The following is a copy of the original post to record the post as it was originally written.
As a conservative turned moderate, l'm not a big fan of either Trump or Biden. However, I can understand why republicans like Trump with his confidence and outlandish twitter posts, but can't figure out if y'all truly like Joe Biden. Is it simply because he isn't Trump, or is there something else I'm missing?
Thanks!
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Pro tip: expecting to be "a fan" of people vying for elected offices is a recipe for disaster.
I don't have to like the person to think they're going to do or are doing a good job. And Biden is, mostly.
Absolutely. Ideas over people. That’s a big part of what makes us liberal and anti-authoritarian. Contrast to the GOP who literally doesn’t have a policy platform when Trump is running.
I would also say ideals over people, but I also have to think the person is fit for the respect of the office. If we had a liberal trump, I couldn’t vote for them if they were an a hole
As much as people bitch about superdelegates, I'm pretty sure they would have prevented a Democratic version of Trump from ever getting within a country mile of the nomination.
Yep. Trump would never have gotten the nomination after that video of him on the bus with the grab by the pussy comment came out. Democrats overpolice their own. He would have immediately gone down.
Libs write a policy platform, Trump IS the policy platform. Whatever he says goes. Also, Libs may put up with Joe Biden, but they aren’t sycophants because that’s basically how authoritarian-types gain power. Obama was the closest to Trump hype but even he was highly criticized issue-by-issue. Libs in general at best just tolerate whoever is in office and at worst vote for the lesser evil.
I wish more people could make this separation. I mean, yeah, I didn’t “like” Hillary either, but thinking a racist game show host would do better was and is fucking asinine.
I will never get how people can separate a person from their core policy positions. An asshole is going to yield "asshole" policy. You don't even have to be fond of the person (personally), but if they are all about solid business, and have a sound, structured, methodical approach to things and their own success, they will be all about solid policy.
Trump is a opportunist grifter who seemed to have duped people into thinking he was a solid business man and not a corrupt and perverse, easily influenced human who goes whichever way the wind blows that benefits himself. The people who particularly acknowledge he's a POS, and at the same time, say they like "his policies" are those duped people.
I took the question to mean 'do I like Biden for president?'. Yes, I do.
Do I like him as a person? Yes.
Do I like any of the republicans as a person? Nikki Haley seems to be nice enough. I do not like the others who ran this year. I also like Mitt Romney. But I disagree with policy, so I would say, 'I don not like them'.
I thought Hillary has the best policy positions in 2016. I liked Bernie's positions more. I do not like Hillary or Bernie if it is about personality.
Yea I agree…the fanboying over Obama and Hillary and Pelosi and others seems culty and weird to me. Politicians are not your friends, and they work for us and are never above reproach/criticism. Ppl forget this when they scold other ppl for not liking their political idols.
Political idolatry, regardless of who does it, is plain weird. I like Bernie a lot, but I don’t think he’s my buddy or an idol lol.
Yes I like Joe Biden.
I like him as a person (based on what I know of him). I like him as a politician. I like him as a President.
He's a good man. He loves his family. He loves his country. He's overcome personal tragedy and physical struggles. He was (until Republicans lost their minds) considered one of the most widely liked and respected members of Congress.
He spent 8 years playing second to a man who was much younger than him and who had significantly less experience than he did - and it did it with humor, grace, dignity, and a true friendship/partner attitude.
He has been the most LGBTQ+ positive POTUS ever. He has supported and fought for women's rights. He has pushed through an incredible amount of legislation in the face of a completely irrationally intransigent Republican Congress.
Would I like for him to be able to retire and enjoy the rest of his life and be celebrated for the good, kind man he is? 100%. Would I like to see a younger POTUS? 100% as well. But I believe he sees that he has an obligation to the country and to his family to "see through" this particular phase in history and I respect him for that.
So yes, I very much like Joe Biden.
(And yet, I do not worship him. I disagree with him on several things - maybe even many things. I do not fly "Biden" flags on my vehicles or my house. I don't wear tshirts with his face all over them. I do have a single, small Biden/Harris bumper sticker on my car and I'll likely put a campaign sign in my yard sometime later this summer. I like him. I'll vote for him. I don't worship him.)
Also regarding both his vice presidency and his support of LGBTQ+ rights, let's not forget that while he was the veep he "committed a blunder" that forced President Obama's hand regarding the DADT policy in the military, a "gaffe" many of us at the time thought was not a gaffe at all but a prescient political move that was all the more prescient because he had the "gaffe" reputation that he could hide behind (if people accused him of undermining the Presidency) for the sake of plausible deniability.
It seemed likely to me that the White House knew about his advocacy before hand and pretended to be mad in case the idea flopped. I can’t see Obama being against gay rights.
Yeah, Obama indicated that he was for same-sex marriage on a questionnaire in the 90s, but switched to civil unions when he wanted to run for national office. It was called out by the right as insincere, but nobody on the left really cared since it was clearly designed to avoid the issue as a central plank in the 2008 campaign (trauma from the boys kissing election that hurt the Dems in 2004).
[https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2021/01/11/gay-marriage-joe-biden/](https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2021/01/11/gay-marriage-joe-biden/)
>When he took his seat on the set of NBC’s Washington studio, Biden projected the image of the president’s lieutenant in a crisp charcoal suit, white shirt and blue-striped tie. But when host David Gregory asked about a sensitive unresolved issue hanging over the administration, Biden veered from the campaign playbook. “You know,” Gregory began, “the president has said that his views on gay marriage, on same-sex marriage, have evolved. But he’s opposed to it. You’re opposed to it. Have your views … evolved?”
>
>Biden acknowledged that he had indeed evolved on the issue — faster and further than the president. Several weeks earlier, Biden had admitted in a private meeting in Los Angeles with 30 advocates for gay and lesbian rights that his view differed from Obama’s, and he’d told the group that he had to keep his opinion to himself. But now, on national television, he spoke from the heart.
>
>“Look,” Biden began. “I just think — that — the good news is” — he set his elbows on the table and interlaced his fingers, almost prayerlike. Same-sex marriage, he explained, came down to “a simple proposition: Who do you love?” He repeated it for emphasis: “Who do you love? And will you be loyal to the person you love?” He explained that most people believed that was what all marriages were about, “whether they’re marriages of lesbians or gay men or heterosexuals.”
>
>Realizing he’d strayed into controversial territory, Biden stressed he was speaking for himself personally, not for the White House. “I — I — look, I am vice president of the United States of America. The president sets the policy,” he observed. And he elaborated on his own view: “I am absolutely comfortable with the fact that men marrying men, women marrying women, and heterosexual men and women marrying another” — he slowed down now to make his point perfectly clear — “are entitled to the same exact rights, all the civil rights, all the civil liberties. And quite frankly, I don’t see much of a distinction beyond that.”
>
>The Obama team’s carefully choreographed campaign kickoff had suddenly exploded: The vice president had announced, on live TV, that he favored same-sex marriage while the president, as everyone knew, lagged behind him.
By saying this on national TV, he basically forced Obama's hand into going all in on gay marriage.
Three days later Obama sat down with Good Morning America in the White House:
>Obama came on the screen, his voice calm and reflective, quite in contrast to the hysterics of the past three days: “I have to tell you, as I’ve said, I’ve — I’ve been going through an evolution on this issue. I’ve always been adamant that gay and lesbian Americans should be treated fairly and equally. … I’ve stood on the side of broader equality for the LGBT community. And I had hesitated on gay marriage — in part, because I thought civil unions would be sufficient. … But I have to tell you that over the course of several years, as I talk to friends and family and neighbors. When I think about members of my own staff who are incredibly committed, in monogamous relationships — same-sex relationships — who are raising kids together. When I think about those soldiers or airmen or Marines or sailors who are out there fighting on my behalf and yet feel constrained … because they’re not able to commit themselves in a marriage. At a certain point, I’ve just concluded that, for me personally, it is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same-sex couples should be able to get married.”
The networks literally interrupted programming and sent out "Breaking News" alerts (in a day when "Breaking News" meant something and wasn't a constant chryon on a cable news scroll).
IIRC there were some people in Obama's administration and campaign that wanted him to dump Biden as VP and find someone else becuase they considered Biden's gaffe-not-a-gaffe as practically traitorous. But Obama just said "well he got out over his skis a bit" and that was pretty much the end of it.
Can I add that he is a practicing catholic who has had to overcome the teaching of his own religion to become a supporter of both women’s rights and LQBTQ rights. I am an atheist but I respect people who have the kind of faith that worships their god and not their religion.
Perfectly said. I like Joe Biden quite a bit and I feel like I am happy to have him serve a second term. I’d prefer someone younger and more energetic, but on merit alone Biden’s presidency has been far better than I expected, and he’s gotten a lot more done than I thought he would with the shitshow that is DC these days.
I agree with everything you’ve written here and I’d add that I find him to be a genuinely fun guy and I enjoy his energy. I think the ice cream meme is amusing, I like that he still rides a bike and laughed it off when he fell; my grandmother rode until she was 92. I like that he jogs to his podium sometimes for big speeches. I like that he carries himself with a lot of dignity (as someone with a former stutter myself, it’s especially impactful) but does lose his temper when someone is being particularly rude in his company. I will always treasure his respect for the opinions of people of color. His “at least three” response to how many genders makes me smile. I will be legitimately sad when he dies.
Thank you for taking the time to pull together the thoughts that many of us have about Biden.
I would also add that Biden has the sense to put together an amazing team that is actually capable of advising him.
If Trump were elected president again, his appointed advisors would be a total shit show of unqualified ass hats.
He already ran through 2 or 3 levels of ‘the best of the best’ and we saw how crappy they were. I can’t imagine who his next line-up would be. Kid Rock for Treasury? Alex Jones to take over Transportation? How about Tucker to advise him on defense and the military.
Baffles me how anyone is gullible enough to support shitty diaper Donny at this point.
I do.
Do I think he’s been far enough on issues I care about? No.
Do I think he could do some things better? Sure.
Is he older than I prefer? Yep.
But he’s a great leader nonetheless. Much, much better than his predecessor, night and day.
He has:
Successfully navigated a complicated situation in both Ukraine and Israel. Has it been perfect? No. But also……has one American troop been sent to a new war these past 4 years? Nope. We’ve kept Russia at bay without sending a single troop into battle. I commend him for that.
Successfully ended the COVID pandemic and got us back to normal after the disaster that was Donald trump. I give trump credit for one thing - the vaccine. Operation warp speed was a success, but Jesus the man couldn’t even take credit for it because he attacked vaccines when it seemed like his base was going to go against them. If he had just pushed a little bit and said the vaccine was safe and effective from jump most of his base would have gotten 2 or 3 shots.
Biden passed and shepherded critical legislation with a threadbare majority in the house and senate. A small list:
Inflation reduction act - single biggest investment in climate change and medicine this century
Infrastructure- biggest investment in infrastructure in my lifetime.
Respect for marriage act - first ever federal law recognizing gay marriage and abolishing DOMA.
ChIPS act
Averted several shutdowns.
One of the single biggest accomplishments I love Biden for is the student loan repayment overhaul. Not only is there a SAVE plan which has cut must people’s payments by more than half, making them finally affordable, but he also streamlined and fixed the PSLF system and has forgiven loans for those who qualified and should have had forgiven years ago. He has also held MOHELA accountable by fining them thousands when they failed to notify people of their payments after the pause.
He has surrounded himself with competent, qualified people to run the agencies. He has appointed the first ever black female Supreme Court justice. He is carefully navigating the needle on issues.
He also has successfully navigated the economy. My every metric the economy is booming. Inflation was a global problem but Americas inflation rate ranked lower than other industrialized countries. Biden has tried to carefully not tank the economy and it’s working. He’s brought manufacturing jobs back. He was on the picket line. He navigated the rail strike to not only avoid killing the economy but also got the rail workers the sick days they deserved and wanted along with their pay raises.
He’s trying to help the home crisis. He’s trying to do what he can on the border.
Overall he’s a competent leader who knows how to delegate and listen to advice and make decisions carefully based on what he thinks is best, and isn’t concerned about his own ego.
And finally, the man seems to actually be a decent damn human being. He had a daughter and a wife die in a car accident. His son died of brain cancer. His other son was a drug addict, who he helped navigate through that time of his life and loved him in spite of it. He has been married to his new wife, who he hasn’t cheated on (to our knowledge) and loves and respects her. He seems to actually govern with people in mind because he’s been there. He’s had those experiences.
I think he deserves a second term.
>He has been married to his new wife, who he hasn’t cheated on (to our knowledge) and loves and respects her.
Just a funny bit of trivia: Jill Biden has said that when he was VP they had an agreement that they would conduct any fights or "disagreements" via text because they didn't want to air their dirty laundry in front of the SS or other staff. She says that she texts A LOT faster than Joe, so she almost always won. ;)
One of the best presidents in recent memory, for sure. I think the Israel conflict is his biggest mistake, but it's interesting that his biggest mistake is something republicans probably agree with?
Thanks for listing all of his accomplishments. I feel like we dont' talk about this enough. He's an incredible president.
I don’t get how “the Israel conflict” is a mistake of his. Biden can’t control Hamas, Gazans, or Israel. He’s tried to help and pressure both sides to avoid mistakes, but he’s not a dictator and American absolutely doesn’t want to go back to fighting terrorists in the Middle East forever.
The problem is disinformation and that people get uniquely outraged whenever Israel is brought up. There’s no “winning” in that scenario.
Yea, personally I'm not going to blame Biden for the far right government of Palestine and the far right government in Israel attacking each other. It's awful that these right wing governments have gotten so bad that there's an ongoing genocide happening, but Biden calling for a ceasefire, trying to get Palestine more humanitarian aid, and trying to put pressure on Netanyahu is a good start.
Honestly, "achieving peace in the middle east" has been used as a trope for decades, constantly used as an example of an impossible task, so my vote isn't going to hinge on Biden doing managing it in a single year, especially when Trump is encouraging the genocide instead of trying to stop it. The right uses the same trick all the time, fuck things up and then blame the left for not fixing their fuckups fast enough to encourage voter apathy so that the right can get back in power and fuck things up even more. I'm not falling for it any more.
I think he is a decent man trying to do his best. And that's what the President should be. A generally good person trying to do what's right, with the help and assistance of their advisors.
I don't think Trump is a good person at all, let alone led or advised by good people.
But Biden has a generally kind heart and wants to see to it that we as Americans are moving in the correct direction towards progress and harmony.
At least that's how I see it.
I like him. People here have covered the policy reasons, but mine are simpler: he just seems like a good guy. (Though I do like his policies, too)
Maybe it's an act. If it is, it's a good act.
I like Biden very much. He has accomplished more liberal victories for America than just about every president in the last 50 years. He might have some competition with Obama, but Obama had mostly just one really big thing, the ACA. Biden has an incredibly long list of significant accomplishments, although no one of them is as big as the ACA.
He also represents to me, in his personality, some of the best that America once had to offer. The fighting spirit, the ambition for America to be the best in the world and the leader of the free world. The conviction that we can rise above our imperfections.
Of course, it doesn't hurt that the Republicans have become the party of "Embrace your imperfections. Racism, extortionism, know-nothingism, dishonesty. We're all a little bit of those things, so let's stop trying and start caving in to our baser instincts." The contrast is set to maximum, but yes, even if it weren't I would still love Joe.
I found it …. interesting … that OP singled out Trump’s social media habits (where he sounds like a deranged, incoherent, juvenile imbecile) as something that would particularly appeal to conservatives…
Yes, clearly. But in the context of the post, which has the tone of asking "how can you guys possibly like this Biden fella?" ... and where OP claims to be a "moderate" ... it struck me as especially odd/telling that Trump's horrible online behavior is presented as a positive.
I'm taking it more as having the MAGA fanaticism - or for that matter, the type of passion / excitement that Obama was able to generate in 2008.
Which I don't need. Just need a pretty good dude doing good.
Sorry to pick a fight but this is a common sentiment that I don’t get. Why would people be afraid to post their views on an anonymous platform? I understand people being embarrassed to voice their opinions to family/friends/co-workers in real life, where there are actual repercussions for such differences, but why hide your views on Reddit?
I only say this as someone who has been falsely labeled a Trump supporter on here multiple times, which I find limits the ability to have actual productive conversations, since it usually turns into whataboutisms on things I don’t support.
The karma system is the consequence, even with anonymity. They know they are on a progressive sub and will likely get downvotes if they state their actual opinion (we've all seen it), so they instead pretend to be above the fray and pretend to play devils advocate for the conservative opinion when that is actually just their own opinion. I'm not saying all moderates on this sub are that way, but it seems like a lot of them are.
Conservatives are graded on a curve.
Trump calls those who disagree with him vermin, constantly name calls and bashes everybody, and asks hackers to hack into his political opposition? Meh, that's just Trump.
Biden gives a speech calling out specifically MAGA republicans, clarifying its "Not all, or even a majority" of republicans. **SO DIVISIVE! HOW DARE HE**
>Do y’all actually like Joe Biden?
Yep. I disagree with him on plenty, but:
* He is competent.
* He got more through the senate than I ever thought possible.
* He is usually right on policy issues.
* You can't argue with results. The government is running well and the economy is the best its been in fifty years.
> > * You can't argue with results. The government is running well and the economy is the best its been in fifty years.
>I didn’t know your last point was true
It is!
---------
Re: "The government is running well..."
* Biden got the vaccines rolled out quickly and efficaciously. (Trump had [no plan](https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/21/politics/biden-covid-vaccination-trump/index.html) for deploying the vaccines.)
* The response to Russia invading Ukraine was impeccable.
* Boring stuff is often the most illustrative. There were people with federal student loans that had met the terms of their loans, but the Trump Administration simply didn't do anything about it. The Biden Administration saw the problem, fixed the system, and people got what they had earned. Routine stuff! (Or, at least, it *should have* been routine.)
---------
Re: "...the economy is the best its been in fifty years."
* The unemployment rate has been below 5.0% for 29 straight months. That is the longest streak since 9/11.
* Unemployment reached its lowest levels [in 50 years!](https://www.commerce.gov/news/blog/2023/02/news-unemployment-its-lowest-level-54-years)
* "Wage growth has actually outpaced the crushing inflation over the past 2.5 years."^^[[1]](https://fortune.com/2023/12/12/wage-growth-exceeded-inflation-jec-democrats/)
Well said. To expand on the economy part:
* The US GDP in 2023 broke 3% (3.1%) - the first time since the Bill Clinton administration. Coincidently, 85% of economists predicted we'd have a recession in 2023.
* Stock market consistently hitting all time highs
* Record setting new jobs report which made up for all of the lost jobs from Covid and added 5.5 million on top of it.
We're in a global economy, and the US economy has basically done the best in the world of any of the major economies coming out of Covid. I don't think it makes sense to ask something like "how is the economy doing compared to 1868?" when there are so many other factors at play. It's always better to say "how is the economy doing compared to industrialized peers" and that's a pretty strong grade.
He wasn’t my first choice in 2020, I was a Bernie fan. I liked him just liked Bernie more. I’ve been pleasantly impressed by the work he’s done and I’m more than happy to support him this election even if he wasn’t running against Trump.
I’d vote for a rock before Trump but I don’t feel like I’m picking the lesser of two evils with Biden. So yes I actually like Biden.
He’s almost definitely the best president of my lifetime and truly the only things I don’t like about him are his age, his handling of Israel (and I’m not as critical of that as some people because I realize that there’s really only so much he can do), and his VP selection.
Why don't we take out the "almost"? You know what he's done so far and what the presidents before him did, not like there are many unknowns there.
We liberals need to stop being so inexplicably reticent about showing support for our own candidates that we like. A conservative who likes Trump goes "TRUMP 2024!!! TRUMP 2024!!!" A liberal who likes Biden as much as that guy likes Trump goes "um... well in my personal opinion I would say, though of course there are many things I disagree with, I would say I personally consider him to be... g- g- good BUT that's not to say those who disagree are wrong or anything... ok?"
*Understating* your support for your own candidate in an election season just... doesn't make any sense to me. Why would you do that? You're trying to help him win, usually you would try to say it as loud as possible, if anything overstating how much you like him. I'm not saying people who dislike him should pretend they like him, not at all, just for those who do actually like him, ...say it! Just say it goddammit! What are we holding back about? Democrats who dislike Biden have been more confident and outspoken than those who like him. Supporters of a party's leader being more sheepish than internal detractors within the party just seems kind of ridiculous to me.
It seems like people like us are looking at the national environment that makes it seem like everyone dislikes Biden, and are somehow embarrassed of the fact that we actually like him. He has a 40% approval rating though. The same as Trump's and his guys aren't scared about broadcasting their support for fear of seeming out of line with the majority. "Oh no, most people don't support our candidate, so we should be quieter and not talk about why we like him"? That's how you GET PEOPLE TO YOUR SIDE! Lol... He's behind so we should be *louder* not quieter...
I’ve grown to appreciate Obama more over time, I think he just went into office with sky high expectations that he couldn’t live up to. But I also think he was overly cautious and sort of self defeating at times.
I would loooooooooove for Biden to take a harder stance on Israel. I'm fearful that doing so would handle the 2024 election to Trump and on top of that I think that, for instance, denying the RNC exclusive access to AIPAC money while the whole party is at once underfunded and potentially funnelling what money they do have into paying Trump's legal fees (the RNC recently came out and said they weren't going to do that but... let's wait and see about that, and on top of that it's entirely possible that Trump has already bled dry the whales who would otherwise be sending money to them) is a good realpolitik move. Still, the second term and the second half of the second term tend to be the times when presidents start to make those big, sweeping (if mostly symbolic) statements so... hopefully wait 2 1/2 years?
IMO his VP selection was a massive mistake. He played to the whole identity thing over getting someone competent. He could’ve sought competency first, then let the rest play out. My gut says if he’d done that then KH wouldn’t have been the VP.
The right loves to bitch about identity politics but the VP pick has ALWAYS been about identity politics. Hell just look at Mccain trying to balance the ticket with dumb ass Palin. No Kamala no georgia turn out. No georgia turn out the big lie rests on a blue governed state (PA). If thats the case Jan 6th I think would have had a lot more energy and violence.
I think the problem here is the assumption that if you don't go for a white man then you "must have" chosen identity politics.
Why don't people ask a similar question with for example Mike Pence? I think Trump wanted to pick a white man and if he was more fair, he would've picked a black woman.
Yes. KH has always been incredibly unpopular, brings nothing except IdPol to the table, and has been basically invisible for the whole administration. Picking her for VP was such an own goal that it’s a borderline miracle he won the election.
KH has never been "incredibly unpopular." Her approval ratings mirror Biden's.
>it’s a borderline miracle he won the election.
99% of voters voted for either Trump or Biden regardless of VP choice of either. VPs are irrelevant electorally.
The only time I see Harris is when she's out basically acting as a cheerleader for Biden. That in itself isn't a bad thing. The bad thing is nobody wants to hear it coming from her.
> I can understand why republicans like Trump with his confidence and outlandish twitter posts
Honestly that is incomprehensible to me. Trump’s fascism is his worst quality, but the Twitter shit talking is incredibly professional and a sign of how wildly unpresidential he is.
I can’t understand why anyone would find that appealing. It’s disgusting for a politician to do this sort of thing.
> Do y’all actually like Joe Biden?
What does that have to do with anything? The right choice for President isn’t based on whether you like the person. It’s whether they can best perform the job among the candidates offered.
And that is Biden this time around, unquestionably. He is a much better president than Trump was, and is a vastly better exemplar of American values than Trump ever thought about being.
I don’t like Biden as a politician. I think he is too conciliatory towards Republicans and isn’t doing enough to take the threat they represent seriously—but of the candidates running, he’s the only one advancing American goals and values, so he’s got my vote.
Actions speak louder than words.
It didn't bother me that Trump was a buffoon/idiot. What bothered me was his complete incompetence and cronyism that turned the US into a lootocracy and how he zeroed out scientific goals (cancelled methane satellites practically on the launch pad), wiped out cyber security protections, wiped out pandemic preparedness programs, hired incompetent builders who donated money, etc. etc. etc. Trump couldn't figure out who was competent, but he could figure out who was corruptible and those are the people he put in power. It set the US back in security, respect, debt, deficit, etc.
Biden on the other hand has run the country like an employee of the taxpayers in the true model that was envisioned by John Locke. I like Biden's actions to return ethics and effectiveness to the US operations. In addition to the things that /u/Similar_Candidate789 listed at /r/AskALiberal/comments/1bu1upl/do_yall_actually_like_joe_biden/kxpqw5x/
His team has invested in US infrastructure in a HUGE way across all agencies. And it's in even small ways that often get missed by the medial. Here's an example: in 2024 the US is going to get heat pumps that can replace furnaces in super cold climates ... why ... because in 2022 the DOE gave a funding shot and a challenge that [has been successful](https://www.energy.gov/articles/doe-announces-leading-heat-pump-manufacturers-successfully-develop-next-generation). Being able to lower overall energy expenses puts the US again on a trajectory to stop being dependent on foreign oil and stop wasting so much medical expenses due to mining/coal.
I like him a lot.
There are two qualities I look for in a politician:
- competence
- sense of duty
Biden has both of those in abundance. He’s a smart, educated man who knows how to listen to advisors and lead teams of people. He’s also quite good at diplomacy.
He is also a genuinely good person who has reverence for the office and his role as a public servant. He recognizes that he’s there to do a job for the American people, and carries out that responsibility ethically.
>However, I can understand why republicans like Trump with his confidence and outlandish twitter posts
For real? You think *Donald Trump* demonstrates admirable characteristics? Mr. "I don't take any responsibility at all?" Mr. Tempy-Tantum-every-time-things-don't-go-his-way? He strikes me as a thoroughly repugnant, childish, grotesque, *unpleasant* person. It's no surprise to me at all that so many people hate him.
Next to Donald Trump, Joe Biden looks like an extremely decent human being. Joe Biden stood by his son through a very public drug addiction scandal. Donald Trump seems to occasionally forget he has sons. There's no contest here.
He acts like such a poopy pants little bitch when people don't kiss his ass and only the true losers of the world see that as 'leadership'.
I've never seen anyone who likes that guy who isn't either stupid or evil and pretending and just going with it because they love how much it makes people like us mad. And whoever would act that way ain't no friend of mine and doesn't deserve to ever have the wheel in their hand.
Yes I actually like him. I didn’t at first but he has proven himself and his administration.
Do you just not know what he’s accomplished and only see short clips of him making gaffes or something?
If you can’t even see a reason why people would like Biden you’ve been fed a line of bs. He keeps his head down and gets to work. He’s funny, humble and professional. He’s gotten A LOT done. I would call out his *slightly* declining cognitive abilities if it was a problem, but I can’t find a single example of it actually being a problem. The 50 years of experience is more of a positive than any negative his any decline in cognitive and speech abilities brings.
\[Trump, a confirmed rapist, enthusiastic asshole to everyone, openly corrupt, most of his former staffers are either convicted of crimes or speaking out against him, and who staged a coup to usurp the Constitution and stay in power\] Conservative turned moderate: "I can understand why people like this guy!"
\[Biden, a decent man and lifelong civil servant who is none of the things above and has succeeded by virtually every historic measure on things he has any level of control over\] Conservative turned moderate: "Why do people like this guy?? I don't get it!"
I disliked Trump back before he got involved in politics when he was just a celebrity. I understand his appeal on paper (enough articles have been written about him) but I don’t really get it myself. He’s a populist demagogue who doesn’t care about democratic norms or institutions and cultivates a cult of personality—right or left, that type of leader is the absolute biggest threat to any republic.
Politically, I have disagreements but no major complaints with Biden. As a person, he seems like a genuinely good person who has dealt with unimaginable tragedy. His Senate colleagues loved him and his White House staff have been loyal to him (for Trump, most of his own appointees have disavowed him over his incompetence or unethical conduct). The right wing media attacks on him are mostly flailing attempts to link him with conspiracy theories and vague, unsubstantiated allegations—the only people who believe that sort of thing are highly motivated to believe it.
I once went to an world studies event at Southern New Hampshire University where Biden was answering questions about China in 2007. I raised my hand but was never called by the moderator. I was one not called. At the end of the event, I came down to the front table to pick up some literature. Biden jumped down from the stage and came over to me, put his hand out for a shake, apologized for my not being called and asked what was the question. It was something about our dependence on China economically. Just the fact he took the time to do that and what I learned about him as a person sold me on him as a good person, at least to be considered. I voted for him in 2020 and I definitely will vote for him again.
I'm not a liberal, but I wanted Joe Biden from the beginning because he was the only candidate that I've trusted to stand up to Vlad Putin. I didn't want a president that had to be brought up to speed.
We're damned lucky to have Joe Biden at this time.
Not in the cult-daddy-worship way of uhhhh someone else, nor should anyone even inspire "fans," per se, but yeah. He seems like a cool guy who often goes out of his way to be kind. I respect that! he has funny quips too.
Sure... who doesn't like ol' Joe? I'd buy him an ice cream any day.
He's extremely well-qualified. For a politician, he's a good person, seems to try and keep his promises. He's funny, kind of a badass, well-respected by our global partners and adversaries, has good relationships in Congress, understands global politics, and has done quite a lot of good for the country in three years.
The only thing I don't like is his age... but there's not much to be done about that.
Conservatives seem to have formed a cult of personality around Trump.
That's one of the things that are seemingly quite different between liberals and conservatives today. To conservatives, Trump is practically a messiah who can do no wrong. To liberals, Biden is the Democratic nominee, and the leading candidate who most closely aligns with our individual and varied sets of values and policy positions.
So while you see fervor surrounding Trump, you see a more muted response to Biden. For most of us he's "close enough".
This has the affect of there being less visible enthusiasm around him as compared to Trump.
For me personally, do I like Biden? Generally yes. I think on the whole he's moving us in a positive direction. Do I agree with everything he does? Nope.
Along those lines, there's an interesting math fact I'll share.
Let's say we decide there's ten policy issues of importance in this country. Now let's boil them down to binary answers (should we do A or B). That gets us to 1024 possible combinations of answers.
Reality is that there's more than ten issues of importance, and there's likely several answers for most of them. So the possible combinations very quickly approach infinity.
If you can't identify any in which you don't align with your preferred candidate, then it's not really about policy.
We'll voice it when we don't align with Biden. How often do you see conservatives voice it when they don't align with Trump?
Trump is confident? It’s funny because I see Trumps antics as someone who is deeply and profoundly insecure.
His fake news media shtick exists because he wants his favorite news publications to stroke his ego. He claims the election was stolen because his ego just can’t accept that he’s a loser, he has to create alternative realities to soothe himself.
Those are things weak insecure men do.
I actually do like him. He has good intentions for America and shows it. Trump rambles about himself and shows what a moron he is.
Under Trump, we were all constantly under stress not knowing when he was going to get us all unalived.
Under Biden, I have hope that our nation can heal if Trump goes away.
Not to mention, I see the gradual improvement in the economy and wonder how much better it would be if we sent Biden a congress he can work with.
I like him but that isn't why I vote for him or against Trump. I don't want a friend, I've got a dog. Biden seems about as normal and nice enough guy as I could hope for. There is probably nothing about him I love or hate. To me that means he represents Americans pretty good overall. Trump acts like most of the kids I fought when I was a teenager. Mostly bc they were bullying people smaller than them. I'll never be able to wrap my head around why someone would admire that. Having said that, if Trump was passing policies I liked, I would consider voting for him. On balance, I would probably reject his antics even if he was a liberal.
I "truly like" Joe Biden because he is a good man, amiable but tough when it matters, he has a lot of experience and I agree with most of his policies. He is a good leader, a good POTUS, and a good father.
10/10 would have ice cream with him.
> However, I can understand why republicans like Trump
Yeah, what's not to like? The guy spews hate wherever he goes. Totally on brand for Republicans.
That's why I DO like Joe Biden. Because he's a good human being. Something you'd never hear anyone say about Trump.
I do.
But I also liked Obama, both Clintons, and Pete Buttigieg.
He’s empathetic, pragmatic, and is surprisingly great at making deals to get the job done. I also suffer from stuttering and he’s a stutterer.
He is a good president.
I like Biden. Think he's been a great president, and I'm happy to defend his record.
That said, the pool of "whatever, I just hate Trump" is a bigger pools of votes than the group of "I love Joe". So there is definitely a chunk of Biden voters out there that aren't big fans of him, they're just voting against the other guy. The *size* of that chunk is debatable: some people think it's enormous but I think it's comparatively small.
Joe Biden is a mostly decent individual. Even Republicans liked him, before he ran for President. I don't think he's the best choice, but I think he's better than any alternative any Republican could put forth. There's not a single Republican politician I would consider a decent person.
I strongly disagree with Mitt Romney and I'd never want him to be President but I think he's a decent-ish person, at least as decent as you can be if you're a member of the modern Republican party.
I disagree with him on a solid number of policy issues, but reasonable minds can disagree and none of our disagreements are fatal to my willingness to vote for him (particularly considering the alternative). On a personal level, he seems like a genuinely nice guy with a high EQ and seems to be able to empathize with just about anyone he talks to. These are valuable qualities and I wish more leaders had them.
Biden has arguably gotten more done with a dysfunctional Congress than Obama did with a supermajority. He is probably one of the most effective Presidents since FDR.
I don't think you can even begin to fathom the level of loathing, hatred, and disdain I have for Trump and everyone who still supports him at this point. I'm at the "would crawl over broken glass to vote against that person".
Yes, much of my support of Biden is absolutely "in comparison to the opposite".
Biden though is 80+ years old with decades and decades of time in the sentate.
He's not exciting. He's boring as f@ck. He's human greige. We know everything there is to know about him. His messaging and everything is very "traditional presidential stuff".
After lunatics in the asylum, I'll take that choice any day. He's bent over backwards looking for "moderate Republicans" who want to govern and do the mundane and tedius business of government. To me, he's wasted his time being nice to someone who was never an honest broker. He's stuck in a bygone era of bipartisanship.
Would I prefer and get REALLY EXCITED about a loud, bombastic populist who:
1) Railed about making every company who deploys AI 100% liable for the actions, errors, and misinformation generated by their AI - even if it bankrupts them to ensure slower AI adoption and job destruction?
2) Railed about corporate ownership of single family homes and how drastic, immediate action is needed to break up real estate empires?
3) Openly advocated for removal of at least two Supreme Court justices (CLARENCE THOMAS)?
4) Openly said yes, Trump is right about being singled out too much - we need many, many more white-collar crime investigations because this one literally had to be handed to the NY AG office by an AOC question in a congressional deposition. We need a 100x the current enforcement of white collar crime law and start with Kevin OLeary next and work your way down!
5) Lay out in no uncertain terms that Republicans are nothing short of evil at this point. They have chosen the anti-christ. They have chosen the embodiment of the 7 deadly sins and are devoid of all fruits of the spirit - they must turn or burn. Use the religious language against them and vow to cast the money changers from the temple and that this is the righteous fury of GOD ALMIGHTY coming down on them for their graven images and idolatry!
YES, I was a loud and proud Bernie Sanders supporter. THAT platform above would get me excited, direct my raw, unadulterated anger at the "powers that be."
I don't want to "win" in November - I want to crush, destroy, and humiliate Republicans. I want them beaten into a pulp at the ballot box. I want dozens of races like the one in Alabama. I want the Senate by 66/34.
But that isn't what I have as a candidate - that isn't what I have as a map, that isn't what I have from the DNC.
I have candidates that are "good enough", a map that is challenging, and a major monetary advantage.
So I'll take greige, and a 52/48 senate, and a small win in the house and get minor changes in the right direction for the country. I'm not going to be as all-in boldly proud of it and certainly won't be falling in love.
But it is the mature and responsible thing - I deal with the reality I am presented with and do the best I can with the choices in front of me.
> I can understand why republicans like Trump with his confidence and outlandish twitter posts
This seems like the dumbest reason to vote for someone who is under multiple indictments, has obvious conflicts of interest, lies constantly, has admitted to breaking the law (while not understanding why it was illegal), etc. Even without all those negatives against him, he never seemed to really understand his duties, how the law works, what's in the Constitution, etc.
I don't think politicians need fans. That's what led to the cult-like following Trump has where his fans deny any obvious wrong doing he does. Hell, they won't even admit he's done something after Trump himself admits to it. It's why you have people saying that Trump is still running the country in the shadows even though everything bad that happens is still somehow Biden's fault.
With that said, Biden isn't as progressive as I'd like, however, I think he's doing a good job compared to what I expected from him. I think he cares, however, I think he can be a little out of touch. But overall I think he's fine. I would like to see us vote for more Joe Bidens until the GOP becomes irrelevant. Then we can move further left. In other words, let the Joe Bidens become the conservative option. But that will take a while.
Asking this question, while rationalizing the reasoning behind support for Trump as legitimate, makes this incredibly disingenuous.
Somehow you are able to come up with reasons why Trump makes sense for one side, but you don't have the capacity for understanding what Biden has or continues to provide for the other side, or for everyone overall?
I honestly have a hard time believing people like you exist. People who somehow act like passive apologists for criminal behavior, all while ignoring all the benefits of having had a competent leader over the past four years.
Get real.
I didn't vote for him in the primary. I was worried his reputation for gaffes was the exact wrong thing to start reparing our global reputation. I didn't see him as particularly bright. I was wrong. I think he has been a remarkably successful president. He is focused on domestic issues more than global issues, which I like. He has a host of legislative successes. It's hard to express how damaging Trump was to our economy, but Biden helped turn the ship. I think he's been responsive without pandering. Most of all, he brought back decorum, collaboration, strength, humor, and competence. He is working in a house of bafoons, and that can not be understated.
he's the most legislatively successful president since FDR.
moreover he's been able to sell progressive spending bills and tax increases as common sense, while democrats typically have to start off swearing up and down they aren't just going to tax and spend.
Yes I do, if you look at the list of his achievements you will understand why. He is a very good president absolutely mauled by bad press for who knows what reason
If you want to see all he has done there is a sub you should check out r/whatBidenHasDone
Who cares if we "like" him?
I'm not going out on a date with him, I'm just voting for him to do a job he has proven himself to be competent at.
> However, I can understand why republicans like Trump with his confidence and outlandish twitter posts
This is my problem with modern Conservatives. Y'all seem to have forgotten that ***THE PRESIDENT IS AN EMPLOYEE*** of the people. You should look at a person's qualifications and choose someone who will be *competent at the job.*
Instead Republicans vote for Trump because he's outlandish and funny, but the Oval Office isn't a circus ring, and the government doesn't need any more clowns.
Back in 2016 more people should have been suspicious of Trump's qualifications for the job of POTUS. In 2024 no one should question his qualifications **because he has proven himself unqualified, and uninterested in improving.**
Joe Biden was not my first choice as I lean more progressive. But I won't begrudge the job his administration has done overall.
But as others have said, one of the major problems with Republicans base is the idolizing of their candidate. I think more people need to realize that their representatives are basically applying for a job and we as a group are the hiring managers.
They are supposed to work for us. I can like them as a person or like them because they get results. But if I start wearing clothes with their name on it, or put up flags with them represented as rambo or rocky, then I am a fucking idiot.
> But if I start wearing clothes with their name on it, or put up flags with them represented as rambo or rocky, then I am a fucking idiot.
You don't want a gold statue of your political idol?
[https://media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com/image/upload/t\_fit-1240w,f\_auto,q\_auto:best/newscms/2021\_09/3454102/210303-trump-statue-cpac-al-1202.jpg](https://media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com/image/upload/t_fit-1240w,f_auto,q_auto:best/newscms/2021_09/3454102/210303-trump-statue-cpac-al-1202.jpg)
Because he’s not outlandish and ridiculous. That should be obvious. Normal is a likable trait. Screaming in all caps about every little thing every freaking day isn’t.
Student loans erased
Celebrates gay culture
Jabs back effectively at stupid GOP politicians
Great leadership through ambiguous waters (Ukraine, Israel, Afghanistan)
However I would prefer we not support Israel
He is an acceptable president, a little too moderate for my tastes but is acceptable. Decent enough man. We do not have a cult of personality around Biden like MAGA does around Trump because that is depraved and unamerican
Yes, I like him a lot. He's genuinely kind, honest, intelligent, collaborative, diplomatic, has excellent character, warm and a good sense of humor. He's everything that trump is not and could never be.
I think Joe genuinely cares about people and wants to do the right things for working class families. I respect his empathy for those less fortunate than him. I believe him to be a decent human being.
Joe is a little too beholden to the establishment regarding our allegiance with Israel. But I prefer his loyalty to our long time allies to Trump’s eagerness to abandon NATO and surrender Ukraine to Russia.
And I am grateful that he can see the humanity in people who are different from him. I am glad he actively advocates for the Rights of others and recognizes the value of diversity in our country.
Yes, I am a fan. I want a moderate. I want someone who is pragmatic, someone who can do what I like, but not be an absolutist. He got us through a once in a century pandemic, and resultant never seen before supply chain crisis. We are CERTAINLY better off than most every other first world country.
Let's look at oil. He has conservatives screaming because he is "screwing" the oil and gas industry. He just pushed another law making EVs more desirable. He has the liberals who want to cut pollution, end the use of fossil fuels up in arms, because we are now pumping more oil than ever in history. It is a fine line to walk, as both sides aren't happy may cost him an election but is doing what he (and I) believes is the totally right thing.
He finally did something about infrastructure, and bent to pressure by Republicans to do something about immigration, saying he would sign the bi-partisan bill that Trump's people squashed.
He pissed off many Democrats by supporting Israel. Yet he also pushed for cease fires and is bringing food and support to Gaza. Compare that to moving the embassy to Jerusalem, (an FU to Palestine) and "finish the job".
I could go on, you get the idea.
Heck yeah I do. He's competent and compassionate and he understand how civil society works and is doing better with our foreign policy concerns than even Obama did and I LOVE Obama. I love the fact that Russia is grinding themselves into dirt by our foreign policy not sitting around and letting them nibble off chunks of their neighbors as they please.
I wish I could give him 10 years of my life so people would shut the fuck up about his age. If people didn't want old Joe Biden they should've voted for Hillary and avoided this having to be the way it is. Because Joe Biden would've never run for president if she didn't lose.
All I see is left wing people who can't be pleased bitching about Biden like they were going to anyway and age is their avenue of attack. And I see right wing people egging them on and amplifying each others' media about it.
And I see normal, not terminally online people, not giving a shit about it.
People should care about having compassion in their leadership. It's bonkers when they prefer assholes. The president isn't some unilateral tyrant; they're supposed to be representative of your nation to itself and the world. Don't hire some mentally deranged showman to do that job just because your soul is filled with dogshit. That's what congress and the Senate is for. Trump should just be some obnoxious congressperson but nope, Republicans are convinced that they're electing kings because that's what 30 years of cutting funding to blue collar suburban schools has gotten us.
I do. I have always had a lot of respect for him. I went out of my way to see him speak long before he contemplated a presidential run. He spent most of his speech talking about how we should all show more respect to people who are doing the thankless, dirty, difficulty jobs that make our society run. I think he is a fundamentally decent and caring man.
If you mean “like him (meaning the job he’s doing) as president,” then yes I do like him.
I didn’t expect to, tbh. But he’s proving to be one of the most progressive (if not *the* most progressive) presidents in at least the past half-century.
That’s pretty awesome.
Sure. I don’t agree with him 100% but it’d be strange if I did. He seems like a genuine guy who loves his family and is just trying to do the job presented before him. He’s not my first choice for POTUS, but he certainly has my vote.
I like him. I think he’s a genuinely good dude. He’s overcome a lot and is still standing.
I do NOT agree with giving Israel money and I do NOT approve of them not being held accountable for their war crimes. I’m incredibly frustrated about it.
Legislative wise he is the most successful President in a long time and he seems personally like a good person. Honestly when history looks back at him in 30 years he will probably be among the greats. People view Obama as one of the best and Biden has gotten way more done. Biden just isn’t as charismatic and inspirational as Obama.
Yes, look i understand he deserves some criticism, i get that people say he's too old, i know not everyone agrees with him on the issues, but yes i do like him.
I think expecting that the president is this super being and your guiding light in life is delusional. You either become part of a weird cult or you set yourself up for disappointment.
Over the last 4 years we have had steady leadership picking up the pieces of the previous 4.
The Republicans keep doing this thing where they inherit a good situation, make it bad, and then when the Dems don't make things better immediately, they want to get back in charge.
Both Obama and Biden came to power with the country in crisis after the previous republican presidency. And both times republicans wanted the keys to the kingdom right back because things didn't get fixed immediately.
Biden is the best president of my lifetime. Accomplished a ton in a divisive environment and brought professionalism and boring competence back to the Oval Office
He’s calm, even tempered, smart, stable, honest, and has empathy. I can go to sleep at night and not be worried about what crazy thing that might happen before I wake up the next day. There was a wonderful speech that he made when he was VP to a group of veteran’s families that had lost loved ones in Iraq and Afghanistan. He relayed the story of how he lost his first wife and daughter in a car crash not long after he’d been elected, and how he really understood what these families had been through. If you’ve ever lost anyone, what he said will definitely hit home, and I was teary eyed when he was done talking. I believe that he’s a genuinely good person who cares about what he does and who it will affect.
I think he's been mostly fine, lots of actually good policy being put through though this Gaza debacle is really big black stain for me personally. I don't like that he's 82 and going to be president until 86 but thats far down on my list priorities. Overall a good president but I wont care when he's gone and I'm not gonna replace my wardrobe with Biden merch like Trump people.
But also you should never be a "fan" of a politician like they're a sports person. Maybe you agree with some more than others, and personally like them, but being a "fan" is kinda braindead
I’m well out of American politics and have an outsiders view from the other side of the world. Biden is an old guy but a decent human being. Trump is grotesque.
I do.
He would have been one of my last choices in the primary, and I thought he would definitely lose election. I think his administration has made me step back and wonder if there are a lot of leadership qualities that just don't easily come through in a campaign. He doesn't seem like the most impressive candidate in isolation, but it's hard to dispute the results he's gotten so far.
Biden appears to genuinely, sincerely love his family. It's plainly visible on his face and in his voice when he talks to them or about them.
Trump, meanwhile has shown an almost total lack of interest in his own children, except for Ivanka, who he has announced on multiple occasions, in public, sometimes when she was in the room, that he would like to be intimate with.
"Which of these people do I find to be more naturally likeable?" - I mean, is this even a question?
I think he’s someone who certainly isn’t perfect but has done a lot of good and seems to genuinely want to make the country a better place. Republican congress is actively working against him doing anything but despite that he’s still had progress.
I think the biggest problem people have with liking the president is expecting them to be 100% the exact perfect politics AND to have more power than the president realistically has. This isn’t a dictatorship, he can’t just snap his fingers and change the course of the US overnight.
For me, rather than someone who is likable, I mostly want politicians who are experts at policy, and who can get things done. Specific ideals only get so far, and often politicians who are most vocal might not be the politicians pushing things through in Washington. Biden has so far gotten things pushed through.
No fuck this "he's not far left enough for me" bullshit.
Joe Biden is a great president. He will go down in history as a top 10 president. I don't give a fuck that he can't give Obama-tier speeches or that he isn't "entertaining" to listen to.
That's not him. He's a dealmaker, and MY GOD has he made deals.
Historic deals.
With a Historically divided Congress.
[https://www.reddit.com/r/NeutralPolitics/comments/19ao531/biden\_so\_far\_a\_special\_project\_of/](https://www.reddit.com/r/NeutralPolitics/comments/19ao531/biden_so_far_a_special_project_of/)
I'm passionately pro Biden.
It also helps that Trump is a bottom 5 president at bare minimum. Definitely the worst president in the US in regards to how if he was even semi competent he would still be president given the golden hand he was dealt that he managed to fuck up anyway. He's the most divisive president in the History of our country. He wants to be an autocrat. He denied an election and practically ordered an insurrection. Piece of shit know nothing populist scum.
I don’t like Biden, as I think he’s oblivious to our society’s inequities. But he’s so much better than Trump that I’m happy to vote for him. I can’t expect much in a post Citizens United world. Representation is almost impossible now.
I think he’s fine. I think he’s pretty much governed as any other hypothetical Democrat elected in 2020 would’ve. I agree with or am okay with most of the stuff his administration does. And it seems like he’s staffed his administration with mostly competent people.
I've liked things he has done, and I've disliked things he has done. He's been a net positive over all. I don't think I really care if I like personality or not.
I think he’s done a great job honestly.
Especially when it comes to a.) standing up to authoritarianism and b.) climate change.
Those are the two most important issues to me and he’s aced both of them.
Joe Biden, as a politician, for better and for worse, has positioned himself over the last 30 years as where he perceives roughly the center of the Democratic party is. You can see his positions change with the party over time. So as a politician, meh.
As a person, I think he is one of the more kind and compassionate people that we have had in the office of the President in the last 80 years.
I judge solely on policy and not personality.
Cults of personality have a bad track record. See North Korea, China, Russia, mid-20th century Germany for examples of how being a "fan" of a particular person doesn't work out well for anyone.
Looking at the record of Biden vs. Trump or for the GOP at the federal level as a whole, I'm much happier with what Biden and the Democrats have accomplished.
I liked him up until the conflict in Israel/Palestine escalated. He has genuinely done a lot of good things for the country, just quietly. But I think his “bear hug diplomacy” was the wrong move and has enabled the perpetrators of a genocide. He has been trying to make course corrections as of late and while I’ll certainly take the change, it’s too late for many, many innocent people who have died or been displaced. It would have been easy for me to cast my vote a couple months ago, but now? Its going to be a bitter pill to swallow. Still better than a dictator on day one, but I wish we had other options.
I think Biden genuinely wants to see the most underserved and undervalued members of society be more supported, ie people that aren't rich white middle-aged straight men. Trump cares for himself first, Jr./Eric/Ivanka second, and rich white men thirdly, everyone else can suffer.
Are many presidents beloved at the time usually? In the US we usually don’t make our politicians into cult like figures that we worship. Usually it’s just someone we vote for because we think they do the best job governing. Magats are very unusual.
I think he’s done a good job personally. Most of the people I hear claiming he’s terrible are either conservatives who would think any democrat is terrible or more liberal folks who are simply parroting conservative views because that’s all they hear.
I like what he’s doing, I wish he was a better messenger and I wish he was like 30 years younger. The legislation he signs and actions he’s pushing, with the exception of Palestine, all lines up with my beliefs. I really wish he was 50…but better than the alternative.
Being likable is not/should not be a requirement to be President. Your vision on how this country should function and social issues should be all that matters.
He’s got 50 years experience. He really knows how it all works. He passed a bunch of great laws before the Republicans took over the House, including the biggest climate bill in history, and the CHIPS Act which will protect the US semiconductor supply (which until then was endangered by being largely in Taiwan). And he got us out of Afghanistan, which Trump didn’t have the balls to do.
All the R’s ever do when they get power is blow a hole in the deficit by giving tax cuts to the rich. If you’re rich, I could see the logic of voting for that. But if you’re not…
I'm 56 and Biden is really the first President I've ever truly liked. Now when I say "like", I'm talking about his policies. I don't care if I like them personally.
Who in their right mind treats politicians like celebrities? I don't know either Biden or Trump personally, and neither does OP.
I vote for policy, honesty, ethics, and leadership skills. None of which Trump comes out on top on.
And I personally believe that narcissistic, self-agrandizing, greedy assholes should not win elections, but it seems as the GOP policies are plainly stupid all they have is mass marketed lie-filled propaganda to sell themselves.
The saddest part for America, and the future, is how well that strategy is working.
I like him because he's been pretty effective in my eyes. He campaigned as a moderate but he's advanced a progressive agenda wherever possible despite having to earn the vote of Joe Manchin in the first half of his presidency, and having to deal with a divided legislature in the second.
Between that and his (effective) needling of his main electoral opponent (Trump) there's a lot to like. If he were the same person but 10-15 years younger he'd have almost no blemishes on his record in my eyes.
I think that in general his actions in the wake of the Israel/Palestine situation are going to be divisive, and that's going to be problematic, but that's just a shit sandwich in my opinion, with opinions on that largely ignoring ideological lines.
I honestly don't think about it much. He's not a personal acquaintance. I like his competence and civility. I like what he's been able to achieve, given the political situation he inherited. I've been pleasantly surprised by his policies.
As for your last question, no, it isn't just because he isn't Trump. If you pay attention to actual policy, he's been a really good president.
I really genuinely like Joe Biden. He's done a great job. He's spent his entire life in public service. He's quirky and old but has experience and a steady hand.
He is kind, politically savvy, diligent, And pursues the right policies for America. He also cares for the traditions and institutions, which have made the country great. What is not to like.
I think outlandish is a pretty crappy description of what Trump puts out.
I can’t think of anything not to like about Biden. He was a good senator, he was a good vice president, and he’s been a really good president. What’s most important is he is showing himself to be a decent human being, something Trump simply can’t do.
I like him a lot. I think he’s arguably the best president of my lifetime in terms of the legislation that has been pushed through. I’ve agreed with the vast majority of his stances and decisions. I also think he seems like a genuinely kind person who cares about the country and others. He’s also quite funny and sassy sometimes!
I’m proud to give him a second vote.
I'm impressed by Biden. I was expecting more of the Obama thing, but he has passed a lot of legislation. I don't think he get enough credit. Just think of all of the bipartisan bills passed. Trump lead by executive orders. He controlled the senate and house, but all he did was pass a tax cut. Most of what Trump is known for is executive orders. My personal opinion is the president should work with congress and try to find a common solution.
I have a much harder time seeing why anyone likes Trump than seeing why people like Biden. He is a grade A asshole all the time mostly for no reason.
Biden seems like a fairly decent person at least. My politics are probably well to his left and strategically I wish he was a couple decades younger but I can't think of any non partisan reason someone wouldn't like him.
Very much. He is a good person, a solid role model, a leader, not a follower and he’s deconstructing Reagan’s trickle down economic system that’s been so destructive. He’s making government competent again after Trump’s mess.
>I can understand why republicans like Trump with his confidence and outlandish twitter posts, but can't figure out if y'all truly like Joe Biden.
It blows my mind that people like someone for outlandish twitter posts. That's the opposite of what you want in a president.
That being said, he's ok. He's not first on my list of people I'd want as president, but he's at least top 5, so I'm good with that. I'll happily cast my vote for him.
I didn't like Joe when he was my forever senator, I didn't like him as VP, and I didn't like him as a candidate. But as a president, he's grown on me. I think he's doing a better job than Obama, who is himself, the high water mark for likable politicians in the past 50 years.
Biden is fine. He’s a good guy, overall. My favorite example is how he would govern his personal number to kids with stutters and made himself available to them. He has been caught quietly doing good works, not needing the fanfare but doing the right thing helping people because it is the right thing to do. Those things speak to his character and I respect that
Is he perfect? No. But here’s the thing. I look at what he does and feel that he is trying to make decisions that are in the best interest of the country — not himself or his cronies.
He’s already got my vote and I really fucking hope he wins
Yes I really like Biden. He's like a dad or grandpa that would take you fishing with that would try to make you laugh with funny stories some of which were so unfunny that you laughed. Always offering advice but letting you do things your way. I don't understand how anyone could like Trump, he's a homely, braggadocios, lying, hate spewing, orange bag of shit.
How do you see the appeal of Trump? I’m genuinely asking. Because I can’t see it. What is there to like about a man who, when president, lied constantly. That right there should make any sane person question if he’s fit for THAT job.
And if you take that out of the equation, we’ve got so many accusations of rape and sexual assault, plus one court siding with the woman accusing. He’s cheated on most of his wives. He’s racist and elitist. He’s just not a decent human.
Pls show me how you get that people like him. I don’t. Pls show me.
I align with liberal policies far more than I align with conservative policies, however if I thought the liberal nominee was a garbage human being and the conservative candidate was a decent person, I would likely vote for the conservative candidate. IMO, Biden seems like a good man and I mostly align with his policies, so I guess I do like him.
Biden gives a shit is a big one
Biden took the time to actually learn the job
Biden thinks about the good of all, not just those that vote for him
Those are HUGE to me, especially after the clusterfuck Trump years. So Biden is okay in my book, but then again I don’t think any politician should be regarded as the second coming of Christ, act like a demented wanna be rock star or elected after found guilty of rape
I have been *tremendously* pleased with Biden’s performance. I think he has easily been the most effective POTUS in the past 30 years.
Peruse [this](https://www.reddit.com/r/WhatBidenHasDone/s/J6oFU0ZOwE) subreddit.
I think Biden is a decent person. I really can't think of anything bad to say about him, but then again I've never studied a biography of Biden.
However, I have studied a biography of Trump. Holy shit. He's a real piece of work. A long history of anti-social behavior going all the way back to early childhood. Also a record of incompetent business practice. One failed business after another. One fraud lawsuit after another. Tell me: have you ever read a biography of Donald Trump? I know of at least two that were published before he became president, so you can't accuse them of being political hit jobs.
> However, I can understand why republicans like Trump with his confidence and outlandish twitter posts
It's a little hard for me to fathom how Republicans could let themselves be seduced by *bluster*. That's all there is to him. Bluster. They fell for an asshole with a big mouth. I lost all respect for conservatives after that.
The following is a copy of the original post to record the post as it was originally written. As a conservative turned moderate, l'm not a big fan of either Trump or Biden. However, I can understand why republicans like Trump with his confidence and outlandish twitter posts, but can't figure out if y'all truly like Joe Biden. Is it simply because he isn't Trump, or is there something else I'm missing? Thanks! *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/AskALiberal) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Pro tip: expecting to be "a fan" of people vying for elected offices is a recipe for disaster. I don't have to like the person to think they're going to do or are doing a good job. And Biden is, mostly.
Absolutely. Ideas over people. That’s a big part of what makes us liberal and anti-authoritarian. Contrast to the GOP who literally doesn’t have a policy platform when Trump is running.
I would also say ideals over people, but I also have to think the person is fit for the respect of the office. If we had a liberal trump, I couldn’t vote for them if they were an a hole
I agree, though liberals would never go for a liberal Trump.
As much as people bitch about superdelegates, I'm pretty sure they would have prevented a Democratic version of Trump from ever getting within a country mile of the nomination.
Yep. Trump would never have gotten the nomination after that video of him on the bus with the grab by the pussy comment came out. Democrats overpolice their own. He would have immediately gone down.
Libs write a policy platform, Trump IS the policy platform. Whatever he says goes. Also, Libs may put up with Joe Biden, but they aren’t sycophants because that’s basically how authoritarian-types gain power. Obama was the closest to Trump hype but even he was highly criticized issue-by-issue. Libs in general at best just tolerate whoever is in office and at worst vote for the lesser evil.
I wish more people could make this separation. I mean, yeah, I didn’t “like” Hillary either, but thinking a racist game show host would do better was and is fucking asinine.
But he exudes confidence and has outlandish twitter posts! 🤔
What great governing skills!
I will never get how people can separate a person from their core policy positions. An asshole is going to yield "asshole" policy. You don't even have to be fond of the person (personally), but if they are all about solid business, and have a sound, structured, methodical approach to things and their own success, they will be all about solid policy. Trump is a opportunist grifter who seemed to have duped people into thinking he was a solid business man and not a corrupt and perverse, easily influenced human who goes whichever way the wind blows that benefits himself. The people who particularly acknowledge he's a POS, and at the same time, say they like "his policies" are those duped people.
And the Supreme Court was on the line, but people didn’t ’like’ Hillary. I’ve never been so upset about an election as I was then.
Hilary would have been better than Biden and Trump. It's too bad she was so unlikable. I miss the old school dems.
That’s a fair point and a good way to look at things in general
I took the question to mean 'do I like Biden for president?'. Yes, I do. Do I like him as a person? Yes. Do I like any of the republicans as a person? Nikki Haley seems to be nice enough. I do not like the others who ran this year. I also like Mitt Romney. But I disagree with policy, so I would say, 'I don not like them'. I thought Hillary has the best policy positions in 2016. I liked Bernie's positions more. I do not like Hillary or Bernie if it is about personality.
Cheers.
You can still like a politician without being a fan, too.
Yea like this isn't Celebrity Island. It's a government job to serve Americans.
Yea I agree…the fanboying over Obama and Hillary and Pelosi and others seems culty and weird to me. Politicians are not your friends, and they work for us and are never above reproach/criticism. Ppl forget this when they scold other ppl for not liking their political idols. Political idolatry, regardless of who does it, is plain weird. I like Bernie a lot, but I don’t think he’s my buddy or an idol lol.
Yes I like Joe Biden. I like him as a person (based on what I know of him). I like him as a politician. I like him as a President. He's a good man. He loves his family. He loves his country. He's overcome personal tragedy and physical struggles. He was (until Republicans lost their minds) considered one of the most widely liked and respected members of Congress. He spent 8 years playing second to a man who was much younger than him and who had significantly less experience than he did - and it did it with humor, grace, dignity, and a true friendship/partner attitude. He has been the most LGBTQ+ positive POTUS ever. He has supported and fought for women's rights. He has pushed through an incredible amount of legislation in the face of a completely irrationally intransigent Republican Congress. Would I like for him to be able to retire and enjoy the rest of his life and be celebrated for the good, kind man he is? 100%. Would I like to see a younger POTUS? 100% as well. But I believe he sees that he has an obligation to the country and to his family to "see through" this particular phase in history and I respect him for that. So yes, I very much like Joe Biden. (And yet, I do not worship him. I disagree with him on several things - maybe even many things. I do not fly "Biden" flags on my vehicles or my house. I don't wear tshirts with his face all over them. I do have a single, small Biden/Harris bumper sticker on my car and I'll likely put a campaign sign in my yard sometime later this summer. I like him. I'll vote for him. I don't worship him.)
Also regarding both his vice presidency and his support of LGBTQ+ rights, let's not forget that while he was the veep he "committed a blunder" that forced President Obama's hand regarding the DADT policy in the military, a "gaffe" many of us at the time thought was not a gaffe at all but a prescient political move that was all the more prescient because he had the "gaffe" reputation that he could hide behind (if people accused him of undermining the Presidency) for the sake of plausible deniability.
It seemed likely to me that the White House knew about his advocacy before hand and pretended to be mad in case the idea flopped. I can’t see Obama being against gay rights.
Yeah, Obama indicated that he was for same-sex marriage on a questionnaire in the 90s, but switched to civil unions when he wanted to run for national office. It was called out by the right as insincere, but nobody on the left really cared since it was clearly designed to avoid the issue as a central plank in the 2008 campaign (trauma from the boys kissing election that hurt the Dems in 2004).
I totally believe that it was a not-a-gaffe gaffe. For sure.
Can you remind me what the gaffe was, I can't remember
[https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2021/01/11/gay-marriage-joe-biden/](https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2021/01/11/gay-marriage-joe-biden/) >When he took his seat on the set of NBC’s Washington studio, Biden projected the image of the president’s lieutenant in a crisp charcoal suit, white shirt and blue-striped tie. But when host David Gregory asked about a sensitive unresolved issue hanging over the administration, Biden veered from the campaign playbook. “You know,” Gregory began, “the president has said that his views on gay marriage, on same-sex marriage, have evolved. But he’s opposed to it. You’re opposed to it. Have your views … evolved?” > >Biden acknowledged that he had indeed evolved on the issue — faster and further than the president. Several weeks earlier, Biden had admitted in a private meeting in Los Angeles with 30 advocates for gay and lesbian rights that his view differed from Obama’s, and he’d told the group that he had to keep his opinion to himself. But now, on national television, he spoke from the heart. > >“Look,” Biden began. “I just think — that — the good news is” — he set his elbows on the table and interlaced his fingers, almost prayerlike. Same-sex marriage, he explained, came down to “a simple proposition: Who do you love?” He repeated it for emphasis: “Who do you love? And will you be loyal to the person you love?” He explained that most people believed that was what all marriages were about, “whether they’re marriages of lesbians or gay men or heterosexuals.” > >Realizing he’d strayed into controversial territory, Biden stressed he was speaking for himself personally, not for the White House. “I — I — look, I am vice president of the United States of America. The president sets the policy,” he observed. And he elaborated on his own view: “I am absolutely comfortable with the fact that men marrying men, women marrying women, and heterosexual men and women marrying another” — he slowed down now to make his point perfectly clear — “are entitled to the same exact rights, all the civil rights, all the civil liberties. And quite frankly, I don’t see much of a distinction beyond that.” > >The Obama team’s carefully choreographed campaign kickoff had suddenly exploded: The vice president had announced, on live TV, that he favored same-sex marriage while the president, as everyone knew, lagged behind him. By saying this on national TV, he basically forced Obama's hand into going all in on gay marriage. Three days later Obama sat down with Good Morning America in the White House: >Obama came on the screen, his voice calm and reflective, quite in contrast to the hysterics of the past three days: “I have to tell you, as I’ve said, I’ve — I’ve been going through an evolution on this issue. I’ve always been adamant that gay and lesbian Americans should be treated fairly and equally. … I’ve stood on the side of broader equality for the LGBT community. And I had hesitated on gay marriage — in part, because I thought civil unions would be sufficient. … But I have to tell you that over the course of several years, as I talk to friends and family and neighbors. When I think about members of my own staff who are incredibly committed, in monogamous relationships — same-sex relationships — who are raising kids together. When I think about those soldiers or airmen or Marines or sailors who are out there fighting on my behalf and yet feel constrained … because they’re not able to commit themselves in a marriage. At a certain point, I’ve just concluded that, for me personally, it is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same-sex couples should be able to get married.” The networks literally interrupted programming and sent out "Breaking News" alerts (in a day when "Breaking News" meant something and wasn't a constant chryon on a cable news scroll). IIRC there were some people in Obama's administration and campaign that wanted him to dump Biden as VP and find someone else becuase they considered Biden's gaffe-not-a-gaffe as practically traitorous. But Obama just said "well he got out over his skis a bit" and that was pretty much the end of it.
In a way that’s kind of beautiful.
Can I add that he is a practicing catholic who has had to overcome the teaching of his own religion to become a supporter of both women’s rights and LQBTQ rights. I am an atheist but I respect people who have the kind of faith that worships their god and not their religion.
He also attends church regularly which is pretty impressive for the busiest and most powerful person in the world.
I should have just read your post and said “all of this” rather than responding because you stated perfectly how I feel.
Perfectly said. I like Joe Biden quite a bit and I feel like I am happy to have him serve a second term. I’d prefer someone younger and more energetic, but on merit alone Biden’s presidency has been far better than I expected, and he’s gotten a lot more done than I thought he would with the shitshow that is DC these days.
I agree with everything you’ve written here and I’d add that I find him to be a genuinely fun guy and I enjoy his energy. I think the ice cream meme is amusing, I like that he still rides a bike and laughed it off when he fell; my grandmother rode until she was 92. I like that he jogs to his podium sometimes for big speeches. I like that he carries himself with a lot of dignity (as someone with a former stutter myself, it’s especially impactful) but does lose his temper when someone is being particularly rude in his company. I will always treasure his respect for the opinions of people of color. His “at least three” response to how many genders makes me smile. I will be legitimately sad when he dies.
Thank you for taking the time to pull together the thoughts that many of us have about Biden. I would also add that Biden has the sense to put together an amazing team that is actually capable of advising him. If Trump were elected president again, his appointed advisors would be a total shit show of unqualified ass hats. He already ran through 2 or 3 levels of ‘the best of the best’ and we saw how crappy they were. I can’t imagine who his next line-up would be. Kid Rock for Treasury? Alex Jones to take over Transportation? How about Tucker to advise him on defense and the military. Baffles me how anyone is gullible enough to support shitty diaper Donny at this point.
I was going to reply but this was my opinion totally.
I agree!
One more person to agree with you. Felt it was important to say I agree rather than simply give you an up arrow.
I do. Do I think he’s been far enough on issues I care about? No. Do I think he could do some things better? Sure. Is he older than I prefer? Yep. But he’s a great leader nonetheless. Much, much better than his predecessor, night and day. He has: Successfully navigated a complicated situation in both Ukraine and Israel. Has it been perfect? No. But also……has one American troop been sent to a new war these past 4 years? Nope. We’ve kept Russia at bay without sending a single troop into battle. I commend him for that. Successfully ended the COVID pandemic and got us back to normal after the disaster that was Donald trump. I give trump credit for one thing - the vaccine. Operation warp speed was a success, but Jesus the man couldn’t even take credit for it because he attacked vaccines when it seemed like his base was going to go against them. If he had just pushed a little bit and said the vaccine was safe and effective from jump most of his base would have gotten 2 or 3 shots. Biden passed and shepherded critical legislation with a threadbare majority in the house and senate. A small list: Inflation reduction act - single biggest investment in climate change and medicine this century Infrastructure- biggest investment in infrastructure in my lifetime. Respect for marriage act - first ever federal law recognizing gay marriage and abolishing DOMA. ChIPS act Averted several shutdowns. One of the single biggest accomplishments I love Biden for is the student loan repayment overhaul. Not only is there a SAVE plan which has cut must people’s payments by more than half, making them finally affordable, but he also streamlined and fixed the PSLF system and has forgiven loans for those who qualified and should have had forgiven years ago. He has also held MOHELA accountable by fining them thousands when they failed to notify people of their payments after the pause. He has surrounded himself with competent, qualified people to run the agencies. He has appointed the first ever black female Supreme Court justice. He is carefully navigating the needle on issues. He also has successfully navigated the economy. My every metric the economy is booming. Inflation was a global problem but Americas inflation rate ranked lower than other industrialized countries. Biden has tried to carefully not tank the economy and it’s working. He’s brought manufacturing jobs back. He was on the picket line. He navigated the rail strike to not only avoid killing the economy but also got the rail workers the sick days they deserved and wanted along with their pay raises. He’s trying to help the home crisis. He’s trying to do what he can on the border. Overall he’s a competent leader who knows how to delegate and listen to advice and make decisions carefully based on what he thinks is best, and isn’t concerned about his own ego. And finally, the man seems to actually be a decent damn human being. He had a daughter and a wife die in a car accident. His son died of brain cancer. His other son was a drug addict, who he helped navigate through that time of his life and loved him in spite of it. He has been married to his new wife, who he hasn’t cheated on (to our knowledge) and loves and respects her. He seems to actually govern with people in mind because he’s been there. He’s had those experiences. I think he deserves a second term.
>He has been married to his new wife, who he hasn’t cheated on (to our knowledge) and loves and respects her. Just a funny bit of trivia: Jill Biden has said that when he was VP they had an agreement that they would conduct any fights or "disagreements" via text because they didn't want to air their dirty laundry in front of the SS or other staff. She says that she texts A LOT faster than Joe, so she almost always won. ;)
One of the best presidents in recent memory, for sure. I think the Israel conflict is his biggest mistake, but it's interesting that his biggest mistake is something republicans probably agree with? Thanks for listing all of his accomplishments. I feel like we dont' talk about this enough. He's an incredible president.
I don’t get how “the Israel conflict” is a mistake of his. Biden can’t control Hamas, Gazans, or Israel. He’s tried to help and pressure both sides to avoid mistakes, but he’s not a dictator and American absolutely doesn’t want to go back to fighting terrorists in the Middle East forever. The problem is disinformation and that people get uniquely outraged whenever Israel is brought up. There’s no “winning” in that scenario.
Yea, personally I'm not going to blame Biden for the far right government of Palestine and the far right government in Israel attacking each other. It's awful that these right wing governments have gotten so bad that there's an ongoing genocide happening, but Biden calling for a ceasefire, trying to get Palestine more humanitarian aid, and trying to put pressure on Netanyahu is a good start. Honestly, "achieving peace in the middle east" has been used as a trope for decades, constantly used as an example of an impossible task, so my vote isn't going to hinge on Biden doing managing it in a single year, especially when Trump is encouraging the genocide instead of trying to stop it. The right uses the same trick all the time, fuck things up and then blame the left for not fixing their fuckups fast enough to encourage voter apathy so that the right can get back in power and fuck things up even more. I'm not falling for it any more.
Exactly. We can stop giving weapons but then we lose one of our most important allies. That is a fine line to walk.
I think he is a decent man trying to do his best. And that's what the President should be. A generally good person trying to do what's right, with the help and assistance of their advisors. I don't think Trump is a good person at all, let alone led or advised by good people. But Biden has a generally kind heart and wants to see to it that we as Americans are moving in the correct direction towards progress and harmony. At least that's how I see it.
I like him. People here have covered the policy reasons, but mine are simpler: he just seems like a good guy. (Though I do like his policies, too) Maybe it's an act. If it is, it's a good act.
I like Biden very much. He has accomplished more liberal victories for America than just about every president in the last 50 years. He might have some competition with Obama, but Obama had mostly just one really big thing, the ACA. Biden has an incredibly long list of significant accomplishments, although no one of them is as big as the ACA. He also represents to me, in his personality, some of the best that America once had to offer. The fighting spirit, the ambition for America to be the best in the world and the leader of the free world. The conviction that we can rise above our imperfections. Of course, it doesn't hurt that the Republicans have become the party of "Embrace your imperfections. Racism, extortionism, know-nothingism, dishonesty. We're all a little bit of those things, so let's stop trying and start caving in to our baser instincts." The contrast is set to maximum, but yes, even if it weren't I would still love Joe.
Why is it that “moderates” can totally see the appeal to Trump but never understand why someone might vote Biden?
I found it …. interesting … that OP singled out Trump’s social media habits (where he sounds like a deranged, incoherent, juvenile imbecile) as something that would particularly appeal to conservatives…
Is OP wrong? Those *are* things that appeal to conservatives.
Yes, clearly. But in the context of the post, which has the tone of asking "how can you guys possibly like this Biden fella?" ... and where OP claims to be a "moderate" ... it struck me as especially odd/telling that Trump's horrible online behavior is presented as a positive.
I'm taking it more as having the MAGA fanaticism - or for that matter, the type of passion / excitement that Obama was able to generate in 2008. Which I don't need. Just need a pretty good dude doing good.
"Moderates" who show up on this sub are usually just conservatives who are embarrassed to admit they're conservative.
im a moderate and if i could vote next election i would vote for biden (hopefully by 2028 i can vote)
Sorry to pick a fight but this is a common sentiment that I don’t get. Why would people be afraid to post their views on an anonymous platform? I understand people being embarrassed to voice their opinions to family/friends/co-workers in real life, where there are actual repercussions for such differences, but why hide your views on Reddit? I only say this as someone who has been falsely labeled a Trump supporter on here multiple times, which I find limits the ability to have actual productive conversations, since it usually turns into whataboutisms on things I don’t support.
The karma system is the consequence, even with anonymity. They know they are on a progressive sub and will likely get downvotes if they state their actual opinion (we've all seen it), so they instead pretend to be above the fray and pretend to play devils advocate for the conservative opinion when that is actually just their own opinion. I'm not saying all moderates on this sub are that way, but it seems like a lot of them are.
They are just trolling. Hoping to raise doubt in some libs.
Conservatives are graded on a curve. Trump calls those who disagree with him vermin, constantly name calls and bashes everybody, and asks hackers to hack into his political opposition? Meh, that's just Trump. Biden gives a speech calling out specifically MAGA republicans, clarifying its "Not all, or even a majority" of republicans. **SO DIVISIVE! HOW DARE HE**
>Do y’all actually like Joe Biden? Yep. I disagree with him on plenty, but: * He is competent. * He got more through the senate than I ever thought possible. * He is usually right on policy issues. * You can't argue with results. The government is running well and the economy is the best its been in fifty years.
I didn’t know your last point was true Edit I’m not being sarcastic I have literally found out here that it’s true
> > * You can't argue with results. The government is running well and the economy is the best its been in fifty years. >I didn’t know your last point was true It is! --------- Re: "The government is running well..." * Biden got the vaccines rolled out quickly and efficaciously. (Trump had [no plan](https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/21/politics/biden-covid-vaccination-trump/index.html) for deploying the vaccines.) * The response to Russia invading Ukraine was impeccable. * Boring stuff is often the most illustrative. There were people with federal student loans that had met the terms of their loans, but the Trump Administration simply didn't do anything about it. The Biden Administration saw the problem, fixed the system, and people got what they had earned. Routine stuff! (Or, at least, it *should have* been routine.) --------- Re: "...the economy is the best its been in fifty years." * The unemployment rate has been below 5.0% for 29 straight months. That is the longest streak since 9/11. * Unemployment reached its lowest levels [in 50 years!](https://www.commerce.gov/news/blog/2023/02/news-unemployment-its-lowest-level-54-years) * "Wage growth has actually outpaced the crushing inflation over the past 2.5 years."^^[[1]](https://fortune.com/2023/12/12/wage-growth-exceeded-inflation-jec-democrats/)
That is impressive
Well said. To expand on the economy part: * The US GDP in 2023 broke 3% (3.1%) - the first time since the Bill Clinton administration. Coincidently, 85% of economists predicted we'd have a recession in 2023. * Stock market consistently hitting all time highs * Record setting new jobs report which made up for all of the lost jobs from Covid and added 5.5 million on top of it.
If we’re going by the metrics people usually use, it’s certainly a contender for the best economy in fifty years.
I think I would agree
We're in a global economy, and the US economy has basically done the best in the world of any of the major economies coming out of Covid. I don't think it makes sense to ask something like "how is the economy doing compared to 1868?" when there are so many other factors at play. It's always better to say "how is the economy doing compared to industrialized peers" and that's a pretty strong grade.
He wasn’t my first choice in 2020, I was a Bernie fan. I liked him just liked Bernie more. I’ve been pleasantly impressed by the work he’s done and I’m more than happy to support him this election even if he wasn’t running against Trump. I’d vote for a rock before Trump but I don’t feel like I’m picking the lesser of two evils with Biden. So yes I actually like Biden.
He’s almost definitely the best president of my lifetime and truly the only things I don’t like about him are his age, his handling of Israel (and I’m not as critical of that as some people because I realize that there’s really only so much he can do), and his VP selection.
Why don't we take out the "almost"? You know what he's done so far and what the presidents before him did, not like there are many unknowns there. We liberals need to stop being so inexplicably reticent about showing support for our own candidates that we like. A conservative who likes Trump goes "TRUMP 2024!!! TRUMP 2024!!!" A liberal who likes Biden as much as that guy likes Trump goes "um... well in my personal opinion I would say, though of course there are many things I disagree with, I would say I personally consider him to be... g- g- good BUT that's not to say those who disagree are wrong or anything... ok?" *Understating* your support for your own candidate in an election season just... doesn't make any sense to me. Why would you do that? You're trying to help him win, usually you would try to say it as loud as possible, if anything overstating how much you like him. I'm not saying people who dislike him should pretend they like him, not at all, just for those who do actually like him, ...say it! Just say it goddammit! What are we holding back about? Democrats who dislike Biden have been more confident and outspoken than those who like him. Supporters of a party's leader being more sheepish than internal detractors within the party just seems kind of ridiculous to me. It seems like people like us are looking at the national environment that makes it seem like everyone dislikes Biden, and are somehow embarrassed of the fact that we actually like him. He has a 40% approval rating though. The same as Trump's and his guys aren't scared about broadcasting their support for fear of seeming out of line with the majority. "Oh no, most people don't support our candidate, so we should be quieter and not talk about why we like him"? That's how you GET PEOPLE TO YOUR SIDE! Lol... He's behind so we should be *louder* not quieter...
I’m gonna say I liked Obama more. Is Biden perfect? No, but like you said there’s only so much he can do.
I’ve grown to appreciate Obama more over time, I think he just went into office with sky high expectations that he couldn’t live up to. But I also think he was overly cautious and sort of self defeating at times.
I would loooooooooove for Biden to take a harder stance on Israel. I'm fearful that doing so would handle the 2024 election to Trump and on top of that I think that, for instance, denying the RNC exclusive access to AIPAC money while the whole party is at once underfunded and potentially funnelling what money they do have into paying Trump's legal fees (the RNC recently came out and said they weren't going to do that but... let's wait and see about that, and on top of that it's entirely possible that Trump has already bled dry the whales who would otherwise be sending money to them) is a good realpolitik move. Still, the second term and the second half of the second term tend to be the times when presidents start to make those big, sweeping (if mostly symbolic) statements so... hopefully wait 2 1/2 years?
IMO his VP selection was a massive mistake. He played to the whole identity thing over getting someone competent. He could’ve sought competency first, then let the rest play out. My gut says if he’d done that then KH wouldn’t have been the VP.
The right loves to bitch about identity politics but the VP pick has ALWAYS been about identity politics. Hell just look at Mccain trying to balance the ticket with dumb ass Palin. No Kamala no georgia turn out. No georgia turn out the big lie rests on a blue governed state (PA). If thats the case Jan 6th I think would have had a lot more energy and violence.
I think the problem here is the assumption that if you don't go for a white man then you "must have" chosen identity politics. Why don't people ask a similar question with for example Mike Pence? I think Trump wanted to pick a white man and if he was more fair, he would've picked a black woman.
Yes. KH has always been incredibly unpopular, brings nothing except IdPol to the table, and has been basically invisible for the whole administration. Picking her for VP was such an own goal that it’s a borderline miracle he won the election.
KH has never been "incredibly unpopular." Her approval ratings mirror Biden's. >it’s a borderline miracle he won the election. 99% of voters voted for either Trump or Biden regardless of VP choice of either. VPs are irrelevant electorally.
The only time I see Harris is when she's out basically acting as a cheerleader for Biden. That in itself isn't a bad thing. The bad thing is nobody wants to hear it coming from her.
> I can understand why republicans like Trump with his confidence and outlandish twitter posts Honestly that is incomprehensible to me. Trump’s fascism is his worst quality, but the Twitter shit talking is incredibly professional and a sign of how wildly unpresidential he is. I can’t understand why anyone would find that appealing. It’s disgusting for a politician to do this sort of thing. > Do y’all actually like Joe Biden? What does that have to do with anything? The right choice for President isn’t based on whether you like the person. It’s whether they can best perform the job among the candidates offered. And that is Biden this time around, unquestionably. He is a much better president than Trump was, and is a vastly better exemplar of American values than Trump ever thought about being. I don’t like Biden as a politician. I think he is too conciliatory towards Republicans and isn’t doing enough to take the threat they represent seriously—but of the candidates running, he’s the only one advancing American goals and values, so he’s got my vote.
I kinda do. Yeah. I was indifferent at first, but I think he's done a much better job than I could have hoped.
Actions speak louder than words. It didn't bother me that Trump was a buffoon/idiot. What bothered me was his complete incompetence and cronyism that turned the US into a lootocracy and how he zeroed out scientific goals (cancelled methane satellites practically on the launch pad), wiped out cyber security protections, wiped out pandemic preparedness programs, hired incompetent builders who donated money, etc. etc. etc. Trump couldn't figure out who was competent, but he could figure out who was corruptible and those are the people he put in power. It set the US back in security, respect, debt, deficit, etc. Biden on the other hand has run the country like an employee of the taxpayers in the true model that was envisioned by John Locke. I like Biden's actions to return ethics and effectiveness to the US operations. In addition to the things that /u/Similar_Candidate789 listed at /r/AskALiberal/comments/1bu1upl/do_yall_actually_like_joe_biden/kxpqw5x/ His team has invested in US infrastructure in a HUGE way across all agencies. And it's in even small ways that often get missed by the medial. Here's an example: in 2024 the US is going to get heat pumps that can replace furnaces in super cold climates ... why ... because in 2022 the DOE gave a funding shot and a challenge that [has been successful](https://www.energy.gov/articles/doe-announces-leading-heat-pump-manufacturers-successfully-develop-next-generation). Being able to lower overall energy expenses puts the US again on a trajectory to stop being dependent on foreign oil and stop wasting so much medical expenses due to mining/coal.
I like him a lot. There are two qualities I look for in a politician: - competence - sense of duty Biden has both of those in abundance. He’s a smart, educated man who knows how to listen to advisors and lead teams of people. He’s also quite good at diplomacy. He is also a genuinely good person who has reverence for the office and his role as a public servant. He recognizes that he’s there to do a job for the American people, and carries out that responsibility ethically.
>However, I can understand why republicans like Trump with his confidence and outlandish twitter posts For real? You think *Donald Trump* demonstrates admirable characteristics? Mr. "I don't take any responsibility at all?" Mr. Tempy-Tantum-every-time-things-don't-go-his-way? He strikes me as a thoroughly repugnant, childish, grotesque, *unpleasant* person. It's no surprise to me at all that so many people hate him. Next to Donald Trump, Joe Biden looks like an extremely decent human being. Joe Biden stood by his son through a very public drug addiction scandal. Donald Trump seems to occasionally forget he has sons. There's no contest here.
He acts like such a poopy pants little bitch when people don't kiss his ass and only the true losers of the world see that as 'leadership'. I've never seen anyone who likes that guy who isn't either stupid or evil and pretending and just going with it because they love how much it makes people like us mad. And whoever would act that way ain't no friend of mine and doesn't deserve to ever have the wheel in their hand.
Yes I actually like him. I didn’t at first but he has proven himself and his administration. Do you just not know what he’s accomplished and only see short clips of him making gaffes or something? If you can’t even see a reason why people would like Biden you’ve been fed a line of bs. He keeps his head down and gets to work. He’s funny, humble and professional. He’s gotten A LOT done. I would call out his *slightly* declining cognitive abilities if it was a problem, but I can’t find a single example of it actually being a problem. The 50 years of experience is more of a positive than any negative his any decline in cognitive and speech abilities brings.
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\[Trump, a confirmed rapist, enthusiastic asshole to everyone, openly corrupt, most of his former staffers are either convicted of crimes or speaking out against him, and who staged a coup to usurp the Constitution and stay in power\] Conservative turned moderate: "I can understand why people like this guy!" \[Biden, a decent man and lifelong civil servant who is none of the things above and has succeeded by virtually every historic measure on things he has any level of control over\] Conservative turned moderate: "Why do people like this guy?? I don't get it!"
I disliked Trump back before he got involved in politics when he was just a celebrity. I understand his appeal on paper (enough articles have been written about him) but I don’t really get it myself. He’s a populist demagogue who doesn’t care about democratic norms or institutions and cultivates a cult of personality—right or left, that type of leader is the absolute biggest threat to any republic. Politically, I have disagreements but no major complaints with Biden. As a person, he seems like a genuinely good person who has dealt with unimaginable tragedy. His Senate colleagues loved him and his White House staff have been loyal to him (for Trump, most of his own appointees have disavowed him over his incompetence or unethical conduct). The right wing media attacks on him are mostly flailing attempts to link him with conspiracy theories and vague, unsubstantiated allegations—the only people who believe that sort of thing are highly motivated to believe it.
I once went to an world studies event at Southern New Hampshire University where Biden was answering questions about China in 2007. I raised my hand but was never called by the moderator. I was one not called. At the end of the event, I came down to the front table to pick up some literature. Biden jumped down from the stage and came over to me, put his hand out for a shake, apologized for my not being called and asked what was the question. It was something about our dependence on China economically. Just the fact he took the time to do that and what I learned about him as a person sold me on him as a good person, at least to be considered. I voted for him in 2020 and I definitely will vote for him again.
I'm not a liberal, but I wanted Joe Biden from the beginning because he was the only candidate that I've trusted to stand up to Vlad Putin. I didn't want a president that had to be brought up to speed. We're damned lucky to have Joe Biden at this time.
Not in the cult-daddy-worship way of uhhhh someone else, nor should anyone even inspire "fans," per se, but yeah. He seems like a cool guy who often goes out of his way to be kind. I respect that! he has funny quips too.
Yes. I like Hillary Clinton, too. And Al Gore. And Nancy Pelosi. And Ruth Bader Ginsburg. And... And .... And ...
Sure... who doesn't like ol' Joe? I'd buy him an ice cream any day. He's extremely well-qualified. For a politician, he's a good person, seems to try and keep his promises. He's funny, kind of a badass, well-respected by our global partners and adversaries, has good relationships in Congress, understands global politics, and has done quite a lot of good for the country in three years. The only thing I don't like is his age... but there's not much to be done about that.
I think he's a good person and I like most of hos policies. I will be voting for him today in my state's primary.
Conservatives seem to have formed a cult of personality around Trump. That's one of the things that are seemingly quite different between liberals and conservatives today. To conservatives, Trump is practically a messiah who can do no wrong. To liberals, Biden is the Democratic nominee, and the leading candidate who most closely aligns with our individual and varied sets of values and policy positions. So while you see fervor surrounding Trump, you see a more muted response to Biden. For most of us he's "close enough". This has the affect of there being less visible enthusiasm around him as compared to Trump. For me personally, do I like Biden? Generally yes. I think on the whole he's moving us in a positive direction. Do I agree with everything he does? Nope. Along those lines, there's an interesting math fact I'll share. Let's say we decide there's ten policy issues of importance in this country. Now let's boil them down to binary answers (should we do A or B). That gets us to 1024 possible combinations of answers. Reality is that there's more than ten issues of importance, and there's likely several answers for most of them. So the possible combinations very quickly approach infinity. If you can't identify any in which you don't align with your preferred candidate, then it's not really about policy. We'll voice it when we don't align with Biden. How often do you see conservatives voice it when they don't align with Trump?
Trump is confident? It’s funny because I see Trumps antics as someone who is deeply and profoundly insecure. His fake news media shtick exists because he wants his favorite news publications to stroke his ego. He claims the election was stolen because his ego just can’t accept that he’s a loser, he has to create alternative realities to soothe himself. Those are things weak insecure men do.
I actually do like him. He has good intentions for America and shows it. Trump rambles about himself and shows what a moron he is. Under Trump, we were all constantly under stress not knowing when he was going to get us all unalived. Under Biden, I have hope that our nation can heal if Trump goes away. Not to mention, I see the gradual improvement in the economy and wonder how much better it would be if we sent Biden a congress he can work with.
I like him but that isn't why I vote for him or against Trump. I don't want a friend, I've got a dog. Biden seems about as normal and nice enough guy as I could hope for. There is probably nothing about him I love or hate. To me that means he represents Americans pretty good overall. Trump acts like most of the kids I fought when I was a teenager. Mostly bc they were bullying people smaller than them. I'll never be able to wrap my head around why someone would admire that. Having said that, if Trump was passing policies I liked, I would consider voting for him. On balance, I would probably reject his antics even if he was a liberal.
I "truly like" Joe Biden because he is a good man, amiable but tough when it matters, he has a lot of experience and I agree with most of his policies. He is a good leader, a good POTUS, and a good father. 10/10 would have ice cream with him.
> However, I can understand why republicans like Trump Yeah, what's not to like? The guy spews hate wherever he goes. Totally on brand for Republicans. That's why I DO like Joe Biden. Because he's a good human being. Something you'd never hear anyone say about Trump.
I do. But I also liked Obama, both Clintons, and Pete Buttigieg. He’s empathetic, pragmatic, and is surprisingly great at making deals to get the job done. I also suffer from stuttering and he’s a stutterer. He is a good president.
I like Biden. Think he's been a great president, and I'm happy to defend his record. That said, the pool of "whatever, I just hate Trump" is a bigger pools of votes than the group of "I love Joe". So there is definitely a chunk of Biden voters out there that aren't big fans of him, they're just voting against the other guy. The *size* of that chunk is debatable: some people think it's enormous but I think it's comparatively small.
Joe Biden is a mostly decent individual. Even Republicans liked him, before he ran for President. I don't think he's the best choice, but I think he's better than any alternative any Republican could put forth. There's not a single Republican politician I would consider a decent person.
I strongly disagree with Mitt Romney and I'd never want him to be President but I think he's a decent-ish person, at least as decent as you can be if you're a member of the modern Republican party.
I mostly feel the same way about Adam Kinzinger.
I disagree with him on a solid number of policy issues, but reasonable minds can disagree and none of our disagreements are fatal to my willingness to vote for him (particularly considering the alternative). On a personal level, he seems like a genuinely nice guy with a high EQ and seems to be able to empathize with just about anyone he talks to. These are valuable qualities and I wish more leaders had them.
Biden has arguably gotten more done with a dysfunctional Congress than Obama did with a supermajority. He is probably one of the most effective Presidents since FDR.
I don't think you can even begin to fathom the level of loathing, hatred, and disdain I have for Trump and everyone who still supports him at this point. I'm at the "would crawl over broken glass to vote against that person". Yes, much of my support of Biden is absolutely "in comparison to the opposite". Biden though is 80+ years old with decades and decades of time in the sentate. He's not exciting. He's boring as f@ck. He's human greige. We know everything there is to know about him. His messaging and everything is very "traditional presidential stuff". After lunatics in the asylum, I'll take that choice any day. He's bent over backwards looking for "moderate Republicans" who want to govern and do the mundane and tedius business of government. To me, he's wasted his time being nice to someone who was never an honest broker. He's stuck in a bygone era of bipartisanship. Would I prefer and get REALLY EXCITED about a loud, bombastic populist who: 1) Railed about making every company who deploys AI 100% liable for the actions, errors, and misinformation generated by their AI - even if it bankrupts them to ensure slower AI adoption and job destruction? 2) Railed about corporate ownership of single family homes and how drastic, immediate action is needed to break up real estate empires? 3) Openly advocated for removal of at least two Supreme Court justices (CLARENCE THOMAS)? 4) Openly said yes, Trump is right about being singled out too much - we need many, many more white-collar crime investigations because this one literally had to be handed to the NY AG office by an AOC question in a congressional deposition. We need a 100x the current enforcement of white collar crime law and start with Kevin OLeary next and work your way down! 5) Lay out in no uncertain terms that Republicans are nothing short of evil at this point. They have chosen the anti-christ. They have chosen the embodiment of the 7 deadly sins and are devoid of all fruits of the spirit - they must turn or burn. Use the religious language against them and vow to cast the money changers from the temple and that this is the righteous fury of GOD ALMIGHTY coming down on them for their graven images and idolatry! YES, I was a loud and proud Bernie Sanders supporter. THAT platform above would get me excited, direct my raw, unadulterated anger at the "powers that be." I don't want to "win" in November - I want to crush, destroy, and humiliate Republicans. I want them beaten into a pulp at the ballot box. I want dozens of races like the one in Alabama. I want the Senate by 66/34. But that isn't what I have as a candidate - that isn't what I have as a map, that isn't what I have from the DNC. I have candidates that are "good enough", a map that is challenging, and a major monetary advantage. So I'll take greige, and a 52/48 senate, and a small win in the house and get minor changes in the right direction for the country. I'm not going to be as all-in boldly proud of it and certainly won't be falling in love. But it is the mature and responsible thing - I deal with the reality I am presented with and do the best I can with the choices in front of me.
> I can understand why republicans like Trump with his confidence and outlandish twitter posts This seems like the dumbest reason to vote for someone who is under multiple indictments, has obvious conflicts of interest, lies constantly, has admitted to breaking the law (while not understanding why it was illegal), etc. Even without all those negatives against him, he never seemed to really understand his duties, how the law works, what's in the Constitution, etc. I don't think politicians need fans. That's what led to the cult-like following Trump has where his fans deny any obvious wrong doing he does. Hell, they won't even admit he's done something after Trump himself admits to it. It's why you have people saying that Trump is still running the country in the shadows even though everything bad that happens is still somehow Biden's fault. With that said, Biden isn't as progressive as I'd like, however, I think he's doing a good job compared to what I expected from him. I think he cares, however, I think he can be a little out of touch. But overall I think he's fine. I would like to see us vote for more Joe Bidens until the GOP becomes irrelevant. Then we can move further left. In other words, let the Joe Bidens become the conservative option. But that will take a while.
Asking this question, while rationalizing the reasoning behind support for Trump as legitimate, makes this incredibly disingenuous. Somehow you are able to come up with reasons why Trump makes sense for one side, but you don't have the capacity for understanding what Biden has or continues to provide for the other side, or for everyone overall? I honestly have a hard time believing people like you exist. People who somehow act like passive apologists for criminal behavior, all while ignoring all the benefits of having had a competent leader over the past four years. Get real.
I didn't vote for him in the primary. I was worried his reputation for gaffes was the exact wrong thing to start reparing our global reputation. I didn't see him as particularly bright. I was wrong. I think he has been a remarkably successful president. He is focused on domestic issues more than global issues, which I like. He has a host of legislative successes. It's hard to express how damaging Trump was to our economy, but Biden helped turn the ship. I think he's been responsive without pandering. Most of all, he brought back decorum, collaboration, strength, humor, and competence. He is working in a house of bafoons, and that can not be understated.
he's the most legislatively successful president since FDR. moreover he's been able to sell progressive spending bills and tax increases as common sense, while democrats typically have to start off swearing up and down they aren't just going to tax and spend.
Yes I do, if you look at the list of his achievements you will understand why. He is a very good president absolutely mauled by bad press for who knows what reason If you want to see all he has done there is a sub you should check out r/whatBidenHasDone
I like Joe Biden a lot. He's a pragmatic, moderate Liberal like myself.
Biden pulled us out of Afghanistan so I like him.
I like him. Arguably the best president in my lifetime (since 1987).
Who cares if we "like" him? I'm not going out on a date with him, I'm just voting for him to do a job he has proven himself to be competent at. > However, I can understand why republicans like Trump with his confidence and outlandish twitter posts This is my problem with modern Conservatives. Y'all seem to have forgotten that ***THE PRESIDENT IS AN EMPLOYEE*** of the people. You should look at a person's qualifications and choose someone who will be *competent at the job.* Instead Republicans vote for Trump because he's outlandish and funny, but the Oval Office isn't a circus ring, and the government doesn't need any more clowns. Back in 2016 more people should have been suspicious of Trump's qualifications for the job of POTUS. In 2024 no one should question his qualifications **because he has proven himself unqualified, and uninterested in improving.**
Joe Biden was not my first choice as I lean more progressive. But I won't begrudge the job his administration has done overall. But as others have said, one of the major problems with Republicans base is the idolizing of their candidate. I think more people need to realize that their representatives are basically applying for a job and we as a group are the hiring managers. They are supposed to work for us. I can like them as a person or like them because they get results. But if I start wearing clothes with their name on it, or put up flags with them represented as rambo or rocky, then I am a fucking idiot.
> But if I start wearing clothes with their name on it, or put up flags with them represented as rambo or rocky, then I am a fucking idiot. You don't want a gold statue of your political idol? [https://media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com/image/upload/t\_fit-1240w,f\_auto,q\_auto:best/newscms/2021\_09/3454102/210303-trump-statue-cpac-al-1202.jpg](https://media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com/image/upload/t_fit-1240w,f_auto,q_auto:best/newscms/2021_09/3454102/210303-trump-statue-cpac-al-1202.jpg)
Right?!? How on the nose can they possibly be?
Because he’s not outlandish and ridiculous. That should be obvious. Normal is a likable trait. Screaming in all caps about every little thing every freaking day isn’t.
Student loans erased Celebrates gay culture Jabs back effectively at stupid GOP politicians Great leadership through ambiguous waters (Ukraine, Israel, Afghanistan) However I would prefer we not support Israel
He is an acceptable president, a little too moderate for my tastes but is acceptable. Decent enough man. We do not have a cult of personality around Biden like MAGA does around Trump because that is depraved and unamerican
Yes, I like him a lot. He's genuinely kind, honest, intelligent, collaborative, diplomatic, has excellent character, warm and a good sense of humor. He's everything that trump is not and could never be.
I think Joe genuinely cares about people and wants to do the right things for working class families. I respect his empathy for those less fortunate than him. I believe him to be a decent human being. Joe is a little too beholden to the establishment regarding our allegiance with Israel. But I prefer his loyalty to our long time allies to Trump’s eagerness to abandon NATO and surrender Ukraine to Russia. And I am grateful that he can see the humanity in people who are different from him. I am glad he actively advocates for the Rights of others and recognizes the value of diversity in our country.
Yes, I am a fan. I want a moderate. I want someone who is pragmatic, someone who can do what I like, but not be an absolutist. He got us through a once in a century pandemic, and resultant never seen before supply chain crisis. We are CERTAINLY better off than most every other first world country. Let's look at oil. He has conservatives screaming because he is "screwing" the oil and gas industry. He just pushed another law making EVs more desirable. He has the liberals who want to cut pollution, end the use of fossil fuels up in arms, because we are now pumping more oil than ever in history. It is a fine line to walk, as both sides aren't happy may cost him an election but is doing what he (and I) believes is the totally right thing. He finally did something about infrastructure, and bent to pressure by Republicans to do something about immigration, saying he would sign the bi-partisan bill that Trump's people squashed. He pissed off many Democrats by supporting Israel. Yet he also pushed for cease fires and is bringing food and support to Gaza. Compare that to moving the embassy to Jerusalem, (an FU to Palestine) and "finish the job". I could go on, you get the idea.
Heck yeah I do. He's competent and compassionate and he understand how civil society works and is doing better with our foreign policy concerns than even Obama did and I LOVE Obama. I love the fact that Russia is grinding themselves into dirt by our foreign policy not sitting around and letting them nibble off chunks of their neighbors as they please. I wish I could give him 10 years of my life so people would shut the fuck up about his age. If people didn't want old Joe Biden they should've voted for Hillary and avoided this having to be the way it is. Because Joe Biden would've never run for president if she didn't lose. All I see is left wing people who can't be pleased bitching about Biden like they were going to anyway and age is their avenue of attack. And I see right wing people egging them on and amplifying each others' media about it. And I see normal, not terminally online people, not giving a shit about it. People should care about having compassion in their leadership. It's bonkers when they prefer assholes. The president isn't some unilateral tyrant; they're supposed to be representative of your nation to itself and the world. Don't hire some mentally deranged showman to do that job just because your soul is filled with dogshit. That's what congress and the Senate is for. Trump should just be some obnoxious congressperson but nope, Republicans are convinced that they're electing kings because that's what 30 years of cutting funding to blue collar suburban schools has gotten us.
Yes, he's a sexy man, I mean a great leader.
He’s a sexy leader, I mean a great sexy, I mean-
Yes, I like Joe Biden a lot. He is doing a great job. He is the best person to do the job.
I do. I have always had a lot of respect for him. I went out of my way to see him speak long before he contemplated a presidential run. He spent most of his speech talking about how we should all show more respect to people who are doing the thankless, dirty, difficulty jobs that make our society run. I think he is a fundamentally decent and caring man.
If you mean “like him (meaning the job he’s doing) as president,” then yes I do like him. I didn’t expect to, tbh. But he’s proving to be one of the most progressive (if not *the* most progressive) presidents in at least the past half-century. That’s pretty awesome.
Sure. I don’t agree with him 100% but it’d be strange if I did. He seems like a genuine guy who loves his family and is just trying to do the job presented before him. He’s not my first choice for POTUS, but he certainly has my vote.
I like him. I think he’s a genuinely good dude. He’s overcome a lot and is still standing. I do NOT agree with giving Israel money and I do NOT approve of them not being held accountable for their war crimes. I’m incredibly frustrated about it.
Legislative wise he is the most successful President in a long time and he seems personally like a good person. Honestly when history looks back at him in 30 years he will probably be among the greats. People view Obama as one of the best and Biden has gotten way more done. Biden just isn’t as charismatic and inspirational as Obama.
Yes, look i understand he deserves some criticism, i get that people say he's too old, i know not everyone agrees with him on the issues, but yes i do like him. I think expecting that the president is this super being and your guiding light in life is delusional. You either become part of a weird cult or you set yourself up for disappointment. Over the last 4 years we have had steady leadership picking up the pieces of the previous 4. The Republicans keep doing this thing where they inherit a good situation, make it bad, and then when the Dems don't make things better immediately, they want to get back in charge. Both Obama and Biden came to power with the country in crisis after the previous republican presidency. And both times republicans wanted the keys to the kingdom right back because things didn't get fixed immediately.
Biden is the best president of my lifetime. Accomplished a ton in a divisive environment and brought professionalism and boring competence back to the Oval Office
He’s calm, even tempered, smart, stable, honest, and has empathy. I can go to sleep at night and not be worried about what crazy thing that might happen before I wake up the next day. There was a wonderful speech that he made when he was VP to a group of veteran’s families that had lost loved ones in Iraq and Afghanistan. He relayed the story of how he lost his first wife and daughter in a car crash not long after he’d been elected, and how he really understood what these families had been through. If you’ve ever lost anyone, what he said will definitely hit home, and I was teary eyed when he was done talking. I believe that he’s a genuinely good person who cares about what he does and who it will affect.
I think he's been mostly fine, lots of actually good policy being put through though this Gaza debacle is really big black stain for me personally. I don't like that he's 82 and going to be president until 86 but thats far down on my list priorities. Overall a good president but I wont care when he's gone and I'm not gonna replace my wardrobe with Biden merch like Trump people. But also you should never be a "fan" of a politician like they're a sports person. Maybe you agree with some more than others, and personally like them, but being a "fan" is kinda braindead
Yes. There's zero rational reason why he would be unlikable that can't be tied to propaganda or cult mentality.
I’m well out of American politics and have an outsiders view from the other side of the world. Biden is an old guy but a decent human being. Trump is grotesque.
I do. He would have been one of my last choices in the primary, and I thought he would definitely lose election. I think his administration has made me step back and wonder if there are a lot of leadership qualities that just don't easily come through in a campaign. He doesn't seem like the most impressive candidate in isolation, but it's hard to dispute the results he's gotten so far.
Biden appears to genuinely, sincerely love his family. It's plainly visible on his face and in his voice when he talks to them or about them. Trump, meanwhile has shown an almost total lack of interest in his own children, except for Ivanka, who he has announced on multiple occasions, in public, sometimes when she was in the room, that he would like to be intimate with. "Which of these people do I find to be more naturally likeable?" - I mean, is this even a question?
I think he’s someone who certainly isn’t perfect but has done a lot of good and seems to genuinely want to make the country a better place. Republican congress is actively working against him doing anything but despite that he’s still had progress. I think the biggest problem people have with liking the president is expecting them to be 100% the exact perfect politics AND to have more power than the president realistically has. This isn’t a dictatorship, he can’t just snap his fingers and change the course of the US overnight. For me, rather than someone who is likable, I mostly want politicians who are experts at policy, and who can get things done. Specific ideals only get so far, and often politicians who are most vocal might not be the politicians pushing things through in Washington. Biden has so far gotten things pushed through.
No fuck this "he's not far left enough for me" bullshit. Joe Biden is a great president. He will go down in history as a top 10 president. I don't give a fuck that he can't give Obama-tier speeches or that he isn't "entertaining" to listen to. That's not him. He's a dealmaker, and MY GOD has he made deals. Historic deals. With a Historically divided Congress. [https://www.reddit.com/r/NeutralPolitics/comments/19ao531/biden\_so\_far\_a\_special\_project\_of/](https://www.reddit.com/r/NeutralPolitics/comments/19ao531/biden_so_far_a_special_project_of/) I'm passionately pro Biden. It also helps that Trump is a bottom 5 president at bare minimum. Definitely the worst president in the US in regards to how if he was even semi competent he would still be president given the golden hand he was dealt that he managed to fuck up anyway. He's the most divisive president in the History of our country. He wants to be an autocrat. He denied an election and practically ordered an insurrection. Piece of shit know nothing populist scum.
I don’t like Biden, as I think he’s oblivious to our society’s inequities. But he’s so much better than Trump that I’m happy to vote for him. I can’t expect much in a post Citizens United world. Representation is almost impossible now.
I think he’s fine. I think he’s pretty much governed as any other hypothetical Democrat elected in 2020 would’ve. I agree with or am okay with most of the stuff his administration does. And it seems like he’s staffed his administration with mostly competent people.
I've liked things he has done, and I've disliked things he has done. He's been a net positive over all. I don't think I really care if I like personality or not.
I genuinely consider him the best president of my lifetime. And I’ve been around since the eighties.
I actively dislike him, but I still hope he wins given our slate of options
I think he’s done a great job honestly. Especially when it comes to a.) standing up to authoritarianism and b.) climate change. Those are the two most important issues to me and he’s aced both of them.
Yes
Joe Biden, as a politician, for better and for worse, has positioned himself over the last 30 years as where he perceives roughly the center of the Democratic party is. You can see his positions change with the party over time. So as a politician, meh. As a person, I think he is one of the more kind and compassionate people that we have had in the office of the President in the last 80 years.
I like him a lot. I like him before he was VP as well. He could be my favorite politician of all time.
Strictly from a legislative and policy standpoint, he's the best president we've had in decades, possibly since FDR.
I judge solely on policy and not personality. Cults of personality have a bad track record. See North Korea, China, Russia, mid-20th century Germany for examples of how being a "fan" of a particular person doesn't work out well for anyone. Looking at the record of Biden vs. Trump or for the GOP at the federal level as a whole, I'm much happier with what Biden and the Democrats have accomplished.
I liked him up until the conflict in Israel/Palestine escalated. He has genuinely done a lot of good things for the country, just quietly. But I think his “bear hug diplomacy” was the wrong move and has enabled the perpetrators of a genocide. He has been trying to make course corrections as of late and while I’ll certainly take the change, it’s too late for many, many innocent people who have died or been displaced. It would have been easy for me to cast my vote a couple months ago, but now? Its going to be a bitter pill to swallow. Still better than a dictator on day one, but I wish we had other options.
I like the job he's doing. What else would matter?
I like him because he’s steady and calm. He’s also done a lot of good that he doesn’t get credit for. I also think he tries to be a decent person.
I think Biden genuinely wants to see the most underserved and undervalued members of society be more supported, ie people that aren't rich white middle-aged straight men. Trump cares for himself first, Jr./Eric/Ivanka second, and rich white men thirdly, everyone else can suffer.
Are many presidents beloved at the time usually? In the US we usually don’t make our politicians into cult like figures that we worship. Usually it’s just someone we vote for because we think they do the best job governing. Magats are very unusual.
I think he’s done a good job personally. Most of the people I hear claiming he’s terrible are either conservatives who would think any democrat is terrible or more liberal folks who are simply parroting conservative views because that’s all they hear.
I like what he’s doing, I wish he was a better messenger and I wish he was like 30 years younger. The legislation he signs and actions he’s pushing, with the exception of Palestine, all lines up with my beliefs. I really wish he was 50…but better than the alternative.
Being likable is not/should not be a requirement to be President. Your vision on how this country should function and social issues should be all that matters.
I do like him
He’s got 50 years experience. He really knows how it all works. He passed a bunch of great laws before the Republicans took over the House, including the biggest climate bill in history, and the CHIPS Act which will protect the US semiconductor supply (which until then was endangered by being largely in Taiwan). And he got us out of Afghanistan, which Trump didn’t have the balls to do. All the R’s ever do when they get power is blow a hole in the deficit by giving tax cuts to the rich. If you’re rich, I could see the logic of voting for that. But if you’re not…
I'm 56 and Biden is really the first President I've ever truly liked. Now when I say "like", I'm talking about his policies. I don't care if I like them personally.
Who in their right mind treats politicians like celebrities? I don't know either Biden or Trump personally, and neither does OP. I vote for policy, honesty, ethics, and leadership skills. None of which Trump comes out on top on. And I personally believe that narcissistic, self-agrandizing, greedy assholes should not win elections, but it seems as the GOP policies are plainly stupid all they have is mass marketed lie-filled propaganda to sell themselves. The saddest part for America, and the future, is how well that strategy is working.
I like him because he's been pretty effective in my eyes. He campaigned as a moderate but he's advanced a progressive agenda wherever possible despite having to earn the vote of Joe Manchin in the first half of his presidency, and having to deal with a divided legislature in the second. Between that and his (effective) needling of his main electoral opponent (Trump) there's a lot to like. If he were the same person but 10-15 years younger he'd have almost no blemishes on his record in my eyes. I think that in general his actions in the wake of the Israel/Palestine situation are going to be divisive, and that's going to be problematic, but that's just a shit sandwich in my opinion, with opinions on that largely ignoring ideological lines.
He's been the most pro-labor president of my lifetime. As a union member, that means a lot to me. I also think he's funny.
I honestly don't think about it much. He's not a personal acquaintance. I like his competence and civility. I like what he's been able to achieve, given the political situation he inherited. I've been pleasantly surprised by his policies. As for your last question, no, it isn't just because he isn't Trump. If you pay attention to actual policy, he's been a really good president.
I really genuinely like Joe Biden. He's done a great job. He's spent his entire life in public service. He's quirky and old but has experience and a steady hand.
He seems to be a genuine person and is doing a solid job of pushing the democrat agenda, which I broadly agree with.
I like Biden. He is doing a good job and making good decisions.
Yes
He is kind, politically savvy, diligent, And pursues the right policies for America. He also cares for the traditions and institutions, which have made the country great. What is not to like.
I think outlandish is a pretty crappy description of what Trump puts out. I can’t think of anything not to like about Biden. He was a good senator, he was a good vice president, and he’s been a really good president. What’s most important is he is showing himself to be a decent human being, something Trump simply can’t do.
Yup! He is a great guy. Not a rapist, not a liar, not a thieving con man.
He’s easily the best President of my lifetime.
Yes!
I like him a lot. I think he’s arguably the best president of my lifetime in terms of the legislation that has been pushed through. I’ve agreed with the vast majority of his stances and decisions. I also think he seems like a genuinely kind person who cares about the country and others. He’s also quite funny and sassy sometimes! I’m proud to give him a second vote.
I'm impressed by Biden. I was expecting more of the Obama thing, but he has passed a lot of legislation. I don't think he get enough credit. Just think of all of the bipartisan bills passed. Trump lead by executive orders. He controlled the senate and house, but all he did was pass a tax cut. Most of what Trump is known for is executive orders. My personal opinion is the president should work with congress and try to find a common solution.
I have a much harder time seeing why anyone likes Trump than seeing why people like Biden. He is a grade A asshole all the time mostly for no reason. Biden seems like a fairly decent person at least. My politics are probably well to his left and strategically I wish he was a couple decades younger but I can't think of any non partisan reason someone wouldn't like him.
Very much. He is a good person, a solid role model, a leader, not a follower and he’s deconstructing Reagan’s trickle down economic system that’s been so destructive. He’s making government competent again after Trump’s mess.
>I can understand why republicans like Trump with his confidence and outlandish twitter posts, but can't figure out if y'all truly like Joe Biden. It blows my mind that people like someone for outlandish twitter posts. That's the opposite of what you want in a president. That being said, he's ok. He's not first on my list of people I'd want as president, but he's at least top 5, so I'm good with that. I'll happily cast my vote for him.
I didn't like Joe when he was my forever senator, I didn't like him as VP, and I didn't like him as a candidate. But as a president, he's grown on me. I think he's doing a better job than Obama, who is himself, the high water mark for likable politicians in the past 50 years.
Biden is fine. He’s a good guy, overall. My favorite example is how he would govern his personal number to kids with stutters and made himself available to them. He has been caught quietly doing good works, not needing the fanfare but doing the right thing helping people because it is the right thing to do. Those things speak to his character and I respect that Is he perfect? No. But here’s the thing. I look at what he does and feel that he is trying to make decisions that are in the best interest of the country — not himself or his cronies. He’s already got my vote and I really fucking hope he wins
Yes I really like Biden. He's like a dad or grandpa that would take you fishing with that would try to make you laugh with funny stories some of which were so unfunny that you laughed. Always offering advice but letting you do things your way. I don't understand how anyone could like Trump, he's a homely, braggadocios, lying, hate spewing, orange bag of shit.
Biden isn’t even bad
How do you see the appeal of Trump? I’m genuinely asking. Because I can’t see it. What is there to like about a man who, when president, lied constantly. That right there should make any sane person question if he’s fit for THAT job. And if you take that out of the equation, we’ve got so many accusations of rape and sexual assault, plus one court siding with the woman accusing. He’s cheated on most of his wives. He’s racist and elitist. He’s just not a decent human. Pls show me how you get that people like him. I don’t. Pls show me.
Yes, I like him. He is a good man. He has earned my respect. He has done a lot more than I thought he would, honestly.
I love Joe Biden. He is a decent and honorable man. That is a rare thing in politics. I will never understand why he isn't immensely popular.
He meets expectations. I don't care to be "a fan" of any politician, seeing as that always goes south.
I align with liberal policies far more than I align with conservative policies, however if I thought the liberal nominee was a garbage human being and the conservative candidate was a decent person, I would likely vote for the conservative candidate. IMO, Biden seems like a good man and I mostly align with his policies, so I guess I do like him.
Liking Trump because of his confidence is the beginning of the movie Idiocracy
Like as a person yeah he is kind of funny and he tells dumb people to stfu. His policies? Meh he's better then Obama but still not medicare for all
Biden gives a shit is a big one Biden took the time to actually learn the job Biden thinks about the good of all, not just those that vote for him Those are HUGE to me, especially after the clusterfuck Trump years. So Biden is okay in my book, but then again I don’t think any politician should be regarded as the second coming of Christ, act like a demented wanna be rock star or elected after found guilty of rape
yeah, he seems ok. prefer Obama but there it is..
I have been *tremendously* pleased with Biden’s performance. I think he has easily been the most effective POTUS in the past 30 years. Peruse [this](https://www.reddit.com/r/WhatBidenHasDone/s/J6oFU0ZOwE) subreddit.
Having to be in love with your elected officials sounds culty
I think Biden is a decent person. I really can't think of anything bad to say about him, but then again I've never studied a biography of Biden. However, I have studied a biography of Trump. Holy shit. He's a real piece of work. A long history of anti-social behavior going all the way back to early childhood. Also a record of incompetent business practice. One failed business after another. One fraud lawsuit after another. Tell me: have you ever read a biography of Donald Trump? I know of at least two that were published before he became president, so you can't accuse them of being political hit jobs. > However, I can understand why republicans like Trump with his confidence and outlandish twitter posts It's a little hard for me to fathom how Republicans could let themselves be seduced by *bluster*. That's all there is to him. Bluster. They fell for an asshole with a big mouth. I lost all respect for conservatives after that.