what makes Pete B. so popular?

[paulkienitz]

As someone whose impression of Mayor Pete is that he seems decent enough, but not exceptionally impressive or outstanding, I've been a bit puzzled by his terrific popularity. But I may have a theory... I think he's seen as a youth candidate.

We are at a time when economic opportunity is worse for young people than it's ever been in my life, when the young are generally getting screwed, and intergenerational relations are becoming far more adversarial than they used to be (even though people mostly seem to be getting along well enough with their own parents, which was less common a generation ago).

I think this creates an exceptional demand for a candidate who represents the young. Pete Buttigieg is unusually young and fresh-faced, and addressing issues that matter to the young. Also, being gay helps align him with the young, as anti-gay prejudice is mainly found in older generations, and young people know it.

Am I getting warm?

[elleng]

1. Exceptionally impressive and outstanding,

highly intelligent and articulate. Has nothing to do with his age.

[paulkienitz]

5. I feel that in the current field, being highly intelligent and articulate is not exceptional.

And that's great news.

[elleng]

7. That is great news, and some have those qualities more than others!

[rzemanfl]

2. I'm 71. I think Mayor Pete is exceptionally impressive.

Kids today get along better with their own parents because so many of them have to live with them.

[paulkienitz]

6. true dat

[marlakay]

38. So true my grandson just moved in with my ex

Got too expensive on his own, he is 22. Lives in Bay Area rent insane.

[leftofcool]

3. Intelligent, articulate, impressive, warm, carring

And he doesn't offer pie in the sky bullshit promises he knows will never get past Congress.

[Kurt V.]

4. white. male. booker is a rhodes scholar too.

[elleng]

10. bologna

[Control-Z]

41. Why?

Are you suggesting this is false?

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

20. It's also a great thing that Booker was a Rhodes scholar, but this thread is about Buttigieg.

[JI7]

30. Booker doesn't make himself as available to media

[Control-Z]

40. I did not know that.

"booker is a rhodes scholar too."

That's great to know. Damn. It's almost embarrassing how smart our leaders are.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

8. It's more than that. He really is exceptional; he's a military veteran (Naval intelligence);

he's a Harvard grad and was a Rhodes scholar at Oxford; he speaks seven languages and has performed as a concert pianist. He has an unusually clear way of explaining things and he seems completely at ease with himself and others. The guy is a natural politician with a brilliant mind. It's hard to say how far he'll go, but there's a lot more to him than his youth. I like him a lot and I'm old.

[elleng]

11. Yes. an unusually clear way of explaining things and he seems completely at ease with himself

[LonePirate]

13. I think you're right. The way he explains things seems to be essential to his appeal.

His youth also seems to be benefitting him given the ages of Biden, Sanders and 45.

[elleng]

14. Was quoting Ocelot.

I'm not at all sure about effect of his age.

[Docreed2003]

16. +1

I'm not that much older than him, in fact he's my young brother's age, but he shares some of my own life experiences via his military experience and he is all of the things you listed. Love him and hope for great things in his future, even if he doesn't win the nomination!

[Renew Deal]

9. He answers questions

And doesn’t make promises he probably can’t keep like erasing most student loans.

[thegoose]

12. You are indeed

He's this generation's Kennedy or Obama. He represents their values.

The hate spewed by the white Pukes resonates not at all with them. Pete's generation is racially colorful, sexually fluid and happy with each other, unlike the party currently represented by a ridiculous, bloated, ancient piece of shit with a stupid toupee.

How far will Pete go this time? Who knows? But he's got a future. And it's a future I want to be part of.

[riverwalker]

31. I'm an old boomer

and was trying to find a way to describe to my son why I like Buttigieg so much. There’s just a “goodness” about him. But our other candidates have goodness too, so it may be a nostalgia for...something.

[IphengeniaBlumgarten]

15. His answers reflect that he has thought about the issue, not just memorized a sound bite.

He also seems to think very well on his feet. He sounds fresh, original, caring. Not sure he is ready to be president yet, but sure hope he has a role in our political future.

[LakeArenal]

17. He's appealing to me like Trudeau or Macron

Someone you’d love to see as representing the US.

[WeekiWater]

18. I think it is a couple of things.

I think he is John Kerry smart with the ability to communicate in simple terms. I think you are right about age. He is a millennial and that means something with respect to image. He is gay, served his country, and is an outstanding advocate for a lot of people. He respects the establishment, has respect from the establishment, yet is willing to promote change from within. He embodies what many of us see as a future powerbroker in politics.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

19. He is really good at being a blank slate that people can project their ideals and visions on.

He's even better at it than Beto.

[SharonClark]

44. Bingo

[jalan48]

21. Smart and well spoken plus he has no voting record he has to defend.

[LAS14]

26. He does have several debatable actions in South Bend. nt

[True Dough]

27. Find us a two-term mayor who doesn't have "debatable actions"

Good luck with that!

[LAS14]

32. Right. I'm just saying that no voting record is balanced by mayor record. nt

[patricia92243]

22. Because of Trumps bluster, I responded well to someone who was soft spoken

and undramatic. Then I loved what he was saying and his youth.

[msongs]

23. got a good laugh from you saying anti-gay prejudice is maily found in older

generations

[cwydro]

42. Yeah, it seems to permeate all age groups.

That’s been my experience.

[Turbineguy]

24. He's an amazing guy!

[LAS14]

25. Doesn't sound scripted.

I was an Inslee supporter after I heard him on Rachel (and because of his climate change stance). But he didn't portray that unscripted enthusiasm on the CNN town hall. I was disappointed in Harris because she sounded so scripted. I stopped watching after three questions. But I stuck with Buttigieg till midnite. If it were just up to me I wouldn't require this kind of stage authenticity. But I want to win!!!

[JI7]

28. he makes himself available to large media

[zipplewrath]

29. I'm underwhelmed

Last edited Tue Apr 23, 2019, 10:22 PM - Edit history (2)

Which isn't to say I'm disrespectful. He's an intelligent and articulate man. And really, after the last two GOP presidents, that's not something to ignore. But, I do wonder what he actually knows about running/influencing/controlling something as big as the executive branch of the US government. It's not something for amateurs.

[LAS14]

33. To me his really over the top intelligence means that he would...

... quickly grasp how to gather the best and the brightest around him. Like Obama.

[zipplewrath]

39. He clung to bipartianship

Obama clung to bipartisanship for the better part of both terms and it cost us dearly. Hillary tried to warn him and he didn't listen.

[MineralMan]

34. He is very likable.

That's always a factor, especially early on. Kamala Harris also has that. Both are also smart, young, and have progressive ideas.

[marylandblue]

35. Buttigieg is the most media-savvy of all the candidates, and that's my main criteria.

Using modern media in all it's forms is the key beating Trump. Pete makes great television viewing and can tweet as effectively as Trump.

People think Trump is stupid so they don't realize he a master at manipulating media. They also don't realize how easily the media can be manipulated if you know what you are doing. Pete is the only candidate who figured out what Trump did and decided he could beat him at his own game. So far at least, his plan is working better than expected.

[bobbieinok]

36. A major factor for many IMO is his ability to defend gayness vs ReligiousRight

He doesn't let them get away with their claim it's 'against God's law'!!

IMO many admire how his defense drives the Religius Right absolutely bonkers. Some Religious Right leaders are claiming his candidacy is the worst danger Christianity has ever faced

[Ruby the Liberal]

37. He's the anti-christ

Mark my words - thats coming.

[Celerity]

43. this will help you understand... 'Meet Pete', his new database on issues and policy, 990 topics

and tonnes more to come.

https://meetpete.org/tags.html