Joe Biden is the big guy in the old west saloon brawl.

[Towlie]

The probably unspoken, almost instinctive, group strategy is to gang up on Biden and get him out of the way first, then concentrate on battling each other afterward. And I predict that's exactly how this is going to play out.

[highplainsdem]

1. Honestly don't recall ever seeing any Old West saloon brawl scenes that played out like that.

What you're describing sounds more like a pack of jackals going after prey and then tearing each other apart fighting over it. Or maybe sharks in a feeding frenzy turning on each other.

I really DON'T like to think of our candidates that way.

And I don't think that kind of cut-throat competition is likely to increase Democratic votes in 2020.

[True Dough]

2. There won't be too much need to gang up

He's like a wounded bear who can't help but step in traps.

Your heart goes out to him and you wish him well, but it's time for the next generation of leadership who are showing they have the energy and acuity to stake out new ground and take down devious Donny.

[stopbush]

3. I have to agree. I like Joe and have always given him a pass for his gaffes

but he is up against a tremendous field this time, none of who is gaffe-prone.

Most disappointing for me is that Joe was unprepared for the debate and is resting on his laurels, most of which are tied to the Obama presidency.

[True Dough]

6. He's fully prepared to coast based on his record

It won't be enough to carry him. There are some extremely impressive candidates nipping at his heels. If he didn't see this coming, it's just another confirmation that he's out of touch now.

[Demsrule86]

10. Poll are out and his numbers are still high...what will happen with this sort of behavior is Trump

will win.

[techne7319]

12. It's still early...

It’s still too early in the nomination process to be banking on the current polls. There is plenty of time and at least a handful of other qualified and impressive candidates other than Biden who could easily end up as the Democratic nominee. Letting the process play out and getting Dems and independents to support the eventual nominee, Biden or otherwise, is what’s important. With that kind of broad support Trump can be beaten.

[True Dough]

14. Your scare tactics are not effective here

We're all adults who are capable of choosing candidates who we're confident can defeat Trump. If Biden is the one still standing at the end of the race, I'll support him.

If he proves incapable of staving off the challenge of his Democratic challengers, then he's not equal to the task of taking down Donny.

[Demsrule86]

15. We shall see...but I would rather be in Biden's place despite all the attacks than Mayor Pete's...

Biden is winning by double digits...which gives me hope that we will have Biden as the nominee and defeat Trump. And if you are not scared of losing to Trump again as I am than you should look at the electoral college and senate map.

[True Dough]

16. Sure, Joe holds a major advantage over Mayor Pete

Someone with what, five decades of public service versus a relative unknown who has made a huge splash in a short period of time.

Perhaps Pete represents the future, but Biden represents the past.

If Warren or Harris best represent today, I'm perfectly fine with that.

[Indygram]

21. Based on how he's handling things so far, I don't think Biden can beat Trump

He's too defensive and stubborn and refuses to just handle things properly the first time they come up. Because of doing that, every criticism of him, whether warranted or not, ends up being a major media blitz and distraction for days or weeks. This plays right into Trump's hand. You CANNOT beat a narcissist the way Biden handles and deals with things. If he is the nominee I fear that he will spend the entire time playing defense and never getting on message and giving people something to vote FOR.

Although Democratic voters want the candidates to attack Trump, if they get into a schoolyard pissing contest with him over stupid things that don't matter then Trump will be re-elected. The nominee needs to starve Trump of attention while relentlessly attacking the disgusting policies and telling America what they will do to make their lives better. It's not so much Biden's gaffes that are the issue...it's how poorly he handles the aftermath. I like him, but believe he is not the right one this time. I wish he would have ran last time, and I think Trump would not have won.

[Autumn]

19. Come on, you know that's not going to work.

[LanternWaste]

18. I dig how you consistently make unsupported allegations.

My heart hoes out to you and I wish you well, but it's time to stop pretending the Tide Pod Challenge generation is brighter and more energetic than those who get things done.

[Turin_C3PO]

20. I wish both sides

would stop the generational insults. Progressives young and old are in this together, no generation is better than another.

[True Dough]

22. Let's break down your post...

"I dig how you..." No, you don't.

"consistently make unsupported allegations..." You provide not a single example, let alone to accuse me of "consistently" doing so.

"time to stop pretending the Tide Pod Challenge generation is brighter and more energetic than those who get things done." Resorting to name calling and denigrating an entire generation is entirely unproductive.


You can do better!

[bluewater]

4. Joe Biden is more like the Old Sheriff in those Westerns

He bravely goes out to face down a gang of Bad Guys one last time, and gets gunned down.

A younger spectator looks at the Sherriff's body, looks at the Bad Guys and hesitates just a second...

Then picks up the dead sheriff's badge, puts it on, and takes down all the bad guys.

That's how the Western's I have seen all go.

[GreenPartyVoter]

11. Yep

[ucrdem]

5. You mean Joe is our Trump?

Sometimes I think we need one.

[onetexan]

7. He's our Anti-Trump. Seems people have made today Beat-up-on-Biden-Sunday

well well well let's get it out of the way, why don't we?

[ucrdem]

8. Anti-Trump is a much better term.

thanks!

[saidsimplesimon]

9. "Fifel Goes West", "the lazy eyed big dawg"?

[MineralMan]

13. Well, since Biden has a double-digit lead over his nearest competitor,

clearly he is the one to attack. So, attack they will. As long as he has that lead, it's going to be very difficult for anyone to catch up in such a large field of candidates.

Once the list has been trimmed down, the rest of the votes won't be spread out so thin.

Getting Joe Biden out of the way is not going to be easy, though. Polls indicate that he has a stable and large group supporting him that remains pretty constant.

[Towlie]

17. Yes, that's what I'm saying.

I certainly didn't mean anything like the predator analogies in the first response I got.

[Act_of_Reparation]

23. Not really, no.

The most instinctive strategy is to kiss his ass. If you aren't going to win, you might still get a shot at the VP if he remembers you fondly.

Not many people are doing that. Seems to indicate that this year's crop are less interested in the VP job, or they don't think Biden is going to win the nomination.