Gavin Newsom--are Dems going to once again let the perfect be the enemy of the good?

[crimycarny]

I've been seeing some trashing of Gavin Newsom on Bsky. A lot of the same "purity politics" that Dems do to themselves time and time and time again.

I didn't particularly care for Newsom a couple of years ago. It wasn't anything tangible that he did or didn't do, just sort of an overall sense that he was your typical slick politician. Some mentioned his name as a Presidential Candidate, and up until a few months ago, I thought he'd be a terrible candidate.

I've since changed my opinion. Today is a different world and an entirely different game. The Dems actually NEED someone like Gavin. A politician who knows how to play the game with these new rules better than any other Democratic politician to date.

I don't know who the candidate will be in 2028, but I know we need a fighter who isn't afraid of fighting a bit dirty if he/she has to. Gavin with the right VP could be a powerful ticket. Just my opinion, I'll support whoever the Dems nominate, but I'm hoping we don't end up fighting over getting 100% of what we want versus 80% or 90%.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. I agree with you, my dear crimycarny!

You got to the heart of it right here: I know we need a fighter who isn't afraid of fighting a bit dirty if he/she has to.

He is a very intelligent person and this is a quality that we need.

K&R

[Keepthesoulalive]

2. Well we've got that Charlie Kirk nonsense out of the way.

[Fiendish Thingy]

3. I enjoy Newsom's top tier Trump trolling

But that doesn’t make him Dems best choice for 2028.

There are better potential candidates who are skilled, experienced and far less vulnerable than Newsom.

That’s not “purity” that’s just my opinion, shared by many others.

The noisiest candidate isn’t automatically the best.

[crimycarny]

6. He's actually good at getting his policy positions out too

Most of his Twitter and other social media posts are about what he's accomplished in California, not just trolling.

I don't think Newsom is the most skilled or experienced, but he's not unskilled or unexperienced either. If experience and skill won elections, Hillary would have won in a landslide. Instead, we have Trump.

There is a difference between being "noisy" and being effective. I don't see Newsom as "noisy", he's simply grabbing attention and using it to fight against the GOP messaging machine....and more effectively than any other Democratic leader to date.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

8. What do you mean by "effectively"? What is the measurable effect that is remarkable?

[crimycarny]

10. Here's an example

And, understand, this is based on world we live in these days. I know some don't like posting Twitter links but this isn't on Bsky.

Here is an effective tweet disputing Trump's lies. Simply spouting the facts hasn't worked, but grabbing attention first by his mocking of Trump does.

Link to tweet

And this tweet is immediately followed by a coverage of Newsom promoting a program to address the growing suicide rate and sense of isolation in young men.

Link to tweet

[WhiskeyGrinder]

12. Okay so what I get from your response is that you like his tweets and the announcements from his press office.

But like...what's *effective* about them for the wider electorate? Assuming that the effect you want is for people to vote for him?

[crimycarny]

14. What's "effective" about any other Democratic candidate so far?

I guess what's "effective" to me is that Newsom is fighting back against Trump in a way no one has been able to do up until this point. And that "effectiveness" is showing in the polls...so he's doing something right.

I like Pritzker as well. He is also fighting back. That's the spirit we need. No backing down, no "taking the high road"...get in the mud and fight.

NOTE: and BTW, I don't just "like his tweets". I'm not a vapid moron. I like that he is fighting FIRE WITH FIRE on Texas redistricting efforts. That's a fighter who isn't just spouting rhetoric about how "unfair" and "outrageous" the Texas redrawing of maps is; he's taking action. That is the fight we need.

[Fiendish Thingy]

15. Newsom has had fewer challenges since he has Dem supermajorities in the legislature

When I think of a fighter, I think of Whitmer, who passed more significant progressive legislation in one year with a one seat majority in the legislature than Newsom or perhaps any other governor, has passed in two terms.

And that’s with serious kidnapping and death threats.

[crimycarny]

16. Hillary Clinton was an absolute warrior

And she lost.

I don't know what the answer is other than the Democratic Party needs to come up with a new strategy for supporting and promoting their candidate.

How did the GOP get a completely bankrupt, corrupt, and baffoonish man who had 34 felonies, a rape conviction, and incited an insurrection re-elected???

Anyway, I'm just rambling. I guess the bottom line is that whoever ends up being our candidate in 2028, I hope the Democratic Party figures out a better way to promote them and a better way to campaign for them.

[Cha]

23. And, So Was Kamala.. A Fighter!

I like Gov Newsom right now.. and you make some Good Effective Points.

TY

[crimycarny]

31. Yes!

She mopped the floor with Trump at the debate. I was sure she’d win until a week before the election when I had this epiphany. The thought popped into my head “OMG…Trump supporters are going to be so motivated by revenge for 2020 that they wouldn’t care of Trump were a corpse on Election Day. To them they are only looking as far ahead as to winning the election like it’s a rival football game, not the future of the country.”

Up until that point it just seemed obvious to me Kamala was the far better candidate. I mean, Trump swaying to music for 30 minutes at a rally??? That had to be too much, right? No. It was about winning the game and taking back the trophy.

[Cha]

33. Yes, Revenge and a Lot of Buyers

Remorse now..

Too Tragic how they Screwed it for whole Planet.

[Ms. Toad]

4. It isn't Newsom who has changed - it is you.

I still have the same opinion - typical slick politician. Not someone who would be my top choice in the primary. No more to do with purity politics, or letting the perfect be the enemy of the good.

I didn't think he was good (as a presidential candidate) before. I still don't.

[Mark.b2]

5. I'm with you on Newscom, Ms. Toad...

I just struggle to see an alternative that I think can win a general election. Thankfully, it’s still early, and there’s time for someone to amerge.

I wish Hillary ws 10-15 years younger. I think voters will be leery of another elderly president. Hell, so will I!

I like governors and am keeping an eye out for one.

[ananda]

9. If he's the nomnee, I will vote for him.

I have never voted against a Democrat.

Occasionally I've voted Green when a
Democrat wasn't on the ballot.

[Mark.b2]

11. For sure, I would too. nt

[crimycarny]

7. But we need to win the election

If it's not Newsom, then perhaps he can teach other Democratic candidates lessons on how to fight back more effectively. If qualifications and experience were what most voters cared about, Hillary would have won in a landslide.

That sounds so weird and wrong, but I keep mulling over and over on how an absolute MORON like Trump got elected over candidates like Hillary that were obviously more qualified. I mean, what is it??? Whatever "it" is, the next Democratic candidate needs to have "it", or know how to fight against "it". Right now, that appears to be Newsom.

[Ms. Toad]

18. If they actually follow in his footsteps - I won't be voting for them in the primary.

His mimicry of Trump is amusing, but I don't want a president who acts like Trump. Period. It doesn't matter which side they are on.

[crimycarny]

30. I don't think Newsom acts like Trump

He just knows how to fight him on his turf. Acting like would mean treating every single person with disrespect and disdain. I haven’t seen that behavior in Newsom.

[Ms. Toad]

36. Of course he is. He is mimicking Trump, and using that mimicry to cast Trump-like insults

At a whole host of others. That's not how I want a president to act.

[crimycarny]

13. No, I haven't changed

What's changed is what wins elections. I still believe Gavin Newsom is a slick politician, but maybe he's the fighter we need in this new world. And he is not completely inexperienced or morally bankrupt (like Trump).

In a perfect world, Hillary would have won and served two terms. That woman is brilliant.

[Ms. Toad]

17. So, you have changed.

You are now willing to accept a slick politician. I haven't changed - I am not.

FWIW, Hillary is also a slick politician, which is also why she was not my first choice in the primaries.

[awesomerwb1]

26. LOL so who do you like? Millionaire Bernie?

[crimycarny]

29. I didn't like Hillary at first either

I remember thinking the same about Hillary when she ran against Obama. I didn’t like her at all. Then I saw her in what (I think?) was the first debate with Obama and I was blown away by the vast knowledge she had of almost every topic. I still didn’t like her all that much though, but I had to respect her qualifications.

It was a couple of years after Obama had won when I saw her being interviewed. I can’t remember the show. 60 minutes? 20/20? Hillary made a comment about how she would observe her husband’s ease in connecting to voters, and how she saw the same qualities in Obama. She said she was always jealous of that because it wasn’t as easy for her. She mentioned having to learn early on to hold in her emotions as she was often the only female in a class/job dominated by males. She felt she couldn’t show emotion, and got so used to that it was hard for her to let down her guard.

She didn’t say all of that in a self-pitying way. Just a recognition of some areas that she wished she was better in. It gave me some insight and understanding. It had to be hard to walk that tightrope.

[crimycarny]

32. I'm willing to accept a flawed politician

If it means we’ll win the election. Being “slick” is not a deal breaker for me if we get 80-90% of our policies pushed through.

[Cha]

24. TY.. I don't think you've "changed"..

I actually understand what you're saying.

[BurnDoubt]

19. Sounds like you're still fighting "The Last War".

Line up behind the person who generates the most energy among voters.
Listen to the opposition and get to know what moves them, and how to neutralize their fear.
Be present in EVERY DISTRICT.
Focus. Focus. Focus.
Get out the vote.
AND NEVER FORGET: YOU WILL NEVER GET WHAT YOU WANT IF YOUR SIDE DOESN'T WIN.

[W_HAMILTON]

20. When you see people do that, just call them MAGA enablers.

And when they deny it, sarcastically tell them that they should "give people a reason to vote FOR their candidate rather than vote AGAINST a good Democrat trying to stop MAGA."

[JanMichael]

21. I didn't like his French Laundry screwup but I like his attack mode

He is damned good at it or at least his social media person is. Plus he is good live debating.

[Jack Valentino]

22. I felt the same as you until the past few days----

when his canonizing of the deceased racist Charlie Kirk
has somewhat dulled my enthusiasm...........

[crimycarny]

28. Maybe Newsom is simply the fighter we need now (before midterms) and it will be someone else in 2028

Newsom is meeting the moment for the battles we’re facing right now (Texas redistricting for example), but he might not be the right guy/gal when 2028 rolls around.

I’m hopeful that come 2028, voters will be looking for the anthesis of Trump: smart, calm, experienced, and capable. Whoever that is, it won’t be a Republican.

[summer_in_TX]

25. Newsom's tweets are objectively effective in at least two ways.

The humor and mockery have enlivened and en-couraged despondent Dems in the face of Texas's gerrymandering.

Molly would love it.

So keep fighting for freedom and justice, beloveds, but don't you forget to have fun doin' it. Lord, let your laughter ring forth. Be outrageous, ridicule the fraidy-cats, rejoice in all the oddities that freedom can produce. And when you get through kickin' ass and celebratin' the sheer joy of a good fight, be sure to tell those who come after how much fun it was.

Newsom's tweets have also demonstrated fight that Dems and non-Dems badly need to see. Congressional Dems have few opportunities for leadership there, and many seem to be squandering those they do have. So it's high time for someone who refuses to be afraid or bend the knee to signal to everyone that taking the fight to Trump is very possible. Courage begets courage.

One of the things I like about Newsom was how steadfastly and loyally he campaigned for Biden in the face of many who would have preferred him to run. He was a warrior. So we could do worse in 2028.

[Buddyzbuddy]

27. I have a few things to say in response to a few posts here.

Newsom is my Governor and I haven't always agreed with him and all his policies.
But, I'm glad to have him. I agree with him about 75% of the time, the other 25% I really didn't agree with him.
I think some of you have beaten him up enough here and might I say with no substance, that I don't need to add to it.
He sees a problem and comes up with solutions, quickly. For example, the redistricting issue. This wasn't a plan that's been in the works, he didn't need to do a long drawn out study. We have had a legislated neutral board to draw up our districts, fairly. But, when Texas decided to gerrymander their districts even more, he saw that as a problem. Then problem 2 was, how can CA get around the board and the law without upsetting the applecart. Boom, next thing you know, there's a solution, take it to the voters which meant getting it through the legislature first. Done, now it's on the ballot while at the same time preserving the neutral board by sunsetting the new redistricting plan. Does this style sound like somebody we know, except done correctly. That's what Newsom does. He takes the difficult problems, comes up with solutions that aren't always easily digestible to the voters. (Fuel taxes, water conservation, mandatory masks, budget cutting, etc.,etc.)

Sure he's a good looking guy that speaks well and for that some people call him "slick", like a used car salesman. Yes he has stumbled at times, no mask at a dinner during shut down, downplaying trans issues, during an interview with a right winger, etc.
The thing is he learns from his mistakes, Guifoyle?
He may or may not run in '28 but the truth is we're going to need somebody that can and will take charge to make the hard choices and, it will come off a lot like the Felon in the office now, to reverse the damage that's been done as quickly as possible. That means no studies and long drawn out meetings to get everybody's input. Toes are going to be stepped on, feelings will get hurt.
The difference will be, it is for the American people, not his or her own benefit.
It will be tough but we will have to trust the next Democratic President to work for us. However, checks and balance will be restored.
As for f.cking with the Felon, sit back and enjoy it. It's more than just fun, it's strategy.

[crimycarny]

34. Perfect summary

I live in CA and I have very similar takes on Gavin in that I probably agree with him maybe 75% of the time but not always.

Your point about how quickly Newsom drew up a plan and activated it for combating Texas redistricting is one of the reasons I started looking at Newsom more seriously as a potential 2028 candidate. I just want some real ACTION taken in this fight. No more bingo paddles held up at the SOTU address, let’s do some real push back that isn’t just words.

[Buddyzbuddy]

35. Excellent!

[betsuni]

37. Democrats won't. The anti-establishment pseudos will follow the usual both sides insult script to bash candidates.

And right here, Newsom bashed as mimicking Trump. All of a sudden the constant whining about not fighting will flip. Trying to turn strengths into weaknesses, used to beat Democrats.

[BannonsLiver]

38. He won't win the DU primary, not that it amounts to anything.

Probably a good sign for him if he doesn’t given DU’s track record of picking winners and losers.

[Gore1FL]

39. I submit, 2028 is a long time off.

We have things to do before that. The nominee choices will come into better focus by the time we need to discuss it.