What's your assessment of Sen. John Fetterman?

[Bread and Circuses]

I’m wondering. I can’t post my own opinion. So, I ask yours.

Thanks.

[JI7]

1. He represents the state of Pennsylvania and he has a good

understanding of what people are thinking there.

[DeepWinter]

66. Yep

I'd like to see AOC try running on his turf. Game over so fast her head would spin.

[paleotn]

77. So what are they thinking?

Electing a racist criminal is perfectly OK because...I don't know...the price of fucking eggs? Maybe that says all I need to know about a lot of folks in PA.

[RockRaven]

2. Like the soon-to-be-erstwhile-Senators from WV and AZ, I like that he caucuses

with the Dems (at the moment, anyways, for him -- the verb tenses don't line up with the others properly) and thereby counts towards the good side of the ledger in the majority-minority calculation -- even though it is not in our favor next term -- as it is better than the alternative of not having that particular seat count thusly... And that's about all the nice I have to say about that.

[Bread and Circuses]

15. Agree

Thanks for your thoughts.

[The Wandering Harper]

61. Pretty much /nt

[H2O Man]

3. Recommended.

My cousin who has known him since before he ran for office tells me she likes him, though he has always been a conservative Democrat. He seems to represent his state, perhaps moreso than he seems to represent what is important to the party nationally.

[Celerity]

7. He absolutely was not 'always a conservative Democrat':

He claimed the progressive label for himself for many years, and he begged for Sanders' help in 2016:

A Member of “Bernie’s Army” Is Still Waiting for the Candidate’s Help

John Fetterman is running for Senate in Pennsylvania, one of the most expensive races in the country. He wants to know when the political revolution starts.

https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2016/04/john-fettermans-senate-campaign-needs-bernie-sanders-help.html

April 19, 2016

John Fetterman, the populist mayor and long-shot Democratic Senate candidate, was one of the first elected officials in the country to endorse Bernie Sanders for president. He is, like Sanders, a political outsider. A tattooed giant—6-foot-8, more than 300 pounds—he’s spent the past 11 years presiding over Braddock, Pennsylvania, a largely black town outside Pittsburgh that was wrecked by the collapse of the local steel industry. Income inequality is at the center of his campaign. “I think there’s a great deal of overlap” between Sanders’ platform and his own, he tells me, “whether it’s a $15-an-hour living wage or health care, trade deals, a rigged economy.” Ideologically, the only real difference between the two men is that Fetterman is more in favor of gun control. He has the date of every homicide in Braddock since his election—nine in all—inked on his right arm.

In February, the New Republic described Fetterman as part of “Bernie’s army,” a generation of Democratic candidates creating “a progressive revolution from within.” Like Sanders, Fetterman has raised most of the money for his primary online, from small-dollar donors. He’s in a three-way primary race against Joe Sestak, the defeated Democratic Senate candidate in 2010, and Katie McGinty, who has the backing of much of the national Democratic establishment. Fetterman’s criticism of McGinty echoes Sanders’ case against Hillary Clinton. “When she ran less than two years ago, she was for $9 an hour instead of $15,” he says, referring to the minimum wage. “She brought fracking to Pennsylvania, and she also supported NAFTA.” She has a massive financial advantage in what is currently the most expensive Senate race in the country, with more than $17 million already spent.



Given the money and political power stacked against him, Fetterman says he needs Sanders’ help to have any chance next Tuesday, the same day as the Pennsylvania presidential primary. So far, however, it has not been forthcoming. There’s been no endorsement, no fundraising support, no joint appearances. Fetterman’s campaign finds this confounding. On the ground, he says, there’s enormous overlap between his supporters and the Sanders grassroots. (“The crowd at the Fishtown brewpub is young, liberal, urban. They rave about Sanders—and Fetterman,” says a recent Philadelphia Inquirer story.) In a three-way race, he believes, Sanders’ backing could be decisive; Fetterman estimates that he’ll win if he gets 60 or 70 percent of Sanders’ voters.

Right now, that seems unlikely; a poll from early April had him at 9 percent of the vote, with 66 percent saying they haven’t recently seen, read, or heard anything about him, and 63 percent saying they didn’t know what his ideology was. The only ray of hope: When people had heard about him, what they heard made them like him more. Lacking the resources to get on the airwaves, he’s doing as much retail campaigning as he can, including going to Sanders rallies to talk to voters one on one. (The Sanders campaign didn’t respond to a request for comment.) “To me, Pennsylvania represents the perfectly framed battle within the party war of 2016,” Fetterman tells me. “Untold millions in outside money and establishment endorsements versus the will of Sanders’ grassroots supporters who could, quite literally, pick the next nominee in this state. That nominee, badly outspent, represents a decimated steel town on society’s economic fringe.”

snip



















John Fetterman Endorses Bernie Sanders

[Bread and Circuses]

16. Interesting

Very interesting information. Thanks for your insight

[Trenzalore]

39. Yep

He was on the Sanders bandwagon and used Sanders to win Lt. Governor than Senate.

[H2O Man]

47. Very good!

I'll start by saying my post was not intended as a negative comment. More, that you and I have different ideas of what "conservative" means in the context of Democrats. I think Fordham U's Christina Greer was correct in saying that he is "simultaneously progressive, moderate, and conservative" (Politico, May 16, 2022). I do not consider that a "bad" thing. Likewise, my saying he works for the people of his state -- not just Democrats or the Democratic Party -- is not an insult. Just the opposite, if one considers how republicans in DC fail to do what is best for the people in their states by serving as cheerleaders for the felon, and bow to the maga agenda that they know is toxic.

Now, briefly to my cousin. I used to spend time in my aunt & uncle's house in the summers. Both were professors. My aunt was frequently a delegate at Democratic National Conventions. My uncle was a professor of physics who worked for the defense department in WW2. President Carter presented him with the "Educator of the Year" award. I remember playing kickball with my cousins and the neighborhood kids. One was Bob Casey, Jr., who despite not being good at kickball, would become a very good US Senator. His father, of course, was the governor. He was liberal on many issues, though very conservative in regards to abortion. That was common among the Irish Catholic community in Scranton.

The cousin that first spoke to me about Fetterman is a state employee, and that was where she first got to know him. She is part of a social group that includes John McWhorter, whom she plays chess with. While John is a conservative, I find him to be one of the most decent of individuals. And like any well-rounded person, I think that being "simultaneously progressive, moderate, and conservative" on various issues is a plus. Anyhow, and I say this respectfully, I'm confident that my cousin knows him better than you, me, or any forum member.

Currently, as we see on this forum, Fetterman's stances on potential members of the next administration show a side of him that many do not find either progressive or liberal. I suspect that there are different ways of viewing what he is doing with that.

[Celerity]

4. What does this:

I can’t post my own opinion.

even mean?

[Sewa]

9. You know what it means

Why ask 💀

[Bread and Circuses]

17. Explain I can't

I think you can figure it out.

[Mike 03]

27. Understood. You know, there's a diplomatic way to

deliver even the most scathing criticism. But whatever you want.

This is a worthwhile thread. I really want to hear from people who live in PA or have observed his career for some time.

My initial enthusiasm for Fetterman was based exclusively on the euphoria of some Twitter friends I had who lived in Philadelphia. They were ecstatic throughout his campaign and worked as hard as anyone I've ever seen But I have no idea what they are saying now since I left Twitter 18 months ago.

What makes me uncomfortable about his current conduct is that he is clearly taking a lot of joy in trolling Democrats, while I am not seeing him criticize MAGA, Trump or people on that side of the aisle. He also uses the word "asshole" way too much. And didn't he tell Carville to "go fuck himself"? Some of that stuff is fun, but it's too much and his timing couldn't be worse.

[Bread and Circuses]

29. Now you know why I asked what I asked .....

And the manner in which I asked.

Your assessment mirrors many Democrats who care about future elections and how key states have an impact. And certainly the conduct of a state senator may help or impede the Democrats.

I, too, want to hear from his constituents.

Thanks.

[Raine]

5. I have a good opinion of him. nt

[Celerity]

10. Even after he signed up on Trump's Truth Social and with his first post said Trump's NY prosecution was political and

called for Trump to be pardoned?

How about his full support for ultra MAGAt, Big Lie election denier Elise Stefanik?

Democrat John Fetterman says he's a 'hell yes' on a top Trump Cabinet pick

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14187275/amp/john-fetterman-trump-cabinet-pick.html

[Bread and Circuses]

18. Yes, I've read the same..

Yes, I appreciate your analysis, many share your thoughts.

[The Wizard]

34. Stefanik makes my skin crawl

sycophants are particularly offensive as they lie without compunction. She meets the definition of sycophant and pathological liar.

[AltairIV]

73. Disappointment.

He at times reminds me of a soon to be retired senator from West Virginia.

[Captain Zero]

80. Then the sob needs to return my donations

I'm serious. He's a fraud. What else is new?

[NJCher]

82. This is just wrong

any way you look at it.

He's lost my support. I think something is wrong with his judgment. It's not only these situations--there have been many others.

[Jack Valentino]

91. With all that, Fetterman removed himself from my personal list of future potential

Democratic presidential prospects....


NO, he hasn't actually yet cast any votes against the party that I know about,
but has announced plans to do so---- mostly he has just been running his mouth too far
in the maggot direction for my taste--

although I understand that too many people in PA would seem to be 'ok with that' recently,
judging by the PA presidential vote...


I look forward to Fetterman criticizing Trump for failing to
bring down the costs of eggs and Doritos
in the very near future

[Sewa]

6. He's shown what he is with

His speeding traffic accident, his demanding a changing of the senate dress code so he could look stupid wearing a hoodie and the gun incident where he held an innocent person at gun point. 🤐💀

[Bread and Circuses]

19. Indeed, all valid

As you’ve stated, he’s shown his tendencies. Watching his conduct and statements carefully.

[riversedge]

60. I have always been leary of folks who demand and then receive special privileges.

To me, it seems these folks set themselves above--no matter how small the privilege is--the rest of us.

[Klarkashton]

8. "I'm for fracking"

In other words I'm willing to sell out to get elected.
So he sold out and that's what he is and will always be. Anything he does will be no surprise.

[Bread and Circuses]

20. Well said

Oh yes, the fracking. Keeping an eye on what else he says and does , as I’m expecting more.

[mahina]

11. Well he was hetter than "Dr" Oz.

That’s really all I can say that’s positive about the man.

That, and evidently his wife loves him a lot

It certainly does seem like he’s being used.

[BeerBarrelPolka]

12. My opinion

Is your opinion

[Bread and Circuses]

21. I see you got the 'drift'

Thanks, appreciate you!

[Mike Nelson]

13. Mixed...

... respect his persona - the everyman/working man bit, which he does so well. He's a fighter and survivor. He presents as an anti government government official. I see his act as more of a "show" than real, but I'm not the target PA voter. I understand he was friendly with Elise and guess a job at the UN would be preferable to whatever else she might do... since she joined the Trump parade. She's a bigger chameleon. Stuff like pardoning Trump means less to me than a vote for impeachment. Still, I would not favor a pardon. In the end, Fetterman is better than Oz and whatever else they may throw up against him.

[Bread and Circuses]

22. You summarize it well

Yes, better than the Doctor selling dubious pills.

[Paladin]

28. Talk about damning with faint praise.

Pennsylvania and Democrats deserve somebody better than Fetterman. I don't see him correcting his downward trajectory.

[RandomNumbers]

40. PA and PA Dems had someone "better" - Casey

So no, apparently they don't deserve someone "better".

If by "better" you mean someone who pays (paid) more fealty to so-called "progressive priorities".

I'm not thrilled with some of Fetterman's recent actions, but I am keeping the option open that those actions are part of a strategy.

PA just dumped Casey for a swindler who doesn't even live in the state. And oh wait, who else did PA vote for in the 2024 general election? Yeah, so tell me again who PA deserves?

(Democrats nationwide may indeed deserve better than both Fetterman and Casey - but we still lost the popular vote to the biggest POS ever to disgrace the presidential ballot. So maybe not.)

[Gore1FL]

14. I'm disappointed in him.

Sometimes the scouts are wrong and the draft pick doesn't live up to the potential once thought.

[Bread and Circuses]

24. Brilliant! Thanks!

[DronePilot]

25. Opportunist in the classic sense

As defined: someone who takes advantage of circumstances to gain an advantage or power, often at the expense of others or ethics.

[Voltaire2]

26. He's kissed the ring. Nt.

Last edited Sat Dec 14, 2024, 09:25 AM - Edit history (1)

[Bettie]

38. I don't think it's a ring that

they are all kissing.

[jalan48]

30. He's not part of the resistance

[returnee]

31. Not to be trusted.

A Manchin or Sinema in the making. Anyone who wants to pardon TSF is no friend of the people. Rank opportunism is what I see.

[Bread and Circuses]

49. That's my concern.

[Vinca]

32. He's making the mistake Democrats sometimes make when facing a tough reelection in a state that isn't blue.

He's turning himself into a fake Republican to get votes. It's the exact opposite of what he should do. The vast majority of states like this are not like the one that elected Joe Manchin. They want a real crazy MAGA, not an imitation.

[Yavin4]

45. You don't beat MAGA by being MAGA-lite

The whole point of MAGA is to be all in. Why Democrats don't understand this, I do not know.

[OhioBack2Blue]

68. This 10,000 times!

But MAGA LITE is what so many of them are, so they can't help themselves.

Their enabling helped Trump.

Is this Trump's secret with Johnson, that come Jan 20th, a bunch of Ds are going become Rs? JFC.

[Self Esteem]

83. Casey was not MAGA-lite.

He was pretty quiet compared to Fetterman but a pretty solid Democrat. Maybe not a firebrand but I don't think anyone could accuse Casey of cozying up to Trump.

And guess what? Pennsylvania voters dumped him.

Fetterman is in an unenviable position. He's in a state that is trending Republican. Trump has now won it two out of the last three elections. Pennsylvania is now moving toward the Republicans.

Just look at the Republicans' margin going back to 2008:

44%
47%
48%
49%
50%

Pennsylvania has inched more Republican in every election since Obama won the state in a landslide in 2008.

In fact, it's been a perfect one-point increase in every election going back to 2012 - and that includes Biden's win there four years ago.

Maybe Fetterman is misjudging things. But I also remember Rus Feingold, a pretty strong Democrat, getting bounced and then losing again in 2016 despite leading in the polls in Wisconsin.

Pennsylvania is not going to be a state in the Democrats' future. History is already showing this.

[Yavin4]

84. So, how does making yourself MAGA-lite turn the tide?

Casey was a fairly moderate Dem, and maybe that was his problem. Being moderate or MAGA-lite does not stop trends and is not going to work. What does work is drawing unambiguous, clear distinctions with MAGA. So that even if you lose, you can say to the voters that you offered a different approach.

[Self Esteem]

87. Not sure what your point is.

Casey was clearly a different approach and he lost.

Better example: Ohio. Sharrod Brown got his butt kicked and he was always a progressive Democrat.

Pennsylvania is trending toward Ohio.

[Yavin4]

89. In your mind, Casey was a different approach

But, you're a consumer of political news. You may think that Casey was offering a stronger alternative to his opponent, but that's not how PA voters saw it. Also, Sherrod Brown progressivism was bottled up by the party.

But sure, let's do what you propose and be MAGA-lite. Let's see how that works. Let's see where that gets us.

[Self Esteem]

98. I claimed Casey was not MAGA-lite. Anyone who thinks he is doesn't have a leg to stand on.

Casey lost.

As did Sharrod Brown, who no one that wants to be taken seriously would ever say is MAGA-lite.

Fetterman is in a position where he either appeals to the voters in his state or he loses. Pennsylvania is quickly becoming the next Ohio - a state Republicans now dominate.

[Bread and Circuses]

50. I've been watching him and it seems that he is veering....

….. veering away from the democrats .

[ZonkerHarris]

93. Remember the 80s and 90s when scared Democrats acted like GOP Lite? Fucking hated that and it was &still is why we lose

[MayReasonRule]

33. Buying In To Sell Us Out?

Odd to say ain't got no doubt.

[Sympthsical]

35. I think he knows his audience extremely well

And that people who are all out of sorts over him haven't yet caught that they are not his audience.

That isn't to say I agree with everything the man says or does (nor am I interested in visiting that list).

But the rather dramatic reaction to him recently plays into his intent very well, I think. His whole thing is to appeal to working class blue collar types - valuable in Pennsylvania, and a constituency the national party is having a lot of trouble with these days.

Online melting down over him isn't a detriment to his purposes. I'd say it's rather calculated to appeal. He intentionally poked exactly the bear he wanted to, and the bear has reacted in exactly the way anticipated.

How will it go down in real life? Who knows. Only he and the voters of Pennsylvania will determine that.

But generally I dig him, because he's at least trying to make inroads with a constituency that our side has somehow decided it doesn't need to stoop to - which has been a resounding success for everyone involved, clearly.

It's always strange to me that people who fancy themselves in the vanguard of protecting rights decided somewhere along the line that they shouldn't have to condescend to the act of actually persuading voters. And it is going exactly as one would expect. The net result? Loss of rights. If you can't win, it doesn't matter how right you are.

[allegorical oracle]

36. Inasmuch as I live in Fla., the land of DeSantis and the orange menace, my opinion is

rather moot. But I'd say that I really liked Fetterman and rooted for him to be elected. More recently, he's rattled my opinion and I find him more undependable. That's given me a sad.

[Wiz Imp]

37. Criticism of him is insanely over the top. Manchin single handedly killed the build back better bill...

He caused the American Rescue Plan to be significantly watered down, caused the Inflation Reduction Act to get watered down, blocked climate change legislation, and many more examples. Just in the past week, he & Sinema refused to approve Biden’s NLRB nominee effectively killing the NLRB for the future by putting it in Republican control, (Notice who didn't side with those 2? That's right Fetterman - the same person people are complaining is just like Manchin).

Look, Fetterman has said numerous things recently that I strongly disagree with. Yet to this point, he has not taken any actions which go against the majority priorities of the Democratic Party. Manchin singlehandedly or in tandem with Sinema has killed numerous Democratic priority legislation. Fetterman has killed NOTHING.

I live in reality where the guy who has killed nothing and has supported every Democratic priority (but made comments I disagree with) is not in the same stratosphere as a guy who has provably made Americans lives worse by killing or watering down legislation which would have benefited everyone. Until he takes any actual harmful actions, calling him a Republican or a traitor or just like Manchin is beyond ridiculous.

[Bread and Circuses]

52. Good points...

I’m listening and watching as I’m concerned that he is heading in the direction of both of those who sabotage Democratic legislation. Thanks.

[Wiz Imp]

67. Here's the thing

I'm from Pennsylvania so he's my Senator. As I've said before, I strongly disagree with many of his recent statements. I watched hi on the View last week (I think) and I'm not sure if I fully agreed with anything he said. That all said, I'm not freaking out because his opinions are not really doing damage to Democratic priorities (he doesn't have that kind of sway in the party).

Look at the things people are upset about.
-Calling for pardoning Trump in the NY case. He is totally wrong in this case, IMO, but his opinion ultimately means next to nothing as other Democrats have not chimed into agree with him and it's not going to happen regardless.
-He's supporting Elise Stefanik. Again , I strongly disagree, but he apparently has some personal relationship with her and I guarantee he will not be the only Democrat to approve her. She will be confirmed easily. And she could have instead been nominated for a different position than the UN where she could do a lot more damage. It also opens up her Congressional seat which the Democrats are unlikely to win, but it may be possible to get a more moderate Republican in that seat.
-His support for Israel. Again, I disagree with him, but his opinion there is well within the Democratic mainstream among Senators. He just happens to be super loud about it. I wish he would shut up about it, but again, most Democrats in the Senate agree with him completely
-He met with Hegseth. Since when does meeting with a nominee mean anything? He's trying to show that he's not totally closeminded about everything related to Trump. This is the part where he is being somewhat performative for voters in PA. Despite what he may have said, I am fully confident that he will not vote to approve Hegseth. Numerous Democratic Senators have already met or indicated they will be meeting with cabinet nominees. It's a standard thing to do. Meeting with them doesn't mean they will vote for them
-He joined Truth social. Really, people are upset about that? Kamala Harris & Gavin Newsom are already on Truth Social. As for the posts he made, he just repeated things he had already made public statements about. This is a giant nothingburger.

I'm sure I'm missing something else people are upset about, but the bottom line is none of these things which he made comments on which I find objectionable, are things that are going to have any impact on Democratic/progressive priorities moving forward. He's not killing or obstructing a damn thing at this point. If he starts being obstructionist, then I'll scream about him as much as anyone, but to this point, there is no indication of him being obstructionist at all.

[alarimer]

41. Dislike immensely

Proven to be another turncoat in the manner of Sinema (not Manchin since we always knew he was terrible).

The term "quisling" needs to make a comeback.

[Emile]

42. Terribly displeased.

[republianmushroom]

43. Can't post it

[Yavin4]

44. Vichy Democrat

The new Joe Manchin.

[BannonsLiver]

46. I like that he annoys certain people.

Have enjoyed that quite a bit, actually.

[True Dough]

57. I'm sure if Fetterman was a contributing member of DU

he'd have at least 4 hides over the past 90 days. At least!

[BlueTsunami2018]

48. I've always been a fierce advocate of Fetterman.

But his actions of late have me more than a little puzzled and off put.

I feel a bit betrayed honestly.

I did not expect him to be sucking up to the MAGAts like this and so my support has waned some.

I want him to be better.

I don’t know if he will.

[claudette]

51. Not sure

But I’m liking him less and less as time goes by.

[bucolic_frolic]

53. A lot of people in politics find a wall to climb to power, then switch sides

Particularly in judicial robes, but not unheard of in elected office too. Fetterman's story was too good to be liberal. Maybe he was a plant all along, because look at his relatively mainstream conservative roots and early adulthood.

[Sneederbunk]

54. He had a stroke. A stroke can affect the brain.

[regnaD kciN]

55. I don't think I can comment...

...since I'm pretty sure expressing my opinion would be against some DU rule or another.

[Bread and Circuses]

56. Indeed. That's why we must be careful.

[Blue_Tires]

58. Not touching this one, no way

[The Unmitigated Gall]

59. We'll see. Time will tell. nt

[AkFemDem]

62. I dont really care what he says...

Actions speak louder than words, and his voting record is all I need to see to know he's on my team.

[Wiz Imp]

69. Thank you. It's sad that an apparent majority of people at DU are saying he's not a real progressive

or he needs to be primaried, etc. when his record of actions he's taken as Senator - particularly his voting record is strong (right in line with Elizabeth Warren). He's not remotely like Manchin. Hell he's not even close to Jon Tester who voted with Biden less than 75% of the time. (Fetterman voted with Biden 92% of the time, Warren 92.9%, Bernie Sanders only 89.%, Manchin 35.7%.

[Henry203]

63. Total phony

When I saw him in his hoodie and shorts I knew he was a phony, attention getting person.
No one will take you seriously when you make yourself bigger than the office. We all have to do things to be accepted professionally.

[FakeNoose]

64. He's TROLLING the Repukes

I have no worries, he hasn't left the fold of true believers.
John Fetterman is one of us, and he'll never join up with Chump.

This photo was taken only 2 years ago ... and it helped to elect John Fetterman:

[mvd]

65. Has gone downhill. But still happy his seat is not R

I loved him when he supported Bernie. I thought most of his campaign against Oz was great - and at times he made me laugh. But do not like the way he ran away from the progressive label. And while independence is not necessarily a bad thing, much of what he’s independent on I disagree with. Like being even more pro-Israel, wanting Trump to get a pardon, supporting fracking, supporting Stefanik, joining Truth Social, etc.

[Groundhawg]

70. Fetterman is a reasonable solid democrat leader.

[MotownPgh]

71. He fooled a bunch of progressives

to beat Conor Lamb.

[WarGamer]

72. He's a better Senator than Dr. Oz... mic drop.

[Baitball Blogger]

74. Okay, I'm going to do a reverse conspiracy theory.

Basically, it's just being a Pollyanna. Which means I don't believe it. But, maybe he's planning to be a double agent for the Democrats?

[comradebillyboy]

75. Fetterman appeals more to the white working

class than any progressive Democrat.

Many of the Democrats I see online, here and elsewhere seem to hold white men in contempt. White men are too big a chunk of the electorate to alienate if one wants to win elections.

I think Democrats can learn a lot from him.

[Skittles]

76. VERY mixed

right now, very disappointed

[Sneederbunk]

78. For every Manchin that leaves,

a Fetterman enters.

[Takket]

79. looks to me like he thinks he can make a name for himself become the "Manchin" of the Senate......

he won't survive a primary next time he's up if this is the course he's plotting.

[Self Esteem]

81. I see him as a Democrat in a swing state that is trending Republican.

He just watched a more quiet Democrat, who toed the party line pretty much on every vote, lose his reelection bid. He realizes Pennsylvania is almost certainly going to be a lean-Republican state in the future and unfortunately, if he is to survive politically, he probably has to cozy up to Trump, someone who's won the state now two of the last three elections.

Fetterman warned Democrats about Trump's potential success in PA but so many people dismissed it because they couldn't fathom it. Well he was right. His political instincts might just be enough for survival in a tough state.

[doc03]

85. Since you can't bash Democrats, I have no opinion. nt

[Eko]

86. I live in Pa. I voted for him.

I still have his sticker from when I donated to him on my desk. Past time to clean the desk and throw things away. I eagerly await a good primary to see the alternatives and move forward hopefully to a better place.

[Quiet Em]

88. He's a Pennsylvania Senator and he can legislate and lobby for Pennsylvanians as he sees fit

But if he steps into NY issues, I as a NYer will comment. He has no business, in my opinion, stepping into a NY State criminal fraud case. None.

And if he steps into issues that affect everyone Nationally, such as the appointment of Hegseth to lead the DoD I will comment.

[Jose Garcia]

90. He's a center-left populist

He always has been, but some people projected thier own ideolog onto him.

[ZonkerHarris]

92. Total fucking idiot just waiting to sell us out like Manchin and Sinema.

[LudwigPastorius]

94. See below:

https://www.stroke.org/en/about-stroke/effects-of-stroke/emotional-effects/personality-and-mood-changes

[pansypoo53219]

95. trump won pa. he is going where the state went. FOR NOW.

[Asa13]

96. I think hes a good democrat and understands his state and constituents

We have to accept not everywhere is as liberal as other places and we have to understand if we want democrats to be in the majority it means picking up those places also

[thebigidea]

97. Just saying stupid shit he thinks he needs to say to stay in office

He doesn't need to kowtow to coastal progressives but as long as he votes for D stuff when we take back congress, whatever. We aren't going to pass legislation anyway for years