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O'Rourke doesn't know if he's a progressive. (Original Post) WhiskeyGrinder Dec 2018 OP
I don't care what he is. I have one criteria for our 2020 candidate - the ability to beat Trump. Vinca Dec 2018 #1
Many people meet that criteria. Garrett78 Dec 2018 #6
Almost everyone meets that criteria. Almost. Hassin Bin Sober Dec 2018 #11
I'm not so sure about that. Look at how Trump blew through the primary. n/t pnwmom Dec 2018 #20
Not too many quality candidates in that bunch, though Sugarcoated Dec 2018 #24
People like Jeb Bush, Gov. of Florida, were thought to be "quality." pnwmom Dec 2018 #25
I don't agree about Biden at all Sugarcoated Dec 2018 #26
Agreed, great post. Trump is just a vulgar insulter, R B Garr Dec 2018 #30
How many debates have you seen Biden excel in? n/t pnwmom Dec 2018 #38
Against Palin and Ryan Sugarcoated Dec 2018 #46
This is what I'm afraid he could descend to in a debate with Trump. pnwmom Dec 2018 #47
the problem with the republican primary are the republican voters themselves. JI7 Dec 2018 #29
Trump will not be running scarytomcat Dec 2018 #42
The Republicans in the Senate are unlikely to convict him, pnwmom Dec 2018 #43
time will tell scarytomcat Dec 2018 #44
Trump benefited from a large field and winner-take-all primaries. And, as others have said... Garrett78 Dec 2018 #32
Hear hear! ananda Dec 2018 #14
At this point, that's all that matters. Tiggeroshii Dec 2018 #27
Well...., UncleTomsEvilBrother Dec 2018 #2
Agree. Doremus Dec 2018 #12
Golly jeez. TexasTowelie Dec 2018 #3
+1. n/t obnoxiousdrunk Dec 2018 #5
The first comment in the thread made me lol. violetpastille Dec 2018 #4
Here we go again Docreed2003 Dec 2018 #7
Whereas I don't like labels, either. I pay attention Cha Dec 2018 #33
His failure to support Pelosi was a bad sign pecosbob Dec 2018 #8
Yep. Remember just a couple days ago people lost their collective shit over even the prospect of... Hassin Bin Sober Dec 2018 #15
more likely it was a political move since he is from Texas and was seeking higher office JI7 Dec 2018 #21
It probably was, but his endorsement of Tim Ryan is, I admit, disturbing. Garrett78 Dec 2018 #37
In the US House, Beto O'Rourke belongs to the New Democrat Coalition Eric J in MN Dec 2018 #9
He voted with the Republicans for bank deregulation. That worries me. vsrazdem Dec 2018 #10
I'm not big on labels either. I think that is a good stance to take. nt Kahuna7 Dec 2018 #13
Good for Beto. ismnotwasm Dec 2018 #16
+1 grantcart Dec 2018 #17
I stand with Beto Gothmog Dec 2018 #18
Good for him. GulfCoast66 Dec 2018 #19
DING DING DING DING DING DING DING! NT Kahuna7 Dec 2018 #39
does anyone know where he stands on Gun Control ? JI7 Dec 2018 #22
here Tiggeroshii Dec 2018 #28
He was for background checks and bans/regulation of assault weapons. Pretty bold for a Texas race.n Blue_true Dec 2018 #45
Guess what? I like Beto n/t Liberal In Texas Dec 2018 #23
Good for Beto for rejecting divisive labels! We all know R B Garr Dec 2018 #31
He is a Texas Democrat and politically savvy for his age. WeekiWater Dec 2018 #34
Why don't we just let him be a Democrat for Christ sake. demosincebirth Dec 2018 #35
Good call. These days you don't know what people mean when they say progressive. betsuni Dec 2018 #36
It's become a hollowed out Skidmore Dec 2018 #40
Labels are divisive. Labels are dumb. Bucky Dec 2018 #41

pnwmom

(108,925 posts)
25. People like Jeb Bush, Gov. of Florida, were thought to be "quality."
Sat Dec 15, 2018, 01:51 AM
Dec 2018

It was only Trump who made them look lightweight.

Biden is basking in Obama's reflected glory, but he's nothing like Obama. He's not nearly as smart, and verbally, he's gaffe prone. Trump could blow him out of the water.

Sugarcoated

(7,707 posts)
26. I don't agree about Biden at all
Sat Dec 15, 2018, 01:59 AM
Dec 2018

I very much look forward to their debates if Joe is the candidate.

Jeb was a "safe" establishment "respectable" Republican who was afraid of Trump. Crooked Don ran circles around them on his stances, he was all over the map, unstable, they didn't know how to respond. They all seemed very inauthentic, reactive. Joe won't be.

R B Garr

(16,920 posts)
30. Agreed, great post. Trump is just a vulgar insulter,
Sat Dec 15, 2018, 02:07 AM
Dec 2018

not a debater. He got away with it before because of the spectacle, but he’s a cornered rat now.

Biden also came up with “a noun, a verb, and 9/11,” one of the most brilliant put-downs ever, so he can hold his own pretty well.

scarytomcat

(1,706 posts)
42. Trump will not be running
Sat Dec 15, 2018, 12:21 PM
Dec 2018

if you don't know if you are a progressive, you probably aren't
so time to become one

pnwmom

(108,925 posts)
43. The Republicans in the Senate are unlikely to convict him,
Sat Dec 15, 2018, 12:27 PM
Dec 2018

even if the House impeaches him.

So Trump could well be running.

scarytomcat

(1,706 posts)
44. time will tell
Sat Dec 15, 2018, 12:33 PM
Dec 2018

I think he will resign for a pardon to stay out of jail
and rethugs are turning on him
and many of them may be in hot water too
follow the money

Garrett78

(10,721 posts)
32. Trump benefited from a large field and winner-take-all primaries. And, as others have said...
Sat Dec 15, 2018, 02:54 AM
Dec 2018

...the Republican electorate is much different than the Democratic electorate. There were factors at play in 2016 that won't be in 2020. We had a Democratic nominee who had been under ruthless attack for 3 decades, Comey's last minute announcement and Trump was new (he still has a cult following, but he's even more hated now than he was 2 years ago).

MI and PA were blue for 6 straight elections prior to 2016, and WI was blue for 7 straight. I think any number of potential Democratic nominees will carry all 3 states, which would give our nominee 278 electoral votes. Because I don't think Trump can carry a single state that Clinton won. Be it VA or NV or CO, I just can't see Trump winning any state that he lost in '16.

Other states that will be in play include Florida (which is less red in presidential elections), North Carolina, Arizona and Georgia. Maybe even Iowa, Ohio and Texas. At the very least, Republicans will be forced to spend money in those states.

There's also a chance that some right winger will launch a 3rd party bid and pick off a state such as Utah, which would make Trump's path to 270 even more challenging. This is assuming Trump doesn't resign between now and then.

My strong preference is for Harris, but there are other potential candidates who can win.

 

Tiggeroshii

(11,088 posts)
27. At this point, that's all that matters.
Sat Dec 15, 2018, 02:02 AM
Dec 2018

I think the odds are best if he's at the top of the ticket though. His effect would be watered down as VP, and he would be less likely than he already is to carry Texas.

2. Well....,
Fri Dec 14, 2018, 04:22 PM
Dec 2018

I am, and I'll be voting for progressive candidates. I suggest Beto make up his mind. This little foray into the "middle of the road" needs to come with caution. I'd like to think that I'm smart enough to know politics, and I know people have to say certain things for votes, but Beto's gentle affect may serve to his detriment if he comes off as uncertain.

Doremus

(7,261 posts)
12. Agree.
Fri Dec 14, 2018, 04:59 PM
Dec 2018

Before supporting him I would have to see his voting record and platform. I've heard rumblings on other sites that he is not as progressive as we might hope. I'll reserve judgment until I know the facts.

Docreed2003

(16,817 posts)
7. Here we go again
Fri Dec 14, 2018, 04:29 PM
Dec 2018

I'm sure the purity police will waste no time in attacking Beto for giving anything less than a full throated "I'm a Progressive".

Cha

(295,899 posts)
33. Whereas I don't like labels, either. I pay attention
Sat Dec 15, 2018, 02:59 AM
Dec 2018

to what they do.. not what they call themselves. And, I notice what they disingenuously try to label someone else as.

Very telling.

pecosbob

(7,502 posts)
8. His failure to support Pelosi was a bad sign
Fri Dec 14, 2018, 04:32 PM
Dec 2018

I'm assuming it was not because he found her politics to be too conservative...just sayin'. How many here were recently slamming all the 'Dems' among the Problem Solvers for this? Granted he hails from my home state of Texas and in local comparison that makes him Karl Marx.

Hassin Bin Sober

(26,272 posts)
15. Yep. Remember just a couple days ago people lost their collective shit over even the prospect of...
Fri Dec 14, 2018, 05:00 PM
Dec 2018

.... not supporting Pelosi.

Garrett78

(10,721 posts)
37. It probably was, but his endorsement of Tim Ryan is, I admit, disturbing.
Sat Dec 15, 2018, 04:05 AM
Dec 2018

I take comfort in the fact that, at least now, Beto seems to have a pretty good grasp of how important it is to address systemic racism, unlike Ryan.

I'm certainly open to Beto as VP.

Eric J in MN

(35,619 posts)
9. In the US House, Beto O'Rourke belongs to the New Democrat Coalition
Fri Dec 14, 2018, 04:34 PM
Dec 2018

...which is subservient to corporate lobbyists.

He doesn't belong to the Progressive Caucus.

GulfCoast66

(11,949 posts)
19. Good for him.
Sat Dec 15, 2018, 12:47 AM
Dec 2018

Call me a liberal, a social democrat or a bleeding heart. I embrace them all.

Don’t call me a progressives. I read history. Your definition of progressive may well not jive with the history of the movement.

JI7

(89,173 posts)
22. does anyone know where he stands on Gun Control ?
Sat Dec 15, 2018, 01:22 AM
Dec 2018

for me things like gun control, abortion rights and other issues and where they stand on those will be more important than what they claim to be.

 

Tiggeroshii

(11,088 posts)
28. here
Sat Dec 15, 2018, 02:03 AM
Dec 2018

this should give you an idea:




Require background checks for all gun sales to ensure that firearms only get into the hands of responsible, law-abiding individuals. This means finally closing the gun show, online, and boyfriend loopholes.
Stop selling weapons of war and high-capacity magazines to ensure that firearms designed to kill as effectively and efficiently as possible on the battlefield aren’t used in our schools, our streets, our churches, and our concerts.
Block the erosion of Texas’ license to carry standards by opposing Concealed Carry Reciprocity, which would force Texas to allow anyone from states with weak to nonexistent conceal carry laws to disregard our own public safety requirements.
Fully support federal research on gun violence so that we can better understand and address its root causes.


https://betofortexas.com/issue/gun-safety/

Blue_true

(31,261 posts)
45. He was for background checks and bans/regulation of assault weapons. Pretty bold for a Texas race.n
Sat Dec 15, 2018, 12:39 PM
Dec 2018

R B Garr

(16,920 posts)
31. Good for Beto for rejecting divisive labels! We all know
Sat Dec 15, 2018, 02:11 AM
Dec 2018

what is trying to be pinned on him, so good for him.

 

WeekiWater

(3,259 posts)
34. He is a Texas Democrat and politically savvy for his age.
Sat Dec 15, 2018, 03:23 AM
Dec 2018

He wouldn’t join the Congressional Progressive Caucus. He is a member of the New Democrat Coalition. He advocates that congresspersons shouldn’t join any caucus and should work with everyone.

Two things I know about O’Rourke...

1) He is a new shiny object and we Democrats seem to really like shiny new things at the national level.

2) He is a progressive willing to compromise on legislation.

I don’t think he can win if he runs for President this time around. People will quickly learn that inspiring in Texas in a run against Cruz is much different than being inspiring on a stage with Warren, Sanders, Booker, Harris, etc.

Bucky

(53,795 posts)
41. Labels are divisive. Labels are dumb.
Sat Dec 15, 2018, 11:34 AM
Dec 2018

Labels are divisive for people who are too lazy to think through the issues. People use them to prescribe rather than describe candidates.

Because he's hot right now, Beto O'Rourke is getting a lot of smears. Because people who are interested in smearing other candidates are intellectually lazy, all they can come up with are unresearched, clueless, ridiculous label attacks.

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