Charlie, it's not that we want you to stop talking about Biden's age. It's that by spending all this time taking about it, and no mention at all about how Donald Trump is only two years younger, morbidly obese, spouting word salad with a family history of dementia, you are helping to further the narrative you're worried about. Joe Biden does not look especially bad for someone of his age. Judged by that standard, he's pretty spry, especially in comparison to his opponent. The Trump campaign wants everyone to consider Biden's age in a vacuum, and you're doing exactly that.
I really like A. B. Stoddard and usually enjoy her pieces in the Bulwark and her contributions on the podcasts, but the decision's been made, the 2024 campaign is underway, and Biden is running. She's entitled to say or write anything she wants, and she's earned the platform that she holds, but she should realize that a piece like this one is not one more contribution to an ongoing debate. That debate has been over for months. Now, if not intentionally, it's still for all practical purposes pure Biden-bashing.
The great defect of even the fact-based media today is their refusal to accept responsibility for the effects of the content they produce. A. B. Stoddard's intentions in publishing this piece don't matter. The effect is to provide a quote-rich environment ready to be mined and weaponized by the GOP Lie Machine. It absolutely will be, and she's the person responsible for that.
trump went to Walter Reed in the middle of the night and it wasn't reported until sometime later -- the media collectively went 'whatever' -- now somehow if Biden goes to Walter Reed it's a major major problem.
I just don't get why the media keep trying to kick him to the curb; there is a difference between health and ageism---Biden doesn't show poor health and claiming "fear" of that rather than state the facts is not responsible at all.
Unless there’s a politic way of replacing President Biden with Gretchen Whitmer, Josh Shapiro or whomever else some folks see in their dreams maybe just accept that Biden is the Democratic nominee. I’m not going to listen to 14 more months of being told he’s old. He’s also had a much better than average presidency and will be ranked accordingly after it’s completed.
Biden is the same age as Jagger and Richards. He’s two years younger than Dylan. Keep on rock in’, Joe! 🎸
I like Mike. I even listen to Hacks on Tap. But Mike thinks there's Trump fatigue in the GOP. I've list track of the things he's been wrong about. He still thinks the old GOP exists; he hasn't adapted to post-Trump politics. Also, for the love of God, if you're going to bring up Biden's age, you should be bringing up Trump's age as well. We get sidetracked by his crimes, but Trump is an old man as well and his age should be an albatross around his neck as well.
I think there are good points there on how people are feeling the economy. I'm feeling it that way. My company has not kept up with wages compared to inflation. I don't want to get a new job, but at some point I might have to. I've got the perspective to know that that isn't Biden's fault though.
As for the rest, if Biden was running against someone new, some of that analysis might be spot on. But he's running against a former president. He's running against "the most unpopular politician in the country." He's running against someone who more than half the country thinks is guilty of serious felonies.
Give me a magic wand and I'd take 10 years off of Joe, but I'm not really worried about his age. I'm actually not sure what about his age I'm supposed to worry about. If he dies or become incapacitated, we have a vice President (one who isn't going to pull us out of NATO, invade Mexico, or be played by Putin / MBS). If he stumbles over some words, it doesn't really affect anything. As has been pointed out many times, the job of President doesn't actually involve anything to do with what happens on a debate stage. Am I supposed to imagine some crisis where in the middle of it he has a stroke or something? Still less scary than Trump on a good day or Trump's people if he has a stroke.
I have to admit, I also feel like this newsletter is just trying to shoot Biden down for very little reason. Just to give the GOP more ammo, I suppose. What ever happened to the old wisdom: Are you better off now than you were 4 years ago? Because almost everyone is going to say yes, hell yes. I don't want to go back to the hell of 4 years ago.
Just a comment as a retired nurse. McConnell’s age is not the determinative factor. Love him or hate him, he’s been very effective in his leadership role. The problem now, as with Feinstein, is their health. They are not well. At the first signs of declining health, they should’ve resigned. For their well-being, as well as that of their constituents.
Look, Biden is the Dem nominee. Period. Full stop. All the discussion about who the Dems *should* run is as useful and practical as a discussion about how Trump should become an honest humble man who doesn't lie, cheat, steal, covet other men's wives and daughters and never brags. What the Sam Hill is the point of expending bytes on that??
Charlie is a career right-wing yakker who has not held a real job in decades. When he starts talking about what "the Left" should do, I just tune it out.
1. Counter: Biden is still the most underrated politician out there.
2. Whitmer, Warnock, Newsom, Shapiro, Harris, and others would make fine candidates for 2028.
3. If people are really concerned about Trump in 2024, the simplest and easiest thing to do is unite behind Biden RIGHT NOW. But that is boring and doesn't produce enough unique copy and it goes against all the feels. Nor does it allow pundits to earn money, so we have tons of people endlessly pontificating pompously because in the end, their bank account needs to go ka-ching.
I am really sick and tired of the endless discussions of president Biden’s age. He’s a whole lot healthier than TFG and he is NOT impaired. Biden is not given credit for choosing a great team, for working with the other side, for CALMING the waters after the Trump chaos. Biden does not lie every time he speaks. Biden’s foreign policy has been brilliant. NATO is strong and Russia is weak. China is mediocre. I look forward to voting for Joe Biden again and every Democrat on the ballot. I want our country sane and stable. I like feeling proud to be an American (and I certainly felt ashamed of the former guy). I also want the government out of my uterus. I want children and all of us safe from guns. I want Alito, Roberts, and Thomas to resign. Biden can achieve so much in his second turn. There is only one party interested in actually governing and that’s the Democrats.
I like all the potential candidates to replace Biden mentioned here and elsewhere just fine. Who knows what the primary field will look like in 2028? Dems do seem to have a pretty deep bench, and we'll need it, because the one thing that's guaranteed to happen in an open primary is that some folks will attract a lot of buzz based on a few of their (vague) policy positions, and their image (based on very little information). "Just listen to the way he/she talks about immigration. He/She has the magic formula." Or, "this person appeals to moderates and progressives, and will be sure to pick up a lot of independents."
But, what will inevitably happen after that is that some candidates who look good when they start running will stumble, for one reason or another. The road to the nomination is littered with Kamalas, Walkers, Pawlentys, Deans, Bradleys, Jeb!s and Rubios, etc. (We can probably add DeMeatball to the list.) “Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth." "No battle plan survives engagement with the enemy."
To dump Biden now is to assume that any of the folks who look good now will look just as good - and much more importantly, look better than Biden - after they've been subjected to the scrutiny of actually running for Prez. That's insane, unhistorical and impossible. Unless you're the type of person who keeps gambling in the face of mounting losses because your luck is sure to turn.
And I have some blunt things to say about this “interview”: life is always a gamble whether you are young or old. I continue.
The approach of this interview sounds so Tucker Carlson, you know, “just asking questions”.
I wonder if the some of the crappier stuff put out by Bulwark is really just to keep themselves in business? And this is crappy. We all know Joe Biden is old. I am, too, but I still work and what I offer at work is a long and balanced view.
I wonder, from this article, if some members of
the Bulwark are SO SO unable to believe that their PRECIOUS Republican Party would take us into autocracy. They desperately want the Democratic Party to “save them” when member of the Republican Party need to be the ones to do the saving, as Judge Luttig so wisely has said.
Criticizing Joe Biden’s age and, by default, questioning Kamala Harris’ credentials, smacks of ageism, misogyny, and racism.
Asking what the Democratic Party’s Plan B is, is a cop out which, of course, the Republican Party, as it stands now, as the Party of Trump, has mastered really well.
The Problem(s) With Joe Biden
Charlie, it's not that we want you to stop talking about Biden's age. It's that by spending all this time taking about it, and no mention at all about how Donald Trump is only two years younger, morbidly obese, spouting word salad with a family history of dementia, you are helping to further the narrative you're worried about. Joe Biden does not look especially bad for someone of his age. Judged by that standard, he's pretty spry, especially in comparison to his opponent. The Trump campaign wants everyone to consider Biden's age in a vacuum, and you're doing exactly that.
I really like A. B. Stoddard and usually enjoy her pieces in the Bulwark and her contributions on the podcasts, but the decision's been made, the 2024 campaign is underway, and Biden is running. She's entitled to say or write anything she wants, and she's earned the platform that she holds, but she should realize that a piece like this one is not one more contribution to an ongoing debate. That debate has been over for months. Now, if not intentionally, it's still for all practical purposes pure Biden-bashing.
The great defect of even the fact-based media today is their refusal to accept responsibility for the effects of the content they produce. A. B. Stoddard's intentions in publishing this piece don't matter. The effect is to provide a quote-rich environment ready to be mined and weaponized by the GOP Lie Machine. It absolutely will be, and she's the person responsible for that.
trump went to Walter Reed in the middle of the night and it wasn't reported until sometime later -- the media collectively went 'whatever' -- now somehow if Biden goes to Walter Reed it's a major major problem.
I just don't get why the media keep trying to kick him to the curb; there is a difference between health and ageism---Biden doesn't show poor health and claiming "fear" of that rather than state the facts is not responsible at all.
This is super interesting, but worth taking with a grain of salt considering Mike is an “election guru” who doesn’t actually win elections.
Unless there’s a politic way of replacing President Biden with Gretchen Whitmer, Josh Shapiro or whomever else some folks see in their dreams maybe just accept that Biden is the Democratic nominee. I’m not going to listen to 14 more months of being told he’s old. He’s also had a much better than average presidency and will be ranked accordingly after it’s completed.
Biden is the same age as Jagger and Richards. He’s two years younger than Dylan. Keep on rock in’, Joe! 🎸
I like Mike. I even listen to Hacks on Tap. But Mike thinks there's Trump fatigue in the GOP. I've list track of the things he's been wrong about. He still thinks the old GOP exists; he hasn't adapted to post-Trump politics. Also, for the love of God, if you're going to bring up Biden's age, you should be bringing up Trump's age as well. We get sidetracked by his crimes, but Trump is an old man as well and his age should be an albatross around his neck as well.
I think the Dems should ignore the handwringing by the disaffected Right and do what they've been doing since 2018: beating MAGA.
I think there are good points there on how people are feeling the economy. I'm feeling it that way. My company has not kept up with wages compared to inflation. I don't want to get a new job, but at some point I might have to. I've got the perspective to know that that isn't Biden's fault though.
As for the rest, if Biden was running against someone new, some of that analysis might be spot on. But he's running against a former president. He's running against "the most unpopular politician in the country." He's running against someone who more than half the country thinks is guilty of serious felonies.
Give me a magic wand and I'd take 10 years off of Joe, but I'm not really worried about his age. I'm actually not sure what about his age I'm supposed to worry about. If he dies or become incapacitated, we have a vice President (one who isn't going to pull us out of NATO, invade Mexico, or be played by Putin / MBS). If he stumbles over some words, it doesn't really affect anything. As has been pointed out many times, the job of President doesn't actually involve anything to do with what happens on a debate stage. Am I supposed to imagine some crisis where in the middle of it he has a stroke or something? Still less scary than Trump on a good day or Trump's people if he has a stroke.
I have to admit, I also feel like this newsletter is just trying to shoot Biden down for very little reason. Just to give the GOP more ammo, I suppose. What ever happened to the old wisdom: Are you better off now than you were 4 years ago? Because almost everyone is going to say yes, hell yes. I don't want to go back to the hell of 4 years ago.
Just a comment as a retired nurse. McConnell’s age is not the determinative factor. Love him or hate him, he’s been very effective in his leadership role. The problem now, as with Feinstein, is their health. They are not well. At the first signs of declining health, they should’ve resigned. For their well-being, as well as that of their constituents.
Look, Biden is the Dem nominee. Period. Full stop. All the discussion about who the Dems *should* run is as useful and practical as a discussion about how Trump should become an honest humble man who doesn't lie, cheat, steal, covet other men's wives and daughters and never brags. What the Sam Hill is the point of expending bytes on that??
Charlie is a career right-wing yakker who has not held a real job in decades. When he starts talking about what "the Left" should do, I just tune it out.
1. Counter: Biden is still the most underrated politician out there.
2. Whitmer, Warnock, Newsom, Shapiro, Harris, and others would make fine candidates for 2028.
3. If people are really concerned about Trump in 2024, the simplest and easiest thing to do is unite behind Biden RIGHT NOW. But that is boring and doesn't produce enough unique copy and it goes against all the feels. Nor does it allow pundits to earn money, so we have tons of people endlessly pontificating pompously because in the end, their bank account needs to go ka-ching.
I am really sick and tired of the endless discussions of president Biden’s age. He’s a whole lot healthier than TFG and he is NOT impaired. Biden is not given credit for choosing a great team, for working with the other side, for CALMING the waters after the Trump chaos. Biden does not lie every time he speaks. Biden’s foreign policy has been brilliant. NATO is strong and Russia is weak. China is mediocre. I look forward to voting for Joe Biden again and every Democrat on the ballot. I want our country sane and stable. I like feeling proud to be an American (and I certainly felt ashamed of the former guy). I also want the government out of my uterus. I want children and all of us safe from guns. I want Alito, Roberts, and Thomas to resign. Biden can achieve so much in his second turn. There is only one party interested in actually governing and that’s the Democrats.
I like all the potential candidates to replace Biden mentioned here and elsewhere just fine. Who knows what the primary field will look like in 2028? Dems do seem to have a pretty deep bench, and we'll need it, because the one thing that's guaranteed to happen in an open primary is that some folks will attract a lot of buzz based on a few of their (vague) policy positions, and their image (based on very little information). "Just listen to the way he/she talks about immigration. He/She has the magic formula." Or, "this person appeals to moderates and progressives, and will be sure to pick up a lot of independents."
But, what will inevitably happen after that is that some candidates who look good when they start running will stumble, for one reason or another. The road to the nomination is littered with Kamalas, Walkers, Pawlentys, Deans, Bradleys, Jeb!s and Rubios, etc. (We can probably add DeMeatball to the list.) “Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth." "No battle plan survives engagement with the enemy."
To dump Biden now is to assume that any of the folks who look good now will look just as good - and much more importantly, look better than Biden - after they've been subjected to the scrutiny of actually running for Prez. That's insane, unhistorical and impossible. Unless you're the type of person who keeps gambling in the face of mounting losses because your luck is sure to turn.
You know who sounded super old and cranky? Mike Murphy.
And I have some blunt things to say about this “interview”: life is always a gamble whether you are young or old. I continue.
The approach of this interview sounds so Tucker Carlson, you know, “just asking questions”.
I wonder if the some of the crappier stuff put out by Bulwark is really just to keep themselves in business? And this is crappy. We all know Joe Biden is old. I am, too, but I still work and what I offer at work is a long and balanced view.
I wonder, from this article, if some members of
the Bulwark are SO SO unable to believe that their PRECIOUS Republican Party would take us into autocracy. They desperately want the Democratic Party to “save them” when member of the Republican Party need to be the ones to do the saving, as Judge Luttig so wisely has said.
Criticizing Joe Biden’s age and, by default, questioning Kamala Harris’ credentials, smacks of ageism, misogyny, and racism.
Asking what the Democratic Party’s Plan B is, is a cop out which, of course, the Republican Party, as it stands now, as the Party of Trump, has mastered really well.