Hypothetical. What if Biden died in the next few months?

[Nosi]

The fact that we don't know much about Harris is good.

We haven't had the President die.

She hasn't had to step in one day like Pence had to with Trump.

She hasn't had any scandals.

Actually, if you look at her Twitter feed, she says and does the right things a VP should do. She endorses the President's acts and words, meets and greets Americans, makes policy announcements.

https://x.com/kamalaharris

She just seems to be getting on with the job.

Many of Harris' naysayers are in a twist because she is dark skinned and female. Many do not realize that is why they feel the pull of a wedgie.

I must correct you on one thing. Harris did have to step in as President when Biden underwent a colonoscopy. Admittedly, that episode was very brief, but it was there.

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/11/19/biden-transfers-power-to-kamala-harris-while-he-undergoes-colonoscopy.html

 

[PitPat]

Many of Harris' naysayers are in a twist because she is dark skinned and female. Many do not realize that is why they feel the pull of a wedgie.

I must correct you on one thing. Harris did have to step in as President when Biden underwent a colonoscopy. Admittedly, that episode was very brief, but it was there.

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/11/19/biden-transfers-power-to-kamala-harris-while-he-undergoes-colonoscopy.html

I don't care about her skin color or gender, just about how electable she is or could be.

So there were no attacks during Biden's colonoscopy. That alone should be reason for concern.

 

[Nosi]

It does, as does surviving to 80 in decent health.

The average life expectancy for an 80 year old man in the US was 7 years in 1995:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7565998/

In the UK it's 9 years.

IMO the combination of access to healthcare, his existing good health, socioeconomic group and so on would tend to push Biden (and Trump for that matter) above the average in terms of life expectancy.

You are forgetting that along with Biden's good health and medical care, he also has good habits. He exercises regularly and eats a good diet, as you note the man is slim. His cupboard has less than half the medications I take at just 55. He habitually lowers his blood pressure by stroking & playing with his dogs and cat.

While equally blessed with good medical care and economic blessings, Trump's habits are ghastly. If he sleeps four hours a night, that is a restful night for him. His staff has to sneak the occasional vegetable into his food because Trump won't willingly eat one. I've heard he has a 12 Diet Coke a day habit. Fast food is his mainstay. A walk on the golf course is also a no-go.

Please also note both men have come down with Covid 19. Biden got it more than once, one time before a vaccine was available. How the two men responded to the virus speaks to me of their respective health.

The first time Biden caught Covid, he isolated himself in the Presidential quarters and his wife left the White House to keep away from the bug. Despite being in quarantine, Biden continued to work, using video equipment to safely conduct meetings. His second bout of Covid was a breakthrough infection, which is common with the vaccine. Again, work was conducted while dealing with what was like a nasty cold.

Trump's bout of Covid was much more serious, and there are rumors that the man nearly died. We do know that Trump was given experimental treatments at Walter Reed Military Hospital. Generally, the White House is capable of supporting a sick president unless the situation is very acute.

 

[PitPat]

Have you ever thought about Biden's auto insurance rates? Driving muscle cars around with old-timey sunglasses? And rockin' out to Night Ranger?

Motoring.

 

[Stacyhs]

Most of those poll's information gathering involves landline telephone calls. Landlines are mostly used by older Americans, and that population tends to be Republican for the most part.

Politico article about landline polls

Cell phones are used for information gathering in far fewer polls, and of course, there are the small handfuls of polls done on the street. This is further complicated by the fact that only 6% of people called in any poll on any device complete an interview.

Most of the Millennial and Gen Z generations are untethered entirely from landlines if they don't live with older Americans. Smartphones come with software to block annoying telephone calls from scammers, spammers, and yes those conducting polls that can annoy.

Good points. We got rid of our landline a few years ago. Most people I know did, too. Younger voters don't want to be bothered with polls. Frankly, I did one and now don't bother.

 

[Nosi]

Have you ever thought about Biden's auto insurance rates? Driving muscle cars around with old-timey sunglasses? And rockin' out to Night Ranger?

Motoring.

Presidents aren't allowed to drive after election unless it is on private land.

 

[Nosi]

Good points. We got rid of our landline a few years ago. Most people I know did, too. Younger voters don't want to be bothered with polls. Frankly, I did one and now don't bother.

In either 2012, the year my mother died, I disposed of my landline. I took a flip phone that belonged to her, and made it my own, complete with their phone number. I kept that number when I switched to a smartphone a few years later, and will keep it when it's time for the next one.

When I moved to my new house, a landline was there. It was there for emergency calls, in case a roommate's phone battery died, and for my guardian alert device as I'm at risk of falls. The landline is rarely picked up and rarely if ever receives calls, and they're usually spam/scam. The landlord pays the landline bill. We roommates pay our cellphone bills.

 

[Orphia Nay]

Most of those poll's information gathering involves landline telephone calls. Landlines are mostly used by older Americans, and that population tends to be Republican for the most part.

Politico article about landline polls

Cell phones are used for information gathering in far fewer polls, and of course, there are the small handfuls of polls done on the street. This is further complicated by the fact that only 6% of people called in any poll on any device complete an interview.

Most of the Millennial and Gen Z generations are untethered entirely from landlines if they don't live with older Americans. Smartphones come with software to block annoying telephone calls from scammers, spammers, and yes those conducting polls that can annoy.

That's really interesting. Thanks very much for the article and post.

 

[Nosi]

That's really interesting. Thanks very much for the article and post.

You're very welcome!