My FB response to a Democratic friend who wants to replace Biden with Howard Dean

[rhiannon55]

This is way too important to get wrong. Our country (and the world) is experiencing a dire emergency. Trump is a monster who will end America as we know it. And Biden is not a doddering old fool. He has been a very effective president. I think that, along with being sick and probably on cold meds that can sometimes make you feel worse, President Biden was so gobsmacked by tRump's Gish Galloping barrage of blatant, easily disprovable lies that he was overwhelmed. My brain doesn't work as well when I'm sick. It's too late to change candidates now. I like Dean, and lots of other Democrats, but I'm sticking with Biden and Harris all the way.

[calimary]

1. I love Howard Dean. But I doubt he'd want it.

He’s a Biden supporter (just like me!).

[CrispyQ]

2. I love Howard but this just made me LOL.

[edisdead]

3. Raaagh!

[DFW]

4. Howard is a friend, and though I haven't been in touch with him for a couple of days, I can confidently say

The LAST thing Howard wants to do is try to replace Joe Biden. Howard already told me in 2009, right after Obama's inauguration, that Obama was the ideal age for a president to assume office. He think Joe Biden is fine, don't get me wrong, but he has no interest whatsoever in getting involved in presidential politics again. Howard will be 76 this November. He could do the job, but so can Joe Biden (and so CAN'T Donald Trump). Howard described the latest round of media frenzy as the action of some "self important pundits," and I think he's right.

Besides, if he even gave a hint that he had an interest, Judy would chain him to the bed in Burlington.

[yardwork]

6. The only reasonable replacement for Biden is Kamala Harris.

Passing her over for anybody else would be a huge mistake.

If it comes to replacing Biden - and we're not there yet - we have an excellent candidate who is already on the ticket.

[DFW]

10. This is just my take, but at this point, there IS no replacement that could be termed "reasonable."

Harris enjoys nowhere near Biden's popularity and experience, although unless she has an IQ in single digits (and she doesn't), she will have learned enough at this point to be able to take over from him if necessary. But it is not necessary--not now, anyway. Harry Truman wasn't ready to take over the presidency from FDR because he was kept in the dark about so much. He was almost treated like Alexander Throttlebottom. He needed to become a REALLY fast study, and luckily, he did. LBJ was ready when JFK was killed because a competent Senate Majority Leader knows the ropes of Washington almost as well as a sitting president. The Indiana undynamic duo (Dan Quayle and Mike Pence) were nowhere near presidential material, but then, neither was Pence's immediate superior. If Bush, Sr. had picked a far more suitable VP, Bill Clinton might never have seen the inside of the White House. Bush, Junior, didn't need a better pick for VP since his VP was already running that show before the inauguration.

I don't think there is any way Joe Biden has been keeping Kamala Harris in the dark about anything, so I am fairly confident she could take over should Biden be unable to carry out the duties of the presidency. What the media have been completely ignoring during this whole episode is that Joe Biden HAS been carrying out the duties of the presidency, and rather skillfully, every since he assumed office. Under Biden/Harris, we have enjoyed improvement in the economy, our foreign relations, environmental conservation, energy conservation, pollution reduction, and a LOT of etc. Anyone who thinks all that is worth ignoring in favor of clips from that one debate is either living on another continent, or is in the employ of powers hostile to the United States.

[yardwork]

13. I agree that Biden is doing a great job. A truly great job.

I'm a big fan. I think he's the best president of my lifetime considering what he inherited and what he's accomplished.

And, if something happens and he has to step back, before or after the election, Kamala Harris will be ready to step in.

[Deek1935]

15. MANY would not want her for whatever reasons. Dem VOTERS in EVERY STATE will demand a CONTESTED primary. We don't

coronate nominees. So STAY WITH BIDEN.

[MagickMuffin]

5. Your friend has two choices this Nov. President Biden or Fascism

One or the other.


I’m riden with Biden!

[MagickMuffin]

9. Now ya got me confused

Riden with Biden, yet Harris & Newsom can only defeat the “cinnamon toast dunce, and I think everyone here knows it”

That’s some contradiction going on in your response!

[Arabela]

11. 100% agree!

[c-rational]

7. Thank you for this post. All DUers need to realize we are dealing with propoganda machine

designed to work on our fears. Do not fall for these tactics. Stay the course. We have committed. Stay the course. Any suggestion that this course is not already committed to are false for all intents and purposes.

[Vinca]

12. If Howard was the nominee the media would resurrect the "Dean scream" and we'd be back to square one.

[Deek1935]

14. This shows us how DIVISIVE changing candidates now would be. You can't just annoint a new candidate. Voters in every

state would want to have a say.