Biden vs. Trump

[_Doctor CamNC4Me]

I'd absolutely vote for Cuomo, and actually feel enthusiastic about it because, you know, he can form coherent, linear sentences.

- Doc

[_Jersey Girl]

If Biden debates Trump I think he'll mess it up. Cuomo? Doesn't matter what Trump throws at him. He wouldn't flinch.

[_EAllusion]

Cuomo is terrible. Just because he is an effective public speaker during a crisis he personally helped make worse doesn't mean he would be a good President. His rally around the flag effect won't last forever and people will remember whey they don't like the guy.

[_Doctor CamNC4Me]

EA,

Who would you like to see elected President?

- Doc

[_Icarus]

If Biden debates Trump I think he'll mess it up. Cuomo? Doesn't matter what Trump throws at him. He wouldn't flinch.

I think everyone here is underestimating Biden. He'll do much better than HC did. He's a spitfire like Trump who will let him have it. He knows what makes Trump's skin crawl and he's going to use it. Who gives a damn if he fumbles a word or two, its not like he's up against a wordsmith. Biden couldn't speak incoherently like Trump if he tried.

[_EAllusion]

[quote]EA,

Who would you like to see elected President?

- Doc[/quote]Well, it's down to Biden or Trump, so Biden it is.

Of the large pool of Democratic candidates, I was supporting Inslee, though I should note that this was taking into account my belief that he was generically electable. After he dropped out, then Castro. When it narrowed to the short list, Warren by far was the best person left in my view. In a happy coincidence, she is also by far the smartest balancing the ticket choice for VP, and it's still possible she will get that role. She currently tops every poll on the subject and wins nearly every Democratic demographic and dominates the ones Biden is weakest in.

While I have some significant economic disagreements with Warren, my differences are at least nuanced, and she blows out of the water any other candidate when it comes to anti-corruption, competence, and democratic structural issues that are the most immediate issue to deal with assuming Trump can be removed from office. Her approach to public communication is much preferred as well.

If Trump leaves, he's going to leave in his wake a federal government stuffed with corrupt operatives, a lengthy trail of crimes and criminals, and a political party bent on authoritarian collapse. If the focus isn't on rooting this out, defeating Trump is likely to be a brief reprieve. The Democrat who recognizes this, prioritizes it, and has a plausible plan to approach is what I'm most interested in.

I really dislike Biden, but his tendency to shift his views to the median Democrat probably softens some of the history that rankles me the most.

Cuomo is quite bad and his current popularity reminds me very much of post-9/11 Giuliani where people temporarily forget that fact and will probably come to regret it. I find this more annoying because his popularity derives from a crisis that he had a hand in causing.

Thank goodness Trump is such a dumpster fire of a human being that he only got a small rally effect.

[Guest]

Nevermind. I think I misread EA’s response.

Edit2. Maybe not. EA, if you were on god-mode and could elect or appoint someone as President, regardless of political party, who would it be? Just one person, please.

- Doc

[_EAllusion]

Hillary Clinton crushed Trump in the debates. After each debate, her polling lead temporarily shot up. How much of that was Clinton being good and Trump being awful is hard to say. Clinton herself is a B- debater. She's stilted in delivering canned lines and tends to pander, but she overprepares and genuinely knows the subjects she's asked about well. At the same time, she seemed masterful at getting under Trump's skin so he would bumble around. Clinton losing might have obscured your memory about how good the debates were for Clinton.

In any case, those were such epic screw-ups for Trump, I've been skeptical he'd be willing to debate anyone ever again. If a consensus develops in Republican circles that he'd look better against Biden, that might be a good thing. Biden might not be a great speaker. Biden might be prone to gaffes. Biden might be fading cognitively. But Trump is incapable of speaking about virtually any subject with any level of coherence or knowledge, is a transparent pathological liar, and debates like a emotionally sullen preteen. Getting him in the room to debate anyone probably is a win.

Sure, it'd be fun to see someone like Elizabeth Warren eat his lunch, but Biden's probably fine. The only thing I'd worry about is that the media likely will have such low expectations for Trump that if Trump manages not to vomit and pass out on live television, you might see "fair and balanced" coverage that praises him. Media coverage helps to drive popular perception.

[_EAllusion]

[quote]Nevermind. I think I misread EA’s response.

Edit2. Maybe not. EA, if you were on god-mode and could elect or appoint someone as President, regardless of political party, who would it be? Just one person, please.

- Doc[/quote]Oh, I see what you are asking. I'm not sure. My political calculations are grounded in the possible. Part of what makes this tough is being President means managing political coalitions and if you put your ideological ideal in the office, that person might not be able to accomplish anything without institutional party support and special interest backing. For instance, I like Justin Amash, but I find the idea of him being President ludicrous. He'd crash and burn.

Usually when people ask this, they aren't asking who you want as President so much as who you'd want as God-Emperor. As President in the practical realities of the present, I'd take Elizabeth Warren. As a like-minded ideologue from any walk of life who might not be an effective politician, Radley Balko. As someone who has some experience in political office while not taking into account whether they'd function as President, maybe Amash, though I'd first like to see what he'd prioritize and deprioritize as an executive. I'd also want to see a lot more information on who would be staffing such a Presidency. Personnel is policy as the saying goes, and I'm not convinced President Amash wouldn't appoint a bunch of nutbags even if he is solid. The libertarian bench is thin.

[_DoubtingThomas]

As President in the practical realities of the present, I'd take Elizabeth Warren.

Out of curiosity, do you dislike Bernie Sanders?