# President Biden Dropping Out of Race **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** kamala-harris\ **Created:** [July 21, 2024, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-biden-dropping-out-of-race/1004540 "2024-07-21T18:05:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 18
**Author:** ![Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.winston_oboogie/32/2945_2.png) [@Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Winston_OBoogie)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2024, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-biden-dropping-out-of-race/1004540/343 "2024-07-23T14:19:38Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > And a great VP pick could make the Dem ticket unstoppable against the fascists. Unfortunately, there’ no such thing. A “great VP pick” would also make a great Presidential candidate, and Harris is the consensus best candidate. There’s a number of _good_ VP choices, but I can’ t see any of them really moving the needle that far. Then again, we don’t have to move it that far… ---
**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:** [July 23, 2024, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-biden-dropping-out-of-race/1004540/344 "2024-07-23T14:29:06Z")
The speech Harris gave made me more confident this is the right choice. The way she hit Trump was perfect. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2024, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-biden-dropping-out-of-race/1004540/345 "2024-07-23T14:46:19Z")
> [@Moriarty](#): > > Biden may go down as one of the most effective politicians in American history. Yes. Even likely. Suppose that Trump wins in a squeaker, but the Democrats wind up in narrow control of House and Senate. It will be plausible to say that Biden dropping out, and endorsing Harris, prevented a GOP sweep that would have done a lot more damage to democracy. ---
**Author:** ![SunUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SunUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SunUp)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2024, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-biden-dropping-out-of-race/1004540/346 "2024-07-23T15:18:24Z")
> [@Moriarty](#): > > Biden may go down as one of the most effective politicians in American history. We should probably save some props for Nacy Pelosi, who most accounts have as being instrumental in helping to convince Biden that the time to pass the torch was now, and provided an example of doing so with her yielding the spot as the senior House Democrat two years ago. I’m fully behind the idea that Democratic leadership needs to get younger, but I really hope the next generation are taking notes. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2024, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-biden-dropping-out-of-race/1004540/347 "2024-07-23T17:06:23Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > **Republicans:** Biden is old and senile! He needs to drop out!. > > **Also Republicans:** Biden dropped out! That’s not faaaaiiiiiir!!! **Also Also Republicans:** We will sue you because we have the right to tell you who your nominee can be!" ---
**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:** [July 23, 2024, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-biden-dropping-out-of-race/1004540/348 "2024-07-23T17:21:56Z")
> [@Moriarty](#): > > If Kamala prevails, Biden’s political scheming will be studied by political scientists for _years_; doctoral theses will be based on the Dark Brandon meme. > > Biden may go down as one of the most effective politicians in American history. I agree with this. I believe he has been one of our greatest, most-consequential presidents, and if Harris wins, it’s like a movie script. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2024, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-biden-dropping-out-of-race/1004540/349 "2024-07-23T17:45:39Z")
I haven’t been keeping up with this thread, but I wanted to quote myself from another thread: > [@Thoughts on an old ThelmaLou thread from August 2017](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-an-old-thelmalou-thread-from-august-2017/1004668/11): > > I didn’t want Biden to resign. I’m 75 years old and I live around plenty of people in their 80s who are quite sharp. But I also feel relieved that that issue is now off the table. I think Biden will go down in history revered for his enormous courage and especially humility in taking this step. It is the antithesis of trump, namely, to put your country ahead of your own pride. I am dazzled by the level of character that Biden has shown, but not surprised. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2024, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-biden-dropping-out-of-race/1004540/350 "2024-07-23T21:06:32Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > **Also Also Republicans:** We will sue you because we have the right to tell you who your nominee can be!" The concept that Republicans will find courts that agree with their claim that they have the right to tell another party how to conduct business would have been ridiculous a few short years ago. After witnessing the antics of Aileen Cannon, Judge “Mifepristone” Kacsmaryk, and of course the GOP Supreme Court… well, anything, sadly, is possible. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2024, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-biden-dropping-out-of-race/1004540/351 "2024-07-23T21:27:17Z")
> [@Stratocaster](#): > > I agree with this. I believe he has been one of our greatest, most-consequential presidents, and if Harris wins, it’s like a movie script. We’ve been slowly re-watching _Veep_ over the last month or so, and after Biden announced he was stepping down, my sister mentioned how prophetic that show had been. That we need to continue watching to see what will happen next IRL. 🙃 ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2024, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-biden-dropping-out-of-race/1004540/352 "2024-07-23T22:39:04Z")
Joe’s unprecedented and bizarre decision to challenge Trump to a pre-convention debate was of world-historical importance. I think there is more to the story than has yet come out. Here is a good hypothesis: > **[Here’s why I think President Biden agreed to that disastrous, early debate...](https://www.tampabay.com/opinion/2024/06/29/heres-why-i-think-biden-agreed-june-debate/)** > > It’s just a hunch, but I’m of his generation and I think I might know why decent, old Joe agreed to this plan. To save the country. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2024, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-biden-dropping-out-of-race/1004540/353 "2024-07-23T22:42:31Z")
I tried to read that article, but there were so many pop-ups from above and below, not to mention flickering, flashing ads on the page, that I could barely find the text. Can you do an old lady a favor and summarize the hypothesis? Thx. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2024, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-biden-dropping-out-of-race/1004540/354 "2024-07-23T22:59:05Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > I tried to read that article, but there were so many pop-ups from above and below, not to mention flickering, flashing ads on the page, that I could barely find the text. One other newspaper picked up the column, although I’m not sure if it will be better: [Here’s why I think President Biden agreed to that disastrous, early debate with Trump](https://www.aznews.press/heres-why-i-think-president-biden-agreed-to-that-disastrous-early-debate-with-trump-62124/) > [@](#): > > I can manage the country, I can manage the rest of the world, I can deal with Macron and Xi, and V and Z and that maniac Bibi … but those are decisions, not performances…! How can I let everything, but everything, ride on an October debate performance, one of three? And buck the odds I won’t have one really bad moment in three debates? Possibly deliver my country into the hands of … that horror show? Man, what will history say? What will Jill say? > > OK, how’s this? … Think outside the box, Joe. . . . Do the first debate six weeks before the convention! It’ll be radical, three months earlier than any other debate ever — but for a reason. > > Absolutely, I’ll do it hoping I wipe the floor with him, if I have a good night. But if I don’t … if my 81-year-old body, and my spotty memory, betray me, I’m not betraying the country. If I blow it, really blow it, I can still step down. Make it an open convention, leave the second debate to Kamala, or Gavin, or whomever. ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2024, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-biden-dropping-out-of-race/1004540/355 "2024-07-23T23:23:57Z")
I think that’s a ridiculous theory. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2024, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-biden-dropping-out-of-race/1004540/356 "2024-07-23T23:35:41Z")
Gee, I was just thinking that it kind of makes sense. Different strokes. Having the debate really early also meant that there _might_ be time to recover if things went badly. * * * @PhillyGuy Thanks for the synopsis. ---
**Author:** ![Sylvanz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Sylvanz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sylvanz)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2024, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-biden-dropping-out-of-race/1004540/357 "2024-07-23T23:58:05Z")
Me too. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2024, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-biden-dropping-out-of-race/1004540/358 "2024-07-24T00:04:42Z")
> [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](#): > > I think that’s a ridiculous theory. It casts Biden as a Shogun level planner but … if he really wanted to pass the torch to Harris and gift the Democratic Party a unified energized front with best possible board position going into the serious part of the game, he could not have planned it better. Nah … But if every time you see him from her he is walking briskly with a dance in his step, and speaking with the vigor he had at the State of the Union, then maybe just maybe, he pulled off a master con. Nah … ---
**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:** [July 24, 2024, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-biden-dropping-out-of-race/1004540/359 "2024-07-24T00:10:41Z")
Who is Joe Biden? He is supposed to be a Democrat from Delaware. Some say his father was Saul Alinsky. Nobody believed he was real. Nobody ever saw him or knew anybody that ever worked directly for him, but to hear Trump tell it, anybody could have worked for Biden. You never knew. That was his power. The greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn’t exist. And like that, poof. He’s gone. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2024, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-biden-dropping-out-of-race/1004540/360 "2024-07-24T00:24:43Z")
I would love it if Joe Biden suddenly looked and acted like he was ten years younger now that he’s dropped out. Think of the conspiracies the right would spin out of that! ---
**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:** [July 24, 2024, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-biden-dropping-out-of-race/1004540/361 "2024-07-24T00:25:20Z")
He’s giving an address tomorrow night at 8 pm eastern time. [https://www.politico.com/news/2024/07/23/biden-national-address-2024-election-00170590](https://www.politico.com/news/2024/07/23/biden-national-address-2024-election-00170590) ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2024, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-biden-dropping-out-of-race/1004540/362 "2024-07-24T00:27:37Z")
If he’s still awake at 8 pm, he’s doing better than most octogenarians I know. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-biden-dropping-out-of-race/1004540.md?page=17) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-biden-dropping-out-of-race/1004540.md?page=19)