2028 Presidential Election

[Toni]

I think that in the end, Harris lost because of misogyny. Sure there was racism thrown into the mix.

Of course you do. But blaming it on race and sex is too facile. And it's counterproductive for progressives, as it gives a reason not to go with a woman or a black candidate even if they are a best choice in that particular cycle.

No, Kamala didn't lose because of her demographic markers. She lost because

• She was Biden's veep and Biden administration was unpopular because of several things, some self-inflicted, others not.
  • Inflation and other post-Pandemic malaise - mostly unavoidable, but made worse with Biden's too loose spending
  • Gaza War - where the islamoleftist part of the base doesn't want Israel to defend itself from Hamas
• Biden administration botched the transition
  • he should have decided not to run before the primaries so the successor could have been chosen by the voters
  • even if the withdrawal were to come after that disastrous debate, it should have happened right after, so at least a blitz primary could be held
• Kamala herself ran a poor campaign
  • she was hampered by lefty positions she held in 2020 like banning fracking and offshore drilling
  • many in the left-wing base detested her because she was a prosecutor
  • for months she focused on vibes and memes like coconut trees
  • afterwards, her policy proposals were stale - things like an even higher child tax credit or even more race-based benefits
  • last but not least, she chose Knucklehead Walz as running mate
• Trump was more popular than in 2020
  • people remembered the first three years of his term more fondly
  • he benefited from misguided prosecutions, esp. the "hush money" felony misdemeanor

Reducing this complex election to Kamala's genitalia and skin color is very misguided.

Abd many people did not care for how she came by the nomination, myself included.

This was probably the single most important factor in her loss.

She was never my top pick in 2020, but Biden ( also not my top pick, largely because of his age) picked her.

All the more reason why restricting picks to a particular demographic are a bad idea. Biden pledged that he would only consider women. After the George Floyd riots, his choice became de facto restricted to black women only - and there were only so many viable choices in that subset.

Still, Biden was a canny choice: safe older white man with a long history of working across the aisle, and a very solid family man with a poignant back story. Very reassuring after the disruption that was Trump. He was the anti-Trump and he defeated him. I think he would never have run again if Trump had not thrown in his hat for a third time.

Biden certainly disappointed in office. He governed far more to the left than his past or his campaign would have suggested. I like the metaphor of Biden as King Theoden being controlled by AOC Wormtongue and Bernie Sandersman the White.

Unfortunately, a Gandalf did not come: "I have not passed through fire and death to bandy crooked words with a serving-wench till the lightning falls".

Also, the Corrupt Bargain with Jim Clyburn to save his at that time troubled campaign left a bad taste in my mouth.

I think Mark Kelly would be a good candidate for 2028. He’s got the right credentials to win the traditionalists. And my personal opinion is that for now, the best way forward for the Democrats is to elect a moderate

With you so far. Mark Kelly would be a strong choice. Not sure that he can win the nomination in today's Democratic Party though.

and let the senate and house pull us left.

Not with you there. We don't need left-wing politics, and certainly not a more DSA inspired governance. Kelly would be well advised to not cave to the DSA fringe like Biden often did.

I’d much rather ignore race and sex in politics but unfortunately it is not possible. But it’s the possible. I never see arguments against qualifications or points of view or experience. I see female candidates maligned further looking like a man or having a funny laugh or something else that maligns physical characteristics and even sex life ( although affairs are hardly counted against male candidates). For starters. You, yourself instead of arguing against Harris’s positions or qualifications talked endlessly of her having an affair of an older politician.

I can’t imagine anyone remembering the beginning of Trump I as anything like good times. Or that the last year would not have obliterated that fondness. There has never been so unqualified a candidate whether one is discussing qualifications, prior relevant experience, or character. Trump’s one talent is as a conman. In that, he is without.parallel.

I understand you as a centrist and perhaps leaning more right.

My observation is that slow and steady progress is the best policy for effecting lasting change. I thu k the change that we need most is more inclusion, more government serving the people, all of them.

 

[bilby]

They were poor candidates.

A fact which is demonstrably irrelevant, given that their opponent was an even worse candidate - and indeed was the single worst candidate in the history of the nation, by far.

To argue that they lost because they were poor candidates makes as much sense as arguing that Lake Ontario lost because it was too wet, when its opponent was the Pacific Ocean.

I don't know why they lost, but I do know, with absolute certainty, that that cannot be the reason.

 

[laughing dog]

Even though there are multiple reasons given by her and her staff, you claim to know better.

Yes, I have provided evidence that Walz wasn't considered a likely running mate pick before he said "weird".

The notion that his utterance of
“weird” is the reason he got the nod is rebutted by the reports that Harris felt most comfortable with him.

“Weird” may have turned heads but it is not shy he was chosen.

 

[Toni]

Neither women were my favorite candidates. By a long shot.

You must understand that a great many people felt that way. That played a much bigger role than that they were women.

Hillary never had the charisma of her husband. She should have taken the hint instead of demanding nomination like it was her due.

Kamala was stuck in no-man's land. Too left for the moderates, too much of a prosecutor for the lefty base. They even called her "Copmala" even though they are two separate, yet equally important groups.
And she played her cards, such as they were in 2019, exactly wrong. She overspent and ran out of money. Instead of using her mixed background and family as an example of unity, she tried to position herself as "blacker than thou" and foster divisions, like when she attacked Biden on the 1970s forced bussing policies.

If they had run against say, John Mc Cain, it would not be hard to imagine them losing. I might have struggled with my vote. I think there is a good chance—no, almost certainty-/both would have lost anyway but we will never know how McCain would have been as POTUS. Or Hillary or Kamala. Who are known by their first names, unlike McCain, Obama, Reagan, Trump, Kennedy, Roosevelt ( either one), and so on.

Hillary is known as Hillary because Bill in already Clinton. With Kamala, that is unique, unlike "Harris".
You would not expect McCain to be known as "John" - too commonplace. John, who? Say Kamala, and you immediately know.
Obama, Reagan, Trump - all unique last names too. With Kennedy, you usually call him JFK because that family was prolific in politics of the time. Same with Roosevelts. FDR for the latter, Teddy Roosevelt for the former. And of course, note the diminutive, familiar form of his first name. If it was a woman, you'd be saying we only called her "Teddy" because of her gender.

Why were those women trashed? They were women.

Nope. They were poor candidates.

Compared with Trump?

No.

In fact, had either candidate had a penis and pair of testicles, they would have been hailed—by you—as very strong candidates.

You continue to make my point.

 

[Patooka]

I'm kinda curious if Derec can name a single woman he'd be content with being President. And, more importantly, explain his choice.

 

[robnisch]

I'm kinda curious if Derec can name a single woman he'd be content with being President. And, more importantly, explain his choice.

reminds me of that George Carlin joke: "If we had woman president there would be less wars, but every 28 days things would get tense".

(was that sexist?)

 

[Patooka]

I'm kinda curious if Derec can name a single woman he'd be content with being President. And, more importantly, explain his choice.

reminds me of that George Carlin joke: "If we had woman president there would be less wars, but every 28 days things would get tense".

(was that sexist?)

Nope, perfectly tasteful.

Considering most presidents are now in their late 50s/early 60s, a woman President getting her period isn't a problem - that's a medical wonder.

 

[Tigers!]

I'm kinda curious if Derec can name a single woman he'd be content with being President. And, more importantly, explain his choice.

He could say his mum or nana. (and they would certainly do a better job that the current inhabaitant)

 

[Patooka]

I'm kinda curious if Derec can name a single woman he'd be content with being President. And, more importantly, explain his choice.

He could say his mum or nana. (and they would certainly do a better job that the current inhabaitant)

Pretty certain they aren't eligible to be President FYI. Derec immigrated to the US, like Swiz.

 

[Toni]

I'm kinda curious if Derec can name a single woman he'd be content with being President. And, more importantly, explain his choice.

He could say his mum or nana. (and they would certainly do a better job that the current inhabaitant)

Pretty certain they aren't eligible to be President FYI. Derec immigrated to the US, like Swiz.

Or his parents did. Derec might be eligible but not his parents, if I understood and remember correctly. Which I might not.

 

[Tigers!]

I'm kinda curious if Derec can name a single woman he'd be content with being President. And, more importantly, explain his choice.

He could say his mum or nana. (and they would certainly do a better job that the current inhabaitant)

Pretty certain they aren't eligible to be President FYI. Derec immigrated to the US, like Swiz.

Surprised you missed the sarcasm. I'll put the tags in next time.

 

[Jason Harvestdancer]

I think that in the end, Harris lost because of misogyny. Sure there was racism thrown into the mix. Abd many people did not care for how she came by the nomination, myself included. She was never my top pick in 2020, but Biden ( also not my top pick, largely because of his age) picked her.

Using terms like "misogyny" and "racism" to describe the Democrat voters who failed to show for her is an interesting choice of words, considering that if she had gotten more of Biden's voters to vote for her she would have won.

If you mean to imply a lack of cross party voting, I would like to remind you that Democrats generally vote Democrat and Republicans generally vote Republican whatever the race or gender of the final candidate.

 

[robnisch]

MSN

Mike f$%king Huckabee!
End Times, Death Cult Huckabee?
Oh, dear.

 

[ZiprHead]

MSN

Mike f$%king Huckabee!
End Times, Death Cult Huckabee?
Oh, dear.

You really need to include more than just a link. Board rules say members should not have to leave the board to get the jist of what is at the link.