Biden is not only a strong primary candidate -- he's the anti-Trump spokesman we need.

[highplainsdem]

He has the national and international stature, after being a highly regarded vice president for 8 years after many years in the Senate, to stand up to Trump, and to have his criticism of Trump taken seriously, here and abroad.

I believe this is one reason Trump is reportedly most worried about him -- besides the fact that Biden's leading in most of the polls.

His campaign will give Biden a platform to tell the American people what he thinks of Trump, and why, on a daily basis.

I'm looking forward to it.

I don't think Trump is...and that might help explain his hysterical over-tweeting as Biden gets closer to launching his campaign.

[JI7]

1. Biden is probably the only one that could punch Trump in the face during the debate

and it will probably help him win more votes than he loses. at worst there will be no change .

[pnwmom]

8. No, he's the only one who publicly fantasized that he'd beat Trump in a fistfight.

That's not a smart approach in a debate, however.

https://www.newsweek.com/joe-biden-would-beat-trump-fist-fight-and-2020-election-poll-suggests-862642

Biden said that if he and Trump were still in high school, he would take Trump “behind the gym and beat the hell out of him.”

Trump the following day responded by tweeting, “Crazy Joe Biden is trying to act like a tough guy.”

[True Blue American]

34. Trump is always saying he was joking

Biden could say the same thing because he really was, although I have no doubt Biden could do it.

[Cha]

12. We shall see.. I know I so

appreciate Biden joining the fight for our Democracy!.

[SunSeeker]

17. Yep. He's 4 years older than Trump, but a lot more fit. nt

[marlakay]

2. Has he evolved on pot yet?

Going to be hard to get youth vote if not.

I love Joe except that issue. I don’t partake but my hubby and family members do so I want it legal. Seems to help a lot of people and there should be no jail time.

Schedule 1 is insane.

[NNadir]

5. My two sons are young men. Happily for me, neither of them gives a rat's ass about pot.

Having come of age in the 1970's, I've evolved on pot.

I think it's really, really, really, really bad for one's intellect and I oppose legalization. I don't believe in incarcerating users, but every time I'm in a place where it's legally sold, I'm depressed as hell.

The first such place that I ever saw was Amsterdam. One could see that it was once a beautiful city. But with with barely clothed young women displayed in the windows of storefronts like merchandise - only God knows the horror - and the listless people walking the streets, well, I have no use for drugs and no use for legal prostitution.

None.

Some things are best left restrained.

It is a mistake to think that young people want to get wasted legally. The many fine young people I know from my sons are more interested in trying to save the world, not in getting high. My oldest son is 24, and believe me, he knows a waste case when he sees one.

[marlakay]

7. Wasn't saying all young but a lot

I was pleased this last weekend, I saw my grandson 22 at Easter brunch, he doesn’t drink or do drugs and isn’t religious just told me he wants to be healthy. Eating good too. I was proud of him for that.

He isn’t political though and not interested in college, my daughter has him working where she is manager or who knows, still playing a lot of computer games.

Mom told me she is for Biden. Younger daughter Beto. Other daughter says she hates it all now and won’t vote, I think that is because she used to vote dem and new boyfriend is on the right but doesn’t vote. I wish she would break up but you know....kids!

[melman]

14. OMG

[Skittles]

18. hoo boy

yes INDEED

[ucrdem]

19. Skittles!

[Skittles]

22. whassup ucrdem?

[demmiblue]

30. Cosigned.

[True Blue American]

28. I agree on that

From what I have seen pot just makes you lazy.

I know many use it but thank goodness my family thinks it is a drug. And alcohol use is maybe a drink or beer with friends.

[kstewart33]

33. I use an edible for my insomnia.

Given that weed is legal in Colorado. It works, and there are no side effects.

I would much rather my daughters partake of weed than alcohol. If you use it responsibly, it is certainly healthier than booze.

I've seen what drinking can do to an individual's life. IMHO, it is far, far worse than weed.

[True Blue American]

35. Thank you for saying that. I was about to say the same thing.

My Grandson could care less about pot! He is concerned about global warming, though. Just like me. And getting his Education.

I do not believe the average young person bent on getting an Education for their future would be fretting about a drug.

[Demsrule86]

36. The idea that millenials are all in on smoking weed is simply insulting...my three do

not smoke at all. Sure they did as kids but now they work and care way more about issues like healthcare and jobs. Legalization will and has come at the state level. The idea that you need weed to get the youth vote is insulting sort of like the idea that all POC care about voting rights for people in prison... that it is a 'Black' issue ( like all incarcerated folks are black). The POC I know are worried about jobs, healthcare and their kids just like (shocking) White people. The pot issue is not a voting issue.

[ucrdem]

3. He's the only one with a snowball's chance in hell of winning.

That's not to say the others are not valiant and eloquent, maybe even more eloquent, but Joe is the one with the best chances.

[EveHammond13]

4. yes. we need to think of every voter, not just progressive voters or Democratic voters.

[pnwmom]

10. Hillary would have won with only 80,000 more votes across 3 states.

Why are you so sure no one in 2020 except Biden could beat Trump, after he lost the House in 2018?

[ucrdem]

13. It's not a sure thing, but Joe has the best chance.

Trump is a snake but he's also an entertainer and that's a winning combo. Joe has gravitas and experience, he's a living-room companion to the nation, but he also has a sense of humor. As EveHammond noted above he has wide appeal across party lines. So in a nutshell he's the one who can do it if anyone can.

[pnwmom]

15. I don't see how this kind of attitude is going to make a winner:

https://www.newsweek.com/joe-biden-would-beat-trump-fist-fight-and-2020-election-poll-suggests-862642

Biden said that if he and Trump were still in high school, he would take Trump “behind the gym and beat the hell out of him.”

Trump the following day responded by tweeting, “Crazy Joe Biden is trying to act like a tough guy.”

[ucrdem]

16. It won't but sometimes it's necessary.

Basically Biden out-crazied the crazy loud-mouth and called his bluff. No, it's not appropriate form of political discourse. But Trump is the one who had to admit it.

[pnwmom]

23. I just can't wait: seeing those two old guys out-crazying each other. No, thanks

Biden wouldn't be any more effective at that than Rubio was.

Too bad Pelosi's not running, because she's the one who most seems to put him off balance.

[Cha]

25. ..

ucr!

[forgotmylogin]

20. Hillary DID win on raw vote count!

It's the Electoral College that screwed her out of that win as I'm sure you're aware.

[Peacetrain]

6. This is the time for Joe Biden.. when we need him the most

His experience, background, connections with leaders all over the world.. this is Bidens moment

[Grasswire2]

9. Did you hear William Weld on MSNBC tonight?

OMG. He was more direct than any Dem so far.

I believe he might affect the election.

[forgotmylogin]

21. Weld looks like an actual Republican.

And I mean that in the good sense - "classic" old-school Republican. I doubt he can wrestle the primary from McDonald, but if not, perhaps he will run as an independent spoiler.

[True Blue American]

29. I did not know Weld

Worked with Hillary on Watergate. He is one sensible Republican. Said he would have members of both parties in his cabinet, same as he did as Governor.

[Cha]

11. I'm looking forward to his

campaign.. Thank You, highplains!

[My Name is Url]

24. Dive in, Joe

The political waters are perfect for you!

[Pachamama]

26. I am excited to see Joe enter the race officially

He will be good for so much and especially the debate process and taking on Trump.

And I believe the winning ticket is Harris/Biden or Biden/Harris....

[quakerboy]

27. We need them all

to be out as anti trump spokespersons.

Along with all of us out to boost that message.

Honestly, The more I see our candidates coming on board to boost eachother, the happier I will be. And the ones that go hard on the infighting will be the ones I do my best to convince others to stay away from.

Trump must go, and I don't think the Republican senate will allow that, no matter what. so we have to win this election, and that means every one of these candidates and every one of their supporters need to start finding our common grounds, the things that make us strong together.

[BlueFlorida]

31. Biden is a fighter

Imagine a debate where Trump starts menacingly circling Biden like he did Hillary?

Biden will tell him to go stand in one place and wait for his turn.

[Funtatlaguy]

32. I appreciate people who are passionate about their candidate.

I wish that everyone here could disagree with their choices without ripping any of our candidates to shreds.

[Hekate]

37. If Joe does nothing else, his ability to punch Trump and leave a mark will be invaluable to us all.

[Mr Tibbs]

38. I believe that his centrism and establishment status will be a ball and chain

I don't he will emerge from the debates with a lot of support

[Hortensis]

39. Thing is, Tibbs, people KNOW VP Biden.

There will be no surprises at the debates, especially if he manages to put his foot in his mouth at some point. After a whole series of accidental anatomical contortions during the 2008 campaign, an exasperated and fed-up Senator Obama reportedly asked his advisers, "How many times is Biden going to say something stupid?"



Of course, Russia and the right, and hostiles on the left, will leap to snow the nation with the worst possible interpretations. And of course wishful thinkers will be completely unable to understand why others don't also believe what they were eager to.

It'll be because people know Biden and like him for what he is, especially older generations who vote at higher rates.

[Mr Tibbs]

40. It's not going to be about who is who

It's going to be about policies and a mass movement for very abrupt and intense change. The rules of the past are going out the window

[highplainsdem]

41. That's what Sanders supporters would like it to be about. But they're a small fraction of the party

plus some independents.

See Nate Silver's latest analysis of the polls and what he says about Sanders:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/1287100764

[Mr Tibbs]

42. It's gearing up to be the people who have to live in the future

Vs those who don't. The party needs to realize that.

Climate change is coming. Scientists say we have ten years to implement very radical changes or humanity is doomed. Radical change has to happen.

Tick tock, tick tock, tick tock...

https://www.imatteryouth.org/

[NNadir]

43. Basically, I'm an ABS Democrat.

Bernie Sanders represents a State that once was in the position of being the only State in the Union that did not generate electricity with dangerous fossil fuels or depend on imported electricity from dangerous fossil fuels.

This is no longer true. Sanders applauded this outcome.

http://yesvy.blogspot.com/2013/08/vermont-is-part-of-world-guest-post-by.html#.XMpDxuhKiM8

As a scientist, I find Sanders opinions on energy and the environment contrary to any reasonable approach to environmental sustainability, since it appears that he actually doesn't know any science.

I'm a scientist, and I've studied energy for 30 years in the primary scientific literature. I assure you that in the awful case where Sanders becomes the Democratic nominee and President, the situation will get far worse, not better.

I will vote "not Trump" in the general election, and happily that will not involve voting for Sanders, since he will not win the Democratic nomination and shouldn't win the nomination. Happily there are at least 19 Democratic Candidates who are far superior, any one of whom I could happily support enthusiastically.

Sanders is the only one I would grudgingly support, and then only in the general election, grudgingly again, because I am a scientist.

But again...he won't win, and the extent to which he and his supporters retreat into their Achilles tents to weep and wail will not serve to help.

To attach Sanders to any practical consideration of climate change is purely absurd, to the point of laughable, because what he proposes has not worked, is not working, and will not work. This has been shown by experiment. The world just sank two trillion dollars into solar and wind in the last ten years alone, with the result that the degradation of the atmosphere from the accumulation of the dangerous fossil fuel waste carbon dioxide is accelerating at the fastest rate ever observed.

Ten years ago, the week ending April 26, 2009, the concentration of carbon dioxide in the planetary atmosphere was 390.2 ppm. The latest such data was 413.77 at Mauna Loa, the highest level ever recorded.

We don't need a tired old man to tell us all about how wonderful solar and wind are. I say this as a tired old man myself, but not one endlessly repeating tired old ideas, but one whose exhaustion comes from having engaged in serious study of the issue.

Oh, and by the way. There's nothing to say about how we have "just" "ten years." Climate change is now. It's happening right now. It's happening because baby boomers, of which I am an example myself, like Sanders, were clueless about energy and the environment.

Now, Joe Biden is an older man even than I am, but he worked with Barack Obama, whose energy policies, particularly when Steven Chu was Secretary of Energy, were a step in the right direction, not perfect, but the best of any modern President.

I would rank Biden among my top 5 favorites, not because of his age, but because he thinks young and because he ably served the best President of my long lifetime.

I lay blame for the state of affairs with respect to climate squarely at the feet of people who hyped solar and wind energy. This is all Sanders has to say, and it's not worth the gasoline in a lawn mower.