Democratic Primaries
Related: About this forumBeto O'Rourke's Finest Hour Came Off the Presidential Campaign Trail, in El Paso
Its rare to get a second chance to make a first impression, to go home again, to get your groove back. Beto ORourke has done all three as he climbed down from running for president to remain in his hometown of El Paso in the aftermath of the greatest trauma in Texas since JFK was assassinated.
From the moment the Walmart became a morgue, ORourke was back where he belonged, amid 680,000 residents of a community that is among the safest in the country. He stopped campaigning immediately, not to make a video of himself at a staged hospital visit, but to live among the mourners, some his neighbors, many his constituents when he served them in Congress. Vigils? He was there. A soccer fundraiser? He and his family were at the one to make up for the one outside Walmart that ended last Saturday with two coaches wounded. He donated blood, hugged everyone, spent time with those wounded while trying to save a child or spouse. He skipped the Iowa State Fair, the nations premier political event (and dining event too, if you like deep-fried Twinkies), where 16 other candidates bucking to win the first-in-the-nation caucuses appeared.
It was the right choice. Being in El Paso tapped into his natural gifts: empathy, wearing his heart on his sleeve, weaving policy into emotion, one hand chop at a time.
Read more: https://www.thedailybeast.com/beto-orourkes-finest-hour-came-off-the-presidential-campaign-trail-in-el-paso
(subscription required)
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Timmygoat
(779 posts)Now I love him!
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Mike Nelson
(9,961 posts)... he's great with people and speaking directly to crowds. He reminds me of Bobby Kennedy and Barack Obama... Also, he's great on live interview shows. The debates don't do Beto justice... I'm not sure why, but hope he figures it out.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
lark
(23,147 posts)He's now in my top 5, where he wasn't previously.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
bucolic_frolic
(43,252 posts)and he wasn't even campaigning! He spoke so clearly to the issues with Trump, for all to see the racism, he even mentioned Nazi Germany (are Americans brain-dead they can't connect the dots?), and was so eloquent.
The 1-2 O'Rourke and 2 days later Biden, both speaking about Trump's character, his values, lack of integrity. This now bites deeper than Trump's affairs and his cleanup squad. It speaks to how Trump's values and policies are affecting America. Trump is determined to make this a shithole country. Everything he does is MALE - Making America Lousy Everywhere
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Lytex59
(18 posts)The tragedy in El Paso reaffirmed who Beto really is. His heart is in the right place, and his vision of what America can be is what we all hope for. He has much to contribute to the future of this country.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
dlk
(11,574 posts)Night and day.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
brer cat
(24,591 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Princetonian
(1,501 posts)His coming off the campaign trail is the mark of man who is comfortable with doing the right thing. His decision reminds me of what Joe did when people, including me, wanted him to run in 2016. But he couldn't. His heart wasn't in it, because his son who was a big part of his heart, had died the year before.
Hope to see him knock it out of the park at the September debates.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Chemisse
(30,814 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden