Regular work day. A lot of people are off for an extended weekend, and will need cover. And this begins a 5 day run of temps over 100 in an area where even getting into the 90s is unusual, and seriously taxes things.
My office doesn't get the day off today, but nobody is working today. So I think some tele-loafing is in order. Float in an inner tube, BBQ, have a mid-day beer, have a nap - and maybe some work in there somewhere.
I nominate SGBear. Of course you and I have never met, and I don't know who you are, so this nomination is worthless. But why should that stop me?
This nomination is based on exceptional underachievement. On a Daily Bear Dump basis, SGBear demonstrates remarkable energetic creativity. He could be a billionaire, but assuming he is not, the only conclusion can be exceptional underachievement.
President Biden, who at 81 is the oldest person ever to hold the office, has displayed signs of accelerated aging in recent months, said numerous aides, foreign officials, members of Congress, donors and others who have interacted with Biden over the last 3½ years, noting that he moves more slowly, speaks more softly and has moments when he loses his train of thought more often than even just a year ago.
None of those who spoke to The Washington Post said they had seen Biden appear as lost and confused as he did at the presidential debate against Donald Trump on June 27, where his halting performance sent panic through the Democratic Party. They largely did not question his mental acuity, and several senior White House aides who interact with Biden regularly said that he continues to ask probing, detailed questions about complicated policy matters and can recall facts from previous briefings in minute detail.
Nevertheless, Biden has slowed considerably over the last several months, according to 21 people, many of whom spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive topic and share candid assessments.
COMMENT: The tone of this article suggests that a change is coming. The obvious change is that Biden will step aside from campaigning for re-election and allow Kamala Harris (?) or someone else to be the Democratic nominee.
The not so obvious change that could happen is that Biden resigns, elevating Harris and giving her the power of incumbency in the forthcoming campaign.
I did see clickbait headlines that he was talking about stepping out of the race. Or that he's told governors that he won't schedule things after 8 PM.
There's just too much bad press out there now. Biden has to be done. He can exit gracefully by choosing not to run for another term, or it can be uglier.
I would be elated if Biden exited the scene. He would have earned a hearty thanks for his work as president and for acknowledging the reality of his and the country's situation. Time for new blood.
I agree that's the portrayal of VP Harris in the media and has been for quite some time. But I really wonder if that is true.
Much of the media portrayal is based on conditions that I associate with the aging Boomer cohort and groupthink. To be pointed about this, it's slanted against Black women, or South Asian women, or any woman who isn't White.
Looked at another way, who keeps coming up as likely "replacements" for the Democratic nomination? A bunch of White men and a few White women (Gretchen Whitmer, Amy Klobuchar, and Tammy Baldwin to name three).
Honestly, I think the media wants to milk the freakout for all it's worth and then some. Which is a big part of why the Boomer lens is applied; it's limited and raises the anxiety level, keeping people enthralled with the story.
BOTTOM LINE: Kamala Harris is stronger than any of us think.
It's also because people had high expectations for her in the 2020 primary and she tanked. Didn't even make it to Super Tuesday. So there are performance issues there too.
But it would be a different ballgame with the whole Democratic apparatus behind her and running against a single unpopular opponent like Trump (as opposed to going against a gaggle of reasonably popular Democratic primary candidates).
If I were to pick a preferred Democratic candidate out of a hat it wouldn't be her, but she may not need to project much more than bland competence to win against Trump.
You make a salient point that Harris performed poorly in 2020. She barely launched and she promptly fizzled. I found her failure to even get aloft puzzling. Not that I preferred her in 2020 (I was undecided for quite some time), but that her campaign didn't last two weeks, as I recall. Her campaign kickoff was outside Oakland City Hall.
Your last sentence may be the critical element. Harris only needs to project competence to defeat Trump. Biden is clearly questionable in that regard.
Note also, that Harris is far more likely to attract younger voters, who may be key to this election.
I read and heard recently on this topic, that she "could do better" when off script - side boards that were self or advisor imposed. I'd have to see it to believe it.
FS, I think you are correct that Harris is likely better than we know. VPs often underachieve, partly because, I think, they want to make the lead guy look good. It would seem a huge marketing challenge to change the impression of the voting public to see Harris as the leading candidate. But, it wouldn't violate the laws of physics.
Welcome to the DBD, a community dedicated to the proposition that all Bear fans are created equal and that they are endowed by Oski with certain unalienable rights that among these are life, liberty and the holding of the Stanfurd Axe.
Looks like the 7/8 (Monday) DBD has commenting limited to paid subscribers only.
PLANS FOR TODAY
don't know. Apparently No 3 made plans with his GF so No 2 and I need to figure something out.
Regular work day. A lot of people are off for an extended weekend, and will need cover. And this begins a 5 day run of temps over 100 in an area where even getting into the 90s is unusual, and seriously taxes things.
Watching today's two Euro quarterfinal matches. After that a long walk then settle in for some reading. Not sure about this evening.
My office doesn't get the day off today, but nobody is working today. So I think some tele-loafing is in order. Float in an inner tube, BBQ, have a mid-day beer, have a nap - and maybe some work in there somewhere.
A nap sounds good. It’s 80 and 80, heat and humidity, and I’ve done a run and walked up to the store already so time for some recovery.
ELSEWHERE IN COLLEGE
PRO
Members of the UC Berkeley Hall of Infamy
John Yoo
I nominate SGBear. Of course you and I have never met, and I don't know who you are, so this nomination is worthless. But why should that stop me?
This nomination is based on exceptional underachievement. On a Daily Bear Dump basis, SGBear demonstrates remarkable energetic creativity. He could be a billionaire, but assuming he is not, the only conclusion can be exceptional underachievement.
Would be happy to be proved wrong!
Day 8 of When Will Biden Leave?
Today's WaPo headline -
Biden’s aging is seen as accelerating, lapses described as more common
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/07/05/biden-aging-recent-months/
President Biden, who at 81 is the oldest person ever to hold the office, has displayed signs of accelerated aging in recent months, said numerous aides, foreign officials, members of Congress, donors and others who have interacted with Biden over the last 3½ years, noting that he moves more slowly, speaks more softly and has moments when he loses his train of thought more often than even just a year ago.
None of those who spoke to The Washington Post said they had seen Biden appear as lost and confused as he did at the presidential debate against Donald Trump on June 27, where his halting performance sent panic through the Democratic Party. They largely did not question his mental acuity, and several senior White House aides who interact with Biden regularly said that he continues to ask probing, detailed questions about complicated policy matters and can recall facts from previous briefings in minute detail.
Nevertheless, Biden has slowed considerably over the last several months, according to 21 people, many of whom spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive topic and share candid assessments.
COMMENT: The tone of this article suggests that a change is coming. The obvious change is that Biden will step aside from campaigning for re-election and allow Kamala Harris (?) or someone else to be the Democratic nominee.
The not so obvious change that could happen is that Biden resigns, elevating Harris and giving her the power of incumbency in the forthcoming campaign.
I did see clickbait headlines that he was talking about stepping out of the race. Or that he's told governors that he won't schedule things after 8 PM.
There was a WaPo article where Biden said that he'd get more sleep and not schedule anything after 8:00 PM.
I don't know about you, but I think that's telling on yourself.
There's just too much bad press out there now. Biden has to be done. He can exit gracefully by choosing not to run for another term, or it can be uglier.
I would be elated if Biden exited the scene. He would have earned a hearty thanks for his work as president and for acknowledging the reality of his and the country's situation. Time for new blood.
I don't think Kamala Harris has the wheelbase to win though. Not sure who does.
I agree that's the portrayal of VP Harris in the media and has been for quite some time. But I really wonder if that is true.
Much of the media portrayal is based on conditions that I associate with the aging Boomer cohort and groupthink. To be pointed about this, it's slanted against Black women, or South Asian women, or any woman who isn't White.
Looked at another way, who keeps coming up as likely "replacements" for the Democratic nomination? A bunch of White men and a few White women (Gretchen Whitmer, Amy Klobuchar, and Tammy Baldwin to name three).
Honestly, I think the media wants to milk the freakout for all it's worth and then some. Which is a big part of why the Boomer lens is applied; it's limited and raises the anxiety level, keeping people enthralled with the story.
BOTTOM LINE: Kamala Harris is stronger than any of us think.
It's also because people had high expectations for her in the 2020 primary and she tanked. Didn't even make it to Super Tuesday. So there are performance issues there too.
But it would be a different ballgame with the whole Democratic apparatus behind her and running against a single unpopular opponent like Trump (as opposed to going against a gaggle of reasonably popular Democratic primary candidates).
If I were to pick a preferred Democratic candidate out of a hat it wouldn't be her, but she may not need to project much more than bland competence to win against Trump.
You make a salient point that Harris performed poorly in 2020. She barely launched and she promptly fizzled. I found her failure to even get aloft puzzling. Not that I preferred her in 2020 (I was undecided for quite some time), but that her campaign didn't last two weeks, as I recall. Her campaign kickoff was outside Oakland City Hall.
Your last sentence may be the critical element. Harris only needs to project competence to defeat Trump. Biden is clearly questionable in that regard.
Note also, that Harris is far more likely to attract younger voters, who may be key to this election.
I read and heard recently on this topic, that she "could do better" when off script - side boards that were self or advisor imposed. I'd have to see it to believe it.
FS, I think you are correct that Harris is likely better than we know. VPs often underachieve, partly because, I think, they want to make the lead guy look good. It would seem a huge marketing challenge to change the impression of the voting public to see Harris as the leading candidate. But, it wouldn't violate the laws of physics.
She's the best option available. Anyone else would have to start from scratch but she would get the Biden-Harris campaign's warchest.
Yeah, she probably shouldn't have been the VP in the first place but we can't reverse that now.
You missed a button: Tell me more!
The poll is an homage to Twist's epic DBD
https://www.californiagoldenblogs.com/2009/1/13/720074/dbd-1-14-09-what-do-you-me
Aha! I knew there was more info. And that post predates my entry into CGB.
Oh for the days of DBDs with 1188 comments. how many of them were Rishi's pictures of men's fashions?
We had more than a few DBDs where the comment count passed 2K.
Some of those fashion photos were, well, kinda pushing a (?) fashion envelope.
Welcome to the DBD, a community dedicated to the proposition that all Bear fans are created equal and that they are endowed by Oski with certain unalienable rights that among these are life, liberty and the holding of the Stanfurd Axe.
(Oh by the way...Go Bears!!!)