Fuck you USA Today

[edhopper]

Headline:

President Joe Biden turns 81 as concerns about his age hang over 2024 election

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/president-joe-biden-turns-81-as-concerns-about-his-age-hang-over-2024-election/ar-AA1keLk2

It's only a "concern" because that is all you, the M$M want to talk about!

Try talking about what the man is actually doing. You fucking media whores!

[brooklynite]

1. Which part of the story is untrue?

[BannonsLiver]

2. Push em back! Push em back! Waaaay Back!

[brooklynite]

3. Guessing you don't have an answer either

I don't wrap myself in the cozy blanket of "it's the media's fault!" assertions. I deal with the real world and strategize accordingly.

BTW: I called the White House today to confirm my attendance at a Holiday reception in December. Thought you'd want to know.

[unc70]

4. We already knew you were special

[Orrex]

7. Why do you think we'd want to know that, exactly?

[brooklynite]

9. You'll need to go through the back catalog of the discourse BannonsLiver and I have had.

[Mad_Machine76]

14. It's not untrue

But I think some of us are tired of the overemphasis on it, as well as the general vagueness of the "concern".

[Fiendish Thingy]

21. The part where voters became concerned without prompting from the MSM. Nt

[brooklynite]

32. I don't accept that this is the fault of the media...

I have a degree in political science (focusing on electoral politics) and 40 years of political engagement that lets me evaluate what voters focus on and why. They don't need media polls or punditry (which most of them don't bother following) to frame a perception of political figures. There is angst (whether its deserved is irrelevant) about the cost of living, the migrant situation and crime, and in that setting, people have historically looked for leaders who empathize with their concerns and show strong leadership. That's why Trump is doing as well as he is: he tells his 40% of the electorate that their concerns are validated and he speaks forcefully about how he'll address them. Biden doesn't because it's not historically his style. If you watch him speak, its frequently in a quiet voice, which can be soothing in a one-on-one setting (I've seen him talk to individuals this way, and it works) but doesn't come off as successfully in a group setting, which is where most people see him. Add his obvious age, and voters relate the two.

[Fiendish Thingy]

43. The angst and perceived difference in age is indeed due to media

Both the MSM and Social media; it’s not an organic experience shared by millions (some folks are indeed suffering, but not the supposed 60+% of the electorate who claim to trust republicans more on the economy), it’s a manufactured and manipulated narrative that millions are exposed to relentlessly. Same goes for crime. I live in Canada, and when I tell folks I’m originally from California, it’s common for them to comment on how scary a place CA is “with all that crime”.

I do appreciate your posts with insider information on the political process, but You are clearly part of the consultant class, and your livelihood likely depends on the reinforcement of “conventional wisdom “ as the only right way to win elections.

I don’t know if Biden raising his voice will convince people he’s a better president.

[brooklynite]

46. Another baseless presumption...

You are clearly part of the consultant class, and your livelihood likely depends on the reinforcement of “conventional wisdom “

No, I'm a retired transportation planner who worked in NYC for the last 30 years. I don't DO politics professionally; I provide "deep pockets" financial support for candidates in winnable races based on detailed data analytics (hence my ability to engage with Party leadership), and as such, "conventional wisdom" is the last thing I want to clouding my judgement.

That said, I started out in the trenches as a Ward Committeeman in Philadelphia, where I learned valuable lessons, including: don't conflate your own opinion with that of the voters, don't get emotional in your political decision making and especially don't assume that the average voter is as interested in politics as you are.

[uponit7771]

45. The concern for Biden's age over TFGs isn't organic, might not be from M$M but it damn sure isn't organic

[MyNameIsJonas]

56. You don't think the media constantly harping on his age might factor at least a bit in the perception he's too old?

C'mon, I don't think you really believe that.

The media has been parroting the idea he's too old ever since he took the oath - long before Americans started saying they were terribly concerned about his age.

You don't believe that constantly talking about how old he is doesn't feed the narrative at any level?

It's essentially a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Media talks about Biden's age incessantly > voters start picking up on the questions - 'is Biden too old?' over and over again and it leads them to start questioning it themselves > more and more Americans start saying they're concerned about Biden's age > Media talks about Biden's age incessantly ...

It's not hard to believe. It happens with a lot of issues actually - the media harps on it, makes it a major concern, people start believing it and the media then turns around and reports how the American people see it as an issue.

Rinse and repeat.

[dpibel]

62. "Warped Front Pages"

What swell timing!

Just today the Columbia Journalism Review published a piece about the front pages of your beloved NYT and the WaPo. (Hat tip to DUer here: https://www.democraticunderground.com/100218469547)

Here's a fun excerpt:

In the final days before the election, we noticed that the Times, in particular, hit a drumbeat of fear about the economy—the worries of voters, exploitation by companies, and anxieties related to the Federal Reserve—as well as crime. Data buried within articles occasionally refuted the fear-based premise of a piece. Still, by discussing how much people were concerned about inflation and crime—and reporting in those stories that Republicans benefited from a sense of alarm—the Times suggested that inflation and crime were historically bad (they were not) and that Republicans had solutions to offer (they did not).

Now I freely admit that this is just the CJR, and not a person with a Degree In Political Science.

But they could possibly be on to something.

Congrats on the invite to the White House! That must make you feel awfully good!

[brooklynite]

63. Apparently President Biden isn't concerned about my media perspective.

[dpibel]

65. I imagine President Biden

spends quite a lot of time thinking about your media perspective.

Wait.

That, apparently, is you who thinks that.

[brooklynite]

79. NYT: Trump's Dire Words Raise New Fears About His Authoritarian Bent

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/20/us/politics/trump-rhetoric-fascism.html

If they're trying to get Trump elected, I'd say they're doing a lousy job.

[dpibel]

81. Didn't read it, eh?

The "Warped Front Pages" piece doesn't say you can't find contrary examples.

It just counts the number and finds that--no surprise to anyone but you--for every "Fears About His Authoritarian Bent" there are three "Old Feeble Joe" heds.

You really can't be not understanding this. You can only be taking a position for the sheer sake of trying to be right.

[SouthernDem4ever]

71. I don't see value in trump's empathy or concerns for anyone

Unless bigotry, stupidity, dishonesty, anti-constitutional behavior and hate for immigrants is the way to go now. That should be the area of focus for study.

[brooklynite]

75. Try the following...

"Globalists are taking your jobs and sending them to China"

"Migrants are coming across the border and taking the jobs that are here"

"Crime is out of control and Democrats want to defund the police"

"Climate change radicals want to close the coal mines".

These are all message Trump has given to his audience, and they all resonate.

[SouthernDem4ever]

84. The stupidity of his audience are not relevant to my comment

However, if you place value on them as molding society into this dystopia threatening all of us, then it would be more constructive to place energy on how to change them, or at least help them realize their total ignorance and stupidity in the fact that they will also suffer as a result of their choices.

[brooklynite]

85. The point isn't that you're stupid if you believe these things...

...the point IS that the voters Biden needs to win over to go with the Democratic base have concerns of their own (cost of living, crime, etc.) which Biden has to respond to, rather that ignore or discount.

New York lost six Biden House seats (and consequently, we lost control of the House) because voters were concerned about crime and our candidates didn't respond to the voters' concern.

[SouthernDem4ever]

86. I don't disagree with you

But I do worry about our election system allowing us to overcome all of this at the voting booth. There are too many weird right-wing state legislators in place to continue preventing orderly transitions of power - there are too many stupid voters that made it that way.

[MerryBlooms]

73. Biden's PR team needs to step up their game.

Your constant excuses and bragging aren't helpful, in case you haven't noticed yet, after a few years. You brag to having inside sway, fuckin use the sway. Do something for Us! More aggressive attacks on Trump need to be made, daily. Every court appearance needs an ad or a statement. Get the word out. Hell, bring back fireside chats if we need to. Do something! Stop giving trump all the air! You claim to have so much clout, fuckin do something, instead of just telling us how much money you give to guzzle down wine and food withe folks!

[brooklynite]

76. I've never said I have clout...

I have entry to express concerns and suggestions and I do. Many of us have expressed concern about the Democrat's ability to message successfully. I can't "make" them change their campaign strategy, unless you'd like me to hold back the cash that they need.

[live love laugh]

24. How about the WHOLE truth?

… like the fact that the so called leading opponent is nearly as old; also that despite age unprecedented experience of the incumbent has led to unprecedented accomplishments.

RW OWNED media loves both sides until both sides are not in their favor.

[edhopper]

29. So you agree that is needs to be

the MAIN story about Biden to the exclusion of most everything else? Because that is what the Media is doing.

Hilary did have a private server, it was not a big deal, but the Media made it the main story about her.

Your lack of concern over this media push to make Biden's age the big issue is alarming.

[treestar]

38. How many times does it have to be mentioned?

Why can't they cover anything else?

[uponit7771]

44. The intimation that the concern over Biden's age is organic and not M$M driven seeing they're the ones bringing it up ..

... the most over TFG.

M$M will swear they don't drive the news ...

[Hermit-The-Prog]

60. That's not the point. The point is major media harps on that continuously.

More time is spent expressing concern about Pres Biden's age than is spent reporting on what Biden - Harris has accomplished or are working on.

It's similar to all the "but her emails" yapping leading up to 2016. There have been plenty of analyses showing the lopsided air time from that.

[ms liberty]

5. So, let's write some letters to the editor (ltte) then.

Make them short and sweet, cogent and concise. We all know it's bs, so write them and tell them - the letter they publish might be yours.

[LoisB]

6. I, for one, am NOT concerned about President Biden's age.

So, come Nov. 2024, I will vote for him.

[totodeinhere]

8. You may not like it but there are concerns about his age.

I personally disagree with those concerns and there is a 100% chance that I will vote for him. But if we are going to deny there are concerns about his age we are sticking our heads in the sand.

[happy feet]

11. The age concerns have been constantly pushed by the media and right wing

On the other hand, the media nor right wing have pushed ANY concerns about Trump's age - let alone his very noticeable physical cognitive decline.

So, not fair.

[totodeinhere]

12. Yes it isn't fair. But to deny there are concerns about President Biden's age

Is to deny the truth. And it's just not the media and right wingers. You probably saw recent comments made by David Axelrod for instance.

[treestar]

39. why is it impossible to cover TFG's age AND obvious obesity and

ignored health problems? It's not like they are limited to one issue per day.

[totodeinhere]

47. I agree with you. n/t

[happy feet]

52. I hear you.

I just disagree w/Axelrod and all others...it's mental and physical fitness. I don't think anyone wants to be judged by age alone. I believe TFG is physically unfit and definitely cognitively impaired, even compared to when he was President. He's 3 years younger than Biden, so again, too old? --- it depends.

We all age differently. I have no concerns about Biden's cognition. From what we see, he is physically active - biking, etc. However, he does walk slowly as often happens when we age. I don't believe that impacts his cognition. Roosevelt was in a wheel chair, though hidden for the times.

My two cents.

[ificandream]

53. More by the right wing and reported by the media, which is what they do.

It's up to our side to counter this by showing how whatever you want to call Trump -- I like Dementia J. Trump (thanks, Keith Olbermann) and "Donstipation" -- would be a disaster for the country, both agenda wise and mentally.

[Mad_Machine76]

16. What's the specific concern, though?

He's old, yes, but he was old in 2020 too and I'm not sure what's changed since then (other than the obvious passage of time)? Do people still remember that he has a VP that can step in if he dies and/or becomes incapacitated? Who or what is the alternative?

[live love laugh]

26. Republicans have no platform. Obstruction and destruction is all they got.

[JoseBalow]

33. The "VP that can step in" is the concern

[totodeinhere]

36. That is only a concern for sexists and racists.

n/t

[JoseBalow]

40. Not "only"

it may also be a concern for those who do not like the VP other reasons, could it not?

[brooklynite]

48. Correct: Harris is seen as much more progressive than Biden

That goes over well here, but not in the electorate at large (Biden won in part by winning over moderate Republicans and Independents) and not even in the Democratic Party (Harris never did well in the 2020 Primary).

[totodeinhere]

50. Yes of course. I was just trying to make the point

though inarticulately that there is a lot of sexist and racist opposition to our great vice president.

[Mad_Machine76]

59. So IOW

Black woman VP bad? I know Haley is really trying to play that up.

[liberalmediaaddict]

37. Ok Biden's old. I'll admit it.

He was old when he got 81 million votes 3 years ago.

The bigger question is, can he do the job of President effectively. He's proven repeatedly he's mentally and physically up to the task. Personally I think he is doing a great job.

Other than walking slower and talking more softly you never hear any reports of him being incompetent and unfit to serve like during Ronald Reagan's second term and Trump's entire presidency. There's never been any mention of invoking the 25th amendment which Trump's cabinet seemed to mention every other month.

If Biden was impaired to the point he can't competently run the country we'd hear about it immediately.

If people don't want to vote for him simply because he moves slow and stammers occasionally when speaking what exactly can Democrats do to address that concern?

[Skittles]

55. thank you

I'm getting a bit tired of all the acting as if age is not a factor, regardless of how fascist/ old the opponent is. It also amazes me that Hillary could not be president considering who will likely be the next candidates.

[70sEraVet]

13. If Joe was LDS, they wouldn't let him lead the Church because of his age

He's just a kid -- he'd have to wait at least another ten years!

[ffr]

15. And the other Fox News lite, Yahoo.com

[Wanderlust988]

17. Biden acts feeble at times. Dr. Fauci is older than Biden, but acts 15 years younger.

It's all about perceptions. That's the problem. I love Biden and will vote for him no matter what, but I'm not gonna put my head in the sand about his age issues.

[live love laugh]

27. What do you mean "acts feeble"?

Wanderlust988
17. Biden acts feeble at times. Dr. Fauci is older than Biden, but acts 15 years younger.
2:36 PM
It's all about perceptions. That's the problem. I love Biden and will vote for him no matter what, but I'm not gonna put my head in the sand about his age issues.

[aggiesal]

18. It's only a concern because the VP is Black woman. ...

It's what has the (R)'s tighties is a bunch

When Pendejo45 picks a black woman, you hear the same thing.

[moniss]

19. Jimmy Carter

was still out swinging a hammer, carrying lumber and building houses at that age. I don't think the Orange Ruski could hit a nail with a hammer to save his life or carry lumber. He puts down his fast food long enough to get out of the golf cart and swing a club and thinks he's getting exercise.

[moniss]

20. You brought back a memory for me

by saying media whores. I sure do miss Mediawhoresonline. The Horse was always great.

[CTyankee]

22. Nobody that I know would say that to me, esp. the nasty jab about Kamala. I don't know anyone who would. The only

person I know who is a Republican is my book editor/designer and he is a devout Christian. He is extremely well mannered, lives with his parents at age 29, a nice nerd. We do not discuss politics when he comes over to help me with my manuscript.

[liberalmediaaddict]

23. It's the media's new "but her emails"

Every headline about President Biden's birthday has framed it as a crises that's going to hurt his re-election chances.

2016 it was Hillary's emails. 2024 it's going to relentless coverage about Biden's age.
They've got nothing else to pin on him. And since he can't change the fact he's 81 years old pundits can keep hammering away at him with no pushback.

It's classic ageism and insulting to the 81 million people who voted for him just 3 short years ago. The beltway media said he was too old then. And consistently gives Trump a pass because he has a combover, wears orange makeup and gives loud, manic speeches that are incoherent.

It's going to be a long 12 months.

[sop]

58. "Every headline about President Biden's birthday has framed it as a crisis."

Exactly. We never see Biden's age and experience covered as a positive thing. Age and experience used to be seen as desirable leadership traits, the source of wisdom, steadiness and good judgement. From everything I've seen since he was elected Biden appears to be a wise, steady and experienced leader, but the media seldom frames it that way.

Corporate media is in the business of framing and shaping public opinion, not "just reporting the facts, ma'am." It's what they do. Anyone who claims otherwise is being disingenuous. Political pundits discuss Biden's age like sportswriters do 40-year-old quarterbacks: "he's really lost a step, Wolf...he just can't avoid a sack or throw the long ball...it's time for the guy to retire."

[GreenWave]

25. It is a Fox News perpetual talking point.

But sickly Don, oh no, Dassn't go there.

[JudyM]

72. MSNBC was all over it today, too, on and on....

[brooklynite]

77. Maybe because today is his birthday? A topical point?

I'm guessing you won't here as much tomorrow.

[JudyM]

82. Yep, that's what they were launching off of, but it went on and on.

I had to turn it off out of sheer boredom.

[TheRealNorth]

28. Its not just USA Today

I was reading a couple of articles on the Thanksgiving Turkey Pardons, and Biden's age was mentioned twice in one article, and once in the 2nd. One article came from the AP, the other was a NPR article.

The media has it in for Biden. They are going to give him the, "but her emails" treatment.

[edhopper]

31. Absolutely

the want to make it THE issue in the election.

[Freethinker65]

30. And Trump is 77 as concerns about Trump's fraud, treason, vindictiveness, and kleptocracy hang over the 2024 election

[TheRealNorth]

34. Its easier to talk about how old Biden is...

To talk about that other stuff requires, like, a brain.

[brooklynite]

35. That's true, and the media reports heavily about his various trials...

...somehow nobody claims that makes them "obviously left-wing media".

Your follow-up is likely "but why do people say they prefer Trump over Biden"? The answer in part is that TODAY (a year out) people are expressing concerns rather than an absolute voting preference, and Trump is seen as 1) not the person in charge today (whom they perceive as not addressing their immediate concerns) and 2) someone who governed when their financial situation was better.

[bdamomma]

41. Crap this age

stuff has to stop, so WTF are they saying they want a DICTATOR, kiss your freedom goodbye. Trump is fucking losing his mind, apparently the propaganda machine is in overdrive.

[Think. Again.]

42. Joe's campaign team just needs to...

...feed the mainstream media some other BS they can latch onto to about trump or someone so they can keep the advertisement targets blabbering about somethng more juicy than this inane concern over Joe's age.

The media just wants to sell views, give them something else to focus on.

[lastlib]

49. "President Joe Biden turns 81....."

"...as concerns about his opponent's age and mental decline hang over 2024 election..."

There. I fixed it for them.

[elias7]

51. The answer is: Kamala Harris is not old

So what if Biden’s old. His experience trumps every president if lived through. If he doesn’t live through the 2nd term, we’ve got Harris, so why is this an issue, unless people think she can handle the job.

[BigmanPigman]

54. Bill Maher just did the same, fuck them both!!!!!

?si=XySJ2iQNuWNQRp1s

I have not watched Bill in years since he is a Libertarian asshole but on Friday I saw Rob Reiner and Albert Brooks were going to be guests so I watched. That lasted 1 whole minute before he made an asinine remark about Biden being behind the top three GOP candidates and that Biden is so old, etc. That did it!!!!! I will never watch that show, even if my own mother were a guest.

[Wednesdays]

89. To be fair, Stephen Colbert also pokes fun at Biden's age

and Colbert is VERY much on the Biden train. But yeah, I wish they wouldn't add fuel to the fire.

[Galraedia]

57. I don't care if he's 100. A comatose orangutan would still be a better choice than a republican

[redqueen]

61. We need to see stories about concern for Trump's mental fitness

Maybe I'm just missing all of those.

[brooklynite]

64. If it makes everyone feel better...

The Biden campaign has told me that very few people get their news today from newspapers..:

[dpibel]

67. So very droll

And so very beside the point.

At this point, you don't have to read the newspaper to know that Joe Biden is a doddering, ancient man.

The major media still play a big part in setting the story line.

But you knew that.

A person could almost think that you're arguing just for the sake of arguing. And that is important because, as Charlie Pierce has been know to say: "That shit simply will not stir itself."

[brooklynite]

78. A person might also think I was arguing because...

....people here seem to be envisioning enemies all around them thwarting Biden's re-election prospects, which is a great excuse for not actually trying.

I deal with politics with as little emotion as possible, so I can think clearly about what I should do and what I should suggest to others.

[dpibel]

80. You may have flawed clairvoyance

What is it that indicates to you that people who, for instance, point out media bias (which many rather knowledgeable people seem to recognize, contrary to your wisdom) are therefore "not actually trying"?

Did the OP here say, "And, therefore, I will not vote"?

No.

You're actually in the minority when you deny media bias.

And that doesn't help your credibility.

Not matter what degrees you have, what invitations you have, what money you have.

I guess it's possible that you do not believe chewing gum and walking are simultaneously possible. But if that is the case, I believe you are, once again, in the minority.

Look at the CJR study I linked elsewhere in this thread.

And tell me with a straight face that there's no media bias.

That doesn't mean "Oh, shit! Then I give up."

It means that you call out media bias WHILE you are getting out the vote, talking to everyone you can, and--for such people as you--strewing vast sums of money hither and yon.

Not sure at all why you think this is a zero sum game.

[edhopper]

69. No

They just read the headlines in their news feeds.
And are reminded of Biden's age and the voter's concern daily.

[mzmolly]

68. 👏

Exactly!!

[onecaliberal]

70. I am concerned about Hitler trying to retire to the white house personally

[sakabatou]

74. So where's the media talking about Trump's age?

Oh, wait, he's a Republican, so it doesn't count.

[edhopper]

83. Or his increasing

instability. Or his crimes. They report more on what he says about the trials than the cases themselves.

[inthewind21]

90. Well

It's out there. If you look. Tip, read the entire article and not just the headline.

https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-mocks-bidens-age-gaffes-deals-blunders/story?id=104510199

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/30/us/politics/trump-biden-age.html

https://apnews.com/article/election-2024-age-biden-trump-gaffes-flubs-c46427d30471f79ee695d3e76f4d17f4

https://www.barrons.com/news/not-just-biden-77-year-old-trump-also-under-age-scrutiny-17f7cb61

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/biden-trump-old-voters-age-issue-rcna104316

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/sep/18/trump-biden-age-election-202

[honest.abe]

87. I think we need a better strategy to confront this issue than just "FU MSM".

I dont know for sure what that is but bashing all media is not going to solve it.

[edhopper]

91. The first step

is realizing there is a fucking problem.

[YoshidaYui]

88. i WANT to add a

FUCK YOU to DONALD TRUMP, THE greatest American ASSHOLE.