Even if Biden had like 53 votes in the Senate, this wouldn't happen. The only way it was going to happen if it the Dems picked up all of remotely competitive seats and even some that seemed unlikely (KS, TX, etc) in a complete repudiation of Trump and it was a clear message that the country was tired of his stuff and he needed to be prosecuted. That said, it would also be super petty and not something I could see him doing.

SI

Dammit Edward!

I think it is more of a funny idea than likely to happen. Like putting Obama on the Supreme Court.

I don't have a problem with threads, I've created plenty of threads. I do have a problem with all threads regurgitating the same thing over-and-over again where other/productive info is overwhelmed.

I think most of us can agree and appreciate (or at least have not problems) having a non-political Covid thread.

I honestly don't know Obama's qualifications here for SCOTUS but interesting idea. I wonder if that would help or hurt the GA Senate races to put out a rumor.

But now we don't have a political Covid thread. I just posted a political covid post in the Trump thread so it will get swallowed up in other discussions.

Let it go ...

Ben/Kuill - "I have spoken"

I am fine with thread consolidation, as long as the Trump Presidency thread remains open after he's out of office to report on all of the lawsuits, arrests, trials, etc that are likely coming then :)

I always laugh at the people who complain about too many threads (though apparently no one in here). It's not like this place is hopping so much that threads where people are posting in are dropping off the front page.

Sent from my Pixel 4 XL using Tapatalk

That's been a thought for years

Are there any actual murmurs of Pete Buttigieg being on the cabinet other than the occasional "I think Pete would be good at..." opinion article?

And where WOULD he be the best fit

Also if a senator gets picked for cabinet what happens to that senate slot? Does the governor get to assign someone there? runoff vote?

I feel like Manchin is ripe for a defection. Possibly sooner than later. He’s literally going to get killed in 2024. Trump pulled 68.7% in West Virginia. If he’s on the ballot again, it’s not realistic that enough people will split tickets to keep Manchin in power.

I keep hearing Department for Veterans Affairs, and while he might be good at it, I don't want that albatross hung around his neck. That's a career dead-ender.

As for Senate vacancies, it depends on the state. Some states require the governor to select a replacement from the same party as the outgoing Senator. Some don't. Some require a special election to fill the vacancy within 30 days, or 60 days, etc.

Depends on the state.

I read an article about UN ambassador. I think that's a good stepping stone to build creds and network with world leaders etc.

Or that the Forum Real Estate is valuable.

Yeah, UN Ambassador makes a lot of sense for him

SI

See I don't get this. As much as I like him, I couldn't vote for him in the primaries because of his lack of experience in the federal government/world issues in very red Indiana. VA makes much more sense to me given his military experience. Love to see him get a Senate or House seat, but seems unlikely to get that in Indiana.

Yes the shit with AOC and him got me thinking this very same thing. We may win the two seats in GA and he jumps ship to the Rs so I am resigned to just not controlling the Senate.

I mean for him more than anything. If you think UN Ambassador doesn't do much, it's also a place to put your rising stars to make connections and place veterans around him.

SI

A Facebook Realtor in my area just posted in a thread that We elected the worst President ever... So this of course before Biden becomes president so there's no hope really of a 4 years wherein the Right conceded that he was anything less then a socialist sic Venezuela/Cuba and the worst child eater pedophile ever.

Manchin isn't going anywhere. He was way too pissed after the stuff with Barrett.

We have the first ever lame dick

First time back here in 9 months and I'm pretty sure I can catch myself up in an hour.

I think there is very little chance Manchin switches parties. His family has a 50+ year history of being a big part of the West Virginia Democratic Party.

West Virginia is very culturally conservative and pro-coal and he reflects that in his voting. He will not ever be a part of a Green New Deal because our state’s history and culture is so based on the coal industry. People hear that but don’t appreciate it.

The state is also (even if folks won’t say it out loud) pro-government assistance and govt welfare dependent. It depends on big government because most of the wealth and infrastructure that could/should have been built in the time of coal left the state and the state is set up more like small villages/towns vs consolidated cities. Folks can justify it by feeling it is owed and paying back a prior wrong. I think Manchin is more driven by the classic elements of the Democratic Party, of helping those in need and helping to elevate them, than the cultural elements that people associate with him.

If Manchin didn’t leave the party while Obama was president or in 2017/18 when he won as a Democrat when it would have been much easier for him to switch parties, I don’t think he would now. He and Biden are pretty similar (Catholic, same generation, not “elite”/working class). I do think it’s possible that he doesn’t seek re-election in ‘24, as he’s been in public service a long time, supposedly dislikes DC, and may run for governor again (the incumbent will be term limited and Manchin has won 6 or 7 consecutive statewide elections and would be the favorite). Or he could just retire.

Manchin is also pro-ACA (and at the very least said he would refuse to vote against it unless there was an actual plan to replace it). He likely wouldn't switch unless the GOP got serious about health care.

Not to mention he's 73. Not sure if he'd run when he'd be 77. And if he doesn't that's an easy GOP pickup with the next Senator being substantially more right wing.

Welcome back, be sure to vote the HoN threads !!

Manchin voted for impeachment. He would be dead in the water in a WV GOP primary.

Sure hope Biden picks a good Secretary of State.

RCEP trade pact cnn - Google Search

How is Pete a rising star? He was a crappy mayor of a small town and got crushed in the primaries. Has a sketchy business background and no ideas of his own.

Would much rather see someone like Yang who actually puts himself out there and doesn't just regurgitate Third Way talking points.

Already to late and is why first off treating China as the enemy and simple not a competitor and leaving TPP was stupid. Now they are going to fill the vacuum we have left behind.

despite the news about it I really don't think there is a completely working vaccine that's proven. It just feels like smoke and mirrors a little. But it's funny when the question comes to distribution, everyone gets that "I don't want to tell a lie so I won't say anything" face on them. It's gonna be really hard to control people on this thing...especially when certain people want to sell this stuff to the highest bidder.

This really feels like a bot. Seven oddly phrased posts that read more like a news article than a person. But no hot links, no misspellings. Things we've learned in seven posts:

Neither surgery nor chemotherapy saved me.
my PS4 has not been covered with dust over the past year, just because dust is wiped off from it.
It will be extremely offensive if it gets worse than it was.
If not all, then many expect that statistics will subside and we will be able to return to the usual life as much as possible.
Even if the US population is maximally covered and vaccinated, international relations play a large role in the functioning of each state.
In recent years, new aerospace companies have appeared, and there are enough investors in the field of space exploration.
Infectologists, apparently, foresee an increase in the number and scale of infectious diseases. since 2003, there have been 5 serious infections in the world, but there has not yet been a larger COVID-19.


We're crossing into a new realm with AI I fear. Getting closer to passing the FOFC Turing test.

Darn, and I was thinking we have a new member

I had the same thought, PilotMan.

It's comforting to know that even when we're all gone, the bots carry on in our absence. I bet they'll even figure out how to do Werewolf and HON threads.

Gigantic failure on the name. Kay Burton on this board?

Agreed on Buttigieg, but I also don't think Yang is super impressive either - at least not on a "Cabinet Member" level. Maybe Buttigieg can do VA or UN Ambassador (I mean Niki Haley was one, it's not a super important job).

People love to create 'dream' Cabinets made up of people in primaries or primaries past, but generally you want people who are more subject matter experts in those areas. And the vast majority of positions (aside from State, Treasury) are less important than, say, a Senate seat (that being said, I do think it's interesting that Sanders is angling for the Labor job, but I do think that the various rumored union leaders would be a better option - and would keep Sanders in the Senate).

Pete was the delegate leader for candidates under 70.

There were only 4 other people ahead of him! ;)

I just assume anyone that hasn't been here for at least 15 years is a bot

I'd also say going from a mayor of small-medium sized midwestern town to finishing a close second in the Iowa/New Hampshire primaries just after his 38th birthday definitely illustrates his appeal and potential in politics.

Oh yeah, Kay smelled like a bot instantly

Oh, speaking of Cabinets, I will say that if Sanders gets approved as SecLabor, there are going to be a few people in my office who will have their heads explode, LOL.

I have a confession. I'm a bot.

in retrospect, can we talk about how 351 caucus goers in American Samoa translates into 6 delegates. Go Land Crabs, but 175 people boosting Bloomberg to his only win is kinda hilarious.

Bloomberg got 4 delegates from American Samoa (Gabbard got 2), but Bloomberg ended up with 59 delegates to Buttigieg's 21.

I guess I figured, I dunno, like 5-10k people voted in American Samoa. Not 350 lol.

Caucuses are usually comparatively tiny, and IMO, not very democratic

If he is a rising star, he should run for Senate or Governor in Indiana.

Democrats definitely have a problem with creating new leaders. They for the most part don't want them. But if they change their path, I'd rather see positions go to people who took on tough fights like Abrams, Beto, Ossof, etc.

I have to agree with that. I have a relative who is totally convinced that if Buttigieg had won the nomination he would have easily dispatched Trump. While that is totally unknowable, the idea of earning your way up the contemporary version of the cursus honorum has merit.

The party doesn't care much about anything but the WH, so naturally, that's where the candidates are going.

The problem is none of those folks actually win their big races. That group has been 0-3 (and I fear 0-4 by January).

I do think Beto is getting a slot somewhere though. I mean what else does he have going on.

I'd like to see Abrams get something bigger (DNC Chair ideally) but does she want to leave Fair Fight?

I still think that's better that not having actually been in a big race to begin with.

A lot of it depends on what you are hoping to achieve. Like Buttigieg may make a whole lot of sense as UN Ambassador. Whereas Ossoff may not make any sense in a Cabinet position.

Toilet paper is vanishing again.

Those were uphill battles that they almost won. The fact they were willing to actually take that fight says a lot about them and the party should reward them for it.

How? I don't know what Cabinet slots they are qualified for or what positions they may be ok in (if anything look at Abrams who has carved out her own position in the state she knows the best). Not to mention that both Beto and Ossoff are very moderate and likely wouldn't go over well with a lot of progressives.

Would creating DNC directors for certain areas be considered enough of a 'reward'?

What has Mayor Pete done? He was a corporate candidate funded almost exclusively from large corporations, special interests, and lobbying groups. His business background is working for a repulsive consulting firm where he helped spearhead massive layoffs in Michigan to help an insurance company turn some more profit.

Like I get some people bought him a few delegates. But he is an empty suit who stands for nothing.

Yeah Beto lost, but he was willing to jump in the fight. And afterward he put in the effort to increase voter turnout by Democrats in the state. And he's been one of the most outspoken gun control advocates on the left. Sure he's moderate on a lot of issue, but the guy actually put his ass on the line and should be rewarded.

Basically people like Pete are extensions of dipshits like Pelosi who stand for nothing but helping their rich donors. If the party wants to make any ground up with working class people, they should be focusing more on activists and those who put in the leg work.

So, once again, what positions are Beto and Ossoff qualified for? Waving your arms and saying they should get something isn't a plan.

By coincidence: exactly 6 years ago today, as Vice President of the USA, Joe Biden sent this note to his staff.

I presume in the background, thoughts of his first wife & daughter who died long ago; or his son, who died of cancer just a few months after this note.

Worth reading. pic.twitter.com/UwBbJ8A73i

— dan barker (@danbarker) November 7, 2020

You are of the mistaken belief that it's only Republicans who give positions not based on merit and but for things like, say, being the party's spokesman on Fox News or getting really, really close to beating a Republican in GOP territory.

I don't know. Just saying if the party is looking to elevate some voices, I think the people who take on tough races should be rewarded first. Same thing for Abrams.

I find it the height of irony that those complaining that they will not accept shut downs and shut downs are terrible are the same ones that wouldn't just wear masks to save the economy and avoid shut downs. smh

That's because they can have it both ways - no masks, everything stays open, and people they don't care about die.

I really do get the sentiment. Every day is going to be "Trump Trump Trump."
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/jus...s-say-n1247959

If there's a decent chance to convict, you have to do it. There needs to be moral hazard for doing the stuff he did. Then again, I'm applying normal person rules to rich people so that's probably foolish.

SI

What he is stating he wants is to not get in the way of the AG from doing whatever they they need to do. He is also not going to stop New York in their investigations. What he is against is having congress or his administration being tied up with it. Let law enforcement do what they do, and have the politicians concentrate on the country. I am all for that.

And just from an optics perspective, that's exactly what Biden needs to do. He's already got 70M+ people in this country against him, no reason to bring more along for the ride and make his job that much harder.

I get the impulse, I just think it's a little naive. There's no way the GOP is going to move on from investigations. When do the investigations begin with Graham and Johnson? March? April? The next two years are going to be full of accusations and investigations, so the choice is whether to play offense or defense.

Dems need to understand that the low information voter isn't paying enough attention to determine which investigations have merit and which don't. They see constant investigations of Dems and assume there must be some fire with all of that smoke. Dems moving on only reinforces the GOP message that Dems are corrupt and GOPers aren't.

The GOP is still working to create an apartheid state. We won't get past that by being less political.

I mean, I think Biden should appoint people he thinks are likely to hold a firm line on past abuses, but it's absolutely the correct move to let those people operate independently. The President being involved in charging political opponents should not be a thing. I know the GOP will act differently, but this is an issue where I don't think we should fight fire with fire.

Prosecute with extreme prejudice.

They would've done the same to any Dems that they could've found LITERALLY ANYTHING on.

That's what blows my mind. People still chanting "lock her up" at Hillary. Why do you think they didn't? Because some old lady that the Democratic party dropped like a hot potato when she lost to Trump still wields maniacal influence in the criminal justice system? Or maybe it was because there was nothing to prosecute on.

There are literally mountains of evidence against Trump that has been withheld due to his interference in the machinations of the executive branch. If he's running in 2024, it will either be from out of the country, during ongoing litigation, or from a jail cell.

But sure, I don't think Biden should be the cheerleader, but he won't have to be.

I agree for the President, but the House should get off of the sidelines and investigate all of the corruption and malfeasance.

Graham should be investigated for attempting to interfere in the election results in Georgia.

Exactly. Let others do the dirty work while Biden stays above the fray.

Biden needs to pick Sally Yates as his attorney general and have her show up to put the handcuffs on Trump.

Agree 100%, and I'd go higher if I could. The more power someone has, the higher standard they need to be held to, not lower. The only way to stop corruption is to actually stop it and punish it where you find it.

I agree idealogically. I just think that in the practicality, those with real power will escape real trouble. Those are rules that only apply to us peasants down below.

SI

I don't know much about Warnock and my guess is he does have many of the traits I would consider as "radical left". But don't really care, I really want Biden to get 2 years of control to do his thing and I'll pay more attention in 2022.

Loeffler is trying to make Warnock seem like another AOC, but Warnock is for expanding Medicaid and shoring up the ACA, not Medicare for All, and he's not a Green New Deal supporter. Warnock is basically on the same level of John Lewis in terms of positions.

apologies if I missed this somewhere, but this is a very encouraging sign to me:

hxxps://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-11-15/biden-fills-economic-posts-with-experts-on-systemic-racism

Yep very encouraging Radii

I would be in favor of filling economic positions with experts on the economy. Remember when Trump appointed Rick Perry for Secretary of Energy?

Fantastic!

This plus he's making sure climate change is a priority among many Departments make me very optimistic.

My prediction of the Biden White House:


If Democrats loose the Georgia run-offs (most likely scenario), Biden will have his hands completely tied by MCConnell. While Trump builds his media empire and starts running for President again immediately, the Republicans in the Senate will see no advantage on working with Biden on anything. They will stonewall every nomination, maybe allowing a handful of positions through if the person is moderate enough, but mostly just forcing Biden to keep temporary appointments in place. Absolutely no judges will be confirmed. Meanwhile Biden will spend most of his presidency trying to put out the fires that Trump left behind, while the Senate constantly tries to drum an investigation on every conspiracy theory they can find, counting on 2022 when the GOP will most likely take over the Congress so they can join in on the fun. Biden will be impeached by a Republican house as payback for Trump's impeachment. They will probably impeach Kamala as well.


If Democrats win the run-offs (long shot)- Joe Manchin becomes the Majority leader in every way but name. Nothing goes through congress without Joe's approval, unless it is watered down enough for Romney to agree with it. No major overhauls, no public options, maybe some pretty moderate legislation passes. All till 2022 when the Republicans take control of the house (and possibly retakes the Senate).


Sorry I am so bleak, but I see very little hope the Republicans as a whole will ever be reasonable again.

Imagine how we'd all be feeling if Trump had won this election.

I'd be reading up more on Mussolini's Italy and be thinking about how well I fit in versus how much career and family damage we can take with an exit strategy and to where (not that this isn't already taking place, but more in earnest)

SI

If Biden dies, there’s no way the republicans will approve a VP, right? 50/50 ties are a loss from what I read.

It's just incredible the hypocrisy that they can't see. They were so all about King Obama and that he would be a dictator and here we are 4 years later and they're literally trying to figure out ways to go against the popular vote and electoral modus operandi. It just is unbelievable and even more so for me that I have people I work with that are knee-deep in the excusing of all of it. I'm just shocked more so every day. If I posted the story about the weeklong executions televised on Plan B in Michigan I'm certain that they would say that it's a lie, not true, OR not as bad as the 'looters' and anarchy that almost took over our cities a few months ago.

They're fascists plain and simple.

So an interesting name came up for Biden's list of potential Attorney Generals: Judge Merrick Garland. Man wouldn't that frost Republicans

I think Republicans have moved on from Garland. It's the Democrats who haven't.

that will just create another federal court vacancy for Trump to place another 33 year old who doesn't know the first thing about courtroom law.

Biden would be the one nominating the replacement, not Trump.

they won't get a single judge thru in 4 years. The second trump presidency will be even worse with judges.

Welcome to the dark side, stevew. It sucks here.

I thought we didn't like far-out conspiracy theories around here. Clearly I was mistaken.

The Dems lose 9 electoral votes in 2024 if the map stays exactly the same. Trump would only have to flip 2 of PA/GA/AZ to win.

Only one president (Alexander) ever lost re-election and then won again. That was over 130 years ago. Not to mention that Obama got over 300 judges confirmed, including 15 or so even in the acrimonious 2015 and after period with the whole Garland fiasco.

The idea that nobody gets confirmed assumes bad things happen in Georgia runoffs, bad things happen in the '22 midterms, and nobody even moderate gets by a divided Senate. Add on to that Trump winning in '24 when he'll almost certainly either be in jail or in another country if he's even still alive - he'd be 78 then ... QAnon has nothing on this theory.