. ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2024, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-v-trump-why-please-explain-to-an-aussie/997464/169 "2024-02-14T20:42:18Z")
I’ll add to the chorus. Biden has been a terrific, consequential president. Amazing how such a doddering Methuselah got so much done, isn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2024, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-v-trump-why-please-explain-to-an-aussie/997464/170 "2024-02-15T00:30:51Z")
> [@Horatius](#): > > > [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > > > That’s an excellent article, and the OP and anyone else who wants to opine on Biden’s memory would do well to read it. > > I’m going to go out on a limb here and say, any article that has the term “prefrontal cortex” in it isn’t going to reach the people who need it the most. Need the article or need a prefrontal cortex? ---
**Author:** ![scudsucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scudsucker/32/14101_2.png) [@scudsucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scudsucker)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2024, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-v-trump-why-please-explain-to-an-aussie/997464/171 "2024-02-15T04:48:57Z")
I am reasonably sure my son (age six) knows what the prefrontal cortex is. He is an intelligent kid but he needs to learn that from somewhere. I certainly never told him. I’ll ask him. > [@solost](#): > > It’s a comedic podcast, I listened. Its is not really comedic, but yes, there was some levity. I live in a different country, so I rarely listen to US politicians; generally I read reporting linked to from SMDB. But that podcast interview - to me - makes him seem a warm, self deprecating and honest man. The opposite of the bloviate Trump. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2024, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-v-trump-why-please-explain-to-an-aussie/997464/172 "2024-02-16T20:38:37Z")
> [@Love\_Rhombus](#): > > Hasn’t she been acting as President of the Senate? Sure, but that’s not often a high visibility job other than some key votes. It’s not like she’s been giving press conferences about the vote negotiations. She hasn’t been seen accomplishing or leading anything. > [@solost](#): > > Biden is 1000 times more qualified to be President than trump. I’ve posted this in another thread, but here is a recent podcast that Biden appeared in. It’s a comedic podcast, yes, so it’s not like Biden is getting any hard-hitting policy questions thrown at him, but he speaks at length, and is at turns funny, engaging, and shows a strong grasp of policy. That’s a great example of Biden demonstrating he’s not a doddering old fool like the Repubs want you to believe. That’s the kind of interview Biden could have done for the Superbowl. ---
**Author:** ![Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiendish_astronaut/32/3295_2.png) [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2024, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-v-trump-why-please-explain-to-an-aussie/997464/173 "2024-02-17T23:24:07Z")
Is there likely to be a Presidential debate ahead of the election? ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2024, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-v-trump-why-please-explain-to-an-aussie/997464/174 "2024-02-18T00:26:41Z")
To my knowledge that is still an unknown. I think Trump is highly unlikely to agree to one. And I would expect Biden would insist on certain things, such as mics being off when it isn’t the other person’s turn to speak, that Trump would find objectionable. DJT has a serious problem with shutting up and letting others talk in those setting. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2024, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-v-trump-why-please-explain-to-an-aussie/997464/175 "2024-02-18T00:39:32Z")
[![](https://cdn2.vectorstock.com/i/1000x1000/01/21/gold-award-desktop-microphone-vector-24850121.jpg) ](https://cdn2.vectorstock.com/i/1000x1000/01/21/gold-award-desktop-microphone-vector-24850121.jpg) ‘I am paying for this microphone!’ ~ DJ"RR"T ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2024, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-v-trump-why-please-explain-to-an-aussie/997464/176 "2024-02-18T01:38:51Z")
I’d love to see Dark Brandon come out in a debate. And I’d _really_ love to see someone pull a [‘Yondu and the Broker scene’](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0FCcjwV9Kw) on Trump. It just might make his head explode. And it would be hilarious. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2024, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-v-trump-why-please-explain-to-an-aussie/997464/177 "2024-02-18T02:16:42Z")
> [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](#): > > Is there likely to be a Presidential debate ahead of the election? [Commission on Presidential Debates announces dates and locations for 2024 general election debates](https://www.cnn.com/2023/11/20/politics/presidential-debate-dates/index.html) > [@](#): > > The bipartisan commission, which has sponsored every general election presidential debate since its founding in 1987, will host three next year, with the first on September 16 at Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas. I will go out in a limb a bit and say that two of these will occur. The reason is historical precedent. In 2020, despite Trump’s antics, and COVID, two of the debates did take place. Will Trump try to set unacceptable conditions? Yes, but Biden will insist on sticking with the rules set by the non-partisan Commission on Presidential Debates, as before. Trump will be concerned that if he insists on his conditions, it will look like he is scared to debate. As to why I predicted two debates not three, that’s pure guesswork. But either candidate could miss a debate due to illness, and refusing once would be consistent with Trump’s drama game. Also, if one candidate is clearly ahead in the polls, they will be temped to sit on their lead… ---
**Author:** ![stui\_magpie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stui_magpie/32/11010_2.png) [@stui\_magpie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stui_magpie)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2024, 8:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-v-trump-why-please-explain-to-an-aussie/997464/178 "2024-08-01T08:34:01Z")
So I guess I was right about Biden? ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2024, 9:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-v-trump-why-please-explain-to-an-aussie/997464/179 "2024-08-01T09:22:50Z")
On which particular points? ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2024, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-v-trump-why-please-explain-to-an-aussie/997464/180 "2024-08-01T11:12:19Z")
Right. The OP was talking about dementia, and various RW forums have taken Biden’s withdrawal as him conceding that he is cognitively impaired. Heck, aren’t Republicans talking about impeachment on that basis? But no, Biden dropped out because he had a terrible debate and then was polling awfully. In terms of the debate, I don’t think a neurologist would make a diagnosis on the basis of just screwing up various details. I’ve had public speaking car crashes that were much worse. And Trump gets a _lot_ more confused, he just looks a bit more vigorous when he does it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-v-trump-why-please-explain-to-an-aussie/997464.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-v-trump-why-please-explain-to-an-aussie/997464.md?page=10)