If Joe is forced to step down...

[kentuck]

I know that is not our wish but there may be circumstances that we do not know about?

In my opinion, the two most divisive people in America today are Donald Trump and Joe Biden. Democrats despise Donald Trump and Republicans despise Joe Biden. It is the nature of America's politics in this time. With Joe, it is not warranted, but it is true nonetheless, in my opinion. It saddens me to write that. Joe Biden is one of the most humane and compassionate people to ever hold the office of the Presidency.

But, if for some reason Joe steps down, I would honor his decision.

However, the new President would be Kamala Harris. She would go into the Convention as the President and it might be more united and less chaotic than everyone first thought. I doubt that she would have any serious competition from the Party as a whole.

The Party could celebrate the achievements of Joe Biden. They could enumerate the many great things that he accomplished in less than one term. It does not require two terms to go down as a great President.

Most important of all, the Convention would open up to choose a new Vice-President to work with Kamala Harris. There always seems to be a star emerge at the Convention. Someone gives a great speech and the crowd falls in love.

Maybe this is the year of the woman? Maybe Kamala would choose another woman as her running mate. No doubt, the women vote will be necessary for Democrats to win this year.

Whether Joe steps down or stays on, the future is much brighter than it might appear at this moment.

[stonecutter357]

1. Donald Trump is a Rapist so go with that !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[bigtree]

3. It would make my heart sick. Would have nothing to do with 'respecting' his decision

...would have everything to do with the shock of the realization that all of my efforts were in vain.

It would also mean that some pols who thought they were better than him bullied him out. I would be outraged and incensed that THEY had blown up his campaign because of ONE debate. The FIRST and ONLY candidate who had a bad debate that it would have happened to.

Let's not act as if President Biden stepping aside and becoming not just a non-candidate, but a lame-duck president, is something we should be sanguine about.

It would shake our party to the core and ensure our defeat.

That's what my first thought would be.

My second thought...

[Silent3]

5. I still think Biden's our best bet, but if he did step down...

...defeating Trump is and has been my highest priority. As much as I admire Biden as a man and as a President, loyalty to the man himself has to take a distant second place.

This "one debate" might indeed fade in impact, but don't fool yourself that it's on the same scale of other bad debates. It hit people MUCH harder than any other bad debate performance ever has.

[kentuck]

6. I think some people may have observed some things that we do not know about..??

Otherwise, I cannot believe anyone would ask for Joe to step down because of one poor debate performance? Also, it might be that they are worried about their own races and the fact that Joe's polls have remained stagnant for a long time.

[bigtree]

9. look, if you don't know anything of the sort why raise it here in your thread

...and repeat it?

[kentuck]

11. I 'm trying to make the best of a bad situation.

I doubt that if I ignore it, no one else will mention it. I am preparing myself for the news.

[bigtree]

12. if that happens, we're screwed

...prepare yourself for that.

[kentuck]

14. I don't agree.

I think we are in better shape than many people think.

[bucolic_frolic]

4. If Joe steps down, Mike Johnson is second in line

and no way she will get a VP confirmed by that GQP House who will just hope to get lucky.

So Joe is not stepping down, in my view.

[Self Esteem]

8. If Joe drops out but remains president, the next narrative will be his resignation.

They will hammer (they being the media and Republicans) how Joe can serve in his current state. They'll ask the new nominee why Biden is still president every single day and there's no response that will satisfy the sharks.

It's either all in with Joe or if it's just him dropping out but remaining president, the next four months will be entirely about his remaining in office and that's going to get ugly fast. Way more ugly over his just staying on as the nominee.

[bucolic_frolic]

10. You're right and I guess I was a step ahead of myself

He could just decline the nomination. But then Dems have some fancy footwork ahead.

[Silent3]

17. Actually, if Biden endorsed Harris as his replacement...

...(still acknowledging that we're sticking with Biden himself most likely), then also resigning from the Presidency would be a great move, not a bad move. Harris could then run with incumbency on her side.

[Self Esteem]

18. It would still look bad.

The only option that doesn't look bad is if Biden stays in the race, as president and the party rallies around him.

But Democrats don't seem to want that.

[Silent3]

19. True, but you did bring up the hypothetical of Biden deciding to step down...

...following that by imagining Biden would be hounded by calls to resign.

My only point was I think Biden might, of his own accord, also resign the Presidency, and for potentially good strategic reasons.

[Polybius]

20. Harris wouldn't have incumbency on her side if Biden finishes out his term

The same way Gore didn't have incumbency on his side in 2000.

[Silent3]

22. Not automatically, of course

First, let me start by saying this is all hypothetical for me. I'm still considering sticking with Biden the best option.

But, if Biden did decide to step down, I'm suggesting he might consider both recommending Harris and resigning soon after, giving Harris the incumbency while she runs.

[Polybius]

23. She would have Ford syndrome

He was never viewed as a true incumbent, because he was never elected to anything.

[Silent3]

24. Perhaps, but (for what it's worth) Harris scored within 1% point of Biden in a recent poll...

...as an opponent to Trump, as good or better than anyone else apart from the silly fantasy of Michelle Obama running.

There's a good chance that by being the actual candidate, being the new incumbent, and getting more exposure, Harris could outdo Biden's current numbers.

For at least 90%+ of Democrats who planned on voting for Biden, defeating Trump is their top, or close to top, motivation. That motivation remains no matter who runs against Trump. Same about the abortion issue. Those who propose Biden stepping down imagine (correctly or incorrectly) that an alternate can get more independents, more now-iffy Dems, and even some Republicans who dislike Trump but have more reservations about Biden.

"Ford syndrome", as you call it, is not going as big a deal because Carter wasn't as frightening an option compared to Ford as Trump is compared to any Democrat.

[myohmy2]

7. "Maybe this is the year of the woman?"

...but what if it's still the year of the man...?

...getting Joe elected is a gamble...getting the first women elected is a gamble...

...I think going with Joe is a lesser gamble...

...IMO, an open convention might leave too many Dems pissed off but we'll all be united behind Joe...

...

[Deek1935]

13. He can't be forced to step down, and if he did we are completely FUCKED. Total chaos. Stop it please.

[DEM1955]

15. We NEED Joe!!!

Period

[Progressive dog]

16. Enough is enough

Joe Biden is not stepping down and shouldn't.

[H2O Man]

21. Recommended.

I think there is a possibility of this happening. No matter what way it goes, we need to work like hell to win in November.

Thank you for a thoughtful, common sense post. Much appreciated.