# Stop Panicking! **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [June 28, 2024, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447 "2024-06-28T15:26:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2024, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/21 "2024-06-28T17:08:49Z")
> [@SenorBeef](#): > > You shouldn’t have to cringe every time your president speaks hoping that he doesn’t screw it up too badly. I will _never_ forgive Joe Biden for reminding me of a Tucker Carlson quote (said about GW Bush): > I mean, look, no matter how you feel about Bush, watching him speak is difficult. It’s like- it’s like watching a drunk man cross an icy street. ---
**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:** [June 28, 2024, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/22 "2024-06-28T17:31:48Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Voters have short memories, and this too will pass. It just means we have to work a little harder is all. > > Deep breath, then get back in the fight. Agree with this. And panic, if you want to call it that, can be useful, especially with the amount of time until the election. As I mentioned in the other thread, it will motivate the party to get people out to vote, with urgency. They have to acknowledge Biden is old and not what he used to be - yes, yes, old news, but remind people his administration is strong and they are working to make people’s lives better, and the alternative is a disaster. Democrats have the numbers, so they need get off their duffs and vote - it matters! ---
**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:** [June 28, 2024, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/23 "2024-06-28T17:32:32Z")
Well said. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2024, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/24 "2024-06-28T17:35:08Z")
From another thread: [Can the Democratic party nominate someone other than the incumbent President at their convention? - #64 by Thing.Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-democratic-party-nominate-someone-other-than-the-incumbent-president-at-their-convention/1003428/64) Take it as you will. I just link to it because it specifically talks about panic. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2024, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/25 "2024-06-28T17:39:37Z")
Yeah, was anyone actually _surprised_ that it turned out like this? What were the chances that somehow Biden was going to do differently? Under normal circumstances, debates like this tend to play to the candidate who’s more dynamic, animated, and forceful. Trump’s got that, even if he’s dynamic, animated, and forceful about lies, bullshit, and half-truths. And Biden’s _not_ good at that sort of thing, and from what I understand, never has been, due to his stutter. So I wasn’t surprised nor am I panicky. I am disappointed though; I had really hoped Biden would manage not to look and act like a senile old man. Had he been an angry old coot, that would have been preferable to just sort of trailing off sometimes. And largely I feel like this was only going to make a difference to the portion of the electorate who haven’t actually made their minds up yet, whoever those peculiar people might be, and however many of them there might be. ---
**Author:** ![SwissMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e79b87/32.png) [@SwissMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SwissMan)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2024, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/26 "2024-06-28T17:41:41Z")
The only thing I have to add to this conversation is that the American people over the last decade plus have shown an incredible inability to display any kind of short-term memory or keep any news story in their heads for more than a week or two. I get a feeling that this may not differ too much. There’s 4+ months until election day; I have no idea what is going to happen between now and then. ---
**Author:** ![Fugazi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f08c70/32.png) [@Fugazi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fugazi)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2024, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/27 "2024-06-28T18:30:23Z")
> [@Nyvaak](#): > > Alas, I fear you are being far too optimistic. The damage that Trump has _already_ done to our democracy and to our very culture will far outlast his breathing and pulse. I can’t even guess at the further evil he will accomplish, given another four years. Agree. Hell, it’s not even Trump I’m panicking about. He was an incompetent idiot in 2016 and he’s still an incompetent idiot. It’s the evil MFers behind Project 2025 that has me in a panic. ---
**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:** [June 28, 2024, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/28 "2024-06-28T18:37:00Z")
There’s a danger that Biden is going to have the same effect as RBG did, but on a bigger/worse scale. Ginsburg refused to step down and now SCOTUS has shifted hard-right as a result. Biden’s refusal to step aside could lead to the whole nation paying the price on Election Night. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2024, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/29 "2024-06-28T19:31:26Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > Biden’s refusal to step aside could lead to the whole nation paying the price on Election Night. Biden stepping aside will guarantee a Trump win. ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2024, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/30 "2024-06-28T19:36:56Z")
I’d vote Jimmy Carter (again) before I’d vote for Donald. Actually I’d never for Donald ever! I don’t care that Biden is old. I’ll give him grace and patience the dude had been cross crossing the globe tirelessly and bringing forth excellent policy while in office. His administration is strong. I hope he doesn’t step aside what a freaking disaster that would be. He may speak softly but he carried a big stick imo. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2024, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/31 "2024-06-28T19:37:45Z")
> [@Leo\_Krupe](#): > > IF you score the debate solely on style, then yes, Biden lost. Unfortunately, all too many people do that, but they’re wrong. All too many people…and a vast majority of media outlets. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Krupe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ebca7d/32.png) [@Leo\_Krupe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Krupe)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2024, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/32 "2024-06-28T19:57:01Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > All too many people…and a vast majority of media outlets. Which is why I fear the worst. If only there were a way for the public to be informed… Who am I kidding? They’d have to care first, and that simply takes too much work. ---
**Author:** ![spifflog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@spifflog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spifflog)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2024, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/33 "2024-06-28T20:00:16Z")
> [@Love\_Rhombus](#): > > Also if they draft Newsome, they must dump Harris as well, since they’re both California, right? They will have to. You can’t lose California is you want to win the election. ---
**Author:** ![spifflog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@spifflog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spifflog)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2024, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/34 "2024-06-28T20:08:15Z")
> [@Leo\_Krupe](#): > > IF you score the debate solely on style, then yes, Biden lost. Unfortunately, all too many people do that, but they’re wrong. IF you score the debate on substance, then Biden won (or at least, trump lost). I think you’re kidding yourself if you think Biden only lost on style. He showed himself incapable of remembering basic facts. Unable to think on his feet. Unable to hold a thought or make an argument. These are more that stylistic traits. These are basic cognitive assets. Telling yourself that the smartest among us will see past these inconsequential issues and focus on Joe-the-Better man is hopeful at best and foolish at worst. ---
**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:** [June 28, 2024, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/35 "2024-06-28T20:12:02Z")
> [@dolphinboy](#): > > Unless he does a 180 degree turn at the next debate, I think a lot of democrats will sit on the sidelines, which clearly isn’t good for Biden. Democrats might not be enthusiastic about voting for Biden, but they sure as Hell are enthusiastic about voting _against_ Trump. This election for Democrats far more about (felon, rapist, fraudster) Trump’s fitness for office than about (old) Biden’s. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2024, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/36 "2024-06-28T20:15:52Z")
And what facts did Trump remember _accurately?_ ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Krupe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ebca7d/32.png) [@Leo\_Krupe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Krupe)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2024, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/37 "2024-06-28T20:20:12Z")
> [@spifflog](#): > > Telling yourself that the smartest among us will see past these inconsequential issues and focus on Joe-the-Better man is hopeful at best and foolish at worst. What I’m saying, at least in part, is that a debate, and this one in particular, isn’t the end of the world. It hurts me that our country has fallen to the point where we no longer (if in fact we ever did) vote _for_ someone, but instead vote _against_ the other guy, but that’s the state we’re in. Realizing that, I’ll vote against trump no matter what. Because if Biden wins, and is awful in his second term, I feel confident that democracy in the US will survive. I’m not so sure about that if trump wins. ---
**Author:** ![WalterBishop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/aeb1de/32.png) [@WalterBishop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WalterBishop)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2024, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/38 "2024-06-28T20:35:26Z")
> [@Jumpbass](#): > > Yeah, Biden had a bad night at the debate. I get it. I had to turn it off after half an hour. I came here the next morning to see what I missed and found the place in an uproar. For a place that prides itself on cool intellect, there sure is a lot of hair on fire. With the greatest respect, I think you’re downplaying this a just little. Biden didn’t have a _bad_ performance. He had a disastrous one. It looked like elder abuse. He’s not fit for the job. Period. Hell, if last night was anything to go by, he probably hasn’t been _doing_ the job in any meaningful way for months, if not longer. Now, to be clear, I’d vote for Biden if he was on life support. But a lot of undecided voters probably aren’t going to feel that way. They might well feel that if neither candidate is fit for the job, they might as well pick the guy who _doesn’t_ look like he could be assassinated by someone creeping up behind him and setting off a firecracker. I dunno. Maybe you’re right and I’m just overreacting. I certainly hope so. But I honestly think a little panic is the most appropriate response to Biden’s performance. ---
**Author:** ![We\_re\_wolves\_not\_werewolves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@We\_re\_wolves\_not\_werewolves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/We_re_wolves_not_werewolves)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2024, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/39 "2024-06-28T20:35:43Z")
This is accurate. It was obvious something was SERIOUSLY wrong with Biden. He looked and sounded addled and confused. He appeared very very old. Was it just the “cold” he had? I don’t know, that explanation seems dubious. I guess we’ll see how he is in the next debate. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2024, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/40 "2024-06-28T20:45:50Z")
> [@Biotop](#): > > I would vote for Biden’s biting dog before I would vote for Trump. I’d vote for roadkill before Trump. Just saying. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447.md?page=3)