Scorched Earth? "I don't think there's a limit on what (Tom Steyer) will do"

[crazytown]

You underestimate my brother at your peril ... People like Gavin and Kamala, they were always afraid of Tom. Jim Steyer

A Tom Steyer Debate Spot Is in Limbo. His Money Is Poised to Upend 2020 Anyway.

(snip) “Most of the insiders, they don’t have a clue how much money he can spend. They just don’t,” said Bill Carrick, a Democratic strategist who has seen Mr. Steyer’s spending up close in California, where Mr. Steyer has bankrolled ballot measures against the oil and tobacco industries.

(snip) One big unknown is whether Mr. Steyer will use his financial might to obliterate his opponents with negative ads. Those who have worked with Mr. Steyer describe him as a fiercely competitive man used to getting his way.

“He’s been thinking about this for a long time,” said Gil Duran, a former Steyer adviser. “I don’t think there’s a limit on what he’ll do to try to reach this goal.”

Mr. Steyer himself said he would not rule out negative ads, regardless of criticism he might face from the party. “Look, there’s something I really care about doing and I’m going to try really hard to do it,” he said.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/27/us/politics/tom-steyer-debate.html

We had to raze the village in order to save it. EDIT: Sarcasm, obviously -referencing the insanity of the Vietnam war.

[CrispyQ]

1. I wish he'd do something really helpful with his money instead of divisive bullshit.

You know, like buy a couple of radio stations in the heartland & operate them at a loss if he has to. Hire some top notch writing talent & use humor to fight hate & misinformation of right wing hate radio. The dems are decades behind the 8-ball in framing the debate & capturing the narrative on every issue. When the only messages our rural neighbors hear are the lies & hate of Rush Limbaugh & his ilk, is anyone surprised when good ole boys show up wearing tee-shirts that read, "I'd rather be a Russian than a Democrat?" Ignoring hate radio is just stupid.

[in2herbs]

25. I agree CrispyQ. In fact, I believe that by investing in talk radio he could influence more people

than he could if president.

[Hortensis]

58. Buy and shut them down, anyway. :) He'd have to pay

most LWers to listen to honest talk radio enough to make it viable, while he'd have to pay people to hold guns on talk radio's RWers to get them to do it.

There're big reasons why fear-and-hostility radio draws so many more people than truth-and-nice-things radio. Just as there are reasons why the Republican Party has become intensely corrupted while the Democratic Party hasn't.

Reminds me: "And that was our segment on the bull moose of northern Maine." Delivered in a slow, mellow baritone, those are literally the first words on NPR that I ever noticed. I was a kid looking for disco music to drive to, and this weirdness so caught me I've never forgotten it. But, I became an NPR and disco listener, and years later thanks to electronics I'm able to listen to Pasadena's KPCC in northern Georgia.

But I'm liberal, born that way and will die that way. And if Steyer ever affected KPCC the way the Kochs have PBS, I'd find another station the minute I realized it -- on principle. As would RW talk radio audiences.

[sacto95834]

44. Unfortunately....

Hate sells. *sigh*

I found progressives do not really watch television programs or listen to radio like conservatives. We get our information differently. HOWEVER, I do think creative writing, satire and humor has it's place in the political arena. Look how John Stewart and the Daily Show seems to have charmed a generation of viewers/activists. Maybe that is his calling.

[True Blue American]

51. Hire Al Franken?

[CrispyQ]

62. Yes, and more! We have sooooo many funny & talented people on our side!

I honestly believe that humor trumps fear. Fact filled programming that makes people laugh & think will get listeners. And they will tell a few friends & they will tell a few friends.

[hlthe2b]

2. Maybe... But, I don't see Steyer being the ruthless destructive force for the DEMS...

that Trump has surely been for the Republicans. Obviously, any other comparison with Trump, or any other Republican is ridiculous.

Will he go after other candidates in the primaries, much the way Harris, Booker, and Swalwell tried to do with Biden, Gabbard tried to do with Harris, Castro tried to do against Beto, etc? Probably. I do hope he will restrain himself. Those attacks noted previously haven't exactly helped any of those candidates much either.

[crazytown]

5. From the same article -

If the idea of a wealthy mogul running as an unbought outsider against a rigged system and the political establishment sounds familiar, that is no accident.

“Mr. Trump had a point,” Mr. Steyer said. “I think that’s why he got elected. Because the system is broken".

[hlthe2b]

10. I read it. I am not supporting him.. just saying we need to keep our eyes on the prize...

and prioritize our opponents.

[Autumn]

11. He donated about $245 Million during the 2014-2018 election on Democrats, and

$123 million in the 2018 midterms. He's a solid Democrat.

Yeah, shame on him for deciding he has the same right as any other American to run for the office.

[BannonsLiver]

3. Go home, Tom.

You can spend every nickel you have and it won’t count for squat if people aren’t interested. And guess what? People aren’t interested.

[Firestorm49]

4. Sorry to offend his followers, but he echoes Trump.

[crazytown]

6. From the same article -

f the idea of a wealthy mogul running as an unbought outsider against a rigged system and the political establishment sounds familiar, that is no accident.

“Mr. Trump had a point,” Mr. Steyer said. “I think that’s why he got elected. Because the system is broken".

[Me.]

7. Why Doesn't He Do Something For The Amazon W/That Money?

Where are all the billionaires who say they're concerned for the environment eh Michael Bloomberg?

[Autumn]

13. Brazil turned down G7's offer of $22 mil in aid to fight the Amazon fires

Why would Brazil take their money? It's believed that they were started on purpose and supported by Bolsonaro.

https://www.leftvoice.org/the-fires-in-the-amazon-were-set-on-purpose

These are fires set as part of deforestation project, supported by Bolsonaro’s government. They are part of the Brazilian agribusiness thirst for profits, setting fires to open land for soy production and logging. In fact, loggers were organizing “fire days” to take advantage of loosened regulations. This is part of Bolsonaro’s project from Brazil: destroying the Amazon rainforest to maintain massive profits for agribusiness while criminalizing dissent, particularly by indigenous activists.

Scientists warn that this could be the tipping point for an ecosystem that plays a key role in reducing pollutant levels in the atmosphere. This “lung of the world” accounts for more than half of the world’s remaining rainforest.

Already in Brazil we are seeing the potentially catastrophic health impact of increased pollution induced by a mismanaged forest. Official data from the Ministry of Health show that deaths from cardiorespiratory problems have increased by 14% in the last 10 years, due to air pollution.

While Bolsanaro and his government blame nonprofits for staging the fires, it’s clear that Bolsanaro’s weakening of environmental policy is to blame. The Brazilian environmental agency has drastically cut penalties for breaking environmental laws, with statements that essentially provide carte blanche for loggers to do what they will. The mining and farming industries are enormous sources of revenue in Brazil and are rapidly expanding in previously protected areas.

[Me.]

14. That 22 Mil Was A Pitiful Offer

[Autumn]

15. It was still an offer. If he wanted it, more would have poured in from other countries.

$22 million isn't exactly chump change.

[Me.]

17. It Actuaqlly Is

When you're trying to save a world

[Autumn]

19. Bolsonaro turned it down saying it was an an attack on the country's sovereignty, not because it

was chump change and a small amount. Maybe Bolsonaro doesn't want to save a world.

The blazes in the Amazon have caused a spat between Bolsonaro and French President Emmanuel Macron, who has been vocal about the need for an international response to the fires.

The G7 is an informal grouping comprised of the world's seven biggest economies. At the group's annual summit, in the French resort of Biarritz on Monday, Macron announced it was making $20 million in aid available to help combat the fires.

But Bolsonaro said the idea of creating an international alliance to save the Amazon would be treating Brazil like "a colony or no man's land," calling it an attack on the country's sovereignty.

Rebuffing the offer, Lorenzoni continued to criticize the French president. "Macron is unable to avoid a preventable fire in a church that is at a World Heritage Site and he wants to show us what is for our country? He has a lot to look after at home and the French colonies," Lorenzoni said, according to G1. He was referring to the Notre Dame Cathedral fire in April.

"Brazil is a democratic nation, free and never had colonial or imperialistic practices which might be (the) objective of Frenchman Macron," Lorenzoni added.

https://www.abc15.com/news/world/brazil-will-reject-20-million-of-amazon-fire-aid-from-g7

[Me.]

29. It's Always All About Money

one way or the other and always is with him and those like him

[Autumn]

30. People like him are so willing to let the world die.

[Me.]

33. I Must Agree

Tragic. PBO would certainly try to help/find a solution.

[Autumn]

34. Yes he would have, and he would have succeed too.

[True Blue American]

52. But now he has accepted the money!

[Autumn]

53. Good that he came to his senses.

[True Blue American]

54. Autumn

On Steyer buying a couple of radio stations. He could hire Al Franken.

Can you name some others? Bill Press is good.

[Autumn]

55. I don't listen to radio but I would make a point to listen to Franken if Steyer did that.

I miss him.

[True Blue American]

56. I don't either!:)

I would suggest Steyer buy a TV station.

Did you know Al has a podcast? I get an email every day. It starts with,” Dear people, I know you love getting my email.”

[Autumn]

60. No I did not know Al has a podcast. Link please???

[True Blue American]

61. Go to Google

“ Al Franken podcast” i tried for a link but they are different, according to your computer.

Walter Mondale on at 5 PM today.

[Autumn]

64. Thanks's True Blue. Got it. I wish I could see his face.

[DBoon]

57. He could buy a couple of clear channel AM powerhouse stations

that would have the most impact and would be chump change for him

[True Blue American]

59. Why not send Steyer an email?

I am sure he would like ideas.

Sure a big difference in Steyer and the Koch’s !

[JI7]

8. billionaire ego

[BeckyDem]

9. Steyer will remind voters he is a "good" billionaire. ok.

[qazplm135]

27. Steyer's policies are pretty good

I don't instantly write anyone off including a billionaire.

Now, I don't want another old white guy so he's out, but by all accounts and actions, he seems like a decent person from everything I've seen, and he has no chance at winning, so derision seems unwarranted to me.

[Autumn]

31. He's 62, the youngest out of the top field. nt

[qazplm135]

32. Sorry but

He's an old white guy

[Autumn]

37. True. But our candidates that are not white, old and male are not doing well either.

It surprised me that Harris didn't run away with this.

[qazplm135]

38. why?

I chose Harris but I was under no illusion that there was anything about her (or any other candidate) that would lead her or them to run away with this.

There are multiple qualified candidates with various bases of support.

This was always going to be a marathon.

[Autumn]

39. Let me clarify, I thought she would run away with it here. So many people were adamant

about no more old white guys for the last few years.

[qazplm135]

40. well unfortunately

not enough people feel that way.

Too many are scared that only an old white guy can beat an old white guy.

[msongs]

41. your middle aged black female is not exactly suring to the front of the line nt

[qazplm135]

42. and?

This country could use a woman President, whether it's a middle-aged black woman or an older white woman like Warren.

It's pretty fucking embarrassing that we still haven't had a woman President.

Apparently you disagree.

[BannonsLiver]

49. He's not in the "top field."

He’s barely registering at all. try to stay with reality based statements.

[Autumn]

50. I said he was the youngest OUT of the top field. Not that he is the youngest IN the top field.

The top field are all in their 70's. He's younger than all of those three.

[BeckyDem]

43. Not for me they are not.

No billionaire became one without stepping on someone on their way to great wealth. No thanks.

[qazplm135]

45. eh probably a whole lot of people you think you admire

stepped on some folks along the way.

A cursory glance of the things he's funded is pretty impressive.

[BeckyDem]

47. I'm aware of his history and of those I trust.

I don't find him impressive at all, quite the contrary.

[crazytown]

48. He is another 'chosen one'

stepping into the race with the certainty of a billionaire's ego.

[BeckyDem]

63. +1.

[Qutzupalotl]

12. I don't get his point in running.

He was Mr. Impeachment for a while. Okay, let’s impeach. But then why run? After Trump, why would we need him?

Buy the Amazon or something, Tom.

[MBS]

36. Exactly. n/t

[world wide wally]

16. Whatever happened to the Starbucks guy?

[ehrnst]

18. Raze what village?

[crazytown]

20. It's an expression from the Vietnam War

It became necessary to destroy the town to save it.
... reported by AP correspondent Peter Barnett.

[ehrnst]

21. Let me re-phrase: What "village" are *you* referring to that needs to be "razed?"

[crazytown]

22. It's a comment about employing sorched earth tactics

in the campaign for the Democratic nomination. Nothing more. In Vietnam it became code for a counter productive (insane) strategy.

[ehrnst]

26. Yes, I know it was a phrase used in Vietnam. What scorched earth tactics are *you* referring to

In the campaign, that *you* think will be necessary to "save the village?"

[crazytown]

28. Sorched earth : using "his financial might to obliterate his opponents with negative ads".

Q: What do I think is the best way to save the village. A: the unity pledge.

[ehrnst]

35. Got it.

[crazytown]

24. I expect it was a threat to destroy their political careers

using money to "obliterate [them] with negative ads."

[crazytown]

46. ...