We had a wonderful political discussion last night at a family gathering

[Peacetrain]

and I have to be honest with you.. sometimes I walk on egg shells because I am never sure where everyone's head is at,.. My millennial son explained to me that his generation and younger are not tuned into TV like this old baby boomer.. they are getting their news in other areas

Are they concerned by what the media has been pushing about President.. Yes of course..But my son who I am using as example here is not so worried. He sees the President as an elder statesman .. and his debate performance did not upset him. According to our son.. The man answered questions.. maybe not yelling them like Trump, but the President answered questions and Trump just got bellicose from what he saw online

So from the great state of Iowa at a 4th of July family gathering..President Joe is in good shape

[sheshe2]

1. You have a very smart and well informed son.

Kudos to you, Peacetrain.

Biden Harris 2024

[Peacetrain]

6. Thank you for the kind words sheshe2..

We really love him to pieces.. He is our only child and he is the best of his Dad and me.

[Easterncedar]

2. We need these stories!

Hope is a good tonic

[Peacetrain]

5. I was pleased.. you know we all just wanted President Biden to go and smack tfg on back of the head

and tell him to sit down and shut up.. Of course he would not do that.. but that is what we wanted more than anything I think.. I am feeling much better after last night

[Farmer-Rick]

3. The independent voters I talked to

Thought Trump came off as a blow hard hyperbolic mad man. They didn't say it in those words. But they were definitely turned off by the convicted felon's constant the-sky-is-falling.

Here in rural TN red country an independent voter usually means a republicon who doesn't vote straight party ticket. So, that was good news.

[Peacetrain]

4. Love that!!! Independents of any stripe are the ones who will

re-elect our current President.. and sed tfg back to the golf course

[llmart]

34. send tfg back to the golf course

hopefully back to the golf course next to his late wife.

[bdamomma]

60. I would like

to see him fall off that golf cart, whale of a thing he is.

[paleotn]

7. Polling post debate reflects exactly that.

Minds weren't changed. They were mostly made up prior and the debate changed nothing. My thinking is, this election will say more about how polling is currently done than anything else. Trump's perceived strength is from faulty instrumentation, not what's really happening.

[katmondoo]

8. Thank You

I needed that.

[Peacetrain]

12. It really boosted my day.. which was going good anyway

We had this long conversation about FDR and how hard it must have been for him with his physical disabilities that he kept hidden from people.. He and Churchill were no spring chickens that is for sure. and with the rising of the uber right once again in Europe.. it does seem like history is having a throw back moment. I wish my parents were still alive.. They lived through those times.. I would love to have their advice.. But I was just happy to see that these newspaper stories that have peoples hair on fire.. apparently has only their (the younger folk) hair on fire...

[calimary]

33. So did I.

[flying_wahini]

9. I'm online a lot. Even tho I'm pushing 70 I go to Reddit and other places to see what kind of response is

I find it very encouraging that most of the people on there (my guess-most late 20’s- mid 30’s)
Are VERY VERY pro Biden. Now whether they actually go vote this time is up for grabs; but I feel they will.

Facebook and Instagram, Imgur, Buzzfeed, and TikTok are the ones I check out the most. I go to political forums to see what they are saying. It’s very interesting.

[Peacetrain]

13. Truthfully my main online source is DU..

if someone here has an interesting story and link I will follow it if I know for sure who the poster is.. So thank you for that update on all these other areas.. It really is reassuring to know that!

[TBF]

10. My kids are Gen Z - they see 2 old dudes

Last edited Fri Jul 5, 2024, 04:31 PM - Edit history (2)

granted, anyone over 35 looks ancient to them! My son, for example, knows that you have to be 35 to be president & says "why so old - a 30 year old would do great!". I try to explain the value of experience. They do, however, recognize that Trump is a maniac and my older child will be able to vote

eta- just corrected it - sorry about that. My husband and I are Gen X, they are Gen Z ...

[Peacetrain]

14. Yep understand that all too well.. I was at that sort of thought process in my 20's also

Congratulations on the new voter!! That and when they get their drivers license.. you really have this sense of wow we are almost done raising this child..

[TBF]

50. just corrected it above - I meant to say they are Gen Z

My husband and I are Gen X (we had our kiddos a little later) ... but you are right it is crazy. They are late teens so we have a college aged and a rising senior in high school. We are almost done! The older one is pretty much a socialist, the younger more moderate but obviously thinks Trump is a fool.

[Envirogal]

20. Gen X is old and the biggest Trump demo

I am at the top end of Gen X (age 57) and from Iowa originally. It is shocking how the males that I grew up with from the angst-ridden demo of our youth are now old, angry, ill-informed anti-woke obsessed MAGA sycophants.

Gen X is right after the baby boom (1965-79).

[TBF]

49. sorry - just saw & corrected it

My husband and I are Gen X - and yes some of my classmates from high school infuriate me!
Our kiddos are Gen Z!

[Efilroft Sul]

53. Gen X: The generation that grew up hero worshipping Luke Skywalker but joined the Empire anyway.

I have a similar experience with my male high school classmates (class of '85).

General rule of thumb: If they popped their collars in the 1980s, they're almost certain to be MAGA assholes in the 2020s.

[SomedayKindaLove]

56. I went flannel in the 80s

And was teased by penny loafer, Izod/ pink-Oxford collar poppers until Nirvana arrived.

[llmart]

35. My two are both Gen X...

They're not young. Heck, I tell them they're not even middle-aged any longer. Both of them have been Democrats since they were 18 and they vote in every election. One is 54 and the other is 50, so unless they think they're going to live to be 108 and 100, they are beyond middle-aged.

P.S. When I put it that way I scare myself. I still think I'm 35.

[TBF]

47. Ugh thanks for catching that - I meant Gen Z

I am Gen X which is why my brain went that way I guess (same age as you). We had our children later and they are Gen Z.

[druidity33]

37. They aren't Gen X if they're under 35...

Gen X born... 1965-80
Gen Y (millenials) born... 1980-1996
Gen Z born... 1996-2012
Gen Alpha... 2012-?

[ChazInAz]

39. Here's something funny.

My son is X, my daughter is Y.
Isn't that a chromosomal impossibility?

[TBF]

48. yes - just corrected it - they are Gen Z

I am Gen X. All these letters are confusing!

[mucholderthandirt]

57. I have a Gen X , a marginal Gen Y and one Gen Y kids.

I'm a Boomer! I have a Dem, Repub (but no way MAGA) and an anarchist. I think I did pretty good. My middle one is mostly R because of his father, who is an idiot born again evangelical. I think I might have woken the ex up some when I explained Romney's religious stuff back in the day. At any rate, he as TBI and won't ever be voting again.

Even as old as I am, there's no point in trying to reach me on the phone. I only take calls from family. I'm on the Internet, I mostly stream TV, and I don't use my cell phone much, either. But I vote for Dems, I won't be persuaded otherwise. Can't stand anyone with an R behind their name, and that includes Liz Cheney.

[chouchou]

11. I love to hear when a family plan comes together.

Sometimes we hear that a-gathering-of-relatives are just like Trump...Screaming, lying and cussin'

[Peacetrain]

17. As I said in my op.. I have been known to walk on egg shells at family gatherings

mostly not because I am worried of what someone else will say.. but what I will say.. I am pretty passionate about my politics also..

[wryter2000]

15. Trump didn't win people over with all those lies

Maybe if he hadn't made so many obvious ones, he could have been more persuasive. He didn't have sex with a porn star? Really?

[Peacetrain]

21. That is exactly what my son was saying in effect

That all trump did was bloviate in the sections he heard.. And refusing to answer questions had some going hmmmmm what is this??

[Upthevibe]

16. Peacetrain..........

Thank you for this great post!

[Peacetrain]

18. Your welcome.. you know looking at quite a few of the posts today

It has been a lot more of the Joe is Joe. and he is not a flame thrower like Trump There was even one on Morning Joe being more circumspect.. I think people just so wanted the President to put tfg in his place that when he kept trying to debate they became disheartened..

[NoveltySocks]

19. Elder millennial here with my own (similar) anecdotal evidence

FWIW, I haven't watched TV pundits/news since I lived with my folks (and even they cut the cord about 10 years ago). No one I know in my age group does. I encounter it on occasion when visiting an older relative or friend, or if I'm browsing on social and someone posts a clip. I'll also sometimes tune into a livestream (like the debate). Most people I've spoken to feel similarly to your son, and the media's agenda seems very obvious to us.

[Peacetrain]

24. I am from the tv as a great wasteland generation

and I tune into my news from there.. we have given up cable.. my son owns a tv, but it is not even plugged in.. so it is very interesting how people are getting their information now. For the life of me, I do not know how pollsters can even get accurate information anymore. they must have to come at it from such a source variety.. i do not have a standard telephone myself anymore..

[MiHale]

22. Good news is coming in from all over the country...

Awesome! 😎

[Peacetrain]

25. I am seeing that all over this site.

and reflected in a bunch of stories on a couple of newsites that pop up when I sign on to my computer.. a lot less angst today

[planetc]

23. I completely agree with your son.

Clearly Pres. Biden won the debate ... by default. Biden answered every question in detail with facts. His opponent spent all of his minutes being abusive and not understanding how you would design an electric boat. And fantasizing, of course. It was not a debate; it was a sane guy responding to questions and another guy campaigning bombastically. If Mr. Biden had donned Lycra shorts, entered riding a unicycle and juggling tennis balls, it would have been a startling performance. But he would have answered the questions anyway. His opponent can't answer questions: he doesn't understand what they're about, and after 77 years of bullying, he doesn't know any other way to talk. Is your son registered?

[Peacetrain]

27. Oh yep my son is a registered Democrat. Pretty sure

I raised him right Seriously how he reflects his identity politically is totally up to him.. he at one time was a registered independent I think.. but he did register as a Democrat a number of years ago... truthfully I have not asked him since then..

[planetc]

44. You raised a child whose registration status you do not have to check.

You done good.

[calimary]

38. Good analysis.

A sane guy answering questions versus a loud, abusive, in-yer-face type. Attempted intimidation. And a verbal version of what I learned in sparring class as “stuffing”: verbally, aggressively, and abusively trying to. crowd you into a corner. Confrontational. Attempted domination. Loud and forceful and trying to intimidate. Suspicious. I kept wondering: is this how he does business? How he goes on offense to intimidate and get his way?

I kept wishing for a well-aimed flying cream pie.

[planetc]

43. There is a methof of getting a loud mouth's attention that Gene Hackman once used in a movie.

But we can't delpoy that until after the election. Pity.

[PatSeg]

26. Thanks, I need that

Every little bit makes a difference in our mental health.

[Peacetrain]

28. It was just such a pleasant evening.. and to sit and discuss

and basically listen to my other family members mull over things was insightful.. and encouraging

[PatSeg]

30. "Pleasant" isn't a word I've heard this past week

Such simple things we often take for granted. I am happy for you and your family.

[Peacetrain]

32. It was bloody awful this last week..

I almost got sick to my stomach reading all these blasted calls for the President to step down.. so pleasant in the fact that my extended family gave me hope Pat..that and the weather held up and the fireworks went off..

[PatSeg]

36. Oh yes, my stomach has hurt frequently this past week

And often I can feel my blood pressure rising. I'm too old for this kind of stress.

I am hopeful that we're over the hump now. In my emails, I noticed that there were other headlines for a change:

U.S. job growth remains solid in June, Wisconsin Supreme Court clears way for ballot drop boxes, Keir Starmer becomes U.K. prime minister after Labour party landslide, Trump Wastes No Time in Exploiting the Court’s Immunity Ruling, and Giuliani has Been Disbarred, Now Bar Him From New York.

There was some mention of Biden stepping down, but the frenzy seems to be slowing down now. Hopefully by Monday, it will just be a faint trickle.

[Sogo]

29. I so wish our dear state would go blue this election....

....I have noticed very many fewer signs for TSF this time around....and I'm hopeful that my district will elect a Dem representative and outst Miller-Meeks!

Just last night, I donated to David Hogg's new generation PAC (or whatever it's called).

[Peacetrain]

31. I hear you!! I am from the same miller-meek district..

I used to live out on the western side of the state.. now you want to talk red. its red out there .. So many people vote out of habit.. but you are so right about the signs.. except for fella a few miles from our place I have not seen sign one.. even in Southern Minnesota which was covered in Trump signs last election.. there was almost nothing last time I went through Rochester.. I am hoping that is is a good sign of people being fed up with tfg's shenanigans.. I just love our state.. but color red has got to go

[AlexSFCA]

40. If Biden is truly able to continue to campaign

I think the concern is that there is a decline in cognition from even a year ago and the fact the he has’t done unscripted interviews and town halls since the debate does raise only more concerns. It’s not the debate - those change absolutely nothing as polls show. The only voice I trust is Allan Lichtman. Biden has the best chance but only if he truly is able to continue with the campaign. I fear he may struggle to multitask being President while campaigning. Per Lichtman, the only alternative to Biden is Harris but ONLY if she gets to check the incumbency key, meaning should Biden decide to step aside, he’d need to step aside from the presidency allowing Harris to be President for a few months. It makes the most sense to me.

I personally trust Biden 100%, meaning that if he decides to stay in the race then he is 100% right, it’s not his ego but his assessment of chances to win. He knows politics more than anyone in the country. Having said that, if he is to step aside, the debate and the news cycle is a gift. Why? It makes everything self explanatory and makes our Party and leaders look responsible in the eyes of independents and it eliminates any kind of infighting or questions about potentially undemocratic contested convention. It’s truly the best way to step down, any other way like a few months earlier would have looked like a calculated political move.

The best way to step down is if there is a medical report showing some abnormalities so it it doesn’t look like he is pressured by the party or media and it’s 100% based on objective diagnosis. I just really don’t think the lapses are explained by age itself, it appears there is more than that and I feel for him.

[raging moderate]

41. President Biden's microphone clearly was not functioning properly.

Last edited Fri Jul 5, 2024, 03:21 PM - Edit history (2)

Whoever was in charge of that microphone clearly did not adjust it properly.

I do sometimes think that Biden might improve his speech projection slightly by following the example of the British King who overcame a stuttering problem, as shown in that movie The King's Speech. Overall, however, Biden has clearly done a great job of managing his stuttering problem.

[iemanja]

42. Good to hear!

Anecdotal, but still nice.

[4lbs]

45. Yeah. Seems people over the age of 40 watch and read "traditional" media and are the ones 'hand-wringing'.

Nearly everyone I know that is under 40, is more interested in streaming and social media.

While they were concerned about Biden, they weren't nearly as worried as the 'older' generation.

They regarded Biden as more like their grandpa: Yes, he's old, and he may take longer to say stuff. But, the stuff he says is really important and pertinent to their lives.

Not like the OTHER old white man, the orange oompa-loompa, Dumpy the Clown, who just yells loudly and has them scratching their heads and saying WTF?!?!?

One guy is like the grandpa you listen to, the other guy is like the one that makes every Thanksgiving and Christmas gathering much more awkward with his outbursts.

You and they know which is which.

[fierywoman]

46. Thank you for the consoling report!

[IcyPeas]

51. Sensible kid. Did he say exactly where he gets his news?

I'm just curious. There are so many social media platforms now. I look at Twitter and Instagram, but I tend to not get my news from there. I, like you, watch TV news.

We gotta keep up with the young 'uns.

[grammiepammie]

52. Peacetrain reply

I had a very similar experience. I watched the debates with my grandsons, 17 and 16. Not old enough to vote but they made their grandma happy by watching the debate. The first comment was when Biden walked out. One of my grandson's made the comment that he did not think the President looked well and once he started to talk, it confirmed it. " He is sick grandma, why did they not cancel?". Further on in the debate it turned to Trump and all they kept yelling at the television was "answer the question" and the lies. When he made the comment about Democrats killing babies after they are born, it was like are you serious. Comments were made about the lying, but no comments about Joe being senile only about him not feeling well. So just maybe it is not as bad as we think. We can only hope.

[Bettie]

54. My Gen Z sons and the girlfriend of one of them

are on the same page as your son.

They know Biden is old, but so is the Orange man, one is a decent human, one is, um, not.

Also in Iowa.

[al bupp]

55. Ignore the faux concern and noise from CNN and NYT especially

It's all horse hockey.

[Peacetrain]

58. Thanks I could use that advice

I had such a great day on the 4th with the family and the and it had been a long time since we just talked politics like that.. and then yesterday I was ready to take some heads off by the end of the evening.. holy cow..

[Deminpenn]

59. Sarah Longwell, an R never Trumper, does forcus groups of

Trump continually. She was on one of the MSNBC shows and made an important point when discussing the "double haters". These are voters who don't like either Trump or Biden. Longwell said what has come out of her focus groups is that these voters don't actually "hate" Biden, but they do actually "hate" Trump.

That's consistent with the approval/disapproval on Trump since 2016. When pollsters parse out the responses into strongly approve, approve, disapprove, strongly disapprove, Trumps strongly disapprove percent is usually about twice his strongly approve percent.