Reading the tea leaves

[NotHardUp1]

Why do pundits bother pestering the candidates about whether they are going to run for office or not?

A senator who is just a gray-haired senator:




New dose of Grecian Formula for his Meet the Press interview today:

He'll be a young man again soon. And yeah, he's gonna run.

 

[unloadonme]

Is this a specific person or just generic elder statesman type photos?

 

[Araucaria]

I believe that's Joe Manchin. And no, I don't want to see him run.

 

[rareboy]

Why do pundits bother pestering the candidates about whether they are going to run for office or not?

A senator who is just a gray-haired senator:

View attachment 2083507


New dose of Grecian Formula for his Meet the Press interview today:

He'll be a young man again soon. And yeah, he's gonna run.

Of course he will.

It is the only grift he knows...and you want to look hearty and ready to spend the lobbyists' cash.

To bad they can't primary him.

 

[unloadonme]

I believe that's Joe Manchin. And no, I don't want to see him run.

Thanks. Not a name I've heard before.

Apparently he "entered West Virginia University on a football scholarship", so I'm guessing he's not the sharpest knife in the drawer.

Joe Manchin - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

 

[NotHardUp1]

Is this a specific person or just generic elder statesman type photos?

He's been a spoiler in the Democratic caucus in the U.S. Senate. He blocked major legislation at the beginning of the current administration, and has succeeded in strengthening coal mining through multiple negotiations because the Senate has a razor thin Democratic majority.

Of course, it is how a small state leverages its political power when competing with huge population states like nearby NY, MA, etc., but his fickleness in the party made him a thorn in the Biden agenda.
West Virginia, is a poor state, very blue collar, but still elected a Democratic Senator despite having some pretty conservative social views. He's toying with running for president, but anyone who enters on the Democratic side will face withering opposition by the hounds, even though Biden is old and unpopular. He simply has been too successful in passing bills to be dragged out of the White House by a fellow Democrat.

 

[Araucaria]

I don't think Manchin can win if he runs against Biden in the primaries, but it could contribute to the sense that Biden appears vulnerable, since someone in his own party decided to run against him. This scenario could be a rerun of the 1980 Democratic primaries, in which Ted Kennedy ran against an incumbent Jimmy Carter. Though Carter won the nomination, Kennedy's candidacy contributed to the sense that Carter was vulnerable.

 

[unloadonme]

I don't think Manchin can win if he runs against Biden in the primaries, but it could contribute to the sense that Biden appears vulnerable, since someone in his own party decided to run against him.

You're talking about appearing politically vulnerable and I don't disagree with what you say. Biden, however, is already giving every appearance of being physically vulnerable. His latest fall made the BBC news. If I were an American voter, I would be very concerned about re-electing Biden given his age.

Joe Biden 'fine' after fall on stage in Colorado

Officials say the 80-year-old president stumbled on a sandbag while handing out diplomas at a graduation ceremony in Colorado.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[NotHardUp1]

You're talking about appearing politically vulnerable and I don't disagree with what you say. Biden, however, is already giving every appearance of being physically vulnerable. His latest fall made the BBC news. If I were an American voter, I would be very concerned about re-electing Biden given his age.

Although I think the focus on the fall was unfair, as he doesn't have any attendant signs of dementia, his gait was forced since before he was elected. He moves in an exaggerated way to keep from shuffling, and has a posture that suggests a back problem.

Normally, I'd be fine with a president dying in office, but in this case, I don't think Harris is qualified to succeed and would never get elected if she ran. She would be an easy target and a lame duck if she were a caretaker president.

Manchin has little chance of getting many Democrat votes. He stands to do more damage taking independents away from the GOP since they tend to hate the GOP as much as the Democrats, almost.

I really don't see a popular Democrat storming Heaven and running against a successful incumbent. It really spells vulnerability in the coming election. Biden pretty much has to have a health crisis to bow out at this point, and I don't think he will with Trump in.

This thread can shuffle on off to CE&P now. I just wanted so show that Manchin was coloring up his hair to look younger to run. Done.

As for the Kennedy's hating Carter, it preceded 1980. He was an outsider and the national leadership was very unhappy with his unwillingness to kowtow to the bureaucracy and kingmakers. In a way, he was very much like Biden: both the right and the left hated him.

 

[unloadonme]

True, but Carter was a healthy 52 when he took office.

 

[EddMarkStarr]

I've given up on "Meet The Press". Moderator, Chuck Todd, only cares for run announcements from candidates. After you announce - you'll never be bothered again.

 

[NotHardUp1]

I've given up on "Meet The Press". Moderator, Chuck Todd, only cares for run announcements from candidates. After you announce - you'll never be bothered again.

You may be happy to know he has announced his retirement from the show at the end of the summer. He announced it Sunday, but threatens to stay on at NBC on other assignments and projects.

I've never liked his performance in the role. A bit sanctimonious and heavily slanted coverage of the politics and selective badgering of guests. Either treat them all with beligerance, or treat them all with forbearance.

He's as guilty as any Fox celebrity of trying to shape the viewers' politics instead of just report on them. Honestly, when he announced his stepping down, I first assumed he would become someone's campaign manager, and am still not sure that will not happen.