2020 Democratic Challengers IV: Culling the Herd

[ericredaxe]

Elizabeth Warren, same outcome.
Warren will be saddled with "is she electable?" from July 2020 to November 2020.

I have voted for Warren and like her as my senator, but i agree with this.

[ScoobyDoo]

Yes Medicare for all speaks to much of the far left (as referenced in the article you linked. To swing voters needed to win the general, not so much.

Wrong.

[trixR4kids]

Re: 2020 Democratic Challengers IV: Culling the Herd

Yes Medicare for all speaks to much of the far left (as referenced in the article you linked. To swing voters needed to win the general, not so much.

Those districts aren't all far left.

[Handyman]

Re: 2020 Democratic Challengers IV: Culling the Herd

One of Biden's weaknesses is he is so old and out of touch. These gaffes coming from somebody else might just be shrugged off as misspeaking but with Biden it could show up as a risk of senility.

We don't need to make this mistake, Dems. 2016 is ringing the phone off the hook right now. Ixne with the Oldes.

We arent the ones pushing him. But the Obama Backers are for sure and I bet he polls well with Independents. For the life of me I dont know why but people love this type of crap hence why Dubya was liked by so many when he ran in 2000. Joe reminds everyone of their Grandpa...

He isnt senile...he said stuff like this back when he was Obama's running mate. Hell he probably said stuff like this back when he ran for Senate the first time. He is an idiot, and idiots love idiots. That is why in the Trump Swing States (i.e. the states Hillary lost cause she was lazy and people believe stupid stuff) he polls so well. Again it baffles me, but I also know people like him who everyone loves even as he is insulting them. When people like you they dont care...

[Handyman]

Re: 2020 Democratic Challengers IV: Culling the Herd

And he isn't doing some racist gaffe every other day like Biden.They will once they actually start paying attention. With a field of 500 candidates 6 months out I can see why people are currently tuned out.

Maybe but by then it might be too late. I have been against him running since 2014 so I dont want him anywhere near the top of the ticket but right now betting against him is a fools errand.

I hope I am wrong...but with a country that elected Trump conventional wisdom is out the window. The old rules no longer apply the rubes just dont care and they are the difference. I mean our current President was on tape talking about sexually assaulting people and still won! Candidates attack the Press physically and win. A pedophile almost won a Senate seat and politicians have convinced people even the things they say on tape are lies. Trump did more daily before being elected to disqualify himself than anyone and it only made him stronger and right now the same is true for Biden.

[trixR4kids]

Re: 2020 Democratic Challengers IV: Culling the Herd

Maybe but by then it might be too late. I have been against him running since 2014 so I dont want him anywhere near the top of the ticket but right now betting against him is a fools errand.

I hope I am wrong...but with a country that elected Trump conventional wisdom is out the window. The old rules no longer apply the rubes just dont care and they are the difference. I mean our current President was on tape talking about sexually assaulting people and still won! Candidates attack the Press physically and win. A pedophile almost won a Senate seat and politicians have convinced people even the things they say on tape are lies. Trump did more daily before being elected to disqualify himself than anyone and it only made him stronger and right now the same is true for Biden.

I'm not as concerned yet but if it continues on like this into 2020 then yeah, that's a problem. I think Trump is a different case entirely because his base isn't all that bright for the most part and they just wanted a racist guy who "tells it like it is" and then he got enough people that were duped by the anti-establishment rhetoric, all the while going against someone who wasn't all that popular even among dems. With Biden it's a different dynamic entirely, if he stumbles along slurring half his words while saying the kinds of things he says (racially insensitive would be a nice way of putting it), and looking as frail as he does recently, it's gonna make people question whether this guy can actually beat Trump, even older voters. And if he has a poor showing in Iowa he's toast because the only reason people want him is "electability" and because he's probably the first name casual voters recognize.

That said it's entirely possible that he wins in which case you're gonna have a debate where a couple of grandpas threaten to punch each other.

[Fishman'81]

Re: 2020 Democratic Challengers IV: Culling the Herd

Do you like Mayor Pete? Or just assuming he’s too far of a long shot?

He'd be my preference by a country-mile. His qualifications are through the roof.

I'm just afraid that he isn't "mainstream" enough to unseat The Dope.

And, I'd vote for a sack of potatoes before I'd vote for Trump, who actually makes Dubya look intelligent by comparision.

Scary times.

[FadeToBlack&Gold]

Re: 2020 Democratic Challengers IV: Culling the Herd

Pete is great, but he's a bit under-qualified at the moment. There's a reason he's only polling at 5%, and it's not because he's married to a dude.

Problem is, I think he's going to have to leave Diet Alabama if he wants to get ahead in politics. That's why I foresee him being the logical Veep nod. He ticks the "I need a Midwesterner and a young person on the ticket" box for any of the coastal heavyweights, and if they win he gets to go to Washington for at least 4 years. He doesn't stand a chance in any Senate race in Indiana in the near future, and the only House seats he'd have a shot at appear to be IN-1 and IN-7, both of which are already occupied by Dems. IN-1 has 35-year career incumbent who may be thinking about retirement.

[ericredaxe]

Pete is great, but he's a bit under-qualified at the moment. There's a reason he's only polling at 5%, and it's not because he's married to a dude.

Problem is, I think he's going to have to leave Diet Alabama if he wants to get ahead in politics. That's why I foresee him being the logical Veep nod. He ticks the "I need a Midwesterner and a young person on the ticket" box for any of the coastal heavyweights, and if they win he gets to go to Washington for at least 4 years. He doesn't stand a chance in any Senate race in Indiana in the near future, and the only House seats he'd have a shot at appear to be IN-1 and IN-7, both of which are already occupied by Dems. IN-1 has 35-year career incumbent who may be thinking about retirement.

I sort of agree. I think he will / would be a fantastic candidate in 2028 or 2032... I agree though I don’t know where he gets that additional experience. I feel the same about Seth Moulton. Great future candidate, ahead of his time right now.

[Kepler]

Re: 2020 Democratic Challengers IV: Culling the Herd

We arent the ones pushing him. But the Obama Backers are for sure and I bet he polls well with Independents. For the life of me I dont know why but people love this type of crap hence why Dubya was liked by so many when he ran in 2000. Joe reminds everyone of their Grandpa...

He isnt senile...he said stuff like this back when he was Obama's running mate. Hell he probably said stuff like this back when he ran for Senate the first time. He is an idiot, and idiots love idiots. That is why in the Trump Swing States (i.e. the states Hillary lost cause she was lazy and people believe stupid stuff) he polls so well. Again it baffles me, but I also know people like him who everyone loves even as he is insulting them. When people like you they dont care...

Kinda hard to argue with any of this. Sigh. Any D > any R. Eyes on the prize. Etc.

[WeAreNDHockey]

Re: 2020 Democratic Challengers IV: Culling the Herd

Pete is great, but he's a bit under-qualified at the moment.

The thing about the presidency is I don't believe anyone who has not held the job is truly "qualified." It has grown beyond the abilities of all but the most extraordinary people. Add to that we've allowed it to grow beyond its original scope because congress has abandoned their role in the systems of checks and balances -- especially when it comes to the republicans who were in control during the last two republican administrations.

Strangely, I find Buttigieg more palatable as a candidate for president than I found him as my mayor. I think a major qualification is to be able to function in an executive role, something a mayor is suited for if they find any success at all. Buttigieg is a qualified executive, but his big picture worldview seems more in tune with bigger picture issues like those facing a president than the (mostly) local ones he faces as a mayor.

The Atlantic had an interesting article a year or so ago about how the presidency has become far too difficult a job.

[Kepler]

Re: 2020 Democratic Challengers IV: Culling the Herd

The thing about the presidency is I don't believe anyone who has not held the job is truly "qualified." It has grown beyond the abilities of all but the most extraordinary people. Add to that we've allowed it to grow beyond its original scope because congress has abandoned their role in the systems of checks and balances -- especially when it comes to the republicans who were in control during the last two republican administrations.

Strangely, I find Buttigieg more palatable as a candidate for president than I found him as my mayor. I think a major qualification is to be able to function in an executive role, something a mayor is suited for if they find any success at all. Buttigieg is a qualified executive, but his big picture worldview seems more in tune with bigger picture issues like those facing a president than the (mostly) local ones he faces as a mayor.

The Atlantic had an interesting article a year or so ago about how the presidency has become far too difficult a job.

Your middle paragraph is great. I think you're onto something.

Your last paragraph eerily reminds me of this:

[The Rube]

Re: 2020 Democratic Challengers IV: Culling the Herd

Klobuchar speaks to a big crowd at the Register’s soapbox. “There have been a lot of comparisons between the Iowa State Fair and the Minnesota State Fair. I’m not going to say which one is better.”

I am not in her camp anymore! Rabblerabblerabble!

[FadeToBlack&Gold]

Re: 2020 Democratic Challengers IV: Culling the Herd

I sort of agree. I think he will / would be a fantastic candidate in 2028 or 2032... I agree though I don’t know where he gets that additional experience. I feel the same about Seth Moulton. Great future candidate, ahead of his time right now.

Other than his short resume, there are two other main reasons why Pete is only polling at 5-ish% right now:

1. He's a bit too far to the center on healthcare, which is where Warren and Sanders are pulling in the majority of their bases.

2. He's too young. Look at Biden's supporters - geriatric, under-educated, red state centrists who think his gaffes make him "gen-ue-eye'n". That's why he's still leading the pack despite a terrible first debate and a mediocre second one. His supporters don't care about debates or qualifications. They see a safe, affable, elder statesmen whom they could have a beer with, and who won't force SCAAAARY socialist healthcare on them (all while a majority of them already qualify for Medicare ). It's incredibly dumb, but it is what it is.

[joecct]

Re: 2020 Democratic Challengers IV: Culling the Herd

Do you want to win or be ideologically pure?