# Joe Biden would be an ineffective president who would accomplish very little, if anything. **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [March 8, 2020, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-biden-would-be-an-ineffective-president-who-would-accomplish-very-little-if-anything/849102 "2020-03-08T14:09:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2020, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-biden-would-be-an-ineffective-president-who-would-accomplish-very-little-if-anything/849102/101 "2020-03-09T23:42:41Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > Nominates, yes. Garland wasn’t confirmed. Nothing incorrect about that. Correct. And the GOP had the votes to block his confirmation. Which they should of, instead of allowing Mitch to be a bitch about it. If the GOp had simply raised questions and voted Nay, this wouldn’t be a issue. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2020, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-biden-would-be-an-ineffective-president-who-would-accomplish-very-little-if-anything/849102/102 "2020-03-10T00:39:08Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > Technically incorrect. No President (or political Party) is owed a seat on the SCOTUS. That makes too little sense to agree or disagree with. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2020, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-biden-would-be-an-ineffective-president-who-would-accomplish-very-little-if-anything/849102/103 "2020-03-10T00:47:59Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Correct. And the GOP had the votes to block his confirmation. Which they should of, instead of allowing Mitch to be a bitch about it. > > If the GOp had simply raised questions and voted Nay, this wouldn’t be a issue. Why would it be an issue? The Constitution doesn’t have any provisions for Senate hearings, or even the existence of a Judiciary Committee. ---
**Author:** ![Chingon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chingon/32/17645_2.png) [@Chingon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chingon)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2020, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-biden-would-be-an-ineffective-president-who-would-accomplish-very-little-if-anything/849102/104 "2020-03-10T00:56:16Z")
Why would you even give him a chance to derail? Show some goddamn self restraint. ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2020, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-biden-would-be-an-ineffective-president-who-would-accomplish-very-little-if-anything/849102/105 "2020-03-10T02:10:37Z")
If Bernie doesn’t secure the nomination, but Biden does so and then wins the presidency, why couldn’t Bernie (sitting US Senator) vow to put his proposals on President Biden’s desk as bills ready for signature? If the answer has something to do with Bernie’s inability to get those proposals out of Congress, why should we expect anything different if he did, in fact, get the nomination and win the Presidency? (From my understanding of Bernie and his supporters, the solution has something to do with the enthusiasm of young people. But I’m still fuzzy on the details). ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2020, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-biden-would-be-an-ineffective-president-who-would-accomplish-very-little-if-anything/849102/106 "2020-03-10T02:14:50Z")
Good point, Moriarty! ---
**Author:** ![2ManyTacos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/2/3da27b/32.png) [@2ManyTacos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2ManyTacos)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2020, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-biden-would-be-an-ineffective-president-who-would-accomplish-very-little-if-anything/849102/107 "2020-03-10T02:36:48Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > That makes too little sense to agree or disagree with. The amount of bad faith gaslighting regarding the theft of Garland’s seat is impressive. It does not take a rocket scientist to suss out why so many Democrats do not consider Neil Gorsuch to be a legitimate SCOTUS Justice or why many are increasingly viewing the institution itself as illegitimate. But that points to another issue with Biden: he will not do anything to ameliorate the SCOTUS theft or Democrats’ broader judicial dilemmas. Note that Bernie too has come out against Court-packing proposals, but at least Sanders has endorsed reforms that would cause SCOTUS Justices to cycle across random panels. In a sense, Biden is just a hopeless adherent to kumbaya politics, and all that will lead to is Democrats’ continued unilateral surrender in the face of escalating Republican radicalization. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2020, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-biden-would-be-an-ineffective-president-who-would-accomplish-very-little-if-anything/849102/108 "2020-03-10T02:42:20Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > I think he means between Biden and Sanders, not between either one of them and Trump. If he votes Warren instead of the Dem candidate, he might as well be voting for trump. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2020, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-biden-would-be-an-ineffective-president-who-would-accomplish-very-little-if-anything/849102/109 "2020-03-10T02:49:31Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > Why would it be an issue? The Constitution doesn’t have any provisions for Senate hearings, or even the existence of a Judiciary Committee. This is a hijack, but the Constitution sez: "_The President…shall have power, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate,… and he shall nominate, and by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, …judges of the Supreme Court…"_ No “advice” was given. Now, it likely _was_ Constitutional, but there was no reason other than being a dick waving asshole for Moscow Mitch to do it the way he did. They could have had a hearing, asked questions, and voted Nay. Now, can we get back to the issue here, we have hashed this out a dozen times. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2020, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-biden-would-be-an-ineffective-president-who-would-accomplish-very-little-if-anything/849102/110 "2020-03-10T02:53:37Z")
> [@2ManyTacos](#): > > … > > But that points to another issue with Biden: he will not do anything to ameliorate the SCOTUS theft or Democrats’ broader judicial dilemmas. Note that Bernie too has come out against Court-packing proposals, but at least Sanders has endorsed reforms that would cause SCOTUS Justices to cycle across random panels. > … Yeah, and that idea is craptastic, say legal experts: > **[Bernie Sanders' Alternative to Court-Packing is Almost as Bad](https://reason.com/volokh/2020/02/12/bernie-sanders-alternative-to-court-packing-is-almost-as-bad/)** > > It may be better only in so far as it is much more likely to get invalidated by the courts. All Biden has to do is nominate good judges. If he has anything close to a 50/50 he can likely get one through, he knows where all the skeletons are buried- he likely helped bury some. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2020, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-biden-would-be-an-ineffective-president-who-would-accomplish-very-little-if-anything/849102/111 "2020-03-10T02:56:41Z")
> [@2ManyTacos](#): > > … > In a sense, Biden is just a hopeless adherent to kumbaya politics, and all that will lead to is Democrats’ continued unilateral surrender in the face of escalating Republican radicalization. Let me ask you a question, Op- why do **you** support trump then? Do you actually think trump is better than biden or sanders? ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2020, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-biden-would-be-an-ineffective-president-who-would-accomplish-very-little-if-anything/849102/112 "2020-03-10T03:24:25Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > If he votes Warren instead of the Dem candidate, he might as well be voting for trump. Wasn’t he talking about the primary? ---
**Author:** ![2ManyTacos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/2/3da27b/32.png) [@2ManyTacos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2ManyTacos)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2020, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-biden-would-be-an-ineffective-president-who-would-accomplish-very-little-if-anything/849102/113 "2020-03-10T03:32:02Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Let me ask you a question, Op- why do **you** support trump then? > > Do you actually think trump is better than biden or sanders? I don’t know how many times I have to say that I would vote for Biden as the Democratic nominee. I have even made clear that Sanders isn’t 100% a preferable Biden alternative precisely _because_ there are certain reforms that even Bernie would likely not pursue (Court-packing, filibuster abolition). Still, Sanders would draw a harder line in support of broader reforms and pursue them in a way that Biden never would. My point is that a Biden presidency, even with full Democratic government control, would be an unsuccessful one that would accomplish none of its stated agenda. E.g., I keep bringing up Biden’s position on enacting an ACA public option, which on paper would be a tremendous policy; but that policy proposal is completely irrelevant because Biden is incapable and unwilling to carry out the cutthroat tactics that would be required to pass such a policy in the face of GOP opposition. This idea of that being ok because Biden would just be a ‘placeholder POTUS’ is foolish thinking that will almost certainly induce future Democratic electoral wipeouts. ---
**Author:** ![RioRico](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f04885/32.png) [@RioRico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RioRico)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2020, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-biden-would-be-an-ineffective-president-who-would-accomplish-very-little-if-anything/849102/114 "2020-03-10T04:01:26Z")
> [@Brayne\_Ded](#): > > But where is this “large pool of Democratic candidates?” Better yet, a pool of viable candidates who might get elected. Post-Obama, the Democrats have been unable to find anyone with experience, charisma and principles. Instead, in 2016 they put up Hillary, who is clearly not that popular with the electorate… Quibble: Dems did not “put up Hillary”; she built a campaign machine that won her the most primary votes and delegates and thus the nomination. “Not that popular with the electorate”? She won the a substantial popular supermajority… that wasn’t enough to take the rigged electoral game. In modern America, luzers win! What a system! GOPs did not “put up” Tramp. He stomped their weaklings and took the nomination fair and square, by the rules - helped by much free media. Then he lost the election but won the game, by the rules. The game he himself said was rigged. What a guy! What, a rigged game? 45% of the population, mostly in red states, control a majority of electoral votes. A candidate could win the White House with 23% of the popular vote. Convince me that represents “the will of the people”. Where is a “large pool of Democratic candidates?” You’ve seen some of them on TV. They aren’t all old farts. But they haven’t built sufficient operations. A campaign is more than the candidate; it’s who they have to make things happen. Organization. That’s in the “sausage-making” aspect of politics. Amateurs can’t cook campaigns. Back to topic. Biden would corral Dem senators while independent Bernie would not. Who would be less effective as President? ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2020, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-biden-would-be-an-ineffective-president-who-would-accomplish-very-little-if-anything/849102/115 "2020-03-10T05:33:42Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > No “advice” was given. Now, it likely _was_ Constitutional, but there was no reason other than being a dick waving asshole for Moscow Mitch to do it the way he did. They could have had a hearing, asked questions, and voted Nay. The Senate gave their advice, and it was “No”. Sorry you didn’t like it. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2020, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-biden-would-be-an-ineffective-president-who-would-accomplish-very-little-if-anything/849102/116 "2020-03-10T05:34:47Z")
> [@2ManyTacos](#): > > I don’t know how many times I have to say that I would vote for Biden as the Democratic nominee. I have even made clear that Sanders isn’t 100% a preferable Biden alternative precisely _because_ there are certain reforms that even Bernie would likely not pursue (Court-packing, filibuster abolition). Still, Sanders would draw a harder line in support of broader reforms and pursue them in a way that Biden never would. > … Since you continually attack Biden, I find that hard to believe. There can be no good reason to attack the Democratic front runner so constantly and savagely unless you support trump. Do you actually believe instead that these attacks on Biden will drive people to vote for Sanders? Since that clearly wont work and isnt working, exactly what are your goals with these attacks? All you are doing is helping trump win re-election. Since that is not your stated goal, then why? I mean, “I will vote for Biden, but meanwhile here are more reasons why no one should vote for him” makes your motives a little suspect, dont they? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2020, 10:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-biden-would-be-an-ineffective-president-who-would-accomplish-very-little-if-anything/849102/117 "2020-03-10T10:31:50Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > This is a hijack, but the Constitution sez: "_The President…shall have power, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate,… and he shall nominate, and by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, …judges of the Supreme Court…"_ > > No “advice” was given. No “consent” was given, either. ---
**Author:** ![AlTraina](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/altraina/32/50_2.png) [@AlTraina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlTraina)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2020, 10:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-biden-would-be-an-ineffective-president-who-would-accomplish-very-little-if-anything/849102/118 "2020-03-10T10:50:07Z")
> [@A\_Dodgy\_Dude](#): > > How about this for an accomplishment: > > 1. Biden becomes the nominee. > > 2. Names Hillary as his running mate. > > 3. Wins the election. > > 4. Steps down for “health reasons” (aka dementia. > > 5. Hillary becomes the first woman president of the United States - thanks to Joe Biden. If 2 happens, 3 won’t. ---
**Author:** ![Disgruntled\_Penguin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@Disgruntled\_Penguin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Disgruntled_Penguin)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2020, 10:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-biden-would-be-an-ineffective-president-who-would-accomplish-very-little-if-anything/849102/119 "2020-03-10T10:59:56Z")
> [@2ManyTacos](#): > > When did I ever say that _I,_ personally, will not vote for Biden? I would vote for a pet rock before I vote for Trump or stay home. Write in votes are the same as voting for Trump. ---
**Author:** ![2ManyTacos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/2/3da27b/32.png) [@2ManyTacos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2ManyTacos)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2020, 11:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-biden-would-be-an-ineffective-president-who-would-accomplish-very-little-if-anything/849102/120 "2020-03-10T11:17:43Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Since you continually attack Biden, I find that hard to believe. > > There can be no good reason to attack the Democratic front runner so constantly and savagely unless you support trump. > > Do you actually believe instead that these attacks on Biden will drive people to vote for Sanders? Since that clearly wont work and isnt working, exactly what are your goals with these attacks? All you are doing is helping trump win re-election. Since that is not your stated goal, then why? > > I mean, “I will vote for Biden, but meanwhile here are more reasons why no one should vote for him” makes your motives a little suspect, dont they? No they don’t. Biden would be an unsuccessful POTUS who would have few if any accomplishments during his presidency. He would also not be Trump, so he is worth voting for if he becomes the nominee. People should just go into a Biden presidency clear-eyed that none of his agenda will pass and that the same structural issues Democrats are dealing with today will never be addressed in a Biden administration. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-biden-would-be-an-ineffective-president-who-would-accomplish-very-little-if-anything/849102.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-biden-would-be-an-ineffective-president-who-would-accomplish-very-little-if-anything/849102.md?page=7)