But America IS
3
Love the way Bret Stephens dismisses Stacey Abrams as "someone whose political experience doesn't rise above State Legislature," then turns around and suggests "Kathryn Sullivan, the first American woman to walk in space, a naval officer, and former head of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration under Barack Obama." Or "the Harvard historian and political theorist Danielle Allen, author of an extraordinary book on the Declaration of Independence." Whatever, Bret...
10
It is now 9 PM, (Eastern Daylight Savings Time). Biden has already won the 3 M's (Missouri, Michigan and Mississippi). Bernie has fought a noble battle but it is time for all of you Bernie fans to come on board. We can all have toast and jam together and take back America.
7
Bumbling Joe will stumble into the presidency only if Trump causes some major catastrophe. Which would not be surprising.
3
people are so afraid of 4 more years of trump they are running irrationally to what they think is a safe choice. what I have seen of biden? he is having cognitive issues...... I don't think he is the safe choice at all, I understand why people are shying away from Bernie..... he has sort of amped up "the crazy" in his campaign. but putting biden up there to be absolutely torn apart by trump? really scary.
6
The Democrats have lost my entire generation. Good luck turning out anyone under 55 in November after yet again telling millenials and Gen Z that addressing our problems isn't "electable."
9
Crying wolf on Trump yet again. When you folks find reasons to attack Trump at every turn, people - other than the readers of this newspaper - tune you out. Then along comes the coronavirus and you're at it again. And you convince each other that these are end-days. And Trump is not up to the task.
Here's a different take on that. He's been through more than enough crises to know how to problem solve under pressure. I know you don't want to hear that though so stay in your echo chamber and be proven wrong for the hundredth time about Trump.
Not that it will matter. You'll queue up on schedule when the next opportunity to think Trump is bringing about the end of the world.
28
@Dred These criticisms aren’t being made without context. We have plenty of evidence that Trump is incapable of handling this crisis. He is obstructing the ability of our health experts to do their jobs. He’s endangered lives by downplaying the risks. I’m not sure how the “echo chamber” talking point fits here at all
113
@Dred I agree they way they talk about Trump comes off quite condescending. But it all truth, if the debate was purely academic and no ad-hom, Trump has extremely little redeeming qualities as a leader.
81
And caused many of his crises himself. Which isn’t reassuring right now. Another way of putting your defense is that he’s used to screwing up.
82
It's hard not to like Joe Biden. He knows how to fight without descending into radical political tropes. He can stand up for himself and others without imagining wild conspiracies like Trump and Bernie. He's earned my vote (I voted early for him today in Illinois), whereas I felt Bernie supporters were browbeating me into voting for him. Bernie also set up unrealistic expectations with his "political revolution." If you weren't for a revolution, you were then in cahoots with the "establishment." This has spurred doctrinaire purity tests on social media, especially among my age group.
9
what is ironic is that Biden will win democrat delegates in States that will vote for President Trump
6
I'm sitting here thinking that if Biden wins against Sanders, why does he have to debate Trump. Trump is a master of making people look bad, if I were Biden who will come in with a strong hand, I would let Trump know that he (Biden) is too busy preparing to be the president and will release info as needed in press conferences (looking very presidential of course) and then have the debates be against the VP candidates. Klobuchar against Pence would be my pick. So to repeat, no Biden/Trump debate yes Klobuchar/Pence debates.
3
Like most conservatives Bret conflates authoritarianism with socialism. Sweden is not such a bad place to live!
5
"Trump may get politically lucky (again!) if the epidemic slides by us in a few weeks without exacting a terrible toll. "
Isn't that just awful!
Too bad more can't die so Trump is blamed!
Aren't the NeverTrumpers so sweet!
3
Another enjoyable banter to read between Gail and Bret. I must admit, Bret's disdain for the word "socialism" has become almost comical (it somehow does give me a bit of a chuckle now). Bret, keep in mind that the countries that embrace socialism is a VERY wide spectrum. Stop thinking Soviet Union, China, Cuba, and Venezuela. Try and think more about the Scandinavian countries, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and right here in Canada where we have embraced many socialist policies - which is more or less what Sanders wants for the United States. The word "socialism" in and of itself is not a bad word to us. It's actually generally seen as something of a positive word.
4
Stacy Abrams for VP!
1
David Walker
Stunning to read Bret Stephen’s caricature of Sanders.
Spot on your critique of Bret’ s naive understanding. Stunning that NYT permits Bret to continue to propagate misconception of Sander’s ”socialism”. By creating a ” straw man”, Bret broadcasts falsehoods. Worthy reading, instead, is Jeffrey D. Sachs’ rebuttal in Project Syndicate, Feb. 3, 2020.
”In Europe Sanders would be a mainstream social democrat. He wants to restore basic decency to American life: universal public health care, above-poverty wages for full time workers.....; college education that does not drive young adults into life long debt; elections that billionaires cannot buy and public policy determined by public opinion, not by corporate lobbying ...” To Europeans, Sander’s intelligence is beyond dispute. Perhaps even Bret will one day see daylight?
2
Biden is toast with sweet jam.
1
Bret, you are going socialist soft! You should be an excited GOP capitalist to see a Purell bottle going for $50.
Let the market set the price! Buyer beware. (it’s probably cut with extra water).
Don’t start your whining that everyone in America should have fairly priced access to hand sanitizer during a growing virus passed by human contact.
Only the strong and worthy should survive. Get your thinking back in line with the GOP. Your empathy is showing and it is pathetic.
6
Now he's a brochette, toast with a topping of delegates.
Actually, Biden is toast...
Country style toast smothered in my famous Cranberry, tangerine and maple syrup jam.
Joe Biden is a stalking horse for the neo-liberal Democratic establishment. Their real choice will appear either through a brokered convention or they’ll choose his VP for him and then soon sideline him via the 25th Amendment. Magnificently Byzantine!
4
In the debates Trump will delight in making the dismemberment of Biden as protracted and as excruciating as he can make it. Trump will be the bored cat who amuses himself with the mouse he has pinned under his paw.
4
The Democrats.
2016 lying Hillary
2020 geriatric Joe
and we are suppose to go vote in Nov 2020?
6
You better or it is four more years of Trump’s chaos of destruction of our nation.
3
@guy veritas Sounds like truthful Trump is your man.
1
@guy veritas The Democrats had a good turnout for spring training. But, misogyny and racism whittled it down to two old White men. At least they acknowledged their White privilege.
2
Biden on finding purpose after loss through faith; "A truth-optional president is a clear and present danger during a truth-necessary emergency."
During a CNN Democratic town hall in Charleston South Carolina on February 26th former Vice President Joe Biden addresses how he would use his faith to make decisions for the United States. (esp. from 6:00 minutes addressing the Rev. Anthony Thompson whose wife Myra was 1 of 9 killed by a white supremacist/terrorist in June 2015 just 1 month after Biden’s son died of cancer)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=657&v=81bzoO9Qy9A&feature=emb_logo
The Republican slime machine is not going to work this time - every mention of Hunter Biden will yield 50 Bloomberg ads on Ivanka, Don Jr & Eric.
5
Biden/Warren 2020, for many good reasons I've outlined in these pages before.
“Truth-optional,” Bret?
More like truth averse. Your characterization of the president implies that he, in some measure of regularity, tells the truth. Sorry, but that dog won’t hunt.
I would argue that in the almost five years since Trump declared his candidacy, he has made two true statements:
“I could shoot someone in the middle of Fifth Avenue and not lose supporters,” and “I love the poorly educated.”
Meanwhile, one needs to resort to scientific notation to keep track of his lies.
2
If Sanders' "campaign has been very positive, influence-wise," what has Biden's campaign been?
2
The trolls are out in force today hitting the Republicans first line of attack (now that Burisma is old news)—Biden is in “cognitive decline.” Count how many times that curious term occurs. Don’t be fooled or discouraged. This is trollery and deflection from the various interests promoting our very stable genius, each for their own nefarious gain.
5
Bret, your obsession with socialism is already an anachronism.
The Berlin Wall fell almost 30 years ago.
But Vladimir Putin would like nothing more than to reconstitute the USSR, and he has Trump in his pocket.
There is nothing Sanders could do or say that is worse than any routinely ignorant Trump utterance.
The socialism Sanders espouses is the Democratic Socialism found in Northern Europe, where taxes are higher, people like their governments, and universal health care and education, as well as parental leave and high quality child care are givens.
Grow up, Bret.
4
Brett, may be time to check your pads. Do you really have to share your TDS every opportunity you get to put pen to paper? This too will pass as every other ‘flu’. Still trying to find your commentary on H1M1 that will have killed thousands more, including children. Stay focused on what is important.
1
Katie Porter would be a fine choice for VP. Calif congresswoman, Mid west upbringing, to the left of Klobuchar ( not too far left), brilliant mind, strong candidate.
5
What world are these NYT columnists living in? The centrist Hilary Clinton lost to Trump in 2016 and now they wanna run the same playbook and put another moderate to Trump in 2020?
3
I had to stop reading at the Hunter Biden's "job" comment.
IT WASN'T A JOB...IT WAS A PLACE ON A BOARD. And we all know they are all about your name and who you know.
OK, I'll go back and finish reading now.
7
Is it off limits to talk about Biden’s diminishing cognitive abilities? Are they not troubling? I guess hatred of Trump trumps dementia.
6
Nice try, Mitchell. People have been speculating about Trump’s dementia for years.
3
So much ink wasted on writing Joe is toast and Bernie has the nomination locked up columns. Yesterdays trash. All these supposed brilliant prognosticators getting it wrong time after time.
When speaking of Hunter Biden, don’t forget Billy Carter and Roger Clinton. I think George W. Bush had a creepy brother named Neil. Of course, Patty Reagan traded on her fathers name, because no one would have bought playboy magazine to look at her if she had not been Ronald’s daughter.
1
Is it too early to nominate Gail Collins for sainthood? Her patience is exemplary. Bret Stephens is the essence of smug, dull bourgeois conventionality. Yet Collins consistently remains a model of polite restraint.
It’s interesting. Stephens seemed more attractive and stimulating when he was at the Wall Street Journal. Perhaps the looniness of its editorial page made mere conventionality seem a refreshing contrast. At the Times Stephens comes across as predictably mediocre.
1
Joe is a shortened shot of what we need, but a long-shot better than what we now have.
We can't get even, so let's all get angry and vote for Joe.
He's just a regular Joe, no deified Barack....but what comes out of his mouth is clearly more him and far less a telepromptered speechwriter.
What you see is what you get with Jow, and what we will have is whom we should vote for. Vote Joe!
4
Hey Brett.
Are there more conservatives like you out there that believes that the power of truth be exhausted before relying on lies?
Am a Democrat but can see myself leaning to a conservative like you.
Abrams thinks she's Governor of Georgia. Hillary says Tulsi is a Russian Asset out to get her and Bill said Monica relieved his anxieties. Kamala? Hah! Cory? No.
Bloomberg is the same age as Biden and was a good mayor. He actually ran something besides his mouth. He's still sharp as a tack, unlike failing Biden. But he's kicked to the curb.
Paul Krugman must be a heavy drinker by now, Trump lives in his head.
The DNC is run by thugs, still taking orders from Hillary. What will the montage of excuses be for their 2020 loss?
4
It surprises me that those who best know that Trump deserves to be ignored pay the closest attention to his nonsense and are repeatedly outraged. The proper response to an idiot is no response at all. Really, you can try too hard to be outraged by all the lunacy.
Oh, ok, a black woman with no experience “above a state legislature” is not good enough but any white woman with any weird creds like walking in space would be terrific huh Bret?
You need to re-think that.
4
Great convo.
About the VP discussion, Klobuchar will be Biden's pick. Stop pretending it's not obvious.
@Thomas. She’s too similar to Biden, and won’t attract Warren or Sanders supporters.
1
Bret's list omitted the odious trump children!
2
Im so sick of the majority of writers for this news outlet being conservative or Corporate Democrat that Im canceling my subscription.
2
Joe Biden can't string a simple sentence together. He is obviously in the early stages of dementia. But the media, and it's TDS, just can't bring itself to admit it.
3
He may not be toast, but his brain is toast. Get ready for 4 more years of Trump.
3
Like another commenter, I remain amazed that there is so little understanding about how board members are selected as well as the lack of in-depth reporting by the NYT. If you look at almost any board you will see that many are not selected because of their knowledge of the industry. Note that the ex-president of Poland has now spoken about his time on the Burisama board with Biden . Read his comments in a November Newsweek article What knowledge does Cofer Black, the ex-Cia official on the board know about the industry? What is Biden's experience on other boards. Get off your duff and do the reporting.
4
I vote for Michelle Obama for the Biden's VP pick.
1
He's milquetoast.
Do you people not read your own newspaper before you opine?
Joe Biden’s Paid Speech Buoyed the G.O.P. in Midwest Battleground
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/23/us/politics/biden-speech-fred-upton.html?referringSource=articleShare
2
Biden should run on the no more mindless tweets from the mad king platform, most folks would sleep better knowing the carnival barker and his daily lying are moving out of the Oval Office to Moscow sharing a penthouse with Putin.
1
At most, you could say that Joe Biden is not a great dad. Likewise, Donald Trump has produced rather disgusting offspring. Especially Don Junior and Eric the clown.
1
Bret - you failed to mention 3 children of a politician that have no business any where near the white house. Ivanka, Fredo, and dumber than Fredo. (That would be Jr. and his dull brother)
2
Hard to toast moldy old white bread (says a moldy old white woman).
1
My dream ticket is Biden/Gates.....Melinda.
1
Bret, Bernie espouses DEMOCRATIC Socialism. See below for definition. The USA already has big portions of DEMOCRATIC Socialism like Amtrak, Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.
You are like an annoying on purpose younger sibling who keeps saying, “Socialism”, but Socialism is significantly different from DEMOCRATIC Socialism.
Speak the truth.
https://www.nbcnews.com/now/video/the-difference-between-democratic-socialism-and-socialism-79560773752
2
The New York times bias and intentional manipulation of this Primary has reached the point of comedy. Joe Biden has not even come close to winning this primary. Please pretend to believe in democracy. This is EXACTLY how Democrats lost in 2016. Its beginning to look like maybe Trump was your plan all along.
3
Still milquetoast, though... and the trumpet will blow him away I'm afraid. I'm very afraid.
1
The pic of Joe Biden in MI Sunday with his eyes closed and that great big smile (C.Wells/NYT) is the perfect image of our former VP bumbling toward our presidency. If he's not toast already (and won't we see some more startling primary results tonight?), then we'd better get out the knives to scrape off the burnt bits.
Gail and Bret, isn't it really too early to be making bet on Biden's veep pick when he hasn't won the big nod from the DNC yet and may still be unelectable? Discussing his picks for his veep is re-arranging deck chairs on the Titanic. Whether or not he is the only candidate who can beat Trump is still the question.
Donald Trump was the hulking guy with the neon yellow necktie matching his hairdo in the White House Pressroom last night, the guy with his eyes half-closed, his face orange and his mind anywhere except on the coronavirus or the people around him. We the American people are witnessing his iminent downfall.
Bret seems to have a Pavlovian response to the word Socialism. I would agree that Hitler’s “National” Socialism is not a system I would embrace, nor many other systems dubbed as Socialist ... but surely Bret could look beyond the lazy label and debate actual policy rather than shout DANGER, DANGER.
1
If the Republicans in the Senate want to investigate Hunter Biden, then let the Democrats in the House investigate Ivanka, Jared, Junior Trump, Eric & Eric's wife.
Also, how is Joe Biden responsible for what his adult son does as a private citizen?
1
"Joe Biden Is No Longer Toast"
Could you say that he is a "post-toastie"?
1
I agree Joe Biden is no longer toast. More like moldy bread.
2
Today's lead story in Politico is that Old Yeller's campaign will try to swamp us with claims that Joe Biden is "senile."
Just for the record, Nixon's minions tried the same tactic on Sen. Sam J. Ervin in the early 1970s. Ervin was defending the constitution against a wannabe monarch who wanted total supremacy of the executive branch and warrantless searches against citizens. (It was about the time that Nixon briefly festooned the Secret Service with palace guard uniforms, later used by a high school marching band in Iowa.)
Remind me: How did those senility claims work out for El Tricko?
2
Joe Biden is No Longer "The" Toast, is more like it. No. Joe Biden is Toast. He cannot run a campaign and be MIA like he as on Sunday. Sanders was all over --Tapper, Stephanopoulos, Todd, Wallace...no sign of Biden. This isn't a coronation although Super Tuesday felt like one. One must work really, really hard and Sanders never gives up on this. Biden--uh!
1
Stop reading these people. They're so retrograde.
THIS: Bret gets mad at inequality! 'At another pharmacy........a midsize bottle of Purell was being sold behind the counter for $50, which almost turned me into a raging Sandersnista.'
Amazon sellers offer it at $30, but $150 shipping! So unfettered capitalism is working pretty well for the Ivanka Trumps and the Mrs. Mnuchins, (and the now ex Mrs. Bezos), but there are 300 million of us breathing and touching stuff too.
Believe me, Melania and the invisible Barron have been tested. If Melania doesn't feel well, no problem for her to take as long as she needs to stay home.
My sister works 2 part time jobs, one of them commission-only. She's just been diagnosed with Rheumatoid arthritis, which explains why she can't seem to work pain-free for even an hour. No insurance. She's been told she's in a very vulnerable population group, what with her immuno-deficiency. But how will she work with the public now? We can't get masks OR hand sanitizer in any part of our city.
trump supporters, you too will become angry when YOUR health issues are pushed under the wheels of trump's incessant self-promotion.
Do you think it would have been OK for a congressman in 1950 to snarkily wear a gas mask for the cameras as Poliomyelitis wafted over America? Do you think it would have been seemly for the president to sneer at the press or argue with the CDC? Dr. Salk gave away his vaccine like a socialist, amirite?
I pay for Ivanka's hand sanitizer; where is my sister's??
2
Bret wants to have it both ways. He says Stacey Abrams is not yet qualified to be VP because of limited political experience.
Then he touts two women with no political experience at all.
Personally, I love Stacey Abrams on the ticket. Watch her deliver the response to the SOTU in 2019. Watch it here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ycbj3NVtvbY&t=15s
Give her four years as VP then let her loose as the 2024 nominee for president. Love it.
1
He may not be toast, but he's no better than a ham sandwich.
2
Of course all three potential Dem nominees – Bernie, Joe Biden, and "on the reserve bench" Mike Bloomberg – should stop giving a five or hugging their fans during their “stump speeches”: Coronavirus could infect them.
Same advice to incumbent Potus, still seen recklessly clutching emotion-sweated hands of unknown people: in the end, he too belongs to the “Homo sapiens” variety.
As for Biden, I would associate to the request of a NY Times reader who in his comment on an article was wondering why the same psychological picture published on Sanders – “Imagine Bernie in the Oval Office” - had not been yet done on Joe Biden, as there is also that lingering suspect suggested by the Global Warming Denial In Chief tweeting viciously that Biden confound his fiancé with the cleaning woman…
Gosh, a Potus officially using such a medium! Which, should be used only in case of calamities, earthquakes or nuclear wars!
Now, Biden’s age is 77, more or less as Bernie’s, therefore such oozing news (be it fake or what) should be immediately confronted with. Anyway, what assures me most about Biden are his backward thumbs, the likes of Trump’s, but in much larger hands with elongated fingers: they show strength mixed with diplomacy. Watch the Obama’s.
Then, if during the NYT perusing, the rejuvenated Biden will equiparate the Coronavirus to a normal flu, well, this is the case for asking Uncle Mike to put on his best dress and appear on the final Convention for getting the Dem nomination.
So Brett: if Stacey Abrams is not sufficiently qualified because her political experience is only at the statewide level, then how the heck can you calculate that a total political neophyte is more appropriate? Is it because Stacey is an under-represented minority? And your unconscious bias is showing?
Physician: heal thyself.
What about one of the Tammie's from the Midwest - Tammie Baldwin D. WI. or. Tammie Duckworth. D. IL- for Democratic Party Vice President running mate?
Hopefully America can do better in dealing with coronavirus than China, Iran and Italy.
1
Two mentally impaired old guys. That's the choice the Democratic and Republican parties are offering.
I hope Justin Amash is the Libertarian candidate. I will vote for him.
1
Very amusing, Gail. I'm certain Bret thanks you for giving him an empty stage upon witch to promulgate his views, while you essentially stand around making wise..ha! ha. ha.
I do love you to pieces, Gail. But a bit more substance and a bit less smugness (you, know: like you usually do; some ha-ha, some meat and potatoes) would be welcome these days.
Yes, laughter is the best medicine, but I'm not feeling much like laughing today.
Thank you for all you do.You are a hereon in every way, most every day, except today, not so much.
1
Yes Gail. This does give a new meaning to March Madness. Let’s hope we don’t turn into fools on April 1st.
Wash your hands. Don’t touch your face. Repeat repeat repeat.
It is a good thing for you two, and Joe, that your company refuses to issue any news about Brother James. We can probably keep it on the down low.
1
Brett forgot to mention the three Trump children for his “unfortunate offspring” book.
1
Don't throw out your Bernie buttons.... there is another election in 2026. Rumor has it Hollywood is pitching a a re-make of "Sunset Boulevard". Working title "Pennsylvania Avenue" starring Edward Asner.
" ... another example of how so-called mainstream Republicans, who thought they could shape Trump to their purposes, wound up being tainted and deformed by him." Indeed. To this Independent, Mr. Trump is a disgrace, plain and simple. Take away the snark and there's nothing there. His GOP sycophants are drive solely by craven careerism.
1
Bret ..."Nothing will be achieved except the criminalization of politics."...
Hello Bret! This is old news from over 200 years ago. Please update. Thanks.
Michelle and we win big.
Anita Hill.
1
Joe Biden is no longer toast.
You know, until he opens his mouth.
2
If you want your President run like a puppet (Cheney is still alive) & the worst of the top earners from the DNC that have sold us out since the 80’s Biden is your person. The man doesn’t even know where he is half the time. He’s a loser & a creep. Trumps less smart brother. Biden will inevitably lose anyway ‘cause that’s what he does.
3
"If [Sanders] winds up prodding Biden to be just a little less status-quo, that’ll be a big plus."
"Possibly a little less status-quo"...
Wow, yea, Ms. Collins - a slogan guaranteed to have citizens lined up three deep around the block at polling sites...
...you really need to reach out to the Biden campaign to propose that.
2
We don’t need Bret Stephens in the Democratic tent. Stay in your lane.
1
"If [Sanders] winds up prodding Biden to be just a little less status-quo, that’ll be a big plus."
"Mike Bloomberg and the JP Morgan CEO who played a key role in 2008’s financial crash are in line for posts in Democratic presidential frontrunner Joe Biden’s cabinet, according to a high-profile 'leak'...”
Hey Collins? Remind me of what the cabinet shaping up is "less status-quo" than?
[https://www.rt.com/usa/482669-biden-administration-cabinet-leak-dimon/]
Keen and eager for your take on how Obama-Trump swing voters mad at Obama's bailout of Wall Street will take to more of the same.
3
Is Ms Collins calling a Polio survivor Deformed? A new low for the NYT.
I voted socialist in the last Canadian election, I have little political overlap with Senator McConnell, but disparaging his appearance for a child hood disease would be a quick visit to HR in most work places.
Amy has to be on the ticket.
@Impatient She doesn't have enough positive ideas to outweigh negative personality.
Trump, the “perfectly” corrupt and incompetent “genus” whole every action and thought is “perfect”. The “perfect” fool for a “perfect” age of foolishness. Ain’t it great and ain’t it just “perfect”. Maybe it could be MAPA instead of MAGA as the 2020 election slogan. It would be just “perfect” :)
I am always entertained how Gail lets Bret get away with his mansplaining the word from his totally right wing neocon perspective of the world which is even more passé that the socialism he decries. As much as she gets out a few sentences about the need for gender equality, the rest of the time this “ discussion “ is only a reaffirmation of the space a more coherent and intelligent women gives a guy that in one sentence, gives a woman that walked in space preference over a black leader identified with the need for voter equality. Note to Gail: if you play second fiddle to this contradictory babble, you are not embracing your gender equality mission
Although in prose, you could have described as 'poetic' the difference between politics (the art of the possible) and 'politicking' (self-promotion and Machiavellianism), the latter a specialty of the republican party and it's reciprocal useful idiot, Donald J Trump. How miserable can it get, especially in the throes of a viral crisis that they don't seem able to strangle and benefit from? Can't we recognize that the current mafia in government makes any intelligent approach to our current struggles...impossible to handle?
Well, at least if the GOPs in the Senate try to sway voters by launching a massive public investigation of Hunter Biden it can’t possibly last as long as their Benghazi-lallapalooza deigned to dirty up Hillary since the election is only 9 months away.
Oh wait.....if Biden wins they’ll probably just extend it for his entire presidency.
Snap.
I just checked Bret’s remarkable educational background. He should be an expert in distinguishing democratic socialism from any other kind. His comments are a new level of disingenuous. Shame on you Bret.
1
I actually read this piece--first time in a long while--to see if they had toned down the utter mindlessness and shallowness. Nope. A never-Trump Republican who will vote for Trump if a progressive is on the ticket and a Democrat faux-progressive who is incapable of serious thought. Why waste electrons and ink?
1
So what are the chances the DNC will run Hillary at the 11th hour?
3
Yeah, socialism has been a source of misery throughout Scandinavia.
Oh.......Wait........
1
"Joe Biden Is No Longer Toast"
Maybe not, but he's still stale.
2
No, he's no longer toast.
He's milquetoast.
3
"Joe Biden is no longer toast" - I beg to differ. Trump will chew him up and spit him out.
3
Collins opinions are left leaning and partisan .
First she blames Trump for a virus created in China. She then praises a man running for President Biden who cannot complete a sentence.
2
He may not be toast but he has certainly lost his marbles.
1
This is amazing.,
First the NYT kept shilling for Warren, telling every one she was the solution and was with her all the way, endorsing her and all.
Now, the NYT is shilling for Joe Biden, a hero of the people.
Except of course he's not. But who cares.
Biden was always going to be the nominee. Not that he is the best guy, or the guy we need.
In fact, if you hated DC politics for the last 30 years, you have to realize Joe Biden was always in the middle of that. If you’re Latin and think this guy will fix immigration, you’re dreaming; he had 8 years to deliver change he sold you, but he did not even try. What makes you think this time it will be different?
Biden was always going to be the Democratic Party candidate. Why? He is the chosen one, he is the one the DNC put there for the people. He is not the people’s candidate, that was Sanders, or Warren. But Biden is the favorite of the DNC, the establishment candidate, the ‘DC business as usual’ guy. Once he wins, brace yourself for a new era of quid pro quo, rampant corruption in DC.
But you cannot explain the wolf in sheep skin to the herd, they simply do as they are told and vote Democrat.
The other guys is no better, but with Biden we’re right back to 1980’s DC. He even tells you he wants a return to normalcy - do we really want to get back to a dysfunctional, corrupt DC?
That is not what we need. Biden is not who we need.
1
From this essay and the related comments, one could be forgiven for thinking that right now, amateur epidemiologists are exceeded in number only by amateur political strategists. How about we stick to the issues and give up on the punditry? You want Bernie for the nomination? Tell us why you like his policies. Brett please stop saying socialism is evil. It insults your audience. Bernie Bros please spare us the “oligarchy” attacks. It’s just the flip side of Brett’s reductionism. This is not Russia (yet) but you fulminators are playing right into Putin’s hands. And please stop telling us Biden mis-speaks. He always has and no doubt he always will, which makes his accomplishments that much more remarkable. It does not signal his mental deterioration- enough with the cheap shots! Oh here is another idea. Stop telling us that Bernie has no accomplishments. His stubborn insistence on economic justice has dragged the Democratic Party well to the left. That is an amazing accomplishment. Give us your take on the policy proposals please but stow your personality attacks. They do not amount to a hill of beans. And really, when you think about it, they just reduce you to a pale imitator of you know who.
You guys remind me of movie critics who vie with one another to name the most unrecognizable movie names.
Vice President: Tammy Duckworth.
1. She is a mother of a young child
2. She is a former member of the armed services
3. She is a minority
4. She's cool!
Bret, surprised you did not include Donald Jr and Eric in your list of "Unfortunate Offspring of Famous People". Perhaps a little too close to home.
This is so lame! As soon as one sees the name “Bret Stephens” one can expect a near religious devotion against Bernie, it’s quite laughable. Fortunately, it seems his bias for anybody he chooses to dislike tends to run so hot, that it effectively hurts itself!
Whatever March hyper basketball is today, it is still a diversion, and we all need a time out.
The madness of the stable genius could give some of us a permanent time out. His me first priorities are stupid dangerous.
If the best 'we' can do is ancient, blathering and stumbling Joe Biden ... who I much prefer to the ancient and obnoxious Bernie Sanders … at least that 'best' will be better by the miles and miles I will be able to sleep with him as my president, especially by comparison to the night-upon-night nightmares I suffer suffering trump, the ancient, malicious and ignorant clown and delusional narcissist now -- and to our 'infinite' embarrassment -- 'con-ing' at our helm.
P.S. Ageist? I'll be 71 in a couple of weeks.
These Gail Collins and Bret Stephens 'The Conversation' are the equivalent of 'The Punch and Judy Show' riling up the Left with such glee and obvious teasing.
1
The toast is Bernie, he'll feel the burn this evening!
2
Until Clyburn waved his magical SC machine wand, the reason Biden seemed like toast in the Dem primaries was because he had been such a quasi-senile, incompetent, utterly boring, charisma-free candidate. Right now, he’s riding such a corporate MSM tidal wave of puffery (the opposite of their endless attacks on Bernie from Day 1) that his victories this week and next will surely seal Bernie’s fate. But nothing has magically cured any of Biden’s massive deficiencies as a candidate—the things that slaughtered him quickly in three presidential runs over thirty years before SC this year, even in his hapless prime. Add to that Biden’s much weaker ability than Bernie’s to win back Rust Belt workers from Trump, and Biden may yet be toast in the general, where it hurts the most. I hope not, but Biden’s incompetence and mental weaknesses still make me very nervous.
3
I feel that any president has the right to pick a VP who thinks like he thinks. Biden carries a natural affinity with Amy, sturdy centrists. She gave him Minnesota putting her country and party second. And please, no glamor, no Harris beside our Joe. And no militant renegade wanting the limelight, no Gabbard. Amy would express a lot of potential for the next generation while not competing with Joe. That would send a good message to Pennsylvania and the midwest that Joe is not u ender control of the Liberals.
2
I think a woman VP was always understood, particularly in a Biden WH. My money is on Klobuchar. I neither love nor dislike her, but she ticks all the right boxes.
1
So it’s going to be Joe Biden, the perfect hood ornament for our Thelma and Louise car of a nation as it hurtles toward the abyss. We don’t deserve better but our children do.
3
Cannot pick a VP outside of politics because it is a very real possibility this pick will become President
1
Biden should avoid participating in any more debates. Else he may become toasted again.
1
Oh please Brett! Your straw man description of Socialism would only be accurate if compared to a description of Capitalism that included child labor, a 6 day work week, and the arrest and transportation to Australia of labor organizers for "murmuring". I will presume however that you've moved on from defending the ownership of other human beings based on property rights.
3
"He may have made the word “socialism” reputable, which it should not be given all the misery and sorrow it has caused throughout the world. It isn’t progressive, either, unless “progress” means adopting ideas that had their heyday about a century ago."
Mr. Stephens, learn some history, especially of Western Europe, and learn something about economics. And try listening more carefully than you seem to be doing. Social democracy, is not now nor ever was the same as communism, though it seems you and Michael Bloomberg appear not to know that. What Sanders supports and advocates is nothing more or less than the systems in place in Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Italy, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and a bunch of other countries in which health care and insurance is cheaper and with better outcomes than our cumbersome, for-profit, bureaucratic nightmare.
Your screeds are little more than distillations of GOP talking points and journalistic political punditry, most of which is thin on both evidence and analysis.
As for "misery and sorrow," the rapacious capitalism of the US and its economic imperialist adventuring have caused plenty of that around the world for at least a century. Just examine the history of the US in Central and South America if you doubt this. In the US, especially in the past 40 years, there is a boatload of evidence that shows the misery and sorrow wrought by the present political economic system.
2
It doesn't matter who he chooses for V.P. He cannot win against Trump. He is mentally deficient and cognitively impaired and cannot be the president of the U.S. Besides, he would be a disaster in debates with both Sanders and Trump. So I guess Trump will get four more years if Biden is the nominee.
3
I am going to quit going after Bret Stephens today on politics, as a mark of empathy towards the Grand Princess docked in our harbor.
But...I can't let this pass, “Unfortunate Offspring of Famous People.”
You left out the biggest elephants in the room, the corrupt Trump family. They are not only living off the Government largess but also making money from influence peddling while in Government. Did you just manage to "forget" this outrage? At least Hunter Biden was not working for his pop as an "unpaid advisor."
2
Joe may still be toast, just with a heavy spread of Southern peanut butter. Could it be guys, that Dem voters just want a candidate that smiles alot & has great teeth?
1
He'll be toast again soon enough, as will we all.
1
Best final sentence ever in one of these columns goes to Gail. March madness indeed.
Another couple of old, conservative New York Timers breathing a huge sigh of relief that commie Bernie Sanders isn't going to be the nominee.
It must be Tuesday.
You are premature in the veep stakes. Don't count your chickens before they hatch...
Sanders made a good contribution to the political discussion by arguing for universal health care. But he undercut his argument by promising to extend health care to illegal immigrations. That makes the proposal unaffordable in the long run.
Sanders also demonized the billionaires. There was a time when Democrats were opposed to stereotypes---people should be judged as individuals, not as members of groups. They have abandoned that notion. Sanders doesn't seem to realize that billionaires are divers, Bill Gates is different from say Donald Trump.
Moreover, economics is not really a science. It's a hybrid subject on a border with sociology and political science. Although economic questions are important, economists did not have a model which predicted the Great Recession of 2008.
Against that backdrop a wealth tax of 8% is a huge gamble. What is its effect on the stock market? Nobody knows.
Billionaires have trouble spending all their money. Do the math. Compared to a millionaire, a billionaire has 1000 times as much. But he can't eat a thousand breakfasts or go on a thousand trips to Europe each summer.
So many billionaires become philanthropists and give their money away. And not being able to spend, they save.
They buy stocks and bonds. They keep the markets inflated and interest rates low. The US government now lives in a fantasy-land, with negative real interest rates allowing deficits forever.
Sanders's policies could end that. Wealth could vanish.
2
One might think if the Coronavirus becomes chronic (long lasting) I will give Trump an opportunity to cancel the election.
Those polling places can be quite dangerous to both the public and the president alike! Perhaps in different ways, but a big risk non the less!
If we make it to election day, we need a winning team. Biden-Klobuchar is most innocuous and easy to sell.
4
Thanks, "guys!" We needed this touch of cheerfulness.
this is all a conspiracy of the establishment, the fake news and the deep state against my precious Trump & Bernie. so unfair.
1
Listen to yourselves: "Biden is No Longer Toast." Doesn't the fact he *was* toast give you pause? the one advantage of endless primary debates being a protracted look at how each performs and the verdict of those long months was that Biden was toast?
Of all the issues about the misguided chosen first 4 states that focused on the whiteness of the first two, zero attention was given to whether a state might actually vote Democratic or not? Of all the revolutionary sources of upheaval in this primary (yes, Biden became the revolution-creator, ironic huh?), the DNC gave a red state, which will surely vote for Trump in November, the power to overthrow a litany of concerns that you, Bret, boiled down to: Biden is verbally inept.
Well, there's a lot more that had made him toast, yet now a red state has upended those realizations and it's like being gaslit, and now the primary also-rans have rushed in to second the gaslighting. Biden has been forever beholden to the banking industry his state depends on and now once again Democrats are going pro-banks, not pro-working people who paid *all* the prices post-2008?
Early Democratic primary states should at least be plausibly purple if not blue: Say Georgia, where there would have been no patron saint like Clyburn to pull the wool, or the very states Democrats needed to recover: WI, MI, PA, even OH? VA?, or indeed Michigan. How different would Michigan voting be today if not in the wake of this red-state-driven juggernaut?
2
I haven't written anything on this forum for a long time. I came out of hibernation to warn my former party not to fall behind Joe.
Don't choose Joe because you think he can beat Trump. That’s not enough, that shortsighted, that’s irresponsible.
#1. Joe cannot beat Trump and should not beat Trump for health reasons.
#2. You shouldn’t elect a president because you simply want him to beat the incumbent. That's ludicrous, he has to be capable of offering more; he has to have better ideas -- grander ideas, new ideas, relevant ideas. Joes has none; this man has been in Washington for over half a century - he has spent all he had and all he was ever going to spend.
I’m a Republican and I always said, there is only one person I could see myself voting against Trump for. That person is Sanders. Pick Sanders because he can offer more. Do so before it is too late. Joe, unfortunately, should retire from public office.
If we want to be honest with ourselves, we should admit that we are watching a man with mental decline. Trump is crazy, but his mind is sharp. No way do I want a president who is showing early signs of mental decline. That is purely irresponsible. There. I’ll go back into my cave now.
3
@Will Franco Both Trump and Sanders are very energetic and have very sharp minds. I can't say the same for Biden. He is unsuitable for the presidency of the U.S. He is mentally deficient and cannot beat Trump. He should retire.
4
Even though I can't stand Sanders, I'll hand it to him that he didn't criticize Biden when pressed last night. Sanders knows Joe isn't well and wasn't going to say so. Biden's wife should talk him into dropping out, it's rather sad and unfortunate. The DNC is disgusting in forcing him to run.
4
Like squeezing the last bit of life out of RBG. If Trump wins in November, please let her retire, if that’s what she wants to do.
3
Okay Bret, let's talk about all the misery that socialists and there left-leaning fellow travelers have voted for and won in the 20th Century such as: Social Security and Medicare, workman's compensation, unemployment insurance, child labor laws, minimum pay, women's right to vote, etc. etc, etc. You are really living in the past by conflating Socialism with Communism a Republican trope that they will never give up. The reality is that these two ideologies separated about 100 years ago and have been adversaries ever since. As the Russian armies were overrunning Eastern Europe Stalin ordered his "political battalions" to round up and shoot all the socialists and liberals. And after the war on the continent the socialist and communist parties were always fighting each other and never formed a working majority in any European parliament.
JD
1
We love Toast.
3
No longer? Weeeell.....he just cussed out a voter in Michigan, again, so there's that. He invented a new gun and said he supports the 2nd Amendment even though he wants Beto to be his gun czar. Our Joe is not a well person. Does the DNC have Hillary in the catapult yet?
11
I would like to see the ticket: Biden + Buttigieg
2
Not toast. Milquetoast.
7
Anita Hill for VP..win win..
6
Biden will get handed a list of people for his cabinet from Citigroup just like Obama did. Corporate Democrats are just Republicans that are ok with abortion.
7
@gene Thanks Vlad!! Let's vote for morally perfect 10 year olds.
Not a single thought towards those without HC.; by either of you Gail 'n Bret.
Shame.
You laugh and make fun of a pandemic, while not addressing the underlying issue; tens of millions of Americans without any kind of HC.
Our society is only as healthy as those with the least.
A pox on both of you.
4
@Dobbys sock
not just you sock but I think I just overloaded on comments
HC - Hilary Clinton , Health Care - I work in health care , never heard it called such.
VP - Vladimir Putin or Vice President ?
both ?
'He may have made the word “socialism” reputable, which it should not be given all the misery and sorrow it has caused throughout the world.'
Wow, Bret, that's your yardstick? Ok, go on, let's talk about capitalism then. Can you think of ANY misery and sorrow capitalism has caused?
5
You both actually sound flip. What a vacuous column.
Listen to yourselves: Biden is No Longer Toast. Doesn't the fact he was toast give you pause? the one advantage of endless primary debates being a protracted look at how each performs & the verdict of those long months was that Biden was toast?
Of all the issues about the misguided chosen first 4 states that focused on the whiteness of the first two, zero attention to how much weight was given to a red state? Of all the revolutionary sources of upheaval in this primary (yes, Biden became the revolution-creator, ironic huh?), the DNC gave a state that will vote for Trump in November the power to overthrow a litany of concerns that you, Bret, boiled down to: Biden is verbally inept.
Well, there's a lot more that had made him toast, yet now a red state has upended those realizations and it's like being gaslit, and now the primary also-rans have rushed in to second the gaslighting. Biden has been forever beholden to the banking industry his state depends on and now once again Democrats are going pro-banks, not working people who paid all the prices post-2008?
Early Democratic primary states should at least be plausibly purple if not blue: Say Georgia, where there would have been no patron saint like Clyburn to pull the wool, or the very states Democrats needed to recover: WI, MI, PA, even OH? VA?, or indeed Michigan. How different would Michigan voting have been if not in the wake of this red-state-driven juggernaut?
3
@William LeGro
why is the whole USA letting these " battleground states " be the bullies - our economy runs on real data , not centuries old pandering to rich old white guys .
oops
How about just Stacey Abrams? She's real smart, black and a woman and her political loss is highly questionable. And most important she is young!
So my comment apparently had been delayed all day. I posted it a little after seven this morning and just now recieved a notification of its approval. It's anti-Biden, so I'm not suprised at this. He's a known plagiarist and liar, so his promotion surprises me except why wouldn't the establishment not want him to win. They LOVE Trump..just can't admit it publicly I suppose. He sells papers and media. He's good for the wealthy and their stocks, etc. Biden is not great for the rest of us, but what does that matter! He'd be an acceptable altnernative for the elites. I'm thoroughy disgusted. And he seems to have cognitive issues. Trump will have him for lunch.
5
Now he is really (the) toast -- of the town! ;-)
1
Sanders isn't even trying.
He could go after Biden on a half dozen issues that would spell the end of Biden, but he goes after Social Security little subtle differences?
What??
Then you realize that Biden's wife is running the media side of his campaign and with $100,000,000 of ads and a nice 15-20% commission...they're set for life..just as long as their supporters keep sending in $5 a day to sustain this charade.
He's a grifter. Nothing less..nothing more.
He's not in it to win it. He's in it to milk it for everything he can.
Michelle Obama for veep! She's by far the best choice. A Biden-Obama ticket would unify the nation.
@rick -
Don't be silly. Michelle hates politics.
1
Bret, how could you leave the trump children off the list of off spring trading on their famous name? And while Biden's son did nothing illegal , not sure that is true of the trump kids.
1
"Joe Biden Is No Longer Toast"
True. But there is a really good chance that the democratic party and American democracy is.
We seem poised to nominate another elite insider, a corporate tool of Fraud Street who millions of voters are completely not enthused about voting for. And therefore, will not. Sound familiar?
Why are we expecting a different result than 2016?
1
The sudden push to shove Biden down the throats of voters in the Democratic primaries is a result of a concerted effort among the powers that be in the DNC, the corporate owned media, and billionaire interests when those groups became "frightened" by the prospect of a Sanders (who was winning everywhere) or Warren government that might disrupt their wealth and power. I'm disgusted that Biden is now being pushed as the front runner. Have you heard him try to speak lately? He can barely form a coherent sentence. And Biden's entire political career has been about asymmetric do-nothing compromises. He gives Republicans everything they want and asks nothing in return. This so-called "moderate" candidate will do nothing to change the status quo.
4
If you think it's imperative to have a woman on the ticket as VP, ask yourself if you'd vote for Trump/Haley. Yeah, I didn't think so.
2
@PacNWMom
in 2024 ?
I'm a huge Elizabeth Warren supporter. But I would love to see Biden name Gabbard as VP. Shes a woman, a minority, a veteran, and has an odd amount of support amoung Trumps base. Would help ease the conspiracy theories about media black outs and rigged elections...
19
@Marlee
No. No. No. Tulsi Gabbard is not qualified to run for any elected office. She is an odd person with very weird beliefs. Plus her main supports seems to be from Russia.
34
@Marlee That would be the Democratic version of McCain's choice of Palin. Not in a million years.
41
@Marlee
As someone from Hawaii I cannot overstate how unqualified Tulsi Gabbard is for VP. She is a solipsistic wackadoodle - that's why she appeals to Trump's base. She was effectively raised in a cult and is virulently homophobic - a position she now denies because it suits her. She beats the drum of media black outs and rigged elections because it gets her attention. Make no mistake, she is prettier than Donald Trump and a lot more dangerous.
35
I love toast. It’s nutritious, easy and cheap. Toast for everyone!
Some “old sayings “ are just stupid.
2
Wall Street Stephens must be doing handstands over a nominee who will protect the wealth and power of establishment elites.
But those that prop Joe up and push him forward will be confronted by his failing mind-Joe is now in the spotlight with no place to hide.
His confusion, disorientation and emotional volatility will be the undoing of his campaign and an easy target for Trump.
Of course for Stephens that works out fine since Trump has always been his next best choice.
3
Bernie may well lose the nomination after today's results but the problems that gave rise to his candidacy remain. Yes- it's reassuring that Biden isn't Trump. But spotty and expensive health care, porous safety nets, and unaffordable higher education remain. Is Biden so popular because he promises to preserve democracy or because he will keep to the status quo?
5
I watched a Town Hall with Trump. He was "on the ball" and never at a loss for words. Sanders is old but mentally sharp and energetic. Biden is mentally deficient/cognitively impaired and would be a disaster in debates with Trump or Sanders. So if Biden is the nominee, Trump will get four more years. Bloomberg would have been better than Biden but it's too late now.
6
Thank you for using the term ECONOMIC ELITE. A world of difference from ELITE. Pass it on!
4
@Wendy Bradley
you are my hero !
thanks
I so enjoy your back-and-forth columns, but every once in a while, Bret reminds me how very Conservative he is :) Agree Bernie needs to go and give his bros to Biden. But please, no Klobuchar for Veep. She doesn't deserve it, wouldn't be very strong and has no "voice" or presence, and we need her in the Senate. Elizabeth has earned veep and would be a great at it. I pray Joe wins; his brain is still good; as we get older we just need to think more before we speak. I know. I am very smart and still working, but at 72 my brain sometimes doesn't think as fast as my mouth. So much good information and experience in there! Stop dissing older people.
116
@Pathfox Kamala would be a better choice for veep than Klobuchar, although I see an argument for keeping all of the former Democratic candidates in the Senate, where they can potentially help feed good legislation to Biden. The governor of Massachusetts is a Republican, and he would be appointing Warren's replacement -- not a good idea.
21
@Pathfox -- Biden could certainly use the still clear-thinking Warren as his VP. She might satisfy the Sanders voters, who might otherwise not vote. She'll be able to keep up with daily affairs if Biden forgets, and help him advance his agenda, with possibly a little more progressivity.
I like Sanders because, even at his age, he is still vigorous and cognizant. I have no problem electing an older person, as long as their ideas are fresh and their brains are quick. While I am glad you are still working at 72 (I plan to be), I don't think electing someone with slower cognitive reflexes for President is the best idea.
5
@Pathfox
It's all about strategy. I would love Warren as Veep, because it would set her up well for Prez in 2024.
But I think that the moderates who rejected Bernie, and who will decide this election, will find Warren too far left. All Trump will have to do is talk about her (objectively) open borders proposals, and cringe-worthy promise to have a trans child vet her Sec of Education. Trump would be able to tag Biden as "too left."
Klobuchar makes a lot of sense: female, competent and popular in the Midwest where the Dems need a lot of help.
Biden-Klobuchar 2020!
5
It is stupefying how out of touch journalists at most of the major dailies can be. In your obsession to see Donald Trump defeated in 2020, you continue to overlook the reason he was elected in the first place. Trump is a giant middle finger aimed right at the "establishment." And now the pundit class is paving the way for an establishment candidate less capable than Hilary to run against Trump. Joe Biden embodies the "out of touch" establishment. He has no new ideas for working families. Nominating Joe Biden as the Democrat will guarantee another 4 years of Trump.
8
Anyone who believes that he is the right president for the generations of 1988 and 2020 is either incredibly intelligent or incredibly limited. Sadly, of all of the democratic candidates, Biden’s potential near-future senility (this is not a slight, as the average age of onset for those at risk is around 65) would likely go unnoticed the longest. The “oh, shucks,” plain-speaking, Iowa-farmer, “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” presentation just doesn’t work for me (and Biden, with all of his shady political baggage, is no Jimmy Stewart character). I’m not a fan of Bernie Sanders; however, ironically, while his ideas are way too far out now, given the country’s overall political trajectory, he may just be ahead of his (and our) time. Alas, he is not immortal either (the fact that is becoming more and more apparent) and I just cannot believe that it came down to these two.
2
People didn't vote for Joe Biden.
They voted for who Joe Biden used to be.
The Republicans are going to attack his cognitive ability. This attack may be effective because it will contain at least a kernel of truth.
I've already seen cringeworthy video. A younger Joe Biden making a point fluently, and the current Joe Biden trying to make the same point -- and failing to do so because he becomes confused and is unable to find the words he needs. This looks like age-related cognitive decline.
We need Biden to best Trump in a debate. Trump is largely ignorant about the workings of government and is therefore vulnerable - not that any opponent has yet fully exploited this weakness. But, will Biden be able to do it?
I voted for Biden. I heard him read a speech and sound fluent just before Super Tuesday. That allowed me to vote for him.
I hope Biden is capable of sounding fluent when he speaks extemporaneously. If he is capable of doing that, he should be able to beat Trump. If he does not, people will feel like they're compelled to vote for someone who is "past it", cognitively.
5
God giveth and God taketh - Indian Wells tennis tournament has been cancelled...more to come I am sure. So no - sport not a real option even from the safety of our couch!
How long before Bret cooks up an "though I'm not a Trump supporter and never was and never will be, I cannot in good conscience support Biden because of this new reason that I've never mentioned before, but which now apparently totally dominates my concerns" op-ed?
2
Mr. Stephens-- You should do some actual research on the situation with Hunter Biden's job with Burisma. He has a law degree, specializes in international business, was previously on the board of Amtrak and in the US Commerce Dept. so I would say he's exactly the sort of person who an international business would look at, famous father or not. Also, he got the job at the suggestion of his business partner, Devon Archer, who was employed by Burisma first. Both men had worked for a lobbying agency in New York that Burisma had hired. So Burisma didn't go looking for Hunter Biden because of his father. And Devon Archer was paid the same thing as Hunter Biden, even without the famous father.
Also, there was no need for Hunter Biden to speak Ukrainian since English is the language of international business, and most of all, there was no need for Hunter Biden to have experience digging for oil himself. He was operating in an advisory capacity for a business trying to expand globally.
Sounds like you are just reporting gossip more than doing due diligence with your research.
9
With a Silent Generation nominee for president, the nominee for VP should not be a member of the Boomer generation either - consider that even the older end of Generation X is getting longer in the tooth than is typical for Democratic nominees for the presidency who are not incumbents (the story for the GOP is different). Is this ageist - you bet!
15
@Karl
PS: I should explain that I use the 1990s-revised delineation of Boomer vs Gen X in terms of cultural markers more than demographic peak/bust (viz. Douglas Coupland and Strauss & Howe), with the break starting circa 1961 rather than 1965.
@Karl Nelson Mandela was 76 when he was elected President of South Africa in 1994. He served 5 years and retired. He died at age 95 in 2013. But I guess you must think he was too old.
2
'This is why God created sports.'
Yes, "panem at circensis", bread and games, all you need to keep the masses pliable.
After working 2 minimum wage wage and keeping up with the local sports team and your favorite national sports franchise, who has time to worry about wealth inequality, climate change, and tracking the daily 10 lies coming out of the White House?
You'd think more people would be depressed about this, but it's good with have our "opium of the people" to tell us, the next life will be so great, no need to create a big stir right now.
1
The "Donald Trump presidency", "Russian election meddling" - these are all Democratic Party/mainstream media scare tactics designed to lower the bar for their establishment candidate. Joe Biden is an infirm establishment politician that needs an electorate that is in a state of fear "lite". The working poor is America are TRULY under duress and are not mortified by Trump's presidency or Putin's activities. They've got more legitimate and immediate concerns.
6
For Biden's VP the main consideration should be choosing someone who would be a good President, and as importantly, a good Presidential candidate in 2024 or 2028.
2
I supported Bernie Sanders in 2016 and I'm supporting him in this election. As the DNC has once again done everything in its power to ensure Bernie is not our candidate, I will be forced to vote for the nominee. I was happy to vote for Hillary in 2016 as I knew she was the far better candidate than Trump, smarter, experienced, much better debater, and more likable than her guarded personality allowed her to be. But, this time around, I will literally have to hold my nose and vote for Biden. He may be decent, we'll see, but he is not smart. And if he selects Kamila Harris as his running mate, it will be really hard for me to stomach voting for that pair. She is as unauthentic as they come.
The Republican oppo research team will have a field day with both of them. He should select Andrew Gillum or Stacey Abrams, either of them could help him win in states where he will need to notch a win.
4
@readalot19 Agree. Kamala Harris is NOT "likeable enough," in Obama's words to describe Hillary. Although obviously not a woman, Cory Booker would be the best alternative if the goal is to have an African American on the ticket. Otherwise, Amy Klobuchar. It has to be someone that people already know relatively well. If not Klobuchar, then even Warren would be better than Harris. If you want your cake and eat it too...then Michelle Obama or Oprah would insure a Dem landslide and that the country would be in good hands for the forseeable future.
1
Joe Biden may not be the best. But he is better poised to beat Trump in November. And that should be good enough reason to vote for him - in the primaries and the general election.
5
Selling Purell for $50 is classic entrepreneurship, and Bret's upset is, from his own values system, a character defect (if he was upset on principle and looking for justice to prevail in a market transaction) or just a reflection of the fact that he was on the wrong side of the transaction.
Russia is now a capitalist country; it went very quickly to the final stage of capitalism, in which some people win and use government to consolidate their victory and make it permanent. We are headed there more slowly, since parts of our government still have an agenda to stop capitalism from going where it wants to go. Our tradition of interfering in the marketplace started with breaking up Standard Oil and telling railroads how to run their businesses. This is social planning and should be called socialistic. And look at all the misery Social Security has brought to our country by holding back the growth of businesses that would manage our retirement for us.
2
Being sarcastic?
Hey, I think you guys made a copy editing error, Bret was pretty clearly talking about capitalism in this section: "He may have made the word “socialism” reputable, which it should not be given all the misery and sorrow it has caused throughout the world. It isn’t progressive, either, unless “progress” means adopting ideas that had their heyday about a century ago."
5
Biden is in a rapid cognitive decline. It's so obvious to everybody. How is that not a topic? Why sweep it under the rug? Why not talk about it?
How do you look yourself in the mirror?
14
@RobF Biden should not be running for the presidency. He should retire. He may be a nice man but also scary -- mentally incompetent. He would be a horror in any debates with Trump or Sanders.
1
@RobF
Fair point.
But Trump's amoral existence is much worse than Biden's incoherence.
1
Joe is more Metamucil than toast.
7
Collins and Stephens are either dreaming or deliberately ignoring reality. I find it very difficult to believe that most of your columnists, as intelligent and perceptive as they are, persist in ignoring the elephant in the room. After reading Michelle Cottle's excellent Opinion article titled The Resurrection of Joe Biden, in yesterday's print addition, I thought how can the Democrats believe that Biden can effectively campaign against Trump? The answer is he clearly doesn't have the skills and personality necessary to deal with Trump and this should be clear to any objective observer. Engaging in wishful thinking will not defeat Trump. Both halves of the ticket have to have the qualities necessary to beat Trump. A weak Presidential candidate coupled with a strong Vice -Presidential candidate will not be enough. It will just accentuate Biden's inadequacies. If the Democrats have an excellent prospect for Vice-President, make that person the Presidential candidate and don't run someone that Trump can and will destroy, in what will be a vicious campaign.
4
Don't forget Neil Bush among the useful idiots trading on Daddy's name.
4
If Biden takes Michigan and Sanders remains in the race then it confirms Sanders is an angry, self-absorbed man whose avid supporters could do the same to Biden what they did to Hillary in 2016. With a Michigan loss Bernie should do two things: Drop out and earnestly implore his supporters to vote for Biden. This country cannot withstand four more years of Trump's incompetency and threat to our national security.
8
@nzierler
Be careful what you wish for. If Biden's next one-on-one debate is with Trump, you should be very worried. There's a good chance he'll embarrass himself. He needs Sanders to stick around long enough for him to get in at least one practice round.
I'm a Bernie supporter, but he doesn't tell me who to vote for. It's crazy to think we're all awaiting for his word to come down from on high to what tell us what to do next. It doesn't work that way, as much as the bitter Clintonites like you would have us believe it does, because you can't accept that she caused her own fate.
1
@J.C.
what !!
she just got skinned by the EC
and that ain't Eric Clapton
one man one vote , man
On so many things I disagree with Bret, but I often find places we might have said the exact same thing: "It isn’t progressive, either, unless “progress” means adopting ideas that had their heyday about a century ago." I've been saying this about Bernie and his Medicare plan from day one. I have a lot of both bad experiences with medical professionals and excellent experiences with naturopaths, trauma therapists and energy healers. I've seen people who work in both medical and energy physical therapy and learned that many things can be dealt with far better with functional medicine than the check boxes and prescriptions to which our current system has reduced most of our medicine. For example, craniosacral therapy (executed by a true professional) can cure whip lash. Most doctors have no idea that's the case. It can cure depression from concussions and invasive surgery.
A progressive health plan would be focused on health, not illness. It would not simply about shifting who pays for what. Sanders ideas are 100 years old - they are not progressive.
2
Even as our entire health education and welfare is all under a single roof of our local University reassuring the public that Yesterday's trip to one of our local hospitals for a routine exam every thing gonna be alright is job one.
The hand sanitizer at the entrance that had been there forever was gone and the masks were also missing from their regular spot.
There were no masks to be seen and there was less traffic than usual but everyone seemed to be involved in a regular routine and the authorities were in position and what ever needed to be done would be done in a NY minute.
There is something reassuring about living in a society where we trust our experts to do the right thing.
We are a society that doesn't shake hands , we are huggers and until we understand the true nature of this pandemic calm will be the order of the day and we will take our marching orders from the experts
America seems to have forgotten one of its key founding documents Milton's Paradise Lost and that it is better to serve in Heaven than rule in Hell.
Fear causes people to make stupid choices and I think we all know as incompetent and stupid as American leadership may be America's greatest threat is irrational fear.
Everyone knows Bernie wants what America desperately needs but we all know doing what is right will not be done in a nation dominated by irrational fear of a better future.
And oh yes, every body's smile was bigger but just as sincere as usual.
Bernie’s damage to the big bosses is already done. In the ’16 race, his treacherous sabotage by the Party machine in favor of Hillary was revealed for the world to see. By that, and in denigrating him and his ideas, intensifying now many fold, he has consistently shown the Democrat establishment for what they are: a second-string party of Big Money, of the .0001%, of the War Machine, banking/finance thieves and pirates, and the Vampire Squid of remorseless Capitalist exploitation that has sucked the economic life out of our people, raped and fouled our world, and sold our children’s futures. That exposure can’t be eradicated, regardless of what happens to Bernie.
If the combine of reactionary nonentities who bombed, with Mike Millions, and vindictive team mole Warren, deny Bernie his majority, then the Party will nominate its flaccid, fatuous Nowhere Man who will be joyfully flogged by Trump, beaten like the vacuous drum he is. In that event, the Party dies of permanent 1% donor withdrawal and mass youth abandonment.
Contrary to popular belief, parties do die. The Federalists did. The Whigs did. And the Democrats have every confidence they can do it, too. And they should. A more sleazy, cynical betrayal of a mass voting body has perhaps not been seen since the Reichstag Fire.
7
Wow
2
@Michael Sorensen
Lenin's ghost is dancing and holding the sickle and bloody hammer and waiting for the replacement of the Democrats with the Sanderistas Purity-Party.
@JR
double wow
not that he's far off
1
“If it’s fair for Senate Republicans to try to use their investigatory powers for clearly partisan ends, it will wind up being used someday against them.”
You mean like how House Democrats used their powers for partisan ends in the impeachment and Russia scams?
What goes around comes around. And it’ll truly come around when we have a Democrat president with a Republican House and Senate. Just you wait. Hunter is just the beginning.
1
Wow.
I LOVE these exchanges. Please keep them going! Oh, and bring back Melissa Clark's cooking videos (I'll pay extra).
Resistance and mistrust of the reality of this virus are taking place. A public health expert friend was astonished that tissue paper left some shelves empty, and has taken on her business trip some clorox disinfectant pads to use on the plane.
A rabbit here is in cautionary mode, and some visiting young tree-men are laughing it off with light hand-shaking.
Reading the exchange between Gail Collins and Bret Stephens brings good fortune in this spring-like weather, and a bird has just flown to freedom out the front entrance, much to the chagrin of the furry hunter-in-training.
Thanking the New York Times for the excellent coverage of this epidemic; the Daily World News Bulletin, with Reuters and other well-established News links, and a renewed note of appreciation to The World Health Organization.
The Ides of March may be here, but we continue. On an uplifting note, Joe Biden is looking grand and fit, prepared for a great political sweep, where we all go Irish next week.
"Before the war the worship of money was entirely unreflecting and untroubled by any pang of conscience. The goodness of money was as unmistakable as the goodness of health or beauty, and a glittering car was tied up in people's minds with the idea of actual moral virtue'.
The above a little wit from Orwell, while waiting for Trump's cake of the day.
I liked the part about trusting the experts in epidemiology, etc and taking their views as ours. Now, if we can get the same action on climate, we will be doing something.
2
Enough with Bret's misguided innuendoes about socialism, as if once he has seen one socialism he has seen them all, and his belief that there are not real issues to discuss -- like whether big money has really undermined democracy here.
If, as many suspect, our health insurance industry is in a downward spiral, are we headed into a seriously chaotic health care era? Can we really have a blended system where "you can keep your insurance if you want it" while there is some sort of Medicare option for some (or for everyone)? How would that look -- not in some vague belief that you can have your cake and eat it too, but in real detail?
Can we really address the needs of the poorest 50% of the population without some fundamental structural change? Will colleges cost too much for too many (while at the same time turning professors into gig-economy pawns)? Will the Pentagon still suck most of our discretionary revenues while the State Department gets gutted? Will we blame other country's attempts to raise their standard of living, kept down for centuries in part due to "capitalism's" (yes, Bret) spread under the protection of imperialism and colonialism, for our economic problems? Will businesses get government relief in the face of our health crisis without requiring them to provide paid sick leave for their employees, not to mention good affordable health care?
Is our media, with 1st Amendment rights, doing its job, or is the presidency a horse race and personality contest?
5
Bret Stephens, as well as most of his kith, seems unable to distinguish between socialism and communism.
Socialism is alive and well in most European Nations, as well as Canada. It is also alive and well in the U.S. as far as: social security, medicare and medicaid, the military, police and firefighters, public roads and sewer and water systems, and the giant giveaways to the wealthy.
Communists insist on national control of industries; socialism is mostly content to live with capitalism (as long as there are some restraints where needed).
Sanders is closer to Roosevelt and Eisenhower than he is to Mao or Castro but the center has moved so far right that pundits like Stephens, who are enraptured by the failed ideology of Reagan and Bush, can no longer see the virtues of our commons.
Sanders has reminded US all of the promise of the New Deal and the need for a robust and engaged government. Our Nation is a vast complex network of competing interests and values and it needs a vast complex government to keep it running.
When we don't have that kind of government we are going to get t rumped every time.
Saying all of that I am fully behind the campaign of Joe Biden. He is, above all else, a very decent man. And a competent public servant.
Can't seem to find that combination anywhere in the republican party.
4
@Bob Laughlin
"...And a competent public servant."
It remains to be seen if he's still competent. I have my doubts.
Just a word on Hunter Biden. Don't think that he did anything wrong. Matter of fact, I don't think he ever worked an honest day in his life. But the idea that the VP of the US can just bring in his family to take jobs trading on his name is just short of taking bribes. It shouldn't happen. Period.
5
@Pat
VP? WHAT ABOUT his boss’ children? I mean Trump’s kids.
Last month Bernie was the front runner in Michigan when Bloomberg entered into the race. As soon as everyone (so conveniently) dropped out right before this round of voting, Biden's numbers skyrocketed. I think the language used in this discussion, and around the democratic field, shows a highly patronizing view of Bernie as just someone fighting but he'll never get the nomination. The reason he won't, is that patronizing thought process right there. It's how we got Trump. It's the core of elitism Dem policies. It's really hard to watch / read. It negates any actual debate. We are watching people embrace an older, more conservative, male Hillary Clinton, and nobody seems to have a problem with that. Pretty incredible.
5
Let's hope Hunter Biden is good on TV. Even Trump knows that's what really matters. Since Hunter isn't running for anything, it will take a conspiracy theorist like Devin Nunes or Alex Jones to make up a story implicating Joe Biden.
Agreed that Amy Klobuchar woudl solve a lot of problems for Biden while Warren and Harris could make things more difficult. The only revolution we want is an anti-Trump revolution. Choose wisely, Joe.
1
Another one of the endless MSM’s slams on Sanders. It is interesting to see how all sections of the Establishment unite
to try and prevent a serious reformer from being nominated.
Also it is remarkable how shallow the criticisms are. Case in fact when a NYT columnist last week could only manage to “savage”
Bernie for being “grumpy”. That was a deep analysis.
Notice how few MSM columnists and pundits are now talking about a “brokered” convention now that Biden looks like he might have a plurality instead of Sanders.
Oh well, I’m probably wasting my time submitting this. My last
few critiques along these lines have not made it past NYT
censors.
My comments on other subjects were routinely found in the comments column.
Mike
5
More NYT columnists eager to bury Sanders on the very day on which he has the strongest chance of gaining strength. Fine; that pattern has been clear for many weeks. Regarding VP candidates, I think the energy devoted to that discussion is very misplaced, so I won't go into the specifics of why your thinking is all wrong. Credit for one good thing: the distinction between "truth-necessary" and "truth-optional."
3
Biden is only slightly to the right of Barry Goldwater. While that's an improvement over pure corruption, I don't think electing him is likely to move us in the direction of solving our critical problems. In particular, I don't have any reason to believe that it will help insulate our political system from the influence of big money.
On the bankruptcy bill, the Iraq war, the crime bill, school integration, Anita Hill, etc., Biden has consistently been on the wrong side. Twenty years ago, he would have made a good Reagan Republican.
So congratulations Republicans and your billionaire patrons--you've now created Republican Party 2.0. Let's hope you don't destroy it like you did the last one.
4
Who in the DNC thought any of befuddled Biden's debate performances were worthy of a candidate for the presidency? I found myself cringing at most of his attempted answers, and instead of feeling inspired I felt sad for him, and wondered who put him up to these indignities?
Unfortunately, the DNC is playing the same script they did in 2016, so like then, those of us 'left-of-center' have no choice and will have to suck it up and cast a very unenthusiastic vote for their candidate. How many times does the DNC need to lose an election before they learn anything from their chronic mistakes?
82
@kladinvt Hey, I'm left of center, but I'm not so far left that I wanted Bernie to get the nomination. I am so tired of so called Progressives blaming the DNC. I am an Independent, and I can't stand the DNC, but I will be very happy if Biden gets the nomination because of many of my more moderate and slightly conservative friends and relatives will vote for Biden over Trump. All those left of center need to take a hard look at themselves as well as the DNC and figure out how we can work together and go back to a time where we could at least hope the President, the Senate, the House would make good decisions for the country and it's people.
54
@kladinvt
It's not the DNC, it's the voters who don't want Sanders. That has always been the case. I'm quite left of center but I don't like the us/them mentality he has. He attacks the very people he'd need to work with, as do his supporters. It's not presidential.
67
@kladinvt
This blaming the DNC bit is really getting tiresome, and it sounds exactly something Trump supporters would be flinging around.
Biden chose to run, the DNC did not wind him up and send him out. The DNC did not suppress voters, who chose Biden over Sanders in so many places on Super Tuesday.
I live in a conservative part of the country and among the few Democrats here, there is much skepticism of Sanders. Not every place is a coastal city bubble.
39
If the Republicans in the Senate investigate Hunter Biden, it will be egregiously political. Hunter Biden was an opportunist but that isn't a crime. If opportunism is illegal, then Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner should be arrested immediately. They have used their positions in the administration to further their personal businesses and it has been documented in the New York Times. Further, given his record of investigating opponents of Trump, Attorney General William Barr must be in a quandary not knowing whether to investigate Biden or Sanders until the Democrats decide who will be their nominee.
4
Judging by the comments here, I'd say the Bernie bros have emerged from the first stage of grief (denial) and are entering the second and third phases (anger and bargaining).
12
After Hillary's bid fell short, Democrats could have looked within for what ails the party. Instead, maintaining vigilant denial and furious anger reveals a party at war with everyone, and most of all itself. There is no platform and no bright future offered. Only attachment to their failures of the past and a last-ditch bid to reclaim their power through a deeply flawed and thoroughly washed-up Washington lifer. Joe Biden is still very much, toast.
90
@JW, The Party did look. And they found hate and gangsterism on the Right and unrealistic promises on the Left.
37
@JW Super Tuesday proved you wrong. The primaries today will confirm how wrong you are.
20
@JerryV Really? "Unrealistic promises on the left." Oh ye of so little faith, so little optimism and so little foresight.
9
What Democrats need is a unifying ticket for 2020. We don['t need an astronaut on the ticket just because she's well known and female, much as I would like to see a woman as VP. We need someone with known experience in national government such as Klobuchar or Harris or Booker. I love Stacy Adams, but perhaps she would be a better choice to run HUD right now.
1
Agree that the Senate should not be investigating Hunter Biden, but I do think Hunter is an Achilles heel for his father. His resume doesn't pass the sniff test: lawyer for MBNA (HQ'd in Delaware and a large donor to his father), lobbyist and Burisma board member (while his father was actively involved in US policy towards Ukraine). Certainly not Trump-esque level self-dealing, but I think he will be pressed on it if the election is Biden v Trump.
3
@JG
cute , but doesn't the Trump family live in the WH ?
I enjoyed the discussion on who Biden's choice for VP may be. I think it should be looked at differently. The democratic party should view the 2020 VP nominee as the 2024 presidential nominee. Regardless of Joe Biden's health now, how likely is it that he's running for president again at age 82?
2
if biden wins, can he revoke rush limbaugh's medal of freedom?
11
Sanders is down in delegates, and that sound you hear is every Times columnist breathing a sigh of relief.
4
Brett, gdouthat, Friedman, and the rest of the Republican times are happy that a Democrat won’t be running in the 20 20 race.
3
Does The Times provide insight any more, or does it simply report the conventional wisdom? Biden is doing well because there is no meaningful scrutiny. Wait.
3
Always appreciate this column.
Bret: how can you berate Stacey Abrams for VP for lack of political experience “above” a state legislature... and in the next breath propose a Harvard author for VP?
Really?
2
VP Candidate MICHELLE OBAMA.
That is all.
2
It is so sick the way all the media has bashed Bernie the whole way through. He is a Democratic Socialist and what he proposes is not different than what exists in many enlightened European countries-health care and education for all. Biden is inarticulate and the worse case of the status quo. The DNC learned no lessons from the fail candidate Hilary Clinton. Biden has a history of being a war monger, a racist and a supporter of big banks over the people. I can't imagine Joe standing up to the abusive bully Trump. Bernie can do that. Stop the Bernie bashing!
4
Other female VP picks, besides Amy:
How about other Midwestern moderates, like former KS Gov. and HHS Secretary Kathleen Sibelius? Or Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer? Or Michigan Sen. Debby Stabenow or Rep. Debbie Dingell? Or Ohio Rep. Marcy Kaptur? Or Wisconsin Sen. Tammy Baldwin? A wealth of super-competent choices!
2
Agree that the veep choice is crucial, given Biden’s age and medical history (brain aneurism). I guess Klobuchar would be the safe bet for veep. But other than her surprising finish in NH, she doesn’t really move the needle. Even in the Midwest (see Iowa). Warren would be a fascinating choice. Maybe Kamala. But they both bring lots of baggage. If not a woman, how about LA mayor Eric Garcetti. He’s both Latino and Jewish (you can’t make that up!). Two constituencies that need to be shored up by Biden.
18
@Cloud 9 I think Kamala Harris would do more damage than good. I'm a Klobuchar fan, but I do also like Stevens's suggestion of the New Mexico governor.
Others that have been floated:
Gretchen Whitmer: Governor of Michigan
Gina Raimondo: Governor of Rhode Island
I'd also seriously consider Susan Rice or Tammy Duckworth.
9
@Cloud 9
Abrams!
Says this while old lady.
7
@Cloud 9 In terms of support, Biden surely has the African-American vote, but I suppose that an A-A vp would increase turnout marginally. Harris does have a lot of baggage; her endorsement seems more like the blinding opportunism that has characterized her career and her performance in the debates.
1
Even Bret will be forced to give up on conservative fiscal policy after Trump and the Republicans muck their way through this latest (dare we hope, last?) Trump-created disaster. The entire Republican Party lies in ruins with criminality its only surviving familiar feature. Oh, and hypocrisy.
3
"...a midsize bottle of Purell was being sold behind the counter for $50, which almost turned me into a raging Sandersnista."
Almost, Bret? Exactly what would it take to convince you that Sanders is not a pinko nightmare? $200? $1,000. Available only to those with boutique physicians and private pharmacies?
Democrats after today's primaries will most likely breathe a sigh of relief as their latest unconquerable hero dons his armor girding his loins for the next epic battle with the dragon. If Biden is, today, no longer toast, there is almost an inevitability to his being badly burned in November.
2
Mitch McConnell was tainted and deformed long before Trump.
1
'He may have made the word “socialism” reputable, which it should not be given all the misery and sorrow it has caused throughout the world.'
Has Brett ever heard about the Scandinavian countries which regularly top everyone's lists of most contented people on the planet?
Just another fact ignorer when facts don't fit his agenda.
2
One can worry about the Coronavirus - but the true disease is Trump. A sociopath who contaminates everything and everyone he touches. The vaccine will be ready for Nov. if people will take it.
3
The Democratic Primary ended last week, as today's results will make abundantly clear.
The virus? god knows.
BTW sop and hot water is actually more effective than Purell.
1
I’m writing this same comment for every article that talks about a Biden candidacy, whether it be in a primary or the general election:
Biden needs to have a well-publicized interview (or interviews) in which he speaks openly about his lifetime battle with stuttering. Trump is already casting him as “demented,” “losing it,” or anything else that suggests the former VP is unfit for office. Several months ago, there was an articulate and revealing article by John Hendrickson in the Atlantic (https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2020/01/joe-biden-stutter-profile/602401/) about the challenges faced by people who stutter or who have—mostly—succeeded in overcoming the disability. It’s a must read for everyone who is nervous about Biden’s verbal gaffs.
I won’t continue with why it’s more important to have an honest, decent elder statesman in the Oval Office, who knows how to surround himself with the best, brightest and most competent, than—oh well, you know the rest.
2
Biden's problem is not a stutter; he has diminished considerably since the 2012 VP debates. He's just past his prime.
See you all in november.
Biden will lose to trump.
Waiting to see all pundits to recognize their poor judgement.
'' i was wrong , sanders would win it "
I know already that nothing of this kind will happen.
Fool me once shame on you , fool me twice ...
Looks like after clinton and biden all shame is on us for being fooled all over again.
4
So in the fall we get to choose between 2 doddering old fools, the incumbent, who is deep into mental decline, and the challenger, who is still a little sentient. He has absolutely no ideas for how to address the many problems of a nation that is rapidly losing its global dominance and whose citizenry's needs are not being met. However, old fool # 2 is not a sadistic narcissist like old fool # 1. Meanwhile, there's a third old white man who is not a fool, and who is proposing to move in the direction of more social and economic progress for everyone in the country. He's about as radical as FDR, and we're being talked into the idea that he's a dangerous commie. I predict Biden will win the nomination and Trump will beat him in November, and the Republicans retain control of the Senate. A disaster
4
Joe Biden is in the midst of obvious dotage. Trump is still deviously sharp and will make mince meat of a mutterer. The vice-president pick will now have enormous influence over this election. It is now more important than Joe Biden.
3
Gee , after Mitt Romney doing the "Susan Collins " in the Senate , I was expecting to read about Seamus on the car roof.
Maybe next time
1
Joe is like a pair of favorite house slippers. Comfortable, cozy and familiar. After the sordidness and daily cringe-worthy moments of the Trump Regime, that’s exact what I want.
That’s what we NEED.
NOVEMBER.
3
A Vote for a Joe & Amy
Is a Vote for Equality!!!
2
@Bill Tyler eeks too centrist might turn off progressives.
1
Well, "I'm not dead anymore" seems a strange rallying cry, irregardless of the circumstances . However, given the exceedingly strange times we all seem to be living in, why am I not surprised that this chant has legs?
If our current mastermind in the White House can come into the public consciousness with a mind-worm as irreverent, inaine and as simple minded as "Make America Great Again", maybe Smokin Joe Biden can resurrect his campaign with his own irreverent one. I'm still looking forward to Bernie's campaign posting a pic of Sanders wearing an N-95 and saying, "I survived the Coronavirus, will you?".
Compare two columns today. One about Biden has him smiling -- no substance, no talk about the issues. What issues? Who cares. The other has Sanders frowning, and begins with him supposedly in an empty room. The column only begrudgingly, near the final paragraph admits, okay, the room wasn't empty, it was a big crowd he addressed, and yeah, he did talk about the issues. But he had some, oh, yuck, young voters in his crowd. The New York Times: America's Wall Street cheering section. Ugh.
4
If you’re happy with President Plagiarism, you might as well vote for Trump this year.
1
The real question? Is Biden more cognitively capable than a piece of toast.
5
@Ralphie he will probably designate and delegate everything to a competent team.
@Bret, why don't you add the Trump offspring to your book. They've certainly made a buck or two off their father's position.
2
Collins and Stephens are like the Martin and Lewis of columnists. They are so funny it's hard to take anything they have to say seriously. I'm still laughing at Stephens suggestions for VP since it is clear that who he is recommending strongly suggests that he doesn't think the Democrats really have a chance to defeat Trump. The New York Times is a pretty sober publication sometimes called the old gray lady, but Stephens and Collins are colorful clowns keeping us entertained. Keep up the dialogue, you two.
Mr. Stephens,
Perception--the ability to perceive--matters, especially in your work. You're not showing it when, in spite of your education, you make a mash of Bernie's influence on the election and Soviet-era communism. In fact, you sound a bit like Rush Limbaugh, whom you denounce: engaging in knee-jerk political response, mostly out of a groundless fear that the Soviet Union is about to be reborn in the US. That wasn't true in 1919 or the 1920s, when the Soviet state was unsteadily on the rise but general hope in its ideas flourished throughout Europe. It's certainly not true today. (I would have written "oy vey," but that's already been used in these comments.)
May we try to elevate the conversation?: Bernie is not advocating for government ownership of all businesses or for the abolition of private property. Instead, he's advocating for something that looks a lot like Denmark and somewhat similar to Germany (albeit not entirely for healthcare).
Notice how I've not advocated for or against Bernie? Start there. Please try to engage what he does with nuance and thought rather than continue this form of argument by fear. Isn't that your job?
3
So, let’s see if we can get this straight. Gail says Bernie’s Campaign “has had a very positive influence” because “the country needs to be reminded about the humongous influence of the economic elite in government. “
By “humongous influence” I assume she means they have destroyed our republic by inverting the people’s power with the power of the wealthy elite.
Oh, but Gail goes on- “If Bernie can prod Biden” to be just a “little bit less status quo”, the "little bit" will be "a big plus”.
So, the “little bit less status quo” will be a “big plus” in reforming our “humongous problem”?
Wow!
Brett chimes in, (Bernie) “may have made the word “socialism” reputable, which it should not be given all the misery and sorrow it has caused throughout the world.”
Surely Brett isn’t confusing social programs meant to relieve the stress of a market fundamentalist economy with authoritarian and or totalitarian regimes? He couldn’t be, could he?
He does know that Sanders fully supports a constitutional republic. Doesn’t he?
My bet is that Brett can’t tell the difference between variations of mixed market economies, communism and authoritarian means of governing. Guess that’s why we have Trump. He loves markets but hates our system of governing and abhors human rights.
Gail again,” not sure there’s as much pressure from the left”.
Oh, don’t bet on that. Biden will lose. And the left doesn’t want to be part of that losing effort.
2
@stopthe
I hope you write for a living , great
I suppose you could be a lawyer
Concerning Joe Biden's (mis)reported surge:
I looked into the argument (now treated as truth) that YOUTH voter turnout for Bernie so far in these primaries is LESS than in 2016. It turns out, it seems to be simply untrue! The youth have been voting in HIGHER numbers, compared to 2016, just not as much as the older age-classes have. Furthermore, the fractions of older age-classes (that make up "baby boomers") are higher than in 2016, also giving the ILLUSION that youth voter turnout is less this time. The share of the electorate of younger age-classes have gone DOWN. (Beware of misleading, mainstream media data that are based on GENERATIONAL trends rather than age-class trends, because each generation does NOT correspond to the same length of time, i.e. boomers occur over 18 years, whereas Generation Z involve just 5 years.) Furthermore, since Democratic party affiliation is much lower among the youth compared to older age-classes, data from closed and semi-closed primaries ESPECIALLY under-represent the likely participation from youth in the 2020 general election (which is what's really important here).
https://www.pewsocialtrends.org/essay/an-early-look-at-the-2020-electorate/
https://vtdigger.org/2020/03/06/politifact-a-closer-look-at-turnout-young-voters-and-a-key-bernie-sanders-strategy/
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1l5fpK7ysQhQbZPv9hnZ_-PO1J1zBVPXSSQjNejTXecY/edit#gid=1189109697
7
Thanks for posting this.
Amy. She has the most experience, is a uniter rather than a 'blamer' and will be the strongest in the states we need to win.
It's that simple
2
Re: "...and probably nine out of every 10 Roman emperors." It was quite rare in imperial Rome that biological offspring inherited the Purple.
2
Joe Biden is toast in a new way. He's the Toast of the Town given his epic comeback. People will be toasting to his health for years to come now. His comeback is richly deserved.
1
Bret is so negative, hurray for Gail. I agree we need a woman VP, and someone capable of being president if need be. That eliminates Stacey Abrams and those with no foreign policy experience. Tammy Duckworth?
Biden is an anachronism. His "use by" date has come and gone. He shows numerous signs of dementia. His political views are outdated and, in fact, harmful. No, Biden is not presidential material.
5
If Biden would adopt Bloomberg's plans - it's a shame they weren't publicized more widely - he could probably get half the Republican votes in November. Let's just hope he makes it to November, his frequent verbal miscues worry me as well.
1
How could you attack the honorable Rush Limbaugh? After all, he's now a Presidential Medal of Freedom winner, placing him in the company of Dr King and Jonas Salk.
Are you implying that our own president would politicize, diminish and forever tarnish our nation's highest honor, by awarding it to a hate-spewing buffoon who profits by dividing Americans??
4
Brett Stevens is to the word socialism, like the elephants in Dumbo to the mouse, comically terrified. He also seems oblivious to the obvious drawbacks of capitalism in it’s republican, robber baron, darwinian,Trumpian form. Human caused global warming is the most obvious consequence of unregulated capital, but also the huge concentration of wealth at the top and the decline in life expectancy and stagnation of income of those on the mid to lower rungs. Healthcare is another. Class war is another.
When you compare the social democracies of Scandinavia, Europe and Canada it’s pretty clear that by almost any measure they are far ahead of the US, but especially in terms of health, general wealth, and most important, happiness. The election/existence of Trump proves this beyond doubt. So come on Brett, you obviously read The Fountainhead at some point and Animal Farm at another, and probably believe Harry in the 3rd Man when he belittles the Swiss, but Stalin and Mao and Cuckoo Clocks have nothing to do with democratic SOCIALISM...and once you realize this, you can take comfort in knowing that at the sight of Bernie you can stop yelling Run away, Run away! as the knights in Holy Grail do at the sight of the rabbit.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FPELc1wEvk
3
Joe Biden may not be toast, but the middle class is toast with this sad, doddering, Wall Street sellout excuse for a candidate. Biden all but assured his nervous billionaire backers last night that he will veto Medicare For All. So they can rest easily knowing they're getting what they bought and paid for with Joe and his neoliberal allstars.
Biden has turned his back on me while reaching out to billionaires and establishment pundits with his "nothing will fundamentally change" emptiness. I won't vote for him in any election; he has given me no reason to believe he represents me in any way whatsoever.
4
'All the misery and sorrow' socialism has spread? Sure. I wonder how many of your readers wish they were living in 'socialist' Scandinavia right now, enjoying 'socialist' public healthcare?
3
Democrats nationwide have concluded en masse that defeating Trump is the only issue on the ballot and that lunch bucket Scranton Joe is our best bet.
This race is over
4
Thank you for the sensible take on Burismsa / Hunter Biden. Be prepared to repeat it, because it's time to get ready for Hillary's Emails Times A Million.
There will be a two pronged character assassination against Biden.
1) He's slipping mentally. (Maybe true, but so is our current President.)
2) He orchestrated the end of an investigation into Burismsa so that his son could profit. (Clearly tin foil hat territory.)
Number two isn't for any sane or sensible person. It's for the 40% who get their news from Fox and Twitter, who look for child pornography in pizza shop basements, and expect a full on race war if anyone other than Trump wins.
1
Bernie "may have made the word “socialism” reputable, which it should not be given all the misery and sorrow it has caused throughout the world"...
...Conveniently overlooking all the misery and sorrow *capitalism* has caused throughout the world?
I'm not a huge Bernie fan, but I'm so tired of Stephens presenting these as if it's either-or. No one argues with social security. No one argues with public provision of infrastructure. But when Sanders suggests socialising healthcare - something that is done to some degree by every other developed economy on the *planet* - it's "Oh my god, the commies are coming for us all! It's the end times!"
Get your priorities straight, Brett.
1
“If he winds up prodding Biden to be a little less status quo, that’ll be a big plus.”
Fatuous.
2
Gail...."I wonder if people would be less paranoid if they had more faith in the president’s competence."
This made me think of the Max Boot article in which he calls Trump and his soft peddling the virus as our own version of Baghdad Bob.
The gaffman cometh
2
Surprised neither columnist mentioned the governor of Michigan ... she has to be on short list as rising Dem star, one chosen to respond to SOTU address, heads a Blue Wall state and won by 9 points in what was a GOP controlled state Capital.
Was Bret bullied by a socialist (or socialite) when a child?
3
I think Biden needs to get together with his trusted and most important adviser, Rep. Clyburn and hammer out a Vice Presidential candidate because with these advanced age candidates a veep might to ascend to the presidency sooner than espected.
Haven't we learned anything from Trump? Keep the military men in the military please! Sheesh!
Yes, let's encourage an astronaut to be Biden's VP pick instead of Stacie Abrams... someone with vision, brilliance and the power to bring people together. Let's continue to ignore Bret's thoughts about what Democrats should do.
2
"His presidential campaign is going according to plan"
Plan A: Get pseudo-nominees to run for the Democrat nominee. They falter. They back out and pay homage to Joe.
Joe prospers.
Plan B: The DNC and its' committee decide Joe is the best man for the job. Bernie starts to falter. See plan A for the rest.
1
The VP candidate should be young, preferably under 50, no matter what sex. We boomers seem to be doing everything we can to be sure that we can keep running our children's lives until they hit Medicare (if it still exists). Our job should be to turn a functioning democracy over to the next generation, and the next generation needs to be prepared to receive it.
I like Biden. One term to clean up the mess and then turn over the keys to somebody else. I don’t care for Sanders. Maybe the voice. But, I’ll certainly vote for the guy who emerges with the D...no question about it!
116
@J That's a really unfortunate methodology for choosing who you're voting for. It's tantamount to saying someone "looks presidential". It scares me when people don't vote on policy or qualities, and rather what really comes down to electability aesthetic.
5
@Dustin
Quite the contrary. When you're looking for a manager, you don't hire based solely on ideas, you hire on a wide range of leadership skills. Bernie does not come off as presidential, and I can say it's because of the way he speaks, the way he gestures (lots of finger pointing)... that was my first impression of him 4 years ago. Since then, the divisive rhetoric that he and his supporters use have made me think much less of him.
Policies do not a leader make. The ability to move, sway, inspire, soothe and relate to people does. Bernie ain't that kind of person.
16
The last I heard, all the so called socialist countries of Europe, Sweden, France, Italy, etc., seem to be getting along just fine in the world, thank you very much. In none of those countries is there a centrally planned economy, lots and lots of capitalism, the Scandinavian countries in general are all considered very business friendly. Are they socialist or not? Whatever they are I think most Americans would be extremely satisfied with a government which came even close to providing what they provide their people and capitalism and prosperity as well. Seems to me that Bret Stephens still equates socialism with the Bolsheviks. Shugah, there has been a considerable evolution in socialism since the late 19th century.
4
So, what jumped out at me immediately (and forgive me is this is somewhere in the comments already) is that Stacey Abrams should be eliminated from VP consideration, because she has only state-level experience. Shortly thereafter, Bret names a few potential candidates who have NO political experience, and says he’s not averse to a political novice. What conclusion should I draw from that?
6
@Susan Koerwer Stephens is a republican. The conclusion I'm drawing is that he really doesn't care much what democrats do, because he will be voting for Trump, no matter what he says about the man, because there is an R next to his name.
2
@Susan Koerwer
I have nothing against Stacy, but I really want Kamala Harris to be tapped for VP.
Yep. That was my takeaway too. All the pundits do this kind of thing from time to time to remind you not to take them seriously.
2
Joe Biden is the best the dems could do. Let that sink in.
7
@Michael Hall The Democrats flushed two or three good choices, because Biden could bring in one specific demographic.
That act deprived said demographic of the chance to get a closer look at potentially electable people. Deep down, that is very racist. "The demographic will vote for the candidate we pick."
Right. And Trump was the best the Republicans could do. Which side do you think has the better gene pool?
I have about exhausted my tolerance of Netflix. Violent in several languages and historical eras. Sexist across all nationalities. The last thing I need is to pay for reruns of dated dumb material.
We all need a national reading list for our self imposed quarantine. I'd like to hear what people are reading rather than what they're binge watching. That phrase is a sure sign of waste of time.
3
You forgot about the Roosevelts.
Oh, he's toast all right. What's changed is that the rest of us are going to get toasted with him.
5
Bret Stephens writes: 'Bernie Sanders may have made the word “socialism” reputable, which it should not be given all the misery and sorrow it has caused throughout the world. It isn’t progressive, either, unless “progress” means adopting ideas that had their heyday about a century ago.'
Oh, Bret: Please save us your sophistry just this once. Bernie Sanders supports Democratic Socialism. You know, like they have in Germany and France and Scandinavia, etc. Why don't you tell us about the "sorrow" that the workers and other average folks have experienced in those countries because of things like national health insurance, job security and progressive taxation.
The "socialism" you are talking about is the "socialism" of Vladimir Lenin and Joseph Stalin (and more recently Xi Jinping). I challenge you to find a single colleague at the Times willing to compare Angela Merkel to Uncle Joe in print. Just one.
Indeed, if the salvational antithesis of the "socialism" that frightens you so much is capitalism, you should be very afraid. Because your party, under the leadership of Donald Trump, is making "capitalism" a synonym for fascism, cronyism, oligarchy and a complete repudiation of the rule of law.
9
What Bernie supports is Scandinavia 20 years ago, which was a financial and social disaster. Scandinavian socialism now is very different, much more financially liberal. The taxes are high but they are not confiscatory. And there is no minimum wage. I am told that Sweden has more millionaires per capita than the US.
1
@Progressive Voter Remember, socialism exists in the U.S. Progressives would like to expand socially beneficial programs. Is that what frightens you, Bret?
1
Socialism would never have gained any traction whatsoever if capitalism was still healthy, Bret. Look to your own zombie economic sins.
8
Unfortunate Offspring who trade on the family name? The Trump offspring should head the list. Funny they're not even mentioned.
8
And at the end of the day not one person knows with certainty exactly what will be in the next secon let alone between now and November 2020. Patience, it takes a lot out of me to witness the unfolding of the future based on today’s domestic and global calamities and chaos. All I can do is see to it I fulfill my obligations to place no one in harms way due to my own behaviors including but not exclusive to COVID-19 precautions and preparedness, the Presidential campaigns and elections, as well as the quotidian challenges absent urgent calamities. And I firmly, completely, and wholeheartedly believe all will be well no matter the outcome, including risks to my own health and life. Why? Que sera sera. When the dust settles all will be forced to pick up and carry on regardless the landscape, the electoral decision, or extent of viral mortality. Difficult as it is for each and all of us to endure the many-headed assaults on our individually quiet, mundane, family-centric lives, humanity will carry on with greater knowledge of our interdependency and sometimes fatal connectivity. We are not victims. We are part of a life array that includes the invisible microbes made visible through disease and best managed through the discipline of science. All will be as it will be because of and in spite of our best efforts by the best people to mitigate the threats and direct the responses. Do your best for all with care. It really will be what it will be. Of this, I am certain.
We need to formally declare politics the national sport. Then we could perhaps have an opening day, ......... Oh, shoot, someone else finish out the metaphor. I’m just too tired. Oh, wait! Maybe the metaphor should be reality tv. Nah. I still sort of enjoy politics. I don’t get reality tv at all. Maybe that’s why I’m so tired.
2
Delegate Count after super Tuesday 2008 Clinton 818 Obama 730 Let not let the Corporate Media's lies keep us from voting.
6
Would you prefer government run media?
“Tainted and Deformed: How March Madness Corrupted Basketball and Its Continuing Affect on American Politics”. Brilliant, you two! I like it!
1
Amy Klobuchar would make Tim Kaine look like a smart pick. Who would vote for Biden if and only if Klobuchar is on the ticket???
3
Every week i read your column and every week I write back the same. Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders, Mickey Mouse... i don't care as long as he / she or it beats Donald Trump.
Stay focused Bret.
5
As far as a V.P. goes, he should fish in the U.S. House of Representatives. We can afford to lose a seat there and there's some really god women potentials; Val Demmings, Cindy Axne, Katherine Clark, Joyce Beatty and others.
2
i'd like stephens to explain his obligatory shot at socialism. for example, what are the failed states? all the socialist countries that have longer life expectancies, lower infant mortality rates, national health care for everybody at a per capita cost of less than half compared to the usa? paid maternity/paternity leaves, longer vacation times, the ability to 'move above your station at birth' at a much higher rate than the usa, people not dying because they can't afford a doctor....how about reasonable gun laws with murder rates a fraction of america's? no capital punishment, religion for the underdog, not the overdog? lower poverty rates. the usa has socialism, but apparently it doesn't count.....and which countries, exactly, is stephens talking about? basket cases like germany, denmark, australia, canada, britain, france, holland and so on and so on and so on??? sheesh......
4
Good ole Brett, he still hasn't figured out the difference between Socialism vs social wetfare programs.
5
Neither has Bernie, or he'd stop calling himself a socialist.
1
Stavridis would be an excellent choice. There may well be a nationwide quarantine and he would be exactly the sort of competent and reassuring presence needed.
3
The saddest thing about this column is that the NYT online had it just to the right of the pictures of the dead victims of the epidemic. Very sobering for a 70 year old who should be ok to go on an airplane, NOT! When trump speaks (lower-case t on purpose) my survivalist reflex is to do the opposite. No planes, no way!
2
Good to hear Bret is doing well. Sorry that I missed him in Tel Aviv with Jason Greenblatt.
Good as they are, the Dem Senators are needed in the Senate. I hope an intelligent effective minority female can be Biden's VP.
I hope for infrastructure to be finally addressed and help make the recession shorter. Trump is obviously inept and unfit to deal with the new virus. Perfectly obvious. Biden and his VP should win fairly easily.
By electing a septuagenarian President with obvious health issues, we need to throw out the “warm bucket of spit” and the politically complementary set of executives model for the VP. The VP must have all the qualifications including equivalent political point of view to be the President #2 or the President-in-waiting.
4
How are you seriously pushing a man who can’t finish a thought anymore to fight Donald Trump? A centrist who is building the same losing coalition that Clinton built, who’s been complicit in the destruction of the middle class and the planet. Who thinks we can ‘go back’ to 2015. He is guaranteed to lose to Trump, he can’t even speak for more than ten minutes. And it’s just because you don’t want to give poor people healthcare. So disgusting.
8
Fabulous punchline from Gail, first time I've smiled in 2 weeks!!! Thank you and keep up the good work
1
"Joe Biden Is No Longer Toast"
Yes he is. Trump will beat Biden is a landslide of epic proportions.
10
Joe Biden is no longer toast? Doesn't that mean he never was?
3
Suddenly Stephens has reservations about nominating someone whose "political experience doesn’t rise above a state legislature."
Ah, but his party thought a big, fat, know-nothing, loony freak with experience only in filing bankruptcies was A-OK for president? Somebody who reviled expertise, government, norms, rules and regulations of any sort at any level?
Who can only comment on his own self-proclaimed genius? Whose only claim to fame is a tawdry TV show and a tape describing how he groped women and grabbed them by their bleeps?
That was good enough for Stephens' party.
GOP, you have a lot to answer for.
9
“Bret: Totally disagree. He may have made the word “socialism” reputable, which it should not be given all the misery and sorrow it has caused throughout the world. It isn’t progressive, either, unless “progress” means adopting ideas that had their heyday about a century ago.”
Oy, vey! Hey, Bret, I’ll make you a deal. Once the coronavirus pandemic settles down and you start traveling again, come on over to France and I’ll show you what “socialism” looks like: Happy people with solid jobs, health care, pensions—you know, all that misery-and-sorrow stuff you despise. The contrast with the sullen and (sometimes) angry people we bump into when we visit the US is, um, what’s the right word?—enlightening.
205
Why are all those happy people donning yellow vests and shutting down public transport and opera houses? Out of sheer joy?
19
@Larry D No it was out of actually standing up for their rights as a collective force. And it worked.
10
@David Walker
Dear David,
Au contraire!
You will recall that the socialist party did not win the last election. And last time I visited France it was a market based economy with a very nice and just social net. It was not that long ago. You are not that far away.
Socialism is what the former Soviet Union is still trying to recover from. I have spent the last 25 years in those countries and no one in their right mind wants to live in such conditions.
The US has many problems that would benefit from progressive solutions, but socialism is a disease that fortunately you not suffering from in France, so please don't inflict it on the US.
12
"If it’s fair for Senate Republicans to try to use their investigatory powers for clearly partisan ends" then it's fair for House Democrats to probe Trump's tax returns. So let's decide if both are ok or neither is.
Transparently partisan Congressional investigations are less bad than ostensibly neutral criminal investigations that are in reality secretly caused by partisans, or announcements of actually neutral criminal investigations that unfairly taint the targets (see Comey).
I don't understand how a party that traffics in nepotism, led by a president who traffics in nepotism, has the gall to investigate anyone else who traffics in nepotism. Isn't this just another case of "If Trump and the GOP do it, it's okay, but if the Democrats do it, it's a criminal offense?"
7
Biden has gone from being "toast" to be toasted. Now, if he'll have more sense than Hillary, and pick a progressive woman as his running mate to unite the party, generate massive turnout, to dump Trump. There is only one woman who meets that criteria. Biden-Warren 2020 "The Perfect Vision for America"
"If it’s fair for Senate Republicans to try to use their investigatory powers for clearly partisan ends, it will wind up being used someday against them. Nothing will be achieved except the criminalization of politics."
The GOP benefit from this smearing of all politics and politicians. If we all throw up our hands in disgust, the people we'll despise the most are those who we expected to behave the best - those on the left.
3
Bret,
I do not understand why you assert…without facts…that Hunter Biden was unqualified to be on the board of Burisma. He is a law school graduate. We was an Exec VP for a major bank holding company. He served in the Department of Commerce for 4 years. In 2006 he was appointed by President George W. Bush to the board of directors of Amtrak where he served as vice-chairman for over 2 years. Then he founded an investment firm (Rosemont Seneca) and a venture capital firm (Eudora Global). Then he joined a top law firm of Boies Schiller Flexner. Given the breadth and depth of his high-level roles, he sounds pretty qualified to me.
10
Will you still consider Biden "not toast" when the media finally get around to reporting that he's routinely lying about being a civil rights activist in the 1960s, which is precisely the thing that sunk his campaign for the 1988 election?
3
Bret Stephens on Democratic VP Pick:
A) Intellectually Sloppy? Or
B) Winsomely Mercurial? Or
C) Too giddy over his anybody-but-Sanders Dem. frontrunner to care about consistency
You decide!
"Stacey Abrams is a name...on everyone’s lips [for VP], but I have reservations about nominating someone whose political experience doesn’t rise above a state legislature."
But Stephens on a VP pick a few paragraphs later...
"How about someone entirely outside of politics [for VP]...I’m all for non-politicians in politics, so long as they aren’t failed real-estate moguls."
10
I just had an experience like Bret's did in Duane Reade. I stopped by a grocery store yesterday and there was no toilet paper or kleenex to be had. Just empty shelves. Do people think they're going to stop manufacturing toilet paper? What is going on? It's the craziest thing I've ever seen. Plus, there was no flour on the shelves! Flour, of all things. I live about 80 miles north of Seattle, by the Canadian border and there are no cases of the virus in our county. People are going about their business like always. But, hoarding toilet paper and kleenex and making dozens of loaves of bread. It's nuts.
2
Joe Biden will never be President. And the Democrat party is the most un-democratic organization in the U.S.
6
Why don’t you focus on getting your own house in order.
I was relatively okay with this until I got to the part about "Senate Republicans to try to use—blah, blah—clearly partisan ends..." Have you no shame? It was Democrats in the House who started THAT game.
2
"No longer toast" what a ringing endorsement!
3
Not only is he "no longer toast", he is us. Not perfect, a little tongue-twisted, kind, American, democrat, thoughtful, apologetic. Quite the opposite of 'mr. golf while the country is a mess'. Just keep an eye on rep. tv spots.
Whoever is in charge of that - Russia, Putin, McConnell, Ivanka, Miller, Kellyanne - they're going to try to kill the words and good deeds of Joe Biden.
7
What's this elbow bump and foot bump instead of a handshake? Americans never shake hands! OK sometimes when in Europe.
Ah, Gail, you are in top form! This 75 year old man loved your “I’ve never had so many people politely inquire about my health, with a slight undertone of suspicion.” And the March Madness bit at the end would have cracked me up if it weren’t so spot on. Thank you!
4
Joe Biden is in fact toast you just don't know it yet. Joes brother and Hunter's financial antics along with Joes own version of taped "quid pro quo" for firing the Ukraine prosecutor along with Joe's own gaffes will be his undoing.
6
I’m not sure that you’re in any position to attack Joe Biden’s way of speaking.
Biden would have been toast if the democratic establishment hadn't stepped in with a wave of endorsements. Biden wasn't a better candidate Tuesday; in fact, he is a terrible one.
7
Maybe sourdough wheat toast.
2
Bret just cannot shed himself of those trite GOP talking points. Socialism has caused sooooo much pain and suffering? Unemployment insurance, social security, medicare, public schools, interstate highways - yes, lots and lots of pain.
Also, a couple of additions to Bret's list of unfortunate offspring: how about the two sons of GHW Bush? One brought us the global economic meltdown of 2008 and the other lost the GOP beauty contest to an obese guy with a spray tan and cotton candy hair.
4
Don’t forget brother Neil Bush and his shady financial dealings. (Wikipedia: “The US Office of Thrift Supervision investigated Silverado's failure and determined that Bush had engaged in numerous ‘breaches of his fiduciary duties involving multiple conflicts of interest....’”)
2
One of the most milquetoast comments I've ever read:"The country needs to be reminded about the humongous influence of the economic elite in government." Kinda like saying, "the country needs to be reminded that a nuclear warhead is headed their way." OK so we get "reminded" and then what Gail? We nominate a faltering status quo politician with cognitive decline.
2
Black voters have decided that status quo is good when it is Trump's base who is the most disadvantaged by it. Trump made it worse for them. They should have voted for Bernie, but Bernie will help everyone and Trump's base certainly doesn't want black people to benefit from say universal healthcare.
Joe Biden was selected by republicans in open primaries because he is a republican who will allow the wealth extraction to continue. Wealthy pampered people are glad they will continue to be wealthy and pampered. I personally see their fear as a sign of a very weak person. Soft physically and mentally and cruel at heart. Much like conservative pundits.
5
Not even bread. Maybe burnt toast. Biden is so much of the same old, same old. Nothing will get done. Healthcare will continue to kill tens of thousands. We are a sick, sick, sick, selfish culture. Infrastructure will not be fixed. The rich not only will get richer but the poor will get poorer.
4
Bret’s predictable and reflexive fear mongering about socialism is a bit tiresome. Bernie is not proposing anything remotely like the failed regimes that have used the socialist label now or historically.
Our health care system is a disgrace that results in thousands of premature deaths every year. I’m glad Sanders finds this outrageous and shameful.
5
Thanks, guys. "I'm lovin' it." Keep it up.
Two thoughts:
(1) I am inclined to wish that presidential debates could be permanently retired.
It is one thing to present a well-crafted speech--outlining what you mean to do, setting your priorities, unfolding your vision of the future.
It is another thing to "think fast on your feet." Be handy with words. Inflict innumerable "gotcha moments" on your opponent (thank you for that phrase, Mr. Obama). Score micro-points for this or that little verbal felicity.
"There you go again!" Which won the presidential debates for Ronald Reagan.
Kind of a teensy-weensy little victory, wouldn't you say?
(2) Oh you guys! When you ran through possible VP selections for our presumptive candidate, Mr. Biden--such a LIKABLE guy, no?--
--my mouth began to water.
I began envisaging a possible DREAM TEAM--a ticket that positively SHIMMERED on the page. This or that illustrious name, this or that outstandingly capable person--
--oh don't stop! Don't wake me up! Let me dream on--
--of a stunning electoral victory in November.
Thanks again, guys.
Bret wishing your elderly relatives safe and good health.
Traveling widely in South East Asia and South Asia last summer we were struck by how sweetly everyone greeted each other universally, with folded palms and a slight bow of the head. We met several Buddhist monks as well who warmly greeted us with this gesture. There was no hugging hand shaking elbow bump foot bump or any such thing. Your palms your bow conveyed all the warmth you needed to let the other person know he or she was in your warm thoughts (it was 110 deg at noon time!).
Today in nyt we find outrage in the southern states where yoga and meditation is taught as being “non Christian” especially the Namaste part. Namaste in Sanskrit simply means I bow to the divine in you which basically assumes the same divinity that flows in me flows in you as well so I recognize that and now to that. It’s not personal it is a common divinity. Somehow that concept evades jews and Christians who think of divinity as some bearded white guy in the clouds.
4
"He may have made the word “socialism” reputable, which it should not be given all the misery and sorrow it has caused throughout the world."
Bret ought to take a college course on what is socialism or capitalism. No one is talking about a government commandeering all means of production.
Is he against the simple idea that everyone has to have access to a few basic needs in life, such as food, clothing, water, healthcare, education, etc?
Is he for a society that is run on the principle of each-one-on-his-own-and therefore-good-luck-you-unlucky poor-person? Such as when people stock up on toilet paper or sell hand sanitizers for $50?
Just asking you Bret.
2
Anyone who's been close to a state legislature gets Bret's point. There are good state reps and bad state reps, and I assume Abrams is one of the good ones. But the truth is many legislators have made just enough car dealer type noise in their neighborhoods to get elected. They have small horns and blow them very loudly, or they keep quiet and milk the expense account. Every state capital has at least one reporter who has made a career spotlighting their foibles, "big ideas," and (usually) petty corruption. It's the American way -- they are just like us.
It is written...the country will survive another recession but never recover from 4 more years of Trump”. Driven Snow won’t be on the ballot this fall. So, love the one you’re with and vote for the D!
1
Biden should make Hillary Clinton his VP nominee. Then when they lose the election, they both can blame Sanders.
7
He better be prepared for Trump and Republican scorn, mockery and ridicule. I've yet to see the effective Democratic antidote. Biden's genial manner is not the antidote.
3
@C Genial? He has absolutely no anger control; a sign of impending dementia to most.
So, regarding VP noms: Bret thinks you need someone whose experience rises above a state legislature... then he suggests nominating an astronaut.
In the space of 5 seconds or so.
If the Dem ticket does not acknowledge the progressive wing of the party with its VP choice, it will have a hard time motivating turnout. On his own, at best, Joe Biden is the Kylie Jenner-Black Lives Matter Pepsi ad. How many people will buy it?
2
If Gerald Ford can be president than so can Joe Biden.
“Unfortunate Offspring of Famous People”? And you don’t mention Don, Jr., Eric, and Ivanka? A startling omission, especially in contrast with Hunter Biden (Yale Law, extensive international business experience).
Brett says that socialism is responsible for a litany of “misery and sorrow,” but somehow doesn’t even think about the horrors perpetrated by capitalism, a list of which I will not even attempt to begin.
3
Every blessing to whoever occupies the White House after Trump.
All that he has dismantled must be rebuilt. All that he has corrupted must be cleansed. All that he has mangled and twisted must be righted. All those employees with integrity and expertise who have fled must be found and rehired.
Most everything he has done must be undone.
The new president must face a financial emergency, a pandemic, many climate crises, and the list goes on.
I repeat, every blessing and may that person have the strength of will, the physical constitution and the fortitude to face this.
I find this situation really beyond the banality and lame humor of columns such as this.
While humor is so important, spare us these empty (and factually incorrect) musings. Do they help?
Not really.
2
So Bret says Stacey Abrams is unqualified for VP because she’s only been a state legislator and then says he wants an astronaut. Huh.
2
It’s disheartening to hear another illogical argument from Bret Stephens. Stacey Abrams is not qualified because of too little political experience but Kathryn Sullivan and Danielle Allen are? And is Scandinavia a victim of socialism? “Misery and sorrow” indeed. Opinions should at least hold water.
3
Love your guys column - do it more - thank you!
let us not make the same mistake we made with Hillary ...Bernie is the guy who can beat Trump...
2
“If it’s fair for Senate Republicans to try to use their investigatory powers for clearly partisan ends, it will wind up being used someday against them.”
Well, throughout the Clinton & Obama administrations, congressional Republicans did little else but use their investigatory powers for partisan ends. And the Democrats, in response to blatant & outrageous criminality in the Bush & Trump administrations, have been unable to muster convincing or complete (or sometimes any) investigations. Say what you will about the blowhards on Fox news, but you won’t hear them spouting false equivalences like this.
2
Bret - So Stacey Abrams is unqualified to be VP, but an astronaut is better?
1
Joe Biden has an abysmal record of actually causing the things he now claims he can fix, from onerous bankruptcy laws, working with segregationists to the misogyny of his views on abortion. He simply has not been on the right side of history, ever. He is also a known plagiarist and liar. What's not to like? I can't believe how the establishment would rather have ANYBODY but Bernie Sanders. What are they afraid of? The exit polls don't match anywhere, with a descrepancey of 6-8%, clearly arousing suspicion along with Bernie Sanders HUGE rallies of 10-15 thousand while Biden has a handfull of folks..it simply does not make sense to me.
3
Bret Stephens: He may have made the word “socialism” reputable, which it should not be given all the misery and sorrow it has caused throughout the world. It isn’t progressive, either, unless “progress” means adopting ideas that had their heyday about a century ago.
---
Bret Stephens sounds like a Joseph McCarthy fossil when he talks about "socialism"; he might be more comfortable articulating his points on the FOX "Venezuela !" Fear and Scare news channel while bleating 'socialism' nonstop.
Bernie Sanders is a Democratic Socialist who supports the same thriving market economies and strong safety nets enjoyed by the happiest countries on the planet.
The happiest countries in the world according to the 2019 World Happiness Report are high-taxed states with market economies and a strong social safety net.
Democratic socialism has brought more much happiness to more countries than Randian Robber Baron economics has.
Too bad Bret Stephens has been kidnapped and blinded by his ideology of selfishness as he proclaimed the other day "I won’t have to worry about getting my health insurance taken from me" if Joe Biden is elected ..... and tens of millions of Americans remain underinsured.
Happiness Rank by country
1 Finland
2 Denmark
3 Norway
4 Iceland
5 Netherlands
6 Switzerland
7 Sweden
8 New Zealand
9 Canada
10 Austria
11 Australia
12 Costa Rica
13 Israel
14 Luxembourg
15 United Kingdom
16 Ireland
17 Germany
18 Belgium
19 United States of America
8
"Biden Is No Longer Toast: His presidential campaign is going according to plan: Start winning in South Carolina, and then don’t stop."
Our man Joe looks slated to win the nomination, our discussants complacently declare - before dickering amicably over VP picks and Hunter Biden.
But a VP pick, and even Biden's son, are mutually agreed on evasions - the elephant in the room is only nodded to sidelong, once, at the end: "a vulnerable front-runner" that leaves Stephens "looking for signs of hope."
Biden's "presidential campaign is going according to plan: Start winning in South Carolina, and then don’t stop" is the opinion byline; a more accurate title would have been, 'Knock Out Sanders? Careful What You Wish For.'
Under their complacency: dread that the Anybody-But-Sanders candidate they plumped for will lose. But - shrug - anybody but Sanders...eh Ms. Collins, Mr. Stephens?
2
No, he's just a more dignified version of toast now, like French Toast. Enjoy it now, coz in the general, he'll be Texas (and Florida, and Michigan, and Pennsylvania) Toast. Why run with a three time loser and expect anything better is beyond me. Dole/Stassen 2020.
5
JW: Hillary's "bid" as it were, did not fall short. Remember, Hillary Clinton WON the popular vote, and may well have won the electoral college. We will probably never know to what degree hackers interfered.
But we do think that millions of lazy bones and disgruntled (think Berners) democrats stayed home. So be it. Elections have consequences. Let's get everyone out this time, and back up our intelligence agencies as they monitor the vote itself. Hey, let's go back to paper voting - that seemed to work!!
1
Bret, it is intellectually weak to be unable to distinguish between socialism and authoritarianism. But intellectual weakness is what gave us Reagan, Bush, and now Trump. And that is your party. If you think Bernie wants to give us the gulag and 5-year plans you are not listening to what he says, just going off half-cocked because you heard a trigger word.
You have your own column and that makes you a public intellectual of a kind. Can't you do better than throw out reacationary memes?
6
Yo, Bret, your antipathies appear to be quite selective
". . . Stacey Abrams is a name that is on everyone’s lips, but I have reservations about nominating someone whose political experience doesn’t rise above a state legislature.
". . . . . .
"How about someone entirely outside of politics * ** I’m all for non-politicians in politics, so long as they aren’t failed real-estate moguls."
2
The DNC and CNN is insisting that Biden can sit during the debate(or rather town hall) rather than stand and the candidates will take questions from a select group from the audience not a panel from the CNN itself. Of course, since there will be less opportunity for debating differences in policies and history, the Sanders campaign have objected to this preferential treatment to little avail.
If this is the case and when it's Trump's turn, Biden is already toast!
4
@Deus Are you suggesting Biden can't walk and talk at the same time?
Here's the problem: Throughout the primaries, when Biden shared the debate stage with at least five other candidates, his actual speaking time was very limited, maybe 15-20 minutes total. On March 15 however, he will be one-on-one with Bernie for about two hours. Biden has shown that he cannot string together more than two coherent sentences and that he is prone to huge gaffes (such as his comment in the last debate that "150 million Americans have died from guns since 2007"), as well as non-sequiturs and losing his own train of thought. The narrative his campaign is putting out is that this is a stuttering problem from which he has suffered since his youth. But that's just a dodge meant to cover up his lack of mental agility. So when it becomes clear in this upcoming debate that Biden is in the throes of age-related mental-health degeneration, where do the Dems (as well as the nation and the world) go from there? I personally will vote for anybody other than you-know-who, but we all will be sitting on the edge of our seats every time that Biden opens his mouth in anticipation of some major gaffe. I've seen a yard sign that reads, "2020 -- Any functioning adult." But Biden clearly seems incapable of fulfilling that wish.
7
@Keeping it real
The DNC and its media surrogates are more than willing to protect Biden, his gaffes, his memory losses and his own revisionist history, at all costs. Of course, that will only be the case up until he gets on the same stage as Trump, then, it will be all over.
3
So the plan was to lose badly in the beginning? This is an ingenuous strategy indeed! I had always thought the best way to win was by winning the whole time. That complete lack of political prowess explains why I'm not a pundit or one of the DNC strategists who are certain to clinch a big victory in November.
3
I'm steamed. If Biden is the candidate I probably won't vote for the first time in my life. I may even vote for Trump out of spite. That's how upset I am. I have no need of a "safe" candidate. Seriously, a semi-senile 78-old retread is our best option? He's nearly as incoherent as Trump. Our best options are Bernie or a brokered convention that throws Hillary up again.
Read my lips: WE DESERVE TO LOSE IF BIDEN IS THE BEST WE CAN DO.
6
@Rich Sohanchyk Joe Biden's flaws are pretty obvious. I'm sure I'm not alone in being deeply worried about him as a candidate.
It's worth noting that he hasn't won yet. But, for anyone who's truly a fan of Bernie, or just of democracy, if he *does* win the nomination, the difference between him and Trump is stark.
Based on policy alone, it's the difference between "center left liberal" steps toward equity within the system (increased minimum wages, somewhat progressive tax policy, union support, adding a public option to Obamacare, etc) and the naked, explicit choice to shred the social safety nets we do have and exacerbate inequalities in power and wealth.
And even if that weren't the case - if Biden's policy prescriptions mirrored those of Bush sr, say - the choice would still be between a believer in our democratic system and a man who whips up hatred in his supporters by spouting dehumanizing language about his enemies and chosen scapegoats, who attacks and attempts to undermine the free press, and even the judiciary, who spews endless disinformation, installs his own family and cronies in positions of power, and frequently "jokes" about making himself president-for-life.
I can't quite believe he's looking like the winner. I'm definitely worried. But, while we may "deserve to lose" if Biden wins the nomination, if we care about the country, we *need* to do what we can to avert that.
He wasn't close to my first choice. But if he wins he's the only choice, in my opinion.
Bernie said again on Sunday that he wants to change the political establishment and change the corporate structure of America while giving workers free health insurance, greater employer benefits etc. This is not the agenda of the DNC and he is trying to be more than a progressive but rather like Trump he is defying the establishment with false and unrealistic promises. Most telling is recent studies that show hundreds of thournie voters in 2016 voted for Trump in the general election.
Bernie has done more to help Trump get elected than any other Democratic candidate.
The DNC needs to be laser focused now on taking the Senate starting here in Georgia with two Trump sycophants who refuse to do town halls and worship every word from his mouth.
This is not 2016. Sen. Sanders had imput on the debate schedule. Sanders was able to restrict the Super delegate voting to the second ballot at the convention. Sen. Sanders has massively outspent the Biden campaign. The election is still in doubt but Sen. Sanders huge defeat in South Carolina and Super Tuesday is the result of the voters rejecting him, not some tin foil conspiracy theory. Before South Carolina most pundits had buried Biden so the media conspiracy is bogus also. Sen. Sanders arguments have been put in front of the voters of the Party. He still could win the Primary and if he does he has my vote. I wanted Harris, she was gone when I voted in California so I voted for Warren. Sanders and Biden were my third and fourth choices. I still think my preferred choices would do a better job then whats left but my views are a minority. The notion that the 'establishment" somehow controlled all the voters while the made their choice in the privacy of the ballot booth is such a insult to those voters. Those notion that only Sanders voters were able to make a free choice and the rest of the voters are drones controlled by a evil machine is so arrogant.
1
Biden,apart from shamelessly hanging onto Obama’s coat tails says what?
His relatives ,not just Hunter, but his brother and sister,And his nieces etc. all have jobs thanks to him.
I
He is against Medicare for all in spite of 27 millions being without health insurance. Something everyone needs now. Guess what, his brother is CEO in a health insurance company.
I cannot believe that this guy, clearly one of the most intellectually challenged candidates may win the nomination.
If he “wins” the election it will actually be coronovirus who wins.
The Democrats seem to be going downhill even from Hillary.
We will get the government we deserve. Last time it was Trump.
5
@LB As a Trump voter, the debates will be telling. Telling but too late. Biden's team want to minimize his public speaking. He can stay on script for 5 or 10 minutes, but, a debate will be 60-90 minutes. Trump may well be accused of "elder abuse".
3
If he becomes the nominee and is then elected, two huge “ifs”, and if he makes his administration just another Wall Street run farce, he will have a very difficult time governing. We progressives are NOT going away. We want the corruption to go away, as do most Americans, and we want better lives. In the meantime, both the Trump wing of the GOP and the old school Republicans will be battling it out to win 2024. Everything is on the line here. I am deeply concerned Biden will be just as corrupt as every other corporate Democrat who led us to such unbearable income inequality these last 40 years. Things must change. If not I predict much unrest. We’ve had it.
3
As always, I enjoy the conversation here. Re: VP Biden's gaffes, I will take those any day of the week over a president who proves on a daily if not hourly basis that he is unfit to lead. Today's example: as the cases spread and the economy teeters, this morning he has nothing better to do than to tweet about Fox News beating MSNBC and CNN or some such totally irrelevant nonsense. Unfit, incompetent, unstable...I've run out of adjectives.
And re: Hunter Biden, turnabout is fair play. In other words, House Democrats should be going full bore after the First Grifters, aka Ivanka, Eric, Don Jr. and their spouses. Why they have let that slide is beyond me.
2
Again another article by the NYT warning voters against Sanders, this time with a jokey title Biden is not toast anymore.
What they did NOT write about is that nothing has changed with Biden since day one of his campaign, just that he is against Universal healthcare (it costs to much) against medicare for all, against the Green New Deal, fee education for low income families, against Wall street reform, breaking up big banks, for lowering Social Security.
In fact he has copied Trump in all of this.
But your writers don’t mention that, they don’t mention that Biden hasn’t come up with a single new idea.
Nothing about the relentless aggression against Bernie by the Democrats leadership, about the cowardly democratic presidential candidates kow-towing to their supreme Democratic Leaders, by the Clintons, Harry Reid, and all other Senate and House members who themselves are all beholden to the Old Croakers in the Democratic leadership.
All of them against the one individual left, the only democrat who actually wants to improve the life of Americans that has been stymied by decades of both parties suppression of voters.
The only voters that neither of them have suppressed are the powerful, the rich the corporations who have supported these so-called leaders and kept Them in power and place.
What has been going on in Russia and China and now in India for a very long is the exact same system.
Both leaderships have been corrupted from the inside by choosing corporations over voters.
3
Mr. Stephens is absolutely right about how foolish it is to look back a century ago for the solution to problems now. After all, Theodore Roosevelt's proposal of a health insurance plan coming everyone is so outdated now that everybody has great coverage now. And who needs those loony progressive ideas from a century ago about income inequality, the mistreatment of workers, and the wasteful spending of money on needless military adventures.
I sure am glad that I live in a country where all those problems were long ago resolved and that once coronavirus passes by, everything will again be wonderful for everybody.
4
"The one thing I really wish for is a president I could, er, trust. Trump may get politically lucky (again!) if the epidemic slides by us in a few weeks without exacting a terrible toll."
Maybe trump is correct. I pray every week that trump is defeated in November but every time the left leaning media goes "all in" on the hope trump looks the fool you lose. It would be safer if you just report on the virus and leave him out of it. All you are doing is giving him more ammunition in his "fake news" arsenal.
3
Please note that Biden said or did nothing to produce his turn-around. No major speech, no new policy announcement, no stunning debate performance. He's the same lackluster candidate his was before Super Tuesday. And he still has to face Trump. Bret is right, implicitly, that the biggest political threat Trump faces is a virus not an empty-suit of a man.
6
If Bernie doesn’t win Michigan today, he is toast. But I doubt he will give up. He has the money to keep going and he will. This will effectively prevent the party from coalescing around one candidate and focusing on Trump. The other candidates realized that last Tuesday and dropped out because they are real Democrats who want to beat Trump. Bernie doesn’t care because he not a Democrat. He’s a spoiler.
2
@Queenie He wants to stay in, believing there is a better than even chance that Biden will stumble. Therefore, he goes into the convention with the most delegates. He's not the spoiler, he is the runner up.
1
@Mike The old dude who just had a heart attack and is exposing himself to the coronavirus is more likely to stumble.
Bret casts aside Stacey Abrams for not having political experience above the state legislature, then proceeds to suggest two women without any political experience entirely? Huh?
Bret is spot on about the Senate abusing investigatory powers for partisan ends. They should certainly expect it to come right back when they're no longer the power holders.
157
@Brian
Brian,
I'm glad you pointed out Mr. Stephens' contradictory statements, but don't sleep on Danielle Allen. She is smarter than any of the candidates and much further to the left than ol' Bret knows, apparently--much further to the left than Biden, and with greater nuance in her thinking. A terrific mind, someone who speaks with eloquence, who'd destroy Pence in a debate, and a black woman to boot. She won't be the nominee, but hey!
10
Bret is a Republican. No further pondering of his bizarreness needed.
@Brian Yeah, that inconsistency is pretty glaring, isn't it?
1
Under Sanders, the party would certainly lose a savage election campaign against Donald Trump. The current candidate from Vermont is far more vulnerable to attack than Joe Biden is. A winning-back of the White House has to be the top goal - rather than some grand changes within the party and for the country. Tens of thousands of middle-ground voters have to be won back from their election support for Trump four years ago. Bernie ain't the ticket to that at this moment in history. IF the party reaches a majority in the House and Senate in the election, some of their dreams will be coming true. But if they stay at home like little kiddies on Election Day, they won't have as grand an opportunity to make change. The party has to stay close to the "middle' of things.
2
I wish Bret could be consistent. He's against Stacey Abrams because of her lack of political experience, and in the next breath he advocates for choosing someone completely outside of politics, like a female astronaut.
3
No, he's no longer toast. But he's definitely white bread.
4
I find myself frequently wondering why the primary process is the way it is. We've watched an endless-seeming slog of infighting between candidates who often should be allies. We've amplified their differences until all that remains are simplified and distorted caricatures. Genuine enmity between camps is created. And then, when a nominee emerges, they have to somehow mend fences and build a coalition with those they've been fighting tooth and nail for months, while adjusting to a new hurricane of attacks from the Republican party.
Imagine a process where we the primary campaign season consists of a series of debates, round tables, and long-form 1:1 interviews hosted and distributed for free by some entity like CSPAN.
Imagine it culminates in nationwide primaries on the same day with a weighted ranked choice voting system.
We all get a say regardless of where we live. We get to vote for our preferences, so our vote counts even if our top candidate doesn't win. There's no need to read the tea leaves on "momentum", or what a candidate's "path forward" looks like.
Then we all get the results at the same time.
We get a nominee, and we can rally behind them and focus in a relatively united way on refining the platform and winning the election. (Or not, of course, for people who feel the Republican platform better matches their values).
1
Judging from his recurring not thinking on the feet oratory..
an English Muffin is more accurate ..
If Joe Biden is no longer toast, and it appears to be the case, then we are all toast.
Moderation is killing us. The American way of life is killing us.
If conservatives and corporate moderates continue to have their way, we are doomed.
7
Oh for God's sake, the way the other 'actors' campaigning as Dems just fell out of the running to conveniently bolster Vanilla Joe's campaign is nothing short of shocking. It should just plainly obvious to anyone who is even slightly aware, that this is just highly orchestrated theatre with Bernie Sanders in the cross hairs. Joe Biden has neither the conviction or intensity to take down Trump. He stands for nothing & his best days are long behind him. He serves this newfound 'leading' position as nothing more than a place holder and it makes me embarrassed and sad as an American.
6
Republicans have been spending taxpayer money to investigate Democrats since they got a majority. Bret assumes Democrats will do the same, they're not that cynical (or organized). What's the final (?) toll on the Clintons? 250 million? Would Monica Lewinsky have been slut shamed if they weren't frustrated at not finding something outside Bill's personal life?
1
So socialism is so god awful terrible, huh Bret? Should I start listing all the programs and departments in the United States that are socialistic for you? How private sector are your police, fire, highway department, library, schools, ......State workers and teachers are way overpaid and given far too many benefits, right? Then why is it that as the 'socialist' network in America has been gradually weakened and/or dismantled things are getting worse, not better? Trickle down is here once again to save the day. So we can blame the fact that things aren't getting better.....income inequality is getting even worse ...on those damned socialist programs. Once they are completely eliminated and you need a credit card to pay for the police officer to respond to the break-in at your house, then and only then will we be great again?
5
When the truth comes out about Biden and his families dealings that generated millions of dollars as a result of the infamous quid pro quo's that Joe Biden had been involved in throughout his political career he will be burnt toast. It will come out. Not from the NYT and WP but from other sources. Maybe even a dossier. It doesn't matter what the media source is as long as it is supported by actual hard verifiable evidence.
4
He's no longer toast, but he's still the same empty-suit.
7
Zephyr Teachout should be running for President. So should Amy Klobuchar. Vice is for guys like Biden.
1
No, no, please no non-politicians or public servants for Veep! The idea that someone can just walk into the Oval Office with no understanding of how the government really works and succeed at running the country is a fantasy that should be rejected as an American myth right up there with George Washington chopping down the cherry tree.
I suppose it is understandable that we still promulgate this legend as the election of Mr. Trump proved another pervasive American myth true - anyone CAN grow up to be President!
Why, Mr. Stephens, do you have "reservations" about a vice-presidential running mate of color "whose political experience doesn’t rise above a state legislature," when you in the same breath throw out the names of several (I'm assuming all-white) women with no political experience at all? Hmm ...
5
It's not just children, Bret. Ulysses S. Grant was plagued by his father, Jesse, who exploited his son's fame to advance several questionable businesse ventures.
The best thing about this column today is when they both started talking about who Joe Biden should nominate to be his running mate.
As of right now, and of course in politics nothing is sacred, it would be Amy. Do that Joe, and we’ll beat Trump! And we’ll finally end up with a woman President. You go Amy!!!
1
It's not a question about whether Biden is no longer toast. The real question Democrats need to ask is : Why should Biden not be toast?
6
Yes, that bastion of misery and sorrow, Sweden. What a calamity for the world.
Bret, it's not as if the only models for socialism are Cuba, Venezuela, and the USSR. Remember that those are all authoritarian, too - maybe that has more to do with it.
And wouldn't you say that "authoritarian" is an accurate descriptor of the current administration as well as the way its allies in Congress have bent over backward to give it absolute immunity?
6
Poor Bret - Still trying to equate socialism with Soviet era communism. Bernie didn't make socialism "reputable", Social Security, Medicare, public schools and roadways and all those aspects of our democratic representative government that are by definition socialist did. And float that theory by a Norwegian. Scandinavia, always deemed among the happiest places on the planet, proves that capitalism and socialism can co-exist with positive results. He can clutch his pearls and whine about how awful trump is all he wants, but he needs to be reminded that he and his crowd made trump possible.
5
I think one of the more important lines in the column was, “If he winds up prodding Biden to be just a little less status-quo, that’ll be a big plus.”
I agree. And the VP pick may also help strengthen the ability to defeat trump. trump is also contributing to the decline in confidence in the current administration.
Play smart a Democrat’s! The stars are aligning for a victory. Please don’t screw it up.
Go ahead, Republicans, investigate Hunter Biden.
Because if Nikki Haley bumps Pence out of the VP slot, guess what?
There are interesting parallels here.
Nikki leaves senior government position to cash in with bad-boy Boeing while concurrently aiming for higher office. Hillary left senior government position to cash in with bad-boy banks while concurrently aiming for higher office.
Troubled Burisma changed leadership and brought in Hunter to capitalize on his political name. He knows nothing about oil and gas. Troubled Boeing changed leadership and brought in Nikki Haley, right after the second Max crash, to capitalize on her political connections. She knows nothing about aerospace.
But there is one big difference: The American people don't give a tinker's damn about Burisma. But they sure as heck might care about the future VP trading influence for money from a corporation that is in serious need of heavier government regulation and scrutiny. Not only because of the Max crashes, but also their sloppiness with the space program contracts.
2
If you want a sneak preview of what's going to happen in November, look at the most recent elections campaign in Israel (I am sure BS is familiar with it). Just a few days before voting, Netanyahu's Justice Minister ANNOUNCED an investigation into a company associated with Benny Gantz, Netanyahu's opponent. Investigative authorities immediately weighed in saying there was no criminality or basis for investigation. But the electoral damage was immediate and decisive, costing Gantz just enough to not win.
Giuliani has been digging for Ukrainian dirt like a Terrier. Test kitchens at the Trump Campaign are busy developing all sorts of Hunter Biden recipes. There will be enough for everyone.
2
The Benghazi witch hunt happened well before Trump was running for office. Trump did not bend the Republicans to his will, he fulfilled the deepest wishes of the Republicans who have not been above corrupting any democratic institution for quite some time so long as it benefits them politically.
1
Bret, could you try to be a little consistent. In the same conversation you dismissed Stacey Abrams because she is inexperienced, only being elected to the Georgia State Legislature, and then you suggest an astronaut with zip experience in politics. You were kidding, right?
In the discussion of an investigation of Hunter Biden, both of you forgot the self-dealing relatives (Jared and Ivanka) in the White House, as well as the ones outside (Don, Jr. and Eric). If the Senate decides to go after Hunter, it’s an invitation for the House to go after the Trump Royal Family. Oh, by the way, I forgot to mention the self-dealing President himself. It’ll be ugly for sure, but there has not been much that is pretty about this administration.
2
While Amy K seems most likely to be VP and she would be a fine choice, can she win Nevada and South Carolina in four years to launch herself into the nomination?
The VP choice should help win 2020, be equipped to be president now and be able to win the nomination in 2024 because no one wants a repeat of this mess.
1
“He may have made the word “socialism” reputable, which it should not be given all the misery and sorrow it has caused throughout the world”
The citizens of Norway, Sweden and others might disagree with Mr. Stephens’ association of Soviet and Chinese tyranny with the healthy, vibrant societies they enjoy.
Use of the word as a dog whistle for autocratic Communism is disingenuous and smacks of Cold War ideology.
4
@JPLA these societies are healthy and vibrant because they are not socialist. Norway, Sweden and others European countries are free-market social democracies. Even if you don’t know the difference, Bernie surely does, which is why he calls himself a socialist rather than a social democrat. And he did not go to Sweden on his honeymoon but to the USSR.
2
@JPLA : not everyone idolizes Scandinavia the way the American left does.
No, it is not Venezuela or USSR under Stalin....but it is a deeply conformist society that does not tolerate dissent or free speech.
1
@Mor did I say I’d vote for Bernie? No.
I pointed out a typical semantic conflation. Stephens knows better.
Obviously Harris and Booker have been promised opportunities within the Democratic party in exchange for supporting Biden. Obviously measures will be in place to protect Biden from exposure as to his mental acuity. Biden is a weak choice to defeat Trump. Sadly, the USA will experience a right wing judiciary so out of touch with the citizenry in the coming years ensuring the seeds for confrontation and conflict in the years to come will be sown. Fortunately the swing toward the left will continue with the rise of the millenial generation who aren't living with cold-war-duck-and-cover-cold-war PTSD and have a more sophisticated understanding of "socialism." The hope for representation that actually favors authentic change is alive with the upcoming generation. We will see USA credibility rise in the global movement to alleviate climate disruption rise with new millenial leadership. We will have a health care system that guarantees access to all people. Bernie may be defeated but the movement for revolutionary change has a solid foundation. Get out of the way if you can't lend a hand!
Regarding VP choice I hope fervently for Sally Yates.
Although I'd like to know more about Governor Lujan Grisham.
If it were not so key for moral, practical, and political reasons now to have a woman on the ticket, it would seem to me that Admiral Stavridis would be a fantastic choice, or for that matter, Cory Booker.
If the nominee (please may it be Joe) picks a woman, bets on how long it will take Jabba to dump Mr. Thumper for Nikki Haley?
1
Three points:
1. When people bemoan Biden's verbal miscues, they forget that many stem from his having incompletely overcome a stutter.
2. March Madness basketball tournaments may be played in empty arenas. Johns Hopkins U. just played a Division III game in front of no fans. The impact of coronavirus is yet to be seen fully.
3. Bret rejects Stacey Abrams because she only has experience at the state legislature level, then names several women with no legislative experience whatsoever.
4
In case you missed it, there is a massive, well-organized, well-funded, and incessant effort underway to destroy the candidacy of Mr. Sanders. Not only is it rampant in the conservative media, it has infected the NYT where pundits like Stephens, Brooks, and Friedman plant the seeds of destruction.
The principles underlying the Sanders candidacy are a threat to many in the wealthy and influential elite, whether it be the threat to corporate profits, threat to corporate and individual privileges, or threat to the interests of certain foreign powers.
The principles of fairness, of the law, and of human rights must be protected and upheld by all Americans of conscience. The forces of destruction must be met by a strong counterforce. While elite money may drive the big media operations, the people can exert their strength in social networks on the internet. Get connected! Find a rallying code (eg."BUCKEM") and start showing your counterforce.
6
@Greg After 40 years in political positions Sanders has very little to show. His biggest achievement appears to be naming post offices and slamming amendments to other people's bills. He is a senator from the smallest, whitest state in the country, with a population slightly over 600,000. The thought of putting him in the WH is a bad joke to most of us Democrats. Oh yeah, and he's not a Democrat except when he needs to mooch off the party. AND, he's got so much baggage the smear campaign the Republicans are just waiting to unleash would be a bloodbath.
5
@MMNY
Now that you have listed all of the false talking points, fasten your seat belt.
The left will no longer sit back and watch corporate democrats sell out the power vested in the people by the Constitution to the wealthy elite.
For forty years the left has watched the democratic party chase the republicans to the right. And by and large they have supported your atrocious candidates.
The DLC and its followers set the table for Trump. They traded the people's power for the Democratic party's power-over and over again.
Now Trump is going eat your latest piece of toast for a snack.
Bret. What about all of the misery, death and grief our American democracy has exhibited on the world, and on people stuck in our own ghettos and in the tent cities all over California. Lucky that you get to be one of the people who has gotten to revel in the great parts of our democracy and our monetary prowess. I do as well. It has treated us very well. But it is ignorant and to be honest malevolent to be blind to the bad we have done. Sugar coating has helped no one. You obviously agree with this when it comes to trump and corona. Admitting to our mistakes does not mean we can’t strive to be better.
4
Bret, your claim about "socialism" is disingenuous. Bernie (and I am not a fan of his), purports to bring the US in line with social democracies of western Europe. I'm not sure why you, someone who is supposedly smart enough to get a column in the Times, is conflating these social democracies, which have the happiest people in the world, with the authoritarian disasters of Venezuela, etc.
It saddens me that Gail blows right by your drastic distortion.
6
"He may have made the word 'socialism' reputable, which it should not be given all the misery and sorrow it has caused throughout the world. It isn’t progressive, either, unless 'progress' means adopting ideas that had their heyday about a century ago." The willful ignorance of this assessment is boggling. Sanders has never, of course, advocated the kind of socialism Stephens and his criminally dishonest ilk keep trying to pin on him, for their own purposes. Sanders' democratic socialism is no more progressive than the policies in effect during Eisenhower's presidency. His health plan would be cheaper than what we're already paying, though yes, we'd pay it collectively instead of individually--to the benefit of all. It's infuriating to keep seeing the same lies again and again. Stephens doesn't have his head in the sand. He knows what he's saying is an outrageous distortion and fundamentally dishonest. We're tired of it. And by the way, Denmark seems to be doing fine, evidently with ideas that Stephens thinks had their heyday a century ago. Can anyone seriously contend that the U.S. is in any way superior to the developed countries that so routinely provide health care, for instance, as a matter of course? Well, yes, we're better at fueling greed over all else.
2
If you've heard some of Biden's speech gaffes lately you might think he's toast. Seems like they're always pointing out that Sanders had a heart attack to insinuate that he might not make it through a 4 year hitch, but he's actually improved his diet and doing quite well. They never talk about how he travels all over the country attracting the biggest crowds and has non stop energy.
Now they're changing the rules so that Biden can sit down while "debating," (if that's what they're going to call it) and trying to pretend that we won't know why. Well I can tell you that Bernie doesn't need to sit down. The whole process is nothing but a sham.
5
I find it interesting that Bret has reservations about Stacey Abrams as a VP candidate because she hasn't risen above state legislator but then later states he's all for non-politicians in politics as long as they are not progressive. Too bad he can't be a little more honest in his inconsistency.
4
Looks like Bret Stephens’ plan of keeping more money to himself and looking out only for #1 is going according to plan. If people can’t afford healthcare, it’s absolutely their fault.
4
What terrifies me is Biden's obvious decline, and how it will be spun into the political narrative.
And for those who suggest I'm falling for Bernie Bro and GOP propaganda, I'd challenge them to compare Biden speeches from several years ago with Biden today. His evident decline is pretty alarming - which means, as others have pointed out, VP choice must be a delicate balance, combining political savvy with real executive abilities.
8
@jrsherrard I have watched all of Biden's speeches and see none of the supposed decline you claim. On the other hand, the nation has watched the rantings of a mad man for the last three plus years. Biden appears to be a Rhodes scholar is comparison.
2
@shep Naw, as VP on the campaign trail, Biden managed to avoid the "lying dog-faced pony soldier" missteps, along with a bevy of clueless anecdotes - including his claim of being arrested in S. Africa and his swimming pool confrontations with Poptart (or whatever the name was).
My fears rise whenever Joe opens his mouth these days and stumbles, misspeaks, or loses his train of thought - and with stakes this high, that just shouldn't be the case.
I'd emphatically agree with your observations about Trump, however, and even raise you one. He's not just a mad man, but increasingly demented as well.
2
I cannot think of a less inspiring candidate than Joe Biden. His only attributes are that he's not Bernie or Donnie. No VP selection can make him palatable or attractive.
Gail and Bret: Beware of what you wish for.
9
@Zev
Doctors take an oath to do no harm for a reason.
First Bret Stephens dismisses Stacey Abrams because her political experience doesn't rise above the state level, then he proposes a historian and an astronaut, people with no political experience at all. You can't have it both ways, Mr. Stephens.
9
Sports, your columns, Stephen Colbert and Seth Meyers are getting me through this nightmarish presidency, Gail Collins. Thanks for the uplift.
1
This conversation was a bit sad, lacking verve.
The media has an enormous influence on popular thought. Voters should think for themselves, investigate candidates on google, and critically decide who would be the best President. But, sadly, they rely on media and the views of pundits.
When the word "socialist" is bandied about by two respected journalists in regard to Sanders, it misinforms NYT readers. Deliberately using "socialism" instead of "democratic socialism" is incorrect and misleading.
Sanders is not a "socialist". He campaigns for the safety nets provided now by Europe and Canada--free healthcare, childcare, higher education, medicine, unions. Europe redistributes wealth through taxes they collect--everyone pays more than the US--ensuring funds are directed to those in need.
The DNC, in a 2016 redux, is pushing a candidate with name-recognition, à la HRC, and mental competency issues. It's scary to imagine him debating a vicious Trump and not losing it.
Sanders is the only vigorous Democratic candidate standing, who can speak clearly, with an army of followers, and who can match Trump. (Gail, I liked Warren, too)
"Bidding adieu" to this man is saying "bienvenue" to Trump.
11
I fear I’m being a poor winner here, but I want to disagree with Gail Collins when she says Bernie Sanders’ “campaign has been very positive, influence-wise.” Sanders is not a Democrat, and never has been, since he ran for congress against the incumbent Vermont Democrat in 1990, with the backing of the NRA, after having promised to vote against Ted Kennedy’s legislation banning assault weapons. His campaigns have had a very negative influence, costing the Democrats the presidency in 2016. Bret Stephens days Sanders “may have made the word ‘socialism’ reputable, which it should not be given all the misery and sorrow it has caused throughout the world.” America has to improve its social safety net; Democrats have always been in favor of that, at least since FDR’s New Deal, and Biden is no exception. But “socialism” is something else. It means the government ownership and management of the economy. Every single example of that has been an abysmal failure. China’s economy did not improve until it introduced a degree of free-market capitalism. The Democrzatic Party has a good tradition to follow: Roosevelt’s New Deal. It does not need to follow the failed experiments of European socialism.
7
No matter what you say, Biden is 77 will be 78 by the time he's inaugurated and is prone to election-preventing gaffs every time he open his mouth. The debate against Trump should be an eye opener to you and millions of undecided voters.
7
As for Biden's vice presidential nominee, the challenge, it seems to me, is to pick someone who is politically acceptable; ready to be president, because we all know that Old Joe is 77 years old; able to grin and bear it when Joe puts his foot in his mouth; and willing to take the worst job in politics. (How many vice presidents in American history have gone on to become president? John Adams, Martin Van Buren, George Bush Sr.--and, after a while in the wilderness, Richard Nixon.) Such a person will be exceptionally difficult to find.
And no, someone with no political experience should not be selected. We need to "get real" that politics is a legitimate career, like law, medicine, architecture: something that a true professional gets better at every day--pr anyway, tries to.
As for Trump's henchmen, co-conspirators, puppets, and patsies: Have we all forgotten the old saying, "If you like down with dogs, you get fleas?"
2
Beats me why too many pundits think Klobuchar should be the VP.
Reasons she shouldn't be: 1) Can't afford to lose Senators. 2) She didn't gain many votes in her campaign and she hasn't polled well. How does that help Biden?. 3) She begins almost every sentence with "I". 4) She talks too much. When endorsing Biden she finally stopped talking about herself and her campaign and remembered to add "And Joe Biden will do these things too", or words to that effect.
Please Joe - pick someone who isn't currently a member of Congress.
3
@Pat Boice
She had to promote herself in a crowded field and navigate Mayor Pete's inexplicable rise. Faulting all the candidates for their egocentrism would leave us nominating Warren's dog if it could survive the scandal from the misuse of campaign burritos.
If Senate Republicans are bent on investigating Hunter Biden perhaps House Democrats should think of doing the same with Jared Kushner and the three eldest Trump kinder. Speak of nepotism! What are Kushner's credentials for being placed in charge of Mideast peace proposals and immigration policy? What qualifications do Don Junior, Eric and Ivanka have for their high-placed jobs at Trump Industries that no doubt came at the expense of long-serving junior executives? I don't know why Joe Biden isn't asking these questions in defense of his son but congressional Democrats clearly should be.
10
This is just Bret Stephens latest chapter in his ongoing effort to demonize Mr. Sanders and prevent a Sanders presidency. He does this, not out of the interests of the American people, but out the interests of a foreign government that has much to lose if Sanders wins.
9
Paraguay?
@Greg
Bernie does not need anyone's help, he's got this!
When it comes time to choose a running mate (whether it be Sanders or Biden), one can hope and pray that there is not a repeat of the disasterous choice of Sarah Palin as John McCains' pick. There are more than a few women who would be soundly qualified for this job, and it may be the most important choice the nominee will ever have and the best way to beat Trump in November.
I wonder if Mr. Stephens has any elderly relatives and friends who can't afford their prescription drugs, or do not have access to dental care, or are unable to receive routine eye exams. He cares about their well-being now, when he or she is vulnerable to virus, but he's seemingly unconcerned about expanding their access to care that could significantly improve their well-being because it's scary socialism.
13
Unlike many of the reactionary Never Bernie No Matter How Much I Hate Trump, Stephens seems to fluctuate from his pavlovian reaction to Sanders and a real actual soft spot for him. His joke about being Saderista when he sees price gauging probably does bring him a moment of connection to his great socialist grand uncle whom he loved but would never vote for. Sadly it is his pavlovian conditioning that usually wins out. Though he could be wavering in his Not Even Warren if she is the vice president. This and a token won't get you on the subway. Since at the end of the day inflicting social misery is what Bret at least at this point continually opts out for.
5
For all the talk of toxic supporters, Biden Democrats have sent a loud scornful message to the people demanding urgent action on health care, student debt, climate and many other issues that their voices don’t matter. That’s the tone. Scorn. Mock. Shame. People won’t forget it
10
@gene The only scorning, mocking and shaming I'm hearing is from Sanders supporters, who just can't believe their man has not ignited the groundswell they were so sure was coming. Has to be a plot by the oligarchs or the DNC or somebody, since it can't be that most Democrats don't find Bernie an attractive candidate. The voices of those who care about the issues you list DO matter -- so they'd better start showing up at the polls and using them.
3
@gene
Bernie is not a democrat! You can bet once the election is over he'll revert back to independent.
@gene I do not know a single Biden supporter who fits your narrative. On the other hand, when Bernie supporters repeatedly post comments on the internet like "moderate Democrats are the reason Trump won in '16", but then wonder why they are shunned by lifelong Democrats, I have to wonder why Bernie's folks are so utterly tone deaf.
1
To claim that socialism has caused "misery and sorrow throughout the world" is the worst form of ignorance I have seen displayed in the NY Times since the run up to the invasion of Iraq. Public education systems, the excellent health care systems of Scandinavian countries, cheap and clean water, public infrastructure, national parks, vaccines, Social Security: please explain how these have caused misery and sorrow? This country once valued the common good. Yes, authoritarian governments have down much evil under the guise of socialism. Just as has been occurring within capitalist systems.
14
Scandinavian governments are not socialist. They are capitalist systems with generous social programs paid for by high taxation. It seems socialism has no specific meaning anymore so it just means what people want it to mean.
2
@Leila L : so…make up your minds, liberals!
If we say the Scandinavians are "socialist", you scream "no! they are not! they are SOCIAL DEMOCRATS" or some such blather.
Then you insist they are socialists and this proves socialism is the ideal form of governance.
Vaccine are now socialism? who knew!
Cheap and clean water? hello! FLINT MICHIGAN! and btw, thanks to the Feds & their crazy regulations, my water now costs $175 a month (vs. $50 just a few years back). That is not "cheap".
National Parks? was going to go, but the Feds ended the Senior Pass for $10 for life … 9 days before my 62nd birthday, knocking me out of the system. Now I can't go. BTW, that was under OBAMA.
Biden was never toast. Pundits were gazing into their instant pots for a quick fix on their faves while their toasters sat in the cabinet without any bread in them.
76
@Carol
Biden is burnt toast not toast. Never Trumpers (like Bret Stephens) like him because he has no idea that the times are a’ changing and need some strong leadership.
@Carol He might not have been toast, but he was certainly at high risk until literally all the other candidates dropped out and supported him at the behest of their party leadership and promises of political career advancement. If they'd stayed in and actually fought Biden on the very things they said about him on the debate stage, Bernie would have been the plurality choice. Hands down.
2
@Dustin I don't want a plurality choice. That's what we already have in the WH.
I did not think of Admiral James Stavridis. I know that there is pressure for a woman, but I gotta admit that Stavridis would be a great pick. Wow. Game changer.
31
@PB No. No. No. There is always at least one tone deaf comment in Bret's portion of the conversation and this is the worst offense in today's column. (The Stacey Abrams swatting aside is a close second.) I have many friends around the country who live in states that have yet to vote in primaries and they are truly bereft they do not have a female candidate for which to vote. All of the female effort that went into supporting candidates who returned the House to the Democrats deserve at least a female VP.
84
@PB I worked at Tufts with Stavridis. Really smart guy - internationally focused. Cares about the country, but he didn't think Trump would win. All he had to do was leave the bubble of the Boston/Medford and see all the Trump signs in the burbs (working-class burbs). I did. I was not surprised Trump won.
2
Can you think of a political figure more deserving of a swatting than Stacy (I’ll be prez by 2040, but I’ll condescend to consider being veep in the interim)) Abrams? How about accomplishing something - anything! - first?
3
Biden is not toast now, but will be come November. Apart from his lapses, he carries a lot of baggage, eg his son. I want to see him explain that away.
9
@Bill
"My son is an independent adult who makes his own choices. Some of them are not the wisest. He is not running for office."
How hard is that?
12
@Bill All Biden has to do is turn it around and start talking about Trumps abuse of office (emoluments, Don Jr. Eric and Ivanka) non-stop.
@Alan : oh, hey -- does that work with Ivanka and Jared and Don Jr, too?
It maybe too early yet, but, I think we are all getting somewhat giddy about Trump's exit from the White House. I keep thinking of that scene from the Perfect Storm with the ship trying to make it over that enormous wave---that is where Trump is right now--and as Captain he is yelling to his crew, just a fake wave.
Black voter here. Bernie Sanders is toast.
And he has himself to blame for it.
Not only has he been steadfastly obstinate about growing out his base, he has managed to alienate the one group of Democratic voters who always come out to vote.
Namely, African-Americans -- and even though they might represent a small percentage of the overall electorate, they are one group that can be counted on.
And because of this obstinance Sanders lost South Carolina (AGAIN!), only to top it off by canceling his rallies in Mississippi in order to go to Michigan and concentrate on his favored group; white working-class and college students in an effort to pull off the same win against Clinton in 2016.
But perhaps the most egregious mistake Sanders has made is in avoiding the 50th Anniversary "Bloody Sunday" March across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama. after repeatedly boasting about how much he did for Civil Rights and even recently touting a commercial with Obama.
Symbolically speaking, his absence says it all.
Michigan is a very diverse state, and while Sanders and his campaign may think no one's noticing -- they're wrong.
After three years of the racist Trump administration, and now recent reports of Russia stoking white supremacists before the election, Black people are watching.
And so is the world.
279
@N. Smith
Agreed. Cancelling his visit says he is desperate, but this might have been the point of cancelling: to let the young people like those who did not turn out on Super Tuesday that the fire alarm has been pulled.
Bernie campaign was over on Super Tuesday. At this point he is chasing symbolic victories, and Michigan is the only place voting today where that is possible.
18
Should Sanders campaign in Red States that he ( or any Democrat) will certainly lose in November because they have a significant number of black voters? Or should he focus on Purple States that HRC lost in 2016 that are key to winning votes in the electoral college and the outcome of the presidency? Striking the correct balance between these two competing interests doesn’t sound like racism or ignoring the interests of black voters.
21
@N. Smith what exactly did Bernie do to dissuade black voters? and what did Biden do to persuade them?
27
The moment the Rs in the Senate start investigating Hunter should be the moment that the Ds in the House start investigating Jared and Ivanka. Talk about a target rich environment.
11
Dear Gail and Bret: Thank you for your columns and especially this one during our dark days. This too shall pass.
2
With his off-the-wall vice-presidential suggestions Mr. Stephens reveals that he, too, possesses that odd Republican bone in his head that leads to choices like Dan Quayle, Clarence Thomas, Harriet Miers and Sarah Palin. What is it with these guys, anyway?
8
Nice to see you both come over to our(dem.) side on this topic for a change. Sanders is behaving like a trump wannabee, lying, desperately seeking to be first to do this or that, dividing the electorate with fear, and suggesting programs that will never happen. Joe has faults but he has shown all us that he can unite most of the dems when needed. I believe he will muster the needed majority of dem electorate for 2020 and even overcome the shortcomings of an antiquated electoral college.
re: trump's perfect this or that, you can tell he has the perfect tan, just look at the color of inside his collar when he wears open collar shirt.
2
"He may have made the word “socialism” reputable, which it should not be given all the misery and sorrow it has caused throughout the world. It isn’t progressive, either, unless “progress” means adopting ideas that had their heyday about a century ago." Substitute 'conservatism or Republican" for socialism Bret and i think you have it right.
6
So, Harris and Booker performed badly, but Amy was a smashing success? Really? Why would Biden need another Senator as his VP? He had been in the Senate forever. If he didn't learn how the Senate works, Amy could not save him.
1
Several months ago in its trivial-administration in ramping-up to the debates, I offered that the Democrat's National Committee would cause the loss of the 2020 election for president. While having no cause today to change my mind, I surely hope to be wrong.
2
Bret,
If Stacy Abrams doesn't have the requisite political background, then why would Admiral Stavridis be any better?
He went from the military into private equity. Is that better political training than the Georgia legislature?
9
Bret: Only one quibble. That Hunter Biden had no obvious qualifications.
- GWB appointed him to Amtrak Boad in 2006; he was approved unanimously by the Senate.
- He served as Chairman of the World Food Program USA. - - - CEO and Chairman of Rosemont Seneca Advisers.
- Adjunct Professor of Georgetown's Foreign Service Program.
- Graduate of Yale Law School.
There's more I could list, but I'll stop now. Republicans are just going to believe what they want to believe. Was the Burisma board not a good idea? No of course not. But don't say he didn't have qualifications. Board members do not really have to understand the industry. They look at the big picture and bring outside experience.
34
@Mary Ann
You should stop now. And then try to remember that Donald Trump, Jr. and his brother Eric are in principal positions at the Trump Foundation and other businesses, while Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner are slowly taking over the world.
Meanwhile, this president is raking in big bucks hand-over-fist and jetting around the world on the taxpayer's dime.
GUESS who the real problem is?
We don't need perfect. We need to make sure Trump doesn't have a second term. Nit picking about a candidates flaws after Trump is beyond clueless. Biden is a capable, decent person who genuinely cares about people. The prospect of Sanders or Trump in the White House is sending moderates streaming to the polls. Trump can mock Biden all day long to a public that considers the polluted source- what Trump says means nothing.
21
The dark cloud of Covid-19, and oncoming recession, has a silver lining -- defeat of Donald J. Trumo. Will it be worth the price? America is at war with itself, about Trump. A strong economy means Trump likely gets re-elected. Both are terrible outcomes, but one is more terrible ...
2
@It's a Pity
We will survive an economic downturn a recession even a depression, HOWEVER we will NOT survive another 4 years of donnies republican administration in any form.
24
@It's a Pity
Consider the alternative, which is more likely given Trump's survival skills. He will act swiftly and decisively to contain the virus and protect the economy. His approval rating will rise just enough to help him win the election.
Many are thankful the market was this high when the virus hit. Thank goodness there was a cushion.
4
There is, unfortunately, little reason to believe this “will be over” anytime soon. Despite the yellow one’s wishful thinking, I suspect the disease and subsequent economic impact will continue throughout the election season.
“The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice”
Hoping...
1
Oh, he's not doddering. His problem is he was a stutterer in his youth. When faced with a quick response issue, stutters tend to hesitate and lose their stream of consciousness. They generally think through their thought before they speak it keps them from stuttering. Think about King's Speech. An ad should be made that shows how he overcame the impediment to become V.P.
17
@Doug Horn It doesn’t really matter; given his advanced age it will be perceived as cognitive decline (fairly or not).
3
@Doug Horn Great article in The Atlantic about Biden's stutter. . . makes me like him even more.
@Tim
AS one who is around age 70, I find your comment to be unbelievably ageist. You should take a look to see how successful - and cogent! - many over age 70 are. How about Einstein? How about Dali? And....how about Trump? Oh - wait. He's only, what...40? Uh-huh.
Actually, Biden is toast but buttered nicely by Bloomberg's money. He was broke and will soon be a "puppet" candidate for the party.
8
@AACNY
Really unpleasant, unkind.
@JM Its true and should be said, this is not a time for soft soap and meaningless words.
We need to have a conversation about Grandpa Joe and if he is suffering from some sort of mental decline or dementia. It is hard to watch him stumble through not his words, but his thoughts. I don't think he's up for the job.
11
I do wonder if all the people who go on about Biden's flubs watch entire speeches or have done a look back on clips from 20 years ago. The news will pull the flub and repeat it a hundred times, without showing the rest of the perfectly coherent talk. And I grew up in Delaware, we've been hearing the gaffes and stumbles since forever, nothing to do with dementia. As opposed to the idiotic drivel coming from DJT, the bulk of Biden's message is measured and quite intelligent.
@Jeffrey K didn't stop Reagan
@Jeffrey K
I guess it doesn’t bother you that donnie makes no sense when his speaks.
You think donnie is up for the “job”?
Because the Democratic party promoted Biden instead of Harris, Booker or even Warren, I can only conclude that the Democrats believe that a man who has twice the baggage that Hillary had and who is being hidden from the public, because of obvious cognitive decline, has a better chance of beating Trump than Bernie Sanders. This must be a joke. Good luck with that.
11
Biden's son was not paid the market wage for his expertise--- $0.00/month---but some $50,000/month. Whether or not it is criminal has depended on legislators like his dear old Dad.
Should Biden be the nominee, a Senate investigation of his son, replays of his cognitive losses in TV ads, and the unwillingness of Bernie supporters to go along with the Democrat Establishment, translate to just one thing: four more years of Trump.
9
Tell me more about the foot bump, Gail. . . So glad to hear, Bret, that you're feeling okay but of course are worried about your elderly relatives and friends. A compassionate man for sure! Happy Super Tuesday II to you and yours.
3
If democratic socialism causes misery then explain the fact that Denmark consistently ranks as the happiest country in the world.
25
@Bob Farkas
They are a much smaller nation with less Ethic diversity than our nation.
They don’t have citizens who HATE their fellow citizens, people with darker skin practice a different religion or speak with an accent.
That’s why.
5
Denmark does not call itself Socialist. That’s the problem. Bernie has spent years calling himself a Socialist, mostly for the shock value. Well, that may have been acceptable for people in one small state, but there are too many people in the rest of the country for which it is a deal breaker. Bernie’s ideas are not radical in comparison to the rest of the world, it’s just the brand people dislike. And Bernie is way too stubborn to change his brand.
5
@Bob Farkas : all white homogenous tiny nation? maybe they are happy in Denmark because they love being all-white!
The fact they SELF-IDENTIFY as "happy" does not tell you WHY -- you are ASSUMING happiness comes from socialism, but nothing in the rankings say that.
The glass house people in the Republican Senate had better not start throwing stones investigating Hunter Biden. The list of children who would not have the jobs they have in the White House unless Daddy was Trump is long and a waste of taxpayer dollars: Don Jr, Eric, Lara, Ivanka and Jared have the positions they have due to being children of Trump.
Pres. Obama and VP Biden didn't haul their children along to important world meetings and have them sit in for the discussions. Voters should remember well the picture of cute little Ivanka sitting with the leaders of important countries with a hank of her hair in each hand smiling like she was 12.
Bringing all his kids to meet the Royal Family in the UK was too odd to be believed; guess the transport on Air
Force One was cheap. And the latest "bring your kids to work" trip when the Trump kids went along to India was another Taxpayer rip-off.
Listing all the adult sons who had jobs in Ukraine either in gov. or in corporations was amazing. Hunter Biden was in the company of his peers who gladly took advantage of their fathers' names to be part of the economic handouts in Ukraine.
These adult Trump children have children of their own. Don't they ever stay home to be with them?
Nepotism is a cultural practice in Washington D. C. Spouses get jobs closely related to their elected loved ones. It only becomes an issue when they get paid and don't come to work.
19
@Lynda
This also goes for Mitch McConnell and his wife. Nepotism.
Tiffany Trump has my full support and empathy,
Mitch McConnell will declare that because of the corona virus and HunterGhazi, it's simply too close to the election to hold an election during an election year. The Supreme Court will agree and Donald will automatically get a second term...
6
Is Mr.Biden's mental state going to be given serious consideration? His neurons just sort of sparkle and fizzle once in a while. This is not an opinion, it has been recorded many times. Perhaps it is not a deep thing, just an undisciplined way with words. But it should be considered seriously right now.
5
Well, if you're going to start nominating non-politicians for VP, what about PBS correspondent Lisa Desjardins? - smart, articulate and can speak and read Russian (could be useful).
6
Yes Joe Biden is no longer toast. He is the last hope of the Democrats to take back the white house. He is not at all the last hope of the nation because he has nothing to offer the nation.
44
@Girish Kotwal
I beg to differ with the statement "he has nothing to offer the nation". He has sanity, humility, humor, honor, sacrifice, and stability - all characteristics that are woefully lacking in our currant leader. Oh, and a ton of experience about how government works - or should work with competent people in charge.
51
@Girish Kotwal how about decency and civility? Furthermore, he will not surround himself with swamp dwellers.
35
@Girish Kotwal
Nothing except, perhaps, a return to civility, honesty, and civic duty in the White House. I guess those count as nothing to you.
35
Why do I keep getting the sense only one person is ever expressing an opinion in these conversations?
9
Giving the veep slot to a moderate would be a disaster. You need to offset Biden's conservativism and lack of a plan around the things that matter most to Americans right now (healthcare and the climate). You need a way to bring back the progressive base who feels the Democratic voters have been manipulated into voting for Biden because he's "electable". (See the stories on NPR and also the NYT about how many on Super Tuesday voted for their second or third choice candidate, not their first choice, due to concerns about "electability".)
Strangely, when you look at polls, the one who most Democrats adore is Warren. But they either cast their lot with Sanders (the progressive frontrunner) or Biden (the moderate frontrunner).
And given the degree to which Biden is slipping, someone sharper and with a plan for everything would be just the thing his presidency would need.
9
Bernie is right. Warren was right too.
I wish Democrats had the courage to back them.
But they obviously don’t. It’s pretty much over. Unless Bernie shocks the world this week he really ought to wrap up his campaign. We’re just going to have to settle for the lesser evil, AGAIN. I doubt it works and I know it won’t amount to much even if the latest center-right wing corporate neoliberal wins, but that’s what the primary voters have chosen.
9
@Tim parroting claptrap about "neo-liberal, center right" may make you feel virtuous. Biden is a real Democrat who is a liberal. Sanders has freeloaded of Democrats, while holding his nose as if he is somehow not another career politician with an angle. He accomplished very little because he is a rigid ideologue posing as a socialist representing a rural state running on wealth of trust find hippies and rich corporate types from New York and Boston who have second homes. Bernie should do Volvo ads.
3
@Displaced yankee : Have you ever been to Vermont, let alone lived here? I'm back in Vermont after a long absence. Yes, there are wealthy retirees and some trust-fund hippies. Mostly it's poor, working class, and barely middle-class families.
And all those wealthy second home owners? They can't vote here. They vote in their home states.
3
Bret Stephens dismisses the stalwart Stacey Abrams for lack of experience in national political office, and then starts throwing out names of white folk with zero political experience— suddenly he’s not even against a non-politician as VEEP to an aged President. My jaw hurts from how quickly it dropped.
16
@Pragmatic
Stacey Abrams is a mess. She would be a disastrous pick. Blindly checking identity boxes is not a smart move.
2
Things you can be sure of in this life: the sun will rise, the tax man cometh, and Bret Stevens will remain a broken record of tired opinions.
12
Democrats would do themselves a favor by calling Hunter Biden what he is, a dysfunctional low class opportunists with no moral compass who has profited off his father's position in government. I believe it was two weeks ago I saw a puff piece in the LA Times about Hunter finding his zen through painting. Please. The only way to neutralize the Hunter Biden controversy is to fully report all of his social failings, especially the ongoing paternity litigation. Once that story is completely out the nation can move on to the next shiny object.
8
@johnlo The pairing thing worked for W
Adding to the list of who fails upwards by trading on their father (in laws) name- ivanka, don jr., Eric, Jared.
17
It's gonna be so funny to see people realize who they voted for. The media duped them into this guy with clear mental degeneration. When he finally speaks to Trump it will all become clear and the look of dejection on everybody's faces will be beautiful.
10
@Mike : Do you really think Biden's mental decline is a secret at this point? The people who voted for him obviously don't care. He's not Trump; that's all they care about.
3
@Rupert : We Democrats had a lot of not-Trumps to vote for. Sanders, Warren, Bloomberg -- all were not Trump, fully mentally functional, and physically able to stand for a 2-hour debate.
4
@Mike
Bloomberg's money will be propping him up until election day. Biden is the ultimate puppet right now.
3
Sorry, Bret, but you left off the most egregious example of trading on daddy’s position: Ivanka and Jared. Name another Republican administration in which these two would be “senior advisors”, aka babysitters.
26
Someone please remind me, did Jared’s grand peace plan create harmony in the Mideast?
I must have missed the article about the historic success.
7
@Delcie
Nancy Reagan and her astrologers were advisers to Reagan when he was losing his mind to Alzheimer's and they kept it form the public. She was about as qualified as Ivanka and Jared.
Fun fact: legal precedent for appointing your family members as actual paid advisors was achieved during the Clinton administration.
2
Why does it matter who his VP nominee is when he's almost guaranteed to lose in the general election anyways? The Democrats should be ashamed of themselves for nominating the worst possible candidate two elections in a row. Losing to Trump once didn't teach them a lesson, maybe losing twice will?
10
@mike Since Biden isn't going to lose to Trump, I will be interested to see how you spin your opinion the day after.
Hey...why worry about whether it's Biden or Sanders who gets the nomination...why worry about Biden's choice for VP...why worry about Republicans conducting persecution inquisitions of political enemies...?
The most salient matter before us is the meltdown of America. Prompted by the Coronavirus.
The Coronavirus is a bright light shining on the incompetence of Trump and his administration. The Coronavirus is disrupting the world economy and Trump's nativism and border walls can't keep America's economy from being infected. The Coronavirus is frightening people, sickening people, killing people and Trump's lies can't hide the truth.
The Coronavirus is the catalyst for America's meltdown. It knows no partisanship. It is affecting Republicans as well as Democrats. When November rolls around the voters of all persuasions will be ready to elect Micky Mouse over Trump. And as a Democrat is elected and Trump is ejected, so will Americans show many of Trump's Republican enablers in Congress the exit door.
7
The Dems sobered up enough to realize that Bernie would enable a Trump victory, which would mean the end of the Supreme Court, environment, Social Security, and Medicare.
At least with Biden, the Dems have a good chance to take the senate, keep the house, and fix the judiciary.
Joe will surround himself with intelligent people who will want to solve the problems Trump has created.
15
A repeated theme in these comments is that the vice-presidential nominee should be a woman, simply because she is a woman.
This is a qualification one way or the other?
How about that the nominee should be the person best-qualified to take over should the president be incapacitated or die? Or bowing to pragmatic politics, the one who will attract the most votes to the ticket!
The great objective of the civil rights movements was that opportunity should not be restricted on the basis of immutable characteristics such as gender, skin color, or more recently, sexual orientation. Said the Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King, we should judge people on the basis of their character rather than the color of their skin or some other artificially constructed identity group.
By any objective standard, we made great progress in this country in realizing Dr. King's dream. Yet in recent years, academia, supposedly the place where great minds search for truth, there has been a completely ahistorical insistence on the grievances of historically marginalized groups as the simple-minded answer to everything. With a straight face, some people insist that climate change is racist!
As a Never-Trump former Republican now independent, I applaud Democrats for boosting Joe Biden, whom, with all his flaws, is someone I can vote for. Whether his choice for VP is a straight white male or a black lesbian, if best qualified, I will be right behind them.
His or her "Identity group" should not matter!
120
@D I Shaw I agree. Unfortunately with the state of our identity politics these days gender and race have to be considered when choosing a running mate.
3
@D I Shaw : Give me a break with this nonsense already. There's no objective way to determine who is "best qualified," whatever that means.
When a woman has become VP or President, then we'll stop insisting that a woman has to become VP or President.
18
@D I Shaw Generally I abhor identity politics, but I do disagree with you here. Women are clearly at an extreme disadvantage in running for President and it isn’t right. One way to mitigate that is have a female VP who can show people (including young women) that a woman can do this kind of work and does belong in the White House. Obviously she needs to be qualified but fortunately there are plenty of women who fit the bill (Warren, Klobuchar, Harris, Abrahams just to name a few).
32
Joe Biden has moved from toast to toast of the town. Let's hope he's up to it.
6
I'd bet money that the VP nominee will be either Kamala Harris or Amy Klobuchar, either choice being an asset to the ticket. And I'd love to see Michelle Obama as our UN Representative. Of course, first Biden has to win. Here's hoping.
8
@Louis
My money would say that Stacey Abrams would be a better choice from a strictly demographics point of view.
Both Kamela and Amy should stay put in the Senate for now.
California, I think Is already a lock for the DEMs.
Perhaps also Minnesota.
We need representation from the south and also
a person of color face.
It might not be nice to say, but hey, that's the reality.
This has been driving me crazy— if we’re all coughing and sneezing into our elbows now, how does the elbow bump help stop the spread of germs?!?
2
@Alejandro F. : Only our elbows will get sick.
Seriously, though, we don't touch our faces with our elbows. We do touch our faces with our hands. Therein lies the important difference. You should assume that all surfaces, including your clothes, are covered with germs even if you aren't touching people (you can, for example, unknowingly walk through a cloud of germs created, e.g., by a person who was previously there and sneezed, any time you enter a room) and act accordingly.
Bump right elbows. Sneeze into left elbows.
1
Biden will likely appoint a who's who of Wall Street Oligarchs to his cabinet.
My best guesses for VP are Harris, Klobuchar, or maybe even a republican woman.
They're going to go full mask off.
6
If we are going to have nepotism in the oval office, it should be Biden's brand of nepotism, not Trumps brand.
Forget about those young progressive voters. They don't vote, and are probably not really 'life-long' Democrats anyway.
All they seem to care about is the planet, and equality. Now is not the time to worry about such things.
We should really try to attract those ordinary, rural voters in red states that voted for Trump last time by taking a more reasonable position on gun control, corporate tax cuts, and abortion.
If we are going to have populism, we should have right wing populism, not that horrid left wing populism.
5
@ExPDXer “ If we are going to have populism, we should have right wing populism, not that horrid left wing populism.”
Congratulations, I think you just discovered Biden’s campaign slogan!
1
Congratulations! You guys are good at looking in the rearview mirror and telling us what you see.
4
Funny thing is Biden is taking about a Republican VP. Thats how far the Corporate Democrat party has taken us.
5
An intelligent and civilized conversation but one that mentioned and really avoided answering the major question of the moment i.e. Is the coronavirus alarm worldwide all out of proportion and causing major damage not simply to the world economy but to many human lives, or is it truly justified?
1
The overriding issue among voters I know is who stands the best chance of ridding our country of Trump. Biden represents dignity and normalcy. People are hungry for a restoration of sanity. The ship of fools in the White House is destroying all we hold dear.
The disastrous "response" to the health crisis is the final straw.
Time to clean house.
18
The reason Sanders is adopting plans that had their heyday a century ago is because that's about when Bismarck enacted sensible and effective social security policies in Germany. A generation later Tommy Douglas got a working health care system in place in Canada. The US is simply straggling, and should have gotten these things done long ago.
16
Someone recently asked in a column why the Democratic Party abandoned the working class. That's backwards. The working class (mostly white, male) became Reagan Democrats, eventually Trump voters, as union jobs were outsourced and off-shored and the GOP peddled its anti-big government, anti-regulation, anti-immigrant biases. How's that workin' for them?
Hunter Biden is not the first or only kin to a famous relative to parlay his connections into a cushy job. Kennedys, Bushes, Roosevelts, Rockefellers, etc. have used similar "qualifications." Many have served honorably and well.
6
@Fran B. Not to mention all the Trump kin!
From a conversation that I had with a former Yang Ganger who is now in Kentucky, trying to beat Mitch McConnell (good luck with that): The word around the campfire is that Biden has already worked out a deal with Stacey Abrams - There is some public evidence to support that - And that's a winning ticket; It checks all of the boxes. Abrams then becomes the heir-apparent - Probably in four years - And that would be just fine by me. President Abrams has a really nice ring to it.
6
Completely on board here with Mr. Stephens's questioning of Stacy Abrams as a Veep choice. Seems like an interesting and capable enough person, but ready to be a heartbeat away from becoming the most powerful person on earth after a few terms in the Georgia statehouse?
That said, then he floats an astronaut and an author as possible choices, neither of them with any political experience whatsoever aside from the usual internal jockeying familiar to every workplace. Say what?
This blithe assumption that anyone smart and capable in their own field can just step into running the world really has to go. Politics is a profession at every level, and a particularly challenging and tortuous one at the presidential level. And as Mr. Stephens has certainly noticed, we're stuck with a rank amateur now (who also, inconveniently, happens to be a sociopathic narcissist and all-around bad human being), the result of which will continue to darken our nation's days through next January (and only until then, let us pray...).
22
@Andrew Hidas You've got me wondering why any politician would be the best president! Their defining qualities are an ability to carry their prejudices to the people in a salesman-like manner and to manipulate the law as their lights determine. The smartest and best, ideally, would be the senior pundits like George Will, or old historians.
@Andrew Hidas I agree w/your points as to Stephens' list including an astronaut (huh?) and an author (better than an astronaut by an inch) in his choices as possible veeps for Biden. He also seems to have an automatic immune response to anything with the name "socialist" in it, a rather simple and foolish overreaction for an adult columnist.
1
First Brett Stephens said, “Stacey Abrams is a name that is on everyone’s lips, but I have reservations about nominating someone whose political experience doesn’t rise above a State Legislature.” Then soon after he said, “How about someone entirely outside of politics...I’m all for non-politicians in politics, so long as they aren’t failed real-estate moguls.” So which is it, Mr. Stephens? Our was this a verbal miscue? And I am not a history or world government expert, but isn’t Mr. Stephens referring to communism, not socialism, when he states, “[Sanders] may have made the word “socialism” reputable, which it should not be given all the misery and sorrow it has caused throughout the world.” As many people have noted, a number of European governments have democratic-socialist (or socialist-democratic, take your pick) governments that are considered to be a successful hybrid without turning into autocratic oligarchies.
24
Cheer up Guys. There is plenty of time for the coronavirus to wane, for Biden to make a major stumble, for the stock market to surge back, and for Donald Trump to be elected to a second term. You are being altogether too gloomy.
27
@Mad-As-Heaven-In -
Sigh. You may be correct. Plenty of time for the news cycles to advance far beyond today's crises.
3
@Mad-As-Heaven-In Better yet, there's plenty of time for Trump and his entire administration to be stricken with COVID-19. We can all hope, can't we?
22
@Mad-As-Heaven-In
I am unaffiliated.
I agree with Mr. Stephens on very few issues. Even his standard never- Trump conservatism is a danger to Americans and the world because it cannot address climate change adequately.
That said, I agree the two survivors of the Democratic candidate winnowing are too old; I agree that V.P. Biden shows signs of mild to moderate cognitive impairment; I do not agree with Stephens' unreasonable fear of the word "Socialism". Unfortunately, that fear is shared by many Americans indoctrinated during the Cold War, making them less likely to vote for Sanders.
Though I mildly disapprove on these bases of the eventual winner of the Democratic presidential nomination, whoever it is, and his Democratic administration will be better for the welfare of all Americans and for the survival of the (only) human race than our current corrupt officeholders.
6
Kamala Harris for VP
Charismatic, beautiful, intelligent, gritty, tough, African-American, Indian-American and represents the 5 largest economy in the world.
6
@John,
"Charismatic, beautiful..."
Because personal appearance is so important.
1
Yes, Biden is no longer toast. He's butter. In a debate, Trump could spread him on the floor. But realizing this, I predict that Biden will never debate Trump. Instead, as the Senate goes about its investigation of Burisma, Joe will campaign a la Bloomberg, with sparkling pithy ads. And if he gives any speeches at all, they will be kept short and specific - no discussions of record players, no mixing up his wife with other people. Excellent strategy. Really, the only strategy he has. The question is, will the American people be willing to elect a befuddled and politically damaged candidate as President?
13
@Sarah O
Biden vs Trump in a debate will be fine. He knows all about Trump's deficiencies and will acquit himself wit honor.
Trump will be himself, repeating memes we can guess even now - Hunter and Hill and everything Obama. It won't matter except to his base.
Will either score a KO? Unlikely, but then, debates don't mean so much these days, as so many voters know TODAY who they'll vote for.
2
@Sarah O Joe is going to be elected by republicans who want him to save their party from the Trump monster. They were totally destroyed by Trump. Fortunately there are many Democrats who are republicans, like Joe for instance, who will keep Wall Street and corporate America safe. So, Joe will win and maintain the status quo that has wealth streaming from the working class in the direction of the 1%.
Thank you Joe Biden for saving the republican party. We can now know that there will be no change to anything. Just more pain for the poor, who will have company since they will be joined by working Americans.
Americans can never support Bernie because his policies would help everyone, and we as Americans would rather suffer before we would help all those people we hate.
1
You’ve got to be kidding: will the American people elect a befuddled candidate? We already have one! And he’s not just rhetorically impaired, he is a moral failure as well. You tell me that Trump will make toast of Biden? On what basis? Just this morning I read in this very paper that Trump called MBS his “friend.” The truth of the matter is that it will be Trump, not Biden, who will refuse to debate, just like he did in one instance in 2016. Finally, I’ve read many more accounts of Trump’s increasing impairment than Biden’s.
People don’t need the same old tired ideas coming out of the so called Political Establishment - whether Democratic or Republican - because it is clear that these ideas don’t help ordinary Americans in their quest to live more securely, peacefully, and looking forward to the future for themselves and their children.
Mr. Biden unfortunately represents lots of the same old tired ideas that don’t do much to help anyone these days. Mr. Sanders at least speaks to the issues that face ordinary Americans and has a plan that deals with them affirmatively. You may disagree with his plan, but at least he has one.
Case closed.
10
@Jose Obamacare, one of the old ideas you deride, gave millions of Americans access to life-saving health care. More of the same, please. We don’t have to cut off the head to cure the headache, which is Sanders’ way.
4
@Jose
And the devil is always in the details.
I'm glad to see his campaign plans are working according to schedule. I only wish we had some idea of his plans for what will change if he's elected president.
7
@Magan it may take two years to just clean up Trump's damage. We also need a Dem Senate, and must hold the House.
@Mary Ann
Yeah, yeah, yeah.....same old, same old, same old. It's going to take some time...
I'm running out of time. I'm 62 years old and have seen the middle class destroyed in my lifetime. When are we going to turn this country around? When I'm 100?
1
Gail. please ask Bret Stephens to stop suggesting that Democratic Socialism a la Bernie Sanders is the same as the old Soviet Union. It is not, and Bret Stephens knows it is not. So one begins to wonder why he keeps saying that it is. Hmm.
95
@Edward
"Gail. please ask Bret Stephens to stop suggesting that Democratic Socialism a la Bernie Sanders is the same as the old Soviet Union. It is not, and Bret Stephens knows it is not."
Political ethics is as political ethics does:
Collins evidently doesn't care - she's anti-Sanders too, and - as she stated - she regards the mere possibility of Biden being fractionally "less status quo" as an enormous good...so Stephens' red baiting isn't goring her ox.
6
@Edward I'm with you Edward. I'm not sure that Bret Stephens even knows what socialism is. Maybe he should check out Steven Dubner https://freakonomics.com/podcast/socialism/
@Edward Why do you suppose she doesn't call him on it?
1
The punditocracy, the plutocracy, and the DNC have picked their candidate, Joe Biden....
I would rather have nominated Sen Warren, or Sen Sanders, but I'll vote with the blues again.
Come to think about I would have preferred Andrew Yang,
or Gov Inslee over Joe Biden.
Kamala Harris, Cory Booker, Beto O'Rourke, or even Buttigieg would be preferable.
Is it too late to say:
"Joe Biden, seriously?"
When he starts talking about record players again, I'll just convince myself he's actually a vinyl enthusiast.
19
@ExPDXer
I will vote Blue no matter who because the daily nightmare has to come to an end. I hope Mr. Yang is in the cabinet and Ms. Warren her supporters continue to show up at every opportunity. We need her voice and shame on women for not voting for her.
Mr. Biden needs to surround himself with brilliant policy people there is a great deal of rebuilding from President Obama era that needs to be recreated. Biden knows what policies were successful and we can build from there vs ground zero of Trump active destroy America policies.
2
@ExPDXer
In case you've not noticed, there has been a resurgence in the sale of turntables and in the resale of old records. The rich, mellow sound of the old vinyl is considered better by some than the sharp, brilliant sound of CDs.
@ExPDXer That’s a laugh. Everybody in the media had written Biden off until the South Carolina voters had something else to say. It’s absolutely ridiculous and downright Trumpian to suggest the media picked Joe Biden. The one really satisfying thing about his surge is to witness how clueless NY Times columnists and the rest are about voters think.
The Constitution and the Presidency were designed during a much more primitive time. The depth of expertise we've developed is far beyond anything the Founders envisioned. The breadth of things we need a good government to do are far beyond what was needed in the 1789.
As we see now, the Presidential model, where one person directs all aspects of the executive and is expected to have expertise in multiple areas is outdated and what is needed at the Department of Justice, CDC, FDA, SEC and so many other departments and agencies is integrity, expertise, dedication, and professionalism.
Our presidential model can still provide these things under the right (or should I say center-left?) circumstances, but increasingly the presidential model only provides extreme ideology, partisan point-scoring, pandering to political bases, delusion, propaganda and clownish boosterism.
You can say this is a Trump thing, but it's not, it's what American politics can develop into permanently if we're not careful. If we're lucky enough to elect leaders in 2020 with good government as a goal, then reforms should be instituted not only to give the Presidency more accountability, but to put safeguards in place at many of the agencies. This might take Constitutional amendments since the Constitution writes the Presidency in terms that are overly broad and without sufficient "checks and balances."
We thought that the "checks and balances" were sufficient, we were so very very wrong.
21
@DJ Kaminsky: While technology advances human society, the social human being -- emotions, passions, pride, pain -- remains unchanged. Your view that the checks and balances are no longer sufficient is driven by your personal opinion of the President, which is at odds with many other Americans. I suggest we stick with the Constitution as it has proven effective over these last 230 years in bridling the social human being.
1
Yes, Susan Rice would be a strong Vice President, more than strong enough to fend off misleading and misguided Republican attacks on Benghazi and Rwanda. Her decades of experience in government, interacting diplomatically and brilliantly with Americans and foreign players here and abroad, would bring valuable political knowledge and personal intellectual strength to the position.
27
This is a nice dialog and column, but it is extraordinarily sad to see you both touting the importance of the identity card: that the most important selection criteria for the vice presidency is gender, and that qualifications are a secondary consideration.
Given the influence of your newspaper and bully pulpit, this trends towards being a self fulfilling prophecy. But it is exactly wrong.
Gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation should not count against someone in the quest for high political office; but, they should not qualify one either.
Some advice to liberal publications: knock it off with identity politics, unless you truly want to see 4 more years of President Trump. There is only one spot on the ballot for president, and one for vice president, and there are a whole lot of identities out there, all demanding recognition. Identity politics is a losing game. And it should be.
Focus on qualifications. That's what matters.
34
“Focus on qualifications. That’s what matters” is either an extremely myopic point of view or disingenuous nonsense disguising a discriminatory intent. Many of us (including this old working class white male liberal) are advocating for a VP pick that recognizes all the deeply “qualified” women and minorities who are often overlooked. Meanwhile people with your point of view refuse to accept as “qualified” anyone other than people who look like themselves. We didn’t end up with Sanders vs Biden vs Trump because these old white guys are the most qualified for the job, we ended up with this trio because of the myopic and disingenuous viewpoint that “qualification” is white and male and everyone else need not apply.
13
@John Chastain
Some people actually believe in a color blind society. I'm not being disingenuous, maybe I'm myopic. Explain how focusing on what separates us will bring us together and maybe I'll see. I honestly don't understand your point of view.
5
@Brian A systemic issue like discrimination cannot be solved by ignoring ongoing inequities. You can't just declare that today we will become "a color blind society" and think that belief alone will balance things out. I remember when people thought that electing Obama would bring about a post racial society, Trump proved that wrong. Advantages are built into the process, this is true whether we talk about race and gender or economic opportunity. Talk about separate vs together is besides the point. There are correctives that go beyond identity but they are still defined by "what separates us" IE wealth acquisition and economic domination. As long as the privileged and powerful play a zero sum game with the rest of us we will never be "together" except in poverty arguing over scraps. Look its a large & diverse society that has evolved to privilege a segment of the population, they don't particularly want to see that privilege threatened or diminished. For me its not about bringing us together unless "us" & "together" is more than sloganeering and brings dignity and support to the least of us. Otherwise we are simply "a color blind society" of the disadvantaged & sorry but I for one ain't having that.
Vice President Oprah Winfrey: empire builder with an unquestionable, genuine pro-humankind history, is a natural leader, highly respected world citizen, and the ultimate known quantity; she will inspire a massive, unprecedented voter turnout. Absolutely, seriously, please consider.
3
I don't understand how anyone has confidence in Biden. I am convinced moderates prefer Trump to Sanders, and Biden offers little. There is so much ammo Trump has against Biden, not that it is verified, but if Socialism is such a target in the eyes of the GOP I would think again about what they can run against Biden.
12
@Sam
Just because some voters skew moderate in comparison to Sanders' "Revolution", doesn't mean that they are "establishment" or Trump supporters.
And if he had any real insight, he and his supporters would stop alienating those voters and try to being them on board.
Sanders is his own worst enemy in this campaign.
4
@Sam
But who is still listening to Trump besides his base, people that will not be voting for Biden anyway.
1
@Sam News Flash. Moderate despise Trump and will never, ever vote for him.
I’m not even sure who Stacey Abrams is; I recall that she lost a close race. No big name-recognition around the country.
Frankly, I think Pete Buttigieg would be a better choice. He is brilliant, thoughtful, and is a problem-solver.
Or Amy Klobuchar, who is a long-time legislator, and knows how to build coalitions to actually pass legislation, not dream about revolutions that will never happen.
21
@David G
Stacy Abrams was unqualified to be a governor; refused to run as US Senator and thinks she has executive qualifications as a book writer. She is unqualified for anything other than a legislative position..
2
Brett Brett Brett. Health coverage for all is not an idea that had its heyday a century ago. It is something that is working - and working well - in every other developed country.
60
@Paul Ruszczyk
And Biden already said he'd veto it, if given the chance.
8
@Paul Ruszczyk
Yes, and all those other countries can have universal health care because they are small countries with no states that have autonomy over their territories.
If we want that type of healthcare, it's gonna have to start at the local and state levels, in much the same way as marijuana is being pushed and spreading.
Until enough state governments sign-on to sell a product to enough of the public via the representation of the persons they sent to represent them to the US House and Senate, then fifty years from now, this argument will still be taking place.
@Paul Ruszczyk
Universal healthcare has its roots in the German Empire during the mid-1800's under Otto Von Bismarck's reign as chancellor. It may come as a surprise to Bret to learn that the German Empire was not a socialist dictatorship of the proletariat, and that Bismarck was decidedly not a left-wing radical. It's not a new idea and it's not even that left-wing of an idea. It's astonishing that right-wing Democrats like Bret are so opposed to the single-payer option when even famous conservatives like Bismarck recognized its value.
6
I enjoy these columns, but I get the since Gail defers a lot to Bret and that Bret sets the intellectual boundaries of the debate. I get it that part of the importance of this column is common ground and avoiding an argument with a respected colleague with very opposite views, but why not defend socialism a little? Why not defend socialism a lot? There's deep beautiful history of struggle against capitalism, corruption, and hegemony. Let's talk about it!
21
While both of you are wondering if Liz Warren is too socialist to be even a running mate, the European newspaper I read this morning featured an article about the pharmaceutical industry whose R&D costs of cancer research increased by 10x over 1970-2015 but prices went up by 100x worldwide. The article discusses how the big R&D risks are almost always taken by startups and spinoffs (before the stage when they're bought), and that the profitability of big pharma is correlated much more to the world economy just like any other company than tied to R&D risk which is their standard justification for outrageous returns.
It would be a good idea in the author's eyes to not only keep the research closer to the universities but also the final product in a mixed public/private spinoff to avoid subsequent price gouging by big pharma which is driving up healthcare costs everywhere, including in Europe.
The author points out that the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation are sending their pathogens for testing against the Coronavirus to European universities, as their costs are much, much lower.
This type of intelligent discourse seems so far away in America, where any solution that's not raw capitalism is dismissed immediately.
32
Nice to se two moderates glibly chat about how great it is to see Bernie go and looking forward to returning to normal. My medication costs $3000 for a 90 day supply, and my insurance is about to expire in October, so I too am looking forward to things going back to normal. It was almost 70 degrees in NYC yesterday. Can’t wait for normalcy. Normal, normal, normal.
Bernie or bust.
31
@Daniel Giorlando Here's Bust: things get worse under Trump and you know it. Great idea. Classic tiling at windmills. Do you really expect frustration to save you?
5
@Daniel Giorlando
You don’t think the Republicans are the biggest cause of the lack of medical insurance in this country?
8
@Daniel Giorlando
Donald Trump wants to completely scrap Medicare and if elected, Bernie would never get his bill past Mitch McConnell.
Good luck with that.
3
Every American can candidly admit that he or she understands nothing about American politics. There is nothing to understand. It is a big live show.
11
A more accurate look at Bernie's "revolution" shows that his policies would make America look more like a Western European state, similar to Norway, Denmark or Germany.
The columnists in the Times would have you believe that he's trying to reinvent North Korea. So why such a distortion?
The Western European social democracies all have national health plans. They all have free public education from K through university. They all have strong laws protecting farmers and food quality. And they all have some form of national retirement plans.
If Bernie "the radical" stands for these policies, what do the so call "moderate Democrats" stand for?
Here are but a few: Private health care that costs twice as much per patient as every other country and spends 800 billion on administration and profit.
A food and Drug Administration that routinely gives Agribusiness and Big Pharma a license to poison for profit.
An educational system they are desperately trying to privatize for profit while subsidizing with public money.
A university system that has its graduates saddled with 1.5 trillion in debt.
A banking system that's too big to fail, but small businesses that struggle every day and get no relief.
You don't hear much about these "moderate" policies because they are hidden behind camping rhetoric. But Biden has a record that speaks louder than the campaign promises.
And the pundits are supporting that record at your and my expense. What ever happened to real hope and change?
52
@Drspock Great comment in all ways. Thank you.
You're right about the columnists' consistent hostility to Sanders, from the insulting adjectives used to describe him (grumpy, angry, grouchy, etc.) to the outright favoritism they showed to anyone else they thought could stop him, both now and in 2016.
Why the distortions and the hostility? They are mostly very well-paid upper-middle class and wealthy people with good health insurance plans and the other perks of their station. Many imply or are overt in their hostility to the working class, non-coastal America, farmers, and other people in "fly-over country."
President Trump is the establishment on steroids. Joe Biden is the establishment on tranquilizers. Bernie Sanders is the establishment on honesty, compassion, integrity and inspiration.
Very sad to see Americans so ready, willing and able to have themselves pacified into "normalcy" that needed big changes in the Bush-Cheney era and needs bigger changes now.
26
@Lawrence Chanin :
Only change I would prefer is substituting "stupidity" for your first "establishment."
" The message seemed to be that since he didn’t get convicted by the Senate, we’re not going to get sick."
That is what you read "between the lines". When I watch the videos put out by the White House I do not get that sense at all.
Of all the countries in the world, the US is number 8 in the number of cases and has fewer cases than France or Germany, both of which have much smaller populations.
PLEASE do not look at reality through the lens of your partisanship. Trump has defects to be sure but I doubt that these constant attacks will make him less defective. We need him to stay cool and listen to advice. And that advice can only come from friends, not from hostile critics.
7
@Ludwig It is not partisanship to look objectively at the glaring evidence of incompetence in the White House and demand better. Especially when there are lives at stake. You point out the problem yourself when you state, "...advice can only come from friends, not from hostile critics." In other words, like Republican sycophants, we need to please Trump with our adulation before we can expect him to react competently. Frankly, he was elected to office to serve us, not the other way around. He is failing.
5
@Ludwig "Please do not look at reality through the lens of YOUR partisanship." The ONLY reason the US is number 8 in Covid19 is because we lack the capacity, so far, to do adequate testing (and there is a cruise ship that hasn't disembarked yet so we dont "double the numbers." Which trump doesn't "need". )
And the advice you should listen to is the medical experts who know what they are talking about, not the Pres., and most certainly not Rush or Kudlow or even Pence.
1
@Ludwig You realize that we have fewer cases than France or Germany by simple virtue of the complete, total ineptitude of our testing capabilities, right? If you don't test people, you don't confirm cases. That doesn't mean one should tout that we don't have as many confirmed cases as other countries which are far more capable of testing.
2
At the heart of conservatism is elitism and the maintenance of privilege for the few deemed worthy. Our entire conservative/reactionary political class has deemed most Americans unworthy of what the rest of the first world takes for granted. Voting for either the red team or the blue team won't change this in the slightest.
11
Michiganders were up early this morning and at the polls voting. (I’ve never seen such a long line that early in the morning for a presidential primary, and I live in a county that normally goes red.)
11
I was struck by Gail calmly abandoning the entire Progressive side of the Democratic Party, in favor of whoever the Republicans might like.
"Not sure there’s as much pressure from the left as there was before it became clear Bernie wasn’t rallying all the masses of disaffected youth the way we imagined."
She seems to think we have nowhere else to go but to vote for a right wing Democrat. She should have noticed how that worked out last time.
29
@Mark Thomason
"[Collins] calmly abandon[ed] the entire Progressive side of the Democratic Party, in favor of whoever the Republicans might like."
Happy to praise Sanders now that she doesn't see him as a threat -
(What is the saying? About nation's venerating their dead revolutionaries, attacking their live ones?)
- she is chipper and blasé at the prospect of Sanders not moving Biden left at all:
"I think [Sanders'] campaign has been...positive, influence-wise. The country needs to be reminded about the humongous influence of the economic elite in government. If he winds up prodding Biden to be just a little less status-quo, that’ll be a big plus."
6
@Mark Thomason, There is nothing right wing about Biden. He is the same type of moderate I have voted for all of my life. It is only if you look through the lens of Bernie Sanders that you could make such a comment.
8
@Mark Thomason,
I think people know better this time and are rejecting the left's version of tRump as well.
Leave our senators in the senate. We need them there. I wish Joe would bring former senator Claire McCaskill, a smart, likable, pragmatic workhorse from middle of the country Mo. (or a similar woman/man) to the ticket.
I sometimes think he won't seek a second term, possibly even leaving near end of first term, when McCaskill or any VP would step up.
22
The Main Rreason That Democratic Party Lost to Trump in 2016 was because They Were Not Fighting For Something,but They Were Only Fighting To Stop Something (Fascism and Racism) or Somebody (Trump). It seems like Democrats are trying to repeat the same mistakes this year; both in The Primary (Stop Sanders) and The General (Stop Trump). History shows that Voters Respond To A Campaign That Offers Something or Ideas than the one that's just against something or ideas or Somebody. Democrats must come up with a Clear Vision and Irresistible Brand. Like him or not,Trump has an irresistible Brand called " Make America Great Again". Instead of offering their own irresistible Brand,Hillary and the Obamas wasted their time and energy trying to prove that America is already great. As we now know,many voters didn't believe that America is already great. Among all the two dozens democratic candidates,it's only one that has a Brand which is "For All" in terms of Medicare For All,Public Colleges For All,Government Should Work For All,Housing For All,This Country For All and not for the few wealthy people,and he also has a Motto which is " Not me,Us". Can anyone tell me the Brand or even the Motto of Joe Biden besides "Defeat Trump" and "I'm The Most Electable" ? While defeating Trump might be the number one goal of tribal Democrats,it might not be the number one goal of Independent and Swing Voters who actually decide the outcome of any presidential election.
12
@Ukosil, Clearly you haven't been paying attention. Biden has advocated fixing Obamacare and expanding Medicaid, is for women's rights, for repairing our foreign alliances including NATO, is for making community college available to all students, is for immigration reform. That is just a start. I realize Bernie's policies have appeal but are not feasible financially. You just can't make everything from college education to healthcare free without bankrupting the nation.
7
@Ukosi
The word Brand has become so overused in this country as to be meaningless. Make America Great Again is not a brand, it's a slogan. Any true brand has to be authentic. There is nothing remotely authentic about Donald Trump or MAGA. While defeating Trump is a goal of all opposition candidates, to dismiss them as having no message is simply condescending. As I hear him, Biden is promoting both civility and inclusiveness. The idea of America for all is more than a tag line, it's a mindset, one far more appealing than the fear and anger that currently weighs us down.
9
@Ukosi "The Main Rreason That Democratic Party Lost to Trump in 2016 was because..."
The man reason Democrats lost was Hillary Clinton. She was one of the laziest, self entitled, candidates that I've ever seen. The election was even rigged for her to win and she still lost.
2
Bernie went on Fox News for a town hall last night. He was sharp as a tack, and clearly explained his platform in response to tough but mostly fair questions.
Contrast this to Joe Biden, who spoke for only 7 minutes at a recent public event.
This is serious, people.
Michigan, let's show our independent streak again, and vote for Bernie to lead the way with moral clarity.
28
@Waabananang
Bernie said again on Sunday that he wants to change the political establishment and change the corporate structure of America while giving workers free health insurance, greater employer benefits etc. This is not the agenda of the DNC and he is trying to be more than a progressive but rather like Trump he is defying the establishment with false and unrealistic promises. Most telling is recent studies that show hundreds of thousands of Bernie voters in 2016 voted for Trump in the general election.
Bernie has done more to help Trump get elected than any other Democratic candidate.
The DNC needs to be laser focused now on taking the Senate starting here in Georgia with two Trump sycophants who refuse to do town halls and worship every word from his mouth.
1
If by going according to plan you mean that his campaign's ham handed efforts to mask his cognitive decline with very short stump speeches and insisting that the next debate be one in which Sanders and Biden will be seated then, yes, all is well.
This is a train wreck of an effort to unseat Trump. If Trump indulges voters, and Bernie challenges and inspires them, Biden has taken the role of calling for a return to the status quo ante. This just won't work.
16
@Killoran The status quo right now is Trump. The reason Sanders is not doing great is the plain fact that people aren't voting for him. He's getting less votes than he did in 2016. Bet you that Biden will work. Not the time for a revolution.
11
@amp Biden is where he is because the USA electorate is on its knees, beaten down and frightened. Most people are hanging on by a shoestring. We live in a country where the ruling elite would rather continue with Trump than give real change a voice, not because Trump is a preferred president, but because of the need to keep citizens in the USA in desperate need of whatever crumbs they can get so there is no need to implement policies that would elevate people's lives such as guaranteed access to healthcare. We exist to serve, that is it. There is a reason our working class death rates are on the rise, and yes Biden works in this situation, Bernie does not.
9
@amp
I wrote "status quo ante": Biden's whole pitch is "Take us back to October 2016." This never wins campaigns.
As I ponder your choices for Vice President with Biden I wonder why no one has mentioned Susan Rice! She served as National Security Advisor for four years under Obama, imagine that, an Advisor who served four years.That gives her immense experience.She also was, of course, the Ambassador to the United Nations for four years.After all this experience she is just 55, the perfect age! All of her experience would be invaluable to any administration but particularly one headed by someone elderly ( no comments because I am older than Biden) .Her experience is enormous but she is also an African American woman-I would feel very confident if Rice were on the ticket to help the country re-establish relations with other countries and to shore up our National Security which Trump has made a political post.She might not be the best campaigner, but she would be a standout as a VP with serious credibility.
66
@JANET MICHAEL
Excellent choice along with Klobuchar
1
This is my favorite comment in this section.
If Biden wins, then Bernie just goes back to the Senate. So does Warren.
We just stay here, without hope.
We won't get anything from Biden. He has not even promised anything.
All we are told is that he won't be orange while he does nothing for us. That has been hyped into the only thing that matters. Well, a lot more matters.
36
@Mark Thomason
"If Biden wins....We just stay here, without hope.....We won't get anything from Biden. He has not even promised anything.....All we are told is that he won't be orange while he does nothing for us."
1) Doesn't sound like a recipe for getting needed demographics to the booths.
2) Plus, the inherent weakness of his campaign you point to comes before solo debates with Sanders and Trump zero attention in on:
a) What G and B delicately refer to as Biden's "verbal miscues;"
b) his history of unpopular right liberal positions (Social Security, trade, the Iraq War, e.g.); and
c) his misrepresentations - both of his past political positions and personal experience:
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JvOjlfRpXHQ]
3
@Mark Thomason Agree. Decency, honesty, leadership, they all matter and all the boxes get checked with Biden. If your hope is to get rid of the clown and his posey, Biden is your bet. If you want to stay here with no hope, vote trump.
@N8t -- That is not the Biden whom I know and distrust. You can't make it so by declaring it.
2
After a lot of thought, I wouldn’t like Sen Warren as a VP pick. Not because I don’t like her or what she ran on, but because I feel America needs her in the Senate, not a Republican replacement. But I would like to see a woman a bit more to the left (and at least a decade younger) than Biden. Also, a person of color would be good. However, I tend to agree that Stacy Abrams needs a bit more experience outside of Georgia. Linda Chavez-Thompson might do as having an undocumented maid might not be such a downer any more (after all, so did Trump at Bedminster), and she might peel more white Union members from Trump.
3
I think the polls are right. Michigan has open primaries. Biden's surge is Republican independents voting against Sanders because they see a moderate who might actually win. Democrats are in effect nominating a Republican candidate. When Biden pivots, it won't be towards the left. Conservatives will own him. Watch. They'll split the ticket in Congressional races too. That's their way of saying thank you.
Democrats once again continue their seemingly never ending drift towards Reagan Republicanism.
6
I cannot take Bret Stephens seriously -- he is blind in his own, narrow lane of life. He should try to read and listen what Bernie is saying for a change and why many citizens are rooting for Bernie. If he can barely step out of his bubble and see how ordinary Americans are struggling with the healthcare system, maybe he will have a better idea.
26
@WorriedWorldCitizen
"[Stephens] should try to read and listen what Bernie is saying for a change and why many citizens are rooting for Bernie."
'Fraid Collins is against Sanders too - has said more than once she doesn't like his 'yelling'...
...it's boorish, you know - not the kind of behavior you want at your dinner party...
1
Biden's most strategic choice for VP would be Val Demings, Florida Congresswoman, who was one of the brilliant prosecutors on the House Democrats Impeachment Trial team.
Demings, who was Orlando's Police Chief before going to the House would greatly bolster Democrats' chances to win Florida this fall, almost certainly a knockout punch to the Trump campaign.
Also, campaigning around the country, Demings could prosecute with first hand knowledge the 19 Republican senators up for re-election this year who acquitted Trump without calling a single witness.
Turning out both Trump AND McConnell is a Democratic imperative this time around.
Without McConnell as Majority Leader, the "grim reaper" cannot block Democratic legislation as he did to 100's of bills passed by the House and sent to the Senate never to be brought up for a vote.
Also, the assumptions and traditions presidents followed for the last 50 years until Trump and Republicans bulldozed them down can be put into laws that puts our democracy up a a pedestal so a president like Trump can never get his hands on it again.
And without McConnell, the Congress and Biden can pass gun control, reduce the cost of prescription drugs, rebuild Obamacare, address climate change, and a host of other progressive bills.
Also, Demings' experience as Orlando police chief for four years and her 27 yeas as a policewoman are unparalleled preparation for crisis management, like we need now.
40
@Dennis She would make an amazing Vice President and also ensure victory in Florida!
Can we stop advocating for Elizabeth Warren to be VP? She's great. I voted for her. But Massachusetts has a Republican governor who will replace her with a Republican senator!
100
Some people are their own worst enemies.
1
@DL
It was that kind of putting the cart before the horse that led Hillary to nominate the harmless, but essentially vapid and unhelpful Tim Kaine in 2016, instead of more dynamic options Sherrod Brown (and the bonus of his amazing wife, Pulitzer winner Connie Schultz), Cory Booker or Warren.
Ya gotta win the Presidency before that is a pronlem!
1
I believe Biden needs to bring a female governor on board as VP. Warren may be terrific at creating policies, but that is not the role of the VP. A governor however has to govern; has to have executive experience. Given Biden's age, it would be a smart move to choose someone who could "fill in immediately" should he have health issues. A female governor as VP would just be a smart insurance policy if something were to happen to Biden.
8
@Bryan, As Bob Newhart once said in a movie, "Does anyone want to hear what the Vice-President has to say?" The answer was a resounding, understood, NO!
Brett, I know you love to equate socialism and Bernie with Stalin and gulags, but the truth remains that huge segments of American life today perform well under policies that are clearly socialist, benefiting millions of Americans now for several generations, i.e., Social Security, Medicare, the VA, and the USPS.
Let’s cut to the fundamental truth. Rich billionaire Oligarchs do not want anything to impede unfettered capitalism. Any form of taxation, regulation or social programming that relieves unnecessary and massive human suffering is viewed as putting the interest of the rich under a yoke of tyranny.
This is because the real divide is over the basic well being of an entire society vs. the unfettered rights of the privileged to do whatever one want because in their Calvinistic worldview they are chosen by God. The obvious proof being how rich they are.
Case in point; under a socialistic approach price gouging for N95 masks would mean massive fines for profiteers. In addition the government would provide funding support and resources to manufacturers to assist the market in meeting massive demand for a critical item in short supply.
Then when the crisis is abated the government would step back to allow markets to function normally. Even Adam Smith recognized that the “invisible hand” needs support on occassion.
Sometimes government reflects the need to protect all of us not just the rich and their agenda of laissez faire.
31
@Old FL Cracker
Having government provide public services such as education, the military, old age income support etc. doesn't make us socialist. Nor can a capitalist economy operate without rules. No one seriously advocates unfettered laissez-faire capitalism. That's a straw man argument. We have enough laws and regulations covering business to make a million lawyers rich and keep the courts humming with lawsuits as it is. The challenge is to find the right balance between market efficiency and fairness, to the extent that we can agree on what that is.
Socialism doesn't mean more regulation of business or more government provision of public services or more income redistribution. Socialism means taking investment capital out of private hands and placing it under the control of technocrats. Although in theory it's beneficial to the entire society, socialism in practice can only be profoundly undemocratic and coercive. It didn't work 100 years ago for industrial/agricultural economies. In today's post-industrial economy, any attempt at real socialism would be unthinkable.
2
@PWR — “ No one seriously advocates unfettered laissez-faire capitalism.”
Really? Please read “Dark Money” and sink your teeth into the political ideology of the Koch brothers, or read about the cultish adoration that surrounds Ayn Rand in the upper echelons of today’s fascist leaning Republican Party. Then you can deny the reality of unfettered laissez-faire capitalism.
The real problem for too many in the Centrist grasp is the refusal to accept that the uber-rich have: 1) a cynical and deep disdain for the masses. 2) That representative democracy is an impediment to their vision of rampant capitalism and limitless rent-seeking. 3). That they are imbued in this thinking to be superior or they would not be rich.
Hey, I know it’s tough to accept, but there it is.
I’m not advocating for a Communist model ala Stalin or any form of centralized state control of the economy. Modern Socialism champions the democratization of business. It encourages businesses to become worker owned cooperatives.
The primary role of the government in that effort is to assist in providing a means to fairly purchase businesses on behalf of the workers and extend loans to provide seed capital.
Our tragedy is a failure as a nation is to deny the massive inequalities generated by and for growing and nurturing oligarchy with its handmaidens of theocracy and neo-feudalism.
1
@Old FL Cracker Well said! As much as I've appreciated Bret's consistent never-Trumpism, I'm continually irritated at how he inserts the "socialism = Stalin/Mao/Maduro" canard into every column.
2
We too, 'are wistfully remembering the days when March Madness was about basketball'. We are in total agreement with all your concerns, especially the need for a women VP, but alas I am afraid that sexism is greater than racism in our country. White men may share their privilege with other non-white men under certain conditions, but no way with a female. 100 years ago we finally earned the right to vote. 75 years ago we were allowed into colleges and/or were able to attend colleges for women. 60 years ago we were able to work outside the home, even while raising a family, although not for equal pay or similar promotion possibilities. Most women in the workplace were teachers, nurses or secretaries. 30 years ago there were still 'Mommy wars' that divided us and kept us from insisting on our rights, as a singular voting block. 4 years ago there was the Women's March on Washington. Please Lord, help us to overcome our discrimination against women, to allow their potential to be realized like any man's, as you created and blessed them abundantly to contribute to this world. "Cast off the shackles of yesterday, shoulder to shoulder into the fray. Our daughter's daughters will adore us, as we sing in grateful chorus, 'Well done Sister Suffragettes'. (Mary Poppins)
19
And finally pass the Equal Rights Amendment.
There's an unspoken triumph of Trumpism in the coronavirus discussion here: it lacks any confidence that science and technology will win the day.
"The End Times?"
Geez, good thing we've already gotten to the moon ...
4
Abrams just got a ringing endorsement from the NY Times! Anyone who Stephens' nixes should automatically be considered a valid choice for representing the disenfranchised and those without attractive stock portfolios. For an honest and accurate portrayal of Sanders' campaign and what it stands for, from the people who matter, please, please read the article in today's Times that gives voice to the hard-working people who rightfully fear our decline into a class-based society. That Stephens can't even acknowledge that Sanders is bringing attention to a growing base of desperate Americans is incredibly sad and incredibly predictable.
17
If Joe Biden wins tonight in MIchigan tonight and she agrees to do so, he should announce his selection of Gretchen Whitmer, governor of Michigan.
She is in her first term and got elected on common sense issues like health care and fixing the roads. Whitmer did the democratic response to Trump’s state of the union. It was well received and followed the formula that won the House for Dems in 2018.
Whitmer is only 48 and very capable of handling the VP candidate; either Pence or, if he gets thrown under the bus, Whitmer can hold her own against Nikki Haley.
19
Joe, baby, pick the right Veep. Be strategic, sure, but see how the two of you look together, and how your views align. People will be looking at her for the next presidency, so make it a good choice.
10
@Bailey T. Dog The best VP pick should have legislative experience and a comprehensive background in foreign affairs. She should be thoroughly tested and ready on day one.
And I'm not talking about the fashion challenged Warren.
6
I appreciate that Mr. Stephens has spoken out against the grifter in chief.
However, there is a danger in the Democrats taking too much advice from a conservative.
The Democrats may very well nominate a moderate in former VP Biden. However he does NOT need to nominate a moderate woman as VP. We are a diverse party, that represents ALL Americans. We have both progressives, moderate progressives and moderates.
Since women helped us take back the House in 2020 and constitute over 1/2 the population, a woman should definitely be on the ticket.
I like Senator Kaine, but I feel that one of the reasons that we lost in 2016 is that Senator Clinton nominated someone who did NOT excite the base. Mrs. Clinton, although extremely bright and well-qualified nominated someone who did seem to be enthusiastic enough to get people to support her.
African-Americans, particularly African-American women are the heart and soul of the Democratic party. Did anyone look at the 2016 turnout among African-Americans in Milwaukee, Detroit and Philadelphia?
Senator Harris and Stacy Abrams should be at the top of the list for running mates for both Sanders and Biden.
Vote blue for a ticket that represents all Americans.
11
You will not find a VP candidate more intelligent than Stacey Abrams. She will knock Trump down at the knees. And the Black vote will guarantee a Democratic victory.
Why didn't Bret Stephens just say he didn't know of any illegal activity by Hunter Biden. He had to add that he knew of no Ukranian illegal activity. So, does Mr. Stephens know of other illegal activity? If so, as a reporter I would be just shocked if he didn't break that news.
On the nepotism scale, no one has anything on the Trump family. I keep hearing how Joe Biden should have kept his son from taking the Burisma gig. Really? I am delighted to no longer be involved in my children's financial doings.
So this qualification by Mr. Stephens amounts to lightweight libel. And it is entirely consistent with media efforts to cover a two party system equally but that result instead with a false equivalence due to the asymmetric morality of the two parties. Mr. Stephen's at times appears to get that, but too often slides back.
Be better.
15
@Johnmark
Last time we checked, you can't muscle your way on to Air Force Two and the official VP delegation (even if the VP is your dad) if the VP says no.
Hunter's questionablylegal investment activities, drug issues, as well as those of Biden's brother, are all going to be on the table. They're well documented in nationally respected media, even if Biden's supporters have collective amnesia.
Mitt Romney was the deciding vote on the Senate committee gathered to investigate Hunter Biden. He voted yes, that the investigations should proceed.
The upcoming debate with Sanders may just prove that all your concerns about Trump interfering in the Dem nomination process to nominate the weakest candidate may be validated. Except instead of Sanders, he ginned up support for Biden.
@Viv Really? Is that why Trump tried to blackmail Ukraine into a smear job against Biden? Because he was actually trying to help Biden? Only in trump land would anyone even make such a claim...
Gail: God may have created sports as something to live for but if he did what he probably had in mind was spectator sports. The coronavirus is adversely affecting those as well with games already being played in empty stadiums and arenas. So Netflix it is.
3
If Bret suggests some people for V.P. who have never held public office, why does he say Stacey Abrams’ experience as “only” a state legislator is not enough? I’m not necessarily for nominating Abrams but am wondering about this seeming inconsistency.
29
@Liz morrill
Isn't the answer in the article? To seek out someone who is not a politician?
Here:
How about someone entirely outside of politics, like Kathryn Sullivan, the first American woman to walk in space, a naval officer, and former head of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration under Barack Obama? Or the Harvard historian...
@Liz morrill
Abrams is totally unqualified. Her Legislative experience had few accomplishments, a tax attorney writing books for a living and advocating votier rights do not make someone qualified to be President
1
@Liz morrill Bret tries to play Clintonian neo-lib but he's just a never Trump GOPer trying to co-opt Moderate Dems....