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Pete B. Drops Out, Amy K. Cancels Rally

I guess we're not done with primary coverage tonight after all. Pete B. has suspended his campaign, saying the math is just not there. He also threw some shade on Bernie Sanders. Bernie on the other hand had nothing but praise for him.

Back in her home state of Minnesota, Amy K. cancelled a rally because Black Lives Matter took over the stage and according to her campaign, wouldn't relinquish it after an hour as the group had promised to do. Polls now show Amy K. may get beaten by Bernie in her home state.

My advice: Instead of freaking out over Bernie, Dems should examine what his supporters believe a Bernie presidency might look like.

While I'm still deciding who to vote for Tuesday, I do believe Bernie best represents the Democratic values I grew up with and that he is trying to bring Dems together, rather than encouraging each minority faction to go its own way. People-powered politics can beat Donald Trump if we pick a candidate who makes the tent big enough to hold all Democrats - young, old, citizen or immigrant, black, brown, latino or white, college student or factory worker, and on and on, rather than favoring one group or issue over the others.

Let's make sure we all realize who the enemy is, and that he's not in here, he's outside this room.

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  • Display: Sort:
    I agree (5.00 / 3) (#2)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Mar 02, 2020 at 07:33:03 AM EST
    if we pick a candidate who makes the tent big enough to hold all Democrats

    That ain't Sanders

    Peter Buttieg's (5.00 / 1) (#7)
    by KeysDan on Mon Mar 02, 2020 at 11:51:56 AM EST
    speech was, in my view, gracious. I would not interpret calls for unity and concern for down-ticket candidates to be  "throwing some shade".  Certainly, no ridicule or disrespect--- the usual connotation.  And, expressing praise after a candidate drops out is pragmatic.

    Some overly  zealous Bernie supporters have, until recently, glommed onto conspiracies about Pete such as he being a CIA agent and deep state candidate.  Harvard, Oxford, McKenzie, Navy Intel officer, multi-language, concert pianist---made in a lab spy.  

    I think Biden will pick (5.00 / 1) (#25)
    by Jeralyn on Mon Mar 02, 2020 at 03:59:15 PM EST
    one of them to be VP. Consider, Biden (and all the soon to be octogenerians) may not last through a four year term, so the VP choice is very critical.

    I would expect (none / 0) (#26)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Mar 02, 2020 at 04:03:15 PM EST
    A woman of color.  For VP

    Pete for SOS

    Amy for AG

    that's a joke.  Partly.

    Parent

    Biden's three top VP picks .. (5.00 / 1) (#30)
    by Robot Porter on Mon Mar 02, 2020 at 05:26:00 PM EST
    is the worst kept secret in politics.

    They're Stacey Abrams, Kamala Harris and Val Demmings.

    All women of color.  All bring great things to the table.  But each brings different things.

    Now, I'm sure he'll meet with some men, some women not of color ...

    But unless those three say "No", it will be one of them.

    Parent

    I would think (5.00 / 1) (#33)
    by Ga6thDem on Mon Mar 02, 2020 at 06:09:36 PM EST
    Harris would be the most likely pick of those three simply because of Joe's age and he needs someone ready to step in. Stacey would not be up to the job having never been more than an elected rep to the state legislature. I don't know enough about Val to comment other than she comes from a swing state which would be a bonus.

    Parent
    Apparently Biden likes Stacey ... (none / 0) (#34)
    by Robot Porter on Mon Mar 02, 2020 at 06:16:34 PM EST
    and wants a Southerner on the ticket.  But his people are pushing for Kamala.

    Parent
    I would say (5.00 / 2) (#35)
    by Ga6thDem on Mon Mar 02, 2020 at 06:26:33 PM EST
    his people probably have better political instincts than he does and he should listen to them. Anyway it is going to be whomever Clyburn says he has to name and that will be it. I doubt it will be Stacey. Who picks a failed gubernatorial candidate for VP? I've also heard Duckworth's name bandied around and the Gov. of NM.

    Parent
    How much does Harris bring to the ticket? (none / 0) (#39)
    by Chuck0 on Tue Mar 03, 2020 at 08:43:49 AM EST
    The Dems have California in their pocket. Do they need a Californian on the ticket?


    Parent
    As I've said, I'm voting Blue, no matter who. (5.00 / 2) (#27)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Mon Mar 02, 2020 at 05:14:09 PM EST
    Jeralyn: "Instead of freaking out over Bernie, Dems should examine what his supporters believe a Bernie presidency might look like."

    I've been advising people for some time now that a Bernie Sanders presidency is really nothing to fear. If (or when) he's our party's nominee, then I'm all in. Let's face it, a Sanders administration is eminently preferable to the present dreadful alternative. However, he's still not my first choice, Jeralyn, and here's why.

    Let me first start off by saying that I agree with Sen. Sanders on a whole host of issues. We need to significantly reduce the costs of health care, elder care and child care. We need to both raise the minimum wage to at least $15 / hr. and raise taxes on the wealthiest 1% of Americans, whose aggregate net worth is already nearly three times that of the least wealthy 80% of Americans combined.

    We also need to provide universal access to quality primary, secondary and higher public education, including universal public pre-school. We need to address the reality of climate change with a renewed sense of vigor and urgency. And we need the humility, courage and fortitude to curtail our country's overseas adventurism, particularly when taking such uncalculated risks clearly advances America's private interests at the primary expense of the public interest.

    But all that said, there's still something perversely insidious about candidates who so cavalierly offer promises that they cannot possibly keep. And in my humble opinion, this is where Sanders constantly comes up dreadfully short. By repeatedly vowing to implement admittedly sweeping but otherwise untenable policy initiatives, such as free health care, national rent control, free college education and the summary cancellation of all student loan debt, Sanders is basically refusing to be grounded in reality.

    By repeatedly throwing this red meat to his mostly young progressive followers, who generally have neither the life's experience nor the political savvy to realize that each of his initiatives presently stands a snowball's chance in hell of passing, Sanders has effectively shifted an important national policy debate within our Democratic electorate in a decidedly frivolous direction -- and worse still, he's doing so at an otherwise deadly serious and dangerous time.

    Please don't get me wrong. Many of Sen. Sanders' proposals are indeed noble initiatives that are certainly worthy of pursuit as long-term policy objectives. But he and his supporters are not going to achieve their goals merely by inundating the U.S. media universe with cliché-riddled political mission statements recycled from the 1960s and '70s, e.g., "We need a revolution -- a mass multi-generational, multi-racial grassroots movement to take over American politics and enact actual transformative and meaningful change." (That's an actual Bernie quote, reproduced ad nauseum elsewhere on social media.)

    And so, while I'm not at all opposed to Bernie Sanders' proposed itinerary and destination, I want to first see a road map which outlines a clear and viable pathway to eventually get there, before I will agree as a card-carrying Democrat to hire him as our party's driver. Because he needs to understand that his failure to provide that road map will make our job as Democrats that much harder, come this fall's campaign.

    Aloha.

    I agree with your assessment. (5.00 / 2) (#41)
    by Chuck0 on Fri Mar 06, 2020 at 09:57:27 PM EST
    I too agree with much of what Bernie is saying. He's just not very good at saying it. Also, the priority this time is getting rid of the number one threat to our republic. Not a political revolution. The US is not quite ready. Too much of what Sanders proposes will not pass even a Democratic controlled Congress.

    Joe Biden is not my first choice, not even second or third. He is way too much of the same old Democratic party that I think needs to go. Think Schumer, Feinstein, et al.

    But I do believe Joe has a better chance of getting the moderate and "never" vote. He will be a placeholder. But a placeholder that will return some dignity and trust to the office. His VP pick will be a very big deal.


    Parent

    Bernie (none / 0) (#1)
    by Ga6thDem on Mon Mar 02, 2020 at 05:42:36 AM EST
    is doing nothing to bring the party together. He loses more votes in a general election than any other candidate and he's death to down ticket candidates. These candidates that know their district are running from Sanders and with good reason.

    RCP and 538 (none / 0) (#3)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Mar 02, 2020 at 07:43:31 AM EST
    Both have either 3 or 4 candidates breaking 15% in CA.  Sanders, Biden, Bloomberg and occasionally Warren depending how on the poll.  

    That would be a big deal.

    New predictions (none / 0) (#4)
    by Ga6thDem on Mon Mar 02, 2020 at 09:31:49 AM EST
    are that Bernie comes out of CA 50 delegates ahead at most which will if it produces any sort of lead be shortly wiped out by the primaries on the 17th and GA on the 24th.

    Parent
    I think a Bernie Sanders presidency (none / 0) (#5)
    by Chuck0 on Mon Mar 02, 2020 at 11:05:00 AM EST
    will look very ineffective. I doubt even a Democratic House and Senate will pass many of his ideas. There is only so much he can do with Executive orders.

    Anecdote (none / 0) (#6)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Mar 02, 2020 at 11:44:12 AM EST
    Just got this from my cousin in CA who was a Pete supporter

    I talked to my Texan daughter, -----, to day.  Last week she said she was voting for Pete but today she said she reconsidered (like I did) and is going to vote for Biden.  I was surprised.  I think many people may be coming to the same conclusions.



    Secretary of State ? (none / 0) (#8)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Mar 02, 2020 at 12:07:31 PM EST
    A gay SoS would be almost as good as a gay president as far as "functions with the spouse".

    I'm jus sayin.

    Parent

    Yes, this (5.00 / 1) (#15)
    by KeysDan on Mon Mar 02, 2020 at 12:43:22 PM EST
    was a suggestion made awhile back ---part of a much needed, bold strategy for Biden....to name a veep and key cabinet officers to illustrate the quality of appointments as well as to underscore new directions.   Buttieg as SOS would go a long way to renew our lost commitment to human rights as foundational to our foreign policy and to provide young and forward looking global leadership, complementary to the experience brought by Biden.

    Moreover, it would contrast with his competitor, Bernie...who should also do so, but is more unlikely to take such a revolutionary step.

    Parent

    And it would totally feed this (none / 0) (#9)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Mar 02, 2020 at 12:11:45 PM EST
    Harvard, Oxford, McKenzie, Navy Intel officer, multi-language, concert pianist---made in a lab spy.  

    Reason enough

    Parent

    P Wire (none / 0) (#10)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Mar 02, 2020 at 12:24:03 PM EST
    Buttigieg Spoke to Biden and Obama After Dropping Out

    March 2, 2020 at 12:00 pm EST By Taegan Goddard 329 Comments

    New York Times: "Mr. Biden asked for Mr. Buttigieg's support and the former mayor indicated he would consider the request. Mr. Buttigieg wants to sleep on the decision, he told aides, some of whom believe he should move quickly to endorse Mr. Biden."

    "Mr. Obama did not specifically encourage Mr. Buttigieg to endorse Mr. Biden, said the official, who insisted on anonymity to discuss private conversations. But Mr. Obama did note that Mr. Buttigieg has considerable leverage at the moment and should think about how best to use it."



    Parent
    Tho (none / 0) (#11)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Mar 02, 2020 at 12:36:41 PM EST
    I'm thinkin Chasten might be totally down with being a Bond Girl

    Parent
    LOL (none / 0) (#19)
    by Ga6thDem on Mon Mar 02, 2020 at 01:08:04 PM EST
    This is an interesting conversation since I'm old enough to remember where just being gay was enough to get your ambassadorship held up in the senate.

    Parent
    I have a lot of those ... (none / 0) (#29)
    by Robot Porter on Mon Mar 02, 2020 at 05:19:54 PM EST
    anecdotes.

    It seems like Dems are not going to make the mistake the GOP did in '16.

    Parent

    Amy (none / 0) (#12)
    by FlJoe on Mon Mar 02, 2020 at 12:38:35 PM EST
    to drop out and endorse Biden
    CNN

    Makes sense (5.00 / 1) (#21)
    by Abdul Abulbul Amir on Mon Mar 02, 2020 at 01:32:18 PM EST
    Biden is now the youth candidate. Younger than both Bernie and Mike.

    Parent
    That's funny (5.00 / 1) (#23)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Mar 02, 2020 at 01:55:47 PM EST
    Because it's true

    Parent
    Well the youth candidate (5.00 / 1) (#24)
    by KeysDan on Mon Mar 02, 2020 at 03:22:46 PM EST
    Is Elizabeth Warren, at 70 years.  But, if erasing Elizabeth so as to consider all the male contenders for president in 2020, Trump is the youngest, at 73 going on 74 in  June ---an insecure child trapped in the veneer and trappings of old age.

    Parent
    What comes next (none / 0) (#13)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Mar 02, 2020 at 12:39:48 PM EST
    Will be interesting

    Parent
    Big decision for Sen Warren (none / 0) (#14)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Mar 02, 2020 at 12:43:08 PM EST
    Unite the party

    Split the party.

    And who decides what choice causes the split or the unity.

    Better her than me.

    Parent

    I think there (none / 0) (#16)
    by Ga6thDem on Mon Mar 02, 2020 at 12:54:03 PM EST
    is going to be no great push for Warren to drop out simply because of the belief that she hurts Bernie. Maybe she won't endorse until the end.

    Parent
    Bernie is trying to crush her (none / 0) (#17)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Mar 02, 2020 at 01:00:37 PM EST
    In MA.

    Parent
    I know and if that works (none / 0) (#18)
    by Ga6thDem on Mon Mar 02, 2020 at 01:06:53 PM EST
    I guess we will see what her next move will be.

    Parent
    Looks like bad news for Sanders. (none / 0) (#20)
    by ragebot on Mon Mar 02, 2020 at 01:13:19 PM EST
    As I posted a couple of days ago my facebook feed had several duplicate ads for Bloomberg with the headline "free stuff" which I took as aimed at Sanders.

    I have also posted I channel surf a lot; every time an ad comes up I switch to another station.  Three times so far I have switched when a Bloomberg ad came up only to find there was a Bloomberg ad running on the new station.

    Maybe more to the point all the ads were one of three of four Bloomberg ads with AAs saying how Bloomberg worked in criminal justice issues that helped blacks or economic issues that helped blacks or blacks singing Bloomberg's praises.

    Thing is all these ads were in Florida; probably the worst big state for Sanders since lots of Hispanics don't like what Sanders has said about socialism in general and Castro in particular.  In fact Biden has made it clear he expects to do well in Florida; given his advantage with AAs.  It looks like Bloomberg is targeting his ads to hurt Biden by siphoning off AA voters.

    It is looking more and more like "too many cooks spoil the broth".

    It's a thing (none / 0) (#22)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Mar 02, 2020 at 01:54:26 PM EST
    Buttigieg May Be Joining Klobuchar at Biden Rally

    March 2, 2020 at 2:53 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

    Pete Buttigieg may be joining Amy Klobuchar to endorse Joe Biden at a rally in Texas later tonight.

    Washington Post: "There's a charter plane scheduled to go from South Bend to Dallas this evening, arriving not long after Biden's rally begins."

    "The Buttigieg team has been silent about this for hours but it's possible Biden does what few have been able to: Bring Klobuchar and Buttigieg together."



    Biden, Bloomberg, and Sanders (none / 0) (#28)
    by ragebot on Mon Mar 02, 2020 at 05:17:50 PM EST
    all fighting it out almost assures a contested convention.  Bloomberg just said he is in it till the end.  No question in my mind Sanders is the best debater; even if when he tries to advance his position he turns off some voters.  Biden is always a threat to contract foot and mouth disease.  While his supporters seem to brush this off as Biden being Biden I doubt it attracts undecided voters.  Bloomberg has such a low bar in the debates that he never seems to advance his status.

    Like I posted earlier two middle of the roaders fighting it out just helps Sanders.  Not to mention the ads just write themselves if Sanders does wind up with the nomination.  Both Biden and Bloomberg have dissed Sanders many times.

    But not to worry ga6 has assured us there is no split among the dems.

    Parent

    Who is the second middle-of-the-roader? (5.00 / 1) (#36)
    by Peter G on Mon Mar 02, 2020 at 06:55:18 PM EST
    Bloomberg is not a middle-of-the-road Democrat.  He is a moderate Republican, running in the Democratic primary because the Republican Party does not allow primaries.

    Parent
    Or, (none / 0) (#37)
    by KeysDan on Mon Mar 02, 2020 at 07:06:23 PM EST
    moderates.

    Parent
    During the FOX Townhall (none / 0) (#38)
    by ragebot on Tue Mar 03, 2020 at 02:43:45 AM EST
    one of the questions the anchors asked Bloomberg was how he responded to his shifting from pub to independent to dem.

    His answer got lots of clapping from the friendly crowd.  He pointed out he had put his money where his mouth is by spending big bucks supporting dem causes and dem candidates.

    He has donated more money to dem candidates and causes than anyone else.  Things like gun control, climate change, and $US15/hr minimum wage.

    He has had huge numbers of local dem pols endorse him; and while it should be noted they benefited from serious donations from Bloomberg to say he is not currently a dem seems wrong to me.

    Parent

    It is my sincere wish (none / 0) (#42)
    by Repack Rider on Sat Mar 07, 2020 at 01:01:23 PM EST
    ...That I had found Bloomberg before the public relations firm that cleaned him out for hundreds of millions did.

    For $500M all he got were the two stupidest political slogans ever written, "Mike will get it done," and "Send in the boss."

    With a tuna that big and that stupid, if I had found him first, I would be rich today. Not as rich as he is, but he would be a little less rich.

    Parent

    You could still try (none / 0) (#43)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Mar 07, 2020 at 01:06:58 PM EST
    He still has at least 59.5 billion.

    Parent
    Probably 500 more will go for this (none / 0) (#44)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Mar 07, 2020 at 01:29:03 PM EST
    On MSNBC Saturday, former Michael Bloomberg adviser Tim O'Brien warned President Donald Trump and the GOP that if they continue to push conspiracy theories about former Vice President Joe Biden's son and his work for a Ukrainian energy company, Democrats will have a field day with the corruption and nepotism of Trump's children

    "The Trump family are epic grifters, and this goes back generations," said O'Brien. "Fred Trump made his money by intersecting with both the federal governmet and state governments in New York. Donald Came up through New York, intersecting with local government and Atlantic City. Now they are in the White House and all of them are dipping their faces into the till. And if the Republicans really want to make an issue out of Hunter Biden, which is very low-hanging fruit that I don't think most Democratic voters care about anyway, there is going to be a scorched-earth response aimed at all of the Trump children that is unlike anything they have experienced in the media."



    Parent
    There is a split (none / 0) (#32)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Mar 02, 2020 at 05:42:18 PM EST
    The only question is where it is.  

    Bloomberg is a data guy who more than anything what to beat Trump.  This is known.

    He will stay in as long as it is toward that end.
    Then probably bury Biden in money and staff.

    Unless he, you know, wins a bunch of states.

    Parent

    This reminds me of the old saw: (none / 0) (#31)
    by Robot Porter on Mon Mar 02, 2020 at 05:28:33 PM EST
    When you're running for President, what can you do to get the best coverage of your career?

    Drop out.

    ... by the late Cary Grant: "The best reviews and notices he ever received were on the occasion of his passing."

    Parent