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POLL: Who Should Represent the Democratic Party for the Presidency Now?
mwillems:
--- Quote from: JimH on July 22, 2024, 12:57:48 pm ---But it wasn't the Dems. It was just a few hundred people at the top of the heap. And Harris was appointed to the VP job by Biden. That isn't Democracy.
--- End quote ---
Respectfully, Jim, I disagree. I understand what you mean, but she was elected vice president by the people of the United States in conjunction with Joe Biden in the last election, she wasn't appointed like Ford was. She's the duly elected vice president of the United States. If Biden had (god forbid) died instead of stepping down, she'd be president right now and very likely running for president in his place (because she was his running mate).
I don't think her stepping into his shoes is anti-democratic, I think that's pretty much how the system is supposed to work with respect to vice presidents. In a perfect world he would've reached a decision not to run before the primaries so the voters could weigh in, but there's no way to run new primaries in all 50 states now. IMO picking any other candidate at an open convention without a primary would open up the party to accusations of elites plucking someone out of a hat.
JimH:
--- Quote from: mwillems on July 22, 2024, 01:21:44 pm ---Respectfully, Jim, I disagree. I understand what you mean, but she was elected vice president by the people of the United States in conjunction with Joe Biden in the last election, she wasn't appointed like Ford was.
--- End quote ---
Nothing against Harris. She will be a fine candidate.
But the position of Vice President is chosen by the nominee for President at the conventions. Vance was selected by Trump last week.
Harris was on the winning ticket, but she didn't win the right to be on the ballot by winning primaries. That's not how it works. It's an appointed position.
--- Quote from: mwillems on July 22, 2024, 01:21:44 pm ---If Biden had (god forbid) died instead of stepping down, she'd be president right now and very likely running for president in his place (because she was his running mate).
--- End quote ---
That could still happen and he doesn't have to die. He could just leave office early, as Nixon did. Then the VP becomes President and the VP chooses their Vice President.
dtc:
--- Quote from: JimH on July 22, 2024, 01:35:56 pm ---
Harris was on the winning ticket, but she didn't win the right to be on the ballot by winning primaries. That's not how it works. It's an appointed position.
--- End quote ---
The Democratic nominee will be selected at the Democratic National Convention, as always. With Biden not running, those delegates can vote for whoever they want to. They do not have to vote for Harris. So the delegates will choose the candidate. She is not being appointed. Biden is simply making his recommendation. There is not enough time to redo the primaries so the Biden delegates will vote as they choose.
Nixon left office because it was clear he had committed a crime and he decided to leave rather than be removed through an impeachment process. Biden is not leaving office. He has simply elected not to run for another term. The better analogy is Lyndon Johnson.
JimH:
Nixon chose Ford to replace Spiro Agnew, who quit and was later convicted.
So Nixon chose Agnew to be his VP in 1972, then chose Ford to replace Agnew, then quit.
Johnson filled out his first elected term (64 to 68), then did no seek re-election, so his VP, Humphrey, ran against Nixon.
craigmcg:
As a Canadian, I want the USA to stay as a democracy that doesn't invade or annex it's neighbours and maintains its longstanding participation/leadership in NATO and other alliances. Extreme Republicans/MAGAts winning the Presidency, House, and Senate would preclude that especially since the Supremes' ruling on both immunity and the reversal of the Chevron ruling.
From a "fantasy football" perspective, the ticket that my wife and I would like to see is Harris-Buttigieg as they are both great communicators, would leave critical Senators/Governors in place where they are most needed in the near future, and would offer a California "progressive leaning"along with a midwest former "centrist mayor". If we could vote in USA elections, they would have our votes!
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