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NYTimes Passes Over Biden and Bernie. Picks Both Women

The New York Times has made its endorsements for Democratic candidate for President. It's picked two candidates, independently. (i.e., the Times is not suggesting a two women ticket). And those candidates are: Amy Klobuchar and Elizabeth Warren.

“There will be those dissatisfied that this page is not throwing its weight behind a single candidate, favoring centrists or progressives,” the board writes. “But it’s a fight the party itself has been itching to have” since Hillary Clinton’s defeat in 2016, “and one that should be played out in the public arena and in the privacy of the voting booth.”

.... “Ms. Klobuchar and Ms. Warren right now are the Democrats best equipped to lead that debate. May the best woman win.”

I agree. [More...]

Biden and Bernie have had their days in the sun. No amount of sunblock can erase their lines... or baggage. Biden thinks he's got the creds to be president, but really what he is America's most persistent crime warrior of the past 25 years, authoring almost every horrible piece of crime legislation that kept thousands (if not more) non-violent offenders in prison for decades. As I have opined here consistently for the past 18 years, I wouldn't vote for him for dogcatcher.

As for Bernie, he may have lit a fire under young potential voters, but his ideas are hardly revolutionary. I learned the same stances and values as a child from my parents, and they got them from their parents, who like Bernie, hailed from Brooklyn. Every relative I have known in my life shares these more-liberal-than-most values, especially my older sister. Bernie hasn't introduced any new ideas, he's capitalized on introducing them to new voters of different demographics than his own to whom they were new.

I'd be okay if Bernie were president. I'd just roll my eyes a lot at the lines he takes credit for that been around a few decades. And if Biden is elected? Easy: I'll move. But don't hold your breath, it won't happen.

I'm not quite ready to jumping on the Klobuchar train yet (if ever) because I have a feeling she is too far center right on crime issues or does not have much interest in them or knowledge about them. She seems focused on other topics. yell at his rallies.

You need to get involved. You need to do grass roots. Start at the bottom and go up. Pretend it's the mailroom of some famous talent agency you are working at (for free) because you just know you'll be running the place down in the not too distance future.

If you are worried about the ultimate nominee, and that we won't survive another four years under Trump (and really, what person with half a brain doesn't fear that way), you have two options: stay in bed with the covers over your head or get outside and into the streets and volunteer at Democratic headquaters to ensure that voter turnout is the highest ever and Donald Trump goes down with the biggest loss in presidential election history.

We get the Government we elect. These weeks that will be taken up with impeachment are a great time to start canvassing for your favorite candidate or accompanying them on the campaign trail to report back things the major papers didn't have time for.

If you think it's important your candidate win in Iowa, get a low fare there, the hotels are cheap, and ask the campaign how you can help. Or be independent, attend the caucuses and the candidates speeches there and report on them. I already served (2004, 2008 and 2012 as a credentialed blogger)and I'm done. But there's plenty of room for someone from the next generations to take my place.(I think my time is better spent researching permanent visas to Mexico, Costa Rica, Ecuador or Columbia.)

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  • Display: Sort:
    On the one hand (5.00 / 1) (#11)
    by CST on Mon Jan 20, 2020 at 09:33:09 AM EST
    It's kind of hilarious that the NYTimes couldn't pick a candidate.

    On the other hand neither can my aunt and she has the same top two.

    But we all know the candidates we don't like, just like the Times.

    at this point I've made over a thousand phone call (5.00 / 1) (#22)
    by kdm251 on Mon Jan 20, 2020 at 05:22:15 PM EST
    Been phone banking for a couple months now, I've talked to people that support almost every candidate, including one person that thought Pelosi was running and I have never heard someone say they support Klobuchar.  Seems that the Times endorsement elevated her, probably at the expense of Elizabeth Warren.    

    This is surprising (none / 0) (#1)
    by Ga6thDem on Mon Jan 20, 2020 at 04:58:11 AM EST
    but I hope it gives Amy a boost.

    I would love for you to blog (none / 0) (#2)
    by Ga6thDem on Mon Jan 20, 2020 at 05:04:25 AM EST
    on your research on permanent visas. My husband and I are going to Playa del Carmen in April and we're thinking about connecting with the ex-pat community down there to find out about retiring in Mexico. Costa Rica and Ecuador both seem to have great ex-pat communities and retirement options but from what I've seen on the International Living blogs is that Columbia is a mess right now. Have you checked into Portugal? That seems to be another popular destination for ex-pats.

    Just got back from Cabo (5.00 / 2) (#29)
    by ragebot on Wed Jan 22, 2020 at 03:27:05 AM EST
    Did the Baja Ha-Ha.  Truth be told it was my first trip to California since Advanced Infantry Training at Ft. Ord in 1967 (if you exclude my trips to Death Valley).

    After the 700NM sail from San Diego to Cabo San Lucas I got there just in time for the Port Captain to close down the port due to TS Raymond.  A Port Captain has vast powers and in this case required everyone to secure their boats and go ashore to a hotel.  I was able to find a nice hostel and made friends with a Mexican National who had graduated from a film school in Mexico City where his divorced Mother lived; his father having returned to Peru where he was born.  

    He was working as a waiter a few nights a week and a volunteer at the hostel in return for his room.  He took me shopping and I was a little shocked he said my first Uber trip to Walmart was a mistake there was a Mexican box store bigger, better, and cheaper than Walmart; and he was right.  Also provided lots of other insights to local customs.

    A couple of weeks later another system formed with no circulation and dropped 18 inches of rain in 24 hours.  In both cases there was literally human feces floating in the flooded streets.  Nico indicated this was quite normal in what I will call non tourist areas of Mexico.  As a result of the storms and the laid back Mexican culture of Mexico I spent several hours talking on various subjects with Nico.

    One thing I mentioned was when we reached False Cabo (the cape before the real Cabo) I said something to the skipper about raising the Q flag (the quarantine flag you are suppose to fly till you check in to customs) and the skipper replied she did not have one.  Nico confirmed in general people travel from the US to Mexico (and vice versa) with no documentation; same for countries on Mexico's Southern border.  In fact a lot of paper work that is suppose to be required seems to be optional.

    Since I had brought several high quality water proof cameras with me Nico, who seemed to be very connected, found three businesses (a surf shop, and two panga operations that take tourists around the bay) who were willing to hire me; under the table of course.  He seemed shocked when I declined.  As a basically East Coast guy I was use to the Bahamas, Cuba, down island, and the East Coast of Mexico where Q flags are mandatory and the locals often turn in non locals they think are taking away jobs.

    Nico had what I considered strange political views.  While I knew gun violence was a problem there I was not aware 2019 broke the record for murders in Mexico.  Nico put the blame on Lopez Obrador for trying to control the cartels and made it clear he thought the cartels were less corrupt than the Mexican government.  Not sure how to define his political leanings but he made it clear pols of any stripe were not to be trusted and the less government the better.  He seemed to think only government employees, and their families, liked Lopez Obrador.

    My impression, confirmed by Nico, is that the Baja is different that mainland Mexico with a lot less cartel activity, except right at the border.  All in all it was a very interesting trip that provided insight into a very different Mexico than I was use to.  Nico seemed very welcoming to me and made it clear he was more than willing to go into business to me (especially after seeing some of the vids I made).  Of course he was a film major and really wanted to get into that career path.

    When you go in April I would advise don't limit yourself to talking to expats.  For less than $US10 a night you should be able to find a hostel where you can meet local Mexicans who are traveling and they may give you a much different view of Mexico than a gated expat community.

    Parent

    But the border region of Baja California ... (none / 0) (#34)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Thu Jan 23, 2020 at 05:28:24 PM EST
    ragebot: "My impression, confirmed by Nico, is that the Baja is different that mainland Mexico with a lot less cartel activity, except right at the border."

    ... is where 75% of its population live. At 1.6 million residents, Tijuana is the 6th largest city in Mexico, and the state capital city of Mexicali is another 1 million residents.

    We have to remember that the Baja peninsula, which consists of the states of Baja California and Baja California Sur, is mostly all desert. The population of Baja California Sur is less than 20% of its northern neighbor.

    There are large American ex-pat communities in Rosarito, which is 10 miles south of Tijuana on the Pacific coast, and Ensenada, which is 75 miles south of Tijuana.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    The problem (none / 0) (#36)
    by ragebot on Sun Jan 26, 2020 at 01:24:10 AM EST
    with drawing lines on maps often ignores the reality of what is happening on the ground.

    If you look at a map it is easy to argue that since Ensenada is North of the Sea of Cortez it is more accurately on the main land rather than part of the Baja Peninsula.  From the border to Ensenada is a very different culture than South of Ensenada.  Even in places like La Paz and Cabo which are population centers ex pats tend to blend in rather than live in gated communities and stay to themselves.

    In some ways I am reminded of the difference between Florida and the Florida Keys.  Some folks who live in the Keys consider themselves to be living in the Conch Republic and not part of mainland Florida.  When you have two areas with a huge cultural discontinuity it is a mistake to lump them together.

    Parent

    Merida (none / 0) (#12)
    by MKS on Mon Jan 20, 2020 at 10:35:58 AM EST
    is a beautiful, wonderful city.

    Since you are thinking of Playa del Carmen, nearby Merida is worth a look.  I like it better, since it is a bigger city, and not so much of a tourist trap.

    Parent

    A U.S.-born Latino couple I am friends (none / 0) (#17)
    by oculus on Mon Jan 20, 2020 at 12:41:30 PM EST
    considered living in Merida for six months. Didn't after researching and asking for input from a Mexican judge who is their friend. Cartel violence.

    Parent
    Such a shame (none / 0) (#19)
    by MKS on Mon Jan 20, 2020 at 01:59:26 PM EST
    That seems to be the case throughout Mexico nowadays....

    Parent
    I mentioned (none / 0) (#3)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Jan 20, 2020 at 06:55:12 AM EST
    A lunch with trumpers.  That was something that started  like "want to see what we are up against"?

    The original purpose for that was to lunch with the democrat who invited me and talk about ways I could get involved.  He ran for local office in 2018 and lost and plans to run again this year.  He is well connected to the local dem party (such as it is).  

    Through him I got involved in some stuff like get out the vote assistance for people who needed rides and distributing yard signs and stuff.

    I can't do phone stuff.  Don't  have the patients.  

    I had never been much interested (none / 0) (#4)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Jan 20, 2020 at 06:58:42 AM EST
    In local politics oddly enough but he convinced me that's where it starts.  It might seem hopeless here but there are democrats

    Parent
    I think the double endorsement is weird (none / 0) (#5)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Jan 20, 2020 at 07:33:51 AM EST
    It makes it look like some kind of statement.  Which is fine but as an endorsement IMO it weakens the possible effect for both.

    Not that endorsements really mean anything much anymore anyway.

    I think this quickens their irrelevancy  

    It is a statement. (2.00 / 1) (#15)
    by Abdul Abulbul Amir on Mon Jan 20, 2020 at 12:07:48 PM EST
    Identity politics trumps all.

    Parent
    Well, (5.00 / 1) (#21)
    by Ga6thDem on Mon Jan 20, 2020 at 02:49:24 PM EST
    since both of them are more qualified than Trump to hold the job you have to devolve into your Russian talking points don't you?

    Parent
    You made my point (5.00 / 1) (#33)
    by Abdul Abulbul Amir on Thu Jan 23, 2020 at 12:01:55 PM EST

    Don't you believe that the entire Dem field is more qualified than Trump?


    Parent
    You guys are automatic (5.00 / 2) (#23)
    by MKS on Mon Jan 20, 2020 at 05:49:06 PM EST
    You have a handful of stock responses to everything.  One of those is ridiculing concerns over race and gender equality as just "identity politics."

    Not a lot of thinking going on there.

    And, of all days to trot out this allergy to racial and gender equality, you choose MLK day.  Classic.

    Parent

    AAA, do you (none / 0) (#24)
    by MKS on Mon Jan 20, 2020 at 05:50:25 PM EST
    think today is "Identity Politics Day?"

    Parent
    Watching one of the people (none / 0) (#6)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Jan 20, 2020 at 08:00:22 AM EST
    Who made this decision discuss it.  What she is basically saying is they picked one from column A (left) and one from column B (moderate) because they were either unable or unwilling to make a choice.

    Which is kind of the point of and endorsement I thought

    Dumb

    Parent

    "It's about respect for the voters" (none / 0) (#7)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Jan 20, 2020 at 08:02:46 AM EST
    Translation we didn't want to pi$$ anyone off.

    Parent
    Granting (none / 0) (#8)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Jan 20, 2020 at 08:12:35 AM EST
    The possible intention to endorse "the resistance" and do no harm.

    Misguided.  I think

    Parent

    Mediaite (none / 0) (#10)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Jan 20, 2020 at 09:30:42 AM EST
    Howdy, can you try and (none / 0) (#14)
    by Jeralyn on Mon Jan 20, 2020 at 12:07:28 PM EST
    combine your comments into more than one liners so there aren't so many to scroll through. I know stream of consciousness is fun but that's really not the point of comments. Thanks!

    Parent
    Sure (none / 0) (#16)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Jan 20, 2020 at 12:14:00 PM EST
    Sorry

    It is a problem

    Parent

    Kudos to the NY Times (none / 0) (#9)
    by hilts on Mon Jan 20, 2020 at 08:54:34 AM EST
    for giving Joe Biden the Rodney Dangerfield treatment he richly deserves. At 77, Biden looks and sounds horrible.  I have serious reservations about Biden's stamina and energy to serve 4 years.

    Warren and Klobuchar project competence and gravitas,

    Biden, on the other hand, projects buffoonery and cluelessness.

    The predicate for the NYTimes candidate (none / 0) (#13)
    by KeysDan on Mon Jan 20, 2020 at 12:04:28 PM EST
    assessments and recommendations was three different tracks to the future: (1) Trump, with continued white nativism, unilateralism foreign policy, escalating culture wars, an extremist right wing judiciary, and continuing and brazen corruption, (2) A Democrat who believes Trump to be an aberration and his going away will be enough, and (3) A Democrat who believes Trump's exit is critical, but the political and economic climate that enabled this demagogue needs to be addressed.

    The NYT editorial board decidedly rejected the first, naming Trump as a threat to democracy; however, it did a disservice to their starting efforts by not coming down on the side of either the second or third vision, which would have eased their way toward making a recommendation for one, rather than two, different candidates.

    The editorial board finds good news in Elizabeth Warren: a commitment to anti-corruption, fluent in foreign policy, a studied approach to policy-making, and the bolstering of the safety net, including social security, an investment in clean energy, and a sophisticated understanding of the different levers of power in an administration.

    The editorial board notes her stepping back to an incremental approach to Medicare for All and does not much like her proposal for a wealth tax, finding reasons such as a likely inability to succeed legislatively and roadblocks by a conservative judiciary.

    There was good news to find, too, in Amy Klobuchar. The senator, in their view, offers the best chance to enact many progressive plans because of her bipartisan credentials, "being of Midwestern charisma, grit and sticktoitiveness."

    This evaluation is based on her record of bills passed with bipartisan support, although it is acknowledged that her recent legislation is narrow.  Apparently, the board feels that Klobuchar will not be faced with Republican obstructionism as would be the case with Warren. Candy in the stocking for Klobuchar, but coal for Biden as indicated in his critique a few lines preceding.

    From my point of view, a Democrat who demands nothing of Republicans is sure to get it. Klobuchar, if she is going to move out of the polling basement she needs to spend less time on telling us why we can't have nice things. And, to demonstrate leadership she needs to distinguish between "pipe dreams" and acceptable progressive initiatives.

    Perhaps in a quest for balance, reporting of Senator Klobuchar's treatment of her staff gives them pause raising questions about her ability to attract and keep talented people.

    I have noted that the NYTimes editorial board is often more clear-eyed than the access and stenographic reporting on the news pages. However, the endorsement of two candidates, presented with two different visions, reveals more disarray among the editorial board than among Democratic primary voters.  Democrats, I believe, first and foremost, want Trump out. Good government will follow.

    While I certainly understand (5.00 / 1) (#20)
    by Ga6thDem on Mon Jan 20, 2020 at 02:48:31 PM EST
    why the whole bipartisan thing leaves people cold especially after Obama's post partisan unity shtick, I think Amy's background as a prosecutor makes her a better candidate to run against Trump. Who better to run against the mob than someone who knows how to prosecute them.

    Parent
    Twitter mocked the NYT (none / 0) (#18)
    by oculus on Mon Jan 20, 2020 at 12:48:27 PM EST
    endorsing two candidates.  But the editorial explaining why the board endorsed Warren and Klobuchar explains why the board did not endorse the others and supported the dual endorsement. Made sense to me.

    Parent
    The voters appear (none / 0) (#25)
    by MKS on Mon Jan 20, 2020 at 06:19:57 PM EST
    ready to spite the New York Times, as the race appears to be narrowing down to Bernie and Biden.

    So much for the power of a New York Times editorial.

    The last poll (none / 0) (#26)
    by Ga6thDem on Mon Jan 20, 2020 at 06:48:19 PM EST
    I saw had Bernie faltering but then they have been up and down. Biden should hope that it is him vs. Bernie because it will make him a shoo in for the nomination. Bernie certainly does not act like a candidate with good poll numbers. I guess we will just have to wait and see what comes out of Iowa and then NH between him and Warren. Buttigieg may just pull out a win in IA.

    Parent
    Could be (none / 0) (#27)
    by MKS on Mon Jan 20, 2020 at 07:05:42 PM EST
    But my guess is the accusations of "lying" between Bernie and Elizabeth Warren have hurt her, and I can't put my finger on exactly why.  And I believe her that Bernie said it.  

    It could be complaining about sexism just seems weak to many?

    Bernie seems to be going up right now imo.

    Well (5.00 / 1) (#28)
    by Ga6thDem on Mon Jan 20, 2020 at 07:14:47 PM EST
    this says that Biden is leading with Bernie, Warren and Buttigieg tied up at second place. I actually think the dust up with Warren hurt Bernie simply because of the fact that most people believe Bernie is lying and Warren is telling the truth. Bernie has not expanded his support. He has the same support he's had the entire time. And Iowa is one of his two best states with NH being the other one. He's doing so poorly in so many states that he may not get any delegates like Steyer is beating him in SC. If Bernie can't win IA or NH he's pretty much done because after that the states all turn really bad for him.

    The thing that did hurt Warren is making some sort of pact with Bernie. After 2016 if she didn't realize what a snake Bernie is then maybe she's not the candidate we need.

    Parent

    Biden was just interviewed on MJ (none / 0) (#30)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Jan 22, 2020 at 08:25:27 AM EST
    It was an interesting few minutes.  After spending about an hour talking about the Biden/Bolton swap the issue was not mentioned in the interview so I guess that was stipulated it not be.  Just guessing.

    But at the very end Biden did this weird monologue about his children.  Well really about Beau.  He went on and on and on about what an inspiration Beau was.  How he helped him in so many ways at so many times. How ALL his children are just so great, Beau and what's his name and Ashley....

    It was weird.

    On the upside it was probably the most coherent I have seen him in a long time.  He probably just woke up.

    CNN SSRS (none / 0) (#31)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Jan 23, 2020 at 07:46:05 AM EST
    Biden 53. 44 Trump

    Bloomberg 52. 43 Trump

    Sanders 52. 45 Trump

    Warren 50. 45 Trump

    I will (none / 0) (#35)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu Jan 23, 2020 at 08:38:51 PM EST
    give kudos to Bloomberg for all the ads he has been running against Trump.

    Parent
    538 poll of polls has impeachment (none / 0) (#32)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Jan 23, 2020 at 10:00:56 AM EST
    Over 50%.  Across the board

    haven't seen that before

    Real Clear Politics (none / 0) (#37)
    by ragebot on Sun Jan 26, 2020 at 01:29:32 AM EST
    poll average shows opposite.  Been that way since late December.  That poll seems like an outlier.

    Parent
    RCP has (5.00 / 1) (#38)
    by Ga6thDem on Sun Jan 26, 2020 at 05:54:34 AM EST
    old polls included. Howdy is talking about the more recent polls.

    Parent
    RCP has become a very (none / 0) (#41)
    by CaptHowdy on Sun Jan 26, 2020 at 03:06:59 PM EST
    Right leaning site.  From the articles to the cartoons to the polling results.

    Parent
    See for yourself in The Week in Cartoons (none / 0) (#42)
    by CaptHowdy on Sun Jan 26, 2020 at 03:24:14 PM EST
    A regular RCP feature.  Michael Ramirez is their new favorite and always first.  .I disagree with every thing he says but I love his cartoons.  Beyond that, in the middle of all this, how many rocks do you think they had to look under to find an equal number of cartoons supportive of impeachment and opposed.

    THE WEEK IN CARTOONS

    Parent

    it's starting to look like (none / 0) (#39)
    by Chuck0 on Sun Jan 26, 2020 at 01:51:05 PM EST
    Bernie,who is not really a Democrat, is willing to burn down the house to win the nomination.

    The greatest contribution Bloomberg could make (5.00 / 1) (#40)
    by CaptHowdy on Sun Jan 26, 2020 at 02:46:11 PM EST
    To our elections is to finally once and for all humiliate and bury the f'ing insane idea that every 4 years a bunch of white hicks in two insignificant states decide who the presidential candidates will be.

    Parent
    Ironically nobody (none / 0) (#44)
    by Ga6thDem on Sun Jan 26, 2020 at 05:00:14 PM EST
    paid any attention to them years ago. They were just another state but I have got to see I am seeing genius in him and Steyer not competing there. It has turned into such a swamp with Bernie.

    Parent
    Well, yeah (5.00 / 1) (#43)
    by Ga6thDem on Sun Jan 26, 2020 at 04:58:32 PM EST
    that is what he was doing in 2016 when he didn't win. he had a temper tantrum screaming everything was "rigged" against him. He has basically sat in a corner for 3 years in DC and wrote legislation to himself.

    Parent