CA-SEN: Katie Porter announces her candidacy (For the record, I am undecided)

[Hortensis]

127. I liked Porter a lot at first, especially because I really liked the high-power

women senators who helped bring her along. But quite simply her fractious, self promoting behaviors on the job have raised flags about her judgment and suitability. It happens. And while congressmen are accountable and generally controllable, which has been an unpleasant learning experience for Porter, U.S. senators are not. Remember Sinema's unaccountability to both the party AND those who elected her?

Those enthusiastic about Porter should also remember how much many of them admired Tulsi Gabbard's fractious, oppositional behaviors while a Democrat, seeing them and her public troublemaking as signs of integrity. (!) Remember what we learned about this brief soaring Democratic star after she finished self destructing in our firmament -- once she didn't have to woo Democrats in her home district.

Of course Porter's principles are better established, no worry that she's going to sell out to billionaires and become a regular on Fox, but what's it mean that she twice endorsed angry, fractious Nina Turner, who advised people not to vote for Democrats in 2016 (!!!) and considers the mainstream Democratic agenda that 80M mainstream voters really do want "half a bowl of shit?" Against Shontel Brown.

We know some people here are drawn by the oppositional behaviors those mentioned all share, but it's smart to realize going in that most Democrats are not. Two are gone, and a third would be if only we could.

Porter is going to lose to formidable mainstream competitors who in general epitomize the principles and goals of the Democratic platform, who've been working to make it happen for years. Democracy working as it should until and if she proves herself to the people to be what they want for the job.