While it's inevitable that there's going to be a lot of finger-pointing and I-told-you-so's to go around in the wake of this, I hope people don't forget the importance of uniting behind whoever gets the nomination, even if it's not your preferred candidate or process. It's still Susan Collins on the other side.
I wish it wasn't inevitable. Ever since Chevalier won in New York, then Kiros, and now this, I feel like the finger pointing has gotten pretty rough with both factions of the party.
I don't understand why DAC and Kiros have gotten as much heat as they have. Everyone needs to look out the window - the majority of Democratic voters don't want candidates who are the same old-same old anymore. That's just a fact. Instead of crapping on every insurgent challenger maybe people should think about *why* they are winning.
(Also, Kiros has done nothing significantly objectionable, and Chevalier has been genuinely regretful about her past comments.... none of which were that disqualifying in the first place. People seem maladapted to the idea that politicians need to conform to some kind of respectability standard, not just in the present, but also in the past. We live in a frought time where many people are facing extremely challenging circumstances in life. I think maybe not rushing to knock people for feeling frustrated and expressing that is in everyone's best interest.)
Glad you withdrew, Platner, but blaming the big, bad establishment is not the way to do it. What you could have said: “These accusations are abhorrent and totally untrue” - (I’m not saying whether they are or aren’t, just what he could have said) - “and I will be doing all I can to clear my name. However, defeating Susan Collins and taking back control of the Senate is too important to allow these charges to become a distraction. For that reason I am withdrawing from this race.”
Is that being “too much of a politician” for you? Guess what - I’m not a politician, just a Democrat who’d like to WIN.
Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows says she is “seriously considering” jumping into Maine’s senate race: “I think I’m the best person to beat Susan Collins in November.”
I don't think we can blame someone for losing to Collins in the 2014 republican wave year, back when people still overwhelmingly voted for her by default. Collins won 61-38 in 2008 too. It's really only in the post-Trump, post-Kavanaugh climate that Collins has become vulnerable.
Bellows isn't likely to get the nod because enough party officials will have the same thought you had, but that doesn't make it a fair assessment.
It's sort of a weird thing where it's an unfair assessment, but also still likely to cause issues: if Bellows is installed as the nominee, I think a lot of people are going to question why she lost in 2014 and in the governor primary. It doesn't demonstrate a lot of strength as a candidate, and while I think that Bellows is a decent candidate, the fact that she's lost before does give me enough pause.
I know very little about Bellows (at least as of now) so don't know what strengths or weaknesses she brings, but plenty of politicians can learn and come back stronger from a losing campaign. Technically, Ossoff underperformed HRC in 2017 for example...
Never underestimate the power of Susan Collins. She seems to benefit greatly from these kinds of circumstances in every election she's run in. I'm not an advocate for her. I want to see her out of congress, but I see this as it's going to be an uphill battle to oust her for sure.
He made the right decision and pressure by the party for him to drop was justified. What I find unacceptable is the double standard by corporate media which gave the Platner allegations hypercoverage, but you see nothing about the credible reports of Ken Paxton's sexual harrassments, his affairs, and the video that dropped of him copping a feel of a woman standing next to him in a crowded subway car apparently capped on the sly by a passenger who recognized him. Where the fuck is the GOP about that?
I'm confused - are you saying the GOP isn't talking about Paxton's history with women (which is true and surprising to no one) or that the "corporate media" isn't, which is very much untrue. What's the point you're trying to make?
I supported and donated (twice!) to Platner's campaign. I feel VERY SAD and somewhat betrayed. I am also somewhat confused. Was it all a setup? Is he actually innocent? Was Susan Collins and/or Maine Governor Janet Mills involved? We will only know (if ever!) after the midterms in November. I obviously liked him. He is (was) a Progressive fighter. This is what we all now need. I refuse to now believe that this will be a cakewalk for Collins, who is probably VERY HAPPY tonight. Remember her voting for Brett Kavanaugh for the SCOTUS, and Kavanaugh's assurances to Collins that he would respect precedent as to Roe vs Wade? YEAH, uh-huh! Collins is NOT to be trusted, is too old (like McConnell), and has to go. Who to choose to replace Platner? That is up to the Maine Dems to decide. I hope it would be another charismatic Progressive fighter, WITHOUT ANY ISSUES. I sort of preliminarily like Troy Jackson. He seems to have both the experience and fighter mentality to do the job. He has also been PROPERLY VETTED (I hope!). But, not my call.
THANK GOD
While it's inevitable that there's going to be a lot of finger-pointing and I-told-you-so's to go around in the wake of this, I hope people don't forget the importance of uniting behind whoever gets the nomination, even if it's not your preferred candidate or process. It's still Susan Collins on the other side.
I wish it wasn't inevitable. Ever since Chevalier won in New York, then Kiros, and now this, I feel like the finger pointing has gotten pretty rough with both factions of the party.
I don't understand why DAC and Kiros have gotten as much heat as they have. Everyone needs to look out the window - the majority of Democratic voters don't want candidates who are the same old-same old anymore. That's just a fact. Instead of crapping on every insurgent challenger maybe people should think about *why* they are winning.
(Also, Kiros has done nothing significantly objectionable, and Chevalier has been genuinely regretful about her past comments.... none of which were that disqualifying in the first place. People seem maladapted to the idea that politicians need to conform to some kind of respectability standard, not just in the present, but also in the past. We live in a frought time where many people are facing extremely challenging circumstances in life. I think maybe not rushing to knock people for feeling frustrated and expressing that is in everyone's best interest.)
Troy Jackson. Come on down.
He officially entered the race and already leads Collins in polls.
https://www.instagram.com/troyjackson207/p/DajXGvKRgms/
https://www.instagram.com/troyjackson207/p/Dai6DCzP4rx/
I truly think we can win this with Jackson. A less problematic middle aged white dude.
And, as someone pointed out, from the same part of the state Collins is from and not associated with the "liberal elites" of the Portland area.
Glad you withdrew, Platner, but blaming the big, bad establishment is not the way to do it. What you could have said: “These accusations are abhorrent and totally untrue” - (I’m not saying whether they are or aren’t, just what he could have said) - “and I will be doing all I can to clear my name. However, defeating Susan Collins and taking back control of the Senate is too important to allow these charges to become a distraction. For that reason I am withdrawing from this race.”
Is that being “too much of a politician” for you? Guess what - I’m not a politician, just a Democrat who’d like to WIN.
Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows says she is “seriously considering” jumping into Maine’s senate race: “I think I’m the best person to beat Susan Collins in November.”
She had her shot 12 years ago and lost 68-32.
I don't think we can blame someone for losing to Collins in the 2014 republican wave year, back when people still overwhelmingly voted for her by default. Collins won 61-38 in 2008 too. It's really only in the post-Trump, post-Kavanaugh climate that Collins has become vulnerable.
Bellows isn't likely to get the nod because enough party officials will have the same thought you had, but that doesn't make it a fair assessment.
It's sort of a weird thing where it's an unfair assessment, but also still likely to cause issues: if Bellows is installed as the nominee, I think a lot of people are going to question why she lost in 2014 and in the governor primary. It doesn't demonstrate a lot of strength as a candidate, and while I think that Bellows is a decent candidate, the fact that she's lost before does give me enough pause.
(especially with Troy Jackson right there)
There isn't a person alive that would have beaten Collins in 2014.
If losing to Collins in that election is enough to give you pause, then yes, you are being unfair.
So candidates (who lose during wave years when no one else wanted to run) aren't allowed to run a second time?
They can run, for sure. But they are going to be faced with the questions of why they lost last time which is why most (but not all!) re-runs lose.
I know very little about Bellows (at least as of now) so don't know what strengths or weaknesses she brings, but plenty of politicians can learn and come back stronger from a losing campaign. Technically, Ossoff underperformed HRC in 2017 for example...
Never underestimate the power of Susan Collins. She seems to benefit greatly from these kinds of circumstances in every election she's run in. I'm not an advocate for her. I want to see her out of congress, but I see this as it's going to be an uphill battle to oust her for sure.
He made the right decision and pressure by the party for him to drop was justified. What I find unacceptable is the double standard by corporate media which gave the Platner allegations hypercoverage, but you see nothing about the credible reports of Ken Paxton's sexual harrassments, his affairs, and the video that dropped of him copping a feel of a woman standing next to him in a crowded subway car apparently capped on the sly by a passenger who recognized him. Where the fuck is the GOP about that?
I'm confused - are you saying the GOP isn't talking about Paxton's history with women (which is true and surprising to no one) or that the "corporate media" isn't, which is very much untrue. What's the point you're trying to make?
The GOP isn't clutching its pearls over Paxton knowing he has Trump's support, and corporate media hasn't dwelled on Paxton the way they have Platner.
I supported and donated (twice!) to Platner's campaign. I feel VERY SAD and somewhat betrayed. I am also somewhat confused. Was it all a setup? Is he actually innocent? Was Susan Collins and/or Maine Governor Janet Mills involved? We will only know (if ever!) after the midterms in November. I obviously liked him. He is (was) a Progressive fighter. This is what we all now need. I refuse to now believe that this will be a cakewalk for Collins, who is probably VERY HAPPY tonight. Remember her voting for Brett Kavanaugh for the SCOTUS, and Kavanaugh's assurances to Collins that he would respect precedent as to Roe vs Wade? YEAH, uh-huh! Collins is NOT to be trusted, is too old (like McConnell), and has to go. Who to choose to replace Platner? That is up to the Maine Dems to decide. I hope it would be another charismatic Progressive fighter, WITHOUT ANY ISSUES. I sort of preliminarily like Troy Jackson. He seems to have both the experience and fighter mentality to do the job. He has also been PROPERLY VETTED (I hope!). But, not my call.
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