BESHEAR!!!! There's a reason Kentucky Progressives are Screaming his Name

[epreic01]

I am not of the mindset that her running mate needs to be a straight white Christian man. I am of the mindset that we need a ticket that is young and ELECTRIC!

Andy may be one of the MOST popular governors in the US. However, he could be the most popular if took the easy road. He hasn’t. This man has stood up for the transgender community as if he was running for mayor of San Francisco. In Kentucky!!!

He’d be such a strong message of wanting unity and peace in our country. To choose someone who isn’t from a swing state she would project confidence and send a message that she would be a president for all Americans.

His Dad is former Governor Steve Beshear. Also very popular and very well connected. He would raise money and get big endorsements. I think he’d attract the blue collar union members that aren’t yet sold on Madam President.

He’s not just an Aw shucks kind of guy. He is tough as nails and fights back effectively.

He is authentic. I’ve met him and everyone that has met him are taken back by how ordinary he is in person.

His family. His wife and kids are so cute and humble. His kids go to public school and I have a friend that teaches at that school. His kids are sweet. They are involved parents and never expect special treatment.

This ticket would be exciting and energetic like Clinton/Gore in 92.

Last, NO Matter who she picks, no matter what we think, WE HAVE TO ACT like it’s the best decision anyone in human history has ever made. We cannot let the enthusiasm die and we can’t lose momentum. We are in the fight of our lives. Failure is not an option.
So get on board and smile.

[senseandsensibility]

1. Thanks for giving that insight

I like Beshear, but the details you give are very illuminating and most non Kentuckians probably don't know them. I am leaning towards him now thanks to you. Recently, I tried to assure everyone that Kamala, someone I've been very familiar with for a long time, was going kick you know what. And she did! There's nothing like local knowledge.

[Mister Ed]

12. +1 n/t

[mzmolly]

2. I'm in. Harris/Beshear

I've been on that wagon for a time. Though, I'd be happy with any of those being considered.

[OMGWTF]

45. What are the odds of another Democrat being elected governor in Kentucky? Slim and none.

[ShazzieB]

47. Yeah, that's what worries me.

Beshear sounds great, but I kind of hate to take him away from KY.

Oh well, I'm sure whoever Kamala picks will be awesome. I'm excited to find out who it will be!

[mzmolly]

48. I don't know enough about the political landscape in KY

to say.

[TheKentuckian]

58. The Lt Governor will advance and Andy is term limited.

This might actually help us by allowing Coleman the benefits of incumbency.

[ShazzieB]

64. Good to hear!

[epreic01]

65. Not great HOWEVER

His Lt. Governor would finish his term. Kentucky has a pretty good track record of electing dems as governors. The Republicans that have been elected have been disastrous. Here’s why. Kentucky is a welfare state. Much of the state benefits from social programs. Kentucky is socially conservative. Whenever we elect a Republican Governor they try to cut programs and people lose their minds. Since 2000 we have had 2 Republican Governors and they have only lasted one term.
The benefit of selecting Andy is we don’t lose someone that we need to legislate nationally.

[Demsrule86]

79. He won't give us the state or help with the rust-belt where we win...Shapiro is the best pick.

[calimary]

3. Works for me!

[Bundbuster]

4. I'd be very happy with Andy as Kamala's VP running mate

[CrispyQ]

5. I think we need two younger candidates, too.

Nothing against fine, older, democratic men but to me an older white man reeks of "we need an old white guy to win" & we don't. Personally I think HRC made a bad choice with Tim Kaine.

[mamajudi]

16. I agree...

Tim Caine was a ...what? Who is that? Since then I've gotten to respect him. But I think she could've made a better choice. That said, too much was working against Hillary, whom I loved and supported.. I have even MORE enthusiasm for Kamala!! I like Beshear, I think the list is great for her to choose from. But we know who Andy is!!!

[travelingthrulife]

6. I like him a lot

He has to take a lot of crap from the Republicans in public office there. He handles it well.

[Emile]

7. I think Shapiro is too moderate with his private school

vouchers. We need a progressive like Biden to advance this country forward.

[MadameButterfly]

13. But he will bring us Pennsylvania

and there was the bridge miracle. I'm not going to dismiss him over the school voucher issue. Less Progressive than Kamala is called for here.
But I like the idea of excitement that either Shapiro or Beshear could bring (or Whitmer).

i just hope we don't go for Mark Kelly over some idea that the woman nominee needs a military/astronaut older guy to give her gravitas. He's great but we need him in the Senate. We need fire on the campaign trail.

[standingtall]

15. As far as I know Beshear is against School vouchers

and has repeatedly campaigned against them as well as veto such legislation proposed by Kentucky's republican controlled State Houses. Or did you have Shapiro in mind there.

[Emile]

24. That's a huge plus for me.

[MadameButterfly]

29. Me too but in this election

electability is what I care about. Kamala is already pretty Progressive. They might be wanting to balance the ticket. Beashear would be fun and exciting but they might be looking for older and moderate to balance the ticket.

[Emile]

31. I been hearing that argument all my life. At 73 how

many more years do we have to keep believing that, because I don't have that much time left?

[MadameButterfly]

32. It will never go away

These are the hard knocks of democracy. I was really excited about McGovern. I thought Mondale, Dukakis, Gore, and Kerry were terrific. I balance my excitement now. I ask if my candidate can speak like FDR, JFK, B.Clinton, or Obama. And then I try to see them in the lens of the general electorate, not jut my bubble. Because if not elected, we have the other guy.

[Emile]

34. How did Biden and Harris win?

[TheKentuckian]

59. The former Senator from MBNA was the moderate.

[Emile]

62. Thats why Bernie Sanders supported and

campaigned for him, because he ran as a moderate.

[TheKentuckian]

69. Joe Biden didn't pop into existence in 2020

and Sanders would stump for about any nominee.

He made a lot of appearances for Clinton too. He campaigned for Obama. He probably campaigned for Kerry, I don't recall though.

Bernie campaigning for a Democrat is not evidence for this case.
He wasn't campaigning for him in the primary, he was running against him and they did not share a lane.

Biden essentially ran on normalcy and Chump being unfit and incompetent not as a leftist.
Any mild veering left in the campaign had about 45 or 50 years of middle of the road cover and significant pressure from Warren and Sanders as well.

Where Biden moved left was in office but left was also the rational, sound action rather than just based on ideology or political orientation in any significant way.

[Emile]

70. Okay 👌

Last edited Thu Jul 25, 2024, 07:12 AM - Edit history (1)

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[MadameButterfly]

81. Covid, which Trump botched

and there wasn't a normal campaign so the usual measures don't apply

[jmowreader]

72. "Balancing the ticket" isn't necessary this year

Trump "balanced" his by picking an even worse fascist than he is as a running mate.

Andy Beshear is an interesting choice because he's a progressive from the Deep South. This gives him more credibility with some people than, say, a moderate from New York or Illinois.

[JanMichael]

85. Cooper ticks all those boxes. And can take NC.

And maybe even get Stein in as opposed to Robinson the troglodyte as governor. Win win.

[MadameButterfly]

26. I was referring to Shapiro

[Buckeyeblue]

20. Remember Pennsylvania is Philadelphia and Pittsburgh with West Virginia in the middle

He knows how to speak to the West Virginia in the middle. Those are the people we've lost.

[MadameButterfly]

27. Beshear can speak to many of the people who need persuading

but the low information voters who will decide our fates aren't paying much attention. Those in PA will know Shapiro who is overwhelmingly popular--in PA. They'll vote for who they know. We'll lose Kentucky anyway. I wish these weren't major considerations but they are.

I'm assuming Kamala and the party are assessing what it will take to win PA. Without PA, we lose.

M

[epreic01]

68. Shapiro

Could win us Pennsylvania, but lose us Michigan.
I also don’t think choosing someone to help you carry a state is a good strategy.
Biden needed to win Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, but he picked a senator from California. That communicated to voters, “I’m choosing someone I think can run the country and can lead the next generation of democrats.”

[Big Blue Marble]

41. No matter what we are not getting West Virgina.

It is the reddest state in the nation.

[Buckeyeblue]

49. I'm not saying that...

My comments are more nuanced that in swing states he can speak to the "west virginia" type of voters. And maybe sway some.

[cannabis_flower]

50. Not Shapiro!

The One Vice Presidential Pick Who Could Ruin Democratic Unity

https://newrepublic.com/article/184151/one-vice-president-ruin-democratic-unity-josh-shapiro#

On paper, it’s understandable why Shapiro is among the leading candidates reportedly being vetted by Harris. Like nearly all of the veep contenders, he’s a white male governor with a centrist reputation. At 51, he’s even younger than Harris and a fresh face, having only held his current job for 18 months. He has already shown himself to be a more than capable administrator, generating a lot of good publicity for repairing a damaged section of Interstate 95 within two weeks. Most importantly, Pennsylvania is the most valuable swing state in play, worth 19 electoral votes, and Shapiro is very popular there.

Unfortunately, Shapiro also stands out among the current field of potential running mates as being egregiously bad on Palestine. It’s not just that he, like many Democrats, is an outspoken supporter of Israel—though he certainly is, having championed Israel’s war against Hamas consistently and without any apparent concern for Palestinian civilians. Shapiro has, moreover, done far more than most Democrats to attack pro-Palestine antiwar demonstrators, in ways that call into question his basic commitment to First Amendment rights.

In his previous role as Pennsylvania attorney general, Shapiro championed the state’s constitutionally dubious anti-BDS (boycott, divestment, sanctions) law against Ben & Jerry’s after the ice cream maker refused to license its product for sale in Israeli settlements. “BDS is rooted in antisemitism,” Shapiro wrote in a statement in 2021, as he condemned a company named for its two Jewish American founders. “The stated goal of this amorphous movement is the removal of Jewish citizens from the region and I strongly oppose their efforts.”

We could win Pennsylvania but lose Michigan.

[Sky Jewels]

54. Not only could we lose Michigan, we could lose a critical mass of Gen Z.

We need them excited and enthusiastic, not angry about Shapiro's alignment with Netanyahu's brutal policies and views.

[MadameButterfly]

84. OK, that is disqualifying

Biden stepping down should free us of the Gaza issue and Shapiro might make it worse. Darn.
Michigan might go for a Jew ONLY if he had stood up against Netanyahu and Biden's unquestioning support for too long

[Sky Jewels]

53. But he will make a lot of Gen Z angry with his extremely pro-Israel stance.

As far as I know, he has not expressed sympathy or regret about the tens of thousands of innocents that Netanyahu's Israel has brutally slaughtered and starved. He's way too divisive. We definitely don't need that!!!

[epreic01]

67. He's very charismatic BUT

Has been a strong supporter of Israel from what I’m hearing and would turn off the voters we need in Dearborn Michigan.
Also the school voucher thing is unpopular with educators.
Could be wrong. Just going off of hearsay…

[Indykatie]

8. The First Major Harrison Decision Will Be Her VP Choice - I Hope She Aces That Decision

I'm prepared to embrace whoever she selects. No matter who she chooses there will some disappointment because we all have our favorite to be on the ticket as VP. It seems that Shapiro, Kelly and Beshear have the most support based on internet buzz. I'll be surprised if it isn't one of these 3.

[hlthe2b]

9. We have an "embarrassment of riches' from which to pull. Beshear is definitely one of them.

They all have their individual strengths to bring to the ticket. Among his is his ability to call JD Vance out on his Bullshit in the most direct way possible. He actually KNOWS and understands these people. Terrific political skills too.

[pat_k]

10. All good, however...

...IMHO, Mark Kelly makes for a stronger ticket with his skills communicating effectively on border security and sensible gun control.

I'm very afraid of putting his Senate seat at risk, but I think he would do the most to shore up perceived weaknesses a lot of Democratic candidates have. With a strong national message chances of winning the Senate and House may be increased, and reduce any risk to Arizona's seat.

It would be fun if his twin were as politically savvy. Could run him as a replacement. What a hoot that would be !

On edit, as far as going all in on whoever she selects, that is a given!

[MadameButterfly]

14. I don't think its worth risking a swing state senate seat

when we have so much talent. Shapiro, Whitmer, and Beashear are also communicators. Republicans and undecideds are not policy wonks. They'll think young or old, boring or exciting. We need someone who makes Vance look like a milk dud not a new young star. I say Shapiro, Beshear, or Whitmer. I spent a couple of hours YouTubing all 3 (and Kelly) and I felt more inspiration and excitement than I have in a long time with the first 3. Kelly was solid, but we need more than that.

[pat_k]

39. I vacillate

I've argued that almost all the names being floated are doing great things where they are, and those whose offices would be at risk of flipping should absolutely stay where they are. I thought Roy Cooper would be a good pick. Lots of pluses, and term limited, so he couldn't run again anyway.

Then I learned more about how good Mark Kelly is on border security and sensible gun control. Giving him a national platform could shore up the party's perceived weakness in those areas, and that could help tip swing Senate and House seats down ballot in multiple states.

Bottom line. I vacillate. I don't think there is a clear call between potential risk and potential reward of Kelly as VP.

[MadameButterfly]

82. Do you think MAGA or undecideds will give Kelly credit

on border and guns? Any Dem can point out that Trump killed the bipartisan immigration bill to keep the problem for the election.
I suppose I should look up what Kelly says to understand why he can do something different.

All of the candidates have a downside. Whitmer would be a shoe-in if the top of the ticket was male. Shapiro will bring PA but being Jewish might be an issue for MI. Anyone know his stand on Israel/Gaza? Beashear is exciting but young might not play well with Kamala getting dinged for gravitas for being a woman, and he brings no state. Mark Kelly seems not as exciting as the first 3, though very strong--but I still think the potential loss of a Senate seat should be disqualifying. Buttigieg--the most articulate but gayis risky and how many glass ceilings can we break with democracy at stake?

i should check out Priztger, Cooper more but haven't found them exciting so far. Unlikely either will bring us a state, but if they do, not as critical as PA and MI.

Man, this was easier when candidates were all white men and we were just looking at geography.

[Upthevibe]

51. pat_k....

I had read that Kelly's seat was safe until 2029 (January) due to the Dem. Governor being able to make an appointment.

Then an Arizona DU'er told me the appointment would only last until 2026.

I'm still not clear on whether or not Beshear would cause us to have a Governor's seat go from blue to red....That's a tough one for me.

[pat_k]

61. Veepstakes calculus rarely points to a clear "best"

. . . I thought Roy Cooper would be a good choice. Since he is term limited, it's not a case where an incumbent's office would be at risk if vacated. As chair of the governor's association he advocated less trump and more kitchen table -- an approach I applaud, and I think helped in the midterms. (I think endlessly demonizing Trump does more to unnecessarily alienate people who are turning to him for all sorts of reasons than change minds about him. It's all been said, and said, and said...) Anyway, Roy Cooper seems to have a reputation for successfully reaching across divides on those kitchen table issues -- a skill that could do us some good. Perhaps not as much good as Kelly's strengths on border security and gun control, but as a popular governor, having him on the ticket could put N. Carolina in play.

Who knows. She may end up picking someone for reasons that aren't so calculated -- someone she just "clicks" with.

We always get very caught up in VP selection. Fun for us and the analysts, but sometimes I think the VP pick doesn't actually change the dynamics of a race as much as we might expect.

[yardwork]

11. Everyone seems to like Andy Beshear.

I think that he would be a great choice.

Also, my governor Roy Cooper from NC would be a great choice.

[pat_k]

42. I agree on Roy Cooper

With the added plus that he's term limited so there no risk of seeing an incumbent democratic office flipping if vacated.

I tend to favor Mark Kelly, for the reasons noted in previous posts on this thread.

Mainly, it is great that there are so many good options.

[MiKenMi33]

17. I like Beshear too.

As a resident of Kentucky, I’d like to keep Beshear as Governor. He’s done so much good for this state and has more to do. Rather than VP, I’d like to see him run for McConnell or Paul’s seat in the senate. There’s no doubt he’d win in this bright red state.

[MadameButterfly]

33. That would be brilliant

A Dem senator from Kentucky! needed for our senate majority. But perhaps tragic for Kentucky

[steelyboo]

43. As a fellow Kentuckian, I couldn't have said it better myself!

Wholeheartedly agree that replacing the Turtle would be the best thing Andy could do for the state. Since McConnell is hanging it up, Andy would not have to overcome the incumbency that has keep the chinless bastard in office all these years.

[epreic01]

71. Could Andy be a Senator? Yes

But… RN Andy benefits from being able to bring jobs to Kentucky and doesn’t get hurt by his veto bc Republicans override his veto. When he starts having to vote on Abortion and Gay Marriage etc. he will fall out of favor…

[angrychair]

18. No matter who she picks as VP

I support our candidate and her VP choice and will defend it to my last breath.

[TomSlick]

44. Exactly.

VP Harris will make the choice. I am confident she will make a sound decision.

Whoever she chooses, I'm behind the choice.

[Politicub]

19. Your post is an excellent argument for Beshear

I don’t know much about him, so I really appreciate you taking the time to write it.

[2 Meow Momma]

21. Is there another dem waiting in the wings that could be elected governor?

If not, I say he should stay and influence governors to the left.

[standingtall]

22. Jacqueline Coleman is Lieutenant Governor of KY and is a Democrat

If Beshear were the VP she would be the Governor of Ky at least until the next election cycle. Plus Beshear cannot be re-elected Governor again.

[2 Meow Momma]

25. Good to know! Thanks. nt

[yellowdogintexas]

38. Mea Culpa ! I thought the Lt Gov was a Republican. He might leave in that case. nt

[blueknight73]

23. Story time...

I no longer live in Kentucky, but still have two kids that do so naturally I follow the politics there. My oldest son has a good friend who is a Physician in Lexington and a hard core Republican. He grew up with Andy and went to school with him since Kindergarten.

My son was talking to him one day and asked him about Andy. The Doctor told him " I have known Andy all my life, and I will tell you, He is absolutely the nicest, most honest person I've ever known. He is the only Democrat I ever voted for in my life and if he were to run for the Senate or President one day, I would vote for him again."

I wish I could have voted for him, but I did vote for his father who was a great Governor.

[yellowdogintexas]

37. my dream for Andyh is McTurtle's Senate seat. I think the timing is right for

Andy to step in and run when Turtle's term expires. If not he can always run against Rand Paul

[msfiddlestix]

28. I feel like he should run for the Senate seat. I understand Mitch is retiring, is that correct?

I understand that Beshear enjoys a great deal of good will, is popular and a "known" figure for the folks in Kentucky. Wouldn't it be the best path for the party, country and him personally?

[epreic01]

73. Something else to consider

Republican legislator in KY has a super majority. Andy Vetoes their crazy bills, but they override his veto. They had a hard time running against him being so progressive, bc there was nothing he was able to stop with his veto. So he benefits from having a great personality and bringing lots of jobs here.
If he were a senator he’d have a voting record that would probably get him in a lot of trouble. Kentucky elects a lot of Dems as Governor. But not to the Senate. His popularity may help him get one term as senator…. Would be better for the nation and in some ways for Kentucky if Andy ascended to VP and eventually Presidency.

[msfiddlestix]

75. Very informative, thank you for demystifying that aspect of Kentucky's voting trends

could never figure out how Mitch could be reelected at the same time as the current Governor.
it has been a head scratcher!

[Nanjeanne]

30. He'd be a great pick and really able to reach those rural working people we need in swing states.

[yellowdogintexas]

35. Gov Andy is awesome. He ran one of the most effective COVID responses in the country

I watched his daily press conferences during covid, and was very impressed. He also teamed up with the Republican Secretary of State to work out a very effective plan to handle the election that year.

I have also met him and have felt ever since that he has national potential

The only fly in the ointment is whether he would want to leave office mid-term and leave the governorship to the Republican Lt Governor, when the Lege is already Republican.

[Music Man]

60. The Lt. Gov of KY is a Democrat.

Jacqueline Coleman

[yellowdogintexas]

66. I saw that in another post (and pronounced Mea Culpa) nt

[lark]

36. She has so many excellent, excellent folks to choose from.

We're lucky that way.

[The Butler]

40. Earl G

I want the result of your poll on the VP choice

[NNadir]

46. No matter who Ms. Harris chooses, the hillbilly who wants to treat women's...

...internal organs as State property will suffer by comparison.

I trust her judgement.

You know what? I was disappointed with Obama's choice because of all kinds of quibbles that turned out to show me up as a fool. History will record Joe Biden as another exemplar of the American genius of righting a disatrous Presidency by following it with a great one.

[Miami Blue]

52. Harris-Beshear sounds very good to me 💪🏻

[kyburbonkid]

55. My thumbs up. For sure.

As a Kentuckian, big thumbs up. All the choices are great so it will probobly be a flip of the coin decision I'm sure.

[Dem4life1970]

56. Beshear is my first choice. Whitmer is second. Or vice versa. I like them both.

Shapiro(PA), Walz (MN), or Kelly (AZ) would be good too.

[bdamomma]

57. I think

Beshear would be good.

[kimbutgar]

63. He's my favorite to become VP

[Emile]

74. Andy Beshear is quickly becoming my favorite too.

[get the red out]

76. Lexington DUer checking in

Andy Beshear is wonderful, God knows how many people walking around today would have died during Covid if he hadn't been our Governor. Whoever Kamala sees as the best choice for her, I'm all in. But I am thrilled that Andy is getting a look. Count Gov Beshear out? As he would say "Ya'all can't be doin' that!"

[phoenix_rising]

77. He's my 2nd choice after Pete!

Pete will always be my first choice, because he’s Pete! But thanks so much for the info. I now know who my second choice is!

[thesquanderer]

78. re: "This ticket would be exciting and energetic like Clinton/Gore in 92."

I like Gore, but I'm not sure how many people have ever called him an "exciting" candidate.

A lot of comments here seem to be about this pick or that being less than ideal on some particular issue. I don't think a VP's stand on any issue is all that relevant. What matters more is, as you say, exciting. Dynamic, charismatic speakers.

I haven't seen a lot of most of these contenders speaking, but from what I've seen, Pete and Shapiro impress me most in terms of who I think will be the most effective campaigners.

[onetexan]

83. No. Keep Beshear governor of this deeply red state. It was incredibly difficult for KY Dems to elect a Dem. gov.

We do not need to lose that position.