About Pete? One simple sentence:

[Stuart G]

If this country can elect as President of the United States, a brilliant, kind Afro American, a totally stupid and selfish businessman, then why not elect a gay, brilliant, and exceptionally kind, 37 year old Rhodes Scholar who is mayor of South Bend Indiana?

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

1. I'm starting to really like Mayor Pete...a lot!! I want to hear more about where he stands...

on progressive issues.


Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[Stuart G]

2. If Mayor Pete is a legitimate as has been spoken here,..then after a while, the

contrast with Trump will be amazing. I have not heard him speak, but will listen to a number of posts right here at Democratic Underground. I need to hear him. But at this moment, Pete is clearly impressive. So much so that we need Pete as a contrast to Dope Don Trump. It would restore faith in the United States with the rest of the world.
......Just now I changed my preference to Pete. Why Not?

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

3. The little I've heard is impressive... he has an interesting, unique way of presenting issues

that makes you perk up and really listen to his thoughtful ideas. Hard to believe the guy's only 37... wise WAY beyond his years!!


Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[LuvNewcastle]

7. He is intelligent, but relatable.

That is a rare combination.

[thegoose]

5. Smart as a whip

And not afraid to call out Dump and Dense on their sleaziness.

[Maru Kitteh]

35. He calls Trump & Rs out, but the way he does it makes you feel hopeful and optimistic, rather

than trafficking in anger and bitterness, which doesn't appeal to me at all.

I simply cannot stand the non-stop angry shouting typical of a candidate who would deliver a second victory for the Kremlin and send our country onto the scrap heap of history with another Trump term.

[marlakay]

6. I heard him on the view twice

The first time they only gave him one short 5 min segment the second time on Friday they gave him two times. And the women really went after him on different stuff. He held his own and I loved his answer about religion even though I am not religious.

He said my church teaches me to help those in need.

He also talked about the importance of going on Fox and why he wants to talk to everyone.

My first thought was will America vote for a young gay guy, my second thoughts I forgot that listening to him.

[Still In Wisconsin]

4. So long as he's not a hardcore Notre Dame fan, I'm all for him!

Kidding about the Notre Dame thing...mostly. But I like Mayor Pete a LOT!

[onlyadream]

8. I'm on board.

I love him, and hope he becomes the nominee.

[Master_Monstruwacan]

9. No Thanks

Sorry, but I don't want to hear about any candidate's "faith." Faith is not a reliable path to truth. Is there any position that one could NOT take, based on "faith"?

[defacto7]

12. Like most polititians in the past it could go unsaid

or less said. I'm atheist and it bugs me a bit, but I can deal with it considering his background and liberal stance. So far his outward religious speak is the only thing about him that bothers me but I'll be open-minded about it.

[AlexSFCA]

23. His religious stance is a great antidote to religious right

We need both religious left and non-religious atheists to fight against religious right.

[Maru Kitteh]

38. Kamala Harris: "With faith in God, with fidelity to country, and with the fighting spirit I got from

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

Kamala Harris merges politics and religion in Los Angeles

The houses of worship have become a rite of passage for candidates campaigning for Los Angeles mayor, as well as state and federal offices. Dropping into the West Angeles Church Of God In Christ, Harris bumped into former President Bill Clinton, there on behalf of Hillary Clinton, and the two greeted each other (A spokesman confirmed they did not discuss California’s U.S. Senate race, or Harris.)

Thompson, who hosted Clinton on Saturday, said he made the exceptions because of the stakes of Tuesday’s primary election and the candidates running. Harris’ campaign bus arrived with several current and former officeholders, including Diane Watson, Yvonne Brathwaite Burke and Karen Bass.

You're not going to be getting an open atheist for a candidate, as nice as that would be.
It would be an exceptionally stupid thing to hang our hat on, considering the fact that Donald Trump likely IS an actual atheist, or, more accurately, a Trumptheist.

[AlexSFCA]

10. The most impressive candidate since Obama

IMO, he can win a debate with Biden. Partially, because Biden’s selling point will likely be restoring decency in WH, etc. Pete wants to move forward in a new direction which will be more appealing to most folks. Pete will slaughter Biden in debate cause he served in a military whereas Biden did not and yet he supported invasion in Libya...

[BannonsLiver]

15. LOL take it down a notch

[Maru Kitteh]

39. right?

[oasis]

22. If Mayor Pete becomes the eventual nominee's VP, he and Pence

will have an interesting debate.

[defacto7]

11. and who played Gershwin Rhapsody in Blue as the piano soloist

with the South Bend Symphony Orchestra. A concert pianist no less.

[TreasonousBastard]

24. Gershwin? That adds a good 10 points right there. Add some...

Ellington and I'm in.

[CaptYossarian]

13. Pete Unpronouncible would be our second gay president.

James Buchanan brought his partner (total of 28 years together) to live in the White House. The press called him (privately) the First Gentleman, never revealing this to the public--just as nobody ever saw FDR's wheelchair a century later.

I didn't realize Pete was a Rhodes Scholar. That adds points to my still undecided mind. I only know the ones I've eliminated so far.

[secondwind]

28. Boot-edge-edge. That's it.

[USALiberal]

31. Budda Judge for me. Nt

[Celerity]

67. not just a Rhodes Scholar, he earned an Oxford First (crazy hard to do) in their PPE programme

https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/courses-listing/philosophy-politics-and-economics?wssl=1

PPE was born of the conviction that study of the great modern works of economic, social, political and philosophical thought would have a transformative effect on students’ intellectual lives, and thereby on society at large. This conviction remains as firm today as it was then. As the world has evolved, so has PPE. The course brings together some of the most important approaches to understanding the world around us, developing skills useful for a wide range of careers and activities.

PPE is a highly flexible degree which allows you to shape your own path through it: you may choose to specialise in two branches at the end of the first year, or continue with all three. You can also explore a wide variety of disciplines under the overarching headings of Philosophy, Politics, and Economics - for example, you can specialise in Sociology or International Relations by choosing the relevant Politics options.

Studying philosophy develops analytical, critical and logical rigour, enabling you to apply these skills to questions concerning how we acquire knowledge or make ethical judgements.

In turn, the study of politics provides a thorough understanding of the impact of political institutions on modern societies. It helps you to evaluate the choices that political systems must regularly make, to explain the processes that maintain or change those systems, and to examine the concepts and values used in political analysis.

Economics is the study of how consumers, firms and government make decisions that collectively determine how resources are allocated. An appreciation of economics has become increasingly necessary to make sense of governmental policy-making, the conduct of businesses and the enormous economic transformations throughout the world. All three branches of PPE at Oxford have an international reputation, supported by more than 200 renowned scholars.

snip

[louis c]

14. Great Sentiment. But I'd Rather Win, and Pete Can't Win (IMHO) (NT)

[sellitman]

16. This is not a snarky reply.

I'm just curious as to why you feel this way?

[louis c]

17. Pete does not have the credentials...

...does not have a base of support. Can't get above 1% in any polls.

There is nothing more important in American History, other than winning WWII and the Civil War, than beating Donald Trump in 2020.

This is going to be a heavy weight fight for the existence of the American Republic. Joe Biden brings that cred to the battle. Trump's chaos causes the average American to long for the Obama days. All polls indicate that Obama's popularity is 20 points higher than Trump's. There is no need to educate the average voter who will decide this election (who makes up about 10% of the voters, IMHO) about Biden. Any Democrat will get 40% of the vote. Trump will start with 40% of the vote. Any unknown candidate will have to try to win over a majority of that 20% middle vote. I estimate, of that 20%, 10% to 15% are very ill informed as to the government or even politics and they don't vote on issues, they vote of feelings. Biden makes this group comfortable. His personality, his knowledge, his experience are all well known. Pete and frankly, most of the rest of the Democratic class, will have to educate people that are not interested in spending the time to learn. I'm sorry it's this way, but it is. Trump frightens a lot of people. But that squishy middle voter, they know something's wrong, but is that feeling enough to try something basically unknown?

Now please, don't give me the "when they get to know Pete, they'll love him" argument. This middle 10% will not spend the time to learn, and Trump & co. will move heaven and earth to scare the shit out of them (remember, this is the least informed 10% of the voters and they work at staying that way).

I am pragmatic in my thinking. I lived through 1968 (16 yrs old) and Watergate. I was for McGovern in 1972, my first chance to vote. But all the idealism in the world doesn't mean shit if you don't win the election. The Democrats held the White House for 4 of the 24 years between Nixon's first term (1968) and the end of G.W. Bush's first term (1992). That meant from the time I was 16 years old, until the time I turned 40, the Republicans controlled the White House in all but 4 years.

I have seen this act before. This is going to be a tough election as it is, let's not make it any harder.

[RLG]

18. He's very impressive, but he's going through a honeymoon period.

The press loves him, but as everyone knows, this will not last.

Someone will find something that isn't "right" just to bring him down. It'll be interesting how he will handle this.

[marylandblue]

36. Yes they will find something wrong with every candidate, including Biden

The winner is not going to be the one with the fewest wrong things, it will be the one with the best responses to whatever real or imagined faults he may have.

This is Trump's secret. Over 30 years, he has developed an array of tools to manipulate the media, allowing him to get away with things that.would have killed any other candidate.

I've looked at Buttigieg on TV and read his twitter feed. I think he has developed his own set of tools to handle the media, which have already gotten him more attention than other long shot candidates. This is not an accident.

[sellitman]

19. A well thought out response. Thank you.

I'm not far behind you in years and I do like Joe. However, I remember and unknown guy named Bill who came on like gangbusters out of no where and the rest is history.

It's early. This Pete guy is hitting all the right notes and may excite the youth of this country like no other candidate before. If they come out and vote then it may be the best thing going.

Cheers,

Kevin

[louis c]

27. I remember Bill being a Governor and the field being small

[defacto7]

20. Better check the polls again.

[louis c]

25. Are you kidding me?

The most Important poll numbers are head to head against Trump. Biden is the strongest and Pete doesn't even register.

Pete is a very good city Council candidate in a big city like Chicago or Boston. Other than that, he's a light weight for President.

Link:
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/fox-news-poll-biden-sanders-top-democratic-preference

[defacto7]

33. Fox News? Are you kidding me?

Not that your not making your opinion clear whether I agree or not but be careful using rw news sources with a link. That could be a tos violation if someone wanted to alert. I won't but there's a clear explanation in the tos.

[louis c]

53. fox News had biden beating Trump by 8 points

your candidate is a nice guy, but he's a joke as a candidate.

The list of candidates who have any chance of beating Trump is maybe, 3 or 4 people, and your guy ain't one of them.

Besides that, it's not just the Fox poll that demonstrates that Pete's an also ran, it's every national poll, Fox is just the latest.

Concentrate on beating Trump, not just making a statement.

[defacto7]

61. You know, I agree with you more than you may think.

I think the difference is that right here and now is the only time in this campaign where we are going to be able to make a statement about our political ideology. This is it, because in the end we will all have to vote for who will beat the shit head who's in office now. We had better. But the party and the public need to know where our hearts are. It's important for all of us to understand that there are other greater goals in life and politics than empowering the GOP by letting them force us to choose who to vote for by default. That's what happens when we give up our standards because their Trump is so bad that we'll take anyone no matter who it is.

Biden is a viable choice but not the only one and I'd be proud to vote for him. I won't play your power game and call your candidate a joke. There are no democratic candidates who anyone can call a joke; they are all exceptional people in their own right.

In the end we have to slay the dragon but right now I want people to know where I stand, and then when the time comes I'll put aside my best hopes and pick up the sword. Count on it. No joke.

[louis c]

66. This is not a regular election. Historically, this is more like Germany in 1932.

And that's not a joke.

There are 3 viable candidates, in my opinion. Joe Biden, because he can relate to the white working class, especially in the rust belt and other mid-western states. He's strongest in a general election for the very reason he is weaker in the primaries. A long record of moderate positions and a sense of bipartisanship. Bernie is Bernie. He will bring a legion of young voters, but the Republicans are already pulling that socialist shit on the Democrats. The voters we need are ill informed and inattentive to policy and politics. They only make up about 10% of the electorate, but we need to win a clear majority of them over to win this election. Although a strong candidate, I'm afraid we need to explain economics too much to people with a 2 minute attention span. And Kamala Harris. She will energize our base. College educated women and people of color.

What formula worked for us in the recent past? Obama-Biden. Obama energized our base and Biden reassured the white working class voter so necessary to carry the critical mid-western states.

Biden-Harris gives us the best shot to win this thing. Biden reminds a weary electorate of a calmer, more dignified
White House and Kamala energizes our base and speaks to our future. Biden-Harris, with Joe Biden pledging to be a one term president and not seeking re-election. Standing as an emergency stop gap to get us through this crisis, with Kamala waiting in the wings is the most imaginative, qualified, unified ticket we can produce.

I don't want to educate voters for two reasons. The ones we need don't want to listen, they just want to "vote their feelings". The other is, we need the focus to be exclusively on Trump. This is not the time for an "experimental candidate" at the top of the ticket. This is a time for all hands on deck because we are truly in a state of emergency

[USALiberal]

21. Nice try.......

https://www.newsweek.com/pete-buttigieg-third-place-democratic-2020-biden-sanders-1373473

[louis c]

32. Wow, a whole 1% nationally in RCP.

How can we ever avoid that freight train?

<snip.A summary by Real Clear Politics give Buttigieg an average of 1.3 percent among Democratic voters. Biden leads nationally with an average of 29.4 percent and Sanders trails not too far behind with 23.4 percent. <snip>

[defacto7]

34. Real Clear Politics, isn't that another rw news source?

Honest mistake I'm sure.

[louis c]

42. No...they just an average all the polls, right wing, left wing and neutral

and Pete comes in at a whopping 1%.

[defacto7]

44. Here's an interesting read...

Factcheck

Not as bad as some but definitely not progressive, liberal or even dead center. A lot of rcp articles fail fact checks. Leans center-right.

[louis c]

45. All they do is list the polls. I like Pete, but he's a one percenter

1% in the polls


https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/latest_polls/democratic_nomination_polls/

[marylandblue]

37. This isn't about educating the voter, it's about firing them up.

And I'm sorry, but "vote for me, I'm credible," isn't really an inspiring bumper sticker, no matter how experienced and credible he is.

The one Democrat who won from 1968 to 1992 was Jimmy Carter, who was still "Jimmy Who?" at this point in 1976 campaign and was polling at 1% in early 1975. George Wallace and Hubert Humphrey were the front runners at this time

In early 1991, Clinton was polling at 1.7%, there at least 6better known candidates in the race and George Bush was considered unbeatable because of his easy victory in the Kuwait War.

https://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/04/04/a-brief-history-of-primary-polling-part-ii/

I suggest your consider re-examining your experience. Did you pick Carter or Clinton at this point in those years? Do you think we would have done better in 1976 with the well-known, well-qualified, but prior loser Hubert Humphrey?

[louis c]

43. And he ended Democratic dominace for a generation

You can give me all the nonsense you want, but Carter and Clinton were 2 term Governors. Pete is a small town Mayor.

Prior loser, Humphrey? Like Prior loser Nixon, Reagan and G.W. Bush. Clinton would never have won without Perot in the race.

Maybe you can tell me the last time a Mayor from a city of less than 200,000, as his only experience, won the Presidency?

[marylandblue]

46. You are giving me nonsense.

There's a first time for everything. Trump was the first President with absolutely ZERO government experience. None, nada, zip. No matter who we nominate, about 45% of people will automatically vote for him and 45% won't. So that leaves all the people who stayed home, are willing to switch, voted for Stein (Dr. whose only prior government experience was town council) or Johnson(a demonstrable idiot, who somehow got to be governor). If all we did was get all the Clinton votes and the people who hated her enough to vote for a damn doctor, we win election. Are you telling you personally would not vote for a Democratic mayor if he were the nominee and people who voted for a Dr. wouldn't vote for a mayor?

Maybe you'd vote for a glorified barista instead (polling around 8%, more than a former governor got). Are you willing to tell me right now that you'd rather stay home or vote 3rd party instead of voting for a Democratic mayor? Because if you are not, but you think you know what the idiots who voted for other idiots would or what the idiots whodidn't vote at all would do, you must have uncommon insight into idiocy.

[louis c]

48. Look. All I want to do is beat Trump...

Last edited Mon Mar 25, 2019, 06:47 PM - Edit history (1)

...I wish all we had to do is beat Pete What's-His-Name.

If you think this nobody can beat Trump, knock yourself out.

I am ready to go to war against Trump in this election. Please send me out to sea in an air craft carrier, not a damn row boat.

[marylandblue]

49. Good analogy. I'll send you out with a naval officer who beat Biden.

[SWBTATTReg]

52. What do you mean that he does not have a base of support or can't get above 1% in any polls?

He's doing better than you state (from this on DU this very PM). I'm pragmatic too and we (democrats) broke barriers before too, with Barak Obama's election (twice no less). Maybe one can be too pragmatic and miss some truly good candidates, which would be a disgrace and shame. Especially since no primaries have happened, nothing so far.

All candidates to me are fair game at this early stage of the game, and deserve an equal chance to be heard.
Everyone deserves a fair and equal chance to be heard, and not because they have 'no chance'.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
pdsimdars (5,403 posts)
Buttigieg jumps to third pace in early Iowa poll - ahead of Harris, Warren and Booker
In a surprising development an early Iowa 2020 presidential poll finds South Bend, Indiana “Mayor Pete” Buttigieg has jumped from essentially last place – literally 0% – to third place among declared and not-declared Democratic candidates.
Former Vice President Joe Biden comes in first, with 25%, despite having yet to announce if he is running or not, according to the Emerson poll. Independent Senator Bernie Sanders comes in second with 24%. Buttigieg comes in third, with 11%.
Buttigieg narrowly beats Senators Kamala Harris (10%), Elizabeth Warren (9%), and Cory Booker (8%).
Former U.S. Congressman Beto O’Rourke takes 5%, Senator Amy Klobuchar takes 2%. The remaining candidates are polling at 1% or less.

“If Buttigieg is able to maintain his momentum, his candidacy appears to be pulling from the same demographic of young voters as Sanders, and that could become a problem for Sanders,” Spencer Kimball, Director of the Emerson Poll says.

https://www.alternet.org/2019/03/buttigieg-jumps-to-third-pace-in-early-iowa-poll-ahead-of-harris-warren-and-booker/

[louis c]

54. National Polls. All of them...

...not just this Iowa outlier.

[SWBTATTReg]

55. I guess the only poll that you're concerned with is the one that supports your beliefs and/or...

candidate. That's fine but I'll continue to support my candidate who I think has a pretty damn chance of making it to the top, and is already going neck and neck with other 'big name' candidates.

Of course once the primary season is over and the Democratic candidates are chosen for the highest office in the land are chosen, I will support them. But I intend to give all of them an equal voice now. Equal.

[louis c]

56. No. I believe the 20 polls that support my beliefs...

...not the one that makes you brag about 11% in a single state.

You are all giddy because a single poll has your guy at 11%? If any poll puts my guy at only 11%, I'll ask him to drop out.

I called this poll an outlier. That means all you have to do is produce another poll, anywhere, that has Pete at double digits to prove this poll is actually a bell weather.

[SWBTATTReg]

57. As I said it is way too early to make a decision. Go ahead and mock me if it makes you happy.

I don't where you got the impression that I was all giddy. Thanks for the compliment (not really)...kind of insulting especially coming from another DU member.

[defacto7]

62. Yes, the insults are thick with this one.

[SWBTATTReg]

63. Yeah, I know. I am disappointed. I am like most DU posters and respect other DUers and their...

postings and thoughts that go along w/ them. I use all of these to tabulate my thoughts and feelings on issues/candidates and this particular poster is way too aggressive and too dismissive of others, as you could tell. And I do like Joe Biden, always have, and if he's the candidate that we put up, then I'll be right behind him too, along with his VP candidate too. But...in the meantime, I am going to support the candidate I like so far (and it's hard to chose too from among all of the choices) and the one that's rang my 'bell' (kind of like Barak Obama did with that speech of his), is Mayor Pete. There hasn't been a candidate thus far that's rang my 'bell' like that.

Smart, well spoken, etc., the list goes on. Do we have another 'Barak Obama?'...probably not, but I sure would like to see what else this guy has.

Take care.

[Doremus]

65. Assuming you know that Biden has some pretty hefty baggage.

As the contents are spilled in minute detail in coming weeks/months what will happen to his favorite status?

We'll be finding out in due time. Hopefully well before our wide field gets thinned out very much.

[secondwind]

29. He can win. Yes he can.

[redstateblues]

59. Maybe in 2028. He won't be the nominee in 2020

[Vinca]

26. Why? Because there's a good chunk of the country that thinks Trump was sent by God.

That's the stupidity we're dealing with. Mayor Pete would be a stellar POTUS, but he's a real long shot the way things stand right now. I'd love to see him at least get Veep.

[secondwind]

30. That good chunk is eroding daily.

[mtnsnake]

40. Pete would make a fine president, but being "exceptionally kind" as you put it, could spell disaster

Unfortunately with the way things are in this country, we can't be exceptionally kind in the next election. In 2020, we have to be exceptionally tough, as well as smart.

[marylandblue]

47. You can be very kind and tough as nails.

Kind does not mean wimpy.

[mtnsnake]

50. You are very right about that

and I hope it works out to be that way with him because he is a very likable candidate.

[dewsgirl]

51. I read somewhere on here he speaks eight languages, one he learned just so he could read

a book by an author he liked. It sounds like an urban legend. He is in my top 3 for sure.

[redstateblues]

58. Pete would be a great cabinet member in a Biden administration

He is not going to be the Democratic nominee. Maybe in 2028

[marylandblue]

64. Nobody has a crystal ball. Sure, the odds are against him.

But other long shots have made it. There is a reason some of us think this particular long shot is being underestimated. I switched from Inslee, another long shot who looks much better on paper. I think Inslee is great, but Buttigieg is a political genius and he his doing something very different from what the other 15 candidates are doing. I think it could work. I really do. But, I don't have a crystal ball. Just don't be surprised if he's a real contender 3 months from now.

[applegrove]

60. I think Mayor Pete has wake up appeal. I mean that he is so interesting

and counter intuitive and decent that right voters and mid westerners will turn off fox and run around in their pajamas in the grass saying "I feel the dew between my toes and my mind is suddenly and truly free!" after getting to know Pete Buttigieg's heart and mind.