# 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:** 23
**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:** [July 2, 2024, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/441 "2024-07-02T04:16:21Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > His response is supposed to be to do something fascist? If Trump wins, then nothing else matters. If Biden drops out, then noone else can defeat Trump. If Biden can’t take even the mildest action when the Supreme Court says the president is above the law, then he can’t beat Trump either. I think I need to walk away from this thread. This is too depressing. ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2024, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/442 "2024-07-02T04:36:00Z")
Hmmmm, does that mean Biden can order a Seals 6 team to go whack certain Supremes? ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2024, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/443 "2024-07-02T04:37:52Z")
And one can argue which way the Supremes were going to go. HOWEVER, one should also be locked and loaded for the outcome one didn’t like. ---
**Author:** ![Tatterdemalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/43a26b/32.png) [@Tatterdemalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tatterdemalion)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2024, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/444 "2024-07-02T04:37:56Z")
Well someone needs to rid us of these turbulent pests. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2024, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/445 "2024-07-02T04:42:12Z")
Consider this: in 2016, Individual-ONE was comedy. The Republican convention was pathetic compared to the Democratic convention. We did not take him seriously (most of all, Ms Clinton failed to take him seriously enough). The idea of him being elected President was simply absurd.        Today, we _are_ taking him seriously. That is a major step forward. He is still as absurd as he was 8 years ago, but now we know the peril and are responding to it like it matters. It is not a given that he will get back to the WH, and a large number of us are working against that in a way that we were not last time.        Granted, there are people avidly working _for_ him as well, knowing that he stands a real chance. But those working against him are more motivated than ever. His debate performance did not produce a sudden increase in his popularity. People in general are not mad at Joe the President as much as they are mad at the system and the parties. We still have reason to hope. ---
**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:** [July 2, 2024, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/446 "2024-07-02T04:47:45Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > Consider this: in 2016, Individual-ONE was comedy. The Republican convention was pathetic compared to the Democratic convention. We did not take him seriously (most of all, Ms Clinton failed to take him seriously enough). The idea of him being elected President was simply absurd. When working with clowns, it is very important to know the difference between Bozo and The Joker. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2024, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/447 "2024-07-02T05:13:18Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > hen working with clowns, it is very important to know the difference between Bozo and The Joker. Or, if you want to be more current, what is the name, Pennywise? (The Joker, anyway, is not directly associated with sewers.) ---
**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:** [July 2, 2024, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/448 "2024-07-02T05:43:42Z")
> Lichtman has correctly predicted the outcome of almost every election over the last half century , except for the race in 2000, [using a series of 13 historical factors or “keys.”](https://www.yahoo.com/news/meet-allan-lichtman-professor-predicted-182250825.html) That’s impressive, especially considering that he was essentially right about 2000 as well. He could not have anticipated that the Supreme Court would present the election to Bush with a nice bow around it. But he hasn’t yet made his call for 2024. He’s wisely postponing his prediction until sometime in August. I’d feel a lot better if it weren’t for three things: - He’s not yet prepared to predict a Biden win and may be wrong if he does - Biden has been polling more poorly than in 2020 - Regardless of whether the Thursday debate was an important factor or not, it was a disaster and that can’t be good ---
**Author:** ![sciurophobic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cab0a1/32.png) [@sciurophobic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sciurophobic)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2024, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/449 "2024-07-02T06:28:04Z")
> [@Buck\_Godot](#): > > Bingo! And all of this panic about whether Biden is fit to run or should be replaced based on a bad night is generating a self-fulfilling prophesy and materially hurting his chances of being elected. Exactly. If the Democrats don’t believe in their candidate why should anybody else? ---
**Author:** ![TeroSunbear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terosunbear/32/14748_2.png) [@TeroSunbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TeroSunbear)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2024, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/450 "2024-07-02T12:05:45Z")
The polling in 2020 and now is not going to be the same situation. There was a lot of momentum to oust Trump. More people were willing to help and state their strong views. They answered polls. Now after basically 8 years of Trump politics the voters are completely worn out. They will still vote, but the participation overall is less. The independents especially don’t feel they need to do anything. “Not my fault” they will say after the election. ---
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2024, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/451 "2024-07-02T13:18:35Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > > [@Smapti](#): > > > > The president is no longer subject to the rule of law. > > A _Republican_ President, yes. > A _Democratic_ President-not so much. > Remember that SCOTUS gets to decide which are Official Acts and which are not. Yes, but things don’t progress instantly to the SCOTUS. By the time every “official act” is challenged and moves through the system, Biden will have been re-elected so it won’t matter. ---
**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:** [July 2, 2024, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/452 "2024-07-02T17:17:45Z")
First House Democrat publicly (as opposed to off-the-record talk) calls for Biden to step aside. Yes, he’s from a red state. [https://thehill.com/homenews/house/4751939-lloyd-doggett-biden-withdraw-presidential-race/](https://thehill.com/homenews/house/4751939-lloyd-doggett-biden-withdraw-presidential-race/) ---
**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:** [July 2, 2024, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/453 "2024-07-02T17:48:57Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > People also keep saying that they’d vote for Biden even if he’s in a coma, as long as he is able to breathe they’ll vote for him. Yes, I’ve seen countless comments on social media to that effect. I always reply, “Sure, YOU’LL crawl over broken glass and vote for coma Biden, but would the _average voter, centrist voter, or swing voter?_” I don’t know what fallacy this is called, but these people (diehard anti-Trump Democrats) seem to think that because **they’ll** vote for Biden, that all is peachy in the world and everything will be fine, as if their vote is the sole deciding factor in the election. It’s like narcissism or something. ---
**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:** [July 2, 2024, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/454 "2024-07-02T17:58:32Z")
And others think because _they_ would still vote for a different Democrat, who was chosen by some process other than primary elections, that a different Democrat would necessarily do better. Probably also “like narcissism or something”. ---
**Author:** ![bobsmom101](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobsmom101/32/2867_2.png) [@bobsmom101](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobsmom101)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2024, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/455 "2024-07-02T18:24:22Z")
Yes, who was it that said “The Republicans have no principles but the Democrats have no spines”? The Dems still barely control the Senate . Couldn’t Biden “officially” increase the size of the Supreme Court to 13 and ram through 4 new justices to undo what is happening to law in this country? ---
**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:** [July 2, 2024, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/456 "2024-07-02T18:25:50Z")
There’s no mechanism for that. Expanding the court takes legislation (i.e. House and Senate passing bills). There’s no executive way to accomplish it. ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2024, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/457 "2024-07-02T18:27:40Z")
While this is true, I do see this recent batch of decisions giving momentum to the Democrats stacking the court provided they win in November, hold the Senate and take back the House. But at the moment I’m not holding my breath for this to happen. ---
**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:** [July 2, 2024, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/458 "2024-07-02T18:31:47Z")
If the Democrats do get all three branches, expanding the court should definitely be one of the very first priorities. To get back to the “panic” discussion, I’m very worried but I’m not panicking. The election will be a decision by the American people. I think they’ll be paying more and more attention. And I think the Democrats will make it as clear as possible how dangerous Trump rule, with SCOTUS-granted immunity, will be. I expect the decision will be made based mostly on the actual stakes – do Americans really want a Royal presidency, with Trump as monarch? We, the American people, will get what we vote for. All we can do is the best we can. If it turns out the American people want Trump, then that’s what we’ll get. I think there’s a very good chance the American people don’t want Trump, largely speaking. We shall see. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2024, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/459 "2024-07-02T18:36:48Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > …the decision will be made based mostly on the actual stakes – do Americans really want a Royal presidency,… Hasn’t this part already happened? Is there some notion that somehow, 2025 President Biden will reverse it in a way that 2024 President Biden is not doing? ---
**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:** [July 2, 2024, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/460 "2024-07-02T18:41:53Z")
Democrats could reverse this by changing SCOTUS (i.e. legislative court packing) or passing a Constitutional amendment (very difficult but not impossible). Maybe there are other ways. Also, Biden has already committed to not acting as if this ruling is Constitutional (based on his speech last night). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447.md?page=22) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447.md?page=24)