Dancing With the Dems

[JasonL]

It's super super important to get the right kind of policies to animate your base. Notably, a policy that says climate change is the literal end of the world but which should not require your constituents to fork over a red cent.

[Aresen]

It's super super important to get the right kind of policies to animate your base. Notably, a policy that says climate change is the literal end of the world but which should not require your constituents to fork over a red cent.

...and MAKES THE CORPORASHUNS PAY!

[Warren]

It's super super important to get the right kind of policies to animate your base. Notably, a policy that says climate change is the literal end of the world but which should not require your constituents to fork over a red cent.

...and MAKES THE CORPORASHUNS PAY!

I think that's really key. Scapegoating the 1% is critical to getting the progressive left to the polls.

[Jennifer]

It's super super important to get the right kind of policies to animate your base. Notably, a policy that says climate change is the literal end of the world but which should not require your constituents to fork over a red cent.

...and MAKES THE CORPORASHUNS PAY!

I think that's really key. Scapegoating the 1% is critical to getting the progressive left to the polls.

If the only other option is scapegoating immigrants, descendants of immigrants (if they're not white), Muslims, Mexicans, gay people, rape victims and the like, I'll go with the former. "Raise her taxes!" isn't nearly as wretched as "Send her back!," IMO.

[JasonL]

A largely ignored but potentially significant fault line in the Dem base is highlighted by the Sanders view of immigration which is a nicer language version of what Trump is trying to do - he wants sharp reductions in both illegal and legal immigration. He and others proposing large safety nets will inevitably run into the same problems facing most of northern europe now - how do you grant a ton of goodies and allow large migrations into the country without creating a left nativism backlash.

There is some danger for the donkeys that they emphasize the human stories of immigrants at the expense of the factory worker and lose that vote again.

[Mo]

Anyone who is all in on lulztopia, but doesn't support malignant bigotry and racism should be all in on Williamson 2020. I mean who here doesn't want to read 3 dozen NYTimes profiles where the reporter goes into local New Age shops and asks customers about how they think Marianne is doing?

[Pham Nuwen]

https://politics.theonion.com/right-thi ... 6eaFjQqUiM

[Mo]

https://politics.theonion.com/marianne- ... 1836832570

[nicole]

Anyone who is all in on lulztopia, but doesn't support malignant bigotry and racism should be all in on Williamson 2020. I mean who here doesn't want to read 3 dozen NYTimes profiles where the reporter goes into local New Age shops and asks customers about how they think Marianne is doing?

Oh, I am so there, bro.

[nicole]

This is where she got me:

[Eric the .5b]

An added Williamson bonus is the heart-attack some Blues have had about the spike in Google searches about her since the last debate. And the whole NGE meme.

Or, to quote someone elsewhere:

Marianne won't run

Marianne is running as a joke

Marianne won't get to the first debate

[[Marianne can't breach 5%]] <-YOU ARE HERE

Marianne can't breach 15%

Marianne can't breach 25%

Marianne won't survive the first primary

Marianne won't win the superdelegates

Marianne won't be the nominee

Marianne can't beat trump in swing states

Marianne can't get 270

Marianne can't harness love for political purposes

Marianne will never be sworn into office

Marianne won't call New Zealand

Marianne can't end US Imperialism

Marianne won't S I L E N C E T H E W O N K S

Marianne can't pass reparations for slavery

Marianne won't win reelection

Marianne can't fix the moral character of the US

Marianne can't open our Chakras to Spirit

Marianne won't get in the freaking robot

Marianne can't initiate the Human Instrumentality Project

Marianne won't cause the Third Impact

https://politics.theonion.com/right-thi ... 6eaFjQqUiM

This leaves me sighing and going, "If only...", but this...

https://politics.theonion.com/marianne- ... 1836832570

...is oddly charming for its hilarious insanity. I blame Mr. Rogers.

[Ellie]

I'm already exhausted by all the NPR et al coverage of the Democratic candidates and their debates. I totally understand why other people find this important; I'm not expecting the news to cater to my preferences. But I just don't caaaaare. I know already that whoever wins the nomination and runs will be somebody I hate.

I became a fan of President Butt because of his name and his gayness and his incredibly thoughtful and empathetic answer to a question about late-term abortions, and I have deliberately avoided finding anything else out about him or his politics so that my affection isn't ruined.

[Andrew]

A candidate should change their name to Seymour Butts. Given the ever-increasing trend of this reality becoming lulztopia, I think they'd win.

[Painboy]

A candidate should change their name to Seymour Butts. Given the ever-increasing trend of this reality becoming lulztopia, I think they'd win.

Or possibly Votey McVoteface.

[Hugh Akston]

It no longer matters who wins, because it won't be Chickenlooper.

[lunchstealer]

It no longer matters who wins, because it won't be Chickenlooper.

Man you really don't like that guy.

Seems like he's been about as good as I could hope for from Team Blue. Not as out front on legalization and death penalty reform as I'd like, but kept the greens from Californicating Colorado too badly under his watch.

[tr0g]

This is horribly cynical of me (big surprise) but some of these goobers know, in their heart of hearts, they aren’t gonna be the nom. They also know they aren’t getting the VP slot, a cabinet position, or any other of the usual rewards from the party. This suggests they are in it for personal enrichment. I just can’t figure out what the scam is.

[thoreau]

This is horribly cynical of me (big surprise) but some of these goobers know, in their heart of hearts, they aren’t gonna be the nom. They also know they aren’t getting the VP slot, a cabinet position, or any other of the usual rewards from the party. This suggests they are in it for personal enrichment. I just can’t figure out what the scam is.

Book sales. Future speaking fees. Building networks of donors for re-election to whatever office they currently hold, because their current networks aren't as lucrative as they'd like. Networks to land some cushy post-politics job after they lose a re-election bid (because, again, the opportunities in their current network aren't as lucrative as they'd like).

[D.A. Ridgely]

That, after all, is why Trump ran.

[Eric the .5b]

This is horribly cynical of me (big surprise) but some of these goobers know, in their heart of hearts, they aren’t gonna be the nom. They also know they aren’t getting the VP slot, a cabinet position, or any other of the usual rewards from the party. This suggests they are in it for personal enrichment. I just can’t figure out what the scam is.

Memory recognition. Being taken more seriously the next time they run for an office or committee position, maybe.

[Shem]

This is horribly cynical of me (big surprise) but some of these goobers know, in their heart of hearts, they aren’t gonna be the nom. They also know they aren’t getting the VP slot, a cabinet position, or any other of the usual rewards from the party. This suggests they are in it for personal enrichment. I just can’t figure out what the scam is.

Memory recognition. Being taken more seriously the next time they run for an office or committee position, maybe.

Favors from bigwigs for being a good soldier and not dragging things out too long.