I just saw Steyer's commercial and don't get it

[StarfishSaver]

He claims that as a businessman, he can "go head-to-head against Trump and expose him as a fraud and a failure."

How does that make him suited to be president? Can't he call out Trump as a fraud and a failure without running for president?

You should vote for me for president because I can tell everyone how awful Trump is just isn't compelling pitch to me.

[Me.]

1. Vote For Him Because He'll Be A Better Billionaire Businessman In The Wh

[Garrett78]

43. That's his niche. And it ain't gonna work.

That he might buy his way onto the stage in September is infuriating.

[Me.]

46. Very Infuriating

but also very informative and tells us he's not much different than you know who

[Garrett78]

48. I think the DNC should implement a "Yang cutoff." If you can't beat Andrew Yang, you leave the race.

How anyone who hasn't already made the cut for September can think continuing to run is a good use of resources is beyond me. Most people aren't going to bother trying to distinguish between 20 candidates. It's not healthy to have so many people muddying the water.

When Andrew Yang has made the cut and you haven't, it's time to bow out gracefully.

[Thekaspervote]

2. I want someone with BIG background and experience of the inner workings of our government

Foreign policy, environmental and civil rights issues, women’s rights. The economy is important and I’m sure he has quite a bit to say about it. That isn’t enough

Where’s the outrage about his comments!

[StevieM]

8. Tom Steyer has been fighting for environmental justice for many years. (eom)

[StarfishSaver]

12. So have lots of people.

Why does that make him think - and why should we agree - that he should be president of the United States?

[Autumn]

15. What makes any Democrat think they should be president of the United States?

[StarfishSaver]

16. The other Democrats are all talking about what makes them qualified to be president and what they'd

in office if elected.They're not saying "Vote for me because I can convince people Donald Trump is a fake and a fraud."

[Autumn]

19. So is Steyer. Just because you don't watch his commercials and his events doesn't mean they don't

happen. You're judging him on one comment. He's very intelligent on just about any matter he is questioned on and he has a great platform. You're wrong though, one top candidate is saying vote for me because I alone can beat Trump, only he's not calling Trump a fake and a fraud.

[StarfishSaver]

20. It's not my job to dig around to understand his message

It's on him to communicate a message to me. And the message I'm getting through his commercials that are being broadcast where I am is that I should vote for him because he can expose Trump. If that's not an accurate depiction of his message, he needs to do a better job of communicating it.

[Autumn]

21. No one said it was your job. Point is you don't like one comment and no matter how good a job

communicating his platform he does if you don't want to listen or aren't curious enough it really doesn't matter. That goes for any politician. He has other commercials than that one so vote for him because he can expose Trump isn't all he is.

[StarfishSaver]

22. I haven't seen a single commercial in my area in which he talks about why he should be president

and what he would do if elected.

If I had, I wouldn't have started this thread. If he has a message beyond "vote for me because I'm a billionaire who can take on Trump," he needs to do a better job of disseminating it. Because it's sure not getting to where I am.

[Autumn]

23. Like I said, I didn't like that one either. Trump is merely a symptom of the problem and

any of our candidates can beat him.

[StarfishSaver]

24. Check out his website

Lots of ideas, but no plans. And most of those ideas are not things a president has any control over - like Congressional term limits or supporting election reform election reform. "Join me in calling for these necessary changes to the fabric of our government" isn't an effective message in a presidential campaign.

His campaign seems to be all about calling for change but offering nothing concrete about what he would do to effect it.

[pangaia]

26. EGO !!

Among other things...

Just think of the ego necessary to ever think such a thing.. anywhere in the world...

[stonecutter357]

53. lol so ?

[JI7]

3. there are people on both sides who find that shit appealing

even if he is successful at what he did its different than being in public office.

remember Jesse Ventura. he said things that just made sense to people but he was a shitty governor.

this is why i want people to run for lower office first.

[Thekaspervote]

29. Very good point.

[msongs]

4. we have experience with a president who is a billionaire. once is enuff IMO nt

[StarfishSaver]

5. We've never had a billionaire president

We just have one who claims he's a billionaire when he was probably flat broke or close to it.

But I don't have a problem with a billionaire president. I just don't want any more presidents who think they should be president BECAUSE they're a billionaire. Making a lot of money isn't a qualification for the presidency.

[cwydro]

6. Hmm.

Interesting.

[trixie2]

7. He knows he won't win

His purpose is to keep the talking points of climate change, social justice etc at the forefront of our party.

[JI7]

10. why doesn't he endorse Elizabeth WArren ?

[Thekaspervote]

30. I'll buy that!!

[Garrett78]

44. There are much better advocates for those issues. Steyer needs to go away.

He can put his money to much better use. Nobody is ignoring climate change or racism or sexism.

[oasis]

9. Successful in the "Put your money where your mouth is" Department.

He rates at least, a glance.

[StarfishSaver]

11. Why?

[oasis]

25. If Dems treat him fairly he'll surely be more generous to the

campaign of the eventual winner. Steyer's contributions to important senate races could also rise or fall depending on our level of respect

[StarfishSaver]

34. He has to run for president and be treated "fairly" by Demo days before he'll be "generous"

to the Democratic nominee and Senate candidates?

That sounds like some Trump shish right there ...

[spooky3]

41. IIRC, he donated a lot of money to Dem campaigns

and get out the vote efforts in 2018.

He would not be my top choice among Democrats, but I believe he is very sincere and, unlike other CEOs, he supports Dems. and is appalled by Trump.

On edit: https://www.politico.com/story/2018/08/13/tom-steyer-get-out-the-vote-10-million-775253

[StarfishSaver]

42. That's great. But why should he be president of the United States?

[questionseverything]

52. why shouldnt he be?

looks like he has done as much to win back the house as any other candidate or more

besides he has the balls to push impeachment because it is our Constitutional duty...puts him head and shoulders above the speaker of the house

<shrugs>

[StarfishSaver]

56. Helping to win back the House and pushing for impeachment don't qualify one to be President

any more than having gotten rich does.

[questionseverything]

59. obama had very little experience before he was elected, he certainly was qualified

actually according to the law all you have to do is be born here and 35 to be qualified

[StarfishSaver]

61. Tom Steyer isn't Barack Obama

Not even close.

And Barack Obama didn't tell us he should be president because he could make the Republican nominee look bad. He had a record in politics and government and presented specific policies and plans for governance.

I expect more of a president than that they simply be 35 and older and native-born. According to the law, Ivanka Trump is technically qualified to be president, but that doesn't mean she has any business running for the office or expecting anyone to vote for her. That goes for a couple of hundred million other people, too.

[questionseverything]

62. steyer has been a tremedous help to the democratic party for years

you are some nameless ,faceless guy on the net bashing him

if you don't like him don't support him but he has every right to run

Obama was in his first 2 years as a senator when he decided to run, he had barely any experience and his big idea the public option....well we all know that never happened


I wish we had ranked choice voting so a guy like steyer could be supported without it hurting other like minded candidates but the dnc will never allow that

[oasis]

49. If any candidate has the perception that the "party faithful" treated

them unfairly, or disrespectful in his/her efforts to achieve the presidency, it's not "Trump shish" to imagine they would hold back whole hearted support of their resources.

Believe me, it happens. Just take the time to search your memory.

[StarfishSaver]

50. Believing he's being "treated unfairly or disrespectfully" by rules everyone else is following

is the very hallmark of being Trumpish. It even sounds like Trump who whines constantly about how he's not being treated fairly or respectfully.

If Steyer doesn't like the rules that apply to everyone's "efforts to achieve the presidency" and will only support other Democrats if the rules are changed to suit him, that says an awful lot about him and his motivations.

[oasis]

51. Steyer's being upset by the DNC rules was never my concern. nt

[Autumn]

13. I didn't see that one but I agree, vote for me for president because I can tell everyone how

how awful Trump is or I'm the only one can beat up Trump toe to toe is irritating as hell.

[mtnsnake]

14. I don't entirely agree with his message there, but his message is no worse than Biden's message

that the most important thing in this campaign is not who would make the best president but who is most apt to beat Trump, one on one.

I like Steyer because he was one of the first people to bring much needed attention to the country about impeaching Trump, but he needs to also get the message across explaining why he'd make a good president, not just how he'd be able to expose Trump for the fraud that he is.

[Thekaspervote]

31. Biden's message is not who can beat dotard....solely, every candidate wants that

[Cha]

58. Biden's message is who would be the BEST

and BEATrump.

Best Combination

[treestar]

17. Being a successful businessman does not mean one is going to be a political leader

of any effectiveness. This one has gotten past tired, even in the Perot days. No, they don't know enough about negotiating where their power is not the same thing as being a CEO whose butt gets kissed constantly and who has unlimited power of purse strings in the business setting. One would thing the Dotard's reign of error would put an end to this strange wish people have that an outsider businessman can shake things up for the better.

[StarfishSaver]

18. He may have what it takes to be an effective president.

But "I made a lot of money, so I can expose Trump as a fake and a fraud" ain't it.

[question everything]

27. Worse. Being a business owner, not just a CEO who is beholden to board of directors

and to shareholders, means that he is not accountable to anyone (except the laws of the land, of course).

Like Trump he can get up in the morning and decide to issue an executive order and to expect his minions to follow.

Like Trump, he can fire anyone who does not follow his direct orders, or dare to offer a different idea

And like Trump, he can consider all the rules and regulations, Congress, Federal agencies, foreign leaders as hindrance.

We already know what a business owner can do to the country, to the world, even when of course, all business owners are not the same.

[Funtatlaguy]

28. Steyer's reasons for running tops most of our 25 field.

Most are vanity and/or increasing their brand candidates.
At least Steyer cares about the planet dying.

[Thekaspervote]

32. A very harsh opinion on your part... which is factless

[Funtatlaguy]

33. Very subjective process it is. True.

[Hortensis]

35. Wow. I can't imagine feeling that way, and it always

gobsmacks me when I run into it. Like here in the Bible Belt, where many otherwise normal people "live" in a dark, scary world where demons are always causing big troubles and threatening to steal our souls.

But they at least have a "glorious" alternative to pin their trust and hopes on. I have real trouble imagining Steyer as a single light of goodness, but then I also don't see our party as a den of darkness and corruption, or of demons. I guess you must need one, though, and at least you've found him.

[Funtatlaguy]

36. What? I dontback him. His passion about climate change

Just like Enslee was laudable.
I can’t tell you why many others are running.

[Hortensis]

37. Oh, sorry, Warren. I did miss that, and with Inslee 3 lights,

somewhat different from what I assumed from your dismissal of the rest of our candidates.

You should probably add Biden. He's been an important person in congress for environmental groups since he arrived in 1972, and the League of Conservation Voters, who keep records on everyone who's served in congress, thinks very highly of him. His lifetime record at 83% is far better than most who served before this last decade; unfortunately, his scorecard ends with 2007 so it doesn't benefit from these last years when the vast majority of Democrats are at 100% or very close to. They break those ratings down by category of legislation, btw; the climate change category didn't begin until 1990 but most legislation was assigned overall to other categories before this century.

Btw, records can be very misleading for the years Republicans have controlled and blocked all climate legislation. Maybe take a look at how Republicans scored before Democrats called for climate actions in the late 1960s and 1970s and how their scores changed once they committed to stopping Democrats. Very enlightening.

[Funtatlaguy]

38. We have about 10 really serious viable candidates.

But people like Messam, Gravel, Williamson, Gabbard, Delaney have had their 15 minutes in the spotlight.
They should follow Swalwell, Hickenlooper, Inslee and Moulton out the door.

[Funtatlaguy]

39. Biden will be our nominee,I believe. And I'm fine with Joe

Beautiful heart. Great smile. Great wife, great work ethic.
He’s more moderate than me. But, that might be a good thing this time around.

[Hortensis]

40. On both posts, boy did I misunderstand. Sorry again.

Agree on those departures and just sorry about Inslee.

Joe's definitely more moderate-liberal than me, always has been, but as you say. He's a lifelong liberal. In this scary era, I'm just really glad that we have a current leader who's qualified, well liked with broad support, and sounds the principled notes I want sounded -- as well as other viable choices to consider.

Biden's taking hits for not being "exciting" since that poll that asked about it, but that's hardly the fault of someone almost everyone feels they've known for years. Only the new or dangerously disruptive or disordered can be exciting. Speaking of, what's been happening in France...?

[Funtatlaguy]

45. We are blessed with some brilliant

Candidates. Beto, Booker, Castro all are great too.
I really like Harris and Klobuchar too.
I just think our country is so overdue for a woman
But the main thing is to get that horrible nightmare out of the White House.

[Hortensis]

47. +1000.

[JI7]

55. if he is passionate about it why didn't he support Inslee ?

[YOHABLO]

54. We need as many good ideas as we can get. Let him speak.

This Primary is just getting started.

[StarfishSaver]

57. Lots of people have good ideas. That doesn't mean they should run for president.

So far, all I've seen from him are ideas, but few plans for actually implementing them.

If the only way he can "speak" is to buy his way into a presidential campaign, maybe his ideas aren't all that great.

[Kurt V.]

60. he runs ads for impeachment too. Possible turn off for some ppl.