Montana Governor Steve Bullock joins Hardball to talk about his 2020 candidacy for president (video)

[Celerity]

Steve Bullock: People are hungry for government that can work

https://www.msnbc.com/hardball/watch/steve-bullock-people-are-hungry-that-government-can-work-63976517904

[Bleacher Creature]

1. He needs to be called to account for this idiotic run for POTUS.

Normally I wouldn't care if he ran because he'd just be another participant in the JV debates, but he eschewed a chance to run for Senate, which is where he's badly needed.

[Celerity]

2. he was asked it again by Matthews, repeated he would not run, I do not know why, I think he would

beat Daines. If he doesn't end up on the ticket (he would make a great VP pick for the right top) he really should run for Senate. He is qualified for the Detroit debates, so that is his one and only chance to gain any traction. He does have over 2 million USD banked, despite his really late entry.

[sprinkleeninow]

3. Don't ask me why but I sent him some dough yesterday. He can use it

for his Senate quest if not POTUS or VP slot.

[Celerity]

6. I did too, the day he launched his campaign, and I also asked him to reconsider a Senate run IF

his POTUS run doesn't work out and he is not picked as VP (VP makes a Senate run very problematic as the filing date for Senate is March 9, 2020, and would not know about VP until near to the Convention.) He is pretty vehement that the Senate does not interest him at all, unfortunately. He says he is a pure executive type.

[sprinkleeninow]

8. Well, he's adamant on seeking CiC for now. Minds are known to change. 😊

I've been contributing to Inslee, Ryan and now Bullock. They have a future 'something', I feel.

Of course, I'm down with whomever our nominee will be.

Haven't donated to Bennett as yet. I may. Been considering it. I'm not American African heritage [that I know of 😊], but have a natural love for them bc of my childhood, high school years and even thru adulthood. And thus, have contributed a number of times to the Congressional Black Caucus.

How I operate: I go with my 'spirit'. Many times it's spot on, but once in a blue moon, not so.

[Celerity]

10. we are pretty close, swap out Ryan (he lost me when he said we need to stay in Afghanistan

for the foreseeable future) and pop in Bennet (plus obviously Pete, do not know where you stand on him)

and you have 4 of my top 5

Buttigieg
Abrams (IF she runs)
Bullock
Inslee
Bennet

The only other ones who have a shot IMHO are

Biden
Harris
Warren
Klobuchar

I think the most in play for VP (depending on the top of the ticket) are

Abrams
Harris
Pete
Bullock
Klobuchar
Deval Patrick (I can really see Biden going with him if Abrams and Harris both do not make it, as Obama really want him to run for POTUS and Joe is close with him as well)
Booker
Chris Murphy
Wild Card >>> 4 Star Admiral (Retired) William H. McRaven

I would have Harris in top 3 (maybe even in 2nd) but I think Medicare for All (and thus the doing away with private insurance (she retains it in a supplemental only role) is a general election loser. I am much more pragmatic in my US politics than my EU/UK politics. It is just the way the US is stacked via artificial RW Rethug manipulation via gerrymandering and voter suppression.

Also, and most obvious, I will support the nominee no matter who it is.

[sprinkleeninow]

11. Ima farrr behind. Chris Murphy is in contention?

Be still my heart. Connecticut. 😍

I know. That's silly off me.

Regarding Ryan, he got some other commendable positions, so he could retract on Afghanistan.

[sprinkleeninow]

12. If Pete is the one, I like. Only thing, he comes from a mayoral experience and not

from a gubernatorial or congressional experience. But what do I know....

[sprinkleeninow]

13. I agree, MfA is a deal breaker as is doing away with private or employer offered ins.

At this stage of the game in any event.

[mtnsnake]

7. "Idiotic"? Are you serious?

Last edited Wed Jul 17, 2019, 10:57 AM - Edit history (1)

Why on earth should he run for Montana Senate when his chances to become a senator in that state would be slim to none?? Bullock, IMO, would have a better chance of beating Trump than many of the other candidates in this race.

[JI7]

14. i don't think his chances for Senate would be slim but he just doesn't

seem to have interest in legislature . Howard dean was the same way. they just prefer serving in executive positions.

[karynnj]

17. Howard Dean did not have a real opening to run for the Senate

He was Governor for 12 years ending in early 2003. He then was already running for President. Starting in 2005, he was the head of the DNC, a job he very clearly loved. I saw Dean in Burlington in 2013 at a local Democratic event honoring him and Madeleine Kunin, the two Burlington area former Governors. Watching him answer questions, mostly from people he obviously knew well, he was far more enthusiastic when questions turned to how to win seats in purple areas and somewhat awkward when encouraged to run in 2016. I would assume that Dean was far more in his element in 2005/2006 as an excellent head of the DNC than he would have been challenging Sanders, who was the only VT Congressman, for the nomination for the Senate. (in fact, as the DNC chair and a Vermonter, he likely was part of the decision to tacitly support Sanders.)

Since 2009, Vermont has had the 2 Senators who pretty regularly have the top approval rating of the entire Senate. I don't think Dean could beat either Senator, if he wanted to challenge them, or our excellent Congress person, Peter Welch. As both Senators are old, if he wanted to there could be an opportunity in the future, but nothing suggests that that is what he wants. Consider also, that he is 70 years old and the Senate is a seniority based institution. The next normally scheduled Senate race would be Leahy's seat in 2022. It is very unlikely that he would become a chairman (or ranking member) of any committee until he was at least 78 years old.

[JI7]

4. did you see this ?

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bz_25svhebn/

[Celerity]

5. lol, nice!

[sprinkleeninow]

9. 😍

[Demsrule86]

15. Bullock should run for the Senate...I saw a Democrat running on MJ...and the guy is very nice and

is a mayor...smart too; but won't win in a 100 years...Bullock might win.

[mtnsnake]

16. Why? Because he'll end up being a major threat to Biden's chances for the Primary?

As soon as he gets to be known better throughout the country, Bullock is going to be very appealing, maybe even more so, to the same centrist voters as Biden is.

[Celerity]

18. if Abrams doesnt get in, Bullock is my 2nd choice, but he will have a tough time due to his

getting in late. He needs some big endorsements and to have a hell of a debate.

Even though I am not a centrist, I will only vote for a centre-left liberal for POTUS this go round. Too much at stake. M4A is an instant NO for me, or I would consider Harris. No clue why she jumped on the Bernie/Warren radical bandwagon there. She is solid in most other things.