Ben, where do you get the idea Politico is "lefty" iike a Murdoch publication is "righty"?

I don't think you realize the "liberal media" is a myth.

On 7/9/2024 at 2:59 PM, Cliff Varnell said:

Or not.  Bernie and AOC back Biden.  Joe ain't leaving.  We all best get used to it!

Or not.  I can't think of any prior ambivalence I've had to compare with this.

https://www.politico.com/news/2024/07/10/dems-fear-biden-fundraising-cratering-00167496

Dems fear Biden’s fundraising is ‘cratering’

58 minutes ago, Benjamin Cole said:

To the worrywarts: Trump was already president once in the US, and nothing happened.

Unless you count the crashing of the American economy.

58 minutes ago, Benjamin Cole said:

And Biden was already president once, and nothing happened either. 

Unless you count the recovery of the American economy.

1 hour ago, Kirk Gallaway said:

He's a very weak candidate.

With the exception of one debate, when has Biden ever lost?

Can you name any legislative defeats outside the Republican immigration bill?

How about state and local elections for the Biden-era Democratic Party?

I recently spoke to someone who'd spent a couple of weeks driving around Oklahoma, Arkansas, and North Texas.  She said she didn't see a whole lot of Trump gear flying, but she did see a lot of signs indicating an infrastructure project signed off by Biden.

4 minutes ago, Cliff Varnell said:

Dr. Niederhut posts an anti-Biden meme

Ben Cole posts an anti-Trump magazine cover.

Who'd of thunk it?

Donald Trump's Chances of Winning Election Suddenly Slip

https://www.newsweek.com/trump-biden-election-simulations-poll-president-1922326

Dr. Niederhut posts an anti-Biden meme

Ben Cole posts an anti-Trump magazine cover.

Who'd of thunk it?

On 7/7/2024 at 12:47 PM, Cliff Varnell said:

Joe's gotta go.

Or not.  Bernie and AOC back Biden.  Joe ain't leaving.  We all best get used to it!

Wtf do I know.  I haven't handicapped a winner since the 2022 NBA Finals...

18 hours ago, Joe Bauer said:

Love Biden. Voted for him. But it is screamingly obvious he can't make it even another year at the decline rate he is exhibiting. He isn't making it through the last 6 months of his campaign!

On 6/30/2024 at 5:43 AM, W. Niederhut said:

Cliff,

    Biden's good work as POTUS (with a few exceptions, like the JFK records blockade and Gaza) isn't really the issue right now, IMO.

    Does he look like a man who can effectively serve another four year term in a highly demanding executive job?

    Anyone who thinks so is in denial. 

William, I stand corrected.

Olivia Nuzzi is an excellent journalist.  Joe's gotta go.

Harris-Shapiro '24.

12 minutes ago, Matt Allison said:

hmm, I thought the CBS poll showed it a wash

Reuters Ipso shows gains for Biden:

 

Caveat: I think the polls are nonsense this year and vastly overestimate Trump's percentages.

While no one is "excited" by Biden, Trump is universally loathed outside his cult. Never seen an American as unpopular as him in my lifetime, outside of Nixon.

My bad. CNN.

On 7/2/2024 at 3:00 PM, Cliff Varnell said:

The post-debate backlash against Biden appears to be fading.

Or not.  Recent NY Times, CBS, and Wall St. Journal polls show Trump leads outside the margin of error.

Over the next week or maybe two Biden needs to come across like Bryan Cranston ("I am the one who knocks.")

16 hours ago, Benjamin Cole said:

The pinned JFK Records Act thread has devolved into Water Cooler sniping, so let's try a fresh thread. 

For someone who self-righteously decries any partisan framing of the JFK Records Act, Ben Cole sure seems fond of politicizing the JFK Records Act.

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/one-three-democrats-think-biden-should-quit-race-reutersipsos-poll-finds-2024-07-02/

42 minutes ago, W. Niederhut said:

They aren't merely "pundits," Cliff.

They are the leading liberal intellectuals in the U.S.-- e.g., Krugman, Kristof, Norman Soloman, et.al.

Needless to say, any Democrat would be a vastly superior choice for 2025 than the Orange Psychopath-- the worst POTUS in American history, by scholarly consensus.  But a second Biden inauguration could play out like Weekend At Bernie's.

Is Biden going to catch a cold again?  He gave a rousing speech in North Carolina the next day, and a strong denunciation of the immunity ruling yesterday.  He raised $33 million within 48 hours of the debate.  An aggregate of post-debate polling shows a 2% drop -- hardly a collapse. 

Four factors in Biden's favor:  abortion on the ballot in Nevada, Florida and probably Arizona; the GOP get-out-the-vote effort is led by rank amateurs, Lara Trump and Charlie Kirk; Biden's masterful intrusion into the global oil market should result in significant price drops at the pump this fall; Trump will become even more unhinged as he tastes victory.

42 minutes ago, W. Niederhut said:

And, now that the Koch/Federalist Society SCOTUS has hijacked the U.S. government and blocked Trump's prosecutions, our democracy is hanging by a thread.

And the last thing we need is a Democratic Party squabbling over another nominee over the next two months.

42 minutes ago, W. Niederhut said:

Arguing obsessively about the JFK records in July of 2024 is a bit like fretting about a piece of burned toast while the entire house is burning down.

The JFK records are important, but America's house is currently on fire.

Spread the word, my brother!

3 hours ago, Kirk Gallaway said:

Again Cliff, yes the stakes are high!

Higher by orders of magnitude compared to 28 hours ago.

3 hours ago, Kirk Gallaway said:

Does that make it inevitable that the American voter will wake up to that fact?

Trump acts like he's already won and he's laying out his second term agenda -- "televised military tribunals."

We need to help him spread the word.

3 hours ago, Kirk Gallaway said:

of course a big question is who wouldl replace Biden?

Biden caught a cold and liberal pundits wet the bed.

2 hours ago, Kirk Gallaway said:

If it comes down to voting for Biden, I will.

But you guys better start getting serious. Biden is currently teetering!

This isn't a joke!

Trump Amplifies Calls to Jail Top Elected Officials, Invokes Military Tribunals

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/01/us/politics/trump-liz-cheney-treason-jail.html 

“Donald Trump over the weekend escalated his vows to prosecute his political opponents, circulating posts on his social media website invoking ‘televised military tribunals’ and calling for the jailing of President Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, Senators Mitch McConnell and Chuck Schumer and former Vice President Mike Pence, among other high-profile politicians,” the New York Times reports.

“Mr. Trump, using his account on Truth Social on Sunday, promoted two posts from other users of the site that called for the jailing of his perceived political enemies.” <quote off>

The entire world is teetering!

Sounds fine to me.

24 minutes ago, Kirk Gallaway said:

Not if Biden can't win. This ups the stakes, it's true..

Except for one debate, he's never lost.

24 minutes ago, Kirk Gallaway said:

Cliff, what I've found for years now, is a supremely confident group here thinking Biden will win. Here's the reality.

The reality is that the price of gas will drop significantly in October due to Biden's bold use of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.

24 minutes ago, Kirk Gallaway said:

-Biden will not take any states away from Trump in 2020!

North Carolina.  With abortion on the ballot Florida is also in play.

24 minutes ago, Kirk Gallaway said:

-But Trump will take from Biden!

- If the election is held today. If he loses any one of the 3 states Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania, Biden loses the election!

-In all these 3 states, they are currently too close to call, with Trump with a slight edge in 2 of them!

Dems have been over performing in state and local elections since the Dobbs decision two years ago.

24 minutes ago, Kirk Gallaway said:

- It's going to probably be the closest  election in U.S. history. The most electoral votes Biden could possibly get I think would be 276-262!

This is no longer a Presidential election.  It's an election for King.

24 minutes ago, Kirk Gallaway said:

-Another words , Biden was not a shoo-in, even before his terrible performance!

You can adopt the "unforced error "attitude that the American people will finally see Trump self destruct, or maybe a new scandal will do him in, which could happen, but personally, I don't want to depend on that!

Should the Democratic Party spend the next two months in pitched internecine battle over another nominee, or spend the next four months harping on the consequence of a certain Trump dictatorship?

Buck up, lad.

In light of the Supreme Court's ruling today which grants the President the powers of a King, the hand-wringing over Biden's debate performance seems petty in the extreme.

1 hour ago, Paul Rigby said:

The rich? Solidly Biden, as you would expect for the party of empire and war:

There are no Fortune 100 CEOs who are supporting Donald Trump, says Yale’s Jeffrey Sonnenfeld:

Battle of big fonts?

America’s Top 100 Donors Heavily Favor Trump and the Republicans

https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2024/06/rich-top-100-campaign-donors-lean-trump-republican/

1 hour ago, Paul Rigby said:

As for your argument that we should be grateful to Biden - more accurately, whoever is actually running US foreign policy given that the POTUS is a corpse - for only killing 80,000 Palestinian civilians,

And if your hero Trump had been President it would have been a half million plus.

Trump says Israel needs to ‘finish what they started’ and said war with Hamas is ‘taking a long time’

https://www.cnn.com/2024/04/04/politics/trump-israel-comments/index.html

1 hour ago, Paul Rigby said:

continuing to occupy a third of Syria (and still stealing its oil),

Syria/Russia: Strategy Targeted Civilian Infrastructure

Unlawful Attacks on Hospitals, Schools, Markets Forced Idlib Population Out

https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/10/15/syria/russia-strategy-targeted-civilian-infrastructure

Lots of blame to go around in Syria, best you leave that alone unless you're willing to blame Putin and Assad as well.

1 hour ago, Paul Rigby said:

not to mention the sabotage of the peace agreement in Ukraine

A peace deal proposed after Putin's catastrophic invasion of Ukraine was more of an invitation to surrender.  Putin wanted to keep NATO at bay so his invasion added 800 miles of heavily armed Finns to the Russian border.

Trump called Putin a "genius" and "savvy" for one of the biggest military blunders in history.

1 hour ago, Paul Rigby said:

and the worst act of ecological terrorism in history, the less said the better. Biden has been a thuggish, far-right catastrophe draped in rainbow colours and gimp masks. Hunter would have done less damage, and would undoubtedly have been more entertaining.

Trump would have pulled out of NATO and left the rest of Eastern Europe to Putin's tender mercies.  He may do it yet.

33 minutes ago, W. Niederhut said:

Cliff,

   You must have missed my comment (above) about the issue of Biden's fitness for the future (2025-29) job vs. past performance.

    Incidentally, I just saw a CBS poll showing that half of all DEMOCRATS (46%) now believe that Biden should step down, due to his advanced age (89%.)

A lot of Republican politicians withdrew their support for Trump following the Access Hollywood tape release.

3 weeks later no one was talking about it anymore.

In two weeks Trump is sentenced for 34 felonies falsifying business records in order to interfere in an election.  Think people will be talking about Biden's debate performance after that?

16 minutes ago, Paul Rigby said:

Good Lord. He stunk the place out literally? 

Below, a wonderful tribute to the Moonie-like cult that is the current Democrat party, that motley coalition of oligarchs, war-mongers, bankers, spooks, lawyers, toadies, back-stabbers, neo-cons and other undesirables.

Coming from a Trump supporter that's especially rich.

Hey Paul, you remember the drone programs Obomber and Trump had going in the Middle East and North Africa -- where thousands of civilians were killed, especially under Trump?

Biden put a stop to it.

Remember Netanyahu promising a major offensive in Rafah?  Hasn't happened full scale as of yet.  Bibi says Biden slowed down arms delivery over the last four months.  Think Trump would ever stand up to Netanyahu?

The Biden pullout from Afghanistan was ill-prepared, but they managed to get out 125,000 of our Afghan allies (left 175,000 behind, admittedly.)

How many South Vietnamese allies did the US of A pull out of 'Nam after the fall of Saigon?

5,500.

20 minutes ago, W. Niederhut said:

Cliff,

   Biden's voice wasn't merely raspy.  It was faint-- characteristic of Parkinsonism, (as was his apparent bradykinesia and masked facies.)

Or characteristic of a common cold.  He's been quoted saying before the debate he didn't feel well.

20 minutes ago, W. Niederhut said:

    There are reports from his own staff (not Faux News) that Biden functions best from 10 AM to 4 PM, then fades. 

Typical for human beings.

https://4dayweek.io/schedule/6-hour-workday#:~:text=Enhanced Productivity%3A The principle that,more dynamic and engaged workforce.

20 minutes ago, W. Niederhut said:

That's concerning for a 24/7 job involving nuclear codes.

He pulled an all-nighter in Vietnam last September negotiating a new regional security pact.

20 minutes ago, W. Niederhut said:

    As for the liberal Nobel Laureate from Princeton, when he talks, you Haight-Asbury slam dancers should listen.

We have well-developed Bullshed Detectors -- and I'm calling "Bullshed!" on this.

20 minutes ago, W. Niederhut said:

    Conscientious liberals have realistic concerns about Biden's candidacy.

William, could you please inventory Biden's losses as President?  Legislation he's failed to pass, alliances he's failed to form, local and state elections the Democrats unexpectedly lost?

38 minutes ago, W. Niederhut said:

Cliff,

    Biden's good work as POTUS (with a few exceptions, like the JFK records blockade and Gaza) isn't really the issue right now, IMO.

    Does he look like a man who can effectively serve another four year term in a highly demanding executive job?

Two trans-Atlantic trips  between June 5 and June 15 indicate effectiveness under demanding circumstances.  The right wing had to crop film and photos to make him look feeble.

38 minutes ago, W. Niederhut said:

    Anyone who thinks so is in denial.

Maybe we should ask President Romney how he kicked Obama's ass in their first debate.

38 minutes ago, W. Niederhut said:

    On Thursday night, Biden looked like a Parkinsonian, octogenarian nursing home resident who needed some tapioca pudding and a nap.

He had a raspy voice.  During the State of the Union and Friday in North Carolina he had a strong voice.

38 minutes ago, W. Niederhut said:

   Paul Krugman and Nicholas Kristof are right about this one, as usual. 

They need to change their diapers.

How long did it take for the Access Hollywood tape scandal to drop out of the news cycle in October 2016?

3 weeks.

In four months the Biden debate performance will be a footnote to this campaign.

Biden leveraged the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to force Saudi Arabia to curtail oil production cuts this fall.  The price at the pumps will probably drop significantly this October.

Playing the global oil market like that is unprecedented.  Gas prices usually increase in the summer months, but there have been no significant increases summer '24.  Biden should be bragging about this.

For such a feeble guy Old Joe sure gets a lot of stuff done.  Inflation in May year-over-year -- 2.6%.

Democrats need to fkn chill.

Joe Biden, Master Oil Trader

https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/2024/05/16/joe-biden-master-oil-trader