# 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:** 43
**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 12, 2024, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/841 "2024-07-12T22:17:03Z")
> [@Great\_Antibob](#): > > > [@Loach](#): > > > > I don’t get the “And yet this.” > > There were doom and gloom predictions about how badly the debate would affect his chances and public sentiment (the very subject of this thread, in fact). It continues to dominate front pages for some reason. > > But in actuality, his standing among the general public has not tanked. At most, it may have shifted slightly. > > True, there may have been a small shift in how likely or not some people may get out to the polls and his level of support, but the idea that the campaign was irrevocably doomed (again, the sentiment the evening of the debate and going on even now on these interminable threads) is debunked. > > And yet, people continue to deny this as though there’s some kind of hidden majority of Americans who are afraid of expressing this opinion or that his debate performance represents a major shift in public opinion. That simply has not shown itself to be the case. At most, the debate may represent a softening of opinion and “Stop Panicking!” has shown itself to be better advice than “Hey, keep panicking!” I don’t know if there is a good way to spin that more than a third of your own party thinks you are mentally unfit to run the country. What do you think the percentage is among unengaged voters? ---
**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 12, 2024, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/842 "2024-07-12T22:31:11Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > I don’t know if there is a good way to spin that more than a third of your own party thinks you are mentally unfit to run the country. What do you think the percentage is among unengaged voters? > [@](#): > > Americans are overwhelmingly more concerned about a president who plays fast and loose with the facts than someone who is too old to serve. Nearly seven in ten Americans (68%) think it is more concerning if a president does not tell the truth. Nearly one in three (32%) think it is more concerning if someone is too old to serve. > **[Home of the Marist Poll | Polls, Analysis, Learning, and More](https://maristpoll.marist.edu/polls/contest-for-president-still-up-for-grabs/)** > > The Marist Institute for Public Opinion (MIPO) is a survey research center. MIPO is home to the Marist Poll and conducts polls on politics, the economy, sports, technology and more at the local, state, and national level. ---
**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 12, 2024, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/843 "2024-07-12T22:56:36Z")
Imagine having a candidate who neither habitually lies or was born in the ‘40s! If only that was an option! Ah well. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2024, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/844 "2024-07-12T23:07:43Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > I don’t know if there is a good way to spin that more than a third of your own party thinks you are mentally unfit to run the country. What do you think the percentage is among unengaged voters? I don’t know. Is a third high or low? There’s no basis for comparison. What were Obama’s numbers? No, seriously. That does sound high but I have no idea what the background level is. I suspect at least half of those would say the same about any President, but I have nothing to back that, either. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2024, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/845 "2024-07-12T23:08:16Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > The least effective way to stem panic? Yelling “stop panicking!” It didnt work for Kevin Bacon in Animal House that’s for sure. > [@DSeid](#): > > If only that was an option! Ah well. It was, but no one voted for them. The top two Dem candidates in 2020 were Biden and Sanders- who is older than Biden. Then Warren- 1949. Then Bloomberg- 1942. The only candidate to get any delegates who wasnt born in the 40s was Pete Buttigieg, who I like but who is not electable. All the younger ones dropped out. And the GOP primary just had trump 1946. Apparently the US electorate really, really likes omature, experienced candidates. ---
**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 12, 2024, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/846 "2024-07-12T23:43:40Z")
> [@Great\_Antibob](#): > > > [@Loach](#): > > > > I don’t know if there is a good way to spin that more than a third of your own party thinks you are mentally unfit to run the country. What do you think the percentage is among unengaged voters? > > I don’t know. Is a third high or low? There’s no basis for comparison. What were Obama’s numbers? > > No, seriously. That does sound high but I have no idea what the background level is. I suspect at least half of those would say the same about any President, but I have nothing to back that, either. You really think that or are you trying to be contrary? The question wasn’t “Doing a bad job” or “not a good president” it was if the president is mentally unfit for the job. That’s not a question that has come up since 2nd term Reagan and he wasn’t trying to be re-elected. Plenty of people didn’t like Obama. No one thought there was something wrong with his brain. ---
**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 12, 2024, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/847 "2024-07-12T23:49:58Z")
Or put it this way: it’s higher than the number who think there is something wrong with Trump’s brain! And there clearly is something wrong there. ---
**Author:** ![Sylvanz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Sylvanz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sylvanz)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2024, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/848 "2024-07-12T23:53:36Z")
I don’t know, I’m not panicking, and I don’t think anyone else in the Biden stays camp is either. For my part, I’m a bit disgusted. Biden has been a very good President. He had an awful debate and the vultures could not wait to descend on him, and he was not carrion. However, tptb decided to beat the Biden should pull out of the race drum or even (and this gobsmacks me every time someone brings it up) _ **resign…** _ Many posters here on the dope did panic and proclaimed us “doomed.” I will not definitively claim we’ll lose if Biden drops out, but I _think_ it’s more likely than not. ---
**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 12, 2024, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/849 "2024-07-12T23:59:27Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > Or put it this way: it’s higher than the number who think there is something wrong with Trump’s brain! And there clearly is something wrong there. Trump established a baseline so low that it’s hard to tell if he declined. ---
**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 13, 2024, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/850 "2024-07-13T00:37:10Z")
> > ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2024, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/851 "2024-07-13T01:06:12Z")
I heard some of Biden’s Michigan campaign rally while driving earlier. He was in excellent form – and I don’t mean “_if grading on a curve for the elderly_”. If you’re still supporting Biden, you will want to catch at least some of his talk on video – it will be heartening. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2024, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/852 "2024-07-13T02:08:04Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > You really think that or are you trying to be contrary? The question wasn’t “Doing a bad job” or “not a good president” it was if the president is mentally unfit for the job. No, I’m being honest about not really knowing and wanting to. I would like to know what baseline would say the same about any President. I highly suspect lower than a third but I don’t know what the floor actually is. If it’s 1/4, then Biden’s not doing that bad all things considered. If it’s 1/10, then yowch! Just as I highly suspect it’s lower than a third, I highly suspect it’s well above 5%, and possibly considerably higher. But ultimately, those are guesses based on personal opinion and experience with no hard numbers to back them. > [@Loach](#): > > Plenty of people didn’t like Obama. No one thought there was something wrong with his brain. I highly suspect it would not literally be “no one” who thought such a thing, even among Democrats. It’s just human nature. You take a poll and some distinct minority of people will answer nonsensically. Sometimes to be contrary, sometimes because people are disgustingly uninformed, and a lot of the time because people are just dumb. ---
**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 13, 2024, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/853 "2024-07-13T02:26:05Z")
Well if you want to staunch the panic consistently performing like he just did is your best tactic. (Not demanding detractors to shut up.) Fingers crossed he can keep it up, consistently. I’d love me some President Harris but a Biden _that can deliver_ would be preferred. And if the controversy ends up having delivered the eyeballs, tuned in to see him flail, but seeing him deliver the goods, all the better. I for one am staying tuned!!! ---
**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 13, 2024, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/854 "2024-07-13T03:45:09Z")
No matter how Biden performs in public, he is not getting the youth vote excited to turn out. And any other candidate, even Harris, would not have the same level of baggage warrant Israel/Palestine. And the Palestinian-American vote in Michigan could cost Biden the state, and then the path to 270 electoral votes is exponentially more difficult. Any other “leading” dem candidate would at least inject some excitement into this race. Stop it being only about the anti-trump. And as soon as someone two or three decades younger is the candidate, they flip the trump attack machine 180 degrees on Biden being too old/unfit. ---
**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 13, 2024, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/855 "2024-07-13T04:19:23Z")
> [@China\_Guy](#): > > Any other “leading” dem candidate would at least inject some excitement into this race. When you work out how to travel back in time to spring 2023 and convince someone “exciting” enough for your tastes to enter the primary, let us know. Until then Biden is and will be the nominee. > [@China\_Guy](#): > > And as soon as someone two or three decades younger is the candidate, they flip the trump attack machine 180 degrees on Biden being too old/unfit. And they flip it to the new candidate being too young and inexperienced compared to a former president under whose administration everything was the greatest it’s ever been. Seriously, the idea that the entire MAGA apparatus would be completely stupefied and powerless to campaign against a younger candidate baffles me. ---
**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 13, 2024, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/856 "2024-07-13T05:36:35Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > When you work out how to travel back in time to spring 2023 and convince someone “exciting” enough for your tastes to enter the primary, let us know. Until then Biden is and will be the nominee. Okay, well, I hope that line sounds comforting when mouthed over and over again on Election Night when Trump is announced as having reached 270 electoral votes. I’m not saying that to be snarky - I’m just saying - you can say this over and over again and “own” the anti-Biden side of the left wing, but what good does it do if it doesn’t own the Trump wing? ---
**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 13, 2024, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/857 "2024-07-13T05:38:05Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > Okay, well, I hope that line sounds comforting when mouthed over and over again on Election Night when Trump is announced as having reached 270 electoral votes. “When”? ---
**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 13, 2024, 10:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/858 "2024-07-13T10:00:13Z")
What good is replacing him if it doesn’t beat Trump? Face it: we don’t know what’s going to happen, and we don’t know who would be the strongest candidate. We can only guess. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2024, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/859 "2024-07-13T12:17:08Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Face it: we don’t know what’s going to happen, and we don’t know who would be the strongest candidate. We can only guess. Exactly. I think he’s figured out how to do damage control, and how to take the conversation back. At this point, I hope mainstream news cites start giving more critical coverage to Trump’s campaign, and examine his mental health with the same interest that they’ve given to Biden’s, and start interviewing Republicans who have serious doubts about whether Trump has the wherewithal to run the country. ---
**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 13, 2024, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/860 "2024-07-13T13:47:16Z")
If Biden loses PA and GA, he gets 270 and Trump gets 268. But yes, it will be close. Close enough to steal. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447.md?page=42) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447.md?page=44)