Democrats "Break Glass in Case of Emergency" Plan - Picking an alternate candidate.

Guy Chamberlin said:
Kamala had her chance with Democrat voters, including a fast start in 2019, a tacit DNC endorsement, and first string campaign operatives in her camp. She never even made it to the primaries. When she dropped out she was trailing Andrew Yang in the polls. 

The Dems ignored this, I guess because Harris checked more boxes as a VP than she did as a candidate. But if there was ever a campaign where you looked at the VP nominee as "a heartbeat away from the Presidency" it was the person they chose to back up Joe. Again, the invisibility and irrelevance of Kamala Harris over the last four years is a mystery that requires some explanation. 
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The reason Kama has been hidden for the last four years isn't really a mystery. She's deeply unpopular, lacks charisma, isn't that great in interviews and doesn't motivate that many voters.

But she did check important boxes as a VP candidate. Namely, she's a woman and a minority, two key elements of the Democratic Party's coalition. Kamala isn't an effective politician and she would lose a Presidential race in a landslide, but if naming her VP allowed Biden to land a few thousand votes in Georgia and out of Milwaukee than he would've if he had nominated some white guy then it was worth it. It was a business decision. Everybody involved knew that, and it worked!

Guy Chamberlin said:
Also, in fairness, every new, young and/or exciting Dem you could want was in play during those 2020 primaries, including Corey Booker, Beto O'Rourke, Julian Castro, Eric Swalwell, Kristen Gillibrand, Tulsi Gabbard, Amy Klobuchar, and unlikely star Pete Buttigieg. Outside of Mayor Pete, they didn't get any traction from the voters. I don't think the Party itself exerted any influence until Super Tuesday was upon them, and they had to intervene to stop their leading vote-getter, Bernie Sanders. 
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I would say that Democrats have a problem with the fundamental makeup of their coalition. The reason all of those candidates floundered is because the coalition that makes up the Democratic Party is too different.

White college educated female voters from California are much different than southern black male voters from Georgia, who are much different than the blue collar, high school educated union voters of the upper Midwest. But all of those elements are absolutely crucial to the electoral success of Democrats. So while a candidate like Pete Buttigieg is popular with the college educated progressive wing of the party, he is deeply unpopular in the blue collar moderate and minority wings of the party. Unfortunately for Democrats, they have a rock, paper scissors problem in that one factions favorite candidate just so happens to be another factions' least favorite.

Joe Biden was the 2nd or 3rd choice for each of the factions and thus was able to win. Unless Democrats can find a unicorn candidate, they're stuck with candidates everybody is sort of happy with but also has reasons to be unhappy.

 
Dr. Strangelove said:
The reason Kama has been hidden for the last four years isn't really a mystery. She's deeply unpopular, lacks charisma, isn't that great in interviews and doesn't motivate that many voters.

But she did check important boxes as a VP candidate. Namely, she's a woman and a minority, two key elements of the Democratic Party's coalition. Kamala isn't an effective politician and she would lose a Presidential race in a landslide, but if naming her VP allowed Biden to land a few thousand votes in Georgia and out of Milwaukee than he would've if he had nominated some white guy then it was worth it. It was a business decision. Everybody involved knew that, and it worked!
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It’s a sad state of affairs when that’s how a VP candidate is selected. 
 

I can honestly say that I have never voted for a president based on the demographics of the VP candidate or on what state they are from.  
 

Says a lot about our idiotic voters. 

 
BigRedBuster said:
It’s a sad state of affairs when that’s how a VP candidate is selected. 
 

I can honestly say that I have never voted for a president based on the demographics of the VP candidate or on what state they are from.  
 

Says a lot about our idiotic voters. 
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Are you a white male voter?   If so, the President already has checked your boxes every time but Obama.   Minorities or women may appreciate having a representative candidate and vote accordingly if said candidate represents at least some of their view points. 

 
Archy1221 said:
Are you a white male voter?   If so, the President already has checked your boxes every time but Obama.   Minorities or women may appreciate having a representative candidate and vote accordingly if said candidate represents at least some of their view points. 
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The attitude that if a leader shares my same skin color and/or gender, then my thoughts and beliefs have been represented, is a critical thinking concern with American society. 

 
Archy1221 said:
Are you a white male voter?   If so, the President already has checked your boxes every time but Obama.   Minorities or women may appreciate having a representative candidate and vote accordingly if said candidate represents at least some of their view points. 
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But, there have been VPs that are rural or Midwest compared to from the coasts or cities. 

 
hskrpwr13 said:
The attitude that if a leader shares my same skin color and/or gender, then my thoughts and beliefs have been represented, is a critical thinking concern with American society. 
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There are more options on the table of representation than just thoughts and beliefs (which, btw, are the same thing). Tell us you're a white guy without telling us.

 
Interesting.


On the call Dem. governors expressed concern about what's going on with the president

They know if they come forward publicly with concern that likely will cause Biden to dig in more

They were also surprised none of them had heard from him (!)

2/4

— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) July 2, 2024

There was discussion on the call about wanting to have a call with the campaign or White House...

Some discussion about having VP Harris address them...

There was strong sentiment that they needed to hear directly from President Biden

3/4

— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) July 2, 2024

They are trying to set up a meeting at the WH ...or via Zoom for those who can't come...nothing is on the books yet....but WH knows of request

Dem Govs are not coming in with any specific message-- but they feel they need to hear from President Biden

4/4 more to come

— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) July 2, 2024

 
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Lorewarn said:
There are more options on the table of representation than just thoughts and beliefs (which, btw, are the same thing). Tell us you're a white guy without telling us.
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People have thoughts about things that are separate from things they believe; subtle sure, but still different. 

You've made my point with the snide comment. In your world, is every person with the same skin color facsimiles? The "tribe" mentality is not shared by all.

 
hskrpwr13 said:
In your world, is every person with the same skin color facsimiles? The "tribe" mentality is not shared by all.
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I also don't share the tribe mentality, but I easily understand how it's a more powerful communal force for certain types of folks that had to band together stronger to survive and thrive.

 
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