Joe Biden 2020 campaign megathread

[adamevans]

This is the midset that has to be defeated in order for anyone else to beat Biden.

https://twitter.com/jerweber/status/1129048505455140865

"As contentious as this campaign may get, we have to remember that this is a contest for the Democratic nomination and that all of us share an abiding desire to end the disastrous policies of the current administration. But there are real differences between the candidates. We are looking for more than just a change of party in the White House. We're looking to fundamentally change the status quo in Washington. It's a status quo that extends beyond any particular party. And right now that status quo is fighting back with everything it's got, with the same old tactics that divide and distract us from solving the problems people face, whether those problems are health care that folks can't afford or a mortgage they cannot pay." - Barack Obama

[Mr. Smith]

This is the midset that has to be defeated in order for anyone else to beat Biden.

https://twitter.com/jerweber/status/1129048505455140865

The argument isn't that beating Trump isn't a priority, it's that we need a more detailed vision for the future than simply Trump not being president.




The last thing I’ve heard from Bernie is details. “Free healthcare for all.” OK, how? “Free college for all.” OK, how? “Stop climate change.” OK, how? And the answer is always “It’s the millionaires and billionaires stopping us” or some related non sequitur that does nothing to explain how you’re going to enact all these lofty goals, let alone get them past a Republican Senate in a nation so right-wing it just elected Donald Trump. Hell, Bernie can’t even work with his own party that he refuses to properly join. Why am I supposed to believe he would be remotely effective at pushing through any legislation?

So yeah, the big priority — the ONLY priority — right now IS to stop Trump, because NOTHING else can even BEGIN to be done otherwise. Even if you had details for all these lofty goals (and, unlike Bernie, Warren admittedly does for many of them), if you can’t even get in office yourself and you can’t be a strong leader for your party, it is all meaningless. You might as well just rant about all your ideas online (on a board like this) for all they will be worth.

The point of the cartoon is not that Joe has no ideas beyond beating Trump, but that he is laser-focused on and ideally suited to beating Trump, unlike the lefties who are putting the cart before the horse and frankly seem crazy to a whole bunch of swing voters in this country who think Joe is sensible.

I mean really, would you start making a detailed vision for the future of a house that is on fire? Or would you grab a hose and frantically try to save it from burning to the ground? Biden is the firefighter, Bernie is the guy talking about all the grand plans he has to renovate the house as it burns.

Premise: Bernie is very vague on details on the stump, with no explanations as to how he'll get things done.

Critique: Bernie is one of the few with an actual tack to go on, and the current frontrunner isn't even offering that. Most of the time he just says "I agree with these other guys" when critiqued. Also, he's been on record with specifics at plenty of other venues. Stump speeches aren't exactly medium for anything besides direction. And saying "unity unity unity...f*(k Trump" just isn't much of a direction. You already pointed out just how well Warren is doing based on the specifics.

Premise: Bernie can't work with the party he refuses to join

Critique: Same with pretty much every other candidate, the charismatic ones with a shot often rankle feathers of the establishment just for being a bit different. It's the insider ones that, barring some kind of 1988-esque catastrophe, fail. Also, that he hasn't joined yet should be telling of the problems of the apparatus.

Premise: Bernie won't be able to work with a GOP Senate.

Critique: No Democrat will, the GOP can and always will move the goalposts anyway. But as 2009-2017 expertly demonstrated, one doesn't have to. Obstruct, control the narrative, and scare the other side into working tends to work reasonably well too. Currently then, it is only Sanders, Warren, and Pete that're willing to go for it.

Premise: So yeah, the big priority — the ONLY priority — right now IS to stop Trump, because NOTHING else can even BEGIN to be done otherwise

Critique: Firstly, supposing this premise works, all you get from that kind of mindset is a "and then what?", which is already a problem for Democrats. At least the GOP are consistently anti-tax. However, I reject that premise when I look at how incompetent Trump is and how that anger motivates Democrats of all stripes. If he's stopped too soon and there is no plan or vision, the result in 2022 will undo every last bit of "progress" made.

Premise: The point of the cartoon is not that Joe has no ideas beyond beating Trump, but that he is laser-focused on and ideally suited to beating Trump

Critique: Is he, or is it all just media propped up images because they and some moderates are afraid of any kind of radical change from the status quo before Trump came in? He has a reasonable halo because he was Obama's Veep and he can say a few crazy things here and there and not be like Hillary. Also, when was the last time a "laser-focused" candidate actually won? Remember all the times Christie slammed Obama and that won him the nomination? I don't.

Premise:  mean really, would you start making a detailed vision for the future of a house that is on fire? Or would you grab a hose and frantically try to save it from burning to the ground? Biden is the firefighter, Bernie is the guy talking about all the grand plans he has to renovate the house as it burns.

Critique A: If the house is only a little on fire, that suggests that damage isn't that bad (this seems counter to what you're trying to argue though). In which case, one should figure out the best way to stop the flames from spreading that also doesn't damage the property or injure yourself. Being too frantic would jeapordize being able to save it (precisely what is going on now).  

Critique B: But let's say that the house is completely emblazened and truly coming down (this is what I think you were trying to argue). In that specific case, trying to frantically water everything won't save the crumbling structures and you're best off evacuating and yeah, figuring out what to do next [otherwise you just have a flooded area with lots of ash]. And in that case, it'd be smarter to renovate the thing as Bernie [or literally anyone besides Joe Biden at this point] suggests and rework the foundation and structure so that the next arson attack win't be so successful. And, ironically, one could use the insurance from it burning to the ground entirely in such a case.

Also as someone else already pointed out, a firefighter shouldn't negotiate with arsonists.

The partisan Democrats reacting so critically to Biden's unity routine don't seem to realize that a candidate can support progressive policies like Medicare expansion or a $15 minimum wage while taking a less antagonistic tack toward the partisan outgroup.

Not everyone knows that they are on your side. You're not going to win them over with a candidate whose speeches make on-the-fence voters wonder whether they're being excoriated for their sins.

.....Meanwhile Trump sits in the White House.

What does this post mean?

It doesn't matter how much we rend our garments or curse our countrymen. Trump will continue sitting in the White House, like patience on a monument.

Trump is divisive and won. Stop droning on about unity. Half of the country will hate Joe Biden no matter how much he panders to them at the expense of issues Democrats care about. Stop worrying about people who wouldn’t spit on you if you were on fire.

Thank God you're not running for President. The idea is one is to be President of ALL the people. Otherwise there is no point in a United States, much less a presidency.

You've never heard the expression: Pleasing everyone, pleases no one have you?

[Higgins]

This is the midset that has to be defeated in order for anyone else to beat Biden.

https://twitter.com/jerweber/status/1129048505455140865

The argument isn't that beating Trump isn't a priority, it's that we need a more detailed vision for the future than simply Trump not being president.




The last thing I’ve heard from Bernie is details. “Free healthcare for all.” OK, how? “Free college for all.” OK, how? “Stop climate change.” OK, how? And the answer is always “It’s the millionaires and billionaires stopping us” or some related non sequitur that does nothing to explain how you’re going to enact all these lofty goals, let alone get them past a Republican Senate in a nation so right-wing it just elected Donald Trump. Hell, Bernie can’t even work with his own party that he refuses to properly join. Why am I supposed to believe he would be remotely effective at pushing through any legislation?

So yeah, the big priority — the ONLY priority — right now IS to stop Trump, because NOTHING else can even BEGIN to be done otherwise. Even if you had details for all these lofty goals (and, unlike Bernie, Warren admittedly does for many of them), if you can’t even get in office yourself and you can’t be a strong leader for your party, it is all meaningless. You might as well just rant about all your ideas online (on a board like this) for all they will be worth.

The point of the cartoon is not that Joe has no ideas beyond beating Trump, but that he is laser-focused on and ideally suited to beating Trump, unlike the lefties who are putting the cart before the horse and frankly seem crazy to a whole bunch of swing voters in this country who think Joe is sensible.

I mean really, would you start making a detailed vision for the future of a house that is on fire? Or would you grab a hose and frantically try to save it from burning to the ground? Biden is the firefighter, Bernie is the guy talking about all the grand plans he has to renovate the house as it burns.

Premise: Bernie is very vague on details on the stump, with no explanations as to how he'll get things done.

Critique: Bernie is one of the few with an actual tack to go on, and the current frontrunner isn't even offering that. Most of the time he just says "I agree with these other guys" when critiqued. Also, he's been on record with specifics at plenty of other venues. Stump speeches aren't exactly medium for anything besides direction. And saying "unity unity unity...f*(k Trump" just isn't much of a direction. You already pointed out just how well Warren is doing based on the specifics.

Premise: Bernie can't work with the party he refuses to join

Critique: Same with pretty much every other candidate, the charismatic ones with a shot often rankle feathers of the establishment just for being a bit different. It's the insider ones that, barring some kind of 1988-esque catastrophe, fail. Also, that he hasn't joined yet should be telling of the problems of the apparatus.

Premise: Bernie won't be able to work with a GOP Senate.

Critique: No Democrat will, the GOP can and always will move the goalposts anyway. But as 2009-2017 expertly demonstrated, one doesn't have to. Obstruct, control the narrative, and scare the other side into working tends to work reasonably well too. Currently then, it is only Sanders, Warren, and Pete that're willing to go for it.

Premise: So yeah, the big priority — the ONLY priority — right now IS to stop Trump, because NOTHING else can even BEGIN to be done otherwise

Critique: Firstly, supposing this premise works, all you get from that kind of mindset is a "and then what?", which is already a problem for Democrats. At least the GOP are consistently anti-tax. However, I reject that premise when I look at how incompetent Trump is and how that anger motivates Democrats of all stripes. If he's stopped too soon and there is no plan or vision, the result in 2022 will undo every last bit of "progress" made.

Premise: The point of the cartoon is not that Joe has no ideas beyond beating Trump, but that he is laser-focused on and ideally suited to beating Trump

Critique: Is he, or is it all just media propped up images because they and some moderates are afraid of any kind of radical change from the status quo before Trump came in? He has a reasonable halo because he was Obama's Veep and he can say a few crazy things here and there and not be like Hillary. Also, when was the last time a "laser-focused" candidate actually won? Remember all the times Christie slammed Obama and that won him the nomination? I don't.

Premise:  mean really, would you start making a detailed vision for the future of a house that is on fire? Or would you grab a hose and frantically try to save it from burning to the ground? Biden is the firefighter, Bernie is the guy talking about all the grand plans he has to renovate the house as it burns.

Critique A: If the house is only a little on fire, that suggests that damage isn't that bad (this seems counter to what you're trying to argue though). In which case, one should figure out the best way to stop the flames from spreading that also doesn't damage the property or injure yourself. Being too frantic would jeapordize being able to save it (precisely what is going on now).  

Critique B: But let's say that the house is completely emblazened and truly coming down (this is what I think you were trying to argue). In that specific case, trying to frantically water everything won't save the crumbling structures and you're best off evacuating and yeah, figuring out what to do next [otherwise you just have a flooded area with lots of ash]. And in that case, it'd be smarter to renovate the thing as Bernie [or literally anyone besides Joe Biden at this point] suggests and rework the foundation and structure so that the next arson attack win't be so successful. And, ironically, one could use the insurance from it burning to the ground entirely in such a case.

Also as someone else already pointed out, a firefighter shouldn't negotiate with arsonists.

The partisan Democrats reacting so critically to Biden's unity routine don't seem to realize that a candidate can support progressive policies like Medicare expansion or a $15 minimum wage while taking a less antagonistic tack toward the partisan outgroup.

Not everyone knows that they are on your side. You're not going to win them over with a candidate whose speeches make on-the-fence voters wonder whether they're being excoriated for their sins.

.....Meanwhile Trump sits in the White House.

What does this post mean?

It doesn't matter how much we rend our garments or curse our countrymen. Trump will continue sitting in the White House, like patience on a monument.

Trump is divisive and won. Stop droning on about unity. Half of the country will hate Joe Biden no matter how much he panders to them at the expense of issues Democrats care about. Stop worrying about people who wouldn’t spit on you if you were on fire.

Thank God you're not running for President. The idea is one is to be President of ALL the people. Otherwise there is no point in a United States, much less a presidency.

You've never heard the expression: Pleasing everyone, pleases no one have you?

It's not about pleasing everyone, it's about not being leftist versions of Trump and further dividing the country by either showing disdain for, or openly antagonizing your fellow countrymen and deeming them "the opposition" rather than your fellow citizens.

[Bleach Blonde Bad Built Butch Bodies for Biden]

The partisan Democrats reacting so critically to Biden's unity routine don't seem to realize that a candidate can support progressive policies like Medicare expansion or a $15 minimum wage while taking a less antagonistic tack toward the partisan outgroup.

Not everyone knows that they are on your side. You're not going to win them over with a candidate whose speeches make on-the-fence voters wonder whether they're being excoriated for their sins.

.....Meanwhile Trump sits in the White House.

What does this post mean?

It doesn't matter how much we rend our garments or curse our countrymen. Trump will continue sitting in the White House, like patience on a monument.

Trump is divisive and won. Stop droning on about unity. Half of the country will hate Joe Biden no matter how much he panders to them at the expense of issues Democrats care about. Stop worrying about people who wouldn’t spit on you if you were on fire.

Thank God you're not running for President. The idea is one is to be President of ALL the people. Otherwise there is no point in a United States, much less a presidency.

It's not about pleasing everyone, it's about not being leftist versions of Trump and further dividing the country by either showing disdain for, or openly antagonizing your fellow countrymen and deeming them "the opposition" rather than your fellow citizens.

This is all cuckspeak and you know it.

You don't have to be a president of "ALL the people," you just have to be a president of the people who vote for you.  Unless Donald Trump wants to personally come to my house and suck my dick I don't see why I should see him as anything other than the product of his base.  This is literally how politics works.  Don't add yourself to the list of Atlas sh!tposters who try to sound big by actually sounding like a politician.  Save that sh!t for Atlasia.

[Rookie Yinzer]

Thank God you're not running for President. The idea is one is to be President of ALL the people. Otherwise there is no point in a United States, much less a presidency.

Oh please. $15 minimum wage, Expanded union rights, Medicare for All, Green New Deal, Voting Rights protections, and a plethora of other proposals benefit ALL Americans but we are not going to get any of this continuing to placate white identity voters who continously put in people who don't give a damn about them. The world is burning and you're worried about how some meaningless platitudes. 50 percent of the country will hate Joe Biden and call him a socialist. Let's stop pretending otherwise.

[Zaybay]

Well, the recent crowd estimates are in.

It seems that Joe drew a maximum of 2,000 people to his kickoff event in Philadelphia.

That places him in 6th when it comes to crowd size(doesnt really mean much, but still an interesting statistic).

1. Harris (20,000)
2. Sanders (14,000)
2. Beto (14,000 in Austin, his largest)
3. Booker (4,100)
4. Warren (3,500)
5. Swalwell (2,500)
6. Biden (2,000)
7. Buttigieg (1,150)
8. Klobuchar (600, during a blizzard)

Note: List has been updated with more figures.

[Bleach Blonde Bad Built Butch Bodies for Biden]

Well, the recent crowd estimates are in.

It seems that Joe drew a maximum of 2,000 people to his kickoff event in Philadelphia.

That places him in 5th when it comes to crowd size(doesnt really mean much, but still an interesting statistic).

1. Harris (20,000)
2. Sanders (14,000)
2. Beto (14,000 in Austin, his largest)
3. Booker (4,100)
4. Swalwell (2,500)
4. Biden (2,000)
6. Klobuchar (600, though her kickoff was held during a blizzard)

Behind Swalwell?  Heck of a job, Joe!  We'll see where those Biden crowd-goers are in Iowa if they're not all dead or in a retirement home.

[Rookie Yinzer]

Well, the recent crowd estimates are in.

It seems that Joe drew a maximum of 2,000 people to his kickoff event in Philadelphia.

That places him in 5th when it comes to crowd size(doesnt really mean much, but still an interesting statistic).

1. Harris (20,000)
2. Sanders (14,000)
2. Beto (14,000 in Austin, his largest)
3. Booker (4,100)
4. Swalwell (2,500)
4. Biden (2,000)
6. Klobuchar (600, though her kickoff was held during a blizzard)

Nobody really wants Biden to be President. They just think he is who other people want. Bad sign.

[Zaybay]

I have updated the list with some more numbers. Just thought to let you guys know.

[Mr. Smith]

I am going to break from the conventional wisdom here and say that electability is not the main reason that Biden is doing so well.

Rather, it's the nostalgia for Obama.

Since Obama obviously cannot run again, Biden is the next best thing.

I'd argue that is why he's considered such.

I honestly wished he ran in 2016 and took on Hillary and Sanders for precisely that reason. Considering my posting history, ironically, I would've voted for him...nearly wrote him in at the polling station [which I was forced to go to when my mail-in didn't arrive].

[junior chįmp]

That blue eyed white devil Biden is up to his old tricks again with his siren song to progressives...we know hes a phony but Im not delusional enough to believe that voters care about his record

[🐒Gods of Prosperity🔱🐲💸]

https://twitter.com/amyewalter/status/1130105377671008256?s=20

[pppolitics]

https://twitter.com/amyewalter/status/1130105377671008256?s=20

Bernie Candidacy is like one of those health-centric restaurants that only millennials and Gen Z would go to.

[Some of My Best Friends Are Gay]

Well, the recent crowd estimates are in.

It seems that Joe drew a maximum of 2,000 people to his kickoff event in Philadelphia.

That places him in 6th when it comes to crowd size(doesnt really mean much, but still an interesting statistic).

1. Harris (20,000)
2. Sanders (14,000)
2. Beto (14,000 in Austin, his largest)
3. Booker (4,100)
4. Warren (3,500)
5. Swalwell (2,500)
6. Biden (2,000)
7. Buttigieg (1,150)
8. Klobuchar (600, during a blizzard)

Note: List has been updated with more figures.

Unfortunately crowd size is pretty meaningless in terms of actual support. Biden has the most support, but I'd imagine a large number of his supporters aren't enthusiastic enough to show up at rallies.

[ElectionsGuy]

Well, the recent crowd estimates are in.

It seems that Joe drew a maximum of 2,000 people to his kickoff event in Philadelphia.

That places him in 6th when it comes to crowd size(doesnt really mean much, but still an interesting statistic).

1. Harris (20,000)
2. Sanders (14,000)
2. Beto (14,000 in Austin, his largest)
3. Booker (4,100)
4. Warren (3,500)
5. Swalwell (2,500)
6. Biden (2,000)
7. Buttigieg (1,150)
8. Klobuchar (600, during a blizzard)

Note: List has been updated with more figures.

Unfortunately crowd size is pretty meaningless in terms of actual support. Biden has the most support, but I'd imagine a large number of his supporters aren't enthusiastic enough to show up at rallies.

He could get through a primary, but if that problem (lack of excitement) continues into the GE, that'll hamper his much-cherished electability. I think that's one of the underrated things that sunk Hillary in 2016.

[Xing]

It certainly isn't the case that the candidate with the largest crowd size wins. However, an argument could be made that the candidate with larger crowd sizes has more enthusiasm and is more likely to overperform their polling.

[American2020]

https://twitter.com/ezraklein/status/1130443908255768578

[Vaccinated Russian Bear]

Gallup: Biden Maintaining Majority Favorable Rating








Biden, Bernie, and Pete are the only ones with positive Favourable/Unfavourable. Enough said.

[Vaccinated Russian Bear]

Trump is divisive and won. Stop droning on about unity. Half of the country will hate Joe Biden no matter how much he panders to them at the expense of issues Democrats care about. Stop worrying about people who wouldn’t spit on you if you were on fire.

The divisive candidate lost 

Campaigning-Trump was not THAT divisive. He was trying being nice to gays. He promised not to cut Social Security and other not-so-conservative things. He tried to win over some of Bernie's voters. He promised to show his Art of the Deal while negotiating with Democrats (LOL).

If you still think Trump was the divisive one, name something as divisive as saying that the other side is a Basket of Deplorables.

[Mr. Smith]

Trump is divisive and won. Stop droning on about unity. Half of the country will hate Joe Biden no matter how much he panders to them at the expense of issues Democrats care about. Stop worrying about people who wouldn’t spit on you if you were on fire.

The divisive candidate lost 

Campaigning-Trump was not THAT divisive. He was trying being nice to gays. He promised not to cut Social Security and other not-so-conservative things. He tried to win over some of Bernie's voters. He promised to show his Art of the Deal while negotiating with Democrats (LOL).

If you still think Trump was the divisive one, name something as divisive as saying that the other side is a Basket of Deplorables.

"They aren't sending their best. They're sending rapists, killers, and some I assume, are good people"

Done.

[Vaccinated Russian Bear]

Trump is divisive and won. Stop droning on about unity. Half of the country will hate Joe Biden no matter how much he panders to them at the expense of issues Democrats care about. Stop worrying about people who wouldn’t spit on you if you were on fire.

The divisive candidate lost  

Campaigning-Trump was not THAT divisive. He was trying being nice to gays. He promised not to cut Social Security and other not-so-conservative things. He tried to win over some of Bernie's voters. He promised to show his Art of the Deal while negotiating with Democrats (LOL).

If you still think Trump was the divisive one, name something as divisive as saying that the other side is a Basket of Deplorables.

"They aren't sending their best. They're sending rapists, killers, and some I assume, are good people"

Done.

If it wasn't true why Obama would deport 4 millions of good hombres? Also read why Biden thought about those hombres
https://edition.cnn.com/2019/05/10/politics/kfile-biden-drugs-fence-2006/index.html


But I agree that Hillary disliked fellow Americans more than Trump disliked Illegal Aliens. Biden is not like her.

[pppolitics]

I am going to break from the conventional wisdom here and say that electability is not the main reason that Biden is doing so well.

Rather, it's the nostalgia for Obama.

Since Obama obviously cannot run again, Biden is the next best thing.

speaking of the devil

https://twitter.com/ezraklein/status/1130443908255768578

[Rookie Yinzer]

Trump is divisive and won. Stop droning on about unity. Half of the country will hate Joe Biden no matter how much he panders to them at the expense of issues Democrats care about. Stop worrying about people who wouldn’t spit on you if you were on fire.

The divisive candidate lost 

Campaigning-Trump was not THAT divisive. He was trying being nice to gays. He promised not to cut Social Security and other not-so-conservative things. He tried to win over some of Bernie's voters. He promised to show his Art of the Deal while negotiating with Democrats (LOL).

If you still think Trump was the divisive one, name something as divisive as saying that the other side is a Basket of Deplorables.

Trump is racist as hell. Your gaslighting doesn’t work over here.

[Vaccinated Russian Bear]

Trump is divisive and won. Stop droning on about unity. Half of the country will hate Joe Biden no matter how much he panders to them at the expense of issues Democrats care about. Stop worrying about people who wouldn’t spit on you if you were on fire.

The divisive candidate lost 

Campaigning-Trump was not THAT divisive. He was trying being nice to gays. He promised not to cut Social Security and other not-so-conservative things. He tried to win over some of Bernie's voters. He promised to show his Art of the Deal while negotiating with Democrats (LOL).

If you still think Trump was the divisive one, name something as divisive as saying that the other side is a Basket of Deplorables.

Trump is racist as hell. Your gaslighting doesn’t work over here.

Perhaps, he is. But the most divisive candidate lost in 2016.

[🐒Gods of Prosperity🔱🐲💸]

Biden, Bernie, and Pete are the only ones with positive Favourable/Unfavourable. Enough said.

6% of Democrats have never heard of Joe Biden