# Discussion thread for the "Polls only" thread (Part 1) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 28, 2022, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380 "2022-09-28T11:33:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 393
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2023, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/7844 "2023-11-03T19:03:46Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > There is no way Biden is a better candidate than Warren or Whitmer. Warren is 74. And Biden is a better candidate _as the voters wanted him-_ and he beat trump, unlike Hillary Clinton. Note that Harris is our Veep, and Pelosi was the Speaker for a long time. > [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > He is the kind of old that is showing obvious decline. It’s not ageist to point that out. No, he is not. The MAGAs keep pushing that idea, but it is false. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2023, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/7845 "2023-11-03T19:40:13Z")
Just because you keep saying that in multiple threads doesn’t make it true. Everyone declines as they age. I’m declining as I age and I’m not 60 yet. You are declining. It’s part of the aging process. Biden didn’t find a magic elixir. My mother recently died at slightly older than Joe Biden. She was as lucky as can be that she suffered from no dementia or other cognitive ailments right to the end. She still had declined mentally compared to her past. It’s part of being a human. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2023, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/7846 "2023-11-03T19:42:46Z")
Sure, but on the overall bulk of things, it’s still reasonable to prefer a 50-year old POTUS over an 80-year old one. There are many _thousands_ of highly-intelligent, qualified, educated, wise 40-60 year olds who could be POTUS. Yet somehow we’ve gotten a political system that’s set us up for a battle of septuagenarian vs. octogenarian for our next election - a matchup that many voters have already indicated they do not want. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2023, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/7847 "2023-11-03T19:47:57Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > and he beat trump, unlike Hillary Clinton. ?? I didn’t mention Hillary Clinton. Unless you are just mentally lumping all female candidates together, I don’t follow. But now that you mention her, yes, a great deal of misogyny contributed to her loss. I never liked her for a few reasons, but a lot of voters only needed one reason. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2023, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/7848 "2023-11-03T19:48:30Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > There are many _thousands_ of highly-intelligent, qualified, educated, wise 40-60 year olds who could be POTUS. Yet somehow we’ve gotten a political system that’s set us up for a battle of septuagenarian vs. octogenarian for our next election - a matchup that many voters have already indicated they do not want. A matchup that the majority of voters indicated they _do_ want. Look, the top choices were Biden, trump,Warren, Sanders, etc. “Biden is too old” is just MAGA and Kremlin propaganda. They simply ain’t no young candidates that are a real choice now. Even Newsom is 56 now, and will be over 60 when he makes his run for Prez. Harris is 59 now. And complaints that Biden is “too old” will just lead to trump 77 being elected. Is that what you want? 4 more years of an “old white guy” who is also a conman and fascist wannabe? ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2023, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/7849 "2023-11-03T21:00:38Z")
I mean, Trump is too old, too. He shows even more obvious signs of decline than Biden. Have you seen any videos of him in his prime recently. Regarding the ferret: obtaining an animal is the easy part. If i wanted a pet ferret, i would already have a pet ferret. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2023, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/7850 "2023-11-03T22:06:27Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > I mean, Trump is too old, too. He shows even more obvious signs of decline than Biden. Have you seen any videos of him in his prime recently. Right! But the kremlin and MAGA propaganda machine is pushing the “Biden is too old” thing HARD. I note several posters here complained that _Biden is too old_ instead of “Biden AND trump are too old”. > [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > But now that you mention her, yes, a great deal of misogyny contributed to her loss. 538 said it was three things- negative posting and propaganda by the GOP, the Kremlin and sadly Bernie-bros. The Comey memo. Poor election strategy. Not misogyny. > [@Velocity](#): > > Sure, but on the overall bulk of things, it’s still reasonable to prefer a 50-year old POTUS over an 80-year old one. No, it’s not. The only “young” POTUS polling candidate out there is DeSantis. Tell me you think he is better than Biden? > [@Loach](#): > > . Biden didn’t find a magic elixir. Did trump? > [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > He is the kind of old that is showing obvious decline. It’s not ageist to point that out. I notice you only mention Biden, not trump. Face it- you have TWO choices next November. Joe Biden or conman trump. The more you attack Biden, the more likely it will be trump. ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2023, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/7851 "2023-11-03T22:13:09Z")
Unfortunately it’s illegal to keep a pet ferret in California. My pet of choice is rats but ferrets would probably be a close second if they were legal here. ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2023, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/7852 "2023-11-03T22:16:13Z")
The poll only asked about Biden, ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2023, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/7853 "2023-11-03T22:19:58Z")
It didnt ask about his age- just - _Are you voting for Biden in 2024 enthusiastically, or reluctantly?_ And bitching that Biden is too old while _conveniently_ forgetting that trump is just about as old is just plain foolish. Oh, and mean Mr Mustard- why not a poll about trump, too? ---
**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:** [November 3, 2023, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/7854 "2023-11-03T22:22:26Z")
I suspect that introducing a ferret into a household of four cats and a dog, none of whom have grown up with ferrets and some of whom grew up making their living hunting, would not work out well for anybody (ferrets probably being difficult prey to catch safely, but being unlikely to be able to fight off the whole crew.) ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2023, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/7855 "2023-11-03T22:25:47Z")
One of my friends loves animals, She could have no more than two cats in her HOA, but also a ferret. So she got one, having read that ferrets can outrun cats, and it makes enjoyable “tag” games for them all. Except she had Bengal cats, who outran and caught the poor ferret. No one was seriously harmed, but the ferret had to be rehomed. ---
**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:** [November 3, 2023, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/7856 "2023-11-03T22:30:31Z")
I wouldn’t think that having to continually outrun one’s housemates would have made “enjoyable tag games” for the ferret, even if it had been able to succeed in doing so. I can readily imagine that cats and ferrets raised together from kittenhood (and whatever the equivalent’s called in ferrets) would have genuinely enjoyable tag games, in which the result of being caught wasn’t a significant risk of being killed and eaten. But that wouldn’t mean that introducing a ferret into a household with adult cats was a good idea. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2023, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/7857 "2023-11-03T22:40:52Z")
I sure did like having a President who was younger than me and whose name reminded me of Jethro Tull’s musical style. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2023, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/7858 "2023-11-03T22:43:23Z")
> [@markn\_1](#): > > Unfortunately it’s illegal to keep a pet ferret in California. “Let’s not forget, Dude, that keeping wildlife, uh, an amphibious rodent, for uh, ya know, domestic, within the city…that ain’t legal, either.” - Walter Sobchak ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2023, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/7859 "2023-11-03T22:46:30Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > I sure did like having a President who was younger than me and whose name reminded me of Jethro Tull’s musical style. OK, that one was a reach. A note has been placed in your Permanent Record. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2023, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/7860 "2023-11-03T22:49:01Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > I notice you only mention Biden, not trump. I’m not voting for Trump. The question was, are you enthusiastic about Biden? No, I’m not. I gave my reasons why. I don’t frequent Republican news sites, or any news sites, really. I would vote for an old worn-out shoe before I’d vote for Trump. None of that makes Biden any less lame. I haven’t been less enthused since John Kerry. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2023, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/7861 "2023-11-03T22:58:07Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > A note has been placed in your Permanent Record. As long as my Permanent Record is _Songs from the Wood_. Or _Stormwatch_, that one would do. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2023, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/7862 "2023-11-04T00:06:15Z")
_Aqualung_ Re: Ferrets. Owning a pair of sight hounds who _love_ to chase and dispatch small furry creatures, that would be a hard no. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2023, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380/7863 "2023-11-04T00:09:10Z")
I have a lot of reasons for not wanting a pet ferret. At the moment, i think it wouldn’t get along with my cats. But we were briefly cat-free and could have adopted a ferret if we had wanted to. They may be lovely pets, but I’m quite happy with pet cats and not looking for new species to try out. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380.md?page=392) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-1/972380.md?page=394)