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Sarah G's avatar

Random pre-caffeine comments:

Well, people were expecting/ hoping for a sh!tshow, weren't they, and that's what they got.

Joe is old. I wish he was younger; I wish I was younger. I'll vote for the proverbial ham sandwich with a (D) next to its name before I vote for TFG, but I'm not the voter we're trying to get. I personally am confident that Kamala Harris is a vastly better option than TFG, but, again, I'm not the target audience.

Joe still will be old in November. TFG will be old and evil. This debate performance will be ancient history in November -- and it probably will be forgotten as soon as SCOTUS releases the rest of its opinions. But, while we're panicking and considering alternatives, I'd like to beg everyone to:

-- stop trying to make Gavin Newsom happen. I used to live in California, I have no animus toward Newsom, but there is no hope of him resonating with "real American" voters in places like Wisconsin or rural Pennsylvania.

-- same with Gretchen Whitmer. I'll happily vote for her, and I'd love to see a female president in my lifetime, but the first and only objective here is to keep TFG out of the White House, not to check boxes. Misogyny is a powerful thing in the US, we need a candidate who can *win.*

Representation matters, but so does winning and preserving democracy. Kamala Harris is the heir apparent, and again, I'd vote for her, but we all know what her favorables are like. I only can speak for myself, but right now, my first preference is for someone who can get in there and protect my rights rather than someone who looks like me, as much as, again, I'd *love* to have a female president.

Anyway. I'm Team Pete and have been for a long time. I was impressed with Jared Polis, Tim's favorite. Josh Shapiro is great, too. I'm aware that all are white men; my objective is to find someone who can beat TFG.

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Marie Josette Murray's avatar

Love Pete, 2028. 2024: Amy Klobuchar! Wish she was the VP, all respect to Harris. She’d pull in the Midwest, people like her plain speaking, she's got good experience - the full package.

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John Robert's avatar

Yes, Trump will still be old and evil in November. And next January. And old and evil and crazy. I'm convinced he's come to believe his own nonsense. We've had Presidents before who I'm sure were not especially virtuous; JFK comes to mind. I can't think of one, however, who was delusional.

You're right. The time has come to put aside any considerations of identity or representation. The sole consideration must be to defeat Trump and do so decisively. (I, too, wish that candidate were Pete but sadly, can't foresee it happening.)

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Sarah G's avatar

I'll add that I do agree with Douglas Brinkley's comments just now on Morning Joe -- Kamala Harris did an effective job post-debate last night. *I* like her; I'd have preferred her in the AG role, she's at her best when she allows herself to step up and be fierce.

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