Election 2020

[B-Fly]

Sure, but shouldn't the expectation be that people who have been complaining about Trump's racism for the last 4 years would also try to hold Bloomberg accountable in the primary ? After 4 years of fighting racism I have to say I find it a little strange that suddenly the idea that "some of our best Presidents have been racists" is now being promoted.

I have studied critical race theory, intersectionality and anti-racism pretty extensively. It is exceptionally important to me. The most impactful book on this that I've read recently - probably the most impactful on my thinking since Cornel West's "Race Matters" - is "How to Be an Antiracist" by Ibram X. Kendi, whom I also was lucky enough to see and hear be interviewed on his book.

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2019/oct/11/how-to-be-an-antiracist-by-ibram-x-kendi-review

One of the things Kendi notes is that all of us are susceptible to racism, sexism, homophobia, etc, and that even if we could be "non racist", "non sexist", etc, it wouldn't be enough anyway. We need to be antiracist. And antiracist is active. It's not who you are. It's what you affirmatively do.

Within that context, a racist is someone who promotes or advances racist policies and ideas, and an anti-racist is someone who promotes or advances anti-racist policies and ideas. Under this conception, however, "racist" and "antiracist" aren't fixed things that a person is. They are variable things that a person does. Which means that past racism neither fixes an individual as a racist forever nor precludes that person from promoting or advancing antiracist policies and ideas.

For example, Joe Biden sponsored crime laws in the 1990s that disproportionately and materially harmed Black people. That was racist. He made comments about Barack Obama that promoted the racist idea that being "clean and articulate" was somehow exceptional for a Black person. That was racist. He also affirmatively and consistently leveraged his white privilege to assuage white voters and citizens explicit or implicit fears or concerns about a Black President and to promote broad acceptance and celebration of that Black President. That was antiracist. In this campaign he has put out a plan for criminal justice reform that is focused on antiracism. That is antiracist. You can run the same analysis for Mike Bloomberg or Pete Buttigieg or Amy Klobuchar. So yes, evaluate and hold them to account for past actions that advanced racist policies and ideas. And evaluate and credit them for past and current actions that advance antiracist policies and ideas.

[Sour Masher]

Buttigieg keeps getting caught faking black endorsements.

First it was the black SC endorsements that were revealed to have been compiled through an email that contained an opt-out. They've never apologized to those folks whose endorsements they faked.

Then a week ago, they faked Keegan Michael Key's endorsement, which he came out denying.

Now this stuff about Dianne's Kitchen. Did they really need a black endorsement badly enough to make one up from a diner? Weird.

Both he and Klobuchar are unsurprisingly desperate for AA support, as they have none. I wish they did have some, because I think them both better centrist choices than Bloomberg and Biden at this point. All four are splitting the center lane, and the last thing I want to see is a contested convention.

[Teenwolf]

Both he and Klobuchar are unsurprisingly desperate for AA support, as they have none. I wish they did have some, because I think them both better centrist choices than Bloomberg and Biden at this point. All four are splitting the center lane, and the last thing I want to see is a contested convention.

Exactly. Bloomberg's entire play is a contested convention and chaos. He knows he has zero shot to win the Presidency, he is acting as a disruptor because he knows he can't win. He admitted so himself, saying that he could never win because he would need to change every position he holds and go on a never-ending apology tour.

Seeing Bloomberg lay out all the reasons he's unelectable should make you reconsider what his real motives are.

[The Feral Slasher]

I have studied critical race theory, intersectionality and anti-racism pretty extensively. It is exceptionally important to me. The most impactful book on this that I've read recently - probably the most impactful on my thinking since Cornel West's "Race Matters" - is "How to Be an Antiracist" by Ibram X. Kendi, whom I also was lucky enough to see and hear be interviewed on his book.

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2019/oct/11/how-to-be-an-antiracist-by-ibram-x-kendi-review

One of the things Kendi notes is that all of us are susceptible to racism, sexism, homophobia, etc, and that even if we could be "non racist", "non sexist", etc, it wouldn't be enough anyway. We need to be antiracist. And antiracist is active. It's not who you are. It's what you affirmatively do.

Within that context, a racist is someone who promotes or advances racist policies and ideas, and an anti-racist is someone who promotes or advances anti-racist policies and ideas. Under this conception, however, "racist" and "antiracist" aren't fixed things that a person is. They are variable things that a person does. Which means that past racism neither fixes an individual as a racist forever nor precludes that person from promoting or advancing antiracist policies and ideas.

For example, Joe Biden sponsored crime laws in the 1990s that disproportionately and materially harmed Black people. That was racist. He made comments about Barack Obama that promoted the racist idea that being "clean and articulate" was somehow exceptional for a Black person. That was racist. He also affirmatively and consistently leveraged his white privilege to assuage white voters and citizens explicit or implicit fears or concerns about a Black President and to promote broad acceptance and celebration of that Black President. That was antiracist. In this campaign he has put out a plan for criminal justice reform that is focused on antiracism. That is antiracist. You can run the same analysis for Mike Bloomberg or Pete Buttigieg or Amy Klobuchar. So yes, evaluate and hold them to account for past actions that advanced racist policies and ideas. And evaluate and credit them for past and current actions that advance antiracist policies and ideas.

Bloomberg's actions and ideas are such that I believe holding him accountable means he is not fit to be the Democratic candidate and he should be opposed and called out. We probably won't ever agree on that, but I do appreciate you explaining your position.

[Sour Masher]

Bloomberg's actions and ideas are such that I believe holding him accountable means he is not fit to be the Democratic candidate and he should be opposed and called out. We probably won't ever agree on that, but I do appreciate you explaining your position.

I agree, but if he ended up the candidate, against all odds, which candidate--him or Trump-- would enact more antiracist vs racist policies? I think that is the point B-Fly is making just in terms of Bloomberg vs Trump.

[The Feral Slasher]

I agree, but if he ended up the candidate, against all odds, which candidate--him or Trump-- would enact more antiracist vs racist policies? I think that is the point B-Fly is making just in terms of Bloomberg vs Trump.

Yes, and the point I am making is that he has done enough the Democrats should make sure Bloomberg isn't their candidate.

[In the Corn]

If Bloomberg is the candidate, the Democrats can no longer claim the high ground, as they will have entered "Trump's swamp".

[The Feral Slasher]

If Bloomberg is the candidate, the Democrats can no longer claim the high ground, as they will have entered "Trump's swamp".

Wait, you think the Dems might look hypocritical if they choose Bloomberg after 4 years of complaining about Trumps racism ?

[Teenwolf]

I also demand an explanation from B-Fly.

Previously, B-Fly has claimed Bloomberg isn't running as a spoiler candidate. Now, we have video evidence of Bloomberg from last year, giving a list of reasons that he's unelectable.

C'mon, B-Fly. At least admit Bloomberg's motive is not to lead lead the party when he says so himself.

[Ken]

I also demand

Is this a Bernie thing?

[Teenwolf]

Is this a Bernie thing?

I should have included a smiley, as it was tongue in cheek.

[gcstomp]

Wait, you think the Dems might look hypocritical if they choose Bloomberg after 4 years of complaining about Trumps racism ?

I agree it would be bad look if dems chose bloomberg. He is the candidate i least want against trump, but still he is 1000 times better than trump.

We have right now day after day more revelations of trump and justice/barr burying illegal activities, destroying trump critics or what are also known as law abiding citizens, and influencing sentences and killing investigations of his friends also known as the extended criminal enterprise that has been supporting his lawlessness.

The waves of bloomberg ads hitting everywhere make it seem bloomberg was the vp for obama, they are consistently showing respect to obama legacy while trying to tie bloomberg to him which is odd as obama was no fan of bloomberg.

Debate tonight, if Bloomberg showed up in full kkk garb and with a swastika on his forehead and spent the night giving Charles Manson quotes he still would be 1000 times better than Trump. Again, would be disappointing if that ended up being dem choice, though that would prove that money could buy anything. Now sit back and lets embrace some of these as if uttered by Bloomberg on big stage:

"Total paranoia is total awareness." with the larger quote being ""Have you ever seen the coyote in the desert? Watching, tuned in, completely aware. Christ on the cross, the coyote in the desert — it's the same thing, man. The coyote is beautiful. He moves through the desert delicately, aware of everything, looking around. He hears every sound, smells every smell, sees everything that moves. He's in a state of total paranoia, and total paranoia is total awareness."

"Anything you see in me is in you. If you want to see a vicious killer, that's who you'll see, do you understand that? If you see me as your brother, that's what I'll be. It all depends on how much love you have. I am you, and when you can admit that, you will be free. I am just a mirror."

"You're not going to beat drugs… Your war should be against pollution, and for putting trees back before you lose the air, water and wildlife."

"As long as there's hate in your heart, there'll be hate in the world. You can't fight for peace and you cannot capture freedom."

What does it mean that Manson had such a higher level of captivating speech than current President as well as any of the current dems.

I mean I know it isn fair to compare any of these dem hopefuls to Obama, but lordy we went from someone possessed of soaring rhetoric capable of uplifting and inspiring all in a super high iq who also had a background of accomplishment to lean on to this jokers gallery of lessers.

Yes, Mayor Pete is sharp and has that Obama cadence of clear intellect but doesnt have the resume, so lose some points, is gay so lose some points, and has zero percent mong people of color so lose some points. Yes Biden has the resume but he has to much wear on that tread and sounds like its past his bedtime, though I fully think he is in it because he is a patriot with the right motives. Sanders has that consistent message and despite being 105 years old and having had a heart attack in last year is our best chance? The guy who is so on message I can do his speech tonight for him regarding the richest handful of americans having more wealth than bottom half, and how this is an economy that works for billionaires but we need $15 minimum wage. Oy, while popularity of socialism is spiking, majority of americans are still calling it bad https://www.newsweek.com/socialism-a...p-poll-1431266

Again, we need to support whoever is dem candidate, and not tear down the guy who goes head to head against trump, but man this is not an inspiring group.

[B-Fly]

I also demand an explanation from B-Fly.

Previously, B-Fly has claimed Bloomberg isn't running as a spoiler candidate. Now, we have video evidence of Bloomberg from last year, giving a list of reasons that he's unelectable.

C'mon, B-Fly. At least admit Bloomberg's motive is not to lead lead the party when he says so himself.

I suspect that last year he didn't think there was any way he could win over Joe Biden. Then he saw Biden faltering and revised his assessment. I do not believe that Bloomberg would be doing this if he didn't think it was possible for him to win.

[The Feral Slasher]

I agree it would be bad look if dems chose bloomberg. He is the candidate i least want against trump, but still he is 1000 times better than trump.


Debate tonight, if Bloomberg showed up in full kkk garb and with a swastika on his forehead and spent the night giving Charles Manson quotes he still would be 1000 times better than Trump.

I disagree

[Teenwolf]

Elizabeth Warren was doing her typical performative wokeness shtick that she's veered headlong into, and she made a very interesting comment.

"When you've got a big mess and you really need it cleaned up, you call a woman and get the job done."

Yowza, what a trainwreck. She sounds pretty out of touch invoking such dated & sexist rhetoric about women's roles. This is like a Biden gaffe, where you say something that reveals your vulnerability in lodging your foot in your mouth, while also revealing dated and problematic ideas about their worldview.