I want a WOMAN at the top of the ticket.

[kag]

I feel like this post is going to be mostly caveats, but here goes...

I WILL vote for whoever becomes the Dem nominee. I will not badmouth other Dem candidates, including the male candidates.

That said, the loss of Hillary to the orange idiot still stings. This country is so overdue for a female president, and we have some amazing candidates this year.

My personal favorite so far (obviously) is Harris, but I'm also a big Warren fan, and have a lot of respect for Amy Klobuchar. Any of the three could commander-in-chief circles around Dump, and I will be voting for one of them in the primaries if there is any chance of them winning the nomination.

Also, just overall, I find all three of them more credible, honest, and, frankly, smart than all of the other candidates. I believe any of them would trounce Dump in any debate (which I guess isn't really saying much).

I know we're all crazy freaked out about how to get the rest of the country to vote for a Democrat, but I truly believe it would be more of a help than a hindrance to have a woman at the top of the ticket.

Anyway, my two cents. Fire away!

[mr_lebowski]

1. Nothing wrong with having passion and sticking up for what you believe :) (nt)

[louis c]

2. Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't Hillary a woman?

I'm watching the polling and what I see is Biden winning everywhere, all the time.

He beats Kamala in California and Warren in Massachusetts.

I don't know about you, but all I want to do is win. Right now, the polling data shows that all the women candidates in the Democratic party, added together, don't amass 25% of the total Democratic vote. That shows me there is more of a trend toward a candidate that can beat Trump than any gender or racial trend.

Biden beats Trump. Everyone else is an unknown. That's the way it stands now and I won't change my mind until the numbers change it for me.

[kag]

8. Right, and she would be in the Whitehouse right now if the Russians hadn't stolen it from her.

The problem with her candidacy was never that she was female. Indeed, at our local caucus in 2016 the main reason she got ANY support (my precinct went hard for Bernie) is because she's a woman. There was a lot of talk about what our daughters would see when they watch her inauguration. Stuff like that.

Now, just to be clear, I will not vote for ANY woman over any man. I like Butigiegieg a lot, and there are some other smart candidates that I could vote for, gender aside. But goddammit, we're way overdue for a woman in the Whitehouse, and right now we have the strongest field of women we have ever had.

And about the polling, did you see Rachel last night? If polling at this point was any indicator we would have had president Giuliani in 2008. I'm not worried about current polling.

I want to beat Trump as bad as you do, but just watching the numbers isn't the way to find the best candidate.

[Rural_Progressive]

50. You'd think that but alas, obviously no

even though our national mythology says we are a country that is ready for a president of either gender, any race, ethnicity, or national origin.

Unfortunately reality has exposed our nation's dark, ignorant, frightened underbelly for what it is. Any woman would have been unlikely to have won in 2018. There were far too many people who were angry that a black man had been in charge of THEIR country for 8 years and they were dipped if they were then going to have a woman telling them what to do for the next 4 to 8 years. Hillary's baggage, real or created by the right, brought out a portion of the voter base whose only interest was to keep her from becoming POTUS.

Is that likely to be a problem in 2020? Well if the economy tanks the Dems will be able to nominate and get just about any of the current field elected. Lot of variables well above my pay grade to discuss intelligently about all the other variables that will influence 2020 but I certainly agree we are well past time for a woman as POTUS and I hope it happens this election cycle.

However, like you, i will vote for anybody the Dems put up to get that evil vulgarity out of the White House.

[delisen]

55. You don't think Russia affected the outcome in 2016?

I never understand why Democrats buy into the Republican meme about Clinton "baggage." What she had was luggage-incredible years of accomplishment; incredible ability at a time when we are going to need strength we have not yet summoned up in ourselves to overcome.

It took a foreign power and voters in the dark about Russia involvement to supposedly defeat H Clinton.

Republicans are not the people keeping the US from having a female president. If Trump goes down and Republicans think a female candidate can win them the White House, they tap a patriarchal-leaning candidate like Nikki Haley to carry out their agenda.

[louis c]

86. Of course they did...

...I'm a big Hillary fan. But you can't argue with the fact that Hillary lost white women to a self-confessed sexual assaulter and predator. Therefore, excuse me for thinking that putting a woman as our nominee makes any difference.

Hillary was the most qualified person to run for the presidency in history, and she still didn't carry white women against Trump. Just think of that.

[namahage]

77. Just a nitpick, but I think you meant

"Any woman would have been unlikely to have won in 2016", yes?

Because 2018 had a whole bunch of women winning their races...

[louis c]

79. For President?

That's the question. Congressional seats and Senate seats have been occupied by women for decades.

When a majority of white women vote for an admitted sex offender over the most qualified person to ever run for president, who happens to be a woman, I have a problem with assuming women vote for women.

[pnwmom]

18. So what? She's a human being, too. Should we exclude all human beings?

We don't know that Biden will beat Trump in the general. All we know is that at this point in time Biden has high name recognition.

[louis c]

39. Boy, do you have it reversed...

...my reply was to a post that indicated that we needed a woman on the top of the ticket to beat Trump.

I supported Hillary in 2008 and 2016, primary and general. I didn't support her because she was a woman, I supported her because she was the best qualified and the most likely to win the GE. You don't have to convince me the election was stolen from her in 2016.

But now, the best chance in 2020 is Biden, with Harris as his running mate.

Every poll shows that and until the polls demonstrate something different that's what ticket I'm pulling for.

[pnwmom]

41. The polls mean little now without a single debate having taken place.

I don't know why anyone thinks a candidate will do well if he can't get millennials interested in voting this time around.

And I don't know why any young person would vote for a person like Biden who said, just a year ago, he had no empathy for millennials because people in his generation had had it so much harder.

One more "gaffe" from the gaffe-machine.

[louis c]

46. We'll see...

After Trump, gaffes aren't what they used to be.

Two thirds of the voters in the Democratic primaries will be over 45.

I like having young votes, but they are very, very undependable in every election. Younger voters are easily swayed to third parties and staying home.

That's why Biden is the strongest candidate. He resonates with people who vote. And, in the end, they only count votes, they don't weigh bullshit.

[pnwmom]

53. Why would they vote for anyone who said he had no empathy for them?

If Biden is the nominee, I would expect young voter turnout to be even worse than last time. And we need it to be BETTER.

[louis c]

71. Again, we'll see...

...the young voter turnout and third party votes are unreliable. You can cherry pick any right wing talking point you want to undermine our strongest candidate, but it won't work.

Biden can beat Trump without needing the unreliable vote of young voters, who have proven over the past 100 years to be unreliable voters. If we count on that vote to bring us home, we're cooked. they won't come out for anyone. Oh, they'll bully ache and complain, but they won't vote. They never have and never will.

[pnwmom]

72. I don't think he's strongest simply because he has the highest name recognition at this point.

Jeb Bush once looked like the strongest, too, because of his name recognition and standing in the polls.

And I think it's really dumb to pick a nominee who is willing to alienate young voters; to decide that their votes don't matter.

[louis c]

78. Well, Biden leads Sanders (and everyone else) in New Hampshire...

..and I'm sure BS has high name recognition there. Biden leads Warren (and everyone else except BS in Massachusetts) and I'm sure Warren has high name recognition there. Biden leads Harris (and everyone else) in California and I'm sure Kamala has high name recognition there.

Young voters, just like any other voters, will have to determine a binary choice in the General Election. Do they want 4 more years of Trump, or not, regardless of the Democratic nominee. My faith in "young voters" is not strong, after looking at how they failed the test in 2016 and the 100 years before that.

John Dillinger was once asked why he robs banks and his answer was, "that's where the money is". Using that logic, why do we want to have a nominee that appeals to voters over 45? Because that's where the votes are.

[ehrnst]

83. Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't HRC win more votes than any POTUS candidate not named Obama?

[UniteFightBack]

3. Hillary routed rump in the debates and it didn't matter. Who can beat rump...nothing else matters.

So it really whittled down my list of issues I care about to just one. WHO CAN BEAT RUMP?

[CloudWatcher]

17. Be careful with 'Who can beat Trump'

With any luck, it will be Who Can Beat Pence. My sanity requires that we impeach Trump before the elections.

[Demsrule86]

61. Impeaching Trump does not remove him from office,

[CloudWatcher]

70. of course

I use 'impeach' as shorthand for ...

- Impeach in the House
- Try and convict in the Senate
- Remove from office
- Indict for his hundreds of crimes
- Try and convict
- Self pardon
- State trials and convictions
- Jail

And yes, I know most people don't believe that the Senate will convict him after he's impeached. But I still have hope that the GOP will wake up and distance themselves from this traitor. If only in self-interest to get reelected. The Trump base is disappearing.

[Demsrule86]

80. He will never be convicted in the Senate.

[CloudWatcher]

81. Perhaps

We can agree to disagree. And we lost the moral high-ground when the Dems failed to convict Clinton. But the accelerating rate at which Trump is digging himself lower and lower into his sewer, I have to believe that the GOP is going to turn on him at some point soon.

And I still think he's going to seriously spook Wall Street. Once it becomes a matter of money (and not just morals), I fully expect the GOP to kick him out quickly before their owners (er, campaign donors) lose even more money.

And of course, Putin could trigger Trump's rapid removal anytime. He just has to tell the world what he and Trump talked about in their little one-on-one. I have little doubt it would be beyond the pale of what even today's traitorous GOP could publicly stomach.

Bottom line is we need a candidate that could beat Trump or Pence or whatever slime gets the GOP nod this time.

[ehrnst]

85. You have far more faith in the GOP Senators and their constituents than I do.

The GOP Senators know that they will lose their seat if they cross DT, because their base will never quit him.

No amount of evidence will convince his base to stop defending him.

We will have to vote him out.

[ehrnst]

84. She routed him in votes, too. Russia stole the WH from her.

[shenmue]

4. Harris - Klobuchar!

[Demsrule86]

62. OK, they won't win a general. None of the woman candidates can win the rustbelt....

None are polling particularly well. I want a candidate who can we win...Biden has the best chance.

[artislife]

5. Harris is on my top choices list

Frankly, because she is a woman and one of color, I think she has the strength to lead this country. Adding to her appeal is to make many MAGA wearing heads implode is a bonus.

[MineralMan]

6. Yeah, me, too.

I just don't see one in this group of candidates for this particular election. But, both of my Senators and my House rep are women, and I have campaigned for them each time they've run.

I'd love to have a woman with great poll ratings at the top of the ticket, but I'm not seeing momentum for any of the ones currently running, really.

What I want more than anything is for someone - anyone - to beat Donald Trump. My goal for this election is to do that. Period. That and win back the Senate and increase our majority in the House. I want a candidate for President whose coattails will help with that, too.

2020 is going to be a strategic election. We need to think about it in strategic terms, not short-range tactical terms. There's a lot we need to accomplish in 2020, and it's all going to depend on the Presidential candidate and how well that candidate can bring out Democratic voters.

[kag]

11. I hear you, MM.

And I don't disagree. As I said, I will support, and even campaign for the Dem nominee, no matter the gender. I just don't want to get so scared of losing that we end up with a milquetoast candidate, and can't GOTV.

I happen to think some of the women in the field are very exciting, and when the campaigns get going more in earnest they will start to shine more.

[MineralMan]

13. Well, Amy Klobuchar is one of my senators.

I really like Kamala Harris, too. I'd gladly vote for either of them in the General Election. I just don't think they're going to get there in 2020. Now, in 2024, the woman Joe Biden picks for VP will probably become President. Strategic thinking. I think Biden will do one term, working hard to correct the crap Trump did. Then, I think he'll step away and hand things over.

Right now, Harris looks to be the more viable candidate, but Klobuchar might be the key to the Midwestern states. She is most definitely a Midwestern person, and is well-liked in that region. She's a great vote-drawer, to boot.

Women candidates who have great ideas are pretty much always my choice in my legislative races, and I'm hoping for one as President soon. I'm ready for a lot less testosterone in government, frankly.

[question everything]

7. I want to kick Trump from the White House. And if it takes a white man

or even a two-men ticket, so be it.

[kag]

12. Me too, question.

But as long as we're still in the primaries, I'm picking my favorite. And right now the top three are female.

[elleng]

43. Ditto

[left-of-center2012]

9. I want the best candidate regardless of gender, race, etc

We had a woman nominee in 2016,
so its not as if we never had one.

[DavidDvorkin]

10. I want a winner at the top of the ticket.

[Doreen]

14. A female president would be great.

I on the other hand do not mind another man as long as he takes a woman for vice. I really feel we need both male and female in. I also like the idea of one being center Democrat with the other being farther to the left.

I like the idea of Biden/Warren, Warren/Biden,
Harris/Biden, or Biden/Harris.

I realize Biden will probably not want to be vice again but if he does not win first round but is asked he just might.

[samnsara]

16. biden/harris is my first choice but i will take any combo..

[samnsara]

15. any woman running right now would be an excellent choice..

[Indygram]

19. I want the best candidate to both win and unite this country

That may or may not end up being a woman. It's my opinion as a woman that it is just as sexist to demand that a woman has to be the nominee as it is to demand that a woman can't be the nominee. Sadly, my gut is telling me that some of the attacks on Biden was done because some people think by trying to keep Biden out that it will clear the way for a woman. That's just not OK in my book. I'm not going to choose a candidate for the most important job in the world based on gender, religion, race, age, sexual orientation or anything other than whether or not they are the best person to get the job done. That job is beating Trump and fixing the fuster cluck he has made of this country. Nothing else matters.

[kag]

24. Please don't turn my words upside down.

I have already said I don't want ANY woman over ANY man. I just happen to think the best candidates in the race right now are female, and after the sting of 2016 I'd love to see one of them take the mantle for the party.

I also truly believe one of them would have a better chance of beating the orange menace than many of the male candidates in the race.

That said, we have lots of great candidates to choose from. I don't want to get so scared of losing that we ignore greatness in place of "good enough to beat Trump".

[Indygram]

36. I should have been more clear in what I wrote...

I didn't take what you said as being sexist. Wanting a woman nominee is not the same as demanding it. There are some out there who are demanding that it must be a woman and I do think some of the pig piling on Biden has been associated with that sentiment.

I apologize that what I wrote came across in a way I didn't intend it to.

I do like Kamala.

[qazplm135]

30. as a man I will say no it isn't just as sexist

and as an African American I wanted Obama more than anything in 2008 over any white man.

Was I being "just as racist" back then?

No, of course I wasn't. It was time, and he was qualified.

Well, now, it's time for a woman, and we have at least two qualified women in my mind, more in others.

So no, it's not just as sexist to want a woman over a man this time after 200+ years of the reverse.

[Indygram]

40. Of course not

Obama was the best candidate.

My point was that demanding that the nominee be from a certain group is wrong. It should be the best person, whoever that may be.

[qazplm135]

54. if Obama was the "second best person"

he was still more than qualified and it was more than past time.

The idea that we pick "the best person" or can even know who the "best person" is like we are all computers is kind of silly.

It's probably never "the best person" because we don't have the capability of doing so.

[Indygram]

56. Obama was the best person both times he ran

Don't get me wrong, HRC was definitely the most qualified, maybe ever. It's not just who is the most qualified, though. It's not experience and qualifications alone that is required. Charisma, the ability to inspire, connect, win people over, instill hope, enthusiasm, etc. Those things matter. Everytime Democrats nominate someone without that ever important charisma (in comparison with their opponent) they lose. Like it or not, it matters. So, the best candidate must always factor in charisma.

[qazplm135]

59. says you

millions of others said otherwise...either way it's an opinion not objective fact.

[DesertRat]

63. +1

[dlk]

21. It's Time for the Majority of Americans to Have a President Who Looks Like Them

[zaj]

22. Me too, but if a man somehow shows to be the best chance of winning...

... because swing voters are too open to misogyny, then in want a man.

I just want to win this year.

2020 is not the year we can afford to focus first on advancing progressivism. We have to secure power.

[Codeine]

23. The same here,

and I refuse to feel guilty about it. If there was some historical parity then the idea that it is sexist to demand a woman be our nominee might carry some weight, but come on. . .

[kag]

28. Very well stated, Codeine. n/t

[murielm99]

25. I am glad you feel comfortable

saying that. During the last election, many of were called names for supporting a woman. We were accused of voting with our vaginas. We were accused of supporting a dynasty. Our candidate was reviled for taking speaker's fees.

I appreciate your two cents. I like Mayor Pete, but that could change.

[kag]

31. I like Mayor Pete too.

If he's the nominee I will campaign hard for him.

[Codeine]

33. I'll never forgive those motherfuckers

for tearing down the most qualified candidate of our lifetime and swarming her supporters here and elsewhere online. Never.

[qazplm135]

26. agreed

only voting for a woman in the primary. No men.

[Honeycombe8]

27. Okay, I'll do it. But only because you asked nicely.

[kag]

32. Awww...

[TNNurse]

29. I also want a woman at the top of the ticket. HOWEVER,

I want someone who will beat Trump. That is my highest priority. We can deal with other issues later, BUT WE HAVE GOT TO GET HIM AND HIS CRIMINAL ORGANIZATION OUT OF THE WHITE HOUSE.

[athena]

38. Why can't a woman kick Trump out of office?

This whole attitude of, “I’m all for women but I want the best candidates to win” assumes that women are weaker and inferior. I would argue that Warren and Harris are the strongest candidates in the field. And they would excite women and young people like no male candidate can.

We can’t beat a sexist president by being sexist ourselves. I fear that sexism, which got us Trump, is going to get us another four years of Trump.

[artislife]

58. Yes!

I can see the horse race changing a lot before the primary is over. I think we need to go BOLD.

[Honeycombe8]

68. I don't think that's what s/he is saying at all.

I feel the same way he does.

I want whoever can win, to be the candidate, regardless of race or gender or sexual orientation, means just that. It does not mean that the best candidate is NOT black or female or gay...or all of those things. It simply means the best person.

Some will think it's Harris, some will think it's Buttiegieg, and some will think it's Biden or Booker.

Obama didn't win because of his race. He became the nominee because he was the best candidate. He was special. I like to say his race was a perk. I was so pleased that the best candidate was half black, but I voted for him because he was the best candidate.

[TNNurse]

82. I did not say that a woman could not win.

All I said was that my only priority this time is that we get Trump the Hell out of the White House.

I would love for a woman to win. I voted for Hillary and was devastated when she lost.

I just want people to post positive comments about their candidates and quite criticizing any Democrat. They will take those comments and use them. STAY POSITIVE, DO NOT GIVE THE ASSHOLES WORDS TO USE ABOUT ANY DEMOCRAT.


I would be delighted to vote for Kamala, Elizabeth, Amy or Kirsten. I just want Trump gone.


PLEAS QUIT GIVING THE OPPOSITION ANY THING TO USE IN THE CAMPAIGN. YOU KNOW THEY ARE LURKING ON HERE.

[SharonAnn]

34. Me too! You said exactly what I've been thinking. I'll vote for whichever Dem is candidate

But having a woman as president is my heart's desire.

[kag]

44. That's my bottom line too, SharonAnn.

[quakerboy]

35. That would be nice

Electorally I think its probably a break even this election. Misogyny is nowhere near dead. But women are on the rise.

But I'd like to see that too. I like most of our candidates. But not a single one has convinced me that I want to see them at the top of the ticket, so far.

[flying_wahini]

37. I'm with you.

[tymorial]

42. Right on!

[Irishxs]

45. Sounds peculiar but a woman is best

suited to beat potato head. IMHO

[yellowwoodII]

47. I Don't Care about Gender

In fact, I think it's wrong to use a filter of any kind. I just want someone who has integrity, who is smart, the opposite of the person who currently holds the office.

I would like to see the personal qualities that cause me to feel as excited and enthusiastic as I did when Barack Obama was our candidate. If we had applied the gender filter in 2008, we wouldn't have gotten him.

[Kurt V.]

48. K&R i like your top 3. i would be proud to call any of them president

[DesertRat]

49. I'm feeling the same way

[UniteTheLeft]

51. Wont get any arguments from me.

Warren, Harris, Klobuchar .... all are fine Americans who would do us all proud.

[yaesu]

52. A women president has been my preference for years. I'm glad there are so many great candidates

to choose from.

[Baclava]

57. Win or lose? Just as long as it's a woman? This isn't a messiah election, no cult bandwagoneers

We've seen the result of that







Let the process play out and back the strongest candidate that can WIN!

that's what I say

[backtoblue]

60. I don't think the OP implied a cult following at all.

There are three excellent women running. Any of them could beat trump imho.

I too am excited at the possibility of electing a female. It's a glass ceiling gone long unshattered.

Whoever's our candidate, we will come together behind him or her. We've got superstars!

[kag]

64. Thanks, backtoblue.

Indeed, I specifically said I would vote, even campaign, for the nominee, gender not withstanding. I just think the best candidates we have are women, and in the primaries, I intend to support them.

Come the general, I'm gonna fight like hell to get Dump the fuck out of office be it for Bernie, Biden, Harris, Warren, Beto, Mayor Pete, etc., or whoever else jumps in to take a shot. You're right, we do have superstars!

[UniteFightBack]

73. Give me Bernie or give me death? Dear Lord. nt

[wildflower]

65. I would love to see that too

and I prefer Harris as well.

Of the male candidates, I prefer O'Rourke. I just saw his CNN special. I was looking at his Website and noticed he mentions women in several of the issues listed there, which I appreciate.

[secondwind]

66. I love all our candidates, but I think it's a bit of a stretch

to say the women are smarter than the other candidates.

[kag]

69. Sorry if I was unclear.

What I, personally, believe, is that the smartest, most genuine, most credible candidates are Harris, Warren, and Klobuchar. And not even necessarily in that order. I think we have many brilliant candidates, but those are the ones who impress me the most.

Your mileage may vary, but I have also been very impressed with Buttigieg.

And as I have said several times, I will campaign hard for any one who wins with the nomination in order to get the orange menace out of office.

[DCofVA]

67. I must confess... I want a Woman President that will kick Republican butt

No more mister nice guy!

[IluvPitties]

74. I want to win.

Period.

[MadDAsHell]

75. I'd rather have an LGBTQ person of color. Also way overdue. nt

[MyNameGoesHere]

76. I want an America that would elect a woman

As President. My wish is going to take longer if history holds any lessons.

[SKKY]

87. And I want whoever will defeat Trump at the top of the ticket.

Now, I believe 100% Kamala Harris is just that candidate, but if it is Mayor Pete, Beto, or (gulp) even Bernie, I will support the candidate who emerges from the primary process.