19 Comments
User's avatar
тна Return to thread
Harrison Konigstein's avatar

Probably worth considering primarying Golden if he runs for reelection instead. If the seat flips-nothing changes, Golden is already essentially a Republican.

Expand full comment
JanusIanitos's avatar

Golden is a pain in the ass but he's undeniably better than any republican in congress this century. He's generally there when we really need his vote. The difficulty with him is damaging our messaging more than anything.

I'll continue to be annoyed with him but I'd rather have him than a republican any day of the week. Even while annoying I'm glad we have him.

If the only thing he ever does for us is provide a vote for a dem speaker, he will be better than a republican.

Expand full comment
Harrison Konigstein's avatar

Disagree-Golden already is a Republican (just not in Party ID), and if he's not, he's no better than one-I'd rather lose the seat than have him in the house.

Expand full comment
dragonfire5004's avatar

No Republican has ever voted 90% of the time for BidenтАЩs policies or for a Democratic House Speaker. Just saying.

Expand full comment
JanusIanitos's avatar

He voted for the IRA, which zero republicans in the house and senate did. He supports abortion rights. He's in favor of gun control now, even if he wasn't earlier. He voted for Jeffries to be speaker.

I'm not going to pretend this is some high bar to clear. It isn't. He's the biggest pain in the ass in our congressional caucus and he routinely finds ways to piss us off. He makes tons of bad votes.

But he is clearly and unambiguously to the left of every elected republican in congress right now. He is not a republican. In a country with more than two functioning political parties he wouldn't be a democrat either, and would likely align with a center-right or centrist party. That isn't what the US has though and he is easily better than every republican in congress.

Put another way: What republican member of the house do you think is no worse than him? If he is a de facto republican then there should be a republican with a similar voting record out there. What republican voted for the IRA and to make Jeffries speaker?

Expand full comment
Harrison Konigstein's avatar

He wouldn't have done any of those things if Republicans needed his vote

Expand full comment
slothlax's avatar

Well, just because you say so, it must be true.

Expand full comment
PollJunkie's avatar

I agree with this comment and any Democrats is useful in a Republicans seat than an actual Republican but here's his phony populism on rejecting Build Back Better:

https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-opposes-tax-breaks-millionaires-commits-working-senate-improve-build

Expand full comment
stevk's avatar

This is nonsense. You'd rather lose the seat? Why on earth would you want to take a vote away from a potential D speakership. C'mon man...

Expand full comment
Harrison Konigstein's avatar

Either way it's a vote for a Republican Speaker

Expand full comment
slothlax's avatar

The vote for Speaker of the House changes, that's the most important thing.

Expand full comment
Harrison Konigstein's avatar

If Golden's vote was needed to elect a Republican Speaker, he would vote for the Republican

Expand full comment
Brad Warren's avatar

I highly, highly doubt that.

Expand full comment
stevk's avatar

Based on what? Seriously man, you are just trolling at this point...

Expand full comment
PollJunkie's avatar

He's good enough for the House but definitely not for the Senate.

Expand full comment
Zero Cool's avatar

Worth noting Golden is pro-choice.

Also, he co-sponsored statehood for DC, opposes efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act and has a good pro-union record (sponsored a bill strengthening union organizing).

Far from being a Republican but I get your sentiment.

I would primary Josh Gottheimer, not Jared Golden.

https://www.ontheissues.org/House/Jared_Golden.htm

Expand full comment
Avedee Eikew's avatar

I wonder if Gottheimer sticks around if he loses the Gubernatorial primary next month.

Expand full comment
Zero Cool's avatar

ItтАЩs not an improbable thing that Gottheimer will stick around if he loses the gubernatorial primary. He represents a waspy, extremely wealthy part of NJ and heтАЩll still want to be relevant in a district which heтАЩs had no problem holding and winning re-election in.

IтАЩm still amazed that Gottheimer pulled off one of the few upset House wins in 2016 by unseating Scott Garrett, who was always notoriously difficult for Democrats to beat in previous elections.

Expand full comment
michaelflutist's avatar

Excuse me, WASPy? He represents the 5th District:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Jersey%27s_5th_congressional_district

Ethnicity

59.2% White

16.2% Hispanic

15.9% Asian

5.2% Black

2.8% Two or more races

0.7% other

I believe there are a lot of Jews and Catholics (particularly Italians) there, too. It's Northern New Jersey. So what are you saying?

Expand full comment