US Politics: Mail and Managers for Mitch

[Freshwater Spartan]

Steyer came first in my quiz (14) which was a surprise and my favorite Buttigeig came in second at 13. My second choice Warren was near the bottom of my quiz at 10.

[Darryk]

Seems to me like Warren back stabbed Bernie, and the media are definitely lapping it up, even though there's videos of him from 1988 saying a woman could be president.

Not surprised though as I haven't trusted Warren for awhile. She's crafty and is definitely playing all sides.

[DMC]

1 minute ago, Darryk said:

Seems to me like Warren back stabbed Bernie

So Bernie's camp goes public attacking Warren as the "candidate of the elite," Warren responds, and she backstabbed him?  Gotta love the Bernie cultists. 

[Inkdaub]

17 hours ago, Fez said:

The Washington Post has updated their "Which Democratic candidates agree with you the most?" poll. It's 20 questions now and only covers the candidates still in the race; though a couple gadflys (lol Michael Bennett) were left off.

Yang still scores surprisingly high for me, at 14/20, but I do think overall its better calibrated than before. I'm most aligned with Biden at 15/20, and Klobuchar is also at 14/20. And I'm least aligned with Sanders at 6/20 and Warren at 7/20. Bloomberg is also only at 6/20, but that appears to be because he hasn't given a position on half the questions being asked.

Unless Klobuchar has a moment for herself in the next couple months I think I've resigned myself to voting for Biden. I wish he was younger, less gaffe prone, and less stuck in ways about bipartisanship; but I can't ignore how consistently he polls the strongest in general election matchups. I was kinda excited about Buttigeig at first, but he has been a disappointment. And Booker never took off at all and is now out; same goes for the various governors that might've been the strongest general election nominees of all (I can envision a world where Steve Bullock beats Trump in a landslide).

I got Warren at 19 and Biden at 3.

[Maithanet]

I was surprised that I got Buttigieg highest (12), then Klobuchar and Steyer, with Biden and Warren in the middle and Sanders last.  I expected Warren to be higher, considering my current ranking is Warren > Buttigieg > Biden > Sanders. 

[Maithanet]

1 hour ago, DMC said:

So Bernie's camp goes public attacking Warren as the "candidate of the elite," Warren responds, and she backstabbed him?  Gotta love the Bernie cultists. 

The Warren / Sanders detente could never last forever.  It lasted as long as it did because Warren wants to be seen as a "uniter" and thus generally has avoided going negative on anyone and Sanders always has more appealing targets like Biden (plus Sanders is polling slightly ahead of Warren the past two months, and thus could hope that Warren progressives will gradually come aboard organically).

But as the race narrows to a four candidate race, a truce between the #2 and #3 polling candidates just isn't sustainable.  Both camps have too much to gain if they could peel away some of those supporters, and are quick to blame the other side for trying to do the same.  I doubt that Warren will go after Sanders tonight, since she's not been strong when going negative, but I could easily see Sanders point out Warren's recent compromises and declare himself the only true progressive. 

[Centrist Simon Steele]

1 hour ago, Darryk said:

Seems to me like Warren back stabbed Bernie, and the media are definitely lapping it up, even though there's videos of him from 1988 saying a woman could be president.

Not surprised though as I haven't trusted Warren for awhile. She's crafty and is definitely playing all sides.

Seems strange that this info "leaked" right before a debate too. I know Warren says she wants to drop it, but she's got to be hoping the question of Sanders saying a woman can't be elected be brought up on a national stage.

[Mlle. Zabzie]

17 minutes ago, Maithanet said:

The Warren / Sanders detente could never last forever.  It lasted as long as it did because Warren wants to be seen as a "uniter" and thus generally has avoided going negative on anyone and Sanders always has more appealing targets like Biden (plus Sanders is polling slightly ahead of Warren the past two months, and thus could hope that Warren progressives will gradually come aboard organically).

But as the race narrows to a four candidate race, a truce between the #2 and #3 polling candidates just isn't sustainable.  Both camps have too much to gain if they could peel away some of those supporters, and are quick to blame the other side for trying to do the same.  I doubt that Warren will go after Sanders tonight, since she's not been strong when going negative, but I could easily see Sanders point out Warren's recent compromises and declare himself the only true progressive. 

Which, ironically, will make people like me like Warren more. 

For context:  I detest Bernie - if he gets the nod will be the hardest lever I ever pull (and I would consider third party on the theory that NY is pretty safe to go Dem).  I think Biden is a hack buffoon, but would unenthusiastically vote. I'm a natural Bloomberg/Klobuchar voter (agreed with them 15/20 times, which is pretty impressive, on the WaPo quiz; Biden was 14/20, but that's basically overlap with the other two).  I only agreed with Warren 6/20 times and Sanders 5/20 times.  

[Ormond]

1 minute ago, Mlle. Zabzie said:

Which, ironically, will make people like me like Warren more. 

For context:  I detest Bernie - if he gets the nod will be the hardest lever I ever pull (and I would consider third party on the theory that NY is pretty safe to go Dem).  I think Biden is a hack buffoon, but would unenthusiastically vote. I'm a natural Bloomberg/Klobuchar voter (agreed with them 15/20 times, which is pretty impressive, on the WaPo quiz; Biden was 14/20, but that's basically overlap with the other two).  I only agreed with Warren 6/20 times and Sanders 5/20 times.  

I ended up with Bloomberg at 16 and Biden and Klobuchar both with 14. I am a bit chagrined at that because I don't think I would ever vote for Bloomberg in a primary -- just don't trust him and don't want to replace one New York City multimillionaire with another. I have been moving the last week or so toward wanting Klobuchar among those still running, but unfortunately I don't think she has a chance of getting the nomination unless there are a lot of undecided caucus goers in Iowa who will vote for her at the last minute since she's from a neighboring state and that gives her momentum. But the chance of that is probably one in a million or so.

[Mr. Chatywin et al.]

So my results from the test:

Mayor Pete: 15

Amy, Biden, Steyer, Bloomberg: 14

Yang: 12

Gabbard: 9

Warren: 8

Sanders: 7

 

Only surprising one was Yang.

[Mlle. Zabzie]

Just now, Ormond said:

I ended up with Bloomberg at 16 and Biden and Klobuchar both with 14. I am a bit chagrined at that because I don't think I would ever vote for Bloomberg in a primary -- just don't trust him and don't want to replace one New York City multimillionaire with another. I have been moving the last week or so toward wanting Klobuchar among those still running, but unfortunately I don't think she has a chance of getting the nomination unless there are a lot of undecided caucus goers in Iowa who will vote for her at the last minute since she's from a neighboring state and that gives her momentum. But the chance of that is probably one in a million or so.

I hear that.  Though I thought he was a good (though imperfect) mayor despite some of the criticisms, I am more energized by the younger candidates, and think he probably lacks broad appeal. Thus, "team Amy" here, but agree that her path is VERY narrow.

[DMC]

45 minutes ago, Maithanet said:

The Warren / Sanders detente could never last forever.

Of course, and this is just about the exact appropriate time to..maybe/hopefully not "take the gloves off," but emphasize contrasts more sharply.  So, no problem there.  Just don't whine about it.

18 minutes ago, Mlle. Zabzie said:

I detest Bernie - if he gets the nod will be the hardest lever I ever pull (and I would consider third party on the theory that NY is pretty safe to go Dem).

Yeah if I was registered in NY and Bernie was the nominee I'd probably vote third party...Only reticence is I'd still want the Dem nominee to win the popular vote even if they lose the EC to hopefully highlight the need for reform of the latter.  Ironically, in 2004 I was registered in NY and Kerry was so meh I voted for the socialist nominee (don't even remember who it was).

[butterbumps!]

Warren and Buttigieg were somehow tied in first for me with 12/20.    Gabbard and Sanders were lowest with 4/20.
 

my preference is Warren by a long margin, then Buttigieg and Klobuchar, then a vast gulf of space, then Biden, then another gulf, then Sanders.    I really hope I do not have to vote for Biden or Sanders.   

[Maithanet]

18 minutes ago, butterbumps! said:

my preference is Warren by a long margin, then Buttigieg and Klobuchar, then a vast gulf of space, then Biden, then another gulf, then Sanders.    I really hope I do not have to vote for Biden or Sanders.   

That sounds very similar to my preferences.  And not to be a downer, but I think you should definitely be mentally preparing yourself to not just vote for Biden or Sanders, but actively try and convince other people to do the same.  I'm not looking forward to it. 

[Mlle. Zabzie]

34 minutes ago, Maithanet said:

That sounds very similar to my preferences.  And not to be a downer, but I think you should definitely be mentally preparing yourself to not just vote for Biden or Sanders, but actively try and convince other people to do the same.  I'm not looking forward to it. 

I would for Biden, but my heart wouldn't be in it.  Although I agree with her FAR LESS on almost everything, I think I could also be convincing about Warren (I think because I admire her intellect and her consistency). Sanders, not so much.  I don't think I can do it. 

[Toth]

So I did the test as well (despite not being American). Result: Warren 15, Yang 11, Sanders 10.

Given that Warren had always been my favourite candidate, I'm quite happy about this result. I am surprised about the stuff I disagree with Sanders though.

[Mr. Chatywin et al.]

22 minutes ago, Mlle. Zabzie said:

I would for Biden, but my heart wouldn't be in it.  Although I agree with her FAR LESS on almost everything, I think I could also be convincing about Warren (I think because I admire her intellect and her consistency). Sanders, not so much.  I don't think I can do it. 

Why? This a zero sum game and all that matters is getting Trump out of office. None of Bernie’s plans will pass so it’s not like you have much to worry about. Hell, if anything his presidency would likely kill any socialist movement for years, maybe decades. I’d think you’d want that.

[Larry of the Lawn]

1 hour ago, DMC said:

Of course, and this is just about the exact appropriate time to..maybe/hopefully not "take the gloves off," but emphasize contrasts more sharply.  So, no problem there.  Just don't whine about it.

Yeah if I was registered in NY and Bernie was the nominee I'd probably vote third party...Only reticence is I'd still want the Dem nominee to win the popular vote even if they lose the EC to hopefully highlight the need for reform of the latter.  Ironically, in 2004 I was registered in NY and Kerry was so meh I voted for the socialist nominee (don't even remember who it was).

Well in NY you could likely do both with Sanders, since we have fusion voting.  Sanders will likely have the Working Families party endorsement, vote WF and the popular vote counts won't be affected.

[Liffguard]

I'm not American, but I was curious, so I took the quiz.

Sanders-15, Warren-13, Steyer (who?)-11, Yang-10, Buttigieg-9, Gabbard-7, Klobuchar-6, Biden and Bloomberg both 4.

[DMC]

6 minutes ago, larrytheimp said:

Well in NY you could likely do both with Sanders, since we have fusion voting.

My point was I voted for the socialist nominee in 2004 because I didn't want to vote for Kerry.  Just as I empathize with @Mlle. Zabzie not wanting to vote for Sanders, which I would be tempted (not) to as well if I was in a safe blue state.