Election 2020

[nots]

Nor is Kamala Harris'.

I don’t know about that....California has a very early primary this year, followed by several Southern ones, where Democratic minorities would likely do well. A decent showing in Iowa, followed by a dead cat bounce by Warren in NH, followed by Harris winning in SC and California and she would have a lot of momentum.

[nots]

I'm not interested in and don't plan to engage in any pot shots against any prospective Democratic nominee. Welcome to the race. You've got a good year to sell me on why you should have my vote and my support.

Ronald Reagan approves of this message.

[DMT]

Interesting. In this year of the woman in politics, why do you say that (moreso about Harris).

Her prosecutorial record isn't very progressive.

[baldgriff]

A platform not built on "Anything is better than Trump" is an important starting point. Defining exactly what you are for or against is going to be important. The problem with doing that is it inevitably disenfranchises various voting blocks on the left side. If you disenfranchise one - you tend to disenfranchise a number of them. The other concern in my mind on the D side is that we are seeing the effects of the pendulum that has been swinging further and further left in that party. Will that pendulum continue moving left - which may likely create some serious concerns with more moderate lefties - or will it start swinging back to the middle.

Having a defined platform that unites the left - would be easy - "Im not Trump". Selling that in the general election to the masses - likely not as easy.

[DMT]

I'm not interested in and don't plan to engage in any pot shots against any prospective Democratic nominee. Welcome to the race. You've got a good year to sell me on why you should have my vote and my support.

I haven't made up my mind either, but examining someone's record is not a pot shot.

[DMT]

A platform not built on "Anything is better than Trump" is an important starting point. Defining exactly what you are for or against is going to be important. The problem with doing that is it inevitably disenfranchises various voting blocks on the left side. If you disenfranchise one - you tend to disenfranchise a number of them. The other concern in my mind on the D side is that we are seeing the effects of the pendulum that has been swinging further and further left in that party. Will that pendulum continue moving left - which may likely create some serious concerns with more moderate lefties - or will it start swinging back to the middle.

Having a defined platform that unites the left - would be easy - "Im not Trump". Selling that in the general election to the masses - likely not as easy.

Trump fooled the country once, he won't be able to do it again. (Other than his delusional base). He's a weak candidate who is further going to be hurt by his own primary challengers.

[baldgriff]

Trump fooled the country once, he won't be able to do it again. (Other than his delusional base). He's a weak candidate who is further going to be hurt by his own primary challengers.

Im no fan of Trump. That said, the Right does not have as big a problem defining their position - it may be figuring out how to get back to the center a bit and finding a way to hamstring Trump using his own words against him. You may not like either of these guys, but I think if Ted Cruz or Mitt Romney were willing to get their pants a bit dirty and start calling out Trump for some of his exploits - they may be able to pick up some steam by showing they can be much more diplomatic and still throw a good punch.

[nots]

Im no fan of Trump. That said, the Right does not have as big a problem defining their position - it may be figuring out how to get back to the center a bit and finding a way to hamstring Trump using his own words against him. You may not like either of these guys, but I think if Ted Cruz or Mitt Romney were willing to get their pants a bit dirty and start calling out Trump for some of his exploits - they may be able to pick up some steam by showing they can be much more diplomatic and still throw a good punch.

Without something substantive from Mueller (or a new scandal) running against Trump in the primaries is a Kamakazi mission. He has an 89% approval rating among Republicans. The folks taking him on are committing political suicide and will be forever ostracized within the party. Additionally, I can’t imagine any card carrying Republican wants ‘kept Trump from 2nd term’ to be the first line in their obituary. I realize it’s a liberal fantasy that some white knight is going to ride in and wound Trump in a primary but I just can’t see it happening. Maybe, maybe someone planning on switching parties (Flake?), but even then it seems more fantasy than reality.

[DMT]

Without something substantive from Mueller (or a new scandal) running against Trump in the primaries is a Kamakazi mission. He has an 89% approval rating among Republicans. The folks taking him on are committing political suicide and will be forever ostracized within the party. Additionally, I can’t imagine any card carrying Republican wants ‘kept Trump from 2nd term’ to be the first line in their obituary. I realize it’s a liberal fantasy that some white knight is going to ride in and wound Trump in a primary but I just can’t see it happening. Maybe, maybe someone planning on switching parties (Flake?), but even then it seems more fantasy than reality.

Kasich 'actively thinking' lol.

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/kasich-actively-thinking-about-challenging-trump-in-2020

[DMT]

Im no fan of Trump. That said, the Right does not have as big a problem defining their position - it may be figuring out how to get back to the center a bit and finding a way to hamstring Trump using his own words against him. You may not like either of these guys, but I think if Ted Cruz or Mitt Romney were willing to get their pants a bit dirty and start calling out Trump for some of his exploits - they may be able to pick up some steam by showing they can be much more diplomatic and still throw a good punch.

The Democrats had no problem defining their platform in the mid-terms.

[baldgriff]

Without something substantive from Mueller (or a new scandal) running against Trump in the primaries is a Kamakazi mission. He has an 89% approval rating among Republicans. The folks taking him on are committing political suicide and will be forever ostracized within the party. Additionally, I can’t imagine any card carrying Republican wants ‘kept Trump from 2nd term’ to be the first line in their obituary. I realize it’s a liberal fantasy that some white knight is going to ride in and wound Trump in a primary but I just can’t see it happening. Maybe, maybe someone planning on switching parties (Flake?), but even then it seems more fantasy than reality.

You may be right nots!

Im just getting very tired of both sides willing to play a game of scorched earth politics - even though it continues to make my point that the parties are more concerned about themselves than the actual people.

At some point someone is going to have to be a uniter here.

[DMT]

You may be right nots!

Im just getting very tired of both sides willing to play a game of scorched earth politics - even though it continues to make my point that the parties are more concerned about themselves than the actual people.

At some point someone is going to have to be a uniter here.

And the country is tired of our president governing like a toddler. Clear majorities a) are opposed to the wall, and b) blame Trump and McConnell for the shutdown.

The Democrats have absolutely no incentive to placate the toddler.

[revo]

Without something substantive from Mueller (or a new scandal) running against Trump in the primaries is a Kamakazi mission. He has an 89% approval rating among Republicans. The folks taking him on are committing political suicide and will be forever ostracized within the party. Additionally, I can’t imagine any card carrying Republican wants ‘kept Trump from 2nd term’ to be the first line in their obituary. I realize it’s a liberal fantasy that some white knight is going to ride in and wound Trump in a primary but I just can’t see it happening. Maybe, maybe someone planning on switching parties (Flake?), but even then it seems more fantasy than reality.

Running a primary campaign against the incumbent didn't seem to affect the futures of Ronald Reagan or Ted Kennedy, even after the incumbent lost.


Also, a PBS/Marist poll released today shows that 57% of registered voters will absolutely not vote for Trump in '20. But more importantly, the % of Republicans who said they definitely would vote for Trump has dropped to just 69%.

https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/425782-poll-most-voters-wont-support-trump-in-2020

[nots]

And the country is tired of our president governing like a toddler. Clear majorities a) are opposed to the wall, and b) blame Trump and McConnell for the shutdown.

The Democrats have absolutely no incentive to placate the toddler.

I don’t disagree with your toddler comment, but I think you have to be careful with the clear majorities stuff.
Clear majorities were against Obamacare too. We don’t govern based on clear majorities.

https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/other/obama_and_democrats_health_care_plan-1130.html

[nots]

Running a primary campaign against the incumbent didn't seem to affect the futures of Ronald Reagan or Ted Kennedy, even after the incumbent lost.


Also, a PBS/Marist poll released today shows that 57% of registered voters will absolutely not vote for Trump in '20. But more importantly, the % of Republicans who said they definitely would vote for Trump has dropped to just 69%.
https://thehill.com/homenews/campaig...-trump-in-2020

I don’t believe Ford had an 89% rating amongst Republicans and I am sure Carter didn’t have one amongst Democrats. If the % sinks, sure it’s possible, but if it stays where it is, I can’t see it. Plus, America has become much, much more tribal since the 70s. ‘My team is the best and your team sucks’ wasn’t as prevelant back then