2020 Elections

[neoplacebo]

1.The rapidly increasing gap between the super rich and everyone else along with continual tax cuts that are apparently a stealth move to ultimately starve the government of money.

2. The unhealthy polarization of the populace in political tribes.

[Vrede too]

Ex-Massachusetts governor to challenge Trump for GOP nod

William Weld, a former Massachusetts governor who ran for vice president on the Libertarian Party ticket in 2016, became the first Republican to take a serious step toward challenging President Donald Trump in 2020.

Speaking Friday at a breakfast in New Hampshire, Weld said he has created a presidential exploratory committee. He blasted Trump for leaving the nation in "grave peril."

"We have a president whose priorities are skewed towards promotion of himself rather than for the good of the country," Weld said. "He may have great energy and considerable raw talent but he does not use that in ways that promote democracy, truth, justice and equal opportunity for all. To compound matters, our president is simply too unstable to carry out the duties of the highest executive office in the land."

The move makes Trump the first incumbent president since George H.W. Bush in 1992 to face a notable primary challenge. Other Republicans eyeing a presidential campaign include former Ohio Gov. John Kasich and Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan.

Trump remains very popular with Republicans so faces little risk in losing the GOP nomination. But primary challenges often foreshadow trouble ahead for incumbent presidents. Bush and Jimmy Carter lost their bids for a second term after facing challenges from inside their own party.

He'll have a jump start if for whatever reason POSPOTUS doesn't run, which is still my expectation.

Asked to comment on Weld's campaign, White House press secretary Sarah Sanders responded: "Who?" ...

Okay, that's funny.

[GoCubsGo]

He'll have a jump start if for whatever reason POSPOTUS doesn't run, which is still my expectation.

Why do you think he won't run? I don't think his ego will let him not run.

[Vrede too]

Why do you think he won't run? I don't think his ego will let him not run.

There's that, but there are so many reasons that he might not: age, infirmity including advancing and undeniable dementia, frustration, boredom, Mueller fallout, polling, pressure from frightened Repugs, indictment, impeachment, etc. Plus, we've seen many times that he just redefines humiliations as victories to satisfy his ego. I could be wrong.

[GoCubsGo]

Why do you think he won't run? I don't think his ego will let him not run.

There's that, but there are so many reasons that he might not: age, infirmity including advancing and undeniable dementia, frustration, boredom, Mueller fallout, polling, pressure from frightened Repugs, indictment, impeachment, etc. Plus, we've seen many times that he just redefines humiliations as victories to satisfy his ego. I could be wrong.

I'm kinda hoping for an incapacitating stroke. Otherwise (c'mon Mueller), unless impeached I think he'll run.

[neoplacebo]

I'll eat one of those hideous MAGA hats if he doesn't run. Probably put Italian dressing on it........don't like Russian

[Vrede too]

I'll eat one of those hideous MAGA hats if he doesn't run. Probably put Italian dressing on it........don't like Russian

Have you tried the Slovenian un-dressing?

If you were running for federal office in 2020 -
1. What issue would be most important to you?
2. What issue do you think would give you the best odds of winning?

'Beating Trump/Repubs' doesn't count since we can't know who will be running and it's boring.

Mine, but try to come up with your own first:

Spoiler:

1. A restoring democracy package - ending Citizens United, corporate personhood, partisan gerrymandering and voter suppression.
2. Healthcare/Medicare for all.

1.The rapidly increasing gap between the super rich and everyone else along with continual tax cuts that are apparently a stealth move to ultimately starve the government of money.

2. The unhealthy polarization of the populace in political tribes.

Good choices.

[neoplacebo]

I'll eat one of those hideous MAGA hats if he doesn't run. Probably put Italian dressing on it........don't like Russian

Have you tried the Slovenian un-dressing?

If you were running for federal office in 2020 -
1. What issue would be most important to you?
2. What issue do you think would give you the best odds of winning?

'Beating Trump/Repubs' doesn't count since we can't know who will be running and it's boring.

Mine, but try to come up with your own first:

Spoiler:

1. A restoring democracy package - ending Citizens United, corporate personhood, partisan gerrymandering and voter suppression.
2. Healthcare/Medicare for all.

1.The rapidly increasing gap between the super rich and everyone else along with continual tax cuts that are apparently a stealth move to ultimately starve the government of money.

2. The unhealthy polarization of the populace in political tribes.

Good choices.

Thanks. It's very general but I consider both subjects to be key ones. Probably the second most of all; hell, when people can't even agree on what's considered to be factual, you just can't really move anywhere from there. As for that Slovenian undressing.....I'd have to see it first.

[GoCubsGo]

As for that Slovenian undressing.....I'd have to see it first.

It's all over the internet, lots of artificial ingredients.

[O Really]

Why do you think he won't run? I don't think his ego will let him not run.

There's that, but there are so many reasons that he might not: age, infirmity including advancing and undeniable dementia, frustration, boredom, Mueller fallout, polling, pressure from frightened Repugs, indictment, impeachment, etc. Plus, we've seen many times that he just redefines humiliations as victories to satisfy his ego. I could be wrong.

Or his liver could be kaput... https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2019/2 ... er-failing

[Vrede too]

... advancing and undeniable dementia ...

Or his liver could be kaput... https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2019/2 ... er-failing

... The third reason you might be on maximum dose of rosavustatin is because there is a growing off label use of rosavustatin. To delay the onset of Alzheimer's. I think the question has to be asked. Does the President have dementia. If not why is he on rosavustatin?

Now ironically we have to ask if the former dose caused the cognitive issues that we have seen the President exhibit over the last few years and if those symptoms are going to be worse on the increased dosage. There is certainly research that suggests this could be the case....

Two final thoughts:

The mental issues the President is suffering in full view of the public are those you would expect during liver failure. It is called hepatic encephalopathy. This was particularly evident during today’s announcement.

https://www.healthline.com/health/hepat ... alopathy-2

Hepatic encephalopathy is a very likely outcome of what we know about the Presidents overall health and the medication he is on.

Fox News is wrong. Even the data the President has made public indicates a man in failing health and raises new, critical concerns. Today’s events just bring the urgency of dealing with the President’s health back into focus.

[Vrede too]

Bernie Sanders formally launches his 2020 campaign

I love him, but he's got some disadvantages this time, especially that he's even older and there are other progressives running, including women. I don't know that he'll be the one I support in 2020.

On Planet What If? we could have been discussing his reelection at this point.

[O Really]

Too old, too curmudgeonly. Good senator, and as a seasonal Vermonter I like him, but I think he was more of a novelty shiny object for people wanting a Hillaryplacement.

[Vrede too]

I like curmudgeonly, and I think your dismissing him as just un-Hillary in 2016 is inaccurate.

Sisters and Brothers -

I am writing to let you know I have decided to run for president of the United States. I am asking you to join me today as part of an unprecedented and historic grassroots campaign that will begin with at least a million people from across the country.

Please join our campaign for president on day one and commit to doing what it takes to win this election.

Our campaign is not only about defeating Donald Trump, the most dangerous president in modern American history. It is not only about winning the Democratic nomination and the general election.

Our campaign is about transforming our country and creating a government based on the principles of economic, social, racial and environmental justice.

Our campaign is about taking on the powerful special interests that dominate our economic and political life. I'm talking about Wall Street, the health insurance companies, the drug companies, the fossil fuel industry, the military industrial complex, the private prison industry and the large multinational corporations that exert such an enormous influence over our lives.

Our campaign is about redoubling our efforts to end racism, sexism, homophobia, religious bigotry and all forms of discrimination.

Our campaign is about creating a vibrant democracy with the highest voter turnout of any major country while we end voter suppression, Citizens United and outrageous levels of gerrymandering.

Our campaign is about creating a government and economy that work for the many, not just the few. We are the wealthiest nation in the history of the world. We should not have grotesque levels of wealth inequality in which three billionaires own more wealth than the bottom half of the country.

We should not have 30 million Americans without any health insurance, even more who are underinsured and a nation in which life expectancy is actually in decline.

We should not have an economy in which tens of millions of workers earn starvation wages and half of older workers have no savings as they face retirement.

We should not have the highest rate of childhood poverty of almost any major country on Earth and a dysfunctional childcare system which is unfair to both working parents and their children.

We should not have a regressive tax system in which large, profitable corporations like Amazon pay nothing in federal income taxes.

Make no mistake about it. The powerful special interests in this country have unbelievable power and they want to maintain the status quo. They have unlimited amounts of money to spend on campaigns and lobbying and have huge influence over the media and political parties.

The only way we will win this election and create a government and economy that work for all is with a grassroots movement – the likes of which has never been seen in American history.

They may have the money and power. We have the people. That is why we need one million Americans who will commit themselves to this campaign.

Stand with me as we fight to win the Democratic nomination and the general election. Add your name to join this campaign and say you are willing to do the hard work necessary to transform our country.

You know as well as I do that we are living in a pivotal and dangerous moment in American history. We are running against a president who is a pathological liar, a fraud, a racist, a sexist, a xenophobe and someone who is undermining American democracy as he leads us in an authoritarian direction.

I’m running for president because, now more than ever, we need leadership that brings us together – not divides us up. Women and men, black, white, Latino, Native American, Asian American, gay and straight, young and old, native born and immigrant. Now is the time for us to stand together.

I’m running for president because we need leadership that will fight for working families and the shrinking middle class, not just the 1 percent. We need a president who understands that we can create millions of good-paying jobs, rebuild our crumbling infrastructure and construct the affordable housing we desperately need.

I'm running for president because we need trade policies that reflect the interests of workers and not multi-national corporations. We need to raise the minimum wage to a living wage, provide pay equity for women and guarantee all workers paid family and medical leave.

I'm running for president because we need to understand that artificial intelligence and robotics must benefit the needs of workers, not just corporate America and those who own that technology.

I'm running for president because a great nation is judged not by how many billionaires and nuclear weapons it has, but by how it treats the most vulnerable – the elderly, the children, our veterans, the sick and the poor.

I’m running for president because we need to make policy decisions based on science, not politics. We need a president who understands that climate change is real, is an existential threat to our country and the entire planet, and that we can generate massive job creation by transforming our energy system away from fossil fuels to energy efficiency and sustainable energy.

I’m running for president because the time is long overdue for the United States to join every other major country on Earth and guarantee health care to all people as a right, not a privilege, through a Medicare-for-all program.

I’m running for president because we need to take on the outrageous level of greed of the pharmaceutical industry and lower prescription drug prices in this country.

I'm running for president because we need to have the best educated workforce in the world. It is totally counterproductive for our future that millions of Americans are carrying outrageous levels of student debt, while many others cannot afford the high cost of higher education. That is why we need to make public colleges and universities tuition free and lower student debt.

I’m running for president because we must defend a woman’s right to control her own body against massive political attacks taking place at the local, state and federal level.

I'm running for president because we need real criminal justice reform. We need to invest in jobs and education for our kids, not more jails and incarceration. We need to end the destructive "war on drugs," eliminate private prisons and cash bail and bring about major police department reform.

I'm running for president because we need to end the demonization of undocumented immigrants in this country and move to comprehensive immigration reform. We need to provide immediate legal status for the young people eligible for the DACA program and develop a humane policy for those at the border who seek asylum.

I'm running for president because we must end the epidemic of gun violence in this country. We need to take on the NRA, expand background checks, end the gun show loophole and ban the sale and distribution of assault weapons.

I'm running for president because we need a foreign policy which focuses on democracy, human rights, diplomacy and world peace. The United States must lead the world in improving international cooperation in the fight against climate change, militarism, authoritarianism and global wealth inequality.

That is why we need at least a million people to join our campaign and help lead the movement that can accomplish these goals. Add your name to say we’re in this together.

Needless to say, there is a lot of frightening and bad news in this world. Now, let me give you some very good news.

Three years ago, during our 2016 campaign, when we brought forth our progressive agenda we were told that our ideas were "radical" and "extreme." We were told that Medicare for All, a $15 an hour minimum wage, free tuition at public colleges and universities, aggressively combating climate change, demanding that the wealthy start paying their fair share of taxes, were all concepts that the American people would never accept.

Well, three years have come and gone. And, as result of millions of Americans standing up and fighting back, all of these policies and more are now supported by a majority of Americans.

Together, you and I and our 2016 campaign began the political revolution. Now, it is time to complete that revolution and implement the vision that we fought for.

So here is my question for you:

Will you stand with me as part of a million person grassroots movement which can not only win the Democratic primary, not only win the general election, but most importantly help transform this country so that, finally, we have a government that works for all of us and not just the few? Add your name to say you will.

Together we can create a nation that leads the world in the struggle for peace and for economic, racial, social and environmental justice.

And together we can defeat Donald Trump and repair the damage he has done to our country.

Brothers and sisters, if we stand together, there is no limit to what we can accomplish.

I hope you will join me.

Thank you very much.

In solidarity,

Bernie Sanders

He could be formidable, especially in a crowded field - proven fundraiser, massive mailing list. I think he broke some records when he announced on April 30, 2015. We'll see if it happens again.

[O Really]

Good speech - I wish somebody younger and less curmudgeonly had given it.

BTW, I didn't really mean Bernie didn't deserve to be more than a shiny not-Hillary, but I think if it weren't for that aspect, he would have had a harder time. He was given a pass on his campaign without having to put up with nearly as much negative trashing as most candidates do. I don't think Hillary's people took him seriously enough, either, whether to oppose him or usurp his positions.

[Vrede too]

Unlike 2015 I'm still riding the fence and intend to do so for months, but Bernie! also has a decades-long track record that no one in the field can match. Biden will also have a long track record if he runs, but I prefer Bernie's.

He could be formidable, especially in a crowded field - proven fundraiser, massive mailing list. I think he broke some records when he announced on April 30, 2015. We'll see if it happens again.

Bernie Sanders raises nearly $6 million in 24 hours after 2020 launch, campaign says

Bernie Sanders raised nearly $6 million in the 24 hours following his 2020 presidential campaign launch, his campaign said Wednesday, a record-smashing debut that easily outstripped his Democratic rivals.

Sanders raised $5,925,771 from 223,047 individual contributors across all 50 states in the campaign's first 24 hours, and more than $6 million from 225,000 individuals in total since the launch. And Sanders' campaign also noted that the average contribution was $27, "mirroring [Sanders'] 2016 campaign's average donation," a symbolic reflection of the Vermont senator's grassroots support that was key to his anti-establishment bid against Hillary Clinton.

Sanders haul bests totals publicized by the other Democrats in the race so far. Sen. Kamala Harris had previously set the standard when she raised $1.5 million in the 24 hours following her announcement in late January. Sen. Amy Klobuchar had announced raising $1 million in the first 48 hours after her campaign launch.

Other 2020 contenders have yet to release 24-hour fundraising numbers, and a more complete picture of the field's fundraising strength will come after campaigns file reports with the FEC after the first quarter.

However, data from ActBlue suggested Sen. Elizabeth Warren raised about $299,000 on the popular online fundraising platform in the 24 hours following her campaign announcement on New Year's Eve.

Former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julián Castro, who announced his White House bid in mid-December, didn't announce a 24-hour total, but had over two weeks in the year-end FEC reporting period to raise funds, and his presidential committee reported raising about $220,000 over that span.

In announcing its fundraising haul, the Sanders campaign also said that "individuals contributed $600,000 in donations that will recur every month" -- a huge, dependable grassroots donor base that will afford the campaign a consistent budgeting baseline.

"The only way we will win this election and create a government and economy that work for all is with a grassroots movement -- the likes of which has never been seen in American history," Sanders said in his message announcing his campaign. "They may have the money and power. We have the people."

Sanders also enters the race with more than $9 million left in his US Senate campaign committee -- funds that he can transfer to his presidential campaign. That's more than any other contender besides Warren ($11 million) and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand ($10.3 million) have in their Senate campaign accounts, and coupled with the $6 million he raised since his presidential campaign launch, Sanders begins his 2020 White House bid with a precipitous financial advantage.

Well, that's an answer. The reporter calls it "a record-smashing debut" but missed the obvious comparison to Bernie's 2015 announcement. Ah, here we go:

Sanders raised over $1,500,000 in the first 24 hours after he announced his presidential campaign on April 30, 2015. This was greater than the amount raised by any of the Republican candidates in the first 24 hours after their respective announcements. By May 5, Sanders's campaign had received approximately 75,000 contributions and had raised $3,000,000....

[neoplacebo]

I don't think it much matters how much any Democratic candidate raises in a day, a month, or even a year. Since Citizens United, the deep pockets of the seekers of the status quo will be able to outspend anyone who gets in their way. I'm glad I don't have deep pockets; I'd have to get longer arms; not to mention how much pocket fuzz could be all up in there.

[Vrede too]

I don't think it much matters how much any Democratic candidate raises in a day, a month, or even a year. Since Citizens United, the deep pockets of the seekers of the status quo will be able to outspend anyone who gets in their way....

I wouldn't go quite to that cynical extreme. CU does matter a lot, but Bernie's shunning of a Super PAC and reliance on small donors enabled him to mount a credible challenge to Hillary's dark money and the DNC's sleaze.

[neoplacebo]

I don't think it much matters how much any Democratic candidate raises in a day, a month, or even a year. Since Citizens United, the deep pockets of the seekers of the status quo will be able to outspend anyone who gets in their way....

I wouldn't go quite to that cynical extreme. CU does matter a lot, but Bernie's shunning of a Super PAC and reliance on small donors enabled him to mount a credible challenge to Hillary's dark money and the DNC's sleaze.

I find that I am becoming more cynical lately; I am totally in agreement with the need for a grassroots movement and the attendant financing it would entail but if you have to go up against the drug companies, oil companies, foreign interests, etc......it's a hard nut to crack. I think the biggest problem is getting voters to actually realize what's in their own interests, which is hard to do when you have rabid conservative media saturation coupled with the general ignorance of the voting public (especially older voters) and also the typical dismal turnout when it matters. Cynical as it may be, money talks; everything else walks.

[Vrede too]

I find that I am becoming more cynical lately; I am totally in agreement with the need for a grassroots movement and the attendant financing it would entail but if you have to go up against the drug companies, oil companies, foreign interests, etc......it's a hard nut to crack. I think the biggest problem is getting voters to actually realize what's in their own interests, which is hard to do when you have rabid conservative media saturation coupled with the general ignorance of the voting public (especially older voters) and also the typical dismal turnout when it matters. Cynical as it may be, money talks; everything else walks.

Can't argue with that, but I think Bernie's niche is what it is. He'd be less successful if he went the dark money route. People like him exactly because he's lived his principles.

One could argue, not that I'm doing so yet, that any Dem nominee will beat POSPOTUS, VP Q-tip or any Repug in 2020. IF SO, all a Dem has to do is win the primaries and caucuses, whatever strategy accomplishes that. Then, s/he just has to not commit suicide in the general.