Showing posts with label Beto O'Rourke. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Beto O'Rourke. Show all posts

Primarily Speaking

Posted by Melissa McEwan at Tuesday, July 16, 2019
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image of a cartoon version of me wearing a large foam finger pointed upward at 'Let's do this thing,' pictured in front of a patriotic stars-and-stripes graphic, to which I've added text reading: 'The Democratic Primary 2020: Let's do this thing.'

Welcome to another edition of Primarily Speaking, because presidential primaries now begin fully one million years before the election!

I'm going to start off with some cute stuff today, because who doesn't need some cute stuff, right?!

1. Outtakes of Senator Cory Booker recording messages to his supporters:


[Video Description: Various clips of Booker looking into the camera and stumbling over his words, stammering and making funny expressions and laughing.]

I especially like that big belly laugh at 0:30!

2. Senator Elizabeth Warren had some fun in Philly, and the really cute part is that photo of her shaking hands with a little girl who is looking very serious about the opportunity to speak to a presidential candidate! OMG my heart.

3. Former HUD Secretary Julián Castro melted my heart by refusing to hold a baby. Yes, you read that right! He didn't want to get the baby sick after he'd been shaking hands all day. COME ON. That's too sweet!


I hope he's as good a dad as that makes me think he must be!

* * *

And now to the decidedly less cute news...

[Content Note: Nativism; racism] I probably haven't read all 200 candidates' responses to Donald Trump's reprehensible racism directed at sitting members of Congress, but the best of the ones I've seen was Julian Castro's, for its needed and deserved bluntness: "Everybody knows that the president acts like a white supremacist. He is a racist; he's made that clear on so many different occasions. ...The question is: What are we as Americans going to do about this?"

Joe Biden and Senator Bernie Sanders tied for the worst responses.

Although Biden at least did say plainly that Trump's statements were "a flat, racist attack," he then suggested that Trump "should go home." How helpful! I bet he'll definitely do that!

Sanders meanwhile just decided to use it as a fundraising opportunity, because of course he did. His tweet contains a donation link and text reading: "I've said all along that Trump is a racist. He is proving that point yet again by attacking Reps. @IlhanMN, @RashidaTlaib, @AyannaPressley, and @AOC. Split a contribution between their campaigns and ours to send a message that his racism will not stand."

Split a contribution between their campaigns and ours. JFC.

* * *

Senator Kamala Harris is making the case that issues affecting women of color are universal issues about which we should all care:
When Kamala Harris thinks about the range of issues that impact women of color — the gender pay gap, the lack of access to affordable housing, and America's high maternal mortality rate for black mothers, among other things — the California senator says she sees universal concerns over the economy, home ownership, and healthcare.

It's a point Harris plans to make Tuesday in Davenport when she joins several women of color at a round-table co-hosted by a local chapter of LULAC, the nation's oldest Latino civil rights organization.

"These are issues that we should all care about," the Democratic presidential candidate told the Des Moines Register. "Where we, as a nation, stand on these issues is a reflection of our collective identity."

..."I really credit the leaders of Iowa for understanding that regardless of what might be the majority population or demographics of the state, that anything that impacts anyone impacts all of us," she said.
[CN: Nativism] Senator Elizabeth Warren is tweeting about Trump's move to end asylum for Central Americans: "This is another targeted, xenophobic attack from the Trump administration. As president, I'll reinstate TPS designations and Deferred Enforced Departure to protect those at risk back in their home countries, including migrants from Central America."

Senator Cory Booker is also tweeting about that move, noting: "This is as illegal as it is immoral." [CN: Violence] He's also remembering Sadie Roberts-Joseph, the Baton Rouge civil rights leader who was found murdered: "Sadie Roberts-Joseph was a pillar of the Baton Rouge community as a civil rights leader and activist who will be missed by so many. I hope and pray for swift justice. As we mourn her loss we must honor her life by continuing her work."

Joe Biden says he'll challenge Trump to some push-ups: "'If [Donald] Trump makes of fun of his age or questions his mental state during a debate, Joe Biden has a response at the ready: He'll challenge him to do push-ups on stage,' the Washington Post reports. Said Biden: 'I'd say, 'C'mon Donald, c'mon man. How many push-ups do you want to do here, pal?' I mean, jokingly. ...C'mon, run with me, man.'" NOPE.


Biden also says of Nancy Pelosi, who inexplicably believes that a meaningless resolution condemning Trump's racism is enough while he's torturing children in concentration camps: "I think she's doing a masterful job. I have great respect for her." Noted.

[CN: Racism; police brutality] The white police officer who fatally shot a Black man last month in Mayor Pete Buttigieg's town of South Bend, Indiana, has quit his job, with the police union president attributing the resignation to "job-related stress, a lawsuit, and national media attention. He said 'hateful things said on social media have been difficult' for the officer and his family. Mills said the 'fights' over the killing are 'just too much for Sgt. O'Neill and his family to undertake right now,' and added: 'Resigning will allow him to focus on these challenges, as well as assist his wife with their three children.'" I would like to know if Buttigieg had any role in orchestrating O'Neill's resignation.

In fundraising news, Beto O'Rourke's fundraising is falling off, and Castro "had the highest rate of donations under $200 of any 2020 candidate. No PAC money, no corporate PAC or lobbyist money — this campaign is driven by grassroots support."

John Delaney is still definitely running for president.

Talk about these things! Or don't. Whatever makes you happy. Life is short.

Open Wide...
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Primarily Speaking

Posted by Melissa McEwan at Monday, July 15, 2019
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image of a cartoon version of me looking unenthusiastic, standing next to a giant purple F, pictured in front of a patriotic stars-and-stripes graphic, to which I've added text reading: 'The Democratic Primary 2020: Let's do this thing.'

Welcome to another edition of Primarily Speaking, because presidential primaries now begin fully one million years before the election!

[Content Note: Nativism; racism; misogyny; othering] Former HUD Secretary and immigration reform leader Julián Castro came for Donald Trump over his racist tweets about congresswomen of color:

...four Congresswomen should go back home, he said. [crowd boos] You know, this isn't the first time that we've seen this in our country. "Go back to Mexico," they said. "Go back to Africa," they said. "No Irish need apply," they said. "The Chinese are excluded," they said. Throughout the generations, there have been people who build their political careers on hate and division and fear and paranoia and making people "the other." We are not gonna do that; we're gonna be about everybody in this country, and America for all people that believe in basic compassion and humanity and respect. [crowd cheers] That's the kind of America that we're gonna build.
I'm so glad he's in this presidential race.

* * *

[CN: Homophobia] Over the weekend, the liberal magazine The New Republic, which has been absolute garbage for years, published a profoundly homophobia piece about Mayor Pete Buttigeg. It was penned by a gay man, but nonetheless used grossly homophobic language to talk about what the author views as Buttigieg's unfitness for the presidency.


After massive pushback, the piece was eventually taken down with a brief note from the editor reading: "Dale Peck’s post 'My Mayor Pete Problem' has been removed from the site, in response to criticism of the piece's inappropriate and invasive content. We regret its publication." Invasive content? Okay. What meaningless drivel.

Lots of people have made the case in good faith that Buttigieg is not yet qualified for the presidency without engaging in homophobic trash. It's not even a particularly controversial position, given Buttigieg's relative inexperience. Indeed, it's so commonplace that one imagines some avaristic desire to make a pretty banal case "sexier" is the answer to the widely asked question of how TNR's editors ever let that hateful codswallop reach publication. Revolting.

* * *

Joe Biden is rolling out his healthcare plan, which is basically Obamacare 2.0: "Biden today will unveil a health plan that's intended to preserve the most popular parts of Obamacare — from Medicaid expansion to protections for patients with preexisting conditions — and build on them with a new government-run public insurance option." Meanwhile, Biden's presidential run means his cancer initiative is closing down, due to the potential of conflicts of interest if he wins the presidency. Well shit.

Senator Cory Booker has introduced a new plan "to expand access to high-quality, affordable long-term care, and to empower the workers who provide it." His complete plan for "Bringing Dignity and Choice to Long-Term Care" would: 1. Expand eligibility for long-term services and supports to every low and middle-income American and give everyone the choice to live at home; 2. Pay, train, and empower care workers as the essential workforce that they are; 3. Support family caregivers; and 4. Finance the new costs associated with the expansion of Medicaid LTSS eligibility and workforce standards for care workers entirely by the federal government.

Senator Kamala Harris will be introducing a National Domestic Workers Bill of Rights: "It's time we changed the way we value domestic work in America. Today I'm introducing the first ever National Domestic Workers Bill of Rights to guarantee domestic workers across our country the dignity, benefits, and legal protections they deserve." (The text was not yet available at the time of publishing this post.)

Harris is also the focus of a lengthy profile in the New Yorker, which I found in turn fascinating and infuriating (because of how it's written): "Kamala Harris Makes Her Case."

Senator Elizabeth Warren is profiled by McClatchy, through the eyes of her supporters: "Now, [Joanna Berens, a 57-year-old event planner] isn't just convinced Warren would make a strong general election nominee — she's thrilled about the prospect of her confronting [Donald] Trump on the debate stage. 'Oh my god,' she said. 'She will flatten him.'" May it be as you say, Joanna!

Senator Bernie Sanders' campaign is again complaining about how the press doesn't like him: "'This isn't intended to be a sweeping generalization of all journalists,' [campaign manager Faiz Shakir] told Politico, 'but there are a healthy number who just find Bernie annoying, discount his seriousness, and wish his supporters and movement would just go away.'" I mean, it probably isn't helping their case that any reporter who says anything even vaguely critical of Bernie Sanders is immediately subjected to days of relentless abuse by some number of his most fervent supporters.

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is talking about white privilege and how she's benefited from it. She's also giving very fucking good responses about what white privilege actually means.


[CN: Slavery] In sort of related news, Beto O'Rourke is writing about what it means to him that both his and his wife's ancestors were slave owners. I dunno. It's hard for me not to see this as just another reason that O'Rourke should step aside. I would be more impressed with him if he just dropped out already and said he's going to put all his energies toward getting any one of Harris, Booker, Castro, Warren, Gillibrand, or Klobuchar elected.

There was a major blackout in New York City over the weekend, and the editors of the New York Daily News are not happy that Mayor Bill de Blasio was campaigning out of town during it: "It's not just that Bill de Blasio, currently polling at 0% nationally and 0% in the key early states of Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina, was out of town on a campaign jaunt when a blackout struck Manhattan, trapping thousands on steamy trains underground and cramped elevators on upper floors unknown. Any mayor of the largest city in the country is a national figure. They go out of town sometimes; it's inevitable. ...It's that just Wednesday, de Blasio appeared so eager to use the city as a national stage, photo-bombing on the main parade float as he tried to bask in the U.S. women's soccer team's reflected glory. That's what bugs us." Ouch.

Joe Sestak is still definitely running for president.

Talk about these things! Or don't. Whatever makes you happy. Life is short.

Open Wide...
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Primarily Speaking

Posted by Melissa McEwan at Wednesday, July 03, 2019
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image of a cartoon version of me yelling through a bullhorn, pictured in front of a patriotic stars-and-stripes graphic, to which I've added text reading: 'The Democratic Primary 2020: Let's do this thing.'

Welcome to another edition of Primarily Speaking, because presidential primaries now begin fully one million years before the election!

This article in the New York Times is so fucking ridiculous I'm not even going to link to it, but here is the lede: "Some people whisper it, some apologize for it, and some are very careful to mention their neighbors — their neighbors would be the ones to ask. 'Do you really think a woman could be elected president?'"

For fuck's sake, a woman was elected president in the last election, and if the racist antiquity known as the Electoral College hadn't rendered moot her 3 million additional votes and the current occupant of the White House hadn't colluded with a foreign adversary to steal the election from her, she'd be sitting in the Oval Office right now and no one would be asking that goddamn infuriating question anymore, and the editors of any publication that continues to ask it without making the points I just made about Hillary Clinton's stolen victory can go eat shit.


In polling news, the new Washington Post-ABC News poll finds that Joe Biden still leads the pack, although the new Reuters/Ipsos poll finds that Black voters' support for Biden has been cut in half.

Good job, Senator Kamala Harris! In other Harris news, she's reminding everyone that, just because Pride month is over, it "doesn't mean we stop speaking out about the abuses being committed against the LGBTQ+ community by this Administration." Indeed!

Beto O'Rourke is marking the 55th anniversary of the signing of the Civil Rights Act: "55 years after the signing of the Civil Rights Act, we're reminded that it's never enlightened members of Congress who've secured change and progress. It's the people who've applied the pressure that has forced them to get it done. In Iowa, we committed to keeping that pressure on." That's...a weird message for someone who is running to be head of government. (Not the acknowledging activists part, but the trashing Congress part. "Never"? Okayyyyy.)

Bernie Sanders is also marking the anniversary: "Today marks 55 years since the Civil Rights Act was signed. This is a moment for us to remember that the struggle for civil rights and human dignity is a struggle not of a single year or decade, but of a lifetime, which must be fought by every generation." And that's a weird message for someone who doesn't believe in "identity politics." ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

In other Sanders news, CNN's Harry Enten says: "You in danger, girl." (I'm paraphrasing.) (Barely.)

Mayor Pete Buttigieg has introduced a national service plan, which he hopes will unify the country: "National service can help us to form connections between very different kinds of Americans, as was my experience in the military. I served alongside and trusted my life to people who held totally different political views. You shouldn't have to go to war in order to have that kind of experience, which is why I am proposing a plan to create more opportunities for national service." All righty!

At Bloomberg: Senator Elizabeth Warren "Starts Winning Begrudging Respect on Wall Street." As well she should. Nevertheless, countdown to the dirtbag left using this news as PROOF!!!1! that Warren is a neoliberal capitalist establishment monster in 3...2...

Warren also continues to call attention to the crisis at the southern border, referring to the images from the Department of Homeland Security's Office of Inspector General's report: "Sickening. Human beings are being herded like animals right now in our country. This goes against our American values. It's cruel and it must end — now."

I mean, it goes against what our American values ought to be, and what we often claim they are, but I wish that she would be more careful in her language with stuff like this. We don't want to concede that Trump's values are the entire nation's values, but we also can't pretend that there isn't a huge portion of the population for whom sadism toward people in need and/or oppressed people is essentially their primary animating value. Pretending they don't exist is part of what got us to this point, so I want more sophisticated rhetoric from Warren (and all the candidates) on that subject.

Senator Cory Booker, for instance, says "our values," rather than "American values," and it's a subtle but meaningful difference. This whole clip is very good:

My immigration policies will reflect our values, that, when people come here escaping terror, and they come to our border, they don't find more terror; that we have the facilities, the resources, to honor their human dignity and evaluate their asylum claims.

Number two is: Family separations are not just going on at the border; they're going on all over the United States [audience murmurs in agreement; a woman says, "That's right."] where you see people afraid now to go to school to drop their kids off, afraid to go to businesses, afraid even to report crimes.

They could be victims — survivors of sexual abuse, or being victimized by their spouse, and they're afraid to go forward for help, or to report about other crimes.

My police department in Newark was complaining to me about a climate, a fear, that's coming over, that is separating — remember, separation is bad — separating immigrant communities from the resources that they could use that would actually help for the safety of everybody.

If I am President of the United States, we're going to stop the practices that we're seeing now, [someone in the audience says, "When you're president!"] where people are being — I should thank you, when, I appreciate that! — where we see people being, families being separated, where a grandfather is being deported when his children are American citizens. We're going to see an end to children who know no other country — the Dreamers — but this one, don't live in fear and anxiety.

We need to have an immigration system that reflects our values and our economic well-being, because immigrants are a positive economic force in our country. [cheers and applause]
And, of course, Julián Castro continues to be a leader on this issue. He is doing the rounds on the various news shows, laying out his vision for this country and levying his beautifully unyielding criticism of this administration.

We already contribute some aid [to Central American countries] now, but this president has said that he's gonna revoke that aid. The thing is, there's a reason that these folks are coming — a hundred and forty-four thousand last month — because they can't find safety and opportunity in their home country. We need to partner with those countries so that people can find safety and opportunity at home instead of having to come to this country.
Note how Castro expertly makes the point that people should have the chance to be safe and thrive in their home countries without, even a little bit, sounding like he doesn't also welcome immigrants who want to come here.

Male anchor asks: You're in favor of decriminalizing border crossings. If you do that, how do you still have a secure border?

Castro: Well, two things: Number one, decriminalizing but there's still part of a court process; it's just a civil process. That's the way that we used to do it, from the late 1920s until about 2004. So this is not something radical; this is the way that we used to handle it.

Secondly, we have six hundred and fifty-four miles of fencing; we have thousands of border personnel; we have planes; we have helicopters; we have guns; we have security cameras; we have boats — we have a border that is being secured and we can maintain security.

But, what we oughta do is use compassion and common sense, and not cruelty. And what you see there, those images that you see, that's not who we should be. That is evidence of a dark heart of cruelty of this administration that I think is unbecoming of this country.
That is not who we should be.


Rachel Maddow: How much do you worry about playing on [Trump's] turf and playing to an image that he likes for his base?

Castro: Number one, I don't think we have any choice. He has a huge bullhorn, and so he's gonna make this an issue, so I believe that we have to offer a compelling, strong alternative. Now, I've said that we can maintain border security, but, what I'm betting, is that there are enough people out there that know that we can do this a better way — and, if he's gonna proceed with a dark heart of cruelty, then I wanna proceed with a heart of compassion and common sense.

And, I'll tell you, about a year ago, I was at the Ursula Processing Center down in McAllen, Texas, on the border. I was there to join activists that were protesting the family separation policy. And, as sad as the situation was, with the little children that were inside that facility, what gave me hope was that the activists that were there, they were white, they were Black, they were Asian-American, they were Latino.

In other words, it was people of all different backgrounds, from throughout the country, who were united with their compassion and their values, their belief in humanity and a common respect for these human beings, no matter the color of their skin or the fact that they're not American.

I'm betting on that, even as he bets on cruelty.
I'm betting on that, too. Sob.


Anyone who still says Castro isn't ready to be president either isn't paying attention to Castro, or isn't paying attention to the crisis at the southern border, or both.

John Hickenlooper is still definitely running for president.

Talk about these things! Or don't. Whatever makes you happy. Life is short.

Open Wide...
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Primarily Speaking

Posted by Melissa McEwan at Tuesday, July 02, 2019
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image of a cartoon version of me wearing a tuxedo and standing on the bow of a sinking ship playing the violin, pictured in front of a patriotic stars-and-stripes graphic, to which I've added text reading: 'The Democratic Primary 2020: Let's do this thing.'

Welcome to another edition of Primarily Speaking, because presidential primaries now begin fully one million years before the election!

Once again, I feel obliged to start with the admission that I have real complicated feelings about this series, because I am constitutionally averse to pretending like everything is fine when it isn't. And sometimes it feels like this series implicitly suggests we're going to have a normal election, even though I don't believe that. But I don't know how to proceed except with the desperate hope that something seismic will happen and meaningful changes are made swiftly to ensure a legitimate election.

I expect more, and prepare myself for the worst.

If the ship of state really is going down, I am going to keep playing my violin about these Democratic candidates, many of whom I believe in and admire, for as long as I can.

Anyway!

So, if you have been considering donating to a candidate, or multiple candidates that you want to see stay in the race, here is the best argument for going ahead and making that donation(s): "Donald Trump's campaign and the Republican National Committee raised a combined $105 million in the second quarter of 2019, the campaign announced Tuesday." Fucking hell.

The DNC is finally considering a climate change debate. I hope they also consider a dedicated immigration debate, because, although climate change is certainly urgent, so are the concentration camps at the border, and, unlike climate change, the Democratic candidates need to be leveraging the visibility that the presidential election provides to raise awareness about this profound humanitarian crisis.

The new CNN/SRSS poll, "which was released on Monday and conducted entirely after the first two Democratic presidential primary debates last week, has [Senator Kamala Harris] in second place, among Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents who are registered to vote, at 17 percent." Meanwhile: "Joe Biden's once double-digit lead has crumbled in a national poll taken after last week's debate." Sad trombone!

With Harris surging, it's the women who are "grabbing momentum as Democratic race catches fire." Nice! "Recent shifts in the Democratic primary are raising the prospect that a new political glass ceiling may shatter in 2020 — a duel for a presidential ticket between two women." Can you even imagine?! (I CAN.)

On that note, Harris tweeted a video about a little girl running for student council who asked her for political advice, and I am a puddle!

And Senator Amy Klobuchar tweeted this:


I can't get over all those women running and I don't even want to!

* * *

Former HUD Secretary Julián Castro says that the first debate showed "I can stand up to Donald Trump" and makes the case for being bold and fearless and uncompromising on immigration: "The worst mistake that we can make is to squirm and fear what Donald Trump is doing on the issue of immigration." Fucking right.

Senator Cory Booker says, if elected, he would take immediate executive action on immigration (which is one of the only issues on which I support the candidates promising unilateral action):
Cory Booker vowed to use executive authority as president to end detention for asylum seekers, shut down "inhumane" holding facilities, and de-emphasize prosecutions of those in the country illegally unless they pose a safety risk.

The New Jersey senator and Democratic presidential hopeful said that if elected he'd reverse most of [Donald] Trump's border policies on his first day in office without waiting for Congress to take action.

"When kids are being stripped away from their parents and held in cages, I will not wait for Congress to solve this crisis," Booker said in a statement outlining his immigration plan. "On day one of my presidency, I will take immediate steps to end this administration's moral vandalism."

...Booker also said he would expand protections for undocumented immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children, known as dreamers, as well as those granted Temporary Protected Status, who can't return to their homeland because of armed conflicts, natural disaster, or other extraordinary situations.

Under Booker's proposal, immigrant detention centers would have to meet standards outlined by the American Bar Association or face closure. Facilities that host children would further have to meet the recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Booker in the release also called for an end to government contracting of for-profit private prisons.

To aid immigrants through the court system, Booker said he would expand access to legal counsel, first focusing on children's access, and create "a presumption of liberty" by changing the bond process. The Department of Homeland Security would have to provide a probable cause for the arrest of immigrants within 48 hours.

Booker's plan also calls for a reinvestment in areas such as Central America, Africa, and the Middle East. This is a direct response to the Trump administration's recent decision to cut aid aimed at improving conditions in migrants' home countries.

"This action, like [Donald] Trump's entire approach to immigration, is based on a faulty notion that force and threats are what is needed to control migration," according to a statement from Booker's campaign. "That approach hasn't worked, and has contributed to a humanitarian crisis at our border and the inhumane treatment and abuse of immigrants within our country."
I just want this so badly. I just want a president who will stop this cruelty. Sob.

Senator Elizabeth Warren is also talking about the humanitarian crisis at the border, urging us to "Watch Rep. Judy Chu's story and #DontLookAway. What's happening at DHS border detention facilities is inhumane."

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is refreshingly blunt about "conscience clauses" as a court delays implementation of the Trump Regime rule that would allow healthcare workers to refuse to perform medical procedures with which they disagree: "Here's an idea: Cancel this rule altogether, and don't give health care providers the ability to discriminate at all." A+

Rep. Eric Swalwell is still hammering Biden about his 32-year-old "pass the torch" comments. Wow. LOL.

John Hickenlooper's finance director just quit to go work for Beto O'Rourke (ouch) which has prompted him to "shake up his campaign." My advice would be that his shake his ass right out of the campaign altogether, because his candidacy is dead in the water.

Bernie Sanders is still definitely running for president.

Talk about these things! Or don't. Whatever makes you happy. Life is short.

Open Wide...
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Primarily Speaking

Posted by Melissa McEwan at Monday, July 01, 2019
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image of a cartoon version of me running inside a hamster wheel, pictured in front of a patriotic stars-and-stripes graphic, to which I've added text reading: 'The Democratic Primary 2020: Let's do this thing.'

Welcome to another edition of Primarily Speaking, because presidential primaries now begin fully one million years before the election!

Well, this is very good news in which I have zero faith but I sure hope it's right! "Rachel Bitecofer's Negative Partisanship Model — which nailed the 2018 midterm elections — predicts Democrats will win the presidency in 2020." Terrific!

The only problem that I can see is that there was far less election interference in the midterms than the last presidential election, and less than what I'm already seeing in this one. Which was probably by design, so we would have faith that our democracy still works, ahead of foreign interference that Senator Ron Wyden says will "make 2016 look like small potatoes."

So I'm not sure the same model will work in 2020 that worked in 2018. But here's hoping!

* * *

Candidates are scrambling to meet the ludicrous rules for debate qualifications for the fall debates, which of course were established a million years ago and have fuck-all to do with what is actually happening now in the Democratic primary, including ratfucking to elevate spoiler candidates:
Of the 20 candidates who qualified for the first round of debates in June and July, just six are sure to appear in the September-October round, when the Democratic National Committee requires participants to hit 2% in multiple polls and 130,000 individual donors. Though many campaigns are worried, DNC Chairman Tom Perez has resisted pressure to relax the requirements.

"We put our rules out for debate participation months earlier because we wanted to give people time," Perez said in an interview. "We want to be fair to everyone."

There's still time for struggling candidates to recover. All 20 contenders who appeared on the debate stage last week will return for the late July debates. And, for now, only a fraction of voters are paying close attention to the unfolding Democratic contest.

But failing to qualify for the September-October debates could be lethal to any candidate, regardless of whether they formally drop out of the race.
I swear to the fates if Tom Perez's garbage rules mean FOR EXAMPLE that a certain former HUD Secretary who is one of the Democratic Party's greatest assets does not make the fall debate but a certain dipshit witch does, I will lose my fucking mind.

* * *

Politico declares: "The 2020 Democratic Primary Is Suddenly Wide Open." Why? Because, as Democratic strategist Colin Strother explains, people have realized that old white dudes aren't the only game in town, and "Bernie and Biden were largely living off of inertia." LOL ouch! Harsh but true.

That the content is opening up is a testament to the quality of many of the other candidates — and to the fact that Joe Biden is a terrible candidate. He was a terrible candidate twice before, and he's a terrible candidate now.

[Content Note: Racism and homophobia.]

Following his dire performance during the first debate, Biden gave a speech in Chicago about his civil rights record, during which he actually said the following words: "We've got to recognize that kid wearing a hoodie may very well be the next poet laureate and not a gang-banger." Because you know how those are the only two options for Black kids? JFC.

If that weren't enough, he then gave a speech in Seattle on Pride weekend, during which he said that gay rights have come a long way and, only five years ago, if someone "made fun of a gay waiter" at a business lunch, everyone would have just let it go. The audience did not appreciate that assertion. Nor did most of the adult human beings who heard that garbage.

On Twitter, Ashton Pittman noted: "Exactly 5 years ago, ABC's What Would You Do? planted a hidden cam in a Mississippi restaurant to see how diners would react to blatant, homophobic attacks on a gay couple. They repeated the experiment. Each time, Mississippi diners got up and came to the gay couple's defense."

And if that weren't yet enough, CNN's Andrew Kaczynski located video of Biden in 1981 defending his support of "legislation at the time — that was being filibustered by liberals — which would stop courts' ability to order busing."

Naturally, Biden fans are OUTRAGED by all of this, because apparently they didn't realize they are supporting a dude who, had he not gotten rich pretending to be liberal, would be just another old white dude sitting at home in a recliner watching Fox News right now.


Senator Cory Booker continued to make the case that Biden isn't the nominee we need at this moment in time: "[Booker] questioned Sunday whether [Biden] could be a uniter on race if he wins the Democratic presidential nomination, accusing Biden of having an 'inability to talk candidly about the mistakes he made.' ...'Whoever our nominee is going to be, whoever our next president is going to be, really needs to be someone who can talk openly and honestly about race,' Booker said during an appearance on Meet the Press. 'I'm not sure if Joe Biden is up to that task given the way the last three weeks have played out.'"

🔥 🔥 🔥

Meanwhile, of course Senator Kamala Harris is facing a "backlash" after calling out Biden's shitty record on busing. And it's not necessarily from the people you'd expect. I was truly disappointed to see, for instance, that among the vocal critics of Harris is former Senator Carol Moseley Braun, the first Black female senator: "We can be proud of her nonetheless, but her ambition got it wrong about Joe. He is about the best there is; for her to take that tack is sad." Honestly, that Moseley Braun thinks that Biden is the best there is or could be is what's sad.

Harris stands by her decision to question Biden, because she has integrity and gumption: "'It may make people uncomfortable to speak the truth about the history of our country but we must speak the truth,' the California senator told reporters Sunday outside San Francisco's city hall after marching in the city's gay pride parade. 'We must agree that there not only is fact that is the basis for these truths but that we should recommit ourselves to also agreeing that these things should never happen again,' Harris said." Yes.

[CN: Racism] I mentioned on Friday that Harris is now the target of a gross birther campaign that questions her authenticity, and in some cases her citizenship, because her parents are Jamaican and Indian. Senator Elizabeth Warren is taking up space in solidarity with her opponent: "The attacks against Kamala Harris are racist and ugly. We all have an obligation to speak out and say so. And it's within the power and obligation of tech companies to stop these vile lies dead in their tracks."

As is Senator Michael Bennet: "These attacks on Kamala Harris are racist and disgusting. I'm proud to call her my friend and colleague, and I'll continue to stand with her against these vile comments. They have no place in our political discourse."

And Senator Kirsten Gillibrand notes that "we ladies have to stick together."


Very sweet.

In other news, Harris celebrated PrideA with a glittering rainbow jacket! Yay!

And Julián Castro celebrated Pride with lots of friends!


[CN: Nativism] Beto O'Rourke headed south of the border "to meet with kids and families who came to our country seeking asylum but who have been turned back by this administration's unlawful and inhumane policies," and did a good thread about the human beings he met and spoke to, people to whom we refuse to grant refuge.

Rep. Tim Ryan went off on one about Trump going to North Korea to kiss dictator ass: "I have no idea why he is shaking hands with a dictator who just in May was sending missiles into the Sea of Japan. You don't reward that kind of behavior with a visit to your country from the president of the United States. ...This is historic — him going to North Korea is like Chamberlain going to talk to Hitler." I don't think that's quite the right analogy, cough, but Ryan's outrage is well-directed.

Mayor Pete Buttigieg continues to be a fundraising juggernaut, having raised $24 million in the second quarter from more than 230,000 new donors, which makes over 400,000 total individual donors. That is a lot to keep track of, especially for a new campaign, and I hope they are staying on top of making sure each of those donations is legal. That is not, to be abundantly clear, a commentary on Buttigieg; it is a commentary on the fact that foreign interlopers will be trying to discredit surging candidates any way they can.

Senator Bernie Sanders doesn't believe that the age of a candidate should be an issue. I'm sure he doesn't! Also, he says: "I think we've got a good chance to win this thing. But if, perchance, it is not me, I will do everything I can to support the winner and make sure we defeat Donald Trump." I've heard that before.

John Hickenlooper is still definitely running for president.

Talk about these things! Or don't. Whatever makes you happy. Life is short.

Open Wide...
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Primarily Speaking + Debate Recap

Posted by Melissa McEwan at Thursday, June 27, 2019
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screenshot of the ten candidates in the first night of the first debate standing onstage just before the debate began

Well, that was certainly something!

I have to tell you that I was pretty excited for last night's debate, because I am beyond ready to hear politicians once again talking about policies that center caring for people rather than harming them.

And even though I knew I needed an infusion of positivity, I had no idea quite how much I needed it until the debate started, and I kept getting so emotional, even by my own admittedly ridiculous standards. (Hi, I'm Liss. I cry at everything. Nice to meet you.)

Anyway! The debate was good for my soul, to be honest — even though I know that it's fucked-up to be hopeful when we're almost certainly not going to have anything resembling free and fair elections. I just needed a pointed reminder that there are still people who care hard about this country and its people and the people who want to live here, too, and it felt really good to get one.

I live-tweeted the debate quite thoroughly, in case you want a recap.

My overall summary is that Elizabeth Warren, Julián Castro, Cory Booker, and Amy Klobuchar are the only ones who belonged on the stage.

Beto O'Rourke and Jay Inslee were both disappointing and did worse than I expected. Klobuchar was the only person who outperformed my expectations.

The rest of the field was just wasting everyone's time. Bill de Blasio needs to just go home and throw himself in the garbage. Man, he is a lot. Woo.

On a final note: Chuck Todd is the fucking woooooooorst. Lordt.

* * *

The second night of the first debate is tonight, and I am looking forward to that one far less. I'm going to need something a lot stronger than the ice water I was drinking last night to get through listening to Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders and being obliged to treat Marianne Williamson and Andrew Yang as real candidates.

And I swear even the THOUGHT of Sanders shaking his finger at Kamala Harris is giving me hives.

Tonight's going to be everything that last night wasn't. And not in a good way.

Give me strength, Jesus Jones!

* * *

In other news...

Yesterday, Senators Warren and Klobuchar traveled to visit the Homestead concentration camp. Today, O'Rourke will be visiting, and tomorrow Pete Buttigieg, Kirsten Gillibrand, Castro, and Harris will also visit. Good. Keep calling attention to this urgent human rights crisis, Democratic candidates!

Bernie Sanders, ladies, gentlemen, and genderqueers:

MSNBC's Kasie Hunt: If it's clear that you are not gonna be the Democratic nominee, will you leave the race before the convention?

Sanders: I intend to be the Democratic nominee.

Hunt: But if you're not. You stayed in last time, and some people say that you hurt Hillary Clinton's candidacy—

Sanders: [talking over Hunt] No, I have— Hold it, wait, b-b-but— Well, no, some people say that if maybe that system was not rigged against me, I would've won the nomination and defeated Donald Trump. That's what some people say. So I think we're gonna play it out; I think I am excited—

Hunt: You would take the risk—

Sanders: [raising his voice to talk over her] I AM EXCITED—

Hunt: —that you might give Donald Trump the advantage?

Sanders: Are you asking that of every candidate?

Hunt: I'm saying if it's clear that you are not going to win the nomination—

Sanders: [talking over her] It's, let me, well—

Hunt: —will you concede?

Sanders: Right now, we are planning to win the Democratic nomination. And I'm proud of the campaigns we're running in Iowa and in New Hampshire, and I'm proud of our grassroots support and the fact that we have a million volunteers. So our goal right now is to win it— And, by the way, as you may know, poll after poll shows what against Trump? Shows me beating Trump by 8, 9, or 10 points. So we're gonna beat Trump; we're gonna win the Democratic nomination. [grins]

Hunt: Are you a Democrat?

Sanders: Of course I'm a Democrat. I was just at the Democratic National, uh, Convention — a Democratic primary here, right?

Hunt: [looks dubious] All right. That's an easier answer to that question than I feel like we got in 2016. Senator Bernie Sanders, thank you very much.

Sanders: Thank you.
He has never sounded more like Donald Trump. For fuck's sake.

There was lots of talk about the Spanish spoken during the debate last night, and, let's be real, this is the only Spanish from that debate that anyone will remember or matters:


(You're goddamn right I already bought one!)

John Hickenlooper is still definitely running for president.

Talk about these things! Or don't. Whatever makes you happy. Life is short.

Open Wide...
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Primarily Speaking

Posted by Melissa McEwan at Wednesday, June 26, 2019
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image of a cartoon version of me grinning and pointing at myself with my thumbs while holding a sign reading, 'Who's got two thumbs and a permanent tension headache?', pictured in front of a patriotic stars-and-stripes graphic, to which I've added text reading: 'The Democratic Primary 2020: Let's do this thing.'

Welcome to another edition of Primarily Speaking, because presidential primaries now begin fully one million years before the election!

Welp, today is the big day — the first night of the first Democratic debate! Are you so excited?! If you're not excited yet, maybe Senator Cory Booker can help get you excited with a little help from his friends!


[If you can't view the video, it shows Booker dancing down a hallway with some of his Black female supporters, clad in CORY 2020 t-shirts, and it is very adorable and fun!]

You know who else is excited? Donald Trump! Because it gives him an opportunity to be a giant bully, which is one of his favorite things ever! "As Democrats spar on the debate stage this week, the president's campaign will be unleashing dozens of Donald Trump backers on the airwaves in 2020 swing states, blasting out any embarrassing moments on social media, and dispatching talking points to ensure everyone stays on message." And no doubt Trump will be joining in the fun!

I know it's positively quaint to make this observation at this point, but that is so aggressively unpresidential.

Anyway! There will be a dedicated debate thread later today, so I'll just leave it there for now.

* * *

[Content Note: Nativism. Covers entire section.]

A number of the candidates are thinking and talking about Trump's deadly immigration policies and the people affected by them, and I am really glad that it's on their minds.

Booker tweets: "There's nothing criminal about seeking a better life for your family. I've said it before, and I'll say it again now — we have to do the right thing and decriminalize border crossing."

It's important to note what a major influence Julián Castro has had on moving this particular needle:


Senator Elizabeth Warren tweets: "I agree with @JulianCastro: We shouldn't criminalize families trying to build a better future. We need comprehensive immigration reform that's in line with our values and creates a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, including our DREAMers."

And Castro tweets: "Thank you, @ewarren, for joining me on this issue. We shouldn't criminalize desperation — it's time to repeal this terrible law."

Warren is also fixing to visit the Homestead detention facility: "Yesterday at my town hall in Miami, I got asked an important question: Would I go to the Homestead detention center to shine a light on what's happening? The answer is yes. I'll be there today and I hope you'll join me."

Rep. Eric Swalwell visited Homestead a few days ago: "Today I visited the #Homestead Detention Facility. These children need homes, NOT a privatized prison."

[CN: Images of death at link] Beto O'Rourke is bluntly laying the blame for migrant deaths precisely where it belongs: "Trump is responsible for these deaths." Fucking right he is, and I am so grateful to O'Rourke for saying it plainly.

* * *

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is marking the four-year anniversary of the Supreme Court decision that legalized same-sex marriage:


Senator Kamala Harris is marking the six-year anniversary of the Supreme Court decision that gutted the Voting Rights Act: "Six years ago today, the Supreme Court gutted the Voting Rights Act with its decision in #ShelbyvHolder. Now it's up to Congress to restore the #VRA and ensure equal access to the ballot box. We have legislation in Congress to do this — we must pass voting reforms immediately."

She's also tweeting about her plan for banking oversight: "One of the lessons from the Great Recession is that banks who operate as bad actors must be held accountable — and that means giving state attorneys general the tools to properly go after them too. I just introduced a bill to increase accountability and oversight of national banks."

Governor Jay Inslee is calling for an end to the filibuster: "The filibuster has allowed Mitch McConnell to hold this country hostage for far too long. We must put an end to the filibuster." Always love a good McConnell shit-talking.

Joe Biden refuses to say if he backs the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal, which he helped sell as vice-president: "On the eve of the first presidential-primary debates, however, Biden's 2020 campaign wouldn't say whether he still supported the deal. ...Even as Biden is running explicitly as a restoration of the Obama presidency, his campaign press secretary declined to comment on what his position is." LOL okay.

And my friend Leah McElrath is quoted by Eugene Scott at the WaPo on Biden's record with reproductive rights: "Joe Biden has been visible in national politics for my entire adult life, and he has never been a strong advocate on behalf of women's bodily autonomy. I find it hard to trust when it's time to compromise — and that time always comes in politics — that the rights of my daughter and all other women and girls in this country will be something he sees as a nonnegotiable issue and will champion on our behalf." That about sums it up!

This is the most I have ever liked Senator Bernie Sanders, lol:

Face the Nation's Margaret Brennan: Was [Donald] Trump's decision this week to call off that strike the right one?

Sanders: [laughs derisively] See, it's like somebody setting a fire to a basket full of paper and then putting it out. He helped create the crisis, and then he stopped the attacks. The idea that we're looking at a President of the United States who, number one, thinks that a war with Iran is something that might be good for this country—

Brennan: He was just doing a limited strike.

Sanders: [rolling his eyes and waving his hands around sardonically] Oh, just a limited strike! Oh, well, I'm sor-RY! I just didn't know that it's okay to simply attack another country with arms— [air quotes] "Just a limited strike." That's an act of warfare!
And then I read this terrific thread about Sanders' "evolving position on gun rights" — including how "the NRA's involvement...was 'the predominant reason' Bernie Sanders was elected to Congress" — and I'm right back to disliking him as much as ever! Equilibrium has been restored.

John Hickenlooper is still definitely running for president.

Talk about these things! Or don't. Whatever makes you happy. Life is short.

Open Wide...
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Primarily Speaking

Posted by Melissa McEwan at Monday, June 24, 2019
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image of a cartoon version of me riding on the back of a chubby unicorn, pictured in front of a patriotic stars-and-stripes graphic, to which I've added text reading: 'The Democratic Primary 2020: Let's do this thing.'

Welcome to another edition of Primarily Speaking, because presidential primaries now begin fully one million years before the election!

Hey, Democratic voters, now is the time to START TUNING THE FUCK IN: "Only 22% of Democrats registered to vote say they know a lot about the candidates' positions, while 62% say they know a little. And only 35% say they're paying close attention to the campaign, with almost two-thirds saying they're paying some or no attention." It's only the future of the republic at stake. No biggie.

I hope the candidates are paying attention to this item: "American Bridge polled voters in small towns and rural areas, screening out self-identified liberal Democrats, to find out what they thought of the president. The group gave Trump a positive job approval rating overall..." But there was an opening regarding healthcare. "Just 25 percent of respondents gave Trump a positive rating for 'reducing health care costs,' compared to 67 percent who rated him negatively, while they split against Trump 39-51 on 'taking on the drug and pharmaceutical companies.'" Get him.

As I mentioned on Friday, Planned Parenthood Action Fund hosted a new and necessary reproductive rights forum in South Carolina over the weekend, which was attended by most of the candidates — who "vowed to defend abortion rights under nearly any circumstance."
"You're not going to lock women back in the kitchen. You're not going to tell us what to do," [Senator Elizabeth Warren] declared, eliciting a standing ovation from hundreds in the crowd, many sporting pink Planned Parenthood T-shirts.

..."If [Donald] Trump wants a war on America's women, it's a war he's going to have and it's a war he's going to lose," declared New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand.

...New York Mayor Bill de Blasio...told the crowd, "Can we just be clear that, if you're a Democrat you're against the Hyde Amendment, period?"
Once again, I'll note that I'm not only thrilled beyond description to have multiple feminist female Senators running for president at the same time, but I'm also thrilled that there are a number of male candidates who are well-versed on reproductive rights and speak about abortion without acting like it's something icky or shameful. It honestly makes me so happy I could cry. (J/K I am definitely crying about it right now.)

Another cool thing that happened at the forum: During a Q&A, a non-binary activist asked former HUD Secretary Julián Castro "how he would expand sexual and reproductive health care access for trans people," and, before giving his "detailed answer about his support for transgender inclusivity in reproductive health care and his past record of supporting trans people in their access to housing," Castro asked what pronouns the activist preferred.

Castro was also great when asked about Trump's reversal on his announced immigration purge, saying, "This is bullshit. This is bullshit politics."

Almost everyone showed some good stuff at the forum, and it's really great to see how unified such a vast field of candidates are in their support for abortion access. In photos from the event, wearing their matching t-shirts, they looked like a sports team sent to dunk on Trump until he forfeits the game.

Well, most of them did, anyway.


Senator Bernie Sanders' body language there seems to say: "Not a team player." Which checks out.

In contrast, check out this tweet summarizing the weekend's events in South Carolina published by Senator Cory Booker: "We know that the hope for our community does not lie in one individual in one office — it lies with the people, and our ability to come together, stand together, work together, and fight together. Thank you to everyone in South Carolina who joined us this weekend — together, we rise!" LOL. Also checks out.

In policy news, Sanders has proposed canceling the entirety of $1.6 trillion in U.S. student loan debt. "Sanders is proposing to pay for these plans with a tax on Wall Street his campaign says will raise more than $2 trillion over 10 years, though some tax experts give lower revenue estimates." One of the problems I have always had with Sanders is that his claims on how he'll pay for his sweeping proposals never quite checks out.

If you're wondering why the math works better on Senator Elizabeth Warren's plans, this may be why: "The Ivory Tower Team of Wonks Behind Warren's Policy Agenda." That's an interesting piece in general, and it strikes me as one of those pieces which is like a Rorschach Test for how someone feels about a candidate. If you don't like Warren, it will be more proof of why she's unlikeable. And if you do like her, it will be one more reason why you do.

See also this piece at the Boston Globe about Warren's teenage debate team days: "Debate was a refuge for Warren, a world where she fit. She has described herself as feeling 'miserable,' plain, and out-of-place in her giant high school. ...Speech and debate, filled with ambitious and intellectual students consumed with questions that reached far beyond their horizons in Oklahoma City, gave her a niche."

Former Rep. Beto O'Rourke has released a proposal outlining "how he would improve the lives of veterans if elected president." He's done a lot of work on veterans' issues, and his new plan "focuses on four areas: Ending wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and spending the money saved on veterans; further modernizing the VA health-care system and increasing funding for medical research; treating all veterans equally and increasing support for women and LGBT veterans; and helping veterans succeed when they leave the military."

Senator Amy Klobuchar isn't pulling any punches:


[CN: Video may autoplay at link] Senator Kamala Harris has reiterated her call for impeachment, noting there is a divide in the Democratic Party over whether to impeach Trump: "This is the tension which is, do you stand to fight for these principles that were part of the — the spirit behind the design of our democracy, checks and balances, accountability? Or do you stand with strategy, which is what is the ultimate goal and if it's saying that this guy should not be in office and if this could hurt the chances of winning an election, should you hold off?" I am glad her answer to that question is IMPEACH NOW.

[CN: Sexual violence] Rep. Seth Moulton is raising awareness about the latest allegation of sexual assault against Donald Trump: "Thank you, E. Jean Carroll, for your courage in sharing your story. This is one of countless reasons we're long overdue starting impeachment proceedings. Donald Trump is not fit to be president — he never was."

[CN: Racism; police brutality] More fallout for South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg on his mishandling of community relations following a racialized police shooting, with protestors confronting Buttigieg, who just looked so fucking awkward as he tersely read a prepared statement.

Buttigieg: I do not have evidence that there has been discipline for racist behavior— [inaudible; crowd begins to jeer]

A female voice from the jeering crowd emerges: And you running for president? You running for president and you want Black people to vote for you? You running for president and you want Black people to vote for you? I'm telling you right now that's not gonna happen.

Buttigieg: I'm not asking for your vote.

Another woman: And you ain't gonna get it, either.
Yikes.

Speaking of candidates who aren't handling their shit, Joe Biden's new strategy seems to be talking to the press only to defend himself after another "gaffe," and, while normally I would advocate Biden shutting the fuck up as much as possible, I don't think only holding press conferences to demand that Black senators apologize to you or whatever is a solid plan. Cough.

John Hickenlooper is still definitely running for president.

Talk about these things! Or don't. Whatever makes you happy. Life is short.

Open Wide...
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Primarily Speaking

Posted by Melissa McEwan at Friday, June 21, 2019
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image of a cartoon version of me standing at a podium gesturing to the word 'FACTS' written in large text on a chalkboard, pictured in front of a patriotic stars-and-stripes graphic, to which I've added text reading: 'The Democratic Primary 2020: Let's do this thing.'

Welcome to another edition of Primarily Speaking, because presidential primaries now begin fully one million years before the election!

Following Joe Biden's shameful display yesterday, suggesting that Senator Cory Booker should apologize to him for calling out his racial insensitivity, MSNBC's Lawrence O'Donnell asked Booker if it would be possible for him to share a ticket with Biden, and Booker's response was everything.

O'Donnell: Could you run on a ticket with Joe Biden?

Booker: I do not think there should be two men on a ticket. [stops; stares at O'Donnell, who is momentarily struck silent]

O'Donnell: [chuckling] Okay, that's— That's—

Booker: I do not think there should be two men on a ticket.

O'Donnell: Let me ask you this—

Booker: I think we— I think that, given the field we have, the extraordinary people, we should have tickets that have racial and gender diversity in them. Come on, we're— We're a party that should talk to who we are as a nation. We're a nation with extraordinary—

O'Donnell: I think you're going to get a lot of Democratic delegates who agree with you on that.
That was just a brilliant fucking response.

Can Booker, Elizabeth Warren, and Julián Castro run all together as a presidential council of equals? "Donald Trump has made a gigantic fucking mess, and we're going to fix it together." TAKE MY VOTE.

* * *

This is excellent news:
On Saturday, nearly all of the Democratic candidates will participate in a first-of-its-kind forum on women's health and reproductive rights hosted by Planned Parenthood Action Fund in Columbia, South Carolina. Organizers say the event offers the candidates an opportunity to shape the conversation around women's health and abortion in a climate that is now increasingly hostile to reproductive rights.

"This is really the moment for the candidates to make clear where they stand on the full range of reproductive healthcare, including abortion," said Kelley Robinson, the group's executive director. "Whoever wants to lead the United States and serve in the office of the president is going to have to be clear and accountable to voters on this issue."

...Twenty of the party's 24 contenders are expected to participate in the forum, which coincides with a busy weekend of presidential campaign events, including the state Democratic party's annual Blue Palmetto Dinner followed by congressman Jim Clyburn's World Famous Fish Fry.

Among the candidates confirmed are Joe Biden, senators Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Kamala Harris, Cory Booker, and Kirsten Gillibrand, South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg, and former congressman Beto O'Rourke. They will each have 15 minutes to answer questions from the group's members about to explain their position — and their policy ambitions — on issues like abortion, women's health care, and contraception.

...In this climate, Robinson said rhetorical support for abortion rights is not enough. She expects the 20 candidates participating in Saturday's forum to elevate the debate around how far they are willing to go to override state abortion restrictions and preserve access if Roe is struck down.

"It's important to give candidates a chance to not only say where they stand on these issues but to say, if they were elected president, what they would affirmatively do to expand access and care," she said.
YES!

* * *

On the Twitters...

Booker is tweeting about his Restoring Justice plan to extend clemency to people serving excessive sentences: "I'll be blunt. No matter who wins, even if it isn't me, people unjustly incarcerated must be liberated—and I need everyone in this field to agree with me." Right on.

Warren is tweeting about the absolutely gobsmacking report last night that Donald Trump approved a military strike on Iran and then changed his mind: "Donald Trump promised to bring our troops home. Instead he has pulled out of a deal that was working and instigated another unnecessary conflict. There is no justification for further escalating this crisis — we need to step back from the brink of war."

Castro is tweeting about the federal court ruling to allow the Trump administration's family planning rules to take effect while challenges make their way through the courts: "Title X provides reproductive counseling and care to millions of women. This decision is dangerous and part of the Trump administration's efforts to attack women's health and eliminate access to abortion. We must fight back."

Senator Kamala Harris is tweeting about that ruling, too: "Disgraceful. The Trump administration has been given the go-ahead to prohibit health care providers that participate in Title X from referring patients for abortion services. Women will suffer because the administration is playing politics with health care. I will fight this."

Beto O'Rourke is tweeting about the latest horrific report about the conditions in which migrant children are being detained at the southern border: "Children caring for toddlers in immigrant jails, inadequate food and water for hundreds of kids, and weeks without bathing or clean clothes. They will struggle with this trauma the rest of their lives. We'll have it on our conscience for the rest of ours." Sob.

In other news...

The scourge of private prisons? Warren has a plan for that! And she has a Twitter thread about her plan, too, which begins thus: "Private prison companies have spent millions to turn our criminal and immigration policies into ones that prioritize making them rich instead of keeping us safe — with terrible consequences. Today I'm announcing my plan to end this private profiteering off of cruelty." Private profiteering off of cruelty. I am really just enormously pleased that the Democrats are finally talking about Republican policies as cruelty.

Biden continues to be a goddamn mess, and here's just a perfect headline at Politico about his shitshow of a campaign so far: "Grampa Simpson Runs for President." Here's a headline you don't want at the Washington Post: "Tensions Ripple Through Biden Campaign as His Past Working Relationship with a Segregationist Senator Comes to the Forefront." If anyone expected Biden to be more disciplined, and more decent, after being veep for 8 years, whooooooops your silly expectation.

Senator Bernie Sanders says that Warren is surging not because she's an excellent candidate who is campaigning really hard, but because she's a woman. (You know how Americans famously love electing women president.)

screenshot of CNN report featuring freeze-frame of Bernie Sanders making a grouchy face, beside text reading: 'Sanders on Warren's rise: People want a woman elected. | Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders partly attributed fellow candidate Sen. Elizabeth Warren's rise in the polls to the fact that some people want to see a woman elected president.'

Good freaking grief, Bernie.

Relatedly, this is one of the reasons why it's thrilling to have such a diverse field of candidates: "Companies were 79 times more likely to hire a woman and 194 times more likely to hire a person of color when the finalist pool included more than one woman or minority. This held true regardless of the number of finalists. ...[W]hen multiple diverse candidates enter the field, the status quo actually changes, and company decisions do, too. The playing field starts to level out." When you're not a token, you're more difficult to dismiss on the basis of your identity.

John Hickenlooper is still definitely running for president.

Talk about these things! Or don't. Whatever makes you happy. Life is short.

Open Wide...
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