Pete

[Dave's Not Here Man]

How helpful is it to the cause of getting a Democrat elected that Pete Buttgig in particular, but also a couple of the others are attacking Sanders with calls of "Socialist", "Socialism", "Communism", etc.?

Not only is it a complete misrepresentation of what Sanders really stands for, but also a page directly out of the Republican Play Book. If it's a play to get republican votes, it will fail. Hard. What it does do though, is discourage democrats of all tribes. 

Biggest thing- How helpful to the cause of getting a Democrat elected is it to use these words about the guy who has been polling at or near the top of every major poll and has millions and millions and millions of ardent supports so haphazardly, whose votes Mayor Pete or any dem candidate MUST HAVE in order to defeat Emperor McCheeto?

[minx]

At this point, everyone who's left has a record to run on, however slim.

Rather than attacking Sanders on Socialism, ask an intelligent question or two
Medicare for all - are you phasing it in? If not, why?

I think your free college plan is a fantasy - mine is better because.

Shit like that. Let's start nailing down issues, and let Trump deal with the insults.

[Dave's Not Here Man]

Pete has lost favor with me over his attacks on the others, but especially with the "socialism" dog whistle he keeps blowing (errr pun inten d ed?) at Sanders. We already have a fucking Republican president, and don't need them working to keep him there.

[minx]

Agreed - they all need to stop this socialism shit.
And if Bernie is the nominee, no more of this crap about him being un-electable - put his ass in that chair.

[k9krap]

😫

I know he didn’t have much of a chance but I really like him. He’s intelligent, empathic and has a calming influence.  Plus, he’s not old as fuck and is healthy, mentally and physically.  If a dem wins, I hope they invite him to serve on their cabinet.  

[Dave's Not Here Man]

Sorry to see him go.

Not.


He lost me a while back. Needs to maybe take another look at getting on board with the "people are sick and tired of corporate control over everything" crowd. They have a point. A really good one.

[k9krap]

I’ve had enough chaos.

[minx]

To me, it wasn't that he worked in the business world, or even promoted corporations.

He just seemed to present a very fake front. Yeah, we're going to provide job opportunities! Okay, I don't see West Bend's economy improving at all. We're going to provide safe neighborhoods and clean up blight. In West Bend, he demolished whole blocks of 'substandard' housing - most owned by blacks with no offers of help to rehabilitate them. From what I've read about West Bend, if you were white and middle class, he did a ton of shit for you. Otherwise, he's just another guy making promises he doesn't keep.

And while I thought he did have some good ideas, he lost me for good when he started attacking Bernie as a 'dangerous socialist'. I can understand saying that you think Bernie's plans go too far to the left and we need moderation right now. I can understand saying Bernie's plans cost too much and we don't have the money to pay for them. I can understand saying Bernie is a 78 year old man who had a heart attack within the last 6 months, and his health is definitely an issue - can he stand the constant stress of the White House? But attacking him as dangerous is not something I can accept.

[Dave's Not Here Man]

Mar 1, 2020 22:20:48 GMT -5 k9krap said:

I’ve had enough chaos.

Pete perpetuated the chaos with his rhetoric, particularly when he brought the false narrative of socialism to the forefront with his attacks on the frontrunner. There's no way to know for sure unless he says so, but perhaps he or someone in the campaign realized that and played a part in his decision to drop out. Then too, maybe they (the DNC, the Russians, etc) made him some sort of offer he couldn't refuse. 

[Dave's Not Here Man]

Mar 2, 2020 9:18:47 GMT -5 minx said:

To me, it wasn't that he worked in the business world, or even promoted corporations.

He just seemed to present a very fake front. Yeah, we're going to provide job opportunities! Okay, I don't see West Bend's economy improving at all. We're going to provide safe neighborhoods and clean up blight. In West Bend, he demolished whole blocks of 'substandard' housing - most owned by blacks with no offers of help to rehabilitate them. From what I've read about West Bend, if you were white and middle class, he did a ton of shit for you. Otherwise, he's just another guy making promises he doesn't keep.
\

All of this pretty much validates my comment about people being tired of corporate control. When someone running for office says "job creation", they are usually talking about sweetening the deal for the corporations. When they say "urban renewal", they are usually talking about clearing the way for investment firms to buy property at pennies on the dollar AND allowing even more corporate welfare in the form of tax breaks, subsidies, and incentives for the corporate managers, property developers, and the financial institutions that back them. 

The question for Pete, and Joe, and Amy, and the majority of our Democrats in public service is; Do you accept the status quo with respect to the near-total corporate control of America at the hands of the plutocracy? Is this what makes you a "moderate"?

Just because these people smile and make promises, or have a big blue D tattooed on their foreheads doesn't make them all that much different than the ones with the Red D on theirs. Sure, maybe they leave a few more crumbs on the ground, maybe even the occasional don't ask don't tell, but that's really about all the Democrats since FDR have done for the 98%. Otherwise they've pretty much danced to the Walmart Waltz and the United Health Group Two Step. 

I would far prefer someone like Bernie with his wacky hair, unstable ticker, and crazy angry jew voice to "moderates" that are more than happy to not rock the boat, or in this context, the yacht.