Democrat Nomination for President

[James Clark]

I agree.   Don't you think it would be delicious irony that a billionaire,  one of the richest people in America and the world,  might represent the democrat party?

I guess in a sense, but there's a large portion of Democrats voters (like me) that are very socially liberal but not so big on the "tear it all down" Bernie types.  Put another way, not all of us that tend to vote left of center hate successful people

[James Clark]

You think the Bernie bro’s will be down with that?  Nothing like 50 billion bucks buying the White House to fire up those “democratic” socialists.  North Carolina will tell us a lot about how the black vote feels about Bloomie as well.    Amy has zero chance, at least in my humble opinion.

I don't think the Bernie Bros will be down at all, but on the other hand I think Bloomberg has a very real shot at capturing some moderates that would be terrified of Bernie.  As for Klobuchar, I just don't know.  If she can break out of the pack I think she's an intriguing candidate, and I think having a woman on the ticket would strengthen the trend of female suburban swing voters that turned away from republicans in the recent midterms.

[LesPalenik]

I agree.   Don't you think it would be delicious irony that a billionaire,  one of the richest people in America and the world,  might represent the democrat party?

Nothing wrong with some of the billionaires. Bloomberg, Musk, Bezos, Branson, Gates, they all seem nice and accomplished fellows.

[Craig Lamson]

I don't think the Bernie Bros will be down at all, but on the other hand I think Bloomberg has a very real shot at capturing some moderates that would be terrified of Bernie.  As for Klobuchar, I just don't know.  If she can break out of the pack I think she's an intriguing candidate, and I think having a woman on the ticket would strengthen the trend of female suburban swing voters that turned away from republicans in the recent midterms.

No quibble from me on Bloomie’s potential appeal to moderates who I think vote Trump over Bernie.  But if you lose the votes of the Bernie Bro’s there is a very good chance IMO the Dem turnout falls woefully short. 

Amy, interesting, yes, both my wife and I agree on that after watching her in the last debate.  Electable, and breaking of the pack?  A real long shot.

And I’m not convince 2018 numbers a going to apply. 

[James Clark]

No quibble from me on Bloomie’s potential appeal to moderates who I think vote Trump over Bernie.  But if you lose the votes of the Bernie Bro’s there is a very good chance IMO the Dem turnout falls woefully short.

No disagreement here.   It's one of the major differences in the parties IMHO.   The Dems need to pull together a wider range of priorities than the Rs do.  Some of that is structural, some cultural.  Ezra Klein wrote a fantastic piece on this issue a week or two back. 

Amy, interesting, yes, both my wife and I agree on that after watching her in the last debate.  Electable, and breaking of the pack?  A real long shot.

I think those are separate issues.  Electable when the choice is her vs. a singular opponent that allows here to present a contrasting alternative?  I think that's workable, and as I said, I think she'd also be a killer VP candidate.  Differentiating from other same-party candidates where the contrast is not in policy as much as excitement?  Probably more difficult.

And I’m not convince 2018 numbers a going to apply.

I'm not either (or at least it would be a mistake for Democrats to take it as a given), but I'd be very surprised if we saw educated suburban women swing back to Trump as a group.  More likely than that (IMHO of course) is Trump making inroads into the male minority vote.  I don't think will be much, but I suspect it won't take much either way for some of the battleground states to be impacted one way or another.

[Alan Klein]

No disagreement here.   It's one of the major differences in the parties IMHO.   The Dems need to pull together a wider range of priorities than the Rs do.  Some of that is structural, some cultural.  Ezra Klein wrote a fantastic piece on this issue a week or two back. 

I think those are separate issues.  Electable when the choice is her vs. a singular opponent that allows here to present a contrasting alternative?  I think that's workable, and as I said, I think she'd also be a killer VP candidate.  Differentiating from other same-party candidates where the contrast is not in policy as much as excitement?  Probably more difficult.

I'm not either (or at least it would be a mistake for Democrats to take it as a given), but I'd be very surprised if we saw educated suburban women swing back to Trump as a group.  More likely than that (IMHO of course) is Trump making inroads into the male minority vote.  I don't think will be much, but I suspect it won't take much either way for some of the battleground states to be impacted one way or another.

That will  be interesting if Bloomberg wins the nomination.  He had a stringent frisk and search policy that he supported strongly for years as NYC mayor. that targeted minorities mainly.   Of course, he's already apologized for it because he's running for president.  It will be interesting to see what minorities do about it, stay home for the vote, or what?  He's become a strong wild card, just reached third nationally in the polls without even getting a single vote.  He's going to become a strong replacement vote for Sanders on the left and Kobluchar and Buttigieg in the middle. Biden's done thanks to Pelosi.  Maybe that was Pelosi and the Democrat's plans.  TO get Biden out of the race and open it up to someone like Bloomberg.  The Dems don't want to lose another election.

[JoeKitchen]

Amy did. She raised her hand

Wasn't it  half heartedly and after a  few seconds though? 

That does not really say I will fight communism. 

[Slobodan Blagojevic]

Wasn't it  half heartedly and after a  few seconds though? 

That does not really say I will fight communism. 

They are all commies. Democrats. Some of them just don't know it yet.

[JoeKitchen]

Interesting news piece.  I would post the original, but I don't get the Washington Post. 

Washington Post editorial board declares Biden, Buttigieg, Klobuchar aren't 'centrists'

"'In fact, every major Democratic candidate is running on an agenda to the left of Mr. Obama’s,' the Post editorial board wrote."

I feel like you Dems already know this though.  As an outsider looking in, it really does seem like the Dems are looking far and wide, high and low, under every nook and cranny, just for somebody, anybody, that can beat beat Trump.  Sort of like the Republicans in 2012. 

[Alan Klein]

Bloomberg leads in New Hampshire.
https://www.politico.com/news/2020/02/11/dixville-notch-votes-michael-bloomberg-113844

[Robert Roaldi]

They are all commies. Democrats. Some of them just don't know it yet.

I thought we all agreed not to go over the top anymore. 

[James Clark]

Bloomberg leads in New Hampshire.
https://www.politico.com/news/2020/02/11/dixville-notch-votes-michael-bloomberg-113844

Apparently he leads the Republican primary as well

Bloomberg received three write-in votes, one from a Republican and two from Democrats. The remaining votes went to Pete Buttigieg and Bernie Sanders.

[LesPalenik]

I wouldn't expect any meaningful votes for Bloomberg in NH, but he can now participate in the Nevada debate, so he should do better there.

[Alan Klein]

I wouldn't expect any meaningful votes for Bloomberg in NH, but he can now participate in the Nevada debate, so he should do better there.

Well, he'll buy Nevada.  Then they'll all vote for him.

[JoeKitchen]

Wow! 

I know it is a little early, but the fact that Klobuchar is currently in the lead is surprising.  She current has double the amount of support as Sanders. 

Biden has already left the state to campaign in SC; he looks to be finished. 

[LesPalenik]

Wow! 

I know it is a little early, but the fact that Klobuchar is currently in the lead is surprising.  She current has double the amount of support as Sanders. 

That was the midnight report, by now she will be trailing Bernie and Pete.

[JoeKitchen]

That was the midnight report, by now she will be trailing Bernie and Pete.

Hey, I can have hopes you know. 

I think she is the only candidate that could actually beat Trump.  It would be a great campaign of Center Right vs. Center Left focusing mainly on policy (although I still feel Klobuchar would have to deal with Bernie Bros sitting out the election). 

EDIT Any other candidate would get eaten alive by either Trump or the Woke Left.  Klobuchar though seems to have a magic comb she can defend herself with.   

[Slobodan Blagojevic]

OMG! OMG! I love Mike Bloomberg!

Anyone having the courage to speak the truth against the prevailing political correctness gets my vote. Sorry, Trump.

"Ninety-five percent of murders- murderers and murder victims fit one M.O. You can just take a description, Xerox it, and pass it out to all the cops," he said. "They are male, minorities, 16-25. That's true in New York, that's true in virtually every city (inaudible). And that's where the real crime is. You've got to get the guns out of the hands of people that are getting killed."

"So one of the unintended consequences is people say, 'Oh my God, you are arresting kids for marijuana that are all minorities.' Yes, that's true. Why? Because we put all the cops in minority neighborhoods," Bloomberg is heard saying on the recording. "Yes, that's true. Why do we do it? Because that's where all the crime is. And the way you get the guns out of the kids' hands is to throw them up against the wall and frisk them... And then they start... 'Oh I don't want to get caught.' So they don't bring the gun. They still have a gun, but they leave it at home."

(emphasis mine)

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/bloomberg-stop-and-frisk

Wait, what!?

He said that in 2015 but later apologized?

I will never vote for someone who apologizes for the things they did deliberately and as a matter of practice. Apologies should be reserved for stepping on someone's toes, inadvertently, in public transport, for instance. You did, own it, stand by it. Be a man.

Even Biden would get my vote (if running against Romney) for things he said, repeatedly, about thugs and illegals throughout his earlier career, had he not apologized for it later.

[Rob C]

OMG! OMG! I love Mike Bloomberg!

Anyone having the courage to speak the truth against the prevailing political correctness gets my vote. Sorry, Trump.

(emphasis mine)

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/bloomberg-stop-and-frisk

Wait, what!?

He said that in 2015 but later apologized?

I will never vote for someone who apologizes for the things they did deliberately and as a matter of practice. Apologies should be reserved for stepping on someone's toes, inadvertently, in public transport, for instance. You did, own it, stand by it. Be a man.

Even Biden would get my vote (if running against Romney) for things he said, repeatedly, about thugs and illegals throughout his earlier career, had he not apologized for it later.

It's all so obvious: those who look the part often play it, though there are exceptions.

When we first came to Spain to live here, I did a lot of flying back and forth to Scotland, and on one trip I was accompanied back by my son. Both of us wear jeans, and I had the beard (and the Rolex) and naturally, both of us were called over by customs when we did the usual (honest) thing and went through the green path. Looking like a bum wearing things you shouldn't be able to afford must ring little bells under the counter too. The guy went through both our cases, very politely, and I said to him, it's the jeans and beard, isn't it? He just smiled... I guess that males travelling alone or in pairs, and the flight departure cities are known, do also connect the dots. Ironically, I always carried the invoice for that watch whenever I travelled because I didn't want to be hit for customs duty, but he didn't ask. Maybe my grammar and accent were both better than he'd expected. :-)

Now, why would I be surprised to be stopped and searched if I was young, razor bald, tattooed and wore the garb of the day or, perhaps, strode along wearing a gown and running beads in my fingers? It seems to make perfect sense to go for the stereotype first. If innocent and not carrying, why be upset?

Political correctness can cost lives.

[Alan Klein]

Bloomberg is an opportunist.  He'll switch because he's a politician.  All phonies.   Trump said stuff 40 years ago that he stands by today.  That's why people hate him.  And like him.