Biden announces he won’t seek reelection

[SusanBAnthony]

SNL is going to be amazing this fall, I love Maya Rudolph.

[kellady]

Jul 21, 2024 13:20:49 GMT -5 @villainv said:

Also….a reminder for all who are able, please donate $$$!!! Whoever runs, whatever the campaign is, they are going to need a lot of funding.

Best suggestions?  I get so many texts now, I’m overwhelmed.  I want to donate but just want best place.  

You guys, this is so hard.  I really want to help.  Right now, donate is my only option.  I am HOH, so people facing is wrong for me.  I broke both feet our first day of vacation two weeks ago, so door to door is out for a while.

I live in a fairly red area it seems.  Lots of Trump flags.  Ant suggestions of how to approach people if I should have the chance?

Also, possible flammable question.  If there are those acquaintances that I’m pretty sure are Trumpers, would you speak to encouraging voting for them?   

[Bernadine]

I definitely tested up, and I’m not a crier.

I’m….excited? This is not how I expected to feel.

[ellipses84]

I heard rumors they were waiting until the RNC was over so Kamala wouldn’t be dragged through the mud with the video/ sound clips used for campaigning against her. Really hoping this is a well calculated move by the Dems and they have a plan to hard launch the new candidates. Seems a little disingenuous that all the fundraising of the past few weeks was saying Biden would remain the candidate. Maybe his health has worsened with Covid and I understand the strategy.

Biden / Orange Foolius was a little like 2016 where even in some red states like TX nobody liked either candidate that much. MAGATs are more rabid cult followers now, but I truly believe that percentage of voters is smaller than they claim. What will win this election is high voter turnout. I think women and LGBTQ+ will vote in records numbers regardless of candidate since we are facing our rights being taken away. With a new candidates, Gen Z will too, although there’s a large segment who blame Kamala for what is happening in Palestine. Hopefully she will speak out against it considering what is happening on an international stage. I think it will engage more “anyone but an old guy” voters. Talk to everyone you know about registering to vote and voting! I think some of their excuses for not voting will not be valid anymore. We need to rally behind the new candidates with enthusiasm and hope!

[imimahoney]

Wow.

I think Shapiro would be an excellent choice for VP. Pennsylvania seems very happy with him.

[SusanBAnthony]

I was basically totally unengaged from the campaign. I was definitely going to vote for Biden, but had zero interest or energy to do anything other than ignore it as much as possible until I held my nose and voted.

Now I am actually excited!!!!

[konapoppy]

Just texted my boomer mom - she is thrilled too. And she had been consumed by anxiety with the election.

[gretchenindisguise]

I'm choosing to be willfully cautiously optimistic. This can create new energy into the race and give us someone we can be happy to rally behind.

I also hope his health is good enough that he gets a few years of good retirement.

[mags]

I want to thank Biden for over 50 years of serving this country. He is a man who has overcome so much in his life. Thank you for being such a respectable, honest, reliable, lovable man. He did a fantastic job and everyone in this country will lose from this decision.

[fryjack2]

I was going to vote democratic no matter what but I am thrilled that I won’t actually be casting a vote for Biden. That was killing me.

The optimism in this thread is giving me hope because I had fully resigned to the 1.5 eared dumbass being president again.

[InvaderGIR]

Saw this just the other day and will now be looking out for the inevitable www.tiktok.com/t/ZPRo66nXu/

[konapoppy]

It brings me joy just thinking about the people on Trump’s campaign freaking out that their job just got a lot harder.

[lostrn]

Jul 21, 2024 13:39:28 GMT -5 kellady said:

Jul 21, 2024 13:20:49 GMT -5 @villainv said:

Also….a reminder for all who are able, please donate $$$!!! Whoever runs, whatever the campaign is, they are going to need a lot of funding.

Best suggestions?  I get so many texts now, I’m overwhelmed.  I want to donate but just want best place.  

You guys, this is so hard.  I really want to help.  Right now, donate is my only option.  I am HOH, so people facing is wrong for me.  I broke both feet our first day of vacation two weeks ago, so door to door is out for a while.

I live in a fairly red area it seems.  Lots of Trump flags.  Ant suggestions of how to approach people if I should have the chance?

Also, possible flammable question.  If there are those acquaintances that I’m pretty sure are Trumpers, would you speak to encouraging voting for them?   

The true trumpers I know are fairly rabid? Obsessed? Brainwashed? Trying to have logical conversations with them about actual Biden accomplishments vs Trump accomplishments and just what is it they find appealing about that guy...it's impossible. There's no listening, no critical thinking. I'm sure there are a few that are persuadable but I think they are few and far between.

[cous0226]

Jul 21, 2024 13:52:33 GMT -5 konapoppy said:

It brings me joy just thinking about the people on Trump’s campaign freaking out that their job just got a lot harder.

Yes I love it. The media has been obsessing on him and the convention and now there is a new shiny toy for the media that’s gonna last for mooonths and he’s not gonna be able to handle it.

[ellipses84]

Another thought on 2016 vs now. Hilary had a lot of baggage from decades in politics. Biden had being old, the Hunter scandal, etc. Now Dumpster Fire with his 34 felonies, SA history, Epstein docs, Jan. 6, his disaster presidency he already lost a re-election for, etc. is the old candidate who can’t get people’s names right and rambles on, which is going to be a stark contrast to any new, younger candidate. The VP pick needs to be someone who will get us swing state votes.

[fernweh]

If they don’t nominate someone until the convention what happens until then. It is almost a month away. That’s a lot of time to lose for campaigning and fundraising.

[loira]

As someone whose country's elections don't have years long campaign periods, I can assure you that it is entirely possible for people to make an informed decision and get behind a new candidate in a matter of weeks.

[AAM2012]

Jul 21, 2024 13:23:04 GMT -5 mcsangel2 said:

Chatter I've heard the last few days is guessing Sen. Mark Kelly would be the VP pick. He's my senator (from AZ), and I REALLY don't want to lose him (we are a purple state) but I have to admit he's kind of a unicorn and a super strong candidate. Former astronaut/military, pro 2A (as incongruous as that seems). I think he might be a better choice than Whitmer.

Same, he would be a good middle of the road VP!! <3

[underwaterrhymes]

Jul 21, 2024 13:56:04 GMT -5 fernweh said:

If they don’t nominate someone until the convention what happens until then. It is almost a month away. That’s a lot of time to lose for campaigning and fundraising.

There is a virtual roll call in early August. As of right now, that’s still the plan.

Harris will hopefully name a VP soon - in the next 10 days.

I’m seeing Mark Kelly and Andy Beshear. I love Buttigieg, but I think that’s a risky choice.

[StrawberryBlondie]

JFC I went to the lake for a swim and get back to this???

I'm also trying to be hopeful. I did not want this to happen but I still think Trump is ultimately beat-able in November.

[fernweh]

I have such varying feelings- both excitement and disappointment.

I am shocked - I honestly thought it was all talk. I like someone upthread was planning to vote for Biden but was not excited about it. I’m cautiously optimistic that this might excited some people who were going to sit it out or vote third party because they didn’t like either Trump or Biden.

[Susie]

I supported Harris in the 2020 primary and I'm still fangirling.  I'm ready for Harris 2024.

I'm sorry on a personal level that Biden is probably going through a health crisis of some sort, since I don't think he'd step aside for any other reason.  I hope he is able to enjoy his post-January retirement.  He has served our country tremendously and with dignity, and he deserves a rest.

I'm grateful on a political survival level that he has bowed out and ended the chaos surrounding will he or won't he.  We still have yet to anoint our nominee, but I'm crossing it all that the endorsements for Harris cascade in and effectively limit the debate to VP picks.  There's no one as qualified as she is, plus there's no one remotely as well funded.

I like the Kelly idea.  One of my colleagues also suggested a unity ticket with Larry Hogan, which I thought was unlikely but interesting, to try to reach some of the moderate voters and the Republicans who don't support Trump.

[mofongo]

Ok, this thread is making me feel excited and hopeful, which I didn’t expect!

[lahoagie]

Kamala is really strong on abortion rights and abortion rights get people out to vote. How many states have abortion rights on their ballet in November? I want to see her debate Trump. Let’s do this!

[pixy0stix]

I just found out. I wasn't paying attention to the news at all today. I need to process.

[shopgirl07]

I was shocked at first but I’m FIRED UP now!

This is going to be a good thing. Biden wasn’t going to win, voter apathy was real.

I’m ready for Kamala and the kick ass person she picks for VP. This is a burst of energy that we needed. It’s our hope to preserve democracy. Let’s go!

[morecoffeeplease]

It does make me a bit giddy that the Trump campaign wanted Biden to stay in. Fuck trump. I hope this rattles him.

[underwaterrhymes]

I am listening to Christopher Bouzy on Spoutible. It’s calming me down.

[AAM2012]

Jul 21, 2024 13:10:56 GMT -5 wanderingback said:

Not that I want him to have a serious health problem, the only way this makes sense and I feel somewhat hopeful is him dropping out because of a serious health problem.

Otherwise fuck all these people speaking out now and not 18 months ago and sending everything in to chaos. We continue to live in a horror movie.

I am actually glad he waited as long as he did to allow Trump to pick JD Vance who is has a horrible track record on the abortion issue.

[abs]

I can’t wait to watch a Kamala and Trump debate. Can’t wait. She’s going to embarrass him. It’ll be fantastic.

I’m honestly excited.