Biden Already on His Last Legs in Primaries. Is There an Alternative?
Trump and Giuliani are close to succeeding in permanently damaging Joe Biden through their illegal extortion scheme to smear him. Add that to attacks from the left who support zero chance presidential candidates, and that makes for an almost insurmountable task for Biden to take the nomination. It’s a shame, and it’s unfair, but Biden has a real problem. Similar to Hillary’s baggage in 2016, Biden has been saddled with a “scandal” that’s not a scandal at all. The problem? It doesn’t matter if it’s true; the damage is done. If Biden doesn’t bounce back by double digits in Nevada and South Carolina, it’s going to be over.
So, who can beat Trump in November? It’s clearly none of the top four Dem candidates, and that has been apparent for months. Trump is a vicious campaigner and slanderer, and I can’t see ANY of the primary leaders with enough fortitude or toughness to top him. There’s only one out there, and that’s Bloomberg. An ACTUAL billionaire, Bloomberg has the resources on top of NY toughness. He’s already hitting Trump where it hurts insulting him about his silly hairdo, heavy makeup, and obesity. He’s a street fighter, and an objective numbers guy. He’s already risen to third in the latest Quinnipiac poll and he’s not even on the early states’ ballots. Bloomberg won’t take any shit off of Trump, AND will attract those he needs to win – independents, moderate Republicans, and suburban women, the same coalition Barack Obama so successfully assembled in 2008 and 2012, and the one the Dems rode to victory in 2018. It’s a winning combination. Tom Friedman made the perfect case for Bloomberg in today’s NY Times. You can read that here.
And before you say it, I know some of you hate me for my opinions on this election and the last. I’ve been excoriated for those opinions and some of you have even accused me of misogyny and worse because I didn’t support Hillary, Harris, Klobuchar, or Warren. I’m about winning. Period. As I’ve said before, all policies are secondary in this election. There is one issue and one issue only in 2020 – beating Trump. I’m not going to waste even one second arguing over healthcare plans, student loans, war fighting, or even climate change. Those policy questions are important, critical even. But THIS is not the year for those discussions. As Friedman noted, another four Trump years will destroy our country. His corruption is total, and his control over the Senate, the Judiciary, and the DOJ is nothing short of shocking. Trump must be beaten and beaten badly to run him out of office. Bloomberg is our last, best chance if (when) Biden stumbles; the remaining candidates simply are not. I know you hate that, but it is what it is.
Thank you, El Jefe.
1Yesterday was IT for me.
trump has got to go. Period. Full Stop.
I could not agree more!!! Since this cycle began, I have consistently maintained that beating the Dumpster is the ONLY goal, and it will take a middle-slightly left candidate to do it. My lady friend, a Bernie/Warren supporter, has slowly come around on this issue. Do I like Bloomberg? Not particularly. Do I believe he actually can beat the Dump in a dumpster fight? Yes! I do.
2Trump is Nixon on steroids. Just a hint: don’t stop looking for the magic to happen in the Democrats so they can win. There is something afoot in the trump WH that can take down trump that no one has seen fit to think about. What brings trump down can happen right in that spot. And he will likely never know what hit him.
3Your confidence that you know who could win is misplaced. Talking heads from the start said Biden was the front runner. Are they (and you) ignoring his record as a candidate for this office? And they discount Senator Sanders. But he keeps getting votes and supporters (I support Senator Warren, but like and respect Senator Sanders). Historically, we are terrible at predicting who can win. Let’s vote for politicians that propose policies we like. Affordable daycare? Universal health care. Livable wages. A dramatic shift in federal spending priorities.
4I was going to write about an interesting trend I have seen, but I’ll just put it here instead. My African American female friends of a certain age – my age – have become gum-ho Bloomberg supporters. These are tough women who have raised tough women and were also raised by other tough women. These are the women who were the first African Americans to attend the University of Texas, or go to law school or run for office. These are women you would not want to mess with.
When I ask them about stop and frisk, they wave their hands and blow it off, explaining that Bloomberg is so over this. “He learned his lesson,” they say, and to be honest most of them would agree that cleaning up the community means going to the community.
I’m telling you that they are rabid about Bloomberg. I get emails from them almost daily where I’m cc’ed with 100 other people telling me why I should should support Mike.
I did not expect this. It baffles me. They just want to beat Trump. They won’t support a Devil, but a Wayward Angel is acceptable.
5Another aspect to keep in mind is the youth vote. Sanders and Warren have got them interested if not excited. Biden is (to the ones I talk with) an old man living in a historical fiction version of America. Bloomberg is yet another billionaire who wants to buy power. [That’s the impression I get from the teenagers and college students that swarm my town, not my own appraisel].
In 2008, Obama won in Indiana because of massive turnout from college students. He had them genuinely excited and they voted in droves. By 2010, he had spent two years failing to pursue the bankers that gutted the U.S. economy, deciding not to pursue the purveyors of a corrupt and unnecesary war, and trying to compromise and work with a Republican party comprised of rabid skunks and racists. And the youngsters gave up on voting as a means to change the world, letting the Tea Party take over the House of Reps. In 2016, voter turnout among the students here was less than 20%.
As for the remaining top four Dems running for the nomination, I suspect that Sanders and Warren have the toughness to stand up to Trump. In any case, whoever wins will need a truly intelligent, quick-witted, and vicious attack dog as vice-presidential candidate. I nominate JJ Herownself for that role. All in favor ….
6Oh, goody, another place to fight with each other.
7I don’t often love your election opinions, but I agree you are on to something here. I personally have no time of day for finger-wagging-yelling-old-man Sanders, and if it came to voting for him or Bloomberg, I’ll gladly take the latter. When my husband spoke that opinion after a Bloomberg ad recently, I think he was stunned when I agreed with him. Like Susan, I’m watching who the women of color are coming out for. They do the heavy lifting in D elections. Bring on Super Tuesday. My ballot should be in my mailbox soon, but I’ll wait to see the lay of the land before I mail it back in. Thank you WA State for vote by mail. No nonsense. No drama. Paper trail. And finally, this year, a real primary, NO CAUCUS!
8At least we all seem to agree on one thing – the most important thing to look for in a candidate is his or her ability to beat Trump. I tend to agree with what was said about above Bloomberg, but Amy Klobuchar certainly deserves mention. Remember how she politely castrated Kavanaugh in the confirmation hearings?
9Have a question about Barr’s investigation of Ukraine corruption.
We are investigating “the Bidens” because they are corrupt and we need to root out corruption.
If Joe Biden drops out, I would expect Barr to continue his investigation.
Because it’s not about beating Joe Biden, it’s about cleaning up Ukraine.
Right?
10Perhaps Biden is fading because, well, he really is fading away, right before our eyes. Maybe some of former supporters have actually listened to him speak lately.
I seriously doubt that many Biden supporters were dissuaded by anything Giuliani says or does.
But this way you get to be outraged, instead of having to question your own judgment. So you do you.
11Jefe, The “electability” meme is just corporate Democrat trollery. Here’s the latest Quinnipac poll showing Bernie (and Bloomberg) beating Trump handily.
https://poll.qu.edu/national/release-detail?ReleaseID=3655&emci=eb248478-444c-ea11-a94c-00155d039e74&emdi=d70e78d1-f04c-ea11-a94c-00155d039e74&ceid=4572865
As for “any blue will do”…that’s strictly tribal politics, and is what got us the victorious Hillary…you know, the woman who voted for war in Iraq, then voted to tighten bankruptcy just before the big economic downturn…then lost the election that was hers to lose.
Taking the exclusively anti-Trump message as something positive requires some serious mental contortions.
12JJ @5: I was just going to mention Bloomberg’s issues with communities of color, not just African Americans, but Latinx too. So, I found your response very interesting.
I’ve been a Warren backer from get-go and just sent her another donation earlier this week. I’m not throwing in the towel on her just yet. Bloomberg will be on the ballot on Super Tuesday; then we’ll see how this is really starting to shake out.
Joe Biden has been looking and sounding very old this campaign and hasn’t made a case for his election. He may well be out of this after South Carolina, if his showing isn’t so great.
13El Jefe, You’re not the only one saying Bloomberg is the person to take on Trump. I read an interview with Henry Louis Gates, Jr., who said the same things you said. And I think you both might be right, although I REALLY like Warren, and I think, based on her experiences in the Senate, that she might be taking punch Trump boxing lessons from Pelosi. Biden is heavily supported by the NAACP. Can that group be persuaded to throw their support behind someone else? I don’t trust Bernie. Didn’t before, don’t now. But I tell you what, whoever gets the Dem nomination is going to get my 150% support and I’ll do whatever I can to help. Trump is evil and vile and destructive and hateful. I desperately want him gone, however that may occur … [insert devil emoji]
14Once again the bile foams up El Hefe who has been a clintonista and a bidenista forever — Biden is a racist, banker owned trashcan. And you just fail to realize that in your blind adherence to corporatist democrap party drivel. Between this and your latest rahrah for Bloomberg, you exhibit exactly what is wrong with the party.
15In Iowa and New Hampshire, a raving old socialist and a gay mayor. Are the democrats TRYING to get Trump reelected?! El Jefe is absolutely right! None of your precious pet issues will be addressed until we have had at least one term, probably more, with a rational President and administration. Bloomberg is the best bet to beat Trump. As a very lonely feeling moderate Republican, I’d vote with you in a heartbeat.
Mr. B
16So the difference between tweedle dee and tweedle dum is the sort of election you want.
17A d nominee who supported illegal use of police against protestors and people of color.
A d nominee who actively supported the twit’s reelection in 2004.
A d nominee whose only qualification is his wealth. ( by the way what ever happened on the high speed trading scandal his terminals enabled. Just spent enough money to bury it?)
Just another demented donnie who is a bit more presentable an individual who would bother to put the velvet glove on over the upon fist.
Oh yeah that will inspire the base.
Gonna have to agree to disagree with a bunch of you here. I met Professor/Senator Warren and sat in her office discussing bankruptcy many years ago in Law school, respect her immensely. Never have met Bernie, but I trust him completely. For his entire public career Bernie has been unwavering in his devotion to taking on the Corporate/Socialists who have been raping our country since Ronnie RayGun defiled the Office of President. Bernie inspires the youth and this Social Security collecting retiree alike. Bloomberg is a party hopping opportunist. I love his devotion to ad buys aimed at taking down IQ4.5 but don’t trust him in the least to change our status quo.
18It’s time to admit that Boss Tweet’s campaign worked. Given the slimefest (of the GOP primary & of Clinton) the last time around, and seeing Faux Corp using a Medal of Honor holder *wearing the freaking medal on air* to “Swift Boat” Ltc.Vindman, any issue that allows the GOPs a target is going to be ruthlessly (disgustingly?^) exploited. And Uncle Joe is tagged now because logic and reason no longer matter.
In addition, it’s a simple fact that there are a field of truly capable candidates running this time for the Dems. Even the dropouts could beat Dotard in a sane world. I haven’t made my mind up, yet, because there is still a lot to learn about these fine folks. It’s just too bad that one of them is my Senator, who I would be more than satisfied to remain as such. But the doubt has been placed in the hearts of the non-political junkies. I fear, sadly, Uncle Joe was vanquished by the actions of his less than sterling child…
If everything Dotard touches dies, then every honorable institution is tarnished by him and his flying @$$monkeys.
19I have supported Sen. Warren and Mr. Castro, and now will support Bloomberg. Suggest he gets Stacey Abrams for VP and it’s game, set, match.
20Once again, I think El Jefe has picked another loser [AB– after Biden].
21Why?
For all those hundreds of million clams Bloomberg is spending on campaign advisors, ad production, and media buys, he’s totally f’ing it up here in Texas.
He’s even counter-productive, and, imo, hurting our other Texas Democratic candidates.
The ads he’s flooding the airwaves with are very clearly targeted at g’damned New York City and East Coast peeps [don’t ask…]; yeesh, NYC’ers.
They are hitting themes and issues that grate on many Texans, even solid Democrats [even the accents are like scraping chalk on one’s ears].
And I suspect those ads are having the same negative effect in many other important ‘flyover’ mid-American electoral states.
A completely mishandled, mistargeted, mangled ad campaign, the Rethugs are going to have a blast with those spots.
I had come to the same conclusion. It is urgent that we get rid of Trump and now I can spend my money to help defeat John Cornyn, Mitch McConnel, Lyndsey Graham, Susan Collins and Martha McSally. It was my pleasure to vote for Bloomberg by mail yesterday.
22Here’s the the Catch 22 situation for Dems that will keep Trump in the White House. If Sanders wins the nomination, Dems will be terrified that Crazy Bernie will destroy the Party and hurt them forever. You’ll have Pelosi, Schumer, and Schiff voting for Trump. On the other hand, if someone like Bloomberg wins, Sander’s huge fan base will scream foul and claim he got the shaft from the DNC AGAIN, and stay home on election night. If Bloomberg wins and puts their much hated Hillary Clinton on the ticket, they won’t just stay home, they’ll run to the polls and vote for Trump !
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