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In reply to the discussion: If Biden can't ace an hour long unscripted press conference, yes he should leave the race [View all]
thesquanderer
(12,923 posts)94. Yes, aging only goes in one direction, and that feeds the concern.
Based on how he seemed at the debate, one may wonder what he will be like two, three, four years from now. Do people here really think that is an illegitimate question?
I will absolutely vote for whoever runs against Trump. Nothing will change that. But after the debate, I think it is harder to convince someone to vote FOR Biden (rather than just AGAINST Trump).
Whether it's what the OP suggests or something else, I hope we see the re-emergence of a much stronger Biden in some kind of very visible way.
Someone suggested it is unfair to subject Biden to something not being asked of Trump... but in this particular respect, it is Biden who arguably has more to prove, and would (hopefully!) benefit from the opportunity to prove it.
The comparable test for Trump would be a lie detector test. 
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If Biden can't ace an hour long unscripted press conference, yes he should leave the race [View all]
Tom Rinaldo
Jun 2024
OP
My worry is that "if people don't want to vote for Biden", even if they don't want Trump, they may just stay home.
thesquanderer
Jun 2024
#91
How about we stop the ageism shit against our nominee. There is no evidence of what you say.
Demsrule86
Jun 2024
#100
He's proven himself to us, but not to many voters who we cannot afford to lose.
Doodley
Jun 2024
#40
why should he put himself through a gauntlet ( a media ambush) that his rival refuses to?
bigtree
Jun 2024
#48
Really what is you evidence...if you believe polls Biden was up or tied after the debate...you know Biden is nominee and
Demsrule86
Jun 2024
#99
That is a fair comment. There is a lot of emotion about this, but ultimately we all want Democrats to defeat Trump.
Doodley
Jun 2024
#42
What about the echo chamber of "news" "influencers"? What about the real people in focus groups who said
emulatorloo
Jun 2024
#47
Your opinion would have more weight if you hadn't only just joined DU
DemocraticPatriot
Jun 2024
#55
Gee, thanks. You do know Biden's given many press conferences over the years, right?
shrike3
Jun 2024
#96
I admit it left me nervous about the effect on independents & uncommitted voters
EX500rider
Jun 2024
#5
Debates have ZERO effect on presidential election results. Forget about it and move on.
Deek1935
Jun 2024
#8
The debate does matter if it keeps producing headlines about people in the party calling for Joe to stepdown.
Rafi
Jun 2024
#22
isn't that just a deliberately cynical media campaign to divide Democrats from our noninee?
bigtree
Jun 2024
#28
Almost all of THOSE people are not IN the party! They are pundits and publishers
DemocraticPatriot
Jun 2024
#61
re: "If debates mattered then Reagan, W.Bush, and Obama all would have lost"
thesquanderer
Jun 2024
#90
The "optics" are a decent honorable man w a cold vs a Psychotic Liar. And uncommitted voters
emulatorloo
Jun 2024
#44
Autocue or not, Biden was STRONG, ENERGETIC, and FORCEFUL. Forget about the debate. They do not matter.
Deek1935
Jun 2024
#11
+1. Love the man, but there is no guarantee it won't happen again. This was not a one off, sadly. I'm old too,
Silent Type
Jun 2024
#12
Your suggest is to put Biden through a gauntlet of unfriendly media to prove what ...nothing. I think this entire OP
Demsrule86
Jun 2024
#101
Yes, this is exactly what I have been wanting to say about the "one bad night" argument.
honest.abe
Jun 2024
#120
Did you mention if the lying, convicted criminal and rapist should leave the race also?
brush
Jun 2024
#27
Translate pls. In the post calling for Biden to step aside, did you add the same for trump?
brush
Jun 2024
#39
AND Every member of the pundit and publishing class who are demanding Biden's withdrawl,
DemocraticPatriot
Jun 2024
#63
Tom, are you saying that the convicted felon "ACED" the hour long debate ?
republianmushroom
Jun 2024
#45
Is Trump going to submit himself to a press conference where he demonstrates
DemocraticPatriot
Jun 2024
#58
I sometimes ask obvious trolls what toppings they would like on their tombstone pizza.
MarineCombatEngineer
Jul 2024
#121
Haven't you heard? That debate performance didn't matter, and it's all Russian propaganda.
Music Man
Jun 2024
#108
Debates mean very little...and Biden's numbers are the same and higher if you believe poll. And
Demsrule86
Jun 2024
#109
"No one on our side imagined Biden would perform the way that he did on Thursday night"
Polybius
Jun 2024
#111
Excellent commentary and suggestion and it needs to be done as soon as possible.
honest.abe
Jun 2024
#118