# 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:** 9
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2024, 7:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/161 "2024-06-29T07:51:10Z")
Yes, because suppressing the truth on the SDMB in a thread in the politics forum specifically on the debates is likely to swing the vote. The people in the politics forum on this board have no idea what’s going on - if we didn’t tell them, they’d have no way of knowing Joe Biden slept through a debate. But sure, let’s deny reality and shut up and always defend our guy no matter what and never say anything critical of our party because that’s what upstanding intellectually honest and responsible citizens do. Oh wait, no, that’s what blind partisans do. I’m not going to eagerly be telling everyone I know how badly Joe Biden did, but ffs if we can’t discuss it on a politics forum on the SDMB, you’re just advocating blanket denial of reality on this one. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2024, 11:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/162 "2024-06-29T11:30:13Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > When a former president, or presidential nominee, or the head of the DNC, or a respected senior senator or governor starts saying so, then I’ll listen So people who are paid to have an opinion on TV? And the candidates are just part of the team. They’re the racehorses, not the trainers. If you want the facts, talk to the trainers. ---
**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 29, 2024, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/163 "2024-06-29T12:05:59Z")
“Hey? Any of you want to be the Democrat party’s equivalent of Adam Kinzinger or Liz Cheney?? Anybody???” ---
**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:** [June 29, 2024, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/164 "2024-06-29T12:15:54Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > I haven’t heard anyone “in positions of power” say Biden needs to drop out - just people who get paid to have opinions on TV and people on this message board. [https://thehill.com/homenews/house/4746859-house-democrats-biden-presidential-ticket-debate/](https://thehill.com/homenews/house/4746859-house-democrats-biden-presidential-ticket-debate/) Also, as has been mentioned numerous times, this stuff isn’t discussed openly until it’s discussed privately. You and I don’t really know what conversations are happening behind closed doors. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2024, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/165 "2024-06-29T12:16:27Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > I would further implore anyone who thinks Biden’s lost a step to watch his speech from today; Anyone who has had family with early dementia knows that there are many days of clear lucidity and untroubling behavior. It doesn’t change the fact that the problematic affect is manifesting in other moments and is progressively getting worse. There is more evidence coming out about Biden that is problematic. The long Wall Street Journal story about this very topic. The Hur report. And now this. And I’m starting to believe that this goes way past Biden not being fit to run. I believe he needs to resign immediately and if he doesn’t the Cabinet would be grossly negligent if they didn’t invoke the 25th Amendment. ---
**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:** [June 29, 2024, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/166 "2024-06-29T12:24:33Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > All the more reason to stop being Place #501, isn’t it? This says everything about your motivation. You’d rather cheerlead for the president then actually discuss anything (or let anyone else do so without repeatedly comparing us to gullible wrestling marks). ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2024, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/167 "2024-06-29T13:34:51Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > but those people all live in states that will go to Trump even if Jesus Christ Himself ran as a Democrat. but those people all live in states that will go to Trump even if Jesus Christ Himself ran as a **Republican**. ---
**Author:** ![Tfletch1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tfletch1/32/5340_2.png) [@Tfletch1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tfletch1)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2024, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/168 "2024-06-29T13:43:57Z")
Okay, this post makes me feel a little better. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2024, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/169 "2024-06-29T13:47:48Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > I would further implore anyone who thinks Biden’s lost a step to watch his speech from today; This was very heartening to see. But the problem with politics today is that only Biden voters will see it. 50% of the electorate gets their news filtered, and never sees anything that reflects well for Biden or badly for Trump. ---
**Author:** ![sciurophobic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cab0a1/32.png) [@sciurophobic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sciurophobic)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2024, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/170 "2024-06-29T14:01:28Z")
If Trump won the debate by gish galloping and evading the questions asked then maybe debates are a stupid way to determine a candidate’s fitness to be President. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2024, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/171 "2024-06-29T14:09:53Z")
Regarding the cold excuse from the anti-panic crowd, here are the symptoms per the [Mayo Clinic](https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/common-cold/symptoms-causes/syc-20351605) > [@](#): > > - Runny or stuffy nose. > - Sore or scratchy throat. > - Cough. > - Sneezing. > - Generally feeling unwell. > - Slight body aches or a mild headache. > - Low-grade fever. I will not diagnose Joe Biden. But we can exclude the common cold as an explanation for observed behavior. ---
**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:** [June 29, 2024, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/172 "2024-06-29T14:39:33Z")
I don’t know what is or isn’t wrong with Biden, but even if it IS just a cold, there are still serious and reasonable concerns because of his age and general frailty. Remove Trump from consideration for a second, remove the desire for Biden’s re-election and look at him as a person: we are asking a lot of an elder. He has to be president and campaign for president under abnormal circumstances and intense scrutiny. That’s going to be very hard on his body, and no matter what you want, he’s just a person. I don’t think the debate performance was normal or typical for him, but I doubt if it’s a one-off, either. I really recommend everyone spend some time with octogenarians to get a realistic assessment of what we’re asking of him. ---
**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:** [June 29, 2024, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/173 "2024-06-29T14:56:53Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > When fashion dictates that I wear something around my neck, I wear an ascot tucked into my shirt with the collar undone. I don’t know a lot but I do know no one will be elected president while wearing an ascot. I’m listening to real people in the real world people like my in laws who are in their 70s and lifelong democrats. People like my wife’s aunt and uncle who are lifelong democrats and hooked into the NJ democrat machine. People my age who are never Trumpers and democrats. All are people who watched the debate and are sickened. They aren’t just questioning if Biden can win, they are questioning whether he should be president now. It’s not something that can easily be overcome even with a good showing in another debate. It’s been typical around here to ignore any signs that there is a problem with Biden. It’s been going on for awhile but some don’t want to see it. This will be a very hard obstacle to overcome. Maybe impossible. ---
**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:** [June 29, 2024, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/174 "2024-06-29T14:58:43Z")
Let me put this in terms that Dopers understand. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/Xe5OynLQbJc/hqdefault.jpg "Looks tired") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xe5OynLQbJc) ---
**Author:** ![Banquet\_Bear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banquet_bear/32/373_2.png) [@Banquet\_Bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banquet_Bear)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2024, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/175 "2024-06-29T15:09:01Z")
…I can’t help but think of the _terrible_ way Dianne Feinstein was treated right up until death. I’m pretty sure they will “Weekend at Bernies” with Biden if they have too. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2024, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/176 "2024-06-29T16:30:00Z")
> [@Mr.Moto](#): > > The Hur report. Ah, are we taking this as unbiased gospel now? ---
**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:** [June 29, 2024, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/177 "2024-06-29T17:34:08Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > I will not diagnose Joe Biden. But we can exclude the common cold as an explanation for observed behavior. I don’t know why people keep saying this. I shared this in another thread, but bad colds make me a hot mess—spacey, airheaded, sometimes struggling to complete a sentence or find a word. Cold meds make that effect even worse. Not so for my wife. Why? I don’t know. But I think the debate performance was a combination of his head being in a fog because of his cold, cold meds, difficulty breathing, the age-normal impact on cognition (i.e., NOT dementia), and his stutter. Do I know this for sure? No. But I know he looked much more clearheaded and articulate at the next-morning rally, though he was still clearly fighting the ass end of a cold. It is malpractice that they proceeded with the debate. This is now the cue for “but that was a teleprompter in front of a friendly crowd.” Of course. It is a circumstance that does not exacerbate the symptoms. That’s my point. There is no viable Plan B. We’ve got to dance with who brung us. And I am cautiously optimistic that this was just a shitty night, and the next four months, as Trump is sentenced and his criminal trials progress, and the Democratic machine launches a full court press of assault ads, surrogates stumping, and positive Uncle Joe appearances that the debate—which, yes, was really bad for the war effort—will diminish to trivial importance. Man, for a doddering husk of a man, he sure got a lot done in his first term. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2024, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/178 "2024-06-29T18:18:08Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > Ah, are we taking this as unbiased gospel now? On the subject of whether to charge him with mishandling classified documents, sure. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2024, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/179 "2024-06-29T18:49:11Z")
> [@Dr.Drake](#): > > Re: “Stop Panicking!” > > With due respect, no. Depending on the outcome, I will stop panicking when results appear in November, and if it goes to Trump, I will continue to panic until his demise. ⁢ And that’s a problem. It means you are allowing fear to be in drivers’ seat, which inherently impairs judgement. It leads to rash decisions that don’t consider the consequences. So people are much less likely to think you have a valid point if you are panicking. And they know it will be nearly impossible to convince you that you’re wrong, because that’s how panic works, so you’ll be ignored. I say you have to try not to panic, to think rationally, and do what needs to be done. Use the panic energy to accomplish something that actually has a chance of happening. ---
**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:** [June 29, 2024, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/180 "2024-06-29T18:51:44Z")
The Washington Post editorial board has a much more nuanced and much less panicked take on Thursday’s debate than the NYT and others. > **[Opinion | How Biden and the Democrats should think through what to do now](https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/06/28/biden-debate-democrats-convention-dropout/?pwapi_token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJyZWFzb24iOiJnaWZ0IiwibmJmIjoxNzE5NTQ3MjAwLCJpc3MiOiJzdWJzY3JpcHRpb25zIiwiZXhwIjoxNzIwOTI5NTk5LCJpYXQiOjE3MTk1NDcyMDAsImp0aSI6IjM3Y2JjOTJjLWIyNzQtNGQwNi04ZDcxLWZjZmI3M2NhNDJkOCIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lndhc2hpbmd0b25wb3N0LmNvbS9vcGluaW9ucy8yMDI0LzA2LzI4L2JpZGVuLWRlYmF0ZS1kZW1vY3JhdHMtY29udmVudGlvbi1kcm9wb3V0LyJ9.GPdUzLrWll9fB79uVmJzJKhniNskZNXF5Qdqlpx6fEY&itid=gfta)** > > The president choosing to step aside would not guarantee victory for his party in November. It didn’t appear to be paywalled but my apologies if it is. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447.md?page=10)