# Joe Biden's in **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [April 25, 2019, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-bidens-in/833042 "2019-04-25T16:13:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**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:** [April 25, 2019, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-bidens-in/833042/1 "2019-04-25T16:13:38Z")
[Biden pulls off duty tarp covering old campaign motorcycle.](https://politics.theonion.com/biden-pulls-off-dusty-tarp-covering-old-campaign-motorc-1833442728) “You hear that baby purring into third gear, your vote isn’t the only thing Uncle Joe’s gonna get.” Will be interesting now that he’s finally in. Half of the pundits are saying his candidacy will pull all the energy and money from the middle candidates like Booker and Klobuchar. Others are saying he’s gonna have a real hard time keeping up with everyone else as far as fundraising goes. But as far as endorsements go, [he leapfrogs the entire field in a matter of hours.](https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2020-endorsements/democratic-primary/?ex_cid=rrpromo) ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2019, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-bidens-in/833042/2 "2019-04-25T16:35:55Z")
I’ll be honest: I’m not sure this is the right focus & tone for a winning campaign: > [@Joe Biden](#): > > We are in the battle for the soul of this nation. If we give Donald Trump eight years in the White House, he will forever and fundamentally alter the character of this nation — who we are. And I cannot stand by and watch that happen. Bad move, IMO, and it’s his first real campaign statement. Nothing like starting stupid, I suppose. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2019, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-bidens-in/833042/3 "2019-04-25T16:42:00Z")
I see very similar statements two dozen times a week around here. Are you sure it’s stupid? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2019, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-bidens-in/833042/4 "2019-04-25T16:46:59Z")
I don’t think him being officially in really changes things, because everyone’s been assuming right from the start that he was going to run. I guess this means he can officially start fundraising? ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2019, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-bidens-in/833042/5 "2019-04-25T16:52:19Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > I see very similar statements two dozen times a week around here. Are you sure it’s stupid? You see very similar _campaign_ statements two dozen times a week around here? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2019, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-bidens-in/833042/6 "2019-04-25T16:53:39Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > I see very similar statements two dozen times a week around here. Are you sure it’s stupid? Most of the posters on this board aren’t running for national office. Speaking personally, Trump makes me want to let out a constant, unending scream of inarticulate rage. But I’m still not going to support a candidate whose opening campaign statement is “ARARRRRRAGGGHHSHITGGGLLLLFUCKGRAAAAAAACOCKDICKS!” ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2019, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-bidens-in/833042/7 "2019-04-25T16:57:19Z")
I think the far-left wing of the party has taken over more than Joe realizes, and he’s positioned himself as too much of a moderate to win the nomination. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2019, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-bidens-in/833042/8 "2019-04-25T17:11:49Z")
If the peckerhead wins, it will amaze me even more than when the buffoon won the last election. Good Christ, I miss when our politicians weren’t all cartoon characters. ---
**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:** [April 25, 2019, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-bidens-in/833042/9 "2019-04-25T17:17:46Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Most of the posters on this board aren’t running for national office. Speaking personally, Trump makes me want to let out a constant, unending scream of inarticulate rage. But I’m still not going to support a candidate whose opening campaign statement is “ARARRRRRAGGGHHSHITGGGLLLLFUCKGRAAAAAAACOCKDICKS!” I love how you think you’re taking a stand for not supporting a candidate whose opening campaign statement is “ARARRRRRAGGGHHSHITGGGLLLLFUCKGRAAAAAAACOCKDICKS!” I also love how you think that’s relevant to this thread. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2019, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-bidens-in/833042/10 "2019-04-25T17:32:41Z")
Awesome, fantastic news. 😉 We FINALLY! have a centrist candidate that has a chance of winning. Hot damn, finally a Democrat that isn’t uktra left wing. 😃 I had early hopes for Kamala Harris she had an outstanding reputation as AG of California. Tough on crime. Tough, no nonsense pragmatic politician. She’s been backpedaling and apologizing like crazy. Letting her political minders reshape her image. Shifting left. ☹ A damn shame. I’ll be crushed if Biden lets those PR clowns do that too him. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2019, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-bidens-in/833042/11 "2019-04-25T17:41:55Z")
Biden needs to run as his own man. Quit apologizing for hugging people. Run on his excellent record and stick to it. Don’t apologize or show any weakness. Show some backbone and Resiliency. That’s so important. Trump never apologizes or kisses anyone’s ass. Biden has to have that same take it or leave it attitude. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2019, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-bidens-in/833042/12 "2019-04-25T17:50:32Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Most of the posters on this board aren’t running for national office. Most of them are voting for someone for national office so I fail to see what’s stupid about saying what voters are saying. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2019, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-bidens-in/833042/13 "2019-04-25T17:53:40Z")
Thanks; I’m drawing a conclusion now, based on what you’ve written in this thread. ---
**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:** [April 25, 2019, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-bidens-in/833042/14 "2019-04-25T17:56:42Z")
I still don’t understand the appeal of Biden and how he jumps to 1# in mere hours. He is an old white man and a throwback to the 1980s-1990s instead of the 2020s. What is generating the fireworks exactly? ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2019, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-bidens-in/833042/15 "2019-04-25T18:00:09Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > I still don’t understand the appeal of Biden and how he jumps to 1# in mere hours. He is an old white man and a throwback to the 1980s-1990s instead of the 2020s. What is generating the fireworks exactly? Because that old “white man” will appeal to many Trump voters? He’s going to draw a lot of votes away from Trump. Voters so disgusted by Hillary that they voted this egomaniac into office. That’s assuming the ultra left doesn’t force Biden to shift from the center. He’s already backpedaling on the Anita Hill hearings 25 years ago. The irony doesn’t escape me that Biden is the only centrist still standing. 20 years ago I thought of him as too liberal. Not any more. He looks like John McCain compared to the other bleeding heart candidates. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2019, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-bidens-in/833042/16 "2019-04-25T18:12:11Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > Bad move, IMO, and it’s his first real campaign statement. Nothing like starting stupid, I suppose. Well, the statement is (a) correct, and (b) reflects what most decent Americans are thinking and the consequences they fear, having seen what the first three years of Trump has done. Furthermore, by not addressing Trump’s deeply immoral character and malignant nature directly and forcefully, Biden would in effect be normalizing him as just a regular politician, which he absolutely is not. I don’t think a campaign should be predominantly negative, and I don’t believe Biden’s will be. Probably quite the opposite, actually. But an important statement of truth about the conditions in the nation since January 2017 and why he’s running is hardly something I would characterize as “stupid”. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2019, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-bidens-in/833042/17 "2019-04-25T18:15:16Z")
He starts his campaign by making it about Trump’s _supporters_ and not about Trump; ask Mrs. Clinton how well that worked for her. That’s one of the reasons it was stupid: it sets this as us-vs-them instead of as us-vs-Trump. He’s declared war on at least 40% of Americans. That’s not what this country needs and IMO it isn’t what will stop Trump from keeping the presidency. ---
**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:** [April 25, 2019, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-bidens-in/833042/18 "2019-04-25T18:17:30Z")
In terms of endorsements, the thing to watch is where they come from on the ideological spectrum. Jeb Bush got a lot of endorsements but they were coming from what was considered the centrist and moderate wings of his party. I’m not sure how much endorsements matter these days, but if we’re going to use them as a sign of strength, then the endorsements need to be in alignment with the party’s base to mean anything. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2019, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-bidens-in/833042/19 "2019-04-25T18:17:38Z")
I’m falling in love already. This is the straight taking attitude the country needs right now. It feels good hearing someone speak for me and my values. > [@](#): > > Biden, who claimed that the bike could use a new paint job, said that with Bernie Sanders pulling his same old “commie shit” and Elizabeth Warren “totally tanking” in the polls, there was an opening for a Democrat who could ride in on 900 pounds of all-American steel and speak to the middle class. ---
**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:** [April 25, 2019, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-bidens-in/833042/20 "2019-04-25T18:22:06Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > He starts his campaign by making it about Trump’s _supporters_ and not about Trump; ask Mrs. Clinton how well that worked for her. > > That’s one of the reasons it was stupid: it sets this as us-vs-them instead of as us-vs-Trump. He’s declared war on at least 40% of Americans. That’s not what this country needs and IMO it isn’t what will stop Trump from keeping the presidency. That’s not necessarily how everyone would read it. People who were somehow rubbed the wrong way by the portion you quoted are probably going to be turned off the color of Biden’s ties for all we know. There’s nothing wrong about what he said. All of that being said, though, I wouldn’t be surprised if Biden tanks early. He’ll be like a 40-year-old guy at a college bar. Same club, but not the same staff or patrons. He’s going to struggle to fit in. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-bidens-in/833042.md?page=2)