All undecided voters in a U.S. swing states focus group hosted by pollster Frank Luntz said President Biden should be replaced as the Democratic nominee after watching his first presidential debate against former President Trump.

  • Kalkaline @leminal.space
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    6 months ago

    It just needs to not be Trump at this point. Biden isn’t a touchdown, he’s a punt with the hopes that we can do better next time.

    • lennybird@lemmy.world
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      6 months ago

      The problem is that the people who agree with your statement aren’t the ones who we need to convince.

      In my view too much is on the line to run Biden. He needs to voluntarily step down where then any younger fresh face that isn’t Kamala can win simply by peoples’ excitement for something different and youthful.

      • oxjox
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        6 months ago

        I fully agree with you but can also point to all of Biden’s accomplishments and say, well, he’s done very well, surprisingly well, thus far. I would much rather say, it’s exciting to have fresh young blood in the White House that best represents the vast diversity of this country and the hope for its future. Being able to easily defend Biden’s presidency isn’t enough, if I’m being honest. But also, I mean do we really have to go over everything that DT fucked?

        Worst election ever.

        The problem is we’re not given an opportunity to vote for who we want to be president. We vote against who we don’t want.

        RANKED. CHOICE. VOTING.

          • oxjox
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            6 months ago

            If you have something to say, go for it.

            • Maeve@kbin.earth
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              6 months ago

              After Reagan left office, we learned he had Alzheimer’s, and Nancy was governing from the shadows. It didn’t come out* until years after he died. 🤷‍♀️ I don’t think he’s well, and I thought it’s obvious, but I guess people believe what they want to believe. That applies to me, too.

              • oxjox
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                6 months ago

                That’s a fair comparison. I don’t think Biden is in this situation, yet. Could be worse - it could be Trump making his own unilateral decisions.

                • Maeve@kbin.earth
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                  6 months ago

                  He may or not be in that situation, but if he is, I don’t think anyone will tell us, anytime soon.

                  Yes, tfg was worse and would be worse still. The Democrats see the writing on the wall and are not getting it together rapidly or “radically” enough. I’m aware that’s not a popular opinion, but it’s what I see, regardless of if everyone not for the other guy gets on board or not.

      • jumjummy@lemmy.world
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        6 months ago

        That’s not going to happen unfortunately, so the choice is Biden or Trump. Want better candidates? Ensure Biden wins and start to promote more progressive candidates in your local elections, then keep supporting them as they climb the political ladder.

        Hoping for a last minute candidate swap for the Democrats is just a fantasy.

        • lennybird@lemmy.world
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          6 months ago

          Says who? You do realize the convention hasn’t even happened yet, right? There are absolutely ways this can change and without too much issue.

          Let’s not say it’s impossible when it absolutely can and a wide swath of the Democratic coalition are suggesting this in earnest.

          • jumjummy@lemmy.world
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            6 months ago

            Ok, fair point, but let’s see how many people continue to push “both sides”, “don’t bother voting”, or “I’m going to vote 3rd party” after the convention.

            Anyone that continues to push those talking points is trying to help Trump. Plain and simple.

            • lennybird@lemmy.world
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              6 months ago

              Wholly agree. I will push back against anyone who suggests that. But personally, I am going to advocate we change our nominee while we have time. And if that doesn’t happen, well sure, I’ll fall in line and vote for Biden or anyone so long as it isnt Trump.

          • Drusas@kbin.run
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            6 months ago

            Democrats have already voted in their primaries. To switch candidates for that party now would be to disenfranchise those voters.

            • lennybird@lemmy.world
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              6 months ago

              Nah, for starters those votes are of a private party and not the actual general elections. Second, there are protocols in place that allow a change in nominee, and third those votes were a snapshot in time not reflective of where people are necessarily now.

    • I’m sorry if I’m repeating some other response; often my Lemmy client can’t load sub comments, and I see you already have 6.

      I think we’re voting for Kamala. She’s not running because she can’t win, not against Trump, and probably not against anyone else. She’s even more unpopular than Biden, and the Right would have a field day if she were the front runner.

      But, frankly, side by side, Trump looks more healthy and robust than Biden, and it’s saying something. If Biden is elected, Kamala will be president before the end of his term.

      I don’t know if that’s terrible; I don’t particularly care for her, but she’s better than Trump, and is on the right side of most of the issues I care about. Also, if she did a decent job and had some luck, she’d be able to run again for a second term, and we could get an unusual streak of three liberal(ish) terms.

      As for Biden, a president’s staff does most of the real work of any president; I think of a president more like the captain of a large ship: they take a lot of input from the crew, and make decisions. They don’t gather the information or touch the controls; as long as they have a competent team, I suspect nearly anyone could functionally be president. As long as he’s mentally capable of processing the information he’s given and making rational decisions, he can do his job. I’m just no longer convinced he’s going to be capable of that for a full term, and the way he’s looking, I wouldn’t be surprised if he physically failed in the next 4 years.

      So: President Harris. I just hope they’re putting effort into making sure she can step into the shoes quickly. If Biden can even win this election.

      Biden, though. Dude’s looking like Lo Pan from Big Trouble in Little China.

      • stoly@lemmy.world
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        6 months ago

        This has been my thought for a long time. You’re basically setting the stage for President Harris. If Biden survive 2 years and 1 day, we can get 10 years of Kamala.

        • stoneparchment@possumpat.io
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          6 months ago

          Why would we even want that, though? Harris is a cop, and her presidency would likely be just as impotent and mediocre as Biden’s. Like Biden, she’s going to bend to corporate interests, please no one in the interest of pleasing everyone, not make or advocate for any major protective reforms to the democratic process (ranked choice voting, etc.), and try to take the high road against directly calling out fascism. When will the DNC get it through their heads that their departmental politics and seniority process shouldn’t decide the president-- the people should?

          Also, I find it immoral of them to play a horrible game of “switcheroo” with Harris and Biden. It feels like what you’re saying is, they know she’s unpopular and would lose an election, but if we switch her in for Biden through this presidency then everyone will see how great she is! We don’t need an election, we just need the great and powerful DNC to plan our presidents for us!!!

          To clarify in case it isn’t obvious, I am a trans, disabled leftist. But this is EXACTLY why Trump is so popular and why everyone hates the DNC.

          • stoly@lemmy.world
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            6 months ago

            You’re allowed to be president two times, this is a constitutional amendment. But for it to count as one time, you have to be president for some fraction longer than 50% of a four year term, i.e. 2 years plus 1 day. So if Biden can survive that long then die, Kamala would be president but it wouldn’t count as a term. She could then run for office twice more.

            • Thank you! So, in that situation, instead of 3 consecutive terms, we could see 4.

              Assuming she’s successful, becomes far more popular, and there are no major crises that work against her.

              The most reliable way to get re-elected is to be president when a war starts. Like how Bush Jr engineered 9/11 so he could ensure re-election(*). But it tensions escalated with Russia and we got involved, that’d do it.

              (*) Yeah, no. I don’t really believe that. It’s just a joke.

      • Drusas@kbin.run
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        6 months ago

        This is just as relevant for Trump. His running mate matters. Neither of them are statistically likely to survive a second term in office. One of them is a little bit older and appears to be more frail. The other one has a terrible diet with no exercise and could keel over from a heart attack or a stroke at any moment.

        We should be talking about the VP picks much more than anyone is.

        • Yah, absolutely. I’m frankly a little surprised Trump is still alive.

          We know who Biden’s running mate is going to be, unless there’s a surprise upset. Trump’s is still up in the air and the weasels are currently fighting for it.

    • distantsounds@lemmy.world
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      6 months ago

      Ughh that’s what Neolibs and the DNC said 4 years ago when they force-fed the left Joe Biden

      • Kalkaline @leminal.space
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        6 months ago

        We are going to get less than ideal candidates until the voting system changes. I think it might be the one point of agreement with most voters in this country that we need a new voting system because first past the post isn’t working well.

          • lolcatnip@reddthat.com
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            6 months ago

            Given the current Tribunal of Six, overturning Citizens United would likely involve a ruling that only corporations can vote.

            • Drusas@kbin.run
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              6 months ago

              One step at a time!

              First, only landowners can vote. Then, only male landowners. Then, only white male landowners.

              Gotta boil that frog.

      • oxjox
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        6 months ago

        If anything, RFK’s election results just skyrocketed.

      • Kalkaline @leminal.space
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        6 months ago

        We certainly aren’t going to try a risky move like getting a candidate other than Biden elected. It’s way too late to try to get the name recognition going. People know Biden, they know Trump. You could potentially split the vote which gives Trump the automatic win.

      • ImADifferentBird@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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        6 months ago

        The problem is, if Trump wins, there likely won’t be a next time. He’s out there saying as much on the campaign trail, and he’s tried it before.

        • blazera@lemmy.world
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          6 months ago

          The problem is we’re on course for Trump winning. Trump has voters who like him, he has voters obsessed with him that will oust even other republicans if Trump wills it. He’s also got voters that are just voting against Biden, whoever has the R by their name. Trumps gonna win if all you have are voters that are just voting against Trump. No one’s excited about Biden. Throw in any younger dem politician right now and youll see a dam breaking of voters excited to vote for someone they dont have to worry about getting dementia in office.

          • ImADifferentBird@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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            6 months ago

            You’re preaching to the choir here. If I could throw Biden out and replace him with, I don’t know, Sanders or AOC or someone, I would in a heartbeat.

            I agree with you. Trump is, unfortunately, on track to win. And if Trump wins, the death of American democracy is imminent, and none of us are going to like what’s next.