home

Joe Biden Announces He Is Seeking Second Term

U.S. President Joe Biden announced today he is going to run for a second term as President.

President Biden formally announced on Tuesday that he would seek a second term, arguing that American democracy still faces a profound threat from former President Donald J. Trump as he set up the possibility of a climactic rematch between the two next year.

His announcement video opened with a scene from the January 6 assault on the Capitol. Looks like we should prepare for a brawl between two 80 year old white men. [More...]

“Around the country, MAGA extremists are lining up to take on those bedrock freedoms,” Mr. Biden said, using Mr. Trump’s Make America Great Again slogan to describe the former president’s allies. “Cutting Social Security that you’ve paid for your entire life while cutting taxes for the very wealthy. Dictating what health care decisions women can make, banning books and telling people who they can love. All while making it more difficult for you to be able to vote.

Is Joe Biden the one to protect our social security and medicare? Or will he compromise and agree to a "bipartisan solution" that cedes some reductions and "cost cutting measures" to Republicans?

Will another Democrat step up who will not give an inch when it comes to Social Security and Medicare? If so, he'll have my support. If not, there's Mexico, Portugal, Panama, Costa Rica, and Colombia, and for the really adventurous, Vietnam and Thailand.

Joe Biden says he is fighting for the "soul of America" to protect us from Trump grabbing control of the steering wheel again. I don't believe Trump has a chance in 2024. He'll be preoccupied with his criminal cases by then. Let's just hope he doesn't try to foist one of his underwhelming children on us in his stead. This is what we should beware of:

< Fox Agrees to Pay $787.5 Million to Dominion | Pomp and Circumstance: Coronation of King Charles, III >
  • The Online Magazine with Liberal coverage of crime-related political and injustice news

  • Contribute To TalkLeft


  • Display: Sort:
    This will not be (5.00 / 6) (#1)
    by KeysDan on Tue Apr 25, 2023 at 05:47:45 PM EST
    a brawl between two 80-year old white men, it will be a brawl between democracy and authoritarianism; between the successful presidency of Joe Biden and the chaos, incompetence and corruption, and grifting of Donald Trump; between a patriot and the leader of an attempted overturn of the government and Russian asset; between an experience hand in foreign affairs and an admirer and sympathizer of foreign despots.

    Joe Biden made his support for social security, medicare and medicaid clear in his 2023 State of the Union address; the Republican have made their opposition to social programs clear since 1935.

    Obama's Cat Food Commission co-[chaired by Erskine Bowles and the odious Alan Simpson,  was headed toward cuts in entitlement programs but was saved, quite inadvertently, by the ineptness of then Speaker Boehner and his merry band of "tea party republicans" who could not take the package deal.

     Vice President Biden was quietly involved in debt ceiling negotiations at that time and observed and surely learned from that experience.

    Reducing the stakes to two 80-year olds, is grossly out of whack and constitutes harsh bothsiderism. The Constitution provides for succession, if a vacancy occurs. Vice President Harris is a competent and worth successor, if God forbid, that should be necessary. And, illness and death are not the lone province of the young.

    There is, in my view, no choice in this next election, President Biden. or the twice impeached, criminally indicted ex-president.

    I thought (5.00 / 3) (#2)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Apr 26, 2023 at 07:59:18 AM EST
    Biden did a great kickoff ad.

    I see 2024 as not really Biden vs. whomever. I see it as the candidates really are not relevant because it's about democracy bodily autonomy etc. Biden can ride the wave of people who want a democracy.

    Agreed. (5.00 / 3) (#3)
    by KeysDan on Wed Apr 26, 2023 at 08:14:47 AM EST
    The Vice President was front and center in that ad as she no doubt  will be in a second Biden Administration.  Vice President Harris will surely, as a result, draw more fire from the Republicans, which will only underscore their misogyny and racism. Hopefully, she and the Administration will be braced for it.

    Parent
    To say that I was lukewarm (5.00 / 3) (#4)
    by MO Blue on Wed Apr 26, 2023 at 10:52:59 AM EST
    to a Biden presidency would be an understatement. Thankfully, he surprised me and has been a very good president. I'm more than ok with him being our nominee in 2024.

    For those who wish for someone else, the question remains who would you choose. While I agree with Dan, VP Harris would be a competent president if the need arose, her previous  campaign for President was not very good. Doubt she could win the nomination or beat Trump. Once again, who?


    I bet (none / 0) (#6)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu Apr 27, 2023 at 08:00:01 AM EST
    if you asked five different people you would get five different answers. Everybody gets to wishcast on their "somebody else".

    Parent
    So far i (none / 0) (#7)
    by MO Blue on Thu Apr 27, 2023 at 10:21:05 AM EST
    haven't gotten one answer, let alone 5. Thought there would be a few names thrown out there. But not a one.

    Parent
    Agreed, this is strange (none / 0) (#8)
    by jmacWA on Thu Apr 27, 2023 at 12:25:32 PM EST
    I will vote for Biden, but I wish I didn't have to do so.  There is no talk from any other viable Democratic candidate (Kennedy is NOT viable IMO); it's like they've decided that they just want to stick with Joe.

    Parent
    Which Dem in your opinion (none / 0) (#9)
    by MO Blue on Thu Apr 27, 2023 at 03:40:17 PM EST
    would be a viable candidate?

    I have every intention of voting for Biden but I am interested in who else people think would make a good candidate.

    Parent

    There seems to be (5.00 / 1) (#11)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Apr 27, 2023 at 04:08:32 PM EST
    this broad acceptance of the reality that this is Joes time.  
    He worked on this for a long time.  His first 2 years have been pretty damn stunning as far as accomplishments.  Moreso because of the tightest of possible margins.  True lots of people deserve credit for those things. But he would be blamed for failure so he deserves credit for success.

    Also I think there is feeling that Joe is the best available answer to not just Trump but Trumpism.

    They have tried and tried but they can't make him threatening.  The only people who seem threatened by him are the anti vax Green party freaks.

    Also I think most people think Kamala would be are perfectly acceptable president. And a bad candidate.

    Parent

    One day (5.00 / 1) (#13)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu Apr 27, 2023 at 05:16:43 PM EST
    Joe is a doddering old fool who can't put 2 words together and the next day he is an exisential threat to everything in America. It is so clear they are just throwing mud at the wall to see what sticks.

    Parent
    The debt ceiling is a big test (none / 0) (#12)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Apr 27, 2023 at 04:11:47 PM EST
    if he get them to raise the debt ceiling without major concessions I will be impressed.  But it's a good example of what he does well.

    Usually.😬

    Parent

    I have come across (none / 0) (#10)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu Apr 27, 2023 at 04:07:35 PM EST
    1 who said Marianne Williamson. But mostly yeah it's just wishing there was somone else. I didn't think Biden should be the nominee in 2020 strictly due to his age but it's a moot point now.

    Parent
    Lets Not Forget The Courts (5.00 / 7) (#5)
    by john horse on Wed Apr 26, 2023 at 06:29:41 PM EST
    If Hillary Clinton had been elected in 2016 we would not have Kavanaugh, Gorsuch, Amy Coney Barrett, or those awful Florida and Texas judges.

    We need courts that will protect and respect our rights.  Gotta reelect Joe.

    Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (5.00 / 3) (#41)
    by KeysDan on Wed May 03, 2023 at 09:44:52 AM EST
    statement at the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, May 2, 2023, on the ethics (or lack thereof) or unlawfulness of some Supreme Court justices.

    Parent
    Sen. Whitehouse (5.00 / 1) (#42)
    by MO Blue on Wed May 03, 2023 at 12:41:04 PM EST
    Is very good at presenting his case and backing up his testimony with receipts.

    A shame he never expressed any presidential aspirations. I think he might have been an interesting candidate.

    Parent

    President. Biden (5.00 / 1) (#16)
    by KeysDan on Sun Apr 30, 2023 at 01:16:03 PM EST
    Did a very good job at the Washington Correspondents Dinner last night at the Washington Hilton.    His material was an effective blend of seriousness and fun.  His delivery and timing were that of a.professional comedian.  The president co-opted the age issue with self-effacing humor.

    The comedic headliner was Roy Wood, Jr., a popular Comedy Central Daily Show "senior correspondent".  His jokes were gentle, but pointed. Among his best routines focused on Clarence Thomas and his being bought by billionaire Harlan Crow.  Plenty of fun with Fox and the Dominion case.

    "Spending reforms " (none / 0) (#17)
    by CaptHowdy on Sun Apr 30, 2023 at 02:40:18 PM EST
    Not cuts

    This is the brilliant team Biden is facing
    Watch the video

    link

    Parent

    Joe Manchim (5.00 / 1) (#18)
    by CaptHowdy on Sun Apr 30, 2023 at 03:47:56 PM EST
    is the new Joe Lieberman

    Parent
    Club for Growth (none / 0) (#19)
    by MO Blue on Sun Apr 30, 2023 at 04:08:27 PM EST
    has come out against Jim Jefferies which will muddy the waters in WV. Jefferies, IMO, would be a very strong candidate for Manchin's Senate seat.

    It wouldn't surprise me if Manchin decided that the US needs his guidance in the WH and he runs for president under the No Labels banner.

    Parent

    Jim Justice, possibly? (5.00 / 1) (#23)
    by leap2 on Sun Apr 30, 2023 at 05:29:33 PM EST
    Let's see: WV state senator Glenn Jeffries (who just switch parties from D to R, of course; Vermont US Senator Jim Jeffords; NY Rep Hakeem Jeffries

    Parent
    Yes, (none / 0) (#24)
    by MO Blue on Sun Apr 30, 2023 at 05:33:56 PM EST
    Thanks for the correction. It is Jim Justice. I knew who I meant but unfortunately there was a disconnect with my fingers.

    Parent
    Yes (none / 0) (#20)
    by CaptHowdy on Sun Apr 30, 2023 at 04:29:09 PM EST
    A Unity Ticket

    hmm. Who else?

    Maybe Kyrsten Sinema.

    Parent

    But who would be (5.00 / 1) (#21)
    by CaptHowdy on Sun Apr 30, 2023 at 04:30:03 PM EST
    VP?

    Parent
    They (none / 0) (#22)
    by FlJoe on Sun Apr 30, 2023 at 04:42:04 PM EST
    will have to yank it out of Yang's hand.

    Parent
    RE: Andrew Yang, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ... (5.00 / 1) (#39)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Tue May 02, 2023 at 07:42:44 PM EST
    ... and Marianne Williamson. Why is the media or anybody else wasting their time with them? I mean, geez, I'm well on the left side of the political spectrum myself, and if those three crackpotted dreamers were in any way representative of the left, which thank heavens they're not, hell, even I'd vote against them!

    Parent
    Here we go (none / 0) (#29)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue May 02, 2023 at 07:51:13 AM EST

    "Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) is stepping up his criticism of President Biden's leadership, stirring speculation that the maverick Democrat may challenge Biden as a third-party candidate in 2024," The Hill reports.

    "Manchin notes he has had a 12-year relationship with No Labels, the centrist political group that is trying to gain access to the ballot in all 50 states to open a path for a third-party candidate to run for president."



    Parent
    Yes (5.00 / 2) (#30)
    by MO Blue on Tue May 02, 2023 at 09:36:55 AM EST
    I think this is a real possibility. My feelings about  Manchin are reaching Lieberman levels and you can't get much lower than that.

    Parent
    Joe 'Inspiring Presence' Manchin (none / 0) (#32)
    by jondee on Tue May 02, 2023 at 05:10:23 PM EST
    isn't West Virginia leading the nation in opioid ods, close to the bottom of the barrel in per capita income, literacy, lousy schools and so on and so forth?

    It's amazing Manchin isn't embarrassed to show his face in public.

    Parent

    Im starting to want to see him lose (none / 0) (#33)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue May 02, 2023 at 05:13:43 PM EST
    even if it's to a republican.

    Parent
    I think Jim Justice (none / 0) (#36)
    by leap2 on Tue May 02, 2023 at 05:55:03 PM EST
    would vanquish Manchin. Justice is a "real" Republican, after all, although Manchin has those genes. He's a horrible human being.

    Parent
    Reports on a couple of sites (none / 0) (#35)
    by MO Blue on Tue May 02, 2023 at 05:26:55 PM EST
    indicate that Sinema might want to arm wrestle Manchin for the No Label presidential slot. Or maybe that is mud wrestle.

    Parent
    For him to (none / 0) (#37)
    by Ga6thDem on Tue May 02, 2023 at 06:14:19 PM EST
    run wouldn't he have to give up his senate seat? Frankly I don't see what benefit there is to him running under No Labels since it's a guaranteed electoral loss.

    No Labels was a huge story in 2020 wasn't it? And then it fizzled. It is a shiny new toy until people get bored with it and move onto the next thing.

    Parent

    I think he is so irritating (none / 0) (#38)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue May 02, 2023 at 07:02:17 PM EST
    at least partly because he acts like he thinks the totally random fact he is the odd man out and can stop anything from happening makes him a leader.  

    Not a single thing about his position of influence has a single thing to do with his statesmanship or effectiveness as a leader.  

    He is only a leader in stopping any progress toward anything but fossil fuel.

    Parent

    It's deeply disappointing to see you shoot.. (5.00 / 2) (#26)
    by desertswine on Sun Apr 30, 2023 at 10:17:53 PM EST
    so wide of the mark.  The only elephant in the room is Gruppenfuhrer Trump.

    I have no problems at all either with Pres. Biden's age or mental acuity.

    Also, I haven't seen any of those anonymous "several news reports" that you're not linking to and whose veracity is unverified.

    IOW take a hike.

    This deserves several 5s (none / 0) (#27)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon May 01, 2023 at 07:24:13 AM EST
    But this comment needs to stay with the flakey comment it's responding to.

    Missing the reply to the comment is easy to do with the last comment n the page

    I give you a 6!

    Parent

    The Rev. Robert Hendrickson, ... (5.00 / 4) (#28)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Mon May 01, 2023 at 04:31:26 PM EST
    ... rector of St. Phillips in the Hills Episcopal Church in Tucson, AZ, best summed up Donald Trump back in 2020 after the former president ordered the military to clear Lafayette Park of protestors so he could walk across the street and do his tacky Bible shtick in front of that D.C. church:

    "This is an awful man, waving a book he hasn't read in front of a church he doesn't attend, invoking laws he doesn't understand against fellow Americans he sees as enemies, wielding a military he dodged serving to protect power he gained via accepting foreign interference, exploiting fear and anger he loves to stoke after failing to protect us from an epidemic he was warned about, and building it all on a bed of constant lies and childish inanity."

    The threat posed by Trump and the MAGA-dominated GOP has clearly not waned in the wake of that sinister man's rather decisive defeat in the 2020 election. Regarding the tepid support thus far for President Biden, the Rolling Stones probably said it best:

    "You can't always get what you want.
    But if you try sometime, you'll find
    You get what you need.
    "

    With Trump chumming and the sharks circling, you don't just leap in to test the waters. Your wisest and sanest choice is to stay aboard ship. And for all our collective doubts about him prior to 2020, I freely admit that Joe Biden has proved to be a remarkably good and capable captain. Without any reservations on my part, I recommend we stick with him.

    Aloha.

    Gordon Lightfoot, RIP (5.00 / 2) (#40)
    by Peter G on Tue May 02, 2023 at 10:10:19 PM EST
    Such a great singer. And a fine songwriter, although in this lesser-known but powerful song about the July 1967 Detroit uprising he seems to be imitating Phil Ochs.

    Peter, you might (5.00 / 2) (#50)
    by leap2 on Wed May 03, 2023 at 03:32:07 PM EST
    appreciate this.

    What a beautiful voice the cantor has. And the choir ain't bad, either.

    Parent

    Yes, RIP Harry Belafonte also (none / 0) (#58)
    by Peter G on Thu May 04, 2023 at 12:15:27 PM EST
    I believe one or more of Harry's wives was Jewish and thus so are at least some of his children.  Very appropriate mashup of his music with Jewish liturgical chanting.

    Parent
    Quid Pro Crow(continued) (5.00 / 3) (#52)
    by KeysDan on Thu May 04, 2023 at 11:02:15 AM EST
    Pro Publication reports that Harlan Crow, the billionaire Hitler-memorabilia aficionado, paid tuition at Lake Academy, a private boarding school in Georgia,  for Clarence Thomas's grand-nephew, a boy Thomas has said he raised as a son and had legal custody.  Crow paid $6,200 per monthly tuition at Lake Academy, and, tuition at Randolph-Macon Academy before and after his time at Lake Academy.

    The exact amount is unclear, but if Crow paid all four years at the two schools, the cost would have exceeded $150,000.

    Neither the Court nor Clarence responded to questions.  It is absurd, in and of itself that the potential offense is that Thomas did not report the "gift" rather than defining the "gift" as a bribe punishable by law.  An investigation appears warranted.  I

    If Clarence had integrity, concern for the Court and the country, he would resign.  So, he will stay.

    If Thomas, (none / 0) (#57)
    by MO Blue on Thu May 04, 2023 at 12:08:02 PM EST
     had integrity, concern for the Court and the country, he would not have accepted the bribes. Now that we have established he has no integrity or any limits to the extent of his corruption, the country needs to try to find a way to make this illegal. I'm not holding my breath.

    Hopefully, DOJ and the IRS are looking into how Crow reported these transactions.


    Parent

    Not optimistic (5.00 / 1) (#60)
    by KeysDan on Thu May 04, 2023 at 12:55:12 PM EST
    that anything will be done.  Chief Justice Roberts would not even accept the invitation of the Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee to discuss the possibility of ethics. Senator Durbin, in his invitation, indicated that the discussion would be narrowed to just ethics.

    However, the corruption of some of the Justices should be hung around their necks, and be a part of political campaigns.

     There are but nine justices whose decisions are impactful for 325 million Americans. These appointed judges have, essentially, veto power over the other two elected branches of the federal government.

    It should not be unreasonable for American citizens to expect that these powerful individuals are not on the take, or that they are being rewarded for their good work by fascists and other crackpots.

     Is this good behavior?  Asking for a Founder.

    I am looking forward to Thomas's opinion on forgiveness of loans by hard working students. I wonder if he will say, tough luck.  Get a sugar daddy to pay your tuition.  

    Parent

    Appropriate Founder's quote: (5.00 / 1) (#86)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Fri May 05, 2023 at 09:34:58 PM EST
    "A body of men, holding themselves accountable to nobody, ought not to be trusted by anybody."
    - Thomas Paine (1737-1809), "Rights of Man" (1791)

    Chief Justice John Roberts is the worst guy in that position since Roger Taney. Under both men, public confidence in the U.S. Supreme Court waned dangerously.

    Back in Taney's time, a serious of controversial decisions, culminating in Taney's dreadful Dred Scott opinion, made the U.S. Civil War inevitable.

    Roberts should wise up.


    Parent

    If there is no "quid pro quo" agreement (none / 0) (#62)
    by Peter G on Thu May 04, 2023 at 01:37:23 PM EST
    then there is no bribe. That is not to say that the payment is not criminal in some other way, and certainly no indication that it is ethical or otherwise proper, but it is not a bribe, so far as criminal law categories are concerned.

    Parent
    and (none / 0) (#75)
    by FlJoe on Thu May 04, 2023 at 07:13:19 PM EST
    the beat goes on
    Conservative judicial activist Leonard Leo arranged for the wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas to be paid tens of thousands of dollars for consulting work just over a decade ago, specifying that her name be left off billing paperwork, according to documents reviewed by The Washington Post.

    Link (paywall)


    Parent
    Clarence. and Ginni (5.00 / 1) (#76)
    by KeysDan on Thu May 04, 2023 at 09:06:23 PM EST
    are not about ethics violations and we should not be thinking of their misdeeds as such. This is not just a story of failure to disclose.  This is a story of corruption.  Thomas should resign, but this is not going to happen. Resign, heck he will not recuse.

    Parent
    Thomas is, and was, an absolute disgrace. (none / 0) (#78)
    by desertswine on Fri May 05, 2023 at 01:33:34 PM EST
    4 proud boys guilty (5.00 / 2) (#53)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu May 04, 2023 at 11:24:30 AM EST
    Hats off to (5.00 / 1) (#54)
    by KeysDan on Thu May 04, 2023 at 11:43:14 AM EST
    the DOJ.  Seditious conspiracy--guilty!  Another Biden comment--Trump would pardon these felons.

    Parent
    I would be willing to bet (5.00 / 1) (#55)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu May 04, 2023 at 11:44:48 AM EST
    Trump is going to be charged with the same thing.

    How could he not be.

    Parent

    I think the way other possible (none / 0) (#56)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu May 04, 2023 at 11:47:29 AM EST
    24 nominees are acting means they are just waiting for Trump to be taken off the board.

    If they just tap dance for a while they can be outraged when he is charged.

    Not the worst plan I guess.

    Parent

    Once again, it is May 4 -- Kent State Day (5.00 / 2) (#63)
    by Peter G on Thu May 04, 2023 at 01:44:36 PM EST
    "Four dead in Ohio." A turning point in my life, and in Jeralyn's, I know. Perhaps in others' here also.

    Garland is speaking soon (5.00 / 2) (#65)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu May 04, 2023 at 03:02:46 PM EST
    on the P Boys

    Trump must have noticed that Deney Terrio was convicted of Seditious Conspiracy and he wasn't not at the Capitol

    What a shame! (none / 0) (#87)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Fri May 05, 2023 at 09:43:07 PM EST
    40 years ago, Deney Terrio was on top of the world as host of the popular American musical TV series "Dance Fever."

    What happened in his life to drive him into MAGA's arms, co-found a right-wing militia organization and engage in a seditious conspiracy to illegally overturn the 2020 presidential election?

    I think you mean Enrique Tarrio. ;-D

    Parent

    Nope (none / 0) (#88)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat May 06, 2023 at 07:53:35 AM EST
    Totally meant Deney

    Parent
    The job growth in April (5.00 / 1) (#77)
    by KeysDan on Fri May 05, 2023 at 12:03:08 PM EST
    was 253,000 beating the Wall Street estimate of 189,000 bringing the unemployment rate to 3.4 percent---tied for lowest level since 1969.

    The average hourly rate was 4.4 percent, up from 4.2 percent.

    However, the economy is facing disaster if the Republicans in Congress do not allow the debt ceiling to be raised so as to pay bills already incurred.

    Paul Krugman, Nobel Laureate in Economics and NYTimes columnist, urges the Biden Administration to do whatever it takes to get through this Republican ploy to undermine the economy of the country, and the world, other than giving in to their extortion.

    Krugman says "Let's not make a deal" with these extremists. Rather, if necessary, (a) The president should declare that he must implement duly enacted legislation and a debt ceiling that prevents him from doing so, is unconstitutional, or (b) issue premium bonds, or (c) mint a trillion-dollar platinum coin, as permitted by law.

    I would hope, too, that President Biden would deploy sound, but unorthodox, measures, if needed,  to halt a financial "January 6", by fanatics attempting to obtain what they can't get by legislation and to subvert the government in a spiteful partisan misadventure.

    Fani news (5.00 / 1) (#82)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri May 05, 2023 at 04:28:24 PM EST

    Eight Trump Electors in Georgia Have Accepted Immunity

    May 5, 2023 at 5:25 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

    "At least eight of the 16 Georgia Republicans who convened in December 2020 to declare Donald Trump the winner of the presidential contest despite his loss in the state have accepted immunity deals from Atlanta-area prosecutors investigating alleged election interference," the Washington Post reports.

    "Prosecutors with the office of Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis told the eight that they will not be charged with crimes if they testify truthfully in her sprawling investigation into efforts by Trump, his campaign and his allies to overturn Joe Biden's victory in Georgia



    If you were objective (2.00 / 1) (#14)
    by coast on Fri Apr 28, 2023 at 07:24:38 AM EST
    No objective person would sit there and say this man should be running a country at the age of 82 and beyond.

    He had the softest of sofball questions given to him the other day - what was the last country you visited?  He just spent three days in Irland last week.  It was billed as a homecoming, a very personal visit, which I'm sure it was.  To not recall it less than a week later!  As Biden would say "come on man".

    Who should the candidate be?  I don't have answer for you.  But I do know it shouldn't be Biden.

    Very objective of you (5.00 / 4) (#15)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Apr 28, 2023 at 08:10:01 AM EST
    to parrot meaningless right wing talking points.

    (Not hyperbole, give that stuff a Google and see who is talking breathlessly about it.  Along with Biden age)

    I'm sure you said all the same crap in 2019 and he has passed more progressive legislation than anyone since Johnson and he's still kicking.

    Parent

    It's deeply disappointing to see everyone (1.00 / 1) (#25)
    by hilts on Sun Apr 30, 2023 at 09:17:09 PM EST
    ignoring the elephant in the room. Biden would be 86 years old at the end of his second term.

    Given his advanced age, Biden's decision to seek a second term is a huge roll of the dice.

    According to several news reports, Biden is only running again because he doesn't believe Kamala Harris is prepared to serve as President. If these reports are true, this is an incredible indictment of uncle Joe.

     

    Gee, really? (5.00 / 1) (#46)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Wed May 03, 2023 at 02:28:01 PM EST
    hilts: "According to several news reports, Biden is only running again because he doesn't believe Kamala Harris is prepared to serve as President. If these reports are true, this is an incredible indictment of uncle Joe."

    Those aren't "news reports." Rather, that's nothing more than rank and clearly unsubstantiated speculation from pundits with partisan agendas who claim to be in the know, but who are not even close.

    Of course, to be fair, such speculation, punditry and political navel gazing are what pass for news nowadays on America's cable news networks. That's why I find myself so often watching BBC, France One and Al Jazeera. They actually have reporters in the field.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    Hey Madam Zorba (none / 0) (#31)
    by MO Blue on Tue May 02, 2023 at 01:43:33 PM EST
    What are your thoughts on the upcoming open Senate seat In Maryland?

    I know this is a wee bit off topic but there is no open open thread. Hint, hint!

    It IS a Joe thread (none / 0) (#34)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue May 02, 2023 at 05:15:45 PM EST
    pretty much everything is about Joe.  Directly or indirectly.  

    Parent
    Pure Genius, Why Didn't I Think of This? (5.00 / 2) (#43)
    by KeysDan on Wed May 03, 2023 at 02:12:25 PM EST
    Texas Republicans have come up with a protocol to reduce injuries and deaths from Public School Shootings.

    According to TX HB 11247, 2023-2024, 88th Legislation, Public Schools would be required to establish, regulate and maintain "Bleeding Control Stations".  Moreover, these bleeding stations must be available to school employees and volunteers. Schools must offer instruction on the use of a bleeding control station to students enrolled in grades three (3) or higher.

    Specific and specified equipment and supplies must be included in the bleeding station, such as tourniquets approved for use in battlefield trauma care by the armed forces of the US, chest seals, scissors, bleeding control bandages, emergency alert devises, and instructional documents of the American College of Surgeons.

    The bill would become effective  September 1, 2023. Although, I worry that Texas 8th graders may not have mastered these battlefield surgical procedures by that date. But, then, they will have those College of Surgeon's documents that the older boys could hold up for easy reading.

    Yes, this comment is about Joe Biden and normalcy defeating the insanity of Republicans.

    Parent

    Better (5.00 / 1) (#44)
    by KeysDan on Wed May 03, 2023 at 02:22:52 PM EST
    New (5.00 / 2) (#45)
    by FlJoe on Wed May 03, 2023 at 02:25:48 PM EST
    sitcom idea; think Welcome Back Kotter meets M.A.S.H.

    Parent
    If you organize it right, ... (none / 0) (#48)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Wed May 03, 2023 at 02:30:25 PM EST
    ... I bet high school kids could even earn credits toward graduation if they volunteer to staff such on-campus emergency stations.

    Parent
    Yes, but (none / 0) (#49)
    by KeysDan on Wed May 03, 2023 at 02:31:17 PM EST
    with child actors to play the third graders doing the battlefield trauma procedures.

    Parent
    They need to replace school nurses (none / 0) (#47)
    by MO Blue on Wed May 03, 2023 at 02:30:08 PM EST
    with ER Trauma doctors and nurses.

    Parent
    I would love for (none / 0) (#59)
    by Zorba on Thu May 04, 2023 at 12:46:46 PM EST
    Jamie Raskin to run for Cardin's seat.
    David Trone just threw his hat in the ring for the seat. He's fine, but not as good as Jamie.
    (Trone owns Total Wine and More, which some of you may be familiar with.)

    Parent
    The Trones appear to be principled (none / 0) (#61)
    by Peter G on Thu May 04, 2023 at 01:34:24 PM EST
    Libertarians, that is, pro-civil liberties conservatives. The family endowed a major center at ACLU, focused on criminal justice reform. Is that your understanding?

    Parent
    Yes (5.00 / 1) (#84)
    by Zorba on Fri May 05, 2023 at 07:34:29 PM EST
    I'd prefer an all-around liberal, but Trone is probably the best we can get here in Western Maryland, which is quite conservative.
    For Senator, I'd rather have
     Raskin. He's a true liberal.

    Parent
    What do you know (none / 0) (#64)
    by MO Blue on Thu May 04, 2023 at 02:09:24 PM EST
    about Angela Alsobrooks who has also been named as a possible candidate.

    Parent
    Not much (none / 0) (#85)
    by Zorba on Fri May 05, 2023 at 07:38:16 PM EST
    All I know is that she's the Chief Executive of Prince George's County.
    When we get closer to the primaries, I will be looking more closely at the candidates. The League of Women Voters does a good job each election of questioning the candidates and publishing their answers.

    PS I still miss Barbara Mikulski as Senator.

    Parent

    This is amazing (none / 0) (#51)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed May 03, 2023 at 06:24:27 PM EST
    Worth noting (none / 0) (#66)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu May 04, 2023 at 03:08:45 PM EST

    F lorida Would Allow Trans Kids to Be Taken From Families

    May 4, 2023 at 3:38 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard 133 Comments

    "The Florida legislature passed a bill Thursday that will let the state take transgender minors away from their families if they are receiving gender-affirming care," the New Republic reports.

    "The measure now goes to the desk of Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has previously expressed support for it and will likely sign it into law



    Can't see how this is legal/constitutional? (5.00 / 1) (#67)
    by MO Blue on Thu May 04, 2023 at 03:38:28 PM EST
    Hope the Dems are keeping a tally of how much money Florida is spending on defending their new laws in court. Might be something voters will be interested in the next election.

    Parent
    I would like to hear where the FL residents (none / 0) (#68)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu May 04, 2023 at 03:56:30 PM EST
    think this is all going to end.

    I get that Rhonda has gathered the dark forces together all during the pandemic and he thinks he's governing Mordor.

    But you would think there must still be a fair number of younger and/or saner people who might even have liked the Woke War in theory but are going to choke on this kind of stuff.

    It seems like DeSatan is doing his best to get every single he of them off the couch and out to vote.  Against him.

    Any chance he might turn FL blue?


    Parent

    I wonder this because (none / 0) (#69)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu May 04, 2023 at 03:58:05 PM EST
    I think Aunt Lydia is doing that to my state. Maybe not as well.

    Parent
    I'm afraid that red states (none / 0) (#70)
    by MO Blue on Thu May 04, 2023 at 04:49:25 PM EST
    with legislative majorities are basically following the same blueprint just with slightly different time tables. I can't believe how Missouri has gotten so extremely right wing and baths!t crazy during my lifetime.

    Parent
    Sure (none / 0) (#71)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu May 04, 2023 at 04:57:55 PM EST
    but I know a lot of blue people in MO.  Too.

    if they would just be pushed enough to vote .....

    I think there will be a pushback to the nationwide  wave we are experiencing.  If not backlash.

    Let's hope I live to see it.

    Parent

    There (none / 0) (#72)
    by FlJoe on Thu May 04, 2023 at 05:45:07 PM EST
    is little hope of turning Fl blue for no other reason that the state dem party is a complete mess.

    There is some grumbling grumbling among Repugs that he is more interested in running for president and his war against Disney is making some of them nervous but all of them are run of the mill scumbag Republicans who will do anything to retain power.

    I never understood the whole war on woke mentality anyway, these self-proclaimed alpha males seem to be in mortal fear of teachers and books, drag queens and cartoon mice. I mean come on.

    Parent

    Yeah (none / 0) (#73)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu May 04, 2023 at 05:53:57 PM EST
    Charlie Crist was sad.  Maybe some day

    Parent
    Yeah (none / 0) (#74)
    by FlJoe on Thu May 04, 2023 at 06:44:08 PM EST
    when you have to run a recycled Republican, your bench is pathetic. I suppose Val Demmings was a decent candidate but she was facing strong headwinds.

    The Democrats blew it in 2018 when DeSantis barely won against a flawed Andrew Gillium, a relatively far left, Bernie Sanders supported candidate with an ethics problem.

    Parent

    Yes (5.00 / 1) (#79)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri May 05, 2023 at 03:50:53 PM EST
    if a non Bernie candidate had been nominated they probably would have beat DeSantis. Just because D's sat home doesn't mean DeSantis is a great candidate is what I say. There was no reason to nominate Crist. Florida Dems would have been better off with Fried even if she lost simply due to the fact that she wasn't a recycled candidate and had more recently won statewide.

    Parent
    Trump E Jean Carrol deposition (none / 0) (#80)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri May 05, 2023 at 04:01:56 PM EST
    Does the jury in this case (5.00 / 1) (#81)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri May 05, 2023 at 04:15:18 PM EST
    get to award punitive damages like the FOX jury.  Are are open ended?  Not capped?

    If do this is going to cost him.  

    That depo is a confession.  And proud of it.

    Parent

    They do! (5.00 / 1) (#92)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat May 06, 2023 at 02:15:07 PM EST

    allowed to decide for themselves what the monetary penalty will, be with the report stating, "If a jury agrees that Carroll has proven her claims of battery and defamation, they can award compensatory and punitive damages. The amount is up to the jury."

    The amount is up to the jury': Trump could face a massive blow if he's found guilty in E. Jean Carroll trial




    Parent

    The Supreme Court has long held that (5.00 / 1) (#93)
    by Peter G on Sat May 06, 2023 at 03:20:46 PM EST
    punitive damages are ordinarily deemed excessive and unconstitutional (in violation of due process) if they exceed a single-digit multiple of the actual damages. The jury is not free just to go wild out of disgust at the defendant's behavior or attitude. On the other hand, I don't think the court has addressed the specific context of a very wealthy defendant who engages in particularly reprehensible conduct against a plaintiff-victim of lesser means, and which causes relatively little directly-compensable harm.

    Parent
    If it is one dollar (5.00 / 1) (#94)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat May 06, 2023 at 04:42:09 PM EST
    Trump will appeal it all the way to his Supreme Court.

    I hope they nail him. And it feels like they might.

    Parent

    Unanimous (none / 0) (#83)
    by BGinCA on Fri May 05, 2023 at 06:51:41 PM EST
    Does the jury verdict in this case have to be unanimous? And is the criterion the `preponderance of the evidence'?

    Parent
    In a federal civil case (none / 0) (#89)
    by Peter G on Sat May 06, 2023 at 09:24:15 AM EST
    the jury does have to be unanimous (unless the parties stipulate otherwise, which I cannot imagine they have), but the burden of proof is only by a preponderance ("greater weight").

    Parent
    As to the Strength of the Charges (none / 0) (#95)
    by RickyJim on Sat May 06, 2023 at 06:35:49 PM EST
    (If charge is the right word to use in a civil suit.)  I think what was presented is enough to get to 50+ % that Trump committed battery in the dressing room 30 years ago.  I am much less confident about the defamation case.  There are so many ladies that Trump has insulted at least as seriously, who haven't sued, that I just don't think Ms Carroll can claim that she, in particular, was harmed by such comments. Doesn't she have to present evidence that the public takes such stuff from Trump seriously?

    Parent
    14th amendment and the debt limit (none / 0) (#90)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat May 06, 2023 at 10:02:32 AM EST
    Is this realistic?

    The theory takes aim at Section Four of the 14th Amendment which states the "validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and bounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned."

    14th Amendment: Can Biden declare the debt ceiling unconstitutional? - USA Today



    Oops (none / 0) (#91)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat May 06, 2023 at 10:03:53 AM EST
    Biden only needs 5 (none / 0) (#96)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat May 06, 2023 at 06:36:54 PM EST
    for  a discharge petition I believe

    According to a report from Juliegrace Brufke writing for Axios, as the budget deadline approaches members of the moderate wing of the party worry they will be blamed if things fall apart because McCarthy let members of the Freedom Caucus call the shots and likely won't bend as negotiations heat up.

    Add to that, the report states, members feel "blindsided" by some of the concessions McCarthy made after telling them there would be no additional changes



    SITE VIOLATER (none / 0) (#98)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Jul 22, 2023 at 02:40:04 PM EST