I like a Biden/Beto ticket if HRC doesn't run again

[Baltimike]

That'll change a hundred times, but I don't watch the conservative press, so musings while they lay HW to rest help pass the time

[WhiskeyGrinder]

1. Good lord, no.

[Baltimike]

2. Sweet Jesus, yes.

[LongtimeAZDem]

32. +1 /nt

[brush]

52. Get real. Two white males doesn't work anymore. Gotta have a...

woman and/or a POC on the ticket. That combination reflects who our party is now.

70% of white males vote repug, not Democratic so IMO pairing Beto with a POC or a woman will work.

Joe Biden's time has passed.

[still_one]

3. Hillary is not going to run. Biden/Beto is an excellent combination. They could unite the party,

and bring in independents.

One thing for certain is we cannot afford a candidate that is polarizing, and right or wrong the candidates that were running for the nomination in 2016 cannot unite the party. There is too much history that won't be forgotten, and the bad blood from that time is painfully obvious.


We need someone who was NOT running in the 2016 race, at both the primary, and the general election level, and if we fail to see that, I think we will have a very divided party going into 2020.

I also do not think Trump will be the republican nominee. It will either be Romney, Kasich, or Pence.

[Chemisse]

5. I totally agree.

Biden/Beta could be a good ticket. But really anybody who didn't run in 2016. The division was devastating.

[peggysue2]

25. I also agree

At least for the moment. It's early in the game so who knows who might come out swinging, impressing everyone in sight.

The important thing is we need a workable team, people who can win, start repairing the damage and setting the train back on the track. As well as inspire. Biden is certainly capable and knowledgeable to do the former and O'Rourke has proven he can inspire crowds into a frenzy.

Looks very promising from where I sit. Then again, I really like Kamala Harris. As well as Stacey Abrams.

We have a lot of talent to choose from. A good thing.

[StevieM]

29. I see no reason to doubt that Trump will be the 2020 GOP nominee.

Granted, it will be undeniable that he illegally colluded with our nation's enemies. But that won't stop GOP primary voters from simply denying what has clearly been proven. And low poll numbers won't hurt him, since the GOP primary voters will see them as fake news that were made up by the liberal media.

[still_one]

57. I disagree Stevie. Even without the alleged criminal activity, there are quite a few republicans

who are extremely upset with the trade wars, tarriffs, and general economic policy that have caused complete economic chaos not only domestically, but also internationally.

It is no secret the reason he won the republican primary in 2016. They had too many candidates, who took votes from each other, stayed in too long, and resulted in his nomination. Unlike the Democratic primaries, whose primaries which are NOT winner take all, the republican primaries are winner take all, which was also a big advantage to him, because the other republican candidates took votes away from each other. That will NOT happen in 2020 for the republican primary, and there will be challenges to trump for the republican primary nomination, but it will be two or 3, candidates.

The media and a lot of folks are understandably just focusing on the alleged criminal activity, impeachment, indictment, etc., but putting on the back burner how a lot of republicans are very upset with his economic policies, and I believe that may be their primary motivation for not voting for him in the republican primaries.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

54. The less polarizing the better, I agree.

[tparrett62]

4. Done with Biden

And HRC, and Bernie. It's time for new blood. Kamala Harris is at the top of my list; her no-bullshit approach in the Kavanagh hearings told me all I need to know about her ability to go one-on-one with Trump. I think Biden is too affable and carries too much baggage. And I hate to say it, but with Trump being 74 in 2020, I think the contrast between a young, strong and non-befuddled candidate and whatever shambling mess Trump will be by then is going to be striking. My dream ticket, Harris/Beto, or Harris/Booker.

[Eyeball_Kid]

6. In principle, there's lots on which to agree.

Newer, younger leaders have been waiting in the wings. Let them have center stage. We don't last forever.

[Garrett78]

7. Agreed.

Biden's age and baggage are bigger issues than some seem to recognize. If he runs, those things will become apparent. Right now, he's just lovable Uncle Joe. That'll change if he throws his hat in the ring.

And the average age of the last 5 Democratic presidents, upon taking office, is 48.6. Harris-O'Rourke works for me. We'd see the Obama coalition turn out in a big way and the greatest ever overall turnout for the Democratic ticket.

[WePurrsevere]

8. I like Beto for VP but I'd prefer Harris. For president, Biden although...

I still think Hillary would be awesome if she changes her mind and runs.

Yes, I know they're 'older' in years but I've known too many energetic & intelligent as heck 'older' people still going strong and too many younger apparently healthy people who drop dead to have a number be a major concern for me. Biden and Hillary are obviously in amazing physical and mental shape and both have the years of experience this country's going to need at the top to fix the damage currently being done by Dolt45.

Partner them up with a younger attention commanding VP candidate like Harris or Beto (who will make a great presidential candidate when done as VP) and I think it would be a darn good and winning ticket (as long as there's no tampering again).

Of course I'm a die-hard D so whoever is nominated will get my vote. Heck, right about now I'd vote for Snoopy or Peppermint Party if they had a D next to their name.

[pnwmom]

18. Are you comfortable that Biden sided with the Delaware financial industry

and against people struggling with mountains of student loan debt when he was the primary Democrat to join with the Republicans who passed a law making student loans non-dischargeable in bankruptcy?

I think it should be a large black mark against Biden; that and his treatment of Anita Hill during the hearings, refusing to let her call corroborating witnesses.

[WePurrsevere]

33. There will always be areas I disagree with a candidate but overall...

Biden has had a very progressive record and his stance on the majority of issues I care about is actually left of center. http://www.ontheissues.org/Joe_Biden.htm

He also has years of experience, incl as an active involved VP, and this country is going to really need that to straighten up the mess Trumplicans will be leaving.

Where the bankruptcy bill is concerned I honestly don't remember very much about that and I'd have to read the bill itself to try and see how it was different from what was in place previously that didn't allow student loans to be discharged in bankruptcy. If I remember correctly there was only one, or maybe two, exemptions at that time and that was for those who became permanently disabled and therefore unable to work. I know about this from first hand experience when I became disabled in 1989, could no longer work and in 1990 had to go bankrupt and was able to include my student loan in it only because I could furnish proof of being on SSDI.

You mentioned Anita Hill and I read that Biden has apologised to her for the way the Thomas hearing, that occurred 27 yrs ago, treated her. Whether she has chosen to accept his apology or not is up to her but one was offered.

Over my lifetime I've changed and grown as a person and continue to do so. I didn't always agree with Obama but as president he changed and grew as a person such as how he went from against same sex marriage to fighting for it. While I've always voted D, I haven't always agreed with Hillary or any other Democrat that I can think of. There simply isn't a '10' candidate and especially if you go back in time far enough. People develop opinions, make decisions and make mistakes over their lifetime. I don't judge people on mistakes they made nor opinions they had years ago. I look at what type of person they are, the stances/attitude they have NOW and in this case do I think they're qualified for the job and have stances similar to mine.

Biden obviously wouldn't be your choice. I won't tell you you're wrong. Who you vote for is your choice and I respect that.

I'm not saying Biden will definitely be my choice of he decides to run. I won't decide until I see who else throws their hat into the race and I learn more about them but the question of this thread was about a Biden/Beto ticket. If Biden runs an is our nominee I'd prefer Harris over Beto although I like Beto so far too.

At the end of the day, when I go into the voting booth in Nov 2020, I will vote a straight D ticket no matter who our nominee is because the stakes are way to high to vote for a 3rd party and the Sun will freeze over before I vote for a Republican.

[pnwmom]

37. If you want a more mature white guy, then Sherrod Brown from Ohio

would be a better choice than Biden. Or Jay Inslee of Washington.

But there are lots of other good candidates. I don't know why people keep pushing Joe, Bernie, and Hillary.

[EffieBlack]

45. Identity politics?

[pnwmom]

49. Could be! n/t

[WePurrsevere]

50. I don't care if the candidate is purple as long as...

they have the experience and ability to do the job and a record of having stances on issues that I feel are important.

As for the reason why Joe, Hillary and Bernie are 'pushed' my SWAG is that the main reasons are because they are extremely qualified, have years of experience, are fairly progressive and have major name recognition. I'm sure once the list of candidates becomes clear people will start shifting around until the field narrows and they find 'their' and then 'our' D candidate. D

As you said, there's a lot of other good potential candidates and it will be interesting to see how things pan out over time. At this early point in time though I just can't get terribly worked up over 'who' when it's still mostly just the normal forum speculative chatter.

[peggysue2]

39. Well said!

Pretty much sums up my own position at this early date.

[harumph]

9. Harris for P and Beto, VP

Winning ticket.

[maxsolomon]

10. Stop it, DU

Just stop with these dream tickets with elderly Boomers.

FOLLOW THE PROCESS.

[Baltimike]

14. PLEASE stop it, DU.

This call for "younger blood" smacks of ageism. It's gross. We need experience in these treasonous times.

[maxsolomon]

15. Keep stirring the pot, Baltimike, and "Welcome to DU".

I heard this same critique from multiple DUers in 2015/2016. If you were around then, you might have seen it.

You call it "Ageism"; I call it a winning strategy.

[Baltimike]

16. Thanks for calling my refusal of biotry "stirring the pot" and if you were

saying that around 2015/2016, it looks like you were WRONG.

Oh, and you're welcome.

[maxsolomon]

17. I'm going to assume you meant "Bigotry".

Now your entire low-count-poster OP is suspect, as if it wasn't before.

You're here to stir the shit and divide Democrats.

[Baltimike]

23. I'm going to assume you didn't MEAN that TOS violation

of calling out my low post count and accusing me of dividing Democrats. But thanks for pointing out my typo.

[Joe941]

35. This.

[GWC58]

41. From Baltimore?

That’s where I grew up just outside the city (Dundalk). Live in Easton, Talbot County.

[Doreen]

11. Sounds good BUT

I think Beto/Biden would be better. Fresh blood in the front and experienced backing him up.

[Baltimike]

12. I don't think Biden would do veep again, and I think we need experience

There is a LOT of ageism going on of late.

[pnwmom]

19. Biden is basking in Obama's reflected glory, but he's no Obama.

When the Republicans pushed through bills making it harder and harder -- and now, almost impossible -- to discharge student loan debt through bankruptcy -- Biden was the key Democrat with them every time. He chose to back the interests of Delaware financial firms over people struggling under mountains of student debt. (You can accrue ruinous debt building a pool in your backyard, or buying futures on the stock market, or buying designer clothes on your credit card -- and get out from under that debt through bankruptcy. But not student debt, unless you can prove your circumstances are "hopeless." And one judge ruled that it was never hopeless because you can always win the lottery.)

When Anita Hill needed his support -- as the Chairman of the Judiciary Committee -- at the Thomas Clarence hearings, he let his buddies on the GOP team walk all over her, and he prevented other women from giving collaborating testimony.

We don't need HIS kind of experience.

[Baltimike]

27. I agree he is no Obama, and you left out

his getting busted for plagiarism, but I would vote for him in a NY minute over Soviet Donald.

[pnwmom]

28. That's not the choice now. We have to pick our party's standard bearer

and there are MANY better choices than Genial Joe.

[earthside]

53. Old people die.

I got news for you ... it isn't ageism, it is a realistic recognition that no one lives forever.

Even those who are fortunate to live past 75 years and have relatively good health are going to get even older, are more prone to illness, fatigue, and mental decline.

Haven't we learned from Reagan and Trump that age matters?
Democrats really should look for the kind of youth and vigor that we have had with President's like Kennedy and Obama.

[demtenjeep]

13. I LOVE IT

LOVE BIDEN

and BETO is pretty awesome

[BeckyDem]

20. Nope.

Barbra Lee should run, she would take off like a rocket. Strong woman, strong progressive, to lead the way and she should not be reluctant to have a woman vice president along with her. It is our time, in many ways and for many reasons. Do not bow down to any status quo, fuck that bullshit.

[violetpastille]

51. +1

Agree, agree and agree.

[elocs]

21. HRC run again?

A clear example of a definition of insanity where you do the same thing over and over and expect a different result.

As a senior citizen myself I'd rather vote for someone younger than me and in this day and age in the Democratic Party 2 white guys on the ticket--well that dog don't hunt.

[Baltimike]

22. Yep. She won the last election, but the Russians interfered, with help from the kGOPb

so the "I want someone younger" when we are at war, whether we like it or not, is kind of weak tea, in my younger opinion.

[elocs]

38. No chance that tens of thousands of voters on the Left in WI, MI, & PA

who decided not to vote or who voted for the Green Party might have something to do with her loss? I guess blaming the Russians for everything is just too easy.

[Baltimike]

58. It's not "too easy", it's what fucking happened.

You're welcome.

[elocs]

62. Yes, it is what happened. Tens of thousands of voters on the Left

in WI, MI, PA and other battleground states chose not to vote or voted for a 3rd party candidate like Jill Stein and that did nothing to help Hillary Clinton win in those states.
Come that election day there was only 1 thing left to do for anyone who did not want to see Trump become president and that was to cast their vote for Hillary Clinton.

[Baltimike]

64. With 3 million more people voting for her, they DID.

Yep. "He who casts the votes decides nothing. He who COUNTS the votes decides EVERYTHING"

This isn't "either/or". This is ***AND***

And to pretend, after the experts from MIT and the like were sounding the alarm after election day, with Russia infiltrating the NRA, the evangelical sect AND the Trump campaign itself, it is almost silly to pretend they didn't.

It's what fucking happened. You're welcome

[StevieM]

30. She's not running again. But she was about to win decisively before Comey torpedoed her campaign.

eom

[GWC58]

42. I just don't think Hillary wants to put up with that shit again.

Her satisfaction will come when “Smocking” Don is led away in a beautiful matching set of wrist bracelets. 😃👍🏻

[mulsh]

24. I like viable Democratic candidates not elder statesmen. Biden's time has passed. time to step aside

and keep assisting younger, more energetic candidates. by the way it's time to stop suggested also rans and used to be's as candidates and start getting serious. Your suggestion of Beto indicates you're at least half way there.

[Turbineguy]

26. A good ticket.

[pamdb]

31. No No NO

I like Biden, but he's already run twice and lost. As a 67 year
old, I want someone younger. I don't want someone who is older than me. Plus, we really should have a woman on the ticket. I would love Beto and...Kamala Harris, Amy Klobucher, anyone but Kristen Gillenbrand. I don't want anyone in their 70's.

[elocs]

40. Well I'm only 66 and I agree completely.

Biden missed his chance in '16 and the reality is that you don't get unlimited chances to run for president. It's time to pass the torch to a new generation.

[Gothmog]

34. I would support this ticket

[jcgoldie]

36. Nobody votes for a ticket in the primary

You vote for a candidate... I have no idea why people keep posting tickets.

[GWC58]

43. I'll just say this;

who, or whom, ever is the Democratic presidential nominee has my vote. See, there is something we can all agree on. 😃

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

55. Yes!! (Way to really go out on a limb there... hahaha!!)

[Baltimike]

59. Yes. For sure.

[FrankBooth]

44. If HRC doesn't run again???

LOL.

She's not running again.

[Gothmog]

46. Beto is talking to prominent African Americans which is a smart move

Link to tweet

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

47. I'm 70 and I absolutely don't want someone even older than I am running for President.

I'd much rather that we not consider anyone old enough for Medicare. It is time to turn things over to the younger generations.

[maxsolomon]

69. didn't you see above?

you're a BIGOT. just like me.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

70. Well, too bad.

It's also possible to not be keen on some one specific woman running for President without being sexist.

Every single election cycle without fail DU is overrun with calls for the most recent failed candidate to run again.

[doc03]

48. NO on either one nt

[LakeArenal]

56. Perfect for me, too.

[oberliner]

60. Two white guys?

[Baltimike]

61. Two Democrats.

[oberliner]

66. Are there any Democrats who aren't white men who would make strong candidates?

I think it is worth considering a ticket that better reflects the diversity of the party.

[Baltimike]

67. Do those two Democrats make strong candidates, or do they have to be minorities to appease you?

[Celerity]

63. Deffo pass on Biden, he will absolutely not energise the younger voters

In fact he would have the opposite effect, as he has a record of baiting us (I just turned 23 10 days ago), not to mention championing the 2005 Bankruptcy Bill that makes it virtually impossible to get out from under truly odious student loan debt https://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2015/09/bankruptcy-joe-biden-really.html )



Biden Trashes Millennials in His Quest to Become Even Less Likable
"Give me a break," he said of young people who "think they have it tough."

https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/mbpxx8/biden-trashes-millennials-in-his-quest-to-become-even-less-likable


In an apparent effort to make himself an even less appealing 2020 contender, former Vice President Joe Biden had some harsh words for millennials while promoting his new book on Wednesday. Here's what he said in a conversation with Patt Morrison of the LA Times:

"The younger generation now tells me how tough things are. Give me a break. No, no, I have no empathy for it. Give me a break. Because here’s the deal guys, we decided we were gonna change the world. And we did. We did. We finished the civil rights movement in the first stage. The women’s movement came to be. So my message is, get involved. There’s no place to hide. You can go and you can make all the money in the world, but you can't build a wall high enough to keep the pollution out. You can't live where—you can't not be diminished when your sister can't marry the man or woman, or the woman she loves. You can't—when you have a good friend being profiled, you can't escape this stuff. And so, there's an old expression my philosophy professor would always use from Plato, 'The penalty people face for not being involved in politics is being governed by people worse than themselves.' It's wide open. Go out and change it."

Let's take this line by line.

The younger generation now tells me how tough things are. Give me a break. I have no empathy for it. Give me a break.

A January 2017 analysis of Federal Reserve data found that millennials, who are better educated than baby boomers, have a median household income of $40,581, meaning they earn 20 percent less than boomers did when they were our age. We're crippled with student debt to the point where home ownership is a pipe dream. So here's the deal, Joe—I'll give you a break if you give me some money.

Here’s the deal guys, we decided we were gonna change the world. And we did.

Who is "we"?


snip



and just so people do not think I am cherry picking a one-off article

https://www.thecut.com/2018/01/joe-biden-on-millennials.html

https://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/Joe-Biden-Millennials-2020-interview-book-tour-12494099.php

https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/368849-biden-on-young-people-complaining-they-have-it-tough-give-me-a

https://www.latimes.com/politics/95641832-132.html



Also, the last few times I have seen Biden, he looks frail, he would be in his 80's for most of his 2 terms. I want younger candidates, so no to Bernie, Hillary, probably Warren too. Sherrod Brown maybe, BUT we would lose the Senate seat so NO.


Beto would make a great VP for someone like Kamala Harris or Cory Booker

[DemocratSinceBirth]

65. Beto's talents are wasted as a vice presidential candidate.

[Gothmog]

68. This explains why so many Bernie supporters came out swinging against Beto O'Rourke this week

Link to tweet