# Who's to blame if Biden loses? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [May 7, 2024, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-to-blame-if-biden-loses/1001233 "2024-05-07T18:41:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2024, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-to-blame-if-biden-loses/1001233/219 "2024-05-09T19:23:38Z")
> [@On another topic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1001913/18): > > This is the thinking: Sad part is if you rewrote this about Trump, you’d get 95% approval from the Dope and replies of “Exactly. Deplorable MAGAs” ---
**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:** [May 9, 2024, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-to-blame-if-biden-loses/1001233/220 "2024-05-09T19:23:50Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > So what’s the solution? Not vote for a third party candidate I believe is the best candidate so I can sheep and vote for one of the Big 2 that I disagree with? Well, since one of those “Big 2” is going to be President it seems kinda obvious… ---
**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:** [May 9, 2024, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-to-blame-if-biden-loses/1001233/221 "2024-05-09T19:25:30Z")
Again, if you’re a salesman, you have to accommodate your customers. Even if you think your customers are ignorant or uneducated, you have to accommodate them or else you won’t sell anything. Blaming or criticizing your customers won’t net you a sale. Politics is salesmanship, just of a different product. You can think the voters are ignorant or dumb, but if you don’t tailor message to appeal to them, they won’t vote for you. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2024, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-to-blame-if-biden-loses/1001233/222 "2024-05-09T19:26:06Z")
> [@crowmanyclouds](#): > > Well, since one of those “Big 2” is going to be President it seems kinda obvious… So forget voting my conscious? No one here sees a problem with “Vote for the best candidate … as long as it’s Jack Johnson or John Jackson.”? ---
**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:** [May 9, 2024, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-to-blame-if-biden-loses/1001233/223 "2024-05-09T19:26:08Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Sad part is if you rewrote this about Trump If one rewrote that about Trump . . . it wouldn’t make any sense. ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2024, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-to-blame-if-biden-loses/1001233/224 "2024-05-09T19:26:26Z")
I think President Biden has done and is doing a very good job. The situation in Gaza is so complicated, it’s naive to expect it to go the way you and I might wish it to go. But, it’s not America, there’s only so much he can do there, and he’s obviously trying to get Netanyahu to change course. Not voting for Biden gets you trump. Period. Talking bad about Biden could get you trump. I wouldn’t want to be that person that helped that happen. ---
**Author:** ![Jay\_Z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Jay\_Z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jay_Z)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2024, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-to-blame-if-biden-loses/1001233/225 "2024-05-09T19:27:51Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > So what’s the solution? Not vote for a third party candidate I believe is the best candidate so I can sheep and vote for one of the Big 2 that I disagree with? Do you participate in any other aspect of life where you need to make decisions or choose a leader? Typically, the choices are not infinite. The best you can hope for is maybe work on a committee that chooses the candidates. There you are going to have to work with others. So you are on a committee of 11 people that is going to choose the next school principal or whatever. 5 people want candidate A. 5 people want candidate B. You persist in holding out for your longshot candidate C that no one else wants. Meanwhile, time passes and you are stuck with an interim principal or no principal at all, and candidate A or candidate B withdraw, take other positions, and you start the search process all over again. And still no one wants your candidate C. This is how things work, everywhere. I am sorry you can’t bend the world to your will. Some places you get no choices at all. Yes, choosing between A and B is better than that. Really try to find a difference between A and B and pick the best one. Because I don’t want you to be a dictator. ---
**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:** [May 9, 2024, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-to-blame-if-biden-loses/1001233/227 "2024-05-09T19:49:53Z")
> [@On another topic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1001913/19): > > people feeling disenchanted with the left What a curious way to phrase that… ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2024, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-to-blame-if-biden-loses/1001233/228 "2024-05-09T19:58:03Z")
> [@On another topic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1001913/19): > > Can you consider how utterly insane this logic looks to people feeling disenchanted with the left right now? Guys, we need to be nice to the dimwitted centrists, as well as the deplorables. When they say, I’m voting for Trump because of Biden’s… > [@On another topic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1001913/19): > > rhetoric that deflects and denies his most obvious shortcomings. > > half-baked lies. > > arguments that comes off as backwards and unhinged. we shouldn’t laugh, because they’re serious. They think there’s an immigration problem, so they will actually pick the guy who says it’s a great idea to make orphans out of little kids who are brought here because our naked cruelty towards children will scare away other migrants. At least it’s an ethos, amiright? ---
**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:** [May 9, 2024, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-to-blame-if-biden-loses/1001233/230 "2024-05-09T20:29:39Z")
I see the thinking more like this: 3rd Party Supporter: I can’t vote for Biden. Biden Supporter: Why not? 3PS: He just doesn’t excite me. BS: So you’re going to vote for the orange turd? 3PS: No, I’m going to vote third party BS: Who, specifically? 3PS: Doesn’t matter, both parties suck. BS: Which specific policies do third parties offer that Democrats don’t? 3PS: Doesn’t matter, both parties suck. BS: You realize that if DJT gets back in, then democracy dies? Don’t you care about that? 3PS: Nope, I just can’t vote for a major party candidate. BS: Hope you get a nice room in the gulag. Have a nice day. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2024, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-to-blame-if-biden-loses/1001233/231 "2024-05-09T20:36:27Z")
> [@On another topic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1001913/20): > > Never said anything about immigration, but sure whatever, throw whatever at me. I asked you already about wages and housing costs and you didn’t bother to answer with anything that Biden could possibly do to address either of those issues, so I figured I’d branch out a bit. Feel free to ignore this issue too. ---
**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:** [May 9, 2024, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-to-blame-if-biden-loses/1001233/232 "2024-05-09T20:38:44Z")
> [@crowmanyclouds](#): > > Well, since one of those “Big 2” is going to be President it seems kinda obvious… You say that, but 20-year-old me reasoned that: 1. I had an obligation to vote for the best candidate, which I reasoned as “best by expressed political platform / position” and not, as I now reason, but “most likely to be able to actually change things for the better in the world we’re in.” 2. People would see and take into account the third-party votes, and go, “Hey—8% [or whatever] of the population voted for Nader. We should see why and include that going forward!” Now-me sees that as incredibly, wincingly naïve. ---
**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:** [May 9, 2024, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-to-blame-if-biden-loses/1001233/234 "2024-05-09T21:15:04Z")
> The Washington Post reported on March 8 that the administration has considered more than $6 billion in cuts at HUD, which would shrink the agency’s budget by 14% to $40.5 billion in fiscal 2018. About $1.3 billion would be cut from the public housing capital fund and another $600 million from the public housing operating fund. > > The newspaper also reported that the popular Community Development Block Grant program, which received about $3 billion in fiscal 2016, would be cut entirely. The HOME program, which provides grants to communities to build affordable housing, would also go unfunded. > [https://www.housingfinance.com/policy-legislation/pha-leaders-fear-drastic-budget-cuts\_o](https://www.housingfinance.com/policy-legislation/pha-leaders-fear-drastic-budget-cuts_o) > Biden-Harris Administration Announces $5.5 Billion in Grants for Affordable Housing, Community Development, and Homeless Assistance to Drive Economic Growth > Funding empowers 1,200 communities: addressing urgent local needs, boosting economic growth, enhancing community resilience, creating jobs, and advancing housing solutions. > > WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today announced $5.5 billion in funding that will go to 1,200 communities through more than 2,400 grants to States, urban counties, insular areas, DC, Puerto Rico, and localities across the country. These annual formula grants provide critical funding for a wide range of activities to address their most pressing local needs, providing flexible resources to build homes, support renters and homeowners, provide life-saving assistance to people experiencing homelessness, create jobs, and improve public facilities, community resilience, and local economies. The White House announced these funds this morning, and HUD Acting Secretary Adrianne Todman will highlight the announcement at a press conference in Reno, Nevada today. > [Biden-Harris Administration Announces $5.5 Billion in Grants for Affordable Housing, Community Development, and Homeless Assistance to Drive Economic Growth | HUD.gov / U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)](https://www.hud.gov/press/press_releases_media_advisories/HUD_No_24_103) They both want 6 billion, so, really, they’re both the same! ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2024, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-to-blame-if-biden-loses/1001233/235 "2024-05-09T21:31:36Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > Guys, we need to be nice to the dimwitted centrists, as well as the deplorables. When they say, I’m voting for Trump . . . Some Americans who now lean towards Biden will, inevitably and unfortunately from my POV, stay home or vote for Trump. Unless you think Biden is today way ahead of Trump in the horse race, that means a couple million voters now leaning a bit towards Trump need to be convinced to give Joe another chance. I’m not at all sure how to convince them, but I do know that name calling isn’t part of the method. ---
**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:** [May 9, 2024, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-to-blame-if-biden-loses/1001233/237 "2024-05-09T21:43:36Z")
Do you agree that the President Biden can’t fix the housing shortage but he is at least trying and President Trump wanted to make the situation worse? And would you agree that a second term President Biden will continue to try and a second term President Trump will continue to try to make things worse? Seems to me like young adults living in urban areas struggling just to make rental payments should not have even the slightest problem seeing which President is at least trying to not make things worse . . . but clearly, that’s just 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:** [May 9, 2024, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-to-blame-if-biden-loses/1001233/238 "2024-05-09T21:43:50Z")
We’re 8 years into the Trump era and many Democrats **still** don’t understand the difference between being the _right_ side and being the _winning_ side. You can lecture voters about how they’re ignorant and blind until the cows come home. It won’t win votes. You have to _persuade_ them. This isn’t a school classroom, where you can impose discipline on the pupils who aren’t following the teachers’ instructions. ---
**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:** [May 9, 2024, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-to-blame-if-biden-loses/1001233/239 "2024-05-09T21:47:10Z")
> [@On another topic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1001913/17): > > My vote is inconsequential in this outcome, I promise you. Then why vote at all-to “protest”? As has already been pointed out there is no “Protest Vote” column on the voting card. Do you carry a large protest sign when you vote, or yell out “This is a protest vote!!” when you drop off your ballot? If you vote for Trump the _only_ thing written down anywhere is that you voted for Trump. ---
**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:** [May 9, 2024, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-to-blame-if-biden-loses/1001233/240 "2024-05-09T21:50:13Z")
If Trump wins and things get worse, how many of you “protest” voter are willing to make a public statement along the lines of “I fucked up royally when I voted for Trump”? ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2024, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-to-blame-if-biden-loses/1001233/241 "2024-05-09T21:55:05Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > Because in the U.S.A. I’m living in, incumbency is a rather big advantage. It used to be. But consider: One party to blame hasn’t yet been mentioned – the government of Iran. Opinions probably differ on how much influence they have over Hamas and Hezbollah, but if they want Trump to win, they have options: [Iran’s “October Surprise” for Biden—and the Rest of Us](https://nationalinterest.org/feature/iran%E2%80%99s-%E2%80%9Coctober-surprise%E2%80%9D-biden%E2%80%94and-rest-us-210931) > [@](#): > > Iranian meddling in civil-war-plagued Sudan may be directed to threaten Israeli and U.S. access to the Red Sea. ---
**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:** [May 9, 2024, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-to-blame-if-biden-loses/1001233/242 "2024-05-09T21:55:54Z")
That isn’t the worse case scenario. Worse case is instead of an undeniable landslide with 60+% of the popular vote Biden barely squeaks in. That outcome does nothing to put the adults in the Republican party on notice that the country doesn’t want what they’re selling. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-to-blame-if-biden-loses/1001233.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-to-blame-if-biden-loses/1001233.md?page=12)