Robert Reich: As a 76-year-old let me say: Joe Biden is too old to run again

[former9thward]

At 79, Joe Biden is the oldest president in American history. Concerns about his age top the list for why Democratic voters want the party to find an alternative for 2024.

I don’t think this reflects an “ageist” prejudice against those who have reached such withering heights so much as an understanding that people in their late 70s and 80s wither.

I speak with some authority. I’m now a spritely 76 — light years younger than our president. I feel fit, I swing dance and salsa, and can do 20 pushups in a row. Yet I confess to a certain loss of, shall we say, fizz.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/jul/17/as-a-76-year-old-let-me-say-joe-biden-is-too-old-to-run-again

[PortTack]

1. Oh not this again...please take this down!

[Demsrule86]

2. You should delete this post...and a fuck you Rober Reich. I never like you for your disloyalty.

you well know or should the advantage an incumbent has...I truly truly despise you and you never liked Biden in the first place so nice try.

[brooklynite]

23. I recall that people here loved Reich...whenever he agreed with them.

[Demsrule86]

78. I never loved Reich...he is not a particularlt loyal Democrat as. this post clearly demonstrates.

He was a thorn in Obama's side too...most of the time.

[brooklynite]

99. What does opining on the future Democratic nominee for President have to do with loyalty?

Whatever your opinion on President Biden, its perfectly reasonable to opine that a different candidate would be appropriate in 2024.

[JustAnotherGen]

143. Agree to Disagree

[Demsrule86]

146. He attacked a sitting Democratic president and opined said president should not run in 24 ...none

of his damn business...and it was a hit job...using age which is actually a right-wing talking point that has unfortunately been adopted by some on the left. And living in the midwest, I see no candidate that can win in 24 other than Biden...we need the rustbelt. And since Reich supported Sanders who is even older than Biden and who had a heart attack...I consider him a raging hypocrite and I never liked him particularly. One of the reasons we find ourselves in this situation is a lack of party loyalty...

[treestar]

84. Can't we agree with him when we agree and say fuck him when we don't?

We don't have to be absolute followers or haters of any one person.

I can agree with him on economics, as he is an expert.

But on when a person is too old for something, because he has lost his fizz, seems he is only an expert on himself and I don't have to think of his opinion as expert.

[Cha]

87. So what you "recall"? No one

has to agree with anyone ALL THE TIME!

Focus!
Please Fight to Save Our Democracy💙 in 2022 & 2024!

[betsuni]

97. The populist revolution people did.

[Cha]

88. You meant to post that to the OP,

right, Dems?

Yeah, & I don't give a fuck how old Reich is or what he thinks.

Focus!
Please Fight to Save Our Democracy💙 in 2022 & 2024!

[Chainfire]

5. The previous poster has shared his thoughts' in a respectful manner, his opinions

to share with the rest of us. Wanting to censor his voice is undemocratic. I think that it is your post that violates the spirit of a Democratic ideals. If you wish to disagree with his posts you should vigorously disagree, but don't just stand back and throw rocks.

[Treefrog]

22. Thank you.

And good luck!

[Chainfire]

27. Ain't that the damn truth....

[UnderThisLaw]

6. Good luck with that

DU has posters that prefer taking down Biden

[treestar]

18. +1

Robert Reich can speak for himself. Himself only. He's never going to be President.

[Tetrachloride]

3. why the Fuck does Reich bring this up

Joe Biden is still the best.

[robodruid1]

20. Coordination

Seems that there has been a lot of this.
Looks Coordinated.

[Chainfire]

34. Conspiracy? Reynolds has a cure for that.

When it becomes a Democratic crime to suggest that Biden does not walk on water or raise the dead, then we have the same kinds of issues that we accuse others of. I fully admit, that in comparison to his political rivals, he is a saint. Biden is a good man, he has my full support, but he is human, he has limitations and he is certainly not perfect. If you see this statement as a conspiracy, then I am sorry.

[Novara]

59. Thank you

Blind loyalty and never questioning leaders gets you well into fascism. They are only human.

[iemanja]

56. with whom?

Do you seriously think that voters don't think about Biden's age? Banishing it from DU doesn't change that.

[Cha]

89. Because he's a fucking

divisive Idiot.

We're In Danger of Losing Our very Democracy and I don't give a shit "how old Reich is".

Focus!
Please Fight to Save Our Democracy💙 in 2022 & 2024!

[Demsrule86]

93. +100000

[Rebl2]

4. Okay

mr reich maybe it’s time to quit making comments like this. I think you are right about yourself-you have lost your fizz whatever that means.

[Chainfire]

7. Perhaps it is time for some folks to put up or shut up.

But they are not necessarily the OP.

[Cha]

90. Reich can spout Divisive Ageist Shit all

he wants and We Can Disagree if we Want.

Our very Democracy is in Danger and I don't give a Shit "how old Reich is".

Focus!
Please Fight to Save Our Democracy💙 in 2022 & 2024!

[Demsrule86]

108. Any Democrat who runs against Biden in a primary will lose and likely cost us the election as

primarying an incumbent always leads to a General election loss...any such person would be a pariah from then on.

[nuxvomica]

8. "loss of fizz" or "loss of impulsiveness"?

A lot of the seeming slowness in response as one gets older is actually a good thing because it's the seasoned brain preventing impulsive or reckless behavior. I think we want a measure of restraint in our more powerful leaders. Don't assume aging itself has no value.

[Tracer]

9. I don't hear any pundit saying the same thing about tRump,

who is almost the same age as Biden with a LOT fewer brain cells.

[jmbar2]

49. Bingo!!

This is a coordinated talking point. I think Reich stumbled here.

Given the choice between a 76 year old democracy-defender and a Christofascist, democracy wins every time.

[andym]

10. Aging is not the same for everyone, there is biological variability as one gets older in healthspan

some of this even plays out in longevity (lifespan) itself. Though the mean lifespan for men in the US is 79.3 years, but the maximum achieved so far is 115 in the US. Healthspan is typically shorter by about 10-15 years.

[Cha]

94. Exactly! Something Reich has No

clue about.. 'cause I don't really give a sit how "old he is".

Focus!
Please Fight to Save Our Democracy💙 in 2022 & 2024!

[SalviaBlue]

11. La la la la. I can't hear you.

Robert Reich is on our side. His opinion is valuable, even if you don’t agree with it.

[Cha]

96. He can give 'em I still don't give a Shit how

old Reich is.

Focus!
Please Fight to Save Our Democracy💙 in 2022 & 2024!

[BeyondGeography]

12. He's still a pup compared with Mahmoud Abbas

[dawg]

13. This is not helpful.

I haven't seen any evidence that President Biden is too old for the job. I also haven't seen any evidence that we have any alternative candidates with as broad of an appeal. Add in the power of the incumbency, and President Biden is easily our best chance of winning in 2024.

[samnsara]

19. joes much younger than i am and im 5 years younger than he is!

[Walleye]

28. Same here exactly

[Sympthsical]

14. One sec

Need to do some shopping real quick.



Ok, I'm good.

[delisen]

15. Such a pathetic article.Reich should be embarrassed but not by his age

His poor judgement has never been due to his age.

The irony here is a Reich wants other people to quit but he is still bobbing along, doing his thing ( even if he is collecting a hefty retirement check) providing younger people with what he presumably believes to be his wisdom.

[delisen]

39. CNN: Dr Anthony Fauci is thinking about retiring by end of 2024

CNN did not mention he was now 81 until paragraph 3.

Should we tell him he’s lost his fizz and should quit now?

[Cha]

100. TY for this, delisen.. "fizz" is a stupid word.

Focus!
Please Fight to Save Our Democracy💙 in 2022 & 2024!

[Hortensis]

16. Reich is replaceable. Will Biden be? He wasn't in 2019, when he didn't want to run

but answered the call to duty in spite of his age. Remember his being 60 points ahead of all the announced candidates before he announced? All those who ruled him out because of his age? Remember that all through the primaries Biden was the ONLY TOP TIER CANDIDATE -- a tier of one that none of the dozen in the second tier came close to breaking into? In spite of his age?

He beat tRump -- all the justification anyone should need for that run at his age. This topic arises anew as additional confirmation comes from tRump's camp that tRump intends to run for president in 2024. And then there are the other tRump-grade pustules symptomatic of his voters, the more extreme and dangerous, the more their polling is rising.

In the next two years, our Democratic incumbent President Biden will do whatever he feels is best, whatever he has to and is able to again. Step back or run again, depending.

For his sake, I'd hope that a second term doesn't include having to turn more of his work over to his VP, collapsing or dying in office,. But if it did it'd mean we'd once again fought off the threat of a tRump dictatorship with him.

[samnsara]

17. im for joe 100% Youth may be faster but age knows all the shortcuts

..and i dont feel like coddling a wet behind the ears newbie trying for the golden ticket. This is not the time for any kind of learning curve...

[Hortensis]

33. :) The weakest thing about Joe is his speaking voice, very misleading to

those who don't pay attention beyond occasional clips on evening news. We'll see how Biden does when it's time. At this point, agree our incumbent president is a go.

And Robert Reich should keep his voice focused on defeating the giant threat from the right. Not politicking on the left. We know he learned from his previous mistake of endorsing Bernie to run against tRump. (!) Now he needs to remember how the brewing RW-extremist revolution forced him to fear loss and not forget that lesson.

We have to win.

[Demsrule86]

81. Campaign Joe is different...I have never seen a better campaigner.

[duckworth969]

35. Absolutely correct

Joe is the right man for the job right now.

He has steadied the ship, and by god, that’s what we need.

You’re correct, this is no time for a learning curve.

But my biggest concern is keeping young people engaged, and the Progressives from getting out of hand. Love their energy and ideas. But they need to help and not be like bees, stinging his ass all the time!

Joe is hard-headed and has a temper. But it usually serves him well.

Bring Newsom and other up and comers to the forefront.

There is a lot of Dem talent, push them out into the public eye, get their faces visible to the public, and do some swinging for him, throw some god damn punches!

Fuck the MSM, they’re no help.

Turned into a bit of a rant.

But Jesus H. Christ, I’m really angry and worried about the life my new grandson is walking into.

[gldstwmn]

70. They ran Michael Bloomberg to eliminate other candidates.

They were seriously worried that Bernie was going to be the nominee. They also surmised and were right about Biden's ability to beat Trump. But let's not pretend he was initially the clear choice. He was not.

[Hortensis]

74. :) Who's this "they" who ran Billionaire Bloomberg? The Illuminati?

Bloomberg, who happened to own a very useful media empire, ran himself and was soundly rejected by Democratic voters for his arrogance.

Sanders at one brief point did poll higher than any of the others in the second tier far below Biden, but he never broke out of the second tier into the first, even momentarily. There were no desperate attempts to take out a socialist candidate, not when socialism itself and his own record would do that. Russia also promoted his candidacy much less in that race.

When looking for causation it helps to remember that socialism is not a popular ideology. In fact, it is so unpopular that mention repels most voters. If I were a socialist in this country, I'd look for a nice collectively owned business, a going concern, to join and contribute to. Seriously.

[betsuni]

106. I want to know who "they" are too! Have a feeling it's the DNC, which as everybody knows is

more powerful and frightening than the Illuminati, Rosicrucians and all other secret societies combined. They will stop at nothing to ... whatever the conspiracy theory is.

[gldstwmn]

116. Then ask Bloomberg where his sudden

candidacy came from. It went away as fast as it showed up.

[betsuni]

119. Okay, I'll call him right now.

I'll let you know what he says about the diabolical conspiracy to ... what exactly is the conspiracy theory here?

[gldstwmn]

121. I would ask what the sudden genesis of his $500 million three-month candidacy was.

He announced he wouldn't run in March 2019 and announced he would run in November of 2019.
I'm sure he made all of those decisions completely on his own without consulting anyone.

[betsuni]

131. Still don't understand the conspiracy theory.

[gldstwmn]

133. Because there isn't one.

[Demsrule86]

82. Biden was always the clear choice...the caucus states were Sanders only strength really...

he never could carry the Black vote...so when we hit South Carolina, next super Tuesday, and little super Tuesday, it was over for Sen. Sanders. And Bloomberg took no votes from Biden. I sincerely hope we never allow Iowa or New Hamshire...to pick our candidate...no Caucus states. And you have to win the Black vote in order to be our nominee.

[Demsrule86]

79. If we don't run Biden, we will likely lose...the same folks who wanted someone else in the

primary still doesn't like him. Well, I think they are foolish...there is a big advantage to incumbency which is why only four incumbents have lost since 1932...Hoover, Carter, Bush I, and Trump- 90 years.

[KentuckyWoman]

95. Exactly.

I'm only a couple years older than Biden. He can run circles around me physically and mentally. Anyone "concerned" about his age is not paying attention. He can out think and out perform a lot of people half his age.

He's a smart man with the country's best good at heart. No one is perfect but from my limited vantage point, he always seems to do the right thing.

Plus, he's funny as hell.

[Cha]

101. Excellent Post, Hortensis! Mahalo!

Focus!
Please Fight to Save Our Democracy💙 in 2022 & 2024!

[JustAnotherGen]

144. Exactly - all of this - eom

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

21. He's right.

There really does come a time when someone is too old.

Dianne Feinstein comes to mind. The stories about her have conveniently disappeared, but she is apparently planning on running again in 2024.

And then there's Strom Thurmond, who apparently had no idea what was going on his last years as Senator.

The other, more important issue in my mind is that we don't need old people running things. It's long since time a younger generation was in charge. Barack Obama was a step in the right direction, and then things went backward.

I'm 73 myself, and I don't think my generation should be in charge any more. I think one of the reasons younger people are so tuned out is that they have no one who actually represents them.

[Walleye]

29. If the younger generation wants to be in charge they have to step up and do it. Not whine about it

We’re all gonna be dead soon who they gonna blame it on then

[Tree Lady]

42. What about when the young ones run for office

And are told its not your turn yet? It's not spoken out loud but everyone knows.

Obama got in because he had the secret sauce, that special charm. Still has it.

[Walleye]

47. Then they are too easily discouraged. Persist nevertheless

[AntivaxHunters]

122. They're discouraged because why?

Why do you think they're discouraged?
I can't imagine why. Let's see here...........

*Student loan debt
*Medical debt
*The first generations to make less than their parents
*Endless wars
*Historic low wages
*A planet which just saw the UK and other countries record their highest temperatures while our elected officials can't support the Green New Deal and are in the pockets of big oil & big gas.
*The absolute trashing of the one guy who spoke to their needs -Bernie Sanders
*Weed still not federally legalized or decriminalized
*The lie that hard work pays off when it doesn't
*Black people being murdered by cops and our elected officials want to give police forces more money.


On and on and on and on.

You're talking about 2 generations who are now the largest voting bloc and completely disenfranchised with our entire political system. Votes are earned and unless we speak to young voters with POLICY then we have huge problems. You have to understand that young voters don't have a whole lot of allegiance to political parties but rather allegiance to individual politicians who support the polices which they not only want but also need. And remember, young voters prefer Socialism over Capitalism. And who can blame them? Capitalism has kept them under an iron glove their whole life.

They are the generations which will be impacted most by climate change. The older generations need to pass the ball and fast.

[Walleye]

123. You certainly have identified the problems, now let's come up with some solutions

you have the right wing political party, who is actively trying to take down our democracy. And then you have the young progressives who are so dissatisfied with the our side they don’t wanna participate. How is that working out. Until we crush the Republican Party we are going to continue in this downward spiral.We have no power without unity

[AntivaxHunters]

124. The solutions are simple

Policies.
Nobody is going to be worried about anything when we're all dead from climate change.
That's the elephant in the room. And it's happening RIGHT NOW.
It's not that they don't want to participate. It's that they want their needs met.
People are striking all across the country because of low wages. Minimum wage is still at $7.25. How do you want and expect people to survive with wages like that? They simply can't. And then they see what happened with Jessica Cisneros? We need young voters. Period. Full stop. And you get them by meeting their needs and not punching down from a position of privilege.

[Walleye]

125. I just don't see how the needs of young people are different from the needs of humanity in genera

[betsuni]

128. +1

[Walleye]

129. Thanks. I was losing ground.

[betsuni]

130. You are correct.

"punching down from a position of privilege"

[Polybius]

139. You are 100% correct

Obama was told that in 2008. He didn't listen.

[AntivaxHunters]

107. lol just wow

[doc03]

30. I agree our generation has done enough damage. It

is time to move on.

[Walleye]

48. We will be moving on to the grave. It's inevitable

[Demsrule86]

109. Well since much of the younger generation (including my kids friends) refused to vote for Hillary

I would say they have already done a significant amount of damage already...Roe is gone wouldn't have happened had Hillary won the General.

[karynnj]

24. He is not being fully honest as he wrote against Biden, Buttigieg, Klobichar, Bloomberg etc in 2020

Arguing that only a reform agenda - Warren or Sanders - could win. He ignores that Sanders was then 78 and had had a heart attack.

[betsuni]

66. +1

[W_HAMILTON]

85. Yep. He's full of shit and has an agenda.

[Cha]

140. Too Sickeningly true.

Focus!
Please Fight to Save Our Democracy💙 in 2022 & 2024!

[Cha]

102. Yeah, funny that.. He COMPLETELY IGNORES

IT! he's not fooling me.


Focus!
Please Fight to Save Our Democracy💙 in 2022 & 2024!

[Chainfire]

25. I will throw my full support and my pocketbook behind Biden if he runs again, however,

There are some qualities that I hope that Biden is not too old to learn if he is to serve us a second time. I want him to discover the power of the executive order, I would like him to overcome his inhibitions and be able to pound his shoe on his desk when the situation warrants such actions. If possible, and if his god could be forgiven for it, it would also be profitable if he learned how to cuss, in public, as in, "McConnell, sit down and shut the fuck up!"

Now, please, do not hesitate to drag me through the DU "court system" for expressing my honest opinions that will certainly offend someone's delicate sensibilities and false sense of Democratic Idealism. Accuse me spreading right wing talking points.... Hell, let me serve on the jury and I will vote against myself...

[BlueIdaho]

26. Enough Already.

So tired of threads attacking a sitting Democratic President on DU. Has this place become the new JackPine Radicals or Free Republic?

[Chainfire]

36. When has the definition of criticism morphed into being an attack?

It is not an "attack" to infer that Biden is mortal and incapable of improvement, or above criticism, nor subject to the normal human aging process. Some people need to come down off of their political high-horses.

[jmbar2]

51. Right now we're in a war for democracy itself.

It's not too smart to shoot our generals in the midst of a heated battle.

I trust that Joe will make the right strategic decision when the time comes. Ducks need to be lined up first. He has my full support.

[Chainfire]

52. I am fully aware of that, and have been screaming, apparently into the wilderness,

for quite some time. However, we can not pretend that somehow Joe Biden is immortal. I will continue to support Biden for as long as he wishes to hold his chair, but I do not damn anyone for pointing out that he may have limitations that are common to the human aging process, or the fact that he is not a "perfect" leader. In my 70 years, I have yet to meet the perfect person, but I freely admit that I have not met Joe Biden. It is not an attack on Democrats or Democracy to share opinions, even if they are unpopular in some settings. In fact the opposite is true, however frequent flyers here seem to want this forum to be a cheering section with no dissent, a blue sea without waves or storms. That is not a healthy attitude nor does it advance our cause.

(not directed to the quoted post) It is and intellectually weak to want to silence opinions that you do not agree with. I would suggest that people challenge, or attack, opposing ideas, but they shouldn't stand back, throw rocks and run away like a child.

[Demsrule86]

83. It is an attack...so don't kid yourself about that and before a midterm...it particularly

egregious.

[iemanja]

60. So your view is that any criticism should be banned

You plug your ears and it will all be okay. Good luck with that.

[Cha]

98. Reich can Spout his Ageist Divisive Shit

and we can Disagree.

I so don't give a Fuck "how od Reich is".

Focus!
Please Fight to Save Our Democracy💙 in 2022 & 2024!

[dweller]

31. Say what you will

but it’s really Joe’s decision, and I trust he’ll make the wise one


✌🏻

[Walleye]

32. I trust Joe. To do what's right for the country. It's what he's always done

[Chainfire]

40. As do I.

However, if he concludes that it is best for the nation for him to forego another term in office, it would be good if he made it known in time for us to consider his successor, less we be stuck with a last minute compromise. It is not necessarily Biden's age or mental or physical health that should be a determining factor in his decision, but also his odds of beating a Republican challenger. We can not afford to hand the Republicans the White House in some misplaced sense of loyalty to any single person.

[Cha]

103. Precisely! PJB will do what he thinks

is Best for our Democracy.

Focus!
Please Fight to Save Our Democracy💙 in 2022 & 2024!

[SWBTATTReg]

37. For a guy who's riding a bike still, and is very active, at his age, I daresay that he's as healthy

as a younger man in his 30s, 40s, etc. And I daresay that he doesn't pop the white powder into his nose like a former ex-president did / still probably does. I do kind of agree w/ the loss of fizz per Mr. Reich's remarks, but that doesn't mean life is over, it simply means that you simply modify your life a bit and still go on strong.

It's easy to see the differences between tRUMP and Biden. tRUMP is getting more senile by the day, it's easy to see, in the repetitive rallies that he holds, nothing new, nothing earthshaking, just simply a routine, same old rally that they've rigged to the Ts to fool the cameras.

If you'll notice, the cameras only pan the immediate stage area around tRUMP. They don't pan around to look at the entire audience (not as many as they would like you to see), and tRUMP just goes on and on about every stupid thing that comes into his mind, such as the toilets flushing (how would he know so much about the toilets? I daresay he's spending way too much time around the toilets, but that figures, he spews out the crap so much that he's got to hang around the toilets just in case it backs up on him). Also, I don't think Biden has to pay people to attend his rallies like tRUMP does.

[LuvLoogie]

38. I just don't get the back stabbing of our President

and our previous nominee.

[Chainfire]

41. Cripes, no one is going after our President with a blade.

Calm down a little.

[Demsrule86]

111. Reich is and since he never wanted Biden and I think supported Sanders who is older than Biden...

yeah it is an attack.

[Cha]

104. Bitter Egos.

Focus!
Please Fight to Save Our Democracy💙 in 2022 & 2024!

[AZSkiffyGeek]

43. Whatever gets him YouTube views and Substack subscriptions

He's found his audience criticizing from the left.

[NCjack]

44. Robert, you are hurting the best chance we have to win in 2024.

[Chainfire]

46. That is one opinion, there are others.

Unless you think that you have a monopoly on the truth, you will not be opposed to hearing others. I do not like writing the man off based upon his age; a lot of people Biden's age function at a high level mentally and physically, and I believe that he is one of them.

Depending on the poll you choose to give credence too, Biden's approval rating is in the 40% range, which indicates that a heck of a lot of Democrats are not happy with his leadership. Now, you can blame me for pointing this out, but it does not change the facts. You can either shoot the messenger or show the other readers how I am wrong, or you can howl at the moon.

I realize that a lot of the Democrats that are disenchanted with Biden's leadership today, will never pull the Republican lever in the polling place, so negative polling does not necessarily mean that Biden could not be elected. I can not fathom that anyone who shares Democratic ideals could ever, through action or inaction, support the likely Republican nominees, but it is quite evident that he will face an uphill struggle, for he must receive the support of all Democrats to win.

I trust Biden enough to believe that he will do what he thinks is best for the country so we will see how it all shakes out. If he runs again, I will trust to his decision, and he will certainly have my unreserved support.

[Algernon Moncrieff]

53. Did swing voters vote for Biden or against Trump?

I'd argue the latter. I'd also argue that, for many Dems, Biden was not their first choice, but he checked enough boxes that he was a good solid consensus pick. He represented the best chance of beating Trump.

However, he is not traditionally the type of candidate our party puts forward. Democrats who have won first terms (i.e. not Truman or Johnson) since WW II include JFK, Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, and Joe Biden. Except Joe, everyone on that list was relatively young, and exuded idealism. Losing candidates included: Hubert Humphrey, George McGovern, Walter Mondale, Mike Dukakis, John Kerry, and Hillary Clinton. Most of those (Dukakis being an exception) were older, established party fixtures.

[Demsrule86]

92. They voted for Biden...I know you don't care for Biden but believe it or not, many folks do.

Truman did not win the first term...he was VP when Roosevelt died. And won another term in very surprising elections. Age has nothing to do with it...and again you wanted a different candidate...but hopefully you won't get your wish as we would surely lose the election...maybe as bad as Dukakis did. You forgot to mention him...he was a first-time candidate as was Kerry and they both lost; there are others.

[Demsrule86]

91. I think Biden in 2020 is the only one who can win the rustbelt...a must win block of states...

And it is not an opinion...it is pretty well researched. In 2028 Fetterman can run..he is a liberal with a carefully picked VP.

[highplainsdem]

45. I'd take this a hell of a lot more seriously if I wasn't so sure Reich wants someone to the left of

Biden. Not necessarily younger than Biden.

[Algernon Moncrieff]

55. I think Reich wants AOC to run

In answer to your next question: she would be 35 prior to election day 2024. She turns 33 this October.

[iemanja]

58. She can try

I suspect it won't get very far.

[Algernon Moncrieff]

64. She's young, very good on camera, and is the ideological successor to Bernie Sanders, I feel.

Her next step, however, should be Senator from NY.

[highplainsdem]

65. I didn't want Bernie Sanders, and wouldn't want his ideological successor, whoever might try to

claim that title. I will of course support the Democratic nominee. But I'd prefer Biden to AOC or anyone else that far left.

[Demsrule86]

112. It doesn't matter, she has no chance of winning the presidency at this moment...she can only win

in deep blue states...one needs more than that to win the presidency. I doubt she would win a primary. She is smart but unfortunately that won't change the issues.

[lapucelle]

126. I don't think she'd win a senate race here in NYS.

People forget that NYS has elected Republican senators and governors and that upstate and western NYS voters went for Trump over Clinton in 2016 and Trump over Biden in 2020. She was upside down in favorable/unfavorable state-wide the last time polling was publicly reported (2019), and that was before her "no" vote on infrastructure. In addition, both Leader Schumer and Senator Gilliibrand are liberal Democrats who are popular statewide.

I thought she missed a possible springboard in 2021 by not running for NYC mayor. That's a big executive job with a very high profile, and she'd probably have a shot at winning, if she made it through the primary and given the "right" Republican opponent. Don't forget that NYC has elected Republican mayors.

[betsuni]

69. Guess he's still dreaming of revolution.

[Demsrule86]

113. Well look what that got us...Trump and misery...there never was going to be a revolution...you

elect the right...you have to claw your way back to the middle and only then can you move left.

[betsuni]

132. Idea that left and right-wing populists would join together to do working class revolution is nutty.

The mind reels.

[Demsrule86]

134. I call it amateur hour...the idea that such a thing would ever work is ridiculous.

[H2O Man]

50. Just for the heck of it,

I'll say we should concentrate on the 2022 elections. It's not that I have no interest in, say, the 2030 election. I do. Kind of. But I think we should keep our eyes on the prize, and be here, now.

[Bettie]

54. This is not the time

to talk about any of that.

Seriously. Just shut up about 2024, concentrate on this year!

[Novara]

57. As in 2020, we just need someone who can win

Whether that's Biden in his 80s or somebody young like Gavin Newsom, I don't really care. We need to prevent the fascists from taking control.

(Yes, I think 80 is too old for the stresses of the job. But we just need whoever can win, just like 2020.)

[budkin]

68. This is all that matters

Otherwise we are back in the land of fascism.

[iemanja]

61. In 2020, I thought Biden would probably only run for one term

because of his age. I guess I'll find out in 23-24.

[madaboutharry]

62. "..a certain fizz."

Does the president really need fizz?

I though it was policy that mattered.

[Novara]

63. Here's a thought exercise:

Imagine this is happening on the other side. Some prominent RW person says the orange asshole is too old to run. Them's fightin' words! Why, that person would have the "militias" (see: terrorists) coming at him with their beer gut army! Nobody dares question the Great Leader! You disloyal shits!

Blind loyalty towards leaders brings us one step closer to fascism. They are fallible. They put their pants on like you do, they take shits like you do, they burp and fart like you do. They are not gods. Treating them like they are, brings you closer to fascism.

[treestar]

86. nobody's wanting that

just not wanting sabotage of our likely best candidate.

[BlueCheeseAgain]

67. Didn't Reich support Sanders in 2020?

He's even older than Biden.

[JI7]

75. Yes, and had a heart attack during the campaign

did he tell Sanders to drop out ?

[Cha]

105. TY for Bringing That UP.. Of course, he

did.

Focus!
Please Fight to Save Our Democracy💙 in 2022 & 2024!

[Demsrule86]

114. He is older than Biden and had a heart attack. What fucking hypocrite.

[moonshinegnomie]

71. as much as i hate to say it reich has a point

the latest poll shows 64% of people who plan to aprticipate in the 2024 primaries hope that someone other than biden is the nominee
among voters under 30 90% want someone else

https://scri.siena.edu/2022/07/12/biden-job-trump-equally-negative-favorability-except-with-reps/

[Demsrule86]

115. Yeah OK...the fact is there no one else who can win 2024 and incumbents have an advantage so

anyone who says that is a blithering idiot and the poll is likely bullshit.

[Demsrule86]

138. That was always a bad poll...and the power of incumbency is great...so Reich is a f'ing idiot

who doesn't give a crap if Democrats win elections...he also always hated Biden.

[LiberalFighter]

72. Reich needs to deal with reality.

Not all fizzes are the same. The fizz Reich has lost may cause a loss of leadership. What Reich fails to understand is that Biden doesn't handle everything. He assigns people to perform their own duties. As for Biden's one on one duties. He does them well.

Reich would not be able to perform as well as Biden considering that Biden has an extensive knowledge and understanding of the federal government and presidency that Reich does not.

[betsuni]

73. +1

[Patton French]

76. FFS

[gulliver]

77. As a 170 lb. person, I don't think anyone under that weight (or over it) should be able...

...to do anything at all unless I say it's Ok.

[JustAnotherGen]

145. Well played Sir

[ecstatic]

80. Okay so what now. Who can we run?

Now that Robert Reich has weighed in.

[Cha]

110. lol.. all he's done is piss me off.

Focus!
Please Fight to Save Our Democracy💙 in 2022 & 2024!

[Demsrule86]

118. He is a jerk...and supported Sanders who is older than Biden...what damn hypocrite.

We run Biden...incumbents have an advantage...and woe to any Democrat that dares to primary Biden. Hope you are well!

[Cha]

120. Yeah, what you said! And, as I've

mentioned I don't really give a fuck how old Reich is.. has a hill of beans to do with our Fighting to Save Our Democracy.

I'm ok considering we're in a fight for our very lives & SOUL of our Country AGAIN! I hope you are, too! :

Focus!
Please Fight to Save Our Democracy💙 in 2022 & 2024!

[Demsrule86]

136. We need to win the midterm and byond...one has to think that Reich doesn't give to craps

about electing Democrats.

[Cha]

141. Reich is a divisive POS.. that's

what I think.

Focus!
Please Fight to Save Our Democracy💙 in 2022 & 2024!

[Demsrule86]

117. Biden of course. He will win and has an incumbents advantage but the midterms are way more

important. Doe Reich even give two fucks about Roe and our situation? what a jerk.

[Herx]

127. Video: Robert Reich endorses Bernie Sanders in 2019

Robert forgot to tell us that he wanted Bernie to be a one-term president only, due to his age:

[lapucelle]

135. And Reich parrots Trump's "rigged election system" claims.

I wonder why he didn't tell the older senator to drop out of the race in order to give Warren a better chance.

[niyad]

137. Dear robbie, you are only an "authority" on your own body. You have no

expertise of which I am aware in medicine, gerontology, cognitive functioning, etc.

I aam disappointed that such an attack on our President, the leader of the Democratic party, has been allowed to stand.