Let me be blunt: I don't like Joe Biden...

[brooklynite]

I also don’t like Pete Buttigieg, Kamala Harris, John Hickenlooper or any of the other presidential candidates. Or politicians in general. . Bottom line, unless it one of the handful of politicos I know personally, “like” is not how I describe my engagement with them. I respect their backgrounds and abilities, and appreciate the efforts they make in their campaigns and in office. But I don’t have an emotional connection to them. I try, as objectively as possible, to evaluate their ability to serve in office, and their ability to win an election. And if I see something critical about a candidate I support, I evaluate it dispassionately and decide if my support deserves to be removed in favor of someone else. That’s why I never cry “hit job” if someone here posts something negative about someone I support, because I’m not tethered to someone simply because they’re “mine”. If an issue is serious enough to get brought now, our candidates are better off dealing with it now, because the Republicans will certainly bring it up later. And I want to help whichever candidate is best able to take on what the Republicans will throw out.

[SWBTATTReg]

1. Good advice. NT

[Hoyt]

2. The worst aspect of this Biden dust up is that GOPers will argue

that Democrats are racist too.

They do that anyway because of Dixiecrats (which were not Dems, as far as I’m concerned), but this makes it tougher to counter.

[drmeow]

34. We should respond

Everyone has racist elements - the difference is that Democrats see them as flaws to be overcome and Republicans see them as righteous virtues to celebrate

[SunsetDreams2]

3. I agree and a huge K&R nt

[50 Shades Of Blue]

4. K & R

[Martin Eden]

5. That's why I never cry "hit job"

It's a "hit job" if it's dishonest or unfair, applying double standards or taking a snippet out of context.

We're getting into semantics here.

By the same token that you don't "like" any of the candidates, I don't "like" the Democratic Party.

I just happen to be a lifelong Democrat because when I objectively assess their policies and values, the Democratic Party is by far the better choice.

[Wellstone ruled]

6. Like you,I to

question the connectablility of most of the Candidate Field to where we need to be. It is early,yes,but,the field is vast and the issues to many for just one debate.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

7. People often get too emotionally invested in their favorite candidate

to the point where they have a hair-trigger defensive response to any criticism. This is not helpful; it just leads to pointless, destructive squabbling. Some times there really are hit jobs, and they should be identified as such, but if it looks like trolling or bullshit or falsehoods call it out but don't behave like someone insulted your mother. I think I might like some of the candidates if I ever got to know them, but the only one I've ever spoken to is Amy Klobuchar (she seemed nice). So, since I'm not likely to have a beer with any of them or be their friend, I'm not going to go crazy over any of them or throw my virtual body in front of the rhetorical bullet for them. And I'm not going to pile on anybody, either. 2016 should have been a lesson for all of us.

[pangaia]

16. "People often get too emotionally invested in their favorite candidate

to the point where they have a hair-trigger defensive response to any criticism. "

Boy, you can say that about a thousand times more..
2016 !!

[sacto95834]

32. I so agree...

to the point where pointing out weakness or disagreeing with their stance is a grave offense.

[TryLogic]

22. "People often get too emotionally invested in their favorite candidate"

Yes, this is a definite risk. We need to keep our cool.

[Demit]

8. My criterion is who would be a good president.

It's not who would be best at the general election cage match. I'm looking at the years beyond that: Who would be best at the job of president? I want that person.

[Perseus]

9. Then you need to look a little bit deeper and consider Bill de Blasio

As much as I find that Buttigieg is smart, would make a great President, I feel that we need a little more than that, and to me Bill de Blasio seems to fill those requirements.

1. He will intimidate the buffoon
2. He is a good experienced politician who has done well for New York
3. He is as eloquent as Buttigieg
4. Because of his marriage status (married to a black woman), he will appeal to a wide range of people, it is the reality in USA, some people don't know or understand the issues, they only look at the the person and who he surrounds himself with.
5. He is forceful and will not take crap from republicans or the buffoon.

I keep asking why people are dismissing de Blasio, I think he has everything we need. I also dismissed him, I changed my mind after the debate.

[patphil]

15. I doubt if de Blasio could carry New York State in an election vs. Trump.

I have lived about 50 miles north of NYC for several decades, and I can say that
de Blasio is not well liked in The City; the center of Democratic strength in the state. Upstate is more evenly split between the parties, and it would be harder for him to get more votes than Trump there.

A Democratic Party lose in New York State would all but re-elect Trump.

Even if the laws allowed it (which they don't), I don't think de Blasio could get enough votes to be re-elected again as mayor, given the strong negative feelings that he is creating in The City.
As such, he simply doesn't cut it as a presidential candidate.
This is an attempt by him to maintain relevance in light of his waning popularity in The City.

I don't think he will make it past the first cut of this over-crowded group of candidates.

Patrick Phillips

[Perseus]

18. You are correct Patrick Phillips

I went on different websites to review what you stated, and I stand corrected...Thank you

[True Dough]

27. And you just showed what open-minded ought to look like

The theme of this thread is not to get emotionally-attached to a candidate. You were provided some valid information that made you reassess and you acknowledged as much. Nice to see! Good on you.

[brooklynite]

25. As a New Yorker, I can objectively say De Blasio is a terrible Mayor...

...and would make a worse President.

For anyone who objects to Trump’s weekly jaunts to Mar-a-Lago, ask De Blasio about his daily police convoy from Gracie Mansion in Upper Manhattan to his gym in Park Slope (hint: we have this thing called the subway)

[get the red out]

10. I agree

I had never thought about it in those words, but it is how I am taking the primaries this time. There have been periods of time when a particular candidate is impressing me more than the others (like Warren right now), but that is subject to change and has already changed once since candidates started declaring to run months ago. In the end it doesn't matter if I "like" one of them, just if we can get rid of Trump.

[wyldwolf]

11. I'll be blunt: There's only one candidate in this field I'd have to hold my nose to vote for.

I happen to like all the Democrats, even if just a little.

[Midwestocrat]

20. Some years, that's how I feel.

In 2008, I loved everyone. In 2004, I think I liked 3 of them a lot.

This year, I'm very fond of probably about 10. But outside of Diamond Joe, they're the candidates pretty much in the 0-2% range.

[zackymilly]

12. I always enjoy your posts. n/t

[customerserviceguy]

13. Good points

but people do tend to identify with their choices, and feel uneasy even if someone else has a different choice.

The very fact that you can pick a candidate to "brand" your posts with here reinforces identifying with that candidate, feeling the need to "defend" him or her.

[Cartoonist]

14. I like Joe

I still don't want him as our nominee.

I agree with those who say Kamala could have been more diplomatic, but I see her point. There are those here who see Trump meeting Kim as bad policy. I wonder how it looks to a person of color to see someone supposedly on your side meeting with bad people and working with them?

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

17. This thread isn't to argue for or against any candidate

but to point out the folly of support based on “liking” them.

[Midwestocrat]

19. You don't like Joe Biden?!?

By reading your OPs, I am shocked, shocked I say!

The vitriol against Joe is only surpassed by the vitriol for Sanders. But can we go after Harris, Warren, Buttigieg, Booker, O'Rourke? Absolutely not. Though Joe can actually defeat Trump.

[brooklynite]

29. You recall I've had lunch and dinner with him, right?

I greatly respect his knowledge and appreciate what he’s done as Senator and VP. It I’m Questioning the skill set of his campaign team based on recent stumbles.

s for the other candidates, feel free to post anything you want; you’ll get know objection from me. Of course, “go after” implies intent Feel free to point any actual evidence of that.

[grantcart]

21. Safe to say you don't represent the 'Will Roger's wing of the Democratic Party.

[sandensea]

23. They're not one's personal friends or relatives after all.

But you said it: the big idea here is finding a way to rid ourselves of this despot it's befallen us to live under.

Cheeto is very much a clear and present danger to the nation, and we're just 16 months away from the moment of truth.

[cwydro]

24. Hey! You changed your preferred candidate!

Great choice!

Good post, btw. K and r.

[Honeycombe8]

26. You don't like Pete? How can anyone not like Pete?

But you are logical, Brooklynite. I am a lot like you in this support business. Except every now and then, and it's rare, I do fall deeply in like w/a candidate. Like Obama.

But Pete...Pete is actually the ONLY candidate I really like. I haven't declared for him so far, because I think he's a dark horse. But I may end up supporting him, because I do think he's the best one to take on Trump, and I like so many other things about him. I think he's a natural leader with charisma. A little lacking in the humor category, but maybe he'll loosen up.

[True Dough]

28. Come on over, Honeycombe8

We're keeping a seat warm for you!

[tymorial]

30. Yes the emotionalism does certainly seem to run high

One should be able to support a candidate without taking challenges from others as a personal attack.

[Turin_C3PO]

31. Thank You.

Getting emotional over a candidate is ridiculous. Although I can see getting emotional if Trump defeats our nominee in 2020. I know I’ll be a wreck.

[Corgigal]

33. We're gonna have Russians,

Or pick a country here, up our candidate behind looking for dirt. We're all humans, but I will take the person with the smallest window not to get a shock and awe surprise. As democrats, we always have to appear cleaner, and hopefully the candidate will be.

That New Yorker piece today told me, damn it, great. I know the child isn't running for president but remember Bush's daughter stumbling drunk on her ass in the grocery stores magazines? I thought, well they are young and are in college, but it was still used.

Trump isn't running for President, he's running for a free life. Not the same odds.

[Maven]

35. I notice you changed from Hickenlooper to Buttigieg

What brought about the change?

[brooklynite]

36. Poor fundraising and an uninspiring Debate performance

I’ve had two private dinners and a private reception with him, but it doesn’t mean I’ll stick with him if he can’t perform.

[Peacetrain]

37. Well damn girl.. you are connected

If you see him again.. urge him to run for the senate..