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.