Looking beyond ideology and policy positions.

If I wanted a candidate I agree with 100 percent, I'd vote for myself.

But let's face it, most policies stated by candidates are more aspirational goals than specific plans for achieving them. And even fewer address how they plan to enact policies when 60 votes are needed in the Senate.

So, instead, I'm looking for:

1. Someone who can take on Trump without trying to out-Trump Trump, preferably with dignity, class, and especially humor. (For ex.: like JFK, Lincoln, and Rep. Ted Lieu)

2. Someone who knows how to work the levers of Government to take on Mitch McConnell and get stuff done. (For ex.: like LBJ and Pelosi)

3. Someone with that undefinable "IT" factor that can inspire and empower a nation to be its best version of itself. (For ex.: Obama, obviously, as well as Howard "You have the power!" Dean [Yes, I'm a Deaniac still.])

4. Someone who speaks the truth --- even unpopular or inconvenient truths --- rather than spin or obfuscation. I may disagree with him/her, but I respect a candidate who is honest and candid rather than a panderer. (A couple current candidates show signs of meeting this criterion.)

5. Someone who offers a storehouse of experience, knowledge, and wisdom to handle the minutiae of office, as well as crises with global consequences. Basically, someone brainy enough to know at least as much about a subject as does the reporter asking him/her about it. (For ex.: like either Bill or Hillary Clinton or, ideally, Pres. Josiah Bartlett)

All that said, as a Marylander, I don't vote in the primary until the Dem candidate is all but finalized. So, if I do settle on a candidate that meets my criteria, I'll be voting early with my wallet.

GOPers didn't mind socialism in 2008...

...when the economy crashed and the government had to bail out all those Wall Street banks and businesses that were "too big to fail."

Back then they just shrugged and chanted "We're all Socialists now. Ha ha!"

But now when liberals talk about health care for all or a few regulations to keep billionaires and corporations from grabbing up the entire pie, THEN they begin whining that "the Dems will turn America into VENEZUELA!!!"

The hypocrites want socialism for the rich and Laissez faire capitalism for the rest of us.

This bill...

Been defending him on Twitter against certain factions

Probably a good portion of them are Russian trolls, but they are repeating some long-refuted claims about him being a "DINO Pharma supporter." I am proudly undecided, but I will defend ANY of our great Dem candidates from attacks like these.

For anyone else running into these bogus arguments, here are some good resources:

A fact-check defending his record on a health care vote:
https://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2017/jan/18/other-98/viral-image-about-democratic-senators-and-big-phar/

Booker's career Campaign Finance file on Open Secrets showing Pharma is not a big supporter.
https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/summary?cid=N00035267&cycle=CAREER&type=I

The Progressive Punch ranking of Senators by their Progressive Score (Booker is #4):
https://progressivepunch.org/scores.htm?house=senate