Democratic Primaries
Related: About this forumLast Night's Debate
My older son and I watched the debate last night. We are both registered members of the Democratic Party, as are my other three children. He supports one of our candidates, while I have decided that I am simply going to support the candidate that wins the nomination. We agreed that all of the candidates had a good showing.
It goes without saying that any one of the candidates on stage last night would be far superior to Donald Trump, but I found myself saying it repeatedly last night. More, each would be far superior to Mike Pence, should he be the republican's candidate. I think that is important to keep in mind.
Each of our candidates has strengths that would not only make them a good president, but could also make them a potential vice president or member of a solid administration. Each is capable of not only helping our nation recover from the disease that Trump has spread, but to move forward as we enter the post-Trump future.
None of our candidates is perfect, which is to be expected. There are no perfect human beings, and there never have been. Keep in mind that it is only those who are hypnotized that believe otherwise. Think of the fools who ignore all of Trump's personal failures, and believe he is perfect. Remember the old Irish saying that a saint is merely a dead sinner, whose life has been revised and edited.
There is not a truly charismatic candidate today. In my lifetime, we have produced but two Kennedy and Obama but it is essential to recognize that both had substance beyond charisma. Both understood the workings of the bureaucracy. And each of today's candidates has substance.
I think that is the important thing to focus on a particular candidate's substance, their understanding of the the machine we call government, and their ability to unite the party next November. Whoever our candidate is, they will face a terrible mess when they take office. They will need to have the support and active participation of Americans at the grass roots' level to reconstruct the foundation of our federal government, no easy job.
Peace,
H2O Man
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
coeur_de_lion
(3,676 posts)that you do actually have a favorite.
Fess up!
I am partial to Biden mostly because trump is clearly terrified of him. I do like him also, but without trumps interference I would feel the same as you do.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
H2O Man
(73,536 posts)I have thoughts about what each one brings to the table. And I imagine each one, should there be debates with Trump .....though I do not anticipate he is sure to be in office next fall.
This is absolutely a fight for our constitutional democracy. I approach it like that. In the manner, to the best of my ability, as I described in my recent essay "Trump's Ring Walk," of how a real fighter goes into the ring. I made that walk 329 times in amateur boxing. No distractions -- and for me, the primaries are not the real fight, the one I am preparing for. All my focus for 2020 is for winning on that Tuesday in November.
I will put the exact same amount of time and energy into the presidential contest, no matter which of the candidates on stage last night is our party's nominee.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
PETRUS
(3,678 posts)Just curious, and I'm not asking you to say for whom (if you do plan to do that).
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
H2O Man
(73,536 posts)And a very valid question, especially in the context to the OP/thread.
I have voted in every election, including primaries, as well as state and local elections, since I've been of age. I've stood in long lines many times, and short lines even more. I have never taken the right to vote for granted. I've seen, as the result of registration drives among low-income neighborhoods and college students over the decades, the resistence of (republican) boards to those they deem unworthy of participating in democracy.
So yes, I will definitely vote. As my state isn't "early" in the primaries, I suspect it will come down to a much smaller field. But what I won't be doing -- different from any previous primary -- is campaigning for any of the primary candidates, or sending a check to any campaign. Once the party selects a nominee, I'll donate whatever money I've saved for the presidential race to that person's campaign.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
For years, I never bothered to vote in primaries. I knew I wasn't going to vote for the Republican, and I didn't always see clear distinctions among the "viable" Democratic contenders. I did have a strong preference for the 2016 primaries, and favor two in the current field (by large margins) but haven't decided between them and probably won't until the day comes.
Now I live in a one party town - Democratic - so for local offices, the primary is the real election and I always show up for that!
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
peggysue2
(10,828 posts)Whoever wins in 2020 will have an enormous job of cleaning up and repairing the damage done to our institutions and agencies as well as our tattered reputation abroad. It's going to be a Herculean task to bring the country together and start the serious rehab necessary to get us back on the rails. To think otherwise is foolish.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Both domestic and foreign policies will be a mess for him or her to clean up. I think that is why the vice president has to be fully capable, as well. And a good administration. We saw that potential last night. It is an option that is available to us.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
saidsimplesimon
(7,888 posts)None of our candidates is perfect, which is to be expected.
There is not a truly charismatic candidate today. In my lifetime, we have produced but two Kennedy and Obama but it is essential to recognize that both had substance beyond charisma. Both understood the workings of the bureaucracy. And each of today's candidates has substance.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
H2O Man
(73,536 posts)Without that substance, the Cuban missile crisis would have ended much differently under JFK,or the global economy would have tanked under Obama. Neither man was perfect, but they were indeed the perfect person to serve as president in their eras.
I fully believe that each of the candidates I saw last night can meet our nation's needs.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Gothmog
(145,152 posts)I am supporting Biden but there are a number of candidates who I also like. I have donated to Beto, Castro, Biden and Warren (my kids made me make this donation). I also like Klobuchar, Booker, Harris and Mayor Pete (he is growing on me).
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
H2O Man
(73,536 posts)I am equally interested in the House and Senate elections for 2020. Thus, it is important to me that we have a solid team to head our ticket. That will allow us to obtain the overall victories that are essential for creating the stability to make the changes required to move forward into the future.
My children also influence my thinking. Not on any individual candidate, though each of the four have a favorite. But I'm thinking about their futures. I'm old, and have had the opportunity to live an interesting life. I want the same for all of the young people in America and the world.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
flamingdem
(39,313 posts)Especially the experience part - also he has heart and is thus to me is trustworthy.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
H2O Man
(73,536 posts)problem with Joe Biden being the nominee. Like the others, I know a strong case can be made for him. I do not see a strong case against him or any of the other candidates.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Jeffersons Ghost
(15,235 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden