Joe Biden 2024 thread - Dark Brandon Where Art Thou?

[Doc Sam Beckett 5,903]

35 minutes ago, Red Five said:

The most "You want to improve society yet you participate in society, interesting!!" exchange ever. 

He can't admit that Biden is the best candidate, nor does he want to admit that he's going to write in Willie Nelson and not an actual political figure. I don't know why 

[GW Hayduke 1,957]

Brain worms?

[G650 14,437]

50 minutes ago, Doc Sam Beckett said:

He can't admit that Biden is the best candidate, nor does he want to admit that he's going to write in Willie Nelson and not an actual political figure. I don't know why 

Willie Nelson is antithetical to what he desires as far as I can tell

[The Original Greaser Bob 2,888]

1 hour ago, Satchel said:

I’m really amazed at how ageism, along with every other ugly thing in our culture, has been normalized. We’re far removed from the time when younger people would pad their midsections so the girth would give them the appearance of age and wisdom. If Biden were  61 instead of 81, based on what we’ve seen so far, would being younger make him a more effective president, I even if we control for the physical decline that comes with aging?

Just a small point.  Ageism, however ugly you think it may be, is a whole lot more attractive than most "every other ugly thing in our culture". 

[fattyflattie 4,640]

1 hour ago, Satchel said:

I’m really amazed at how ageism, along with every other ugly thing in our culture, has been normalized. We’re far removed from the time when younger people would pad their midsections so the girth would give them the appearance of age and wisdom. If Biden were  61 instead of 81, based on what we’ve seen so far, would being younger make him a more effective president, I even if we control for the physical decline that comes with aging?

I’d kill for 61, or even better, 51yo Biden.  Dude was more of a R back then than Romney is. 

[atomheartbevo 90,641]

17 hours ago, StassneyHorn said:

Write in candidate

Pat Myselfontheback

2 hours ago, Doc Sam Beckett said:

He can't admit that Biden is the best candidate, nor does he want to admit that he's going to write in Willie Nelson and not an actual political figure. I don't know why 

1 hour ago, G650 said:

Willie Nelson is antithetical to what he desires as far as I can tell

 

[bolverk 30,320]

22 minutes ago, fattyflattie said:

I’d kill for 61, or even better, 51yo Biden.  Dude was more of a R back then than Romney is. 

So you'd be in favor of another federal ban on assault weapons like was put in Biden's 1994 Crime Bill and that he proposed again a couple of years ago?

[StassneyHorn 6,767]

that'sdifferent.Friday.gif

[Neonmoon 38,130]

Feelings above facts. 

[Js1 87,176]

1 minute ago, Neonmoon said:

Feelings above facts. 

Brainwashing and parroting by the media 

[fattyflattie 4,640]

33 minutes ago, bolverk said:

So you'd be in favor of another federal ban on assault weapons like was put in Biden's 1994 Crime Bill and that he proposed again a couple of years ago?

With what I’d have grandfathered, it certainly wouldn’t hurt me. 

Edited January 28 by fattyflattie
I’d, eyed, I’ve, Ivy

[Anastasis 23,717]

7 hours ago, David Dennison said:

Other than complaining on a message board and not voting for president, what do you suggest we do about it?

Well, the first thing that we need to do is wholly reform campaign financing and the role of money in politics. That is the very first step. 

3 hours ago, Doc Sam Beckett said:

He can't admit that Biden is the best candidate, nor does he want to admit that he's going to write in Willie Nelson and not an actual political figure. I don't know why 

Come on man. That was 2016 and it was absolutely the right decision, 

[Anastasis 23,717]

2 hours ago, G650 said:

Willie Nelson is antithetical to what he desires as far as I can tell

On the things that really matter, I am pretty sure that we would be on the same page. And he could be brought along with reason on the others if given a fair hearing. 

[aggie08 21,794]

Just now, Anastasis said:

Well, the first thing that we need to do is wholly reform campaign financing and the role of money in politics. That is the very first step. 

You say these things like any of us disagree with you. We don't. But writing in some slap dick candidate in protest of the system ain't doing shit. So, until we completely overhaul the entirety of the government, most of us choose to deal with the reality of the situation, rather than play make believe.

[Anastasis 23,717]

4 minutes ago, aggie08 said:

You say these things like any of us disagree with you. We don't. But writing in some slap dick candidate in protest of the system ain't doing shit. So, until we completely overhaul the entirety of the government, most of us choose to deal with the reality of the situation, rather than play make believe.

Its funny that in reality most of you will actually agree with me on quite a bit, but you will just keep pulling the lever over and over and over again, nothing will change, and you will keep right on thinking that people like me are the problem. Hell of a system we got here. Decency. We the People. And all the other fantasies and delusions people want to keep living under. 

Edited January 29 by Anastasis

[G650 14,437]

9 minutes ago, Anastasis said:

On the things that really matter, I am pretty sure that we would be on the same page. And he could be brought along with reason on the others if given a fair hearing. 

 

Well either you completely misrepresent yourself or you zero clue of Willie Nelson's inclinations

4 minutes ago, Anastasis said:

Its funny that in reality most of you will actually agree with me on quite a bit, but you will just keep pulling the lever over and over and over again, nothing will change, and you will keep right on thinking that people like me are the problem. Hell of a system we got here. Decency. We the People. And all the other fantasies and delusions people want to keep living under. 

 

There's certainly somethings we agree on that I have seen, but you don't seem to grasp that plenty of us will vote for Biden in a positive manner, not as the least worst choice. So while we may agree that Gaza hasn't been handled well, there's myriad policy decisions that have led to the first net gain of lower earners in my literal lifetime, real infrastructure progress, positive energy development etc... which far outweigh it.

 

 

[wildcat09 29,579]

If we let republicans win enough times they’ll completely reform campaign finance law. Everyone knows that.

[Anastasis 23,717]

5 minutes ago, G650 said:

Well either you completely misrepresent yourself or you zero clue of Willie Nelson's inclinations

 

6 minutes ago, G650 said:

There's certainly somethings we agree on that I have seen, but you don't seem to grasp that plenty of us will vote for Biden in a positive manner, not as the least worst choice. So while we may agree that Gaza hasn't been handled well, there's myriad policy decisions that have led to the first net gain of lower earners in my literal lifetime, real infrastructure progress, positive energy development etc... which far outweigh it.

You are free to weight your political priorities as you see fit.

[G650 14,437]

1 minute ago, Anastasis said:

You are free to weight your political priorities as you see fit.

 

As are you. Typically you have a bigger issue ascribing thoughts or lack thereof to other people.

[Anastasis 23,717]

10 minutes ago, G650 said:

As are you. 

Yeah, and the resulting conclusion is pretty straightforward from my perspective. Children buried under the rubble of buildings blown up with bombs that say MADE IN THE USA on the side, shipped in expedited fashion to fucking genocidal lunatics vs. a net gain of lower earners (whatever the fuck that actually means, is that suppose to be a good thing?).  

 

[Red Five 41,723]

I'm a little fuzzy on how not voting and electing Dotard as dictator is going to solve these issues, Ana. 

[Bozo_Casanova 26,846]

1 minute ago, Red Five said:

I'm a little fuzzy on how not voting and electing Dotard as dictator is going to solve these issues, Ana. 

See you have to reform election financing first. And obviously Trump will help with that, right after he gets done slaying the seedy payday loan industry. 

[Biff Tannen 46,163]

8 hours ago, The Original Greaser Bob said:

Just finished the Caro biography of Robert Moses. 

I'm on about page 300 of that monstrosity and I started it like 9 months ago.  Not sure I'm gonna get through it.

[Biff Tannen 46,163]

5 hours ago, henrygandorf said:

good thread with site/sources. 

This is pretty fucking incredible.  I don't care what your politics are.  This is real change.

[Satchel 6,982]

2 minutes ago, Biff Tannen said:

This is pretty fucking incredible.  I don't care what your politics are.  This is real change.

But eggs are still $5 a dozen at Tom Thumb. So, there.

[atomheartbevo 90,641]

1 minute ago, Satchel said:

But eggs are still $5 a dozen at Tom Thumb. So, there.

$8.99

https://www.tomthumb.com/shop/product-details.960454622.html

[Biff Tannen 46,163]

2 hours ago, Neonmoon said:

Feelings above facts. 

This is pointless when "most Americans" feel that paying ANY taxes at all is too much.  The concept of taxation actually helping anyone is far beyond the comprehension of a country that watches The Masked Singer and Farmer Wants a Wife.

[StassneyHorn 6,767]

My top bracket is 33, imma say I get taxed at 33

[jimmyjazz 47,137]

I'm pretty sure Willie is pro-choice.

[troph 25,213]

I heard Biden is trolling Trump I came for the laughs and I am disappoint. 

[The Original Greaser Bob 2,888]

1 hour ago, Biff Tannen said:

I'm on about page 300 of that monstrosity and I started it like 9 months ago.  Not sure I'm gonna get through it.

Heh.  It's insane.  I did it via audio (about 60 hours total, I think).  Interestingly, I only tired a bit in the last 10 hours or so.  Two round trip road trips from Dallas to SA, and then 30 minutes a night.

[babysdaddy 2,731]

My top bracket is 33, imma say I get taxed at 33

[mchookem 16,765]

1 hour ago, Satchel said:

But eggs are still $5 a dozen at Tom Thumb. So, there.

 

1 hour ago, atomheartbevo said:

$8.99

https://www.tomthumb.com/shop/product-details.960454622.html

Trader Joe's...pasture raised, certified humane...$4.49

https://www.traderjoes.com/home/products/pdp/pasture-raised-large-brown-eggs-062124

Edited January 29 by mchookem

[HornOnTheBayou 9,062]

2 hours ago, Biff Tannen said:

I'm on about page 300 of that monstrosity and I started it like 9 months ago.  Not sure I'm gonna get through it.

Definitely finish it. It's a classic. My wife asked me why I was reading it and my response was "Imagine Leslie Knope, but evil". 

[Horn Dog 10,158]

Lets see what the 2 party’s platforms have to say about campaign finance reform:

Dems-

 

 

GOP-

 

 

As someone who’s number one priority is campaign finance reform, I can only conclude that my only choice is to not vote.

[Smax 3,800]

4 hours ago, Anastasis said:

Its funny that in reality most of you will actually agree with me on quite a bit, but you will just keep pulling the lever over and over and over again, nothing will change, and you will keep right on thinking that people like me are the problem. Hell of a system we got here. Decency. We the People. And all the other fantasies and delusions people want to keep living under. 

 

 

You keep mentioning decency, yet you support the party of cruelty. Everything the gop has done and said over the 8 years is rooted in hate, cruelty, spitefulness and just plain being assholes for the sake of being an asshole.

So stop trying to come with an air of superiority and grace because buddy, you and your party have none

[G650 14,437]

10 hours ago, Anastasis said:

Yeah, and the resulting conclusion is pretty straightforward from my perspective. Children buried under the rubble of buildings blown up with bombs that say MADE IN THE USA on the side, shipped in expedited fashion to fucking genocidal lunatics vs. a net gain of lower earners (whatever the fuck that actually means, is that suppose to be a good thing?).

I'm curious as to how you think it's gotten worse compared to like literally every other president in our lifetime. As I said, we happen to agree on that point, but Biden has been the least warlike of any president I've been alive for sans Carter, so it's an odd thing to make yourself a single issue voter on. Homeboy is the only one who had the stones to call it a day in Afghanistan, 15 years too late.

 

What I mean is very clear, the only politics I care about are the support and care of the vulnerable and disenfranchised. US politics has been one big pander to a feckless, selfish and destructive middle class. For all your crocodile tears about babies getting bombed, this should be your position too as the military adventures are directly downstream of these kind of politics.

['stache 22,131]

I'm legitimately curious what write-in candidate he thinks meets every one of his beliefs. There will almost never be a candidate that perfectly aligns with one's beliefs. You still vote for the one the better fits, or even if you hate both, the one that isn't under 91 criminal indictments, who has been determined by a jury to have committed rape, and who is less likely to launch an insurrection and attempt to declare himself a dictator.   

[Nice Guy Eddie 13,727]

I listened to a podcast episode where a presidential historian was discussing Trump's path to victory. She was explaining how it's unique in presidential politics that Trump doesn't appear to care about expanding his base, which has most likely shrunk since 2020. She surmised that Trump and team are looking to follow one of John Eastman's 2020 theories about how to win.

Basically Eastman proposed:

1. Create chaos and uncertainty around the election results.
2. Convince the VP and Congress to delay the certification while they "investigate."
3. Congress ultimately says that it's impossible to certify given the uncertainty.
4. The only remaining constitutional option is to the let the House vote where each state gets one vote.

Obviously in 2020, they failed at step 2 but they came close. This is how Trump can win next January. Mike Johnson will see to it.

While it's important for the Dems to re-elect Biden, they can't sleep on the House. And it's not necessary just about winning the majority. They need to concentrate on specific states and races. What a screwed up system where Wyoming would have the same power as California in picking the President.

[Neonmoon 38,130]

Um, the VP ain't delaying cert. 

But to your point, Trump hasn't expanded his base since 2020, and has alienated independents. I was reading that his path to victory has to involve reducing Biden turnout or dividing the turnout. That's why Republicans have funded RFKjr campaign and Marianne William's crazy ass. I wonder if they're funding Dean Phillips too?

Trump will continue to try and push "border crisis" and Israel/Hamas conflict to try and reduce Biden turnout. 

[Red Five 41,723]

2 minutes ago, Neonmoon said:

I was reading that his path to victory has to involve reducing Biden turnout or dividing the turnout.

Or convincing people of insane things like "both sides are equally bad so I'm going to vote for Willie Nelson."

[wildcat09 29,579]

7 minutes ago, Neonmoon said:

Um, the VP ain't delaying cert. 

But to your point, Trump hasn't expanded his base since 2020, and has alienated independents. I was reading that his path to victory has to involve reducing Biden turnout or dividing the turnout. That's why Republicans have funded RFKjr campaign and Marianne William's crazy ass. I wonder if they're funding Dean Phillips too?

Trump will continue to try and push "border crisis" and Israel/Hamas conflict to try and reduce Biden turnout. 

Trump and his allies' goal is to have enough loyalists in the House that they can block certification.

[Js1 87,176]

4 minutes ago, wildcat09 said:

Trump and his allies' goal is to have enough loyalists in the House that they can block certification.

Harris is VP until Jan 20.

The Electoral Count Reform and Presidential Transition Improvement Act of 2022 ensures / makes it harder to do the 2020 bullshit in Congress

Quote

The bill clarifies that the Vice President's role in the counting of the electoral votes is "solely ministerial," with no power to "determine, accept, reject, or otherwise adjudicate or resolve disputes over the proper list of electors, the validity of electors, or the votes of electors."

Any objection made by senators or representatives during the counting of the electoral votes must be made in writing and signed by at least one-fifth of the Senators and one-fifth of the Members of the House of Representatives. Previously, an objection required the signatures of only one member of each chamber.

The bill also limits the grounds for an objection to one of the following:

1. The electors of a state were not lawfully certified
2. An elector's vote was not "regularly given"

 

[jimmyjazz 47,137]

38 minutes ago, Nice Guy Eddie said:

Convince the VP and Congress to delay the certification while they "investigate."

Wait, wut?

[BehoId, The Underminer! 11,669]

Random chance seems to matter too.  There were 57 EVs within 1.16% of going the other way.  4 years of passage of time, 4 years of new registrations, 4 years of people moving to different states, 4 years of deaths.  I don't know how anyone could have any confidence in any result.  

[Nice Guy Eddie 13,727]

@Neonmoon @Js1 @jimmyjazz For clarity, I was quoting Eastman's 2020 (2021) strategy for Pence to join the conspiracy to delay. I'm not expecting Harris to do so. In Jan 2025 their goal will be to get enough in Congress to not certify. Can the VP certify without the votes?

Edited January 29 by Nice Guy Eddie

[Snake Diggity 4,714]

I think Trump is delusional.  But if he’s not, his best chance at becoming president is for Biden to die or become incapacitated sometime in the next 9 months, and for the Democrats to fail to quickly rally around another candidate capable of beating Trump (not Harris, likely Newsome or Pritzker).  
 

Otherwise his hopes rest on funny business in Arizona and Georgia and Wisconsin, which seems kind of unlikely.  He’s not winning Pennsylvania or Michigan.  So he has to win all 3 of AZ, MI, and GA, regardless of what happens with Nevada.  He lost in 2020 and nothing has changed in his favor since then.  His base has shrunk, his opponent has succeeded, and the rules have gone further against him.  If Biden lives, Trump loses, barring a gigantic geopolitical shift.

[Js1 87,176]

6 minutes ago, Nice Guy Eddie said:

@Neonmoon @Js1 @jimmyjazz For clarity, I was quoting Eastman's 2020 (2021) strategy for Pence to join the conspiracy to delay. I'm not expecting Harris to do so. In Jan 2025 their goal will be to get enough in Congress to not certify. Can the VP certify without the votes?

My assumption is that no, the VP cannot unilaterally certify.  However, the new Electoral Count Act does make it much more difficult for Congress to try and throw away a state's vote.  I don't think "well such and such state took too long to count and things look sketchy" will suffice under the new requirements.  Plus needing 1/5 of each chamber to challenge, which does not automatically throw the votes away. 

It also eliminates some other body (i.e., state legislators) from being able to try and send their own electors, which was a big issue in 2020/2021 and led to many challenges in the swing states by the nutjobs.  Congress may only accept the electors as submitted by the Governor (or whoever is legally allowed to submit them, as per state law, such as the Secretary of State). 

The new law also makes legal challenges heard much faster, i.e., prior to the official count so any legal challenges are resolved. 

Edited January 29 by Js1

[BehoId, The Underminer! 11,669]

For reference for the 20 senators requirement, here are the results from 2020.  Biggest upset, imo, is that somehow Ron Johnson doesn't appear on these lists.  I would have put big money on him being one of the objectors:

 

Congress certified the election of Joseph R. Biden Jr. early Thursday, ending attempts to overturn the results in two states. Senators Josh Hawley of Missouri, Ted Cruz of Texas, Tommy Tuberville of Alabama, Cindy Hyde-Smith of Mississippi, Roger Marshall of Kansas and John Kennedy of Louisiana voted to overturn the results in Arizona, while 93 senators voted against. Mr. Hawley, Mr. Cruz, Mr. Tuberville, Ms. Hyde-Smith, Mr. Marshall and Senators Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming and Rick Scott of Florida voted to overturn the results in Pennsylvania, while 92 voted against it.

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/07/us/politics/republicans-against-certification.html

 

[Js1 87,176]

6 minutes ago, BehoId, The Underminer! said:

For reference for the 20 senators requirement, here are the results from 2020.  Biggest upset, imo, is that somehow Ron Johnson doesn't appear on these lists.  I would have put big money on him being one of the objectors:

 

Congress certified the election of Joseph R. Biden Jr. early Thursday, ending attempts to overturn the results in two states. Senators Josh Hawley of Missouri, Ted Cruz of Texas, Tommy Tuberville of Alabama, Cindy Hyde-Smith of Mississippi, Roger Marshall of Kansas and John Kennedy of Louisiana voted to overturn the results in Arizona, while 93 senators voted against. Mr. Hawley, Mr. Cruz, Mr. Tuberville, Ms. Hyde-Smith, Mr. Marshall and Senators Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming and Rick Scott of Florida voted to overturn the results in Pennsylvania, while 92 voted against it.

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/07/us/politics/republicans-against-certification.html

 

Right, you need 20 from the Senate. From 2020 alone, you have about 7-8 solid "no" votes (Cruz, Hawley, Tuberville, Hyde-Smith, Marshall + combo of Scott/Lummis/Wicker). +3 from the 2022 cycle (Budd, Vance, Schmitt) and maybe 3-4 new ones from this cycle (Romney replacement, Manchin replacement, whoever wins Indiana, one of Montana/Ohio).  You're still only at about 12-14 GOP votes in the Senate and short of 20.