You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
Now official the next US prez, despite the best efforts of Trump and his militias.
Obviously eats babies and worships Satan.
Apart from his busy schedule of putting babies on spikes, what will he be doing in office?
Covid, then spending huge amounts on stimulus programs etc.
Basically putting out the fire...
I think he has some difficult decisions to make. By nature he is a consensus seeker. He has to decide whether to go after Trump with everything he can - which will take time / energy and taint his entire term or to let Trump go to concentrate on his real agenda.
Too soon man.
Top tip don’t let him order the pizza 😉
Sniffing the hair of any woman that gets within two feet of him?
Can! We! Maybe! Get! An! Original! Title! Please!
He's going to be spending most of his first term sorting out the crap caused by his predecessor unfortunately so not much improvement will be seen.
Which then opens the floodgates for the next Trumpist to come storming in, shouting about how poor the democrats are at governing because they've not sorted out the mess. Doesn't matter that the mess was caused by Trump, the Dems didn't fix it.
He has to decide whether to go after Trump with everything he can – which will take time / energy and taint his entire term or to let Trump go to concentrate on his real agenda.
The President isn't a law enforcement officer and isn't directly involved in investigating and prosecuting crimes. The FBI and Justice Department will quite likely investigate, but Biden won't play a part in that. He has already said he does not favour going down that route, but that's sending a message to the Justice Department about his preferences. I wouldn't be surprised if a special prosecutor was appointed, with more emphasis on documenting what happened than on actual prosecution. Congress will almost certainly launch investigations and publicize a lot of dirty laundry.
As above, Covid and economic stimulus will be top of the list. Also, mending diplomatic relationships with allies and clarifying matters with Russia and China. Both those countries have been stepping way out of bounds, so I expect the U.S. will try to force them into a decision about whether they want to be part of a global system or not. Probably some similar discussions with Middle-Eastern countries, Turkey, etc.
It occured to me that he must be older than any elected Pope. After a quick check the oldest Pope to enter office since the 18thC was Benedict XVI at 78 and three days. From Wiki:
Pope Year elected Elected at age Age at death or resignation Length of pontificate
Clement X 1670 79 years, 290 days 86 6 years, 84 days
Alexander VIII 1689 79 years, 177 days 80 1 year, 118 days
Paul IV 1555 78 years, 330 days 83 4 years, 87 days
Clement XII 1730 78 years, 100 days 87 9 years, 209 days
Benedict XVI 2005 78 years, 3 days 85 (resignation) / today 93 7 years, 315 days
John XXIII 1958 76 years, 337 days 81 4 years, 218 days
Innocent XII 1691 76 years, 124 days 85 9 years, 77 days
Callixtus III 1455 76 years, 98 days 79 3 years, 120 days
Francis 2013 76 years, 86 days Current / today 84 ≥ 7 years, 296 days
Benedict XIII 1724 75 years, 91 days 81 5 years, 268 days
So my hunch was wrong by a couple of years. Britain has an significantly older head of state though.
what will he be doing in office?
At his age, trying to stay alive...
As above, he has a mountain of disenfranchisement to climb, a huge Covid reduction task and some serious holes in their economy and industry.
Can! We! Maybe! Get! An! Original! Title! Please
Sorry!
I'm the original unoriginal.
Can! We! Maybe! Get! An! Original! Title! Please
What White man for....
I just thought I'd give this a bump. Today it deserves to be above the Trump thread.
The only thing that deserves to be above Trump is the gallows pole. And then only if Robert Plant promises not to sing.
Was fairly impressed by his speech - seemed to strike a firm and fair tone, some reaching out to the Trump supporters but clear about the damage of lies.
Be interesting how his approach to the pandemic plays out.
Apart from his busy schedule of putting babies on spikes, what will he be doing in office?
Trying to stay awake and eating werthers originals.
Was fairly impressed by his speech
Yes I thought it sounded as though the grownups were back. Enjoyed the contribution by Amanda Gorman (Youth Poet Laureate) too.
eating werthers originals.
As opposed to burgers.
Is it me or does it feel like the world just got a little bit brighter, a bit more hopeful...?
I'd like him to just let the botox wear off now so he can have a facial expression.
Surely it'll be a year to eighteen months dealing with Covid and putting out fires, then really getting behind Harris for the 2024 presidential race? I mean he's not going to be going for a second term is he? Seeing out his first one during a pandemic that kills the elderly would be a success.
If he's anything like me he'll be in the office first thing full of vim and vigor and pith and vinegar. Then within half an hour, once he realises that everything's ****ed, can be found face down in a pile of tea, biscuits and despair.
I hope he's a bit more resilient, though.
Democrats have the house and senate, hopefully he gets a lot done - and quickly.
I expect stimulus packages, infrastructure projects and a bit more in the way of a welfare state (obviously not as we understand it).
Hopefully the democrat vote will get out in the mid-terms and he isn’t shafted by losing one of the houses.
He's not great really though, just looks awesome when benchmarked against Trump.
My gut feel is that he will go in about 2 years time, planned ill health, handing over to Harris. Hopefully a two year run into the 2024 election will be enough to prove to Americans that a woman in charge is actually possible, even preferable.
Jenifer Lopez and Lady Gaga were ace. Not so sure about that bloke singing though. Harris was presidential. And Biden made the right noises.
If he’s anything like me he’ll be in the office first thing full of vim and vigor and pith and vinegar. Then within half an hour, once he realises that everything’s ****, can be found face down in a pile of tea, biscuits and despair.
Surely it will be coffee or soda as opposed to tea. Other than that I’m with you and your post made me laugh as it describes most of my days!
Best part for me was a president able to talk like an adult rather than a child practising new words, "chi-nah, chi-nah".
Much better, bigly better.
Chuckled when the beeb news person said Biden couldn’t go straight to the White House as they’re still cleaning it and steaming the carpets, it’s going to take some cleaning to get all that fake tan and smell of bulls*** out of the place
Let’s face it, you wouldn’t just want clean sheets on the bed in the residency before moving in, you would want as proper industrial decontamination.
Realistically he's going to spend his time in office cleaning up Trump's messes while getting blamed for all the shit he left behind. It's an impossible job... But for all he's hardly my dream president, I think he might actually be a pretty good choice for the cleanup. Basically someone who'll get up every day, go "ah shit, not more of this bollocks, what a nightmare, and I thought Barack had a bad time of it", and then get on with it anyway.
As above, I liked his speech and thought it cut just the right tone of reaching out to those who didn't vote for him but that it was time to cut the BS.
Good luck to him 👍
I also think he has the perfect amount of power - control of the house and the senate so he is not stymied at every turn but only just so he'll need to be a little mindful of keeping them onboard.
I suspect a one term president who won't elect stand for a second term. To that end Harris will have a lot higher profile than any vice president of our lives by design and not because Biden does not have the energy to do the whole job.
Upping the amount or formaldehyde he uses to keep himself upright every day.
#Thewalkingdeadpresident
He will have to work with a republican opposition to whom deficits matter,again.
Is it me or does it feel like the world just got a little bit brighter, a bit more hopeful…?
Not just you. I hope it's the first sign of the changing tide, a bit like seeing the first snowdrop of the year. It may take longer than a few months for the new world to emerge but it definitely feels like we're starting on the journey.
Ah must be sad for folks like @brads that heir Trump is no longer in power 😂😂😂
Working hard on franchising a chain of pizza restaurants in the DC area with basements called Joe! Special discounts for lizard people and our reptilian overlords.
Trying not to fall into the political traps that the Trumpette supporters are trying to create.
matt_outandabout
Full MemberTrying not to fall into the political traps that the Trumpette supporters are trying to create.
The thing about this, is that most of the traps they think are so clever, will only appeal to their own cult, and the great thing about voters that will never in a million years vote for you is you don't have to pander to them. I think he's too seasoned to waste much time over stuff like this, especially when he's got enough real business to drown in.
The more mainstream/respectable/politically competent republicans will be more trouble.
I'm hoping that in a couple of years Kamala Harris takes over as president paving the way in the future for Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
He's surrounded himself with experienced adults, he has significant experience operating at the highest levels of US government, he recognises he can't do it all himself, he's embarked on a theme of unity. None of these were attributes of the predecessor. Remember this far into the Trump presidency there was already a shit storm over the size of the crowd on the Mall.
He’s surrounded himself with experienced adults, he has significant experience operating at the highest levels of US government
Which means much more than all the Botox, formaldehyde and Werthers comments bandied about.
Apparently the Donald left the traditional letter to the new president.
I'm guessing it was either written in crayon capital letters, or was just a smelly brown smear on a sheet of paper.
IMO after covid, his biggest fight will be getting "the peoples/democracy act" through without the supreme court crushing it. That could really correct the balance of power over the next generations, but opposing that sort of policy is why the GOP has politicised judge appointments.
The world seems less poisonous with Trump off twitter
Biden has inherited some shit to deal with: covid & beyond, Iran, China, N Korea will want to make a show, Putins been quiet for a while....
Apparently the Donald left the traditional letter to the new president.
Bet its one of those McDonald's colouring in pictures.
Ah must be sad for folks like @brads that heir Trump is no longer in power
Why ? Given that you have no clue of anything about me at all, or are you just trying to provoke a reaction to make your dull/lonely night brighter.?
Saddo.
And it's Herr I think you actually mean.
He’s quite easy to land ain’t he?,
😂😂😂😂
His first steps to address the coronavirus pandemic and undo some of former President Donald Trump's signature policies.
With the stroke of a pen, Biden has halted funding for the construction of Trump's border wall, reversed his travel ban targeting largely Muslim countries and embraced progressive policies on the environment and diversity that Trump spent four years blocking.
https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/20/politics/executive-actions-biden/index.html
Since Donny achieved so little it should only take a short time to put right.
Yup as I thought. Always funny how they then make out it's "fishing" blah blah. Oh you're so easy to wind up hahaha.
Then off for a chug.
Anyhoo.
The formaldehyde quip was not entirely in jest. I reckon he is coached to do his little jogs onto the stage to try and come across as sprightly, but in reality he really does look like he's not got long left.
VP will be getting the job sooner than you think.
He’s an old man, this is a surprise to no one.
He also understands the challenge ahead better than anyone.
Christ, you try and put him back in the water but he jumps back onto the bank.
the press sec very nearly said president obama 😀
VP will be getting the job sooner than you think.
Oh no! That will be so much worse than a Mussolini walt.
It occured to me that he must be older than any elected Pope. After a quick check the oldest Pope to enter office since the 18thC was Benedict XVI at 78 and three days.
Boris Johnson is 56 and he's a completely useless **** 😕
VP will be getting the job sooner than you think.
And there was some talk a few weeks back about the first female US president....
That's bound to spell the end of the world. Thatcher destroyed British industry.
Pleasing to have a WH press secretary who didn't seem to view the press as an enemy. I'm not going to miss McEnany.
https://twitter.com/atrupar/status/1352102113535537152
https://twitter.com/TripleH2413/status/1352104412731174913
He is a consomethinge washington operator, which is why Obama had him as a VP, because Obama hated that sir of politics and wasn't good at it. So expect Obama part II policy wise. Biden's stance throughout his career has been old school democrat but the modern party as moved on. If he has any sense he'll listen to his kids and grandkids.
He has 2 years before the next election cycle and has the Senate and congress, so he'd better get cracking. I suspect he will avoid anything too extreme and seek to work with the adult Republicans. He knows from his VP years how hamstrung a President without support in congress is, so he can't drive voters to the other party and lose congress.
The insurrection plot thickens - anyone wondering why it was so hard for the Capitol Police to get backup on the 6th?
https://twitter.com/CarolLeonnig/status/1352066474492497921
I am just relieved that Trump is gone, an awful president, a horrible person IMO, what goes around, come around...
Biden seems like a decent guy who has his work cut out for him, good luck to him!
jimdubleyou Full Member
Democrats have the house and senate, hopefully he gets a lot done – and quickly.
The Democrats barely control the senate and some of their senators are far enough to the right to ally with Republicans from time to time. While Biden may be able to get some moderate things done with relatively little grief, there'll still be a lot of effort required to pass anything particularly progressive.
Joe Manchin is often cited as a very conservative Democrat senator.
the press sec very nearly said president obama
President Obaden?
It does appear like there is finally an adult back in the big chair.
Harris for 2024.
Pleasing to have a WH press secretary who didn’t seem to view the press as an enemy. I’m not going to miss McEnany.
Agreed. Psaki deflected a few times, wish they'd just say they don't have that info and come back later (perhaps she will), but she didn't call the press activists. Just returning to a daily briefing is a big step forward.
In general, I think the first day benefited from not having the inaugural ball and events full of donors and lobbyists. He just got straight to work. Good luck to him.
I’m hoping that in a couple of years Kamala Harris takes over as president paving the way in the future for Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
Nah, Harris may already be in post come 24' and ideally will be able to point at a solid 4 years of VP service in the next election. But I think AOC will suffer from being so vilified by the RW meeja by that point that she'd never pull over as many centrist votes in a presidential election... she might have a shot by the late 30s depending how the next decade and a half goes...
TBH though all this speculation about future succession is a bit pointless now.
The next 24 months will be critical to the US, Biden and his administration's effecacy will be judged on some quite short term, mainly Trump cleanup prompted actions. Setting an agenda for the next election can't really start before Q3/22 at the earliest (IMO)...
I really like AOC but at the moment she is a rookie still
I think the best use for her would be to give her a important task and let her rip on it. 2028 might be right for her to be VP
Looks like Trump is now using Fox News as his mouthpiece for spreading falsehood and inciting hatred instead of Twitter.
Tomorrow Never Dies was single handedly the worst Bond film ever (well, maybe Die Another Day gave it a close run), but seemingly a genius piece of future forecasting........
BTW, I think (and I might be wrong) that he needs to survive 2 years in office before the presidency would naturally hand to the VP. Otherwise it's a new election. KEEP THAT MAN ALIVE!!!
Every time I see Fox news I just imagine Kent Brockman from the Simpsons talking. Fox is an embarrassment and I can't believe people take them seriously.
I'm surprised he speaks to Fox after Murdoch turned on him.
Otherwise it’s a new election. KEEP THAT MAN ALIVE!!!
My understanding is that there's no way to have an early election. If the sitting president dies, resigns or is removed then the VP takes over for the rest of the term even if it's only one day in.
There's going to be a lot of pressure on Biden and the democrats to prove that establishment politics can address the problems in the US and beyond. Covid, cliimate change, inequality, and unaccountable monopolism are all things that require urgent action. If he fails to make inroads into these there'll be another populist (Pompeo probably - shudder!) waiting to capitalise in four years time.
Covid, cliimate change, inequality, and unaccountable monopolism are all things that require urgent action.
The problem he has is that there's a sizeable chunk of the US population that would put these things at the bottom of the todo list, or worse deny they even exist, or worse again deny they exist while accusing you of being a traitor for saying they do.
These are not a new phenomenon in the USA, it's just that social media gave Trump a means to reach these people not afforded to those who went before. Now that cat's out of the bag and Trump and others will continue to propagate nonsense, President Joe has a worse problem. He has to deal with all those points above AND make inroads into the populist right wing movement. The two things being very much set against each other over the last 4 years.
Looks like Trump is now using Fox News as his mouthpiece for spreading falsehood and inciting hatred instead of Twitter.
The CNN live feed is bad enough, Fox is just bonkers on a scale I cannot describe.
It's just all bonkers. Hopefully now the USA is more centralist than it was with trump we might see some sense come out of thier government.
I only wish we could do the same in the UK where we are locked into a facist conservative majority for the foreseable, so we are basically ****ed.
but in reality he really does look like he’s not got long left.
Erm... No he doesn't.
Well Biden/Harris have worked out how to outvote the rednecks and that lesson will be repeated going forward.
If Biden keeps the USA more or less the USA he could well pick up votes.
The people who voted Donald are on the decline (statistically) and the fringes like Qanon have shot their bolt.
Ots the Republicans that need to shape shift and they know it.
The problem he has is that there’s a sizeable chunk of the US population that would put these things at the bottom of the todo list,
Climate change and covid maybe but the rednecks are very aware of the inequality issue. All they want is good working and middle class jobs which enables them to support their families without needing support from the state. If Biden can achieve that and generate jobs in the rust-belt and other former industrial areas then a lot of the support for Trump and the conspiracy nonsense will evaporate.
All they want is good working and middle class jobs
Assume they want jobs doing the same old thing without having to retrain or learn something new.
See also Alberta oil patch and the seeming unwillingness to move the O&G workforce into renewables
You would think someone would be willing to do a bit of PE with him, negating the need for peloton?
Or does he just fancy the instructors?
Well Biden/Harris have worked out how to outvote the rednecks and that lesson will be repeated going forward.
This wasn't a pro Biden vote, it was largely an anti Trump vote. Biden needs to make sure he addresses the issues that affect people who normally don't vote but did in this election, especially IMO financial inequality.
They have a decent act coming up to stop and reverse years of GOP disenfranchisement. But removing barriers to vote won't matter if people don't believe their vote has any effect on their lives, then they still won't vote. Everything can't be fixed in 1 term, but he will have to make demonstrable progress that the democrats are not just as owned by the 1%ers as the GOP.
I really like AOC but at the moment she is a rookie still
I have a lot of respect for her. Problem is that she's talking to her local constituents, not the entire country. Biden won by being the guy that was most acceptable to the entire country, nobody's first choice, but most people's second choice. The U.S. is moving in the direction of AOC, but it will be decades before she is a viable presidential candidate. My money is one her being a flash in the pan, most politicians turn out like that.