Any intelligent person clearly understands that Hunter’s father’s cognitive functions have long diminished. Everyone sees it except US Democrats, who are pushing Biden to face the fierce Trump, who won’t hold back in the campaign. Now that the situation is dire, there’s talk of changing the candidate. Do Democratic voters in America even have brains? Why should they trust a party that nominated Biden? This was a very irresponsible move towards America and a clear sign of disrespect for their voters. Why shouldn’t voters simply punish them?
CIjeli svijet cijelo vrijeme shvaća da je Biden procvikao. Svi osim US demokrata. To je dokaz da su svi redom idioti. Zašto bi im uopće građani Amerike davali šansu?
Among Democrats, Panic After Biden-Trump Debate
Panic has set in among Democrats after yesterday’s debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump.
Alarm bells rang for Democrats as soon as Biden began speaking in a nervous, hoarse voice. Minutes into the debate, he struggled to effectively defend the state of the economy during his term and made errors in describing key health initiatives central to his candidacy, saying “we finally beat Medicare” and incorrectly stating how much his administration had reduced insulin prices.
He cornered himself on the issue of Afghanistan, mentioning the chaotic withdrawal without being prompted. He repeatedly confused “million” and “billion” and found himself on the defensive for most of the 90-minute debate, reports Politico. When he wasn’t speaking, he stood rigidly behind the podium, mouth agape, eyes wide, and not blinking for extended periods.
“Biden is done, we need to accept that now”
Democrats had hoped for weeks that a strong debate performance by Biden could alleviate concerns about his age. The opposite happened.
“Biden is done, we need to accept that now,” said Jay Surdukowski, a lawyer and Democratic activist from New Hampshire who co-chaired former Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley’s 2016 presidential campaign in the state.
In text messages to Politico, Democrats expressed confusion and concern as they watched the opening minutes of the debate. A former Biden White House and campaign aide called the debate “horrendous,” adding that they constantly had to ask themselves: “What did he just say? This is insane.”
“It’s not good,” wrote Democratic Congressman Jared Huffman of California. Politico spoke to a dozen Democrats, some of whom were granted anonymity to discuss Biden’s performance.
Democrats are so panicked by President Joe Biden’s poor performance that they are actively discussing what was once unthinkable—finding a new presidential candidate.
No Formal Mechanism
Joe Biden won the Democratic Party primaries earlier this year but will not officially become the party’s presidential candidate until he is confirmed at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, which runs from August 19 to 22.
There is no formal mechanism by which he could be replaced as a candidate, and such a move would be the first time an American political party has attempted to do so in modern times.
In fact, the only option would be for Biden to agree to step down and allow the delegates he won in the primaries—who vote to nominate the candidate at the convention in Chicago—to choose someone else.
There is no legal obligation for the delegates to vote for the person who won the primaries, but they are expected to vote in a way that “in good conscience reflects the sentiments of those who elected them.”
What If Biden Withdraws?
If Biden withdraws, he could try to nominate someone—most likely his vice president, Kamala Harris—as his preferred candidate, which would carry some weight with the delegates, but they would not be obligated to vote for her.
If Biden takes the most drastic step of resigning as president, Harris would automatically become president. But that would not automatically make her the Democratic candidate for the upcoming election, writes the Guardian.
If one of these options occurs, about 700 party insiders, who may not be united, could select a new candidate in Chicago.
Who Are the Potential Candidates?
There is no clear candidate, but these are the possible options:
Kamala Harris
The most obvious choice would be Biden’s vice president. She has often been criticized for not carving out her own role in his administration and has low approval ratings in polls, suggesting she would struggle to defeat Donald Trump.
Moreover, if Biden decided to resign, Harris would automatically become president.
She was elected as a senator from California in 2016, winning 61.6% of the vote. She took office on January 3, 2017. As a senator, she gained attention after notable interrogations of officials in the administration of then-President Donald Trump, including Trump’s second Supreme Court nominee, Brett Kavanaugh, accused of sexual assault.
She took office as vice president in January 2021, alongside newly elected President (and former Vice President) Joe Biden, defeating incumbent President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence in the 2020 presidential election.
Gavin Newsom
The 56-year-old governor of California commented on the alternatives to Biden as a candidate after the debate, calling them “senseless speculations.” Last year, he had a prime-time debate with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. Many in the US see them as potential future presidential candidates.
Newsom was elected mayor of San Francisco in 2003 and again in 2007. He was elected lieutenant governor of California in 2010. As lieutenant governor, he hosted the Gavin Newsom Show from 2012 to 2013 and wrote the book “Citizenville” in 2013, focusing on using digital tools for democratic change. He was re-elected in 2014. Newsom was elected governor of California in 2018.
During his governorship, he faced criticism for his leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic. He faced an unsuccessful recall attempt in 2021 and was re-elected the following year.
J. B. Pritzker
The 59-year-old governor of Illinois would be one of the wealthiest candidates. He legalized the right to abortion in Illinois and declared it a “sanctuary state” for women seeking abortions. He also has strong stances on gun control and the legalization of recreational marijuana.
Pritzker is a longtime financial supporter and active member of the Democratic Party. He became the Democratic candidate for governor of Illinois in the 2018 elections after winning the primaries. He defeated Republican Bruce Rauner in the general election on November 6, 2018, and took office on January 14, 2019. Pritzker was re-elected on November 8, 2022.
Gretchen Whitmer
The 52-year-old governor of Michigan was in the shortlist for Biden’s vice president in 2020 and is credited with partially contributing to the Democratic Party’s success in the midterm elections. She has advocated for stricter gun laws and the repeal of the abortion ban.
As governor, Whitmer focused on health and infrastructure legislation. Since January 2021, she has been one of the vice chairs of the Democratic National Committee. She was re-elected in 2022, defeating Republican candidate Tudor Dixon.
Sherrod Brown
The 71-year-old would be the oldest candidate but is still seven years younger than Trump. It was considered a surprise when he did not win the Democratic nomination for 2020. At the time, he said that staying in the Senate was the best option for him. He strongly advocates for workers’ rights.
Brown won the 2006 Senate election, defeating Republican Mike DeWine, who was in office for two terms. He was re-elected in 2012, defeating state treasurer Josh Mandel, and again in 2018, defeating U.S. Representative Jim Renacci.
In the Senate, he chaired the Subcommittee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Family Farms and the Subcommittee on Banking. He is also a member of the Finance Committee, Veterans’ Affairs Committee, and Special Committee on Ethics.
Since 2011, Brown has been the only elected Democrat in Ohio, except for some Ohio Supreme Court judges affiliated with the Democratic Party who were elected in nonpartisan races. He is generally considered a liberal, progressive, and populist Democrat.
Dean Phillips
He was a candidate during the Democratic Party primaries earlier this year but failed to garner enough support, not winning any contests, so it is unlikely he will be a factor if Biden steps down.
Phillips is a Democrat who consistently voted to support President Joe Biden’s positions. With a net worth of $77 million in 2018, he is one of the wealthiest members of Congress.
MEĐU demokratima je zavladala panika nakon jučerašnje debate Joea Bidena i Donalda Trumpa.
Zvona za uzbunu za demokrate oglasila su se čim je Biden počeo govoriti nervozno promuklim glasom. Nekoliko minuta nakon što je debata započela, mučio se s izlaganjem učinkovite obrane stanja gospodarstva u svom mandatu i griješio je u opisu ključnih zdravstvenih inicijativa koje je stavio u središte svoje kandidature, rekavši “konačno smo pobijedili Medicare” i netočno navodeći koliko je njegova administracija smanjila cijenu inzulina.
Stjerao je sam sebe u kut po pitanju Afganistana, spomenuvši kaotično povlačenje a da ga nitko nije pitao. Više puta je pomiješao “milijun” i “milijardu” i našao se u defenzivi tijekom većeg dijela 90-minutne debate, piše Politico. A kad nije govorio, stajao je ukočen za govornicom, otvorenih usta, razrogačenih očiju i ne trepćući duže vrijeme.
“Biden je gotov, moramo to sada prihvatiti”
Demokrati su se tjednima nadali da bi Bidenov snažan nastup u raspravi mogao ublažiti zabrinutost oko njegove dobi. Dogodilo se upravo suprotno.
“Biden je gotov, moramo to sada prihvatiti”, rekao je Jay Surdukowski, odvjetnik i demokratski aktivist iz New Hampshirea koji je bio supredsjedatelj predsjedničke kampanje bivšeg guvernera Marylanda Martina O’Malleyja 2016. godine u toj saveznoj državi.
U tekstualnim porukama za Politico demokrati su izrazili zbunjenost i zabrinutost dok su gledali prve minute debate. Jedan bivši Bidenov suradnik iz Bijele kuće i kampanje nazvao je debatu “užasnom”, dodajući da su se stalno iznova morali pitati: “Što je upravo rekao? Ovo je ludo.”
“Nije dobro”, napisao je demokratski kongresnik iz Kalifornije Jared Huffman. Politico je razgovarao s desetak demokrata, od kojih je nekima odobrena anonimnost kako bi razgovarali o Bidenovom nastupu.
Demokrati su toliko uspaničeni zbog lošeg nastupa predsjednika Joea Bidena da aktivno raspravljaju o onom što je nekoć bilo nezamislivo – da pronađu novog predsjedničkog kandidata.
Ne postoji formalni mehanizam
Joe Biden pobijedio je na predizborima Demokratske stranke ranije ove godine, ali neće službeno postati stranački kandidat za predsjednika sve dok ne bude potvrđen na Demokratskoj nacionalnoj konvenciji u Chicagu, koja se održava od 19. do 22. kolovoza.
Ne postoji formalni mehanizam kojim bi ga netko mogao zamijeniti kao kandidata, a takav bi potez bio prvi put da je neka američka politička stranka pokušala to učiniti u moderno doba.
Zapravo, jedina opcija bila bi da Biden pristane odstupiti i dopusti delegatima koje je osvojio na predizborima – koji glasaju za imenovanje kandidata na konvenciji u Chicagu – da izaberu nekog drugog.
Ne postoji zakonska obveza da delegati glasaju za osobu koja je pobijedila na predizborima, ali se od njih traži da glasaju na način koji “čiste savjesti odražava osjećaje onih koji su ih izabrali”.
Što ako se Biden povuče?
Kad bi se Biden povukao, mogao bi pokušati imenovati nekoga – najvjerojatnije svoju potpredsjednicu Kamalu Harris – kao svog preferiranog kandidata, što bi imalo određenu težinu kod delegata, ali oni ne bi bili obvezni glasati za nju.
Ako Biden povuče najdrastičniji mogući potez, a to je podnošenje ostavke na mjesto predsjednika, Harris bi automatski postala predsjednica. Ali to je ne bi automatski učinilo demokratskom kandidatkinjom za predstojeće izbore, piše Guardian.
Ako se dogodi jedna od navedenih opcija, oko 700 stranačkih insajdera, koji možda nisu jedinstveni, moglo bi u Chicagu izabrati novog kandidata.
Tko su mogući kandidati?
Nema jasnog kandidata, ali ovo su moguće opcije.
Kamala Harris
Najočigledniji izbor bila bi Bidenova potpredsjednica. Često je kritizirana jer nije izborila vlastitu ulogu u njegovoj administraciji i ima loše ocjene u anketama, što sugerira da bi teško pobijedila Donalda Trumpa.
Štoviše, kad bi Biden odlučio dati ostavku, Harris bi automatski postala predsjednica.
Na dužnost senatorice iz savezne države Kalifornije izabrana je na izborima 2016. godine, kada je osvojila 61.6% glasova. Na dužnost je stupila 3. siječnja 2017. Kao senatorici joj se počela poklanjati pozornost nakon izuzetnih ispitivanja dužnosnika administracije tadašnjeg predsjednika SAD-a Donalda Trumpa, uključujući i Trumpovog drugog kandidata za Vrhovni sud Bretta Kavanaugha, optuženog za seksualno zlostavljanje.
Na dužnost potpredsjednice stupila je u siječnju 2021. godine, zajedno s novoizabranim predsjednikom (i bivšim potpredsjednikom) Joeom Bidenom, pobijedivši dotadašnjeg predsjednika Donalda Trumpa i potpredsjednika Mikea Pencea na predsjedničkim izborima 2020. godine.
Gavin Newsom
56-godišnji guverner Kalifornije je nakon debate, komentirajući alternative Bidenu kao kandidatu, rekao da su to “besmislene spekulacije”. Prošle je godine imao debatu u udarnom terminu s guvernerom Floride Ronom DeSantisom. Mnogi u SAD-u baš njih dvojicu vide kao moguće buduće predsjedničke kandidate.
Newsom je izabran za gradonačelnika San Francisca 2003. i opet 2007. Izabran je za zamjenika guvernera Kalifornije 2010. Kao zamjenik guvernera je vodio emisiju The Gavin Newsom Show od 2012. do 2013. Također je napisao knjigu Citizenville iz 2013., koja se fokusirala na korištenje digitalnih alata za demokratske promjene. Ponovno je izabran 2014. Newsom je 2018. izabran za guvernera Kalifornije.
Tijekom svog guvernerstva se suočavao s kritikama zbog vodstva tijekom pandemije covida-19. Suočio se s neuspješnim pokušajem opoziva 2021., a ponovno je izabran iduće godine.
J. B. Pritzker
59-godišnji guverner Illinoisa bio bi jedan od najbogatijih kandidata. Legalizirao je pravo na pobačaj u Illinoisu i proglasio ga “državom utočištem” za žene koje žele pobačaj. Također ima snažne stavove o kontroli oružja i legalizaciji marihuane u rekreativne svrhe.
Pritzker je dugogodišnji financijski podupiratelj i aktivni član Demokratske stranke. Postao je demokratski kandidat za guvernera Illinoisa na izborima 2018. nakon pobjede na primarnim izborima. Pobijedio je republikanca Brucea Raunera na općim izborima 6. studenog 2018., a dužnost je preuzeo 14. siječnja 2019. Pritzker je ponovno izabran 8. studenog 2022.
Gretchen Whitmer
52-godišnja guvernerka Michigana bila je u užem izboru za Bidenovu potpredsjednicu 2020. godine, a dobar rezultat na središnjim izborima za Demokratsku stranku djelomično je pripisan upravo njoj. Zalagala se za strože zakone o oružju i ukidanje zabrane pobačaja.
Kao guvernerka Whitmer se usredotočila na zakonodavstvo o zdravstvu i infrastrukturi. Od siječnja 2021. je bila jedna od potpredsjednica Nacionalnog odbora Demokratske stranke. Ponovno je izabrana 2022., pobijedivši republikanskog kandidata Tudora Dixona.
Sherrod Brown
71-godišnjak bi bio najstariji kandidat, ali je još uvijek sedam godina mlađi od Trumpa. Smatralo se iznenađenjem kada nije osvojio demokratsku nominaciju za 2020. Tada je rekao da je ostanak na mjestu senatora Ohija najbolji za njega. Snažno se zalaže za radnička prava.
Brown je na izborima za američki Senat 2006. pobijedio republikanca Mikea DeWinea, koji je bio na dužnosti u dva mandata, a 2012. je ponovno izabran, pobijedivši državnog rizničara Josha Mandela, te 2018. porazivši američkog predstavnika Jima Renaccija.
U Senatu je bio predsjednik Pododbora za poljoprivredu, prehranu i obiteljska poljoprivredna gospodarstva i Pododbora za bankarstvo, a također je član Odbora za financije, Odbora za pitanja branitelja i Posebnog odbora za etiku.
Od 2011. Brown je jedini demokratski izabrani dužnosnik u državi Ohio, s iznimkom nekih sudaca Vrhovnog suda Ohija povezanih s Demokratskom strankom koji su izabrani u nestranačkim utrkama. Općenito ga se smatra liberalnim, progresivnim i populističkim demokratom.
Dean Phillips
Bio je kandidat tijekom predizbora Demokratske stranke ranije ove godine, ali nije uspio osvojiti dovoljno pristaša, nije pobijedio ni u jednom natjecanju pa je malo vjerojatno da će biti faktor ako Biden odstupi.
Phillips je demokrat koji je stalno glasao za podršku stajalištima predsjednika Joea Bidena. S neto vrijednošću od 77 milijuna dolara u 2018., jedan je od najbogatijih članova Kongresa.