For what its worth.. My take on Maine and Platner

[Peacetrain]

I have had the great good fortune to visit Maine in the off season and it is beyond beautiful. Maine has the most trees of any state east of the Mississippi if I remember correctly.

The people we met there were so welcoming and kind. I was expecting the crotchety old Lobsterman... but was met with delightful engaging people who are bombarded in the summer and fall color seasons with tourists.

With that, their choice of who THEY want to be their senator is their business. They know Platner. So unless it comes up he has broken laws that are applicable to all of us.. I am withholding judgement and trusting Maine. I would retire there in a heartbeat if I did not love my Iowa so well..

[leftstreet]

1. Sounds like they really want to get rid of Collins

She's been the Duchess of Maine for almost 30 years

[Peacetrain]

2. I think most people vote out of habit..

Once someone gets into office.. people just keep pulling the lever because it is the devil they know.

[FarPoint]

3. Agreed....

It is all for the people of Maine to decide and elect their Senator of choice.

My concerns amount to zilch in the end.....

[MineralMan]

4. Exactly!

We have an ugly primary for Senate happening in Minnesota, too. I'm actively involved with that, because I Vote in Minnesota.

Y'all are welcome to comment on our issues, but we're going to make our own, grown-up decisions.

[Bettie]

22. I'm hoping not to end up with a Koch guy

as our next governor....Lahn would be worse than Reynolds and that's saying a lot. (Iowa).

So, yeah, let Maine and Minnesota make their own choices....sorry about the nasty primary, those usually end up hurting everyone.

[Freddie]

5. Is Platner a native of Maine?

I understand the reason Collins won the last time is that her opponent was an “outsider” which apparently Mainers find more offensive than Collins’ politics.

[LisaL]

8. Yes, he was born in Maine.

NT

[Easterncedar]

6. Getting rid of Collins is top priority with me

I like Mills as Governor, but don't think she could depose Collins. She is not popular even within my lefty community or with "independents," whom Platner appeals to. She is a centrist, is perceived incorrectly as a liberal, and is a very poor orator.

Platner's inexperience in politics has been a huge negative for me. I don't like people running on personality rather than past effort.

That said, there are clearly forces lined up against him. Collins is running scared. The negative news playbook is open for all to see; the slant of the headlines is grossly biased and the source of some of the stories is deeply suspect. Collins and her rethuglican party are throwing everything they can.

I didn't vote for Platner as my first choice in the primary, but I surely hope he can shake off the attacks and defeat Collins. We need to take the Senate, and I think he is out best chance right now.

[LisaL]

7. Well, he sure gives a lot of material for the negative playbook.

Somehow that makes him the best candidate to beat Collins?

[Easterncedar]

9. Only because he is all we have right now

I am not happy about that. But too many good people have seen their careers dashed on the rocks of a failed campaign against Collins, so the field was very weak. I don't like it. I voted for Costello, but don't expect him to beat Platner. I would vote for a rabid raccoon over Collins.

[LisaL]

10. But that is not accurate.

He has not been nominated yet, and there are other people on the ballot.

[Easterncedar]

11. What did I say that is not accurate?

Can someone better arise in the next 4 days?

[LisaL]

12. Not from Maine, so I don't have to vote for a rabid raccoon.

[Easterncedar]

14. Sorry. I amended my reply

We all have an interest in taking the Senate. I don't think only Mainers should care about defeating Collins!

[Just_Vote_Dem]

13. Yes, but none have captured the imagination of the voters of Maine like Platner has

Which is one of the reasons why the Pubs are so all in on disparaging him any way they can.

[LisaL]

15. Yea, kind of like Trump captured the imagination of the republicans.

And here we are.

[Just_Vote_Dem]

16. So you just compared a Democrat to Trump

I'm glad I'm not you

[LisaL]

17. And I am glad I am not you.

[Ziggy Beans]

26. Have you watched him speak just once?

[CivicGrief]

31. Joining the both-sides brigade, I see.

Platner comes no where near the atrocities of dump. Get a grip.

[Easterncedar]

18. Right. And independents have gotten fired up for him

As well as progressives. That's why he has a chance. And why the smear campaign.

[Just_Vote_Dem]

19. Exactly

We're not getting fooled here

[EdmondDantes_]

23. The problem is nobody else made him do these things

His choices and actions reflect his character. Blaming partisan politics instead of the guy who did the things is trying to shift blame.

[Ziggy Beans]

27. What things?

He hasn't hurt anyone, as far as we know, and this latest story is pure republican garbage

Yes, he did some stupid stuff when he was young but who hasn't?

[mr715]

29. You're saying Susan Collins is concerned?

Trembling, is she?

[CivicGrief]

33. Pull out the fainting couch.

Just keep Shady Vance away. Where is that fuck by the way?

[young_at_heart]

20. If the allegations are true, he should not be in politics!

I find him repulsive, so far! Let the truth come out!

[BannonsLiver]

21. People who absolutely do not care about winning elections repulse me.

We still have a lot of folks who covet the struggle, and embrace the dead ender, everything has to align with my views perfectly or it’s all terrible, vibe.

But it’s mostly the not giving a shit about winning elections that bothers me most. And also why I enjoy watching people lose their marbles over Platner, a man that I don’t particularly like that much, but who seems to have the ability to push all the right buttons with the right people, which I do like.

[Irish_Dem]

25. You state you don't like the candidate.

But he can push buttons.

Fascinating campaign strategy isn't it.

[Ziggy Beans]

28. This kind of attitude has created MAGA and a Trump presidency

Congratulations

[Ziggy Beans]

30. Why do so many of you fall for right-wing propaganda?

[mr715]

32. When did we nationalize Senate elections?

[TBF]

34. Senate is different from the reps -

Reps really are more state focused, but the Senators are different. What they do really does have national repercussions. Stay with me -

We have a similar situation in Texas. We have Talarico running, and there were many on this board during our primary season who wondered if he would really be a better candidate than Crockett (someone who already had Washington credentials vs. his state credentials; and a known entity in democratic circles). Here in Texas, activists on the ground warned everyone that we're dealing with Texas. We don't know if we can get Talarico through, but we like our chances better than running Crockett for a statewide office. Neither really had big negatives which helped us - both great candidates. But Texas dems went with Talarico because we knew we'd at least have a chance.

I see the same kind of thing playing out in Maine, and I did have concerns when I first heard about Platner and his nazi tattoo. But the more I watch these threads I can see the republican operatives are doing - they are quite blatant this time. They are scared Susan is going to lose her seat. At this point I think we do need to support Platner. If he is more of a Fetterman, we'll deal with that down the road. Right now, there's an election to win.