this post was submitted on 07 Nov 2023
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[–] [email protected] 120 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (4 children)

Isn't this the problem with every Democratic president? Where the policies proposed have upwards of 70% approval, but once it's mentioned that the person has a scary D next to their name, it immediately drops 30%?

Also, 57% have a negative opinion of Biden, and yet only 58% have a negative opinion of Trump? If that polling is accurate, what an absolutely fucked country we are.

[–] [email protected] 29 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I think a lot of it is also “national mood”. The world is a bummer right now and people feel fed up. For a lot of voters, including sadly many on the left, “vibes” are more important than facts.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 1 year ago (2 children)

It's less that things are a bummer now, but that we have no idea what "better" even looks like. Instead of schlepping to the office in a gas car we schlep in an electric car? Instead of going bankrupt buying a fancy chemo treatment we go bankrupt buying a fancy mRNA treatment? Instead of conflict in the middle east we'll have conflict in the middle east? Is this what I have to look forward to for the rest of my entire life?

One thing conservatives have an advantage on is vision. Everybody remembers the past. A lot of people remember it fondly. It's easy to sell something like that. It's why they use it to sell everything.

[–] [email protected] 17 points 1 year ago (2 children)

That's why we call them out for the fiction they call the past. It never existed the way they paint it.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago

Of course it didn't exist. It's a cultural hallucination created by the Hayes Code. But that doesn't stop it from being incredibly effective marketing.

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[–] [email protected] 22 points 1 year ago

This. Just like every time there is a Democrat in office, we get economic dooming before the election regardless of what the actual numbers say.

[–] givesomefucks 15 points 1 year ago (13 children)

Nah.

This is also actual progressives who didn't believe his platform last time, and have even less trust in him this time.

Like, I have a negative opinion of Biden. I think he's lied a lot to get elected, he went from saying only he could get Republican Senate votes for the Democratic platform, to acting like people were crazy for thinking he could talk Democratic senators into voting for the Dem platform.

I see absolutely no reason we're running him again. We're risking trump again by running an elderly unpopular candidate like we did in 2016.

But he's a hell of a lot better than trump, so I'm pretty much forced to vote for him.

When the only reason people have to vote for someone is so the other guy doesn't win, voter turnout will be down.

Positive reinforcement is always better than potential negative reinforcement.

[–] [email protected] 22 points 1 year ago (1 children)

When the only reason people have to vote for someone is so the other guy doesn't win, voter turnout will be down.

Turnout in 2020 was the highest in years, decades even, so this isn't true at all. People showed up mainly to vote against Trump. I was one of them.

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[–] logicbomb 62 points 1 year ago (2 children)

The mainstream media has really been harping on Biden's age lately. But they often forget to mention that the reason age is important is that it's an indicator of health and mental acuity. Trump is almost as old, but if you ignore age and directly compare Biden and Trump on the actual important factors, health and mental acuity, Biden comes out far ahead.

If the choice actually comes down to Biden or Trump, and if you were only basing your vote on their health today, you'd be an idiot to vote for Trump. That would be on top of all of the other, much more important reasons to prefer Biden to Trump. Like they say in the article, Biden's agenda is popular. And on the other hand, Trump is a fascist fraudster sexually abusive criminal who already came within inches of overthrowing our government.

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[–] [email protected] 53 points 1 year ago (21 children)

I’m definitely more of a progressive than a democrat and I may not like Biden much, but I’ll sure as shit vote for him to prevent another Trump term. I feel like the media is trying to create a crisis here.

[–] [email protected] 31 points 1 year ago

Not just the media but also... Am I the only one frustrated by the amount of "voting for Biden is dumb" posts on Lemmy? Yeah, he sucks, I don't like him. He's basically a 1950s Republican from back when they at least pretended to have some standards and acted like the government could occasionally do things. That's not inspiring.

But what's the play here? Don't vote at all? Vote for Trump but ironically? I don't get it. Voting is NOT the only thing you can do, and it's not the only thing you SHOULD be doing, but it's still a thing you absolutely should do.

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[–] [email protected] 51 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (9 children)

I dont know why Biden gets so much hate. He has been a fantastic president so far. Could he have done more? Sure, but I dont understand why the hate. They say "hold my nose" to vote for him... like wtf why?

[–] [email protected] 27 points 1 year ago (6 children)

Yeah I'm right there with you. Biden has accomplished a lot. I don't agree with everything he's said or done but as a whole he's done a fantastic job turning America around. If he can beat Trump once he can beat him again and that is paramount. Plus it gives dems another 4 years to start pushing younger more progressive candidates into the spotlight.

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[–] krakenx 19 points 1 year ago

A lot of people don't understand how hard it is to fix things with a hostile Supreme Court and an obstructive congress. To the people saying "both sides are the same because Biden has only managed to clean up a few of Trump's messes", how would you do it instead? Biden has decades of experience, and he's trying. Do you honestly believe someone else could do better?

[–] Wrench 15 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Because he's not charismatic.

People like to point to his earlier career not aging well to current social / political norms, completely ignoring that adapting one's values as society evolves is a desirable trait.

But really, it comes down to charisma. He's awkward and not particularly likeable, and people will bend over backwards to justify their dislike of him despite his accomplishments.

Then there are the hardline progressives, who literally no one electable will ever please. I'm sure even Bernie would have had to make too many compromises ,or fail to deliver enough, to alienate these folks if he had taken the presidency.

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[–] [email protected] 36 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

I'd really like for the Democrats to stop trying to make Biden appear young. Yeah, I would like a younger president, yeah I like that Biden can ride a bike or go for a walk, but these don't make him look younger to me and I didn't vote for him because I thought he was younger and super fit.

I wish the Biden team would lean into the memes, I feel like that's when he's been most popular. Appropriating the Let's go Brandon memes, appropriating the "I did that stickers/meme," leaning into the Dark/Dank Brandon memes, and back when he was VP leaning into the Uncle Joe vibe.

Fucking embrace that the dude is old and make him America's great grandpa. Have him walk out onto a Mr. Rogers lookalike set in a red cardigan to talk about policy. Have him do a fireside address with a blanket and a coffee. Have him throw on the sunglasses and crack the goofy smile before going to get ice cream with a podcaster.

Hell, get the people who made this video to help on Biden's public image.

https://youtu.be/OIDEGN4Js40?si=mHhctXdgoCi1RMgR

[–] [email protected] 24 points 1 year ago (11 children)

You're right. He's not young. But he's still a better President than I expected and he's far, far better than any alternative that Republicans will nominate. So can we let go of the age thing for now until we have an opportunity to pick better candidates? I sincerely doubt this election cycle will be it.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago

Oh I totally agree. I guess the rest of my comment was about how they're trying to make it an age thing and it's the worst marketing for him.

[–] AutistoMephisto 6 points 1 year ago

Exactly. When the other side is literal fascists I will, begrudgingly, vote for whoever the non-fascist is.

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[–] xhieron 31 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Oh yeah? Well I love Joe Biden, and I'm not ashamed to say it. Let's talk about the last two administrations:

Joe Biden tried to forgive my debt. Donald Trump tried to take away my health insurance. Joe Biden thinks we need more trains. Donald Trump thinks we need more walls. Joe Biden lowered my student loan bills. Donald Trump raised my taxes. Joe Biden released people who were convicted on marijuana charges. Donald Trump locked up children for coming to the US. Joe Biden wants to be president. Donald Trump wants to be Vladimir Putin. Joe Biden told me to join a union. Donald Trump told me to drink bleach.

Is the Biden administration perfect? Of course not, but the man has actually tried (and occasionally succeeded) to do things that would actually benefit me personally. https://www.whitehouse.gov/therecord/

The reality is that for most people on most days, what's happening in DC has only a very small impact on our lives. Our state and local governments are vastly more consequential. But this administration, despite being faced with an opposition party composed of literal fascists, is fighting tooth and nail to make life better for real people without losing the Republic in the process. Given the current state of SCOTUS and Congress, it's nothing short of a miracle Joe Biden has accomplished anything at all. He's not as far left as me, but he's as far left as we've got right now, and never mind the fact that the other guy wants to destroy our country so he can stay out of prison.

Joe Biden has conviction, he has compassion, and he has ability. I like the agenda, and I like the man.

[–] joker125 14 points 1 year ago

Joe Biden is defending democracy.

Donald Trump wants a theocratic autocracy.

It really is that simple.

Everyone please vote in 2024 to prevent project 2025.

[–] AA5B 8 points 1 year ago

Joe Biden doesn’t have the Progressive agenda I prefer, but he’s been the Moderate we need.

Even when I disagree with his approach, I usually have the impression that he acknowledges reality and at least considers knowledgeable advice

[–] TryingToEscapeTarkov 20 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Republicans' dilemma: We will vote for Biden over literally any Republican so it doesn't matter.

[–] Mamertine 6 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Most Americans will vote Biden over Trump, but those same people would vote for any moderate Republican over Biden.

Republicans are attached at the hip to Trump and thus is actually best for the Democrats if Trump stays out of prison for the next year and keeps running for office.

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[–] halferect 19 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Biden is fine as president but I find it hard that a octogenarian can possibly understand the realities of my life and that's the problem, the largest voting block isn't old people anymore and democrats need to pivot for that. I'll still vote for the old bastard.

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[–] eran_morad 19 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

Imma vote for that Brandon guy.

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[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago (1 children)

hold your nose and vote for the lesser evil of two ancient, conservative candidates.

yay america... just ooozing with democracy

[–] hansl 10 points 1 year ago

Vote for fascist; no more democracy until civil war or total collapse.

Vote for not-fascist; no democracy/choice until the fascist party change their platform.

It’s reductive but it’s also why a two party system is anti-democratic. You can’t vote properly if you dont have a choice.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago

I'm not a huge fan of Biden for multiple reasons, and I'd often show up in the "disapproval" stats for him as a person. I'd prefer to vote for Newsom or Fetterman. But I'll vote for Biden any day of the week over any Republican if he's the eventual Democratic nominee.

[–] iamnotdunningkruger 6 points 1 year ago
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