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magicarpet

(19,028 posts)
16. Graham Platner a blessing or a demon ?
Wed Apr 22, 2026, 09:18 AM
Wednesday

Take a close look at his history and how he has repented for his past indiscretions. Dive in to the true history of the man and what he has done to keep himself busy. A close look seems bro clearly indicate he not only talks the talk about what is important to him. But he also walks the walk in his journey to somehow contribute to society,... in his very awkward and abrasive way.

Planner clearly has no respect or loyalty to the "Deep State" or the maintain the status quo political machine. He vehemently abhors and talks down to the old political ways of doing things and will likely cause tremors and shaking in Washington DC if he manages to get there.

Also note he is getting some heavy weight progressive Democratic Party endorsements. Senator Elizabeth Warren and Senator he this Sanders full heartedly and full throatily endorse him and stand in his corner. The status quo,.. don't rock the boat - Den Party contingent is bound and determined to criticize and marginalize the man because he a danger to the entrenched political landscape establishments.

Take a peek at the background of Plantner,....

This info in the public domain and to my knowledge not copyrighted.

Sourced from Wikipedia:

Graham Platner
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Graham Cunningham Platner (born September 1, 1984) is an American oyster farmer and Marine Corps veteran who is a candidate for the Democratic nomination for US Senate in Maine, aiming to unseat incumbent Republican senator Susan Collins.

Graham Platner

Platner in 2025
Personal details
Born
Graham Cunningham Platner
September 1, 1984 (age 41)
Blue Hill, Maine, US
Party
Democratic
Spouse
Amy Gertner ​ m. 2024)​
Relations
Warren Platner (grandfather)
Education
George Washington University (attended)
Occupation
Oyster farmerharbormaster
Website
Campaign website
Military service
Branch/service
United States Marine Corps
Maryland National Guard
Years of service
2003–2007
2010–2011[1]
Rank
Sergeant[2]
Battles/wars
Iraq War
War in Afghanistan
Graham Platner's voice
Duration: 30 seconds.0:30
Platner criticizing the Democratic Party's corporate donors and backers
Recorded December 20, 2025
Platner has been characterized as a populist and a progressive who is critical of the Democratic Party establishment. He has been endorsed by a range of political and cultural figures, most notably Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren.

Contents
Early life
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Platner was born on September 1, 1984, in Blue Hill, Maine.[3] He was raised in Sullivan, a coastal town near Acadia National Park, and in Ellsworth.[4] He is the elder of two sons born to restaurant owner Leslie Harlow and lawyer Bronson Platner.[4][5][6] His grandfather was the modernist architect Warren Platner.[7]

Platner attended the Hotchkiss School in Lakeville, Connecticut and John Bapst Memorial High School in Bangor, Maine.[8] He earned the "most likely to start a revolution" yearbook superlative as a senior at John Bapst in 2003, appearing in the photo with a sign declaring "Free Kosova, Chechnya, Kashmir, Palestine, Kurdistan, Tibet".[8][9] When he was 18, he was quoted in the Bangor Daily News after protesting President George W. Bush and the Iraq War at an appearance by Bush at Bangor International Airport.[8]

Career
edit
Military
edit
Platner enlisted in the Marine Corps shortly after graduating from high school in 2003.[1] He attended the Marine Corps School of Infantry, then deployed to Iraq in 2005.[6] He served a total of eight years in the military, including three combat tours in Iraq, in areas including Ramadi and Fallujah.[10] Asked why he served in the Iraq War after protesting it, Platner said, "I thought I could do some good. And I wanted to play soldier. I might have read too much Hemingway."[11]

After four years in the military, Platner enrolled at George Washington University, funded by the G.I. Bill.[1] Shortly after starting school, he enlisted in the Maryland Army National Guard and served an additional tour of duty in the war in Afghanistan.[12][13] He returned to Washington in 2011, resuming classes at GWU and working as a bartender at the Tune Inn on Capitol Hill.[14][15] From 2011 to 2016 he alternated between living in D.C. and military deployments, before withdrawing from GWU and returning to Maine in 2016 for treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder and other military-related injuries.[13][1][11][16]

In 2018, Platner returned to Kabul, Afghanistan, for about six months as a State Department security contractor with Constellis, the private military company formerly known as Blackwater, where he provided diplomatic security to the US ambassador to Afghanistan.[17][10][18][19] He returned to Maine the same year, saying he had quickly grown more disillusioned with the military and what he called fraudulent funneling of taxpayer money to private defense companies.[12][1]

Much more at the link below,..

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graham_Platner

Recommendations

5 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

Platner has the makings of being a great Senator. Kid Berwyn Wednesday #1
As long as he has REALY & SINCERELY left his racist, bigoted, misogynistic attitudes--as expressed hlthe2b Wednesday #10
There are those of us UpInArms Wednesday #13
Yes... One can only hope... hlthe2b Wednesday #15
and, like Vietnam, Korea, Iraq, etc, etc, etc, etc.. mountain grammy Wednesday #31
All we have is hope brakester Wednesday #42
Ditto Cosmocat Wednesday #43
Does American society incubate Toxic Masculinity and give the idea birth ? magicarpet Wednesday #74
I also hope he's not another Fetterman. ananda Wednesday #50
I agree.. mountain grammy Wednesday #28
ICYMI ariadne0614 Wednesday #30
Thank you. Great presentation by the candidate on what we are missing. Kid Berwyn Wednesday #38
It is my pleasure to share this window into his personal evolution. ariadne0614 Wednesday #44
The measure of strength is not about who we beat down but about who we lift up Redleg Wednesday #54
+1 K & R Emile Wednesday #2
K & R democrank Wednesday #3
"Send me to Washington and I will work tirelessly to rebuild the American military." WhiskeyGrinder Wednesday #4
The context to that quote is about the wasteful spending Emile Wednesday #5
For a plain-spoken oysterman, his statements sure seem to take a lot of explaining. WhiskeyGrinder Wednesday #6
Probably because all the disinformation to ruin the democrats chances to oust Collins? Emile Wednesday #7
Both he and Mills poll ahead of Collins. WhiskeyGrinder Wednesday #8
Platner leads Republican incumbent Sen. Susan Collins by 7 to 14 points (48% to 41%), Emile Wednesday #12
Graham Platner a blessing or a demon ? magicarpet Wednesday #16
thank you for this useful post justaprogressive Wednesday #33
What's the action evidence he's changed? EdmondDantes_ Wednesday #39
I've regretted not having used a better choice of words Zambero Wednesday #9
If I hear "restructure," it makes me think layers of bureaucracy or departments or missions/scopes will be removed WhiskeyGrinder Wednesday #11
"that definitely sounds like someone who's running as an anti-war candidate." EX500rider Wednesday #52
lol exactly WhiskeyGrinder Wednesday #55
Ben Rhodes, the author, was a foreign policy advisor in the Obama administration. Nt Fiendish Thingy Wednesday #14
Platner would be a breath of fresh air over biocube Wednesday #17
Graham Platner is running to grab the seat from GOPee (MAGA) leaning senior senator from Maine Sue Collins,for those,. magicarpet Wednesday #56
Jesus Christ,... The damn Android operating system is editing my words because it,... magicarpet Wednesday #59
"There's a big difference between saying the war shouldn't be happening because it is bad and Nanjeanne Wednesday #18
And I have the reverse reaction dsc Wednesday #19
I think you might be misunderstanding me and perhaps Platner as well Nanjeanne Wednesday #22
My Town Classmates Maninacan Wednesday #20
I don't trust Platner. He has no relevant experience for being a Senator. I'm not sure why the Crooked folks are LymphocyteLover Wednesday #21
Ben Rhodes is crooked? BeyondGeography Wednesday #24
Crooked Media.. is supporting Platner mountain grammy Wednesday #32
lol...thanks for clearing that up for me BeyondGeography Wednesday #35
I listen a couple times a week if it's something I'm interested in hearing. mountain grammy Wednesday #37
Yes, I listen to Lovett or Leave It and also Pod Save the World. I haven't listened to Pod Save America after what they LymphocyteLover Wednesday #62
Yes I also had a hard time with that. mountain grammy Wednesday #90
Yes, he's part of the media network and is on Pod Save the World LymphocyteLover Wednesday #63
Have to say, as an outsider looking in, I feel the same. Bev54 Wednesday #26
I have that same worry LymphocyteLover Wednesday #61
I only read the first bit of this breathless excerpt from the NYT. How many Iraqi/Afghani children were murdered by US erronis Wednesday #23
I hope the voters in Maine choose wisely. sop Wednesday #25
Graham Platner leading Governor Janet Mills in the Democratic Primary election, 55% to 28%. Emile Wednesday #27
I cannot get past his vile misogyny and his "working man of the people" niyad Wednesday #29
yup Skittles Wednesday #79
I think Platner's anti-war stance is sincere, and he has matured since his early offensive behavior Martin Eden Wednesday #34
As much as... 2naSalit Wednesday #41
You have a valid point regarding experience, and lingering questions about his character. Martin Eden Wednesday #45
I'd really have to... 2naSalit Wednesday #48
"Sanders stupped for Fetterman", too.. Cha Wednesday #60
It "resembled" a Nazi symbol?? SERIOUSLY?? -- No, sorry... it ABSOLUTELY IS a Nazi symbol! QueerDuck Wednesday #36
It did resemble a Nazi symbol what with it being a Nazi symbol... mr715 Wednesday #93
LOL! Nailed it! I'm sure that's the same type of hair splitting that the NYT's editorial board does... QueerDuck Wednesday #97
How far truth has fallen. mr715 Wednesday #99
That's nice... 2naSalit Wednesday #40
It 'resembled a swastika' in the same way my 8th grade book report Torchlight Wednesday #46
I find no mention in the article that it 'resembled a swastika' Abolishinist Wednesday #49
You will not find that wording in the NYT article because he did not have a swastika tattoo. Celerity Wednesday #57
Exactly. The article says it 'resembled a Nazi symbol', of which there are many. Abolishinist Wednesday #71
This message was self-deleted by its author Torchlight Wednesday #47
I agree with him on his war stance ☮ walkingman Wednesday #51
I don't trust a "Democrat" whose message trashes Congressional Dems and cheers for MAGAts MorbidButterflyTat Wednesday #53
JHC, Planter... sorry the Dems are Passionate Cha Wednesday #65
I have many draft age grandsons and I am glad he is anti war questionseverything Wednesday #67
Shane on Planter for sounding like Fetterman.. Cha Wednesday #69
Fetterman is totally pro war backing Israel, platner is the exact opposite questionseverything Wednesday #72
Planter is attacking Dems for being "passionate Cha Wednesday #100
They sound entirely, 100%, completely different. mr715 Wednesday #77
Planter is Attacking Dems for no reason Cha Wednesday #101
We are perceiving different things. mr715 Wednesday #102
iff elected which planner will show up? msongs Wednesday #58
The one who will not cater to the whims of billionaire donors. Emile Wednesday #64
You why he won't be another Fetterman? Intractable Wednesday #66
Why do we compare him to Fetterman? mr715 Wednesday #75
Not my idea to compare him. Mine is just a response to all of the above. Intractable Wednesday #78
Understood. mr715 Wednesday #82
Mills is part of the old guard. Many Democrats want a renewed Democratic party. Intractable Wednesday #84
That is my sense. mr715 Wednesday #89
Concerns could be mitigated if he was running for smaller office and built a strong verifiable record themaguffin Wednesday #68
I do not understand why anyone is even entertaining the thought of supporting this guy over the extremely qualified and Quiet Em Wednesday #70
Both can defeat Sen. Collins. mr715 Wednesday #73
I do not believe Platner can beat Collins. Quiet Em Wednesday #81
We shall see. mr715 Wednesday #85
He's still a slow motion train wreck. RandySF Wednesday #76
Says you. Intractable Wednesday #80
and me Skittles Wednesday #83
Too bad you will lose this one, eh? Intractable Wednesday #86
says you Skittles Wednesday #87
Polling says, "Mills loses." That your pick. Intractable Wednesday #88
He probably will win the primary. RandySF Wednesday #92
Yeah, well, too bad he's going to win, right? Intractable Wednesday #94
November? I wouldn't bet on it. RandySF Wednesday #95
Mills is severely losing in the polls. But, if you want to keep the up the faith, it'll just hurt that much more in Nov Intractable Wednesday #96
I can understand why you wouldn't bet on it. Mills doesn't Emile Wednesday #104
Respectfully, he's winning. mr715 Wednesday #91
Kicked and recommended Uncle Joe Wednesday #98
What is the "simple message for Democrats"? maxsolomon Wednesday #103
You got it BeyondGeography Thursday #105
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