​Establishment Democrats: Stop Punching Left and Marching Right

As one Maine voter succinctly stated is that she was not looking for a boyfriend.  This is the aftermath of some leaked information and then a hit piece by the NYT focused on Graham Platner's marriage, infidelity and dating history.  Wow- men cheat. Stop the presses.  Half of marriages fail but that is not the real point. To put elected officials in the friend zone or as a potential partner disrupts any and all critical thinking. I will for the moment bury the lede. More on Platner at the end.  If you ever doubted his true progressive bona fides, this tsunami of attacks should validate that he will work for change. But first some recent history.

When George W. Bush was running against Al Gore for President in 2000, one oft-repeated remark was that folks would rather have a beer with old George. Again, both not accurate and irrelevant.  There is no indication that Bush the son is any better bar companion than he was a president.   And as someone trained as a fighter pilot who spent the Vietnam War in Alabama, his opponent, a true war hero and purple heart recipient was attacked as a coward.

Currently political conversation has continued to be designed by the right and centrists to the equivalent of middle school bullies. If it weren't for the current president, Ken Paxton could clearly be considered the most corrupt elected official today. As Attorney General of Texas he broke so many laws that the Republican house- on the state level- actually impeached him. But mirroring how Congress protected trump, the state senate acquitted him. 

Paxton's wife has divorced him on biblical grounds- do with that as you will. In addition to all the financial crimes Paxton let a serial child abuser out of prison after serving one day and not a decades long sentence that he deserved. But according to Fox News, the only issue is how dorky his opponent James Talarico looks and if in fact, does he have a girlfriend. Um, what decent person wouldn't expose their partner and friends to the cruelty and lies of the rightwing? Oh, based on one breakfast when he ate an egg, cheese and potato taco- Talarico has been slammed as a vegan.  1. Not a crime. 2. Vegans don't consume eggs and cheese. 3. This faux outrage was based on one meal. 4. Paxton is corrupt. 

Stephen Miller, architect or overseer of the worst governmental policies called Talarico “transgendered”. It is not an insult.  It may or may not be true.  It is a stupid and clumsy diversion away from the fact that the GOP offers no policies or ideas.  And they are, sorry here it comes again, heretofore unimaginably corrupt.

Zohran Mamdani was attacked for who he is and what he said.  And the fact that he terrified any and  all corrupt pols who don't want to upset their rich donors.  Mamdani never flinched and in fact was proud to be a brown, immigrant Muslim.  Of course a privileged family and innate abilities, made him a formidable candidate and now mayor shaking things up and keeping his promises to serve all New Yorkers- with billionaires helping with the tab. 

Oh Graham Platner of Maine. You really are scaring so many people.  The GOP because you can defeat Susan Collins.  Too many democrats because you and others signal a new way to govern and enact/generate change. Collins is a moderate many people cry because she only votes to support trump/MAGA and cruel GOP legislation 90 some % of the time. And she worries.  Collins is so concerned about a nonstop assembly line of horrific legislation and nominations to be confirmed.  Collins frets and furrows her brow to show how she is racked with deep thought and contemplation until she sells out Maine and the country. 

I will concede that individual actions can portray character. But that candidate analysis has been beyond irrelevant for several years.  Except for pedophilia. treason and turning power into QVC, or viewing federal monies as simply an ATM for which too few people have the passcode or using influence to escape consequences; I will ignore a lot. I don't care if Collins had some problematic issues personally.  It has been reported she pulled a "Gingrich" But it is her lies and her voting record that are the heart of the matter.

Inre the attacks on Platner; some (many) are coming from inside the party.  Instead of celebrating an articulate candidate who is running on issues that resonate with voters and promoting policies that we all desperately need, too many are worried about their pathetic records and their vast donor network. A Massachusetts democratic representative has called on voters in Maine to reject Platner, who will clearly be the party's candidate. I know we don't teach civics any more, or even math or logic- but really.  To reject this popular candidate means people have to stay home or vote for Collins. Jake stay in the Bay State.  You are their problem.

If you can't trust the advice of corrupt democrats, how about a republican?  David Frum writing in The Atlantic- did the Elisons buy that too?- compared Platner to Roy Moore.  Said the dems had to take an "L" for the good of the country.  JKMN.  Roy Moore was a lawyer who not only ignored separation of church and state, he used government money to do so. 

And Moore liked the girls young. Very young. Police were instructed to watch Moore, an Assistant DA, during high school football games to make certain this man in his 30's stayed away from the cheerleaders  And no David Frum- the party did not abandon Moore. Trump endorsed him.Moore was so awful he lost..  His opponent was and continues to be a national hero. Jones served honorably in Congress until he was defeated by someone who is not only one of the dumbest Senators today but probably throughout history.  And probably will be the next governor of Alabama.

So, you David Frum, dare to compare Platner to a child abuser and more- get it Moore.  Someone who served this country, has had real jobs not gimmes or volunteer ones like Jared Kushner et. al. Yes, he had some ups and downs in his marriage.  NYT- you  published an article slandering him based in large part on the statements of a GOP operative? Someone who consulted for Susan Collins". (Just an aside.  Maine must be a very small place for them to have dated.) Susan Collins is lying about not knowing that woman.  And thanks for helping the Senator vote to confirm Brett Kavanaugh. /s

If you want to date someone, ask friends or go online.  If you are seeking perfection in anyone, read Plato's The Republic.  If you want to see real change from the crash and grab corruption and idiocy we are witnessing, THEN VOTE ON THE ISSUES. 

Please be critical voters.  These elected officials are theoretically our employees. Don't be swayed by billionaire media or middle school insults.  And vote. Protest. Shop locally six days a week and then #DSOT 

 #DSOT. #UPM