Quo Vadis, Democrats?

[Neil]

Gavin Newsome wants to be President and be this big Democratic leader so bad. I kind of admire his hustle and determination. It is too bad he is so obviously a sleezy dude.

Who do you see as a good presidential candidate that can defeat the Forces of evil?

Sanders is a sleezy dude.  He gave his support to Chavez, and never condemned Maduro, only distanced himself.  Dictators from the left are good, dictators from the right are evil.

That's not sleazy, that's just the typical ignorance of the pathological iconoclast. 

At this point, Newsom might be a sleezy dude, but he's one that's going to respect the Constitutional order of the country.

This is really the key.  It literally doesn't matter who the Democrats put up, so long as they can win.  If they're the sort of people who can attract centrist voters by avoiding weird Democratic hangups, all the better. 

[Sheilbh]

It really really matters who the Democrats put up. I feel like that's a really important lesson from Clinton, Biden 24 and Harris.

And I think authenticity is important. A guy who thinks the lesson of the last 8 years is to do posts in all caps and a Trumpy style is not it.

[viper37]

And I think authenticity is important. A guy who thinks the lesson of the last 8 years is to do posts in all caps and a Trumpy style is not it.

It's on purpose to troll Trump, he's copying his style.

If he was serious, I'd think like you.  But it's a one off.

[Tonitrus]

My current early feels is for JB Pritzker over Newsom.

[Zoupa]

My .02$ is the Dems need to nominate someone who gets the soundbites and the catchphrases to capture the news cycle and starve the GOP of airtime.

Campaign on tik tok and say anything to get elected.

[Sheilbh]

I don't disagree - but I don't think that works if it's inauthentic or just what the consultants around them (who, no doubt, did very well consulting on the past tranche of failed Democratic campaigns) think would be cool.

They'd just look like a Democratic Party DeSantis.

[Neil]

It really really matters who the Democrats put up. I feel like that's a really important lesson from Clinton, Biden 24 and Harris.

And I think authenticity is important. A guy who thinks the lesson of the last 8 years is to do posts in all caps and a Trumpy style is not it.

I noticed you overlooked Biden 20.  There's a lot of value in being a good-looking white guy who fits in the 'baseline Democrat' bin.  I'm not saying that Newsome is the only one who can beat Trump or anything, but he'll have some support. 

Authenticity can be overrated.  Tim Walz was authentic, but he's never going to be nominated for president. 

[Oexmelin]

Tim Walz was authentic, but he's never going to be nominated for president. 

Why?

[Sheilbh]

I noticed you overlooked Biden 20.  There's a lot of value in being a good-looking white guy who fits in the 'baseline Democrat' bin.  I'm not saying that Newsome is the only one who can beat Trump or anything, but he'll have some support.

Authenticity can be overrated.  Tim Walz was authentic, but he's never going to be nominated for president. 

Not at all - I think Biden 20 was effective and it's worth looking at why (although - I think especially after the Tapper book, I think we have to acknowledge the role covid played).

And I think Biden is very much who he is hairplugs and all. There is real authenticity there which works. And I think had Biden run in 2016, Trump would be a footnote.

Maybe on Waltz - I'm a bit more dubious on him.

[Tonitrus]

What the Dems need is someone who that gift of gab that can ramble off-the-cuff with the similar skill/confidence of Trump (no, the authenticity of said rambles doesn't matter).  You can always tell when Trump goes "on script"...it's like flicking a switch, his "gab" skill drops in quality geometrically.

Sure, the rambles have little content, substance or sense, but they have necessary confidence...and confidence is enough. 

[Tonitrus]

Fair or not, both Harris and Waltz have the "already lost" taint.  That is almost impossible to overcome.

Trump was the exception that puts the rule to the proof.

[Neil]

Tim Walz was authentic, but he's never going to be nominated for president. 

Why?

Because he lost.  I also don't think he could win a Democrat primary.

[viper37]

AOC and Sanders, and their allies, have never been selected for or nominated for a national office or a leadership position in the Democratic Party so how could they be the mistake? That might be a new mistake, potentially, but certainly not a repeat of a past one.

I mean, if they are eventually selected.

Being popular doesn't mean they are good for the country.  Or for their neighbours, allies and trading partners.  See the current clown and his cronies.

Was Biden an atrocious presidency?  Would Harris have made an horrible President?  Was Obama the Antichrist?  I think you know the answer to all that 

I don't think they were mistakes per se.  Biden sticking to power and not letting Harris taking the mantle before was a mistake.  Otherwise, I don't think Harris in herself was a mistake as a candidate.

[crazy canuck]

I have started re-reading Homage to
Catalonia and I am struck by how similar our frustrations are that there is a lack of people standing in defence of democracy as Orwell was.

[Sophie Scholl]

I think Walz is still viable the late start, half-assed, switching tactics when they were working, disjoined effort that Democrats put forth once they realized Biden really, really had to go will stick to Harris I think, but not Walz. Is that fair that the white guy gets a pass and the woman of color doesn't? No. Not really. Is it how it will pan out, though? Probably. Personally, I'm a big fan of Pritzker as a front runner at the moment. Walz is still an option I like, too. In a much better world than the one we inhabit, I'd love to see AOC eventually get in, but I don't know if that will ever happen. Newsom is a horrible human hiding behind a Hollywood mask. I have a lot of issues with some of his policies, and not just his seeming eagerness to throw trans folks under the bus. Also, not only did he have Bannon on his podcast, but also Charlie Kirk, Anthony Scaramucci, and Michael Savage.