Democratic Primaries
Related: About this forumOne of my concerns about Biden is that he seems to be coasting, policy-wise
I don't mean that he's going for mainstream strategies (vs Warren and Sanders); I mean that he hasn't announced anything truly unique, that stands out as a hallmark of his campaign. His policy planks largely seem to be restoring or building on the elements people remember from President Obama. That may be a tactical choice to try to win back Obama voters who switched to Trump in 2012, but I think he's going to need to come up with something that truly frames himself as a candidate.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
NYMinute
(3,256 posts)When the house has been in shambles after hurricane Trump, one wants to rebuild it first before deciding on paint and furniture.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
LakeArenal
(28,817 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
BlueMTexpat
(15,366 posts)disagree.
The old house was pretty rickety even before Trump. Without Prez Obama, it would have been in complete shambles much earlier.
Policy is indeed important.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
msongs
(67,395 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
BlueMTexpat
(15,366 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
bluewater
(5,376 posts)That's why Elizabeth Warren continues to gain support.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
NYMinute
(3,256 posts)The Colonials overthrew the crown first and then wrote the constitution.
They didn't write the constitution before the American Revolution.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
bluewater
(5,376 posts)History says you are simply wrong.
Plans and policies are the foundations on which lasting institutions are built.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
NYMinute
(3,256 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Thekaspervote
(32,757 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
highplainsdem
(48,971 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
guillaumeb
(42,641 posts)Policy is not paint and furniture, it is the foundation.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
NYMinute
(3,256 posts)Defeating Trump is the prime directive at the moment. Everything else can be sorted out later.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
obnoxiousdrunk
(2,910 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
BeyondGeography
(39,369 posts)A Biden supporter who worked as an aide to former President Obama said Biden cant just argue hes the most electable Democrat if he hopes to fend off the challenge from Warren.
He needs to offer more. He cant simply say, Im the only one who can beat Trump, the ex-Obama aide said.
https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/462078-biden-allies-warren-is-taking-a-bite-out-of-his-electability-argument
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
JI7
(89,247 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
bluewater
(5,376 posts)Joking. Mostly.
Running on being President Obama's VP is a plan after all, but will that be enough?
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
cwydro
(51,308 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
George II
(67,782 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
beastie boy
(9,314 posts)This is fondly remembered by millions of Americans. As most other Democratic candidates compete for the "most progressive" title, it makes no sense for Biden to jump into that crowded pool. Proudly owning the label of "moderate incrementalist", despite the negative connotations that it carries in the more radical progressive circles, is what makes his campaign stand out and truly unique. And poll after poll shows that most Democrats support his position. The only candidate who is gaining on Biden is Warren, who is arguably the next least revolutionary candidate in the race.
It seems to me that Biden, considering his background and popularity, has positioned himself perfectly for the long run.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
honest.abe
(8,678 posts)In fact he might be better off not to do that. If he gets to too specific or too extreme he might lose the centrist vote.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
emmaverybo
(8,144 posts)angels, a call to unify in a struggle for the soul of America. Its poetry, not a plan in every pot.
Skip this part for if you know Joes many policies:
Hes got a strong education plan, which takes children from pre-K through college, the most broadly appealing health plan, a plan to abolish the death penalty, end cash bail, get rid of cocaine sentencing disparities, eliminate mandatory minimum sentences, eliminate private prisons, raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour, expand/fix existing student debt-relief programs, boost teacher pay, end unlimited spending in politics, support developing new nuclear technologies as part of an effort to fight climate change, end new oil and gas leases on federal land and end offshore drilling, tax carbon emissions, strengthen enforcement on farm economy, pay farmers to carry out climate-friendly practices, implement a voluntary assault weapons buy back program, conduct universal background checks, build on ACA, negotiate for Medicare drug prices and international reference pricing, expand Medicare coverage, give citizenship to dreamers, boost infrastructure spending, decriminalize marijuana, boost defense spending, keep troops deployed, increase capital gains taxes, raise corporate taxes, make changes to USMCA, stop using tariffs to pressure countries, join
CPTPP...
And invest in cancer research, protect Medicare, Social Security, and Medicaid (all threatened), Roe vs. Wade(threatened), triple funding for low-income schools, rejoin Paris climate accords...also has four middle class building policies involving worker protections, Major infrastructure investments, incentives for venture capitalists...
End polices (almost)
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Not spending enough money?
Oh and Joe Biden has substantial and sound ideas on foreign policy, which no other candidate has much knowledge of or experience in.
He will probably revive the VAWA.
I hope he will address our historically high deficit!
He wants to study reparations.
His plans are do-able and should, in addition to rebuilding the physical infrastructure of the nation, and making the whole administration work again, take at least a term to accomplish, or two. It is true other candidates have proposed plans that could only be realized, if ever, in about ten terms, but then Joe knows enough about the job to know that.
I love Joes message from launch to Iowa, as he expresses who we are and can be in living up to our distinctly American ideals. Policy details dont really inspire me. In this, I think I have company.
Just Remember This:
From Biden in Iowa after El Paso Massacre
What this president doesnt understand is that unlike every other nation on earth, we're unable to define what constitutes "American" by religion, by ethnicity, or by tribe; you can't do it.
America is an idea. An idea stronger than any army, bigger than any ocean, more powerful than any dictator or tyrant. It gives hope to the most desperate people on earth
.
The most powerful idea in the history of the world I think beats in the hearts of the people of this country. And it beats in all of us. No matter your race, your ethnicity. No matter your gender identity, your sexual orientation. No matter your faith. It beats in the heart of rich and poor alike. It unites America -- whether your ancestors were Native to these shores or they were brought here forcibly and enslaved, whether they were immigrants generations back, like my family from Ireland, or those coming today looking to build a better life for your family.
The American creed that we are all created equal was written long-ago. But the genius of every generation of Americans has opened it wider and wider and wider, to include those who have been excluded in a previous generation. Thats why it has never gathered dust in the history books.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Gothmog
(145,130 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
5starlib
(191 posts)I don't wanna see a bunch of free stuff like Sanders and Warren are offering, but he should come out with something unique that he can hang his hat on. I don't wanna see him compete with how much free stuff he can give out though.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
emmaverybo
(8,144 posts)investment. I agreea signature plan, but not endless prizes.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
JI7
(89,247 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
JackFrost
(37 posts)It has as absolutely no place anywhere near the fight for better conditions for the majority of struggling people in this country. It is the language of the owners and the corporations who have ravaged and pillaged the working class and the poor people of this country. The levels of income inequality have reached levels of obscenity.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
highplainsdem
(48,971 posts)He's offering experience and leadership, not policy novelties.
But he is offering improvements on existing programs. Like the public option.
He isn't just offering restoration without improvements.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Cha
(297,154 posts)Exactly, highplainsdem.. anyone who claims that hasn't been paying attention.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
pertello
(55 posts) like Frank Sinatra or Dean Martin who just casually stroll onto a stage and the audience bursts out in applause because they remember what a great performer this old geezer used to be. Thats Biden. Except in this scenario hes Joey Bishop. Someone who wasnt the most talented but got to share the limelight with the cool guy who was.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
brooklynite
(94,503 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Cha
(297,154 posts)about.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
beachbumbob
(9,263 posts)especially when trump and GOP have blown most of it up
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Justice
(7,185 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Gothmog
(145,130 posts)Link to tweet
The most obvious is Bidens consistent strength in head-to-head polls against Trump. You can remind people all day long that these are unreliable indicators of how a general-election campaign will actually play out, but they wont be able to ignore them. And Bidens advantage here is significant. There is not a single poll in the RealClearPolitics database of 2020 trial heats between Biden and Trump in which Biden does not lead. His current lead in RCPs polling averages is an enormous 11.5 percent (Sanderss is 7.0 percent, and Warrens is 5.2 percent, but both have trailed Trump in some surveys).
A second factor making Biden Mr. Electable is the widespread belief among pundits and voters alike that, all things being equal, proximity to the political center is a general-election asset. The more we approach a three-candidate nominating contest in which Bidens only real challenge comes from Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, the more Bidens relative moderation will become evident. That may hurt him with some primary voters, but it could at the same time enhance his perceived electability.
A third factor some analysts focus on is the practical ability to win voters the party lost in 2016 either to Trump or to third parties or to the living-room couch. Theres at best limited evidence that Biden is more popular than other Democrats in the much-chewed-over white working-class demographic (especially Obama-Trump voters). But he certainly talks about his focus on these voters a lot, which enhances the perception they are his people. And he certainly has conspicuous strength among African-American voters, whose fall-off in turnout was a big problem for Hillary Clinton in 2016. Biden does not look like a good bet to energize younger voters, but Trump might well do that for him...
Risk-averse is probably the most important term to remember in assessing Democratic voters heading toward 2020. They still dont entirely understand how Hillary Clinton managed to lose to Donald Trump in 2016, but they arent inclined to take anything for granted this time around. And that will make it difficult for candidates other than Biden to convince Democrats their other qualities are worth taking a bit of a risk on. Sure, Biden could in theory blow himself up with some high-profile gaffe that undermines the very premise of his candidacy. But thats not within anyone elses control.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden