# What is Biden doing? What should he? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [April 3, 2020, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-biden-doing-what-should-he/850977 "2020-04-03T17:45:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2020, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-biden-doing-what-should-he/850977/1 "2020-04-03T17:45:30Z")
I understand and respect that the current crisis is resulting in a suspension of many partisan electoral activities, but I’m impressed at how low of a profile Biden (and Sanders) have maintained over the past couple of weeks. Not to minimize the severity of coronavirus, but 4 more years of Trump is also something horrible that all right-thinking individuals (IMO) ought to desire to prevent. I’ve seen surveys maintaining that Trump’s ratings have been going up. And I could imagine many people voting for him just for reasons of “not changing horses in midstream.” I can imagine a challenge of not wishing to appear as tho one is politicizing the situation, but wouldn’t there be some positive things Biden could do/propose? Ways to keep his name/message in the news? ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2020, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-biden-doing-what-should-he/850977/2 "2020-04-03T18:25:41Z")
If I was to advise Biden it would be to keep doing remote television interviews and point out what Donald is doing wrong. In the interviews state what he thinks should be done and why it would be better. Huddle with advisors and talk strategy, make calls to Democratic leaders. Cut some ads for the fall. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2020, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-biden-doing-what-should-he/850977/3 "2020-04-03T18:43:04Z")
I’m surprised that his efforts are not drawing more press. And I would think he could take other action encouraging responsible behavior, supporting various activities, proposing policy, etc. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2020, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-biden-doing-what-should-he/850977/4 "2020-04-03T19:08:37Z")
What more kind of action to encourage responsible behavior do you expect? He can criticize Trump but he can’t act like the government in waiting. Sanders wasn’t trying to keep a low profile. He tried to make some hay of this. He’s done a bunch of interviews over the last couple weeks and put out a couple videos on pandemic. His low profile in the news has been thrust upon him. Biden has to keep his name out there but he’s not wasting energy fighting the news cycle. He’s already sewed up the nomination, so it’s smart for him to not waste energy until closer to the election. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2020, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-biden-doing-what-should-he/850977/5 "2020-04-03T19:51:08Z")
Biden’s in a tough spot. Maybe he could do virtual events that include entertainers and public health messaging from experts. Sort of an online show with links how to help. The public could get some entertainment while home bound and reliable public health info and he could raise his profile. ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2020, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-biden-doing-what-should-he/850977/6 "2020-04-03T21:41:26Z")
Just so long as he’s not doing live broadcasts where it’s so painfully obvious how far into dementia he has sunk. ---
**Author:** ![MortSahlFan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@MortSahlFan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MortSahlFan)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2020, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-biden-doing-what-should-he/850977/7 "2020-04-03T21:47:26Z")
> [@Projammer](#): > > Just so long as he’s not doing live broadcasts where it’s so painfully obvious how far into dementia he has sunk. That’s exactly why he hasn’t done more. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2020, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-biden-doing-what-should-he/850977/8 "2020-04-03T22:15:54Z")
> [@Projammer](#): > > Just so long as he’s not doing live broadcasts where it’s so painfully obvious how far into dementia he has sunk. It never stopped Trump. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2020, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-biden-doing-what-should-he/850977/9 "2020-04-03T22:22:00Z")
Biden has probably been struggling to turn on his webcam. He’ll get it, patience, the youngsters can’t visit right now. When he gets it on, if the picture is upside down, just roll with it. ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2020, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-biden-doing-what-should-he/850977/10 "2020-04-03T22:27:26Z")
If I were a conspiracy theorist sort I would think this was actually a plan to get a woman into the oval office. Get Biden elected with a female VP. Let him sit behind the desk for 6 months to a year and then 25th amendment his ass into retirement. ---
**Author:** ![Boycott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boycott/32/6741_2.png) [@Boycott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boycott)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2020, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-biden-doing-what-should-he/850977/11 "2020-04-03T23:06:14Z")
He literally did the media round in the last week. CNN Town Hall with Anderson Cooper > **[5 takeaways from Joe Biden's CNN town hall on the coronavirus response | CNN...](https://edition.cnn.com/2020/03/27/politics/cnn-town-hall-takeaways-joe-biden/index.html)** > > Joe Biden during a CNN town hall Friday night detailed how he'd respond to the coronavirus pandemic. MSNBC > **[Biden: Trump needs to use the Defense Production Act 'much more aggressively'](https://www.msnbc.com/katy-tur/watch/biden-trump-needs-to-use-the-defense-production-act-much-more-aggressively-81387589736)** > > MSNBC’s Yasmin Vossoughian is joined by Presidential Candidate and Former Vice President Joe Biden to discuss the latest on the Coronavirus crisis in the United States. MSNBC with Brian Williams [https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/msnbc/The-11th-hour-with-brian-williams/e/68488026](https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/msnbc/The-11th-hour-with-brian-williams/e/68488026) The View > **[Joe Biden Blasts Trump on ‘The View’: We Can’t Just ‘Let People Die’](https://www.thedailybeast.com/joe-biden-blasts-trumps-coronavirus-response-on-the-view-we-cant-just-let-people-die)** > > Appearing on “The View” from his Delaware basement, the ex-veep told Americans they should be listening to Dr. Fauci, not Donald Trump. Jimmy Kimmel A virtual round table event with “nurses, firefighters, and medical technicians” https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=0&width=0&href=https://www.facebook.com/joebiden/videos/join-me-and-the-hardworking-folks-on-the-frontlines-of-the-covid-19-outbreak-for/677818786383177/ Episode 1 of his own podcast with Ron Klein (the guy who led the Obama administration response team during the Ebola outbreak) [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/heres-the-deal/id1505238447](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/heres-the-deal/id1505238447) ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2020, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-biden-doing-what-should-he/850977/12 "2020-04-04T01:14:30Z")
Get out of here with your facts, you are ruining the entire senile narrative they are so carefully trying to craft. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2020, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-biden-doing-what-should-he/850977/13 "2020-04-04T11:33:51Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > What more kind of action to encourage responsible behavior do you expect? … Honestly, I dunno. And I admit, I’m suffering from some news fatigue at this point. Most of what I read is here an the local rag - and despite the TONS of blather in the Chicago Trib, I haven’t seen Biden’s name/pic in some time. All the while I’m hearing of Trump’s rating improving. Just worried about the reaction by undecided (and stupid) voters. ---
**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:** [April 4, 2020, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-biden-doing-what-should-he/850977/14 "2020-04-04T22:49:27Z")
Biden needs to look presidential versus the daily pravda briefing from the white house. I hope he is really 1. socially distancing 2. working the donors for a war chest 3. zeroing in on the right woman as his Veep choice. I still say that he should get a serving General rank military person. If you have a star, you know how to lead, manage bureaucracies, have successfully played politics, and likely don’t have skeletons in the closet. Plus, at least the top military, has to hate president bone spurs. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2020, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-biden-doing-what-should-he/850977/15 "2020-04-04T23:34:37Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > Honestly, I dunno. And I admit, I’m suffering from some news fatigue at this point. Most of what I read is here an the local rag - and despite the TONS of blather in the Chicago Trib, I haven’t seen Biden’s name/pic in some time. All the while I’m hearing of Trump’s rating improving. Just worried about the reaction by undecided (and stupid) voters. Criticism of specific stupid stuff Trump says is pretty safe. But making big sweeping statements about the future is dangerous. Right now Trump has to do that both by circumstances and personality. Biden would be nuts to stick his head out overmuch right now. It’s all downside. ---
**Author:** ![Lamoral](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lamoral/32/16078_2.png) [@Lamoral](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamoral)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2020, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-biden-doing-what-should-he/850977/16 "2020-04-04T23:49:27Z")
Biden’s declaration that he would choose a woman for VP - which I believe he made impulsively and under the pressure of the moderator’s question during the debate - was very stupid IMO. Because now he has a situation where the coming months are going to reveal several governors whose handling of Coronavirus will stand out as being exemplary as compared to the others, and whichever of them stand out as being the most admirable will be an outstanding choice for Biden’s VP, but will be ineligible because they’re not women. Biden locked himself into this situation very foolishly. ---
**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:** [April 5, 2020, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-biden-doing-what-should-he/850977/17 "2020-04-05T00:00:33Z")
> [@Lamoral](#): > > Biden’s declaration that he would choose a woman for VP - which I believe he made impulsively and under the pressure of the moderator’s question during the debate - was very stupid IMO. Because now he has a situation where the coming months are going to reveal several governors whose handling of Coronavirus will stand out as being exemplary as compared to the others, and whichever of them stand out as being the most admirable will be an outstanding choice for Biden’s VP, but will be ineligible because they’re not women. Biden locked himself into this situation very foolishly. There’s no chance that was impulsive, IMO. That was planned in advance, to make sure the headlines following the debate were about his VP promise, not about anything else (like maybe that he isn’t a very sharp debater). I think it was actually brilliant political strategy, as much as I don’t really like Biden. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2020, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-biden-doing-what-should-he/850977/18 "2020-04-05T00:18:19Z")
Look, I’ve been saying that so long as the economy is good and we don’t get into a major war or other catastrophe, Trump will look like a genius (ok, maybe idiot savant) and get reelected. Clearly that ship has sailed. Right now it doesn’t really matter what Biden does. And in fact, he should be keeping a low profile IMHO, lest he look like he is trying to politicize the current situation. What will ultimately matter is where we are as a country in November (hopefully once the virus situation has passed). If it’s still a shit-show, I’m guessing that only Trump’s base will still vote for him. If everything is more or less back to normal, Trump is going to look like fucking Churchill. ---
**Author:** ![poweroftheglory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/919ad9/32.png) [@poweroftheglory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/poweroftheglory)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2020, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-biden-doing-what-should-he/850977/19 "2020-04-05T02:48:26Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > Look, I’ve been saying that so long as the economy is good and we don’t get into a major war or other catastrophe, Trump will look like a genius (ok, maybe idiot savant) and get reelected. Clearly that ship has sailed. > > Right now it doesn’t really matter what Biden does. And in fact, he should be keeping a low profile IMHO, lest he look like he is trying to politicize the current situation. What will ultimately matter is where we are as a country in November (hopefully once the virus situation has passed). If it’s still a shit-show, I’m guessing that only Trump’s base will still vote for him. If everything is more or less back to normal, Trump is going to look like fucking Churchill. This seems dangerously naive. Biden really needs to make the case on how he will improve the lives of most Americans if he is elected. If the choice is between fascism and “better things aren’t possible” do no be surprised if fascists win regardless of how bad the country is doing