# Hee-haw, y'all. The 2020 Democratic Presidential Primary **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [November 12, 2018, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415 "2018-11-12T17:52:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 39
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2019, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415/761 "2019-03-12T17:56:10Z")
Now that Brown is out, Biden is my man. I wouldn’t pair him with Beto, though, who needs to get more meat on his bones experience-wise. I know, I know: Obama yada yada yada. I like Beto, but he’s no Obama. Frankly, I was worried about Obama until he finally assumed the office and blew me away with his political prowess. Biden would do better to pick either Harris or Klobuchar as his running mate, or one of the Castro brothers. Grab a young progressive with some experience and who brings something to the voting booth, someone to balance the ticket. Women, minorities, the mid-west… doesn’t matter which. The coasts are going to vote for Dems no matter what. Biden needs to worry about the middle, and he gets that. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2019, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415/762 "2019-03-12T18:06:46Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > That would be a fun ticket, but could their individual strengths overcome the fact that they’re two white guys? > > In other words: Those two bring a lot of good balance to a ticket (fundraising + name recognition, Millenial excitement + governing experience, charisma, blue-collar cred, decency, outsider status + insider knowledge, a return to normalcy + a move toward the future, etc). But there’s this expectation that the ticket will include a person of color and/or a woman. Would voters be willing to overlook a lack of diversity on the ticket with these two? Do their combined strengths supercede diversity needs? Only one winning ticket has had diversity, so yeah, the voters will overlook it. By no means is diversity critical. But there is \*some \*diversity there, as Beto is young and vibes well with the Hispanic community. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2019, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415/763 "2019-03-12T18:14:57Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Only one winning ticket has had diversity, so yeah, the voters will overlook it. By no means is diversity critical. > But there is \*some \*diversity there, as Beto is young and vibes well with the Hispanic community. I’m not inclined to agree with this, but we’ll see… And saying only one winning ticket has had diversity is a bit disingenuous, seeing as for most of our nation’s history we were too racist and sexist to even \*consider \*anyone but a white male. We’re at a point where that line has been crossed, and I daresay most tickets going forward will NOT be whiteman-whiteman, current racist/sexist administration notwithstanding. ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2019, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415/764 "2019-03-12T18:20:22Z")
I would have bet a lot of money 15 years ago that the non-whiteman categories would all first be broached on the bottom of the ticket. But instead, VPs are still all whitemen, and we almost followed the first black president with the first woman, while continuing the VP whiteman trend with Kaine. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2019, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415/765 "2019-03-12T18:56:49Z")
Except for Biden and Klobuchar, all the front-runners are jokes who won’t have a chance in November. With Biden a little too old I’m petrified that we’re heading for another disaster in November 2020. @ SDMB readers, some of whom are influential people — I’m desperately trying to wake you up. O’Rourke is the biggest joke of all, IMO. [Here’s a recent N.Y. Times opinion.](https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/11/us/politics/on-politics-beto-2020-women.html) ---
**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:** [March 12, 2019, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415/766 "2019-03-12T19:01:13Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > Except for Biden and Klobuchar, all the front-runners are jokes who won’t have a chance in November. Why on Earth would you expect anyone to trust this assertion over, say, Nate Silver, who says it’s much too early for any sort of prediction? Why on Earth would you do so? It’s too early to know. We’ll find out what these candidates are made of. That’s what the primary process is for. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2019, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415/767 "2019-03-12T19:08:41Z")
> [@SlackerInc](#): > > I would have bet a lot of money 15 years ago that the non-whiteman categories would all first be broached on the bottom of the ticket. But instead, VPs are still all whitemen, and we almost followed the first black president with the first woman, while continuing the VP whiteman trend with Kaine. For all her issues I don’t think Palin counts as a man does she? ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2019, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415/768 "2019-03-12T19:20:05Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > Except for Biden and Klobuchar, all the front-runners are jokes who won’t have a chance in November. With Biden a little too old I’m petrified that we’re heading for another disaster in November 2020. @ SDMB readers, some of whom are influential people — I’m desperately trying to wake you up. > > O’Rourke is the biggest joke of all, IMO. [Here’s a recent N.Y. Times opinion.](https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/11/us/politics/on-politics-beto-2020-women.html) Nice opinions you got there. However, don’t convince yourself too hard that they’re anything more than that. You keep trying to play them off as somehow factual or, at the very least, more credible than anyone else’s opinions. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2019, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415/769 "2019-03-12T19:27:07Z")
Thinking about more, while I realize that Biden is the current front-runner, all of the contenders are going to hammer him on his record once the debates and races begin in earnest. And Biden has a record to hammer, including his votes with Wall St, the Iraq War, and a host of other issues. Biden’s remarkably similar to Hillary in that he basically improved his image and appeared more presidential simply by virtue of his association with Barack Obama, but his opponents are going to remind people of his record, and it’ll be interesting to see how he responds and whether or not they can make him commit unforced errors. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2019, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415/770 "2019-03-12T19:27:36Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > O’Rourke is the biggest joke of all, IMO. [Here’s a recent N.Y. Times opinion.](https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/11/us/politics/on-politics-beto-2020-women.html) And after reading that opinion piece, I don’t think it paints him as the joke you think it does. It just says he benefits from white male privilege. Newsflash? ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2019, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415/771 "2019-03-12T23:00:43Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > O’Rourke is the biggest joke of all, IMO. [Here’s a recent N.Y. Times opinion.](https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/11/us/politics/on-politics-beto-2020-women.html) On the one hand, I think it’s absolutely a fair criticism that a female candidate would not be cut the same slack if they did the same thing. But the reality is that he does get cut that slack because he’s a man, which means it’s not really a political liability. If you or anyone didn’t want to support him because you personally object to that, okay: but I don’t think it’s going to hurt his chances to beat Trump (who did, after all, tell Howard Stern: “I like kids. I mean, I won’t do anything to take care of them. I’ll supply funds and she’ll take care of the kids. It’s not like I’m gonna be walking the kids down Central Park”). > [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > For all her issues I don’t think Palin counts as a man does she? Well, and neither does Geraldine Ferraro for that matter. I was talking about actually getting into office. I always thought a black man or a white woman would become VP before either would become president (perhaps after being VP). ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2019, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415/772 "2019-03-13T00:31:21Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Why on Earth would you expect anyone to trust this assertion over, say, Nate Silver, who says it’s much too early for any sort of prediction? Why on Earth would you do so? > > **It’s too early to know. We’ll find out what these candidates are made of.** That’s what the primary process is for. Exactly. I see potential for a several break-out stars. Jay Inslee and Pete Buttigieg spring to mind. Both are impressively intelligent with actual policy positions. I would add Kamala Harris to this list, despite her being a “coastal” candidate. ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2019, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415/773 "2019-03-13T02:02:53Z")
I cosign Inslee, obv. 🙂 I keep hearing smart people say Buttigieg is really impressive. Can someone explain why? I haven’t heard him give a speech or anything, but I am just stuck on his not having held higher office than mayor of South Bend. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2019, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415/774 "2019-03-13T02:11:31Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > Except for Biden and Klobuchar, all the front-runners are jokes who won’t have a chance in November. With Biden a little too old I’m petrified that we’re heading for another disaster in November 2020. . I dont see any as a “joke”. The only possible disaster I see if when fellow Dems start throwing out most of the candidates based upon trivial or frivolous things. I would be Ok with any except Harris, and even there, I would cheerfully vote for Biden/Harris. (or beto/harris, etc) Biden is the\* safe\* vote, assuming no health crisis before November 2020. I want Bernie to keep his bros on a _tight_ leash. His politics are OK, but he _needs_ to do this or Trump will win again. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2019, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415/775 "2019-03-13T02:13:59Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > Thinking about more, while I realize that Biden is the current front-runner, all of the contenders are going to hammer him on his record once the debates and races begin in earnest. And Biden has a record to hammer, including his votes with Wall St, the Iraq War, and a host of other issues. … This bit about “wall street” is crap. Every established mainstream poltico has taken donations from there. _GOP most of all._ Saying a Dem candidate can’t get $ from any big business means - _they will lose._ Let’s leave this crap about “big banks” and “wall street” out of it, or else we’re looking at four more years of trump. ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2019, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415/776 "2019-03-13T02:34:56Z")
Dr. Deth, cosigned. I wouldn’t put it as strongly, because I do think it’s plausible Bernie could win while endlessly bludgeoning that dead horse, but I do think it hurts our chances. ---
**Author:** ![ITR\_champion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c67d28/32.png) [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2019, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415/777 "2019-03-13T02:45:02Z")
[Sources say Joe is in.](https://reason.com/blog/2019/03/12/joe-biden-tells-dem-lawmakers-hes-runnin) ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2019, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415/778 "2019-03-13T02:48:24Z")
> [@SlackerInc](#): > > Dr. Deth, cosigned. I wouldn’t put it as strongly, because I do think it’s plausible Bernie could win while endlessly bludgeoning that dead horse, but I do think it hurts our chances. \*Maybe \*Bernie could, as that is his touchstone, but yeah, it hurts the Dems chances overall. If we say we’re gonna eliminate all polticos who ever took a dime from Big Banks or Wall street, that means we pretty much have one choice- Bernie. And so saying that means we got _one horse_, and a rather old horse that that, and we’re gonna bet it all on him to win. If he drops out or there’s health issues or they swiftboat him then- four more years of Trump. We can’t afford that level of “purity test”. So, sure, say you like Bernie as he isn’t much beholden to Big Banks or Wall street, but lets not make that a purity test or the chances look slim. ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2019, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415/779 "2019-03-13T02:51:52Z")
Let’s also not forget that Bernie has acted very squirrelly and shady about his taxes. Something’s not kosher there. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2019, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415/780 "2019-03-13T02:54:53Z")
> [@SlackerInc](#): > > Let’s also not forget that Bernie has acted very squirrelly and shady about his taxes. Something’s not kosher there. He just released them. Kudos. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415.md?page=38) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415.md?page=40)