Biden officially announced his campaign

[pixy0stix]

Source - all the news

[Velar Fricative]

Let's do this!!! Fuck the GOP.

[seeyalater52]

Me, passive aggressively refusing to acknowledge excited posts in our my team’s Teams chatter thread.

Don’t ask me what the alternative is, I don’t fucking know, I’m just absolutely dreading a very personally high stakes election season where the best of the worst options is to vote for a guy I haven’t been happy with while in office the past 3 years. (Obviously I will do it, but today it feels blah.)

[pixy0stix]

I also feel blah, but fuck the alternatives.

And I swear to gawd if Bernie pulls his shenanigans again...

[calamity]

Meh okay. I'll vote for him again if he's the nominee, but I don't have to be excited about it.

[Velar Fricative]

Apr 25, 2023 8:56:46 GMT -5 calamity said:

Meh okay. I'll vote for him again if he's the nominee, but I don't have to be excited about it.

Ultimately, very much like 2020.

[jinkies]

I think it's a mistake for him to run again.

It is so disheartening to me that there isnt an option other than a relatively unpopular 80 year old man.

I will ultimately vote for whoever the D nominee is, but is this really the best we can do?

[sent]

Apr 25, 2023 9:04:41 GMT -5 jinkies said:

I think it's a mistake for him to run again.

It is so disheartening to me that there isnt an option other than a relatively unpopular 80 year old man.

I will ultimately vote for whoever the D nominee is, but is this really the best we can do?

I’m nervous too. Is this how Obama won? The other side put up an old white guy with a woman who said dumb things as his VP candidate and those on the fence went with the cooler young guy who had a long time Senator as his VP candidate. I have no idea, I don’t remember exactly how he won.

[pixy0stix]

Apr 25, 2023 9:10:51 GMT -5 sent said:

Apr 25, 2023 9:04:41 GMT -5 jinkies said:

I think it's a mistake for him to run again.

It is so disheartening to me that there isnt an option other than a relatively unpopular 80 year old man.

I will ultimately vote for whoever the D nominee is, but is this really the best we can do?

I’m nervous too. Is this how Obama won? The other side put up an old white guy with a woman who said dumb things as his VP candidate and those on the fence went with the cooler young guy who had a long time Senator as his VP candidate. I have no idea, I don’t remember exactly how he won.

Obama won because we were deep in a recession following 2 years of Dubya doing increasingly stupid things. We were bound to have a D president regardless of the nominee, which is why the Rs put up such a weak candidate. Not to discount that Obama was a shining star, which is why he won the D nomination.

[seeyalater52]

Apr 25, 2023 9:10:51 GMT -5 sent said:

Apr 25, 2023 9:04:41 GMT -5 jinkies said:

I think it's a mistake for him to run again.

It is so disheartening to me that there isnt an option other than a relatively unpopular 80 year old man.

I will ultimately vote for whoever the D nominee is, but is this really the best we can do?

I’m nervous too. Is this how Obama won? The other side put up an old white guy with a woman who said dumb things as his VP candidate and those on the fence went with the cooler young guy who had a long time Senator as his VP candidate. I have no idea, I don’t remember exactly how he won.

He won by having a broad base of support and turning out voters that had historically had barriers to participation by being a candidate they cared enough to come out for despite those obstacles.

2020 was an aberration for sure, but look no further than John Kerry in 2024 for an example of “but I’m better than this other guy” being a poor election platform.

[seeyalater52]

Apr 25, 2023 9:16:43 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

Apr 25, 2023 9:10:51 GMT -5 sent said:

I’m nervous too. Is this how Obama won? The other side put up an old white guy with a woman who said dumb things as his VP candidate and those on the fence went with the cooler young guy who had a long time Senator as his VP candidate. I have no idea, I don’t remember exactly how he won.

Obama won because we were deep in a recession following 2 years of Dubya doing increasingly stupid things. We were bound to have a D president regardless of the nominee, which is why the Rs put up such a weak candidate. Not to discount that Obama was a shining star, which is why he won the D nomination.

Ok this also true. Biden just does not have a lot going for him, especially since the narrative is that any poor economic conditions were “caused” by Democrats taking the pandemic seriously (for a hot minute.)

[penguingrrl]

At this point it’s vote for whomever the DS put up or vote for fascia. I’m not excited that Biden is who we’re putting up, but it is what it is. I’d vote for Mickey Mouse with the same enthusiasm.

However, we need to get it together and build our bench back because this generation won’t live forever. The fact that he’s seen as the only electable option by the party is appalling.

[sent]

Apr 25, 2023 9:16:43 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

Apr 25, 2023 9:10:51 GMT -5 sent said:

I’m nervous too. Is this how Obama won? The other side put up an old white guy with a woman who said dumb things as his VP candidate and those on the fence went with the cooler young guy who had a long time Senator as his VP candidate. I have no idea, I don’t remember exactly how he won.

Obama won because we were deep in a recession following 2 years of Dubya doing increasingly stupid things. We were bound to have a D president regardless of the nominee, which is why the Rs put up such a weak candidate. Not to discount that Obama was a shining star, which is why he won the D nomination.

Right, so I'm worried the other side is looking at Biden the same way. 

[jinkies]

Apr 25, 2023 9:17:30 GMT -5 seeyalater52 said:

Apr 25, 2023 9:10:51 GMT -5 sent said:

I’m nervous too. Is this how Obama won? The other side put up an old white guy with a woman who said dumb things as his VP candidate and those on the fence went with the cooler young guy who had a long time Senator as his VP candidate. I have no idea, I don’t remember exactly how he won.

He won by having a broad base of support and turning out voters that had historically had barriers to participation by being a candidate they cared enough to come out for despite those obstacles.

2020 was an aberration for sure, but look no further than John Kerry in 2024 for an example of “but I’m better than this other guy” being a poor election platform.

Right. Biden got by on being "Better than this other guy" in 2020 because the other guy was so historically awful and polarizing. 

But in 2024-- I just don't think there is the same "anyone but Trump" energy that brought people to the polls in 2020 even though they weren't particularly excited about Biden then either. 

I don't know anyone that loves or is excited about Biden for 2024 and if people aren't hugely motivated to vote, I'm not sure that a D victory is possible.

I would be thrilled to be proved wrong. But I am extremely unenthusiastic about Biden 2024. 

[pixy0stix]

Apr 25, 2023 9:17:30 GMT -5 seeyalater52 said:

Apr 25, 2023 9:10:51 GMT -5 sent said:

I’m nervous too. Is this how Obama won? The other side put up an old white guy with a woman who said dumb things as his VP candidate and those on the fence went with the cooler young guy who had a long time Senator as his VP candidate. I have no idea, I don’t remember exactly how he won.

He won by having a broad base of support and turning out voters that had historically had barriers to participation by being a candidate they cared enough to come out for despite those obstacles.

2020 was an aberration for sure, but look no further than John Kerry in 2024 for an example of “but I’m better than this other guy” being a poor election platform.

I think we saw that from Biden with the POC communities. White voters didn't select Biden as the nominee. 

I've said it before, and I'll say it again, I think most white voters are blah about Biden because white voters didn't nominate him.

[sent]

Who is the worst person the other side could put up that would push things in Biden's favor? Because otherwise he's going to be 80 year old sleepy grandpa Joe that raised mortgage rates and made homes unaffordable or whatever other thing they want to pin on him.

[Velar Fricative]

Apr 25, 2023 9:24:02 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

Apr 25, 2023 9:17:30 GMT -5 seeyalater52 said:

He won by having a broad base of support and turning out voters that had historically had barriers to participation by being a candidate they cared enough to come out for despite those obstacles.

2020 was an aberration for sure, but look no further than John Kerry in 2024 for an example of “but I’m better than this other guy” being a poor election platform.

I think we saw that from Biden with the POC communities. White voters didn't select Biden as the nominee. 

I've said it before, and I'll say it again, I think most white voters are blah about Biden because white voters didn't nominate him.

*Mic drop*

And yup, POCs, and especially Black people, supported Biden and still do. And they are the most stalwart of Democratic voters so they should get an outsized say over our nominee, IMO. I don't care that there are more exciting options than Biden. Going with anyone else right now anyway, regardless of his age, signifies to the country that we think we made a mistake voting for him in the 2020 general election and we don't need that given the election misinformation ever since then plus January 6th. I don't like everything he has done or still doing but consider me Ridin' with Biden anyway. 

[heat40]

Let’s go!! I’m all in!

[Gato]

I guess I’m the only person who’s happy with Biden and surprised by his ability to move forward some progressive causes.

I’ve always thought Bernie was all talk and no action. The right kind of talk, but if you can’t get it done, what does it matter?

I also think that Trump as the nominee will be a millstone for the Rs. I think fewer people are excited about him than in 2020. He’s definitely having a harder time with the deep pocket donors (although that may change). I think the abortion issue will get women leaning D in swing states.

[Velar Fricative]

And lest we forget, Biden was expecting to deal with the usual midterm shellacking within his party and didn't. The only reason we lost the House is because New York's gerrymandering attempt was struck down and some random dude from out of state ultimately drew our districts. If anything, given the extreme gerrymandering on the R side, they should have won by a ton but instead barely won. And that was still with record inflation.

We are still a looooooooooong way from November 2024. I mean, at this time during the 2020 election season Covid-19 didn't exist. Anything could happen, and that doesn't necessarily mean surprises will help Biden, but this country is weird right now so I won't count him out either and we'll need to generate enthusiasm for voters regardless of our own enthusiasm (or lack thereof) to fight whichever genocidal fascist gets the R nomination.

[seeyalater52]

Apr 25, 2023 9:24:02 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

Apr 25, 2023 9:17:30 GMT -5 seeyalater52 said:

He won by having a broad base of support and turning out voters that had historically had barriers to participation by being a candidate they cared enough to come out for despite those obstacles.

2020 was an aberration for sure, but look no further than John Kerry in 2024 for an example of “but I’m better than this other guy” being a poor election platform.

I think we saw that from Biden with the POC communities. White voters didn't select Biden as the nominee. 

I've said it before, and I'll say it again, I think most white voters are blah about Biden because white voters didn't nominate him.

This is absolutely true but there are tons of people from historically marginalized communities who are pretty upset about choices the admin has made. How that translates into electoral action is TBD - obviously those of us in those groups are adept at pulling the trigger for the candidate who will harm us less (undoubtedly the Democratic nominee) but there is a loss of motivation and enthusiasm for Biden who was actually president vs. 2024 campaign season Biden. I don’t think it is as straightforward as all that.

The reality is that voter protections have been further eroded since 2020 on an alarming scale and that makes it even more important that there is an enthusiasm and commitment to getting out the vote this time. I also worry that if Trump isn’t the GOP nominee that there won’t be consensus from Dems on the importance of turnout or from moderates on the danger of a GOP win.

[cattledogkisses]

People turned out to vote for Biden in 2020 because he wasn't Trump. If the GOP nominates Trump in 2024 that might work again, but if they nominate someone who manages to appear less divisive and more palatable to mainstream voters I will be very nervous.

[TR]

I'm confused at people saying Biden is unpopular among Dems. He got the nomination, didn't he? And I think pixy0stix and Velar Fricative are spot on about why this conversation is even happening on this board of majority white women.

[TR]

I also think we're underestimating voter enthusiasm. The last midterms were historic because of the continued erosion of rights and that hasn't gotten any better so if we can hammer that home, I think we can get a good turnout.

[sonrisa]

(1) sitting presidents who get primaried lose. So this is just going to have to be ‘good enough’

(2) the alternative is fucking BLEAK. we can’t be tepid about this. If you can’t get excited about Biden, at least get angry enough about the opposition you can get past the indifference and disappointment. Don’t ‘hold you nose and vote’ burn it down to keep someone in office who won’t nominate the next shot SC Justice

And stay on him to do better while in office

[sonrisa]

Never mind!

Apr 25, 2023 9:53:42 GMT -5 Velar Fricative said:

I mean, at this time during the 2020 election season Covid-19 didn't exist.
.

?
Schools here shut down Friday, March 13th and everything else here was locked down within a week. This time 2020 we were a month into isolation and completely losing it.

[neverfstop]

Meh....I wish we could have had a better, younger, more exciting candidate. But Biden has done a pretty darn good job...he's passed major pieces of legislation that will have generational impacts, he & the his team have gotten us through (hopefully) this inflation without crashing the economy & several other economic things that could have gone really bad, he's shown he's physically up for the job (for the time being). I do wish he had the courage/confidence to step away while he was "at the top" and could have mentored and ushered in a younger generation to the white house while the Dems are likely to win it again.

I have no idea what the GOP will do, but I think there's a 50/50 chance they nominate Trump & I think Biden can beat trump. That said, this is a failing of our political system and our parties that we have these two old white men running that nobody likes. We have to find a way to reform our parties and politics if we want more & better candidates.

[cattledogkisses]

Apr 25, 2023 10:11:08 GMT -5 sonrisa said:

Apr 25, 2023 9:53:42 GMT -5 Velar Fricative said:

I mean, at this time during the 2020 election season Covid-19 didn't exist.
.

?
Schools here shut down Friday, March 13th and everything else here was locked down within a week. This time 2020 we were a month into isolation and completely losing it.

I'm pretty sure she means where we are now relative to the 2024 election (1.5 years out).  So April 2019.

[penguingrrl]

Apr 25, 2023 10:11:08 GMT -5 sonrisa said:

Apr 25, 2023 9:53:42 GMT -5 Velar Fricative said:

I mean, at this time during the 2020 election season Covid-19 didn't exist.
.

?
Schools here shut down Friday, March 13th and everything else here was locked down within a week. This time 2020 we were a month into isolation and completely losing it.

That would be the equivalent of a year from now. This far out from the 2020 election it was May of 2019…

[sonrisa]

Apr 25, 2023 10:13:27 GMT -5 cattledogkisses said:

Apr 25, 2023 10:11:08 GMT -5 sonrisa said:

?
Schools here shut down Friday, March 13th and everything else here was locked down within a week. This time 2020 we were a month into isolation and completely losing it.

I'm pretty sure she means where we are now relative to the 2024 election (1.5 years out).  So April 2019.

lol! Very true. I still have quick trigger lock down stress. So all spring long I’m on subconscious comparison.

Yes - vela is right.