31!

I can’t speak extensively on UK politics, but from what I’ve seen, Corbyn is too liberal, even for me. I’m sorry, are you a Brit trying to talk about American politics? Fair enough, but unless you’ve actually grown up and lived there for some time, you can’t fully understand the subject.

OK...your flower child 60’s comment threw me off. Sadly a lot of those hippies you saw dancing at Woodstock grew up & if they hit it big in the 80’s, went on to be libertarians who paved the way for Trump.

Everybody else here claims to be 30

Trump loosed off a slew of executive orders at the weekend on the pretext of replacing the failed corona relief package. Many commentators saw this as Trump provoking the Dems into legal actions which Trump could use to political gain by claiming the Dems do not care about the unemployed.

Turns out there is a lot of detail and definition missing and it is not clear when or how these orders will be implemented.
The US Labour Department has issued advice saying that the $100 per week that Trump said would have to be contributed as the States share of his ordered 400 per week does not have to be new money but could be counted from the unemployment money States already pay.
Problem here is the unemployed would then only see 300 extra per week, not the 400 expected.
Maybe the Dems would be best waiting and watching as the Trump admin sinks into chaos.
Sad for the 30+ million unemployed who are the poor pawns in this game and will likely have to wait a long time to see any extra money.

It is clear many Americans take the COVID-19 epedemic very seriously.
For example, with the trajectory of the U.S. economy uncertain, Americans saved a record portion of their monthly income in April.

The savings rate for that month hit an all-time high of 33.5 percent, according to USA Today, citing Commerce Department data.
In the months after, that rate fell, but the June rate of 19.5 percent remained nearly triple the normal rate.
The average monthly rate of savings was 7.5 percent of income before the pandemic began.

Im a Brit, but ive been active in politics for 15 odd years (I was a rabid right winger at uni but have become more and more liberal (UK sense of the word) as I've gotten older) and have been following American politics avidly since 2008 (as in proper anorak stuff - looking at districting maps, calculating changes in cook-type PVIs, posting on election forums etc.) Ok, I'm not a natural born voter but have more of a handle of US politics than most. I could probably name every US senator etc.

I'm also interested in AU politics (although my knowledge isn't quite as deeply nerdy as it is in UK / US). I particularly like their innovative ways of naming seats. I could even be tempted to get active again - obviously this time in CH politics (FDP) - but I doubt my German will ever be good enough (about A2 level atm).

Perfect WH material

Whoopie Goldberg says she's an actor, not an actress. Because she can play any role, including male ones, and she's as good as any actor, male or female.

In the same vein, if Biden actually went for the best mate he wouldn't have limited his list, his choice would have been person xyz which just so happens to be female. By excluding males he implies that whoever he'll chose needed protection from the better (male) competition.

Interesting, happy to hear you’ve veered away from the dark side.

You may have a better understanding of politics in America than most foreigners & even natives (serious kudos to you), but have you taken a deep dive into the actual day to day life of American voters & why they vote for who they do? What the burning issues are in the country etc...this is the only way to truly understand the politics. I don’t think you can have an honest reflection unless you’ve actually lived and breathed the system.

Or maybe, because finding the optimal running mate will always be a matter of opinion, and there are lots of possibilities, why not specifically choose from a specific group. It’s always a local maximum problem.

The US is so far behind other countries with respect to gender representation in leadership. And there’s always going to be a large segment that doesn’t want any women. But at the same time, women are influential voters, and truth be told, getting women of color out to vote is a big asset to the Democrats. I don’t think settling on a female running mate is a bad thing. There are lots of possibilies who would do a fine job.

I don’t believe there is one single person who is best.

I also don’t believe that there is evidence of Biden “sliding into Dementia” the man has a speech impediment (stutter), he has a particular mid Atlantic accent. Those of you diagnosing Biden online - what is your clinical expertise?

No expertise needed. It’s just a scream why people shouldn’t vote for him, rather than (an attempt) to explain why people should vote for their guy.

Because then you're discriminating against roughly half the pouplation plus you can't be certain that the job is being given to the best candidate.

You’re never certain of that.

It would probably be better to maximise the chances of getting the best candidate rather than playing identity politics.

There is overwhelming evidence that he is in mental decline:

2012:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MiGZzNEZmHY

2019:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADDrSvNyqEY

He's tired, and you can't blame him - but I really won't watch the debates. With both him and Trump on the podiums, it will be as embarrassing as f@c#.

There's some truth in that as evident in the Sarah Palin case. However, all of the VP candidates have experience and credibility backing them so I'd personally be happy with any of them. I also admire Biden for choosing a female VP in a time where the government is led by old white men.

I guess that's one way of looking at it but I prefer an honest approach in that he is declaring his intentions rather than putting a man on the list only to satisfy those who feel a man should be represented as well.

What's wrong with old white men?

Do you have clinical expertise? I don’t.

The first example is a polished speech, practiced. The second is off the cuff remarks. I really can’t compare. I have heard more polished speeches that are Recent and better organized.

I won’t watch the debates either. I made up my mind already and I can’t bear to watch Trump speak. Yes, I have a clear prejudice against him.

I'll try and catch the debates, the entertainment value will be enormous.

Nothing really, but given that they’re not doing a spectacular job, maybe it;s time to see what women and people of color can contribute.

No and I don't claim to, I am just a human capable of observation and have followed Biden in politics for a long period of time. Why do I need a medical degree to see that someone isn't as sharp as they once were?

I am still voting for Biden, don't get me wrong. But I'm sad that it is the better of two evils choice I have to make, again.