# 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:** 38
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2024, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/741 "2024-07-10T17:03:00Z")
> [@Akaj](#): > > If he can’ t practice and memorize 39 words, he should drop out of the race . Exactly. ---
**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 10, 2024, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/742 "2024-07-10T17:09:29Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > > [@Akaj](#): > > > > If he can’ t practice and memorize 39 words, he should drop out of the race . > > Exactly. . Yes to both of you on all that. Biden’s people have said he won’t schedule any events after 8pm. That means no prime-time live debates. It’s been 13 days since the disastrous debate. Biden has had all those days to erase memories of those images, as much as is possible, by scheduling live, unscripted, lengthy (at least one hour), unedited performances in which he shows he can think on his feet, be coherent, and look strong. So much is at stake. Why hasn’t he done any of this? ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2024, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/743 "2024-07-10T17:14:05Z")
_Whatever must happen ultimately should happen immediately._ In this case, I think Biden drops out within the next 10 days. (Modified from my original prediction that would happen later.) ---
**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 10, 2024, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/744 "2024-07-10T17:17:33Z")
During the GOP convention would be _chef’s kiss_ ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2024, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/745 "2024-07-10T17:19:32Z")
I tend to agree. Steal the headlines. ---
**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 10, 2024, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/746 "2024-07-10T18:25:06Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > Biden’s people have said he won’t schedule any events after 8pm. That means no prime-time live debates. 6 pm in California = 9 pm in New York. Record the next debate from Arizona or Nevada while he’s campaigning there. If his commitments haven’t already ensured a later time and location on the east coast, in which case he’s already stuck with that, anyway. ---
**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 10, 2024, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/747 "2024-07-10T18:40:09Z")
Ya know, it was pretty clear to me that Biden was talking about his daily schedule having a firm cut off and not that he would do absolutely nothing after 9pm ever. ---
**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 10, 2024, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/748 "2024-07-10T18:46:28Z")
> [@Dr.Drake](#): > > > [@Sherrerd](#): > > > > Biden’s people have said he won’t schedule any events after 8pm. That means no prime-time live debates. > > 6 pm in California = 9 pm in New York. Record the next debate from Arizona or Nevada while he’s campaigning there. If his commitments haven’t already ensured a later time and location on the east coast, in which case he’s already stuck with that, anyway. Nope they have already said he takes weeks to recover from jet lag ---
**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 10, 2024, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/749 "2024-07-10T18:49:27Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > Nope they have already said he takes weeks to recover from jet lag True. And also: 6pm Pacific Time is still 9pm on Biden’s time, given that he lives in Washington, D.C. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2024, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/750 "2024-07-10T18:56:53Z")
> [@Dr.Drake](#): > > 6 pm in California = 9 pm in New York. Record the next debate from Arizona or Nevada while he’s campaigning there. If his commitments haven’t already ensured a later time and location on the east coast, in which case he’s already stuck with that, anyway. Give him a two week vacation in Hawaii before the debate. Maybe the family can hang out with the Obamas. Then the debate is at 3 PM HST, 9 PM EDT. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2024, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/751 "2024-07-10T18:58:21Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > Now, if the Dems did convince Biden to step down for the good of the country (how? ), then the strategy could shift to looking to energize the dissatisfied voters and turn the age argument against Trump. But who will that be? See, everyone has a different idea of who it will be- and no one choice will make everyone happy. And those not happy will complain about the selection process- “smoke filled rooms” “DNC calling the shots” etc. I thus challenge every poster here who says “Biden should go!” to list their preferred choice- and I bet there will be nothing like a consensus. > [@Procrustus](#): > > Whatever must happen ultimately should happen immediately. The longer we wait, the less time the Hate machine has to make up and post lies. Who do YOU want? ---
**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 10, 2024, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/752 "2024-07-10T19:00:13Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > I bet there will be nothing like a consensus. Add to that that non-consensus will have nothing to do with who might actually be electable. ---
**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 10, 2024, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/753 "2024-07-10T19:04:53Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > I thus challenge every poster here who says “Biden should go!” to list their preferred choice- and I bet there will be nothing like a consensus. Harris. And plenty of others have already said she’s the only logical choice. ---
**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 10, 2024, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/754 "2024-07-10T20:48:27Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > I thus challenge every poster here who says “Biden should go!” to list their preferred choice- and I bet there will be nothing like a consensus. Harris. She is the only one with access to the Biden/Harris war chest. ---
**Author:** ![Thing.Fish](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thing.fish/32/9168_2.png) [@Thing.Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing.Fish)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2024, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/755 "2024-07-10T20:51:56Z")
Yeah, my impression is that everyone has kind of come around to the view that Harris is the only logical alternative. Not a huge Harris fan personally but I agree with that assessment. ---
**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 10, 2024, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/756 "2024-07-10T21:15:57Z")
> [@Thing.Fish](#): > > Yeah, my impression is that everyone has kind of come around to the view that Harris is the only logical alternative. Not a huge Harris fan personally but I agree with that assessment. Yep it’s either Biden or Harris. I think it’s an outside chance Biden steps aside but if he does I don’t see any serious fight for the nomination. Anyone who would be in contention (Newsome, Widmer etc) would not fracture the party at this late a date. They are too smart for that. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2024, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/757 "2024-07-10T21:56:16Z")
Democrats need to stop fighting Biden and start fighting Trump. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2024, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/758 "2024-07-10T22:31:59Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > Democrats need to stop fighting Biden and start fighting Trump. Biden ran a lot of swing state TV ads attacking Trump in the month or so leading up to the debate. They did not move the polling needle. That was unsurprising, because campaigning usually does not work: [A massive new [2017] study reviews the evidence on whether campaigning works. The answer’s bleak.](https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/9/28/16367580/campaigning-doesnt-work-general-election-study-kalla-broockman) > [@](#): > > Campaigns spend millions of dollars during general elections on canvassing; phone banking; advertising on TV, radio, and the internet; and other efforts designed to win over undecided voters and supporters of the opposing candidate. The new study’s authors, UC Berkeley political scientist Joshua Kalla and Stanford professor David Broockman, conclude that essentially no one targeted is persuaded. Trump got a modest bump in polls after essentially winning the debate. I see no evidence that criticizing Biden for not dropping out has magnified this. With a Biden-Trump race, the campaigning-doesn’t-work meme is even more likely true than normally, because almost everyone has made up their minds about those guys. Events may move the needle. I think Trump going to jail might have. But “fighting Trump,” while a pleasant activity on this board, will not. ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2024, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/759 "2024-07-10T22:59:13Z")
The trouble with Democrats is most of us do not feel comfortable outright lying, while it seems Republicans do not mind. So when something very uncomfortable comes along about our candidate (i.e. too old to be an effective communicator), we cannot simply lie and say that is not so. When a Republican candidate fosters an insurrection, mishandles a pandemic, runs a crooked charity, supports foreign dictators over our allies, sexually assaults individuals, insults our service members, grifts at every opportunity, lies and lies and so on, Republicans are content to lie to others and themselves to cover it up. ---
**Author:** ![XOldiesJock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/ec9cab/32.png) [@XOldiesJock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XOldiesJock)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2024, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/760 "2024-07-11T00:21:31Z")
> [@Biotop](#): > > _The trouble with Democrats is most of us do not feel comfortable outright lying, while it seems Republicans do not mind._ Exactly! I’ve said for at least 25 years that Democrats needed to grow a spine and stop acting like the Queensbury Rules of conduct were being observed by the Republicans. They are not! **(Definition:** **Gentlemanly or polite conduct, especially in a dispute.** ) Ever since Newt Gingrich, Karl Rove, Faux News and Rush Limbaugh, any pretense of respect for your opposition and fair play have gone out the window. Michelle Obama famously said “When they go low, we go high.” That’s a lofty and incredibly naive aspiration when your political adversaries have no qualms about out and out lying. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447.md?page=37) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447.md?page=39)