You have to respect a man who found a way to both avoid watching a boring show with his spouse and make money out of it. pic.twitter.com/npCvUICHgx
— Protestant Joker (@unworthyhand) October 19, 2019
Please chip in ANY AMOUNT so Chasten can finally WATCH this fucking THING and stop bitching about how we NEVER GO OUT ANY MORE.
— Protestant Joker (@unworthyhand) October 19, 2019
Mock, if you must, but admit it. This promo is just about pitch-perfect for Buttigieg’s presumable donor base: College-educated, diversity-friendly midwesterners who read the Arts & Leisure section.
Amir Khalid
So that’s what Mayor Pete’s husband looks like.
guachi
I’d like to see a closer look into the types of people that are Buttigieg supporters. My mom likes him (though I don’t think he’s her #1 candidate). She’s a white 73 year old sort-of liberal.
He’s the only candidate I’ve seen in person and, at least in that forum, he did really well.
But his support is so heavily white and liberal (which isn’t a bad thing. There are lots and lots of white liberals in the Democratic party. I mean, this blog is full of them) that I’d be interested to see it analyzed.
Amir Khalid
Also too, I think Mnemosyne would disagree with Protestant Joker’s opinion of Hamilton.
Dorothy A. Winsor
@guachi: Someone I know is working for Pete in Iowa. She lives in Iowa City and is, indeed, a white liberal. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. I’m one too. It did surprise me when I first saw it online because it didn’t seem to me Pete had much of a chance.
trollhattan
@guachi:
My 17YO lurves him and went to his rally a couple weeks ago. She notes correctly that he’s merely 2x her age and so has more at stake vis a vis climate change than all those other olds. Plus she finds teh gheys adorbs, or something. Her first vote will be the CA primary and she’s all set.
PJ
@guachi: I think he’s still counting on the “oh, he’s that nice young man” voters.
Amir Khalid
@PJ:
In lieu of presidential substance? Buttigieg hasn’t been outstanding where I think a president really needs to be.
mrmoshpotato
@guachi:
Who told you? :)
Another Scott
@PJ: He seemed to be willing to bring out the (apparently) hypocritical loser guy persona in the last debate – E.g. Jezebel (note, it’s a screed):
Team Broken Glass and Take All My Disposable Income For Your Campaign, but (as I’ve said several times) Pete continues to rub me the wrong way.
It’s still early. All the remaining candidates will get their time in the shark tank. Part of the process is seeing how well they’re able to survive attacks (fair and unfair alike).
Cheers,
Scott.
Bobby Thomson
@Amir Khalid: as would any right thinking individual.
germy
NotMax
@germy
As the campaigning has progressed Buttigieg more and more reminds me of a tire with a slow leak.
trollhattan
@germy:
Speaking Norwegian is nothing, now? The horror.
PJ
@Amir Khalid: I haven’t watched the debates, but I haven’t seen him come out with anything to distinguish himself. But he’s doing well enough that he could pick up the “centrist” vote (note: I don’t know if there will be actually many “centrist” voters in the primary) when Biden drops out. But I think a lot of Biden’s support from Democrats (not the media) is because they think he is a safe bet to beat Trump in the general, not because of particular policies, so I don’t know how much Biden leaving will help Buttigieg.
hells littlest angel
Who names their child Chasten? Does he have siblings named Shame and Humiliate?
James E Powell
@Amir Khalid:
Disagree? You mean like the way Sherman disagreed with Georgia?
Aleta
“Flights and hotels are on us!”
Or are they from the donations that support the fun contest. (I’d sure go.)
hells littlest angel
@NotMax: The more I see of Buttigieg, the more I am convinced that he’d make a great mayor of a small Midwestern city.
Amir Khalid
@James E Powell:
Well, I try not to overstate my case.
Dorothy A. Winsor
The person I know who works for Pete in Iowa is smart and informed. She’s worked on local political campaigns before. If she’s backing him, then there’s something there to back. He’s not my first or even second choice right now, but that doesn’t mean a whole lot.
I have to say I’m sorry to miss the caucuses this year. I have D representation here in Illinois, but the primary is much less exciting.
laura
@hells littlest angel: Please proceed to the mezzanine level customer service desk and collect your internets.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@NotMax: the only time I got the whole Buttigieg thing was when he was asked about police-civilian relations and diversity in police hiring and he said, “I blew it”, or words to that effect. He has a good resume for a candidate for… something, but the leap from mayor of South Bend to the White House is a lot to me. Then again I thought the same thing about a freshman Senator in his first year in office running for President, and maybe would have felt the same way about a one term House member and losing Senate candidate from one of those empty states out west.
Mnemosyne
@Amir Khalid:
I do, but our own Betty Cracker may be having a similar disagreement with her own spouse. IIRC she once said that she was so tired of the Hamilton hype that she wouldn’t watch it if the entire original cast showed up to perform it on her front lawn. ?
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@hells littlest angel: I think his brother’s name is Brown Derby
Amir Khalid
@hells littlest angel:
Another possible name: Smite.
Gvg
@PJ: sigh….Buttigeg can’t win “centerests” nor a general election. He’s gay. Centerests are not as liberal as we are or Democratic leaders. They are actually kind of real conservatives in that they prefer things remain kind of the same, as opposed to the radical maniacs who use the label conservative. The general election will be even more so and the deplorable really hate gays and it will motivate even those disillusioned by Trump who we need to stay home.
I am being really cynical about my fellow citizens here, not talking about my own veiws. I used to be more opptimistic but the Obama racist backlash has scared the dickens out of me. I am also disturbed by my older liberal mother actually believing the believing the bathroom bill fear bull****. Democratic voters are really worried about winning and what other voters will go for. Even a woman is concerning though everyone really wants a woman and feels anger at those who voted against Clinton because she was a woman. There is a conflicting impulse not to give in to the other sides bullying too but the final choice needs to have really good polls. It’s not just what ondividuals want, it’s strategic voting too. Buttige is just too risky at this time. The future is a different matter though. And someone had to try first.
mad citizen
I said the other night Mayor Pete reminds me somewhat of Michael Dukakis. I think he has the potential to eventually be labeled REALLY BORING, which doesn’t help the High School Class President M.O of our Presidential election process.
Coincidentally, I just bought Hamilton tickets on Wed for an upcoming show in Chicago. I hope it’s not boring. Not only my first time seeing it, my first time seeing any Broadway play. Trying to pay my wife back for upteen Bob Dylan and Neil Young shows over the decades (her view, not mine of course).
Jim, Foolish Literalist
and what I came to say…
I think this district is pretty much Wyoming-on-the-Gulf red, but this guy has been saying he’s open to impeachment lately.
Aleta
@guachi: I’ve wanted to see actual information about that too.
I’ve seen some criticism emerge, but I don’t know if it’s a function of who the critics support. (That is, someone else?) On twitter somewhere, Chasten’s coming trip to Europe to speak to potential US donors living abroad was mentioned in a way that implied (w/o other evidence) that B. needs “wealthy elite” support, which was meant to imply a lack of other support.
Perhaps Mmmm (former presidential campaign worker, early B. supporter, and perhaps ? part of conversations with B. supporters of different classes) could give perspective on where this is coming from, whether these are baseless attacks.
Miss Bianca
I admit I don’t get the Cult of Pete, any more than I get the Cult of Bernie. All my liberal older lady friends on FB are just squeeing over him, and to me he just seems like a smart guy who needs a lot more seasoning before he’s ready for a POTUS run. Also seems like he can get gratuitously nasty towards fellow Dems, which is a complete and utter deal-breaker for me.
Aleta
@Mnemosyne: That’s so hard core. I’m sure she would offer drinks and food though. Hospitality.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@Miss Bianca: somebody said on twitter, he’s upper-middle-class (I’d add upper-middle-aged) white America’s ideal gay son
It usually is for me, too, but I’ll admit as someone who has been equally baffled by the cult of Beto, I did like him telling BO to step back
hells littlest angel
He’s the Benedict Cumberbatch of politics.
SFAW
@Mnemosyne:
She best hope Mr. Cracker doesn’t know (or is not willing to use on her) the Ludovico Technique.
germy
Tulsi’s sister:
Her twitter bio:
Elizabelle
@hells littlest angel:
Laughing.
PeakVT
Not only do I not get the cult of Pete, I want to see a woman both win the presidency AND take office this time. It’s time.
Calouste
@Dorothy A. Winsor: Well, I guess there is something there to back in a run for the House or Indiana Lt. Governor or so, but President is a bit of a step too far from Mayor of a small-medium city. Of course he knows that his chances to win anything in Indiana are close to zero…
Starfish
@Miss Bianca: Same. He seems out of touch with a lot of constituencies.
Chyron HR
@germy:
The GOP is noticeably absent from that list.
Wife AND sister? It’s just like one of my Japanese animes!
NotMax
@germy
Gag me with a chammach.
germy
@Chyron HR:
Talk to the Hand.
I wonder why.
I think Tulsi is hoping to win Tucker Carlson’s fans.
Mary G
Pete already has a problem with people of color, and now he’s going to a big donor party cohosted by a guy who fought really hard to keep the video of the police killing Laquan McDonald hidden from the public. Not smart.
His fans are really nice, though. I said on Twitter that he’s not explaining how he would pay for his version of Medicare and five or six young ladies sent me a video to enlighten me (it did not). It was very different from Wilmer Bros where I have to spend a couple of minutes blocking people who call me names.
germy
He found the smoking gun! Hillary is finished!
germy
@Mary G: I think he cancelled. I’m not sure of the whole story.
Chyron HR
@germy:
This, too, is like my Japanese animes.
germy
Okay, here it is:
Enhanced Voting Techniques
@germy: Gabbard comes across as someone who went so far to the Right she ended up on the Left.
germy
Gabbard will be there.
LOL
debbie
@guachi:
Shame on him if he hasn’t been reaching out. I know why he’s spending so much time in Iowa, but there are 49 other states and countless other kinds of citizens in those other states. Iowa won’t do it alone.
debbie
@germy:
Uh oh.
Tulsi should be getting an earful about now…
theturtlemoves
McKinsey. That’s the deal-breaker for me. Anyone who would willingly work for that conglomeration of evil is instantly disqualified for me. Seen too many good people fired based on recommendations from those jackasses.
Mary G
@germy: I hadn’t seen that, thanks. Good for Mayor Pete.
opiejeanne
Did anyone else see the NBC report?
HUD stalled PR relief
HinTN
@Amir Khalid:
As do I.
Darrin Ziliak (formerly glocksman)
@Calouste:
Statewide, they’re probably at zero.
Hell, even his Congressional district is R+11.
Mayor of a liberal college town like South Bend is as high as he’ll go in Indiana unless he runs for Congress in Visclosky’s or Carson’s district, and they’re solid Democrats.
JPL
@germy: lol She pulled out a while ago, but timing never mattered to those folks.
Martin
@debbie: If he doesn’t finish strong in Iowa, he won’t be in the race for the other states. Warren and Biden can weather a bad Iowa showing, but Harris and Pete can’t.
zhena gogolia
@HinTN:
Me too! Boring it is not. (And I’m just talking about the music, I’ve never seen the show.)
Zinsky
@hells littlest angel: Haha – good one!
Butter emails!!!
@Martin:
Harris can weather a bad Iowa showing. A bad SC showing will be more difficult to deal with, but even then, I expect her to hang on until at least until the California primary.
rikyrah
@hells littlest angel:
??????
Matt
Mayor Pete’s been lately demonstrating exactly what the DNC crowd believes “bipartisanship” is: repeating wingnut talking points to shiv the hippies, while boldly insisting that better things aren’t possible. Maybe he can cement his bonafides by fellating a cop on stage at the convention.
RAVEN
GO ILLINI!
joel hanes
The sixty-three-year-old white gay married woman I know best wants either Klobuchar or Buttigeig.
So does my eighty-seven year old mother in Iowa.
Both think that Biden is too old, Warren is too radical and almost too old, and Harris is disfavored because of her opening attack on Biden in the first debate.
Also, I can think of many adjectives that I’d apply to seeing Hamilton at the Orpheum in San Francisco, but “boring” is not one of them. Perhaps the peak theatric experience of my life.
[Fighting words] I far preferred Hamilton to Les Mis. [/fighting]
Bex
Since so many of you know so little about Pete, why not read his book, “Shortest Way Home”? Extra points for identifying the title quote w/o Google. It may or may not change your opinion of him, but that’s up to you. I read Kamala Harris’s book, “The Truths We Hold” and got to know her better.
Bex
@Matt: Stay classy, Matt.
Roger Tait
@Chyron HR: Tulsi’s a Lannister?
The Fat Kate Middleton
@Dorothy A. Winsor: we’ve been hosting campaign workers at our Iowa home for the last couple of federal elections. We’re currently housing a black iiberal from Chicago. He’s 40 years old, and is so totally sold on Pete.
zhena gogolia
@Bex:
I’m open to Pete. I’m open to everyone but Sanders, Williamson and Gabbard. I’d be thrilled if any one of them were president RIGHT FUCKING NOW.
Mousebumples
Re: Hamilton, I’ve seen it twice – in Chicago about 2 years ago and in Appleton (Wisconsin Broadway premiere) a few weeks ago. I enjoyed it both times – almost more the second time, but I think I was less in awe and more able to follow more than the main plot since I’d see it before.
There are parts that I like better than others, but I frequently find myself listening to the King George songs on Youtube … among others.
Of course, I also like Broadway. Not all of the Broadway (or off-Broadway) shows that I’ve seen would I see again, but this one and Kinky Boots are among my favorites – and I’ve seen both twice. Comparatively speaking, Cats is pretty much at the bottom of the list of “favorite Broadway shows” that I’ve seen…
oldgold
@RAVEN: Huge win for the program.
dww44
@zhena gogolia: In a pinch, I’d even take Sanders, but he really is, health wise and age wise, problematic. But then, Biden is as well. Biden doesn’t look well to me. Am I the only one who thinks that?
RAVEN
@oldgold: I paused it and was taking a nap before I go out in this monsoon for the Dawgs at 6! My phone started going off like a thompson!
Calouste
@Bex: Why would we bother? The guy doesn’t have the experience to be President in a “resume-goes-straight-in-the-bin” way.
zhena gogolia
I just discovered Paul Rudnick’s twitter feed (via Bette Midler). He does brilliant captions for pictures of Ivanka & Co.
zhena gogolia
You have to know your Agatha Christie to get this one:
mrmoshpotato
@RAVEN: Gonna be party central in Cham-bana tonight.
germy
@zhena gogolia: If commenters here attempted some of Rudnick’s humor about Lindsey Graham here, they’d be scolded.
Miss Bianca
@theturtlemoves: As someone who worked briefly for McKinsey – and gets to count it as one of tje worst working experiences of my life – it’s another dealbreaker for me, too.
zhena gogolia
@germy:
True.
RAVEN
@mrmoshpotato: OSKEEWOW!
germy
@zhena gogolia: He’s still funny, though, and I share his loathing of the main characters.
trollhattan
@Bex:
They’re all on equal ground insofar as I know what I know from their political work and campaigns and coverage. I don’t read politicians’ self-published puff books because the form holds no appeal. That means I don’t know squat about, say, Andrew Yang or the Steyer dude.
japa21
Anybody who backs off support for Medicare for all automatically goes up in my estimation. First of all, none of the plans I’ve seen bare any resemblance to Medicare, but it is Medicare that people will be thinking of. Since a lot of under Medicare age folks have private insurance that is way better than Medicare why would they want to take a step down in coverage. Granted, most of the plans are also better than Medicare, but trying to explain that to people won’t work.
Went to a town hall for our rep Raja Krishnamoortha last week. When he discussed health care he emphasized that his main goal is universal coverage that also doesn’t force people into a specific approach. When he finished he got a rousing ovation from the crowd, and I do mean crowd. They had rented a large room and had to set up overflow seating in another room to accommodate everybody.
debbie
@joel hanes:
Is it wrong to like both?
debbie
@zhena gogolia:
And then there were …
Bex
@trollhattan: Oh FFS. If you’re so wonderful give yourself a cookie.
mrmoshpotato
@zhena gogolia: The accompanying picture helps.
Sab
@Bex: Who is Bex? A lurker?
mrmoshpotato
@Bex: @trollhattan: Hey trollhattan, how do you feel about pecan shortbread cookies? All I got around at the time.
ETA – Bex, judging someone based upon previous political accomplishments is perfectly reasonable.
Ruckus
@Jim, Foolish Literalist:
There is a slight difference from the then junior senator from IL and the mayor of SB IN. OK a lot of difference. First the job, much bigger. Second the person, better spoken, better proposals. Third, the chops, the Senator absolutely had/has them, the mayor ain’t bad but he’s not in the same league.
He seems to be a likable fella, I like that he admitted a mistake because we all make them and will continue to do so as long as we breathe so that honesty part is there. But as a centrist he’s trying to be all things to all people and that seems….. unworkable. He seems like the guy that just wants us to all get along. And that’s a great idea, but how do we do that, given we want to help people and the conservatives want us to die?
I think mayor Pete has a lot going for him and he’d be great if this was 1958.
Just One More Canuck
@mad citizen: you cant possibly have seen Dylan as often as my father-in-law – he’s seen him over 70 times
trollhattan
@Bex:
You’ve certainly convinced me!
Ruckus
@Sab:
I believe that Bex has been around for quite a while. Haven’t seen the name in a while but I don’t think this is close to a first.
Eljai
@japa21: I want universal coverage too and I think there’s more than one way to get there. I just want the peace of mind of knowing that even if I lose my job, I’d still be covered. I’m partial to Kamala’s plan for expanding the Affordable Care Act to include a Medicare buy-in.
trollhattan
@mrmoshpotato:
Objectively pro-shortbread and pro-pecan. IDK that I’ve had them together, but sounds promising!
schrodingers_cat
He has that teacher’s pet kind of personality that I find grating. Not buying into the Pete B hype. He was not bad in the next to last debate but last debate he was back to repeating R talking points. Still he is a real D unlike Tulsi and BS. What do you guys think about Yang? Another Kremlin plant? His heh indeeding Tulsi about how US interferes with other countries elections and so is morally equivalent to Russia did not sit well with me.
UncleEbeneezer
@Mnemosyne: Hamilton is one of those rare over-hyped things that still manages to live up to (exceed) the hype, Imo.
Steeplejack
@zhena gogolia:
A recent gem:
Matt McIrvin
@schrodingers_cat: Yang is the candidate of tech bros who think their big brains put them beyond politics. It’s a very Gen X-ish attitude.
zhena gogolia
@Steeplejack:
I loved that one too!
Steeplejack
@Sab:
JESUS CAN WE JUST STOP WITH THE “SOMEBODY WHOSE NYM I DON’T SEE TEN TIMES A DAY SAID SOMETHING I DON’T LIKE” SHIT?!
mrmoshpotato
@Matt McIrvin: But what about his $12000 lottery? Don’t you want to potentially be one of the 10 small winners?! /s
debbie
@Steeplejack:
Nothing like too-short pants paired with ankles wobbling atop stilettos. //
Following!
debbie
@schrodingers_cat:
He’s the tech version of Marianne.
Ruckus
@Gvg:
You didn’t expect that backlash for a black man for president? I did when I worked for him and when I voted for him. I didn’t expect it to lead to where we are today, but I expected a lot. Racists aren’t known for their stunning intellect and acceptance of others.
I don’t think one can hide from positive change because that leads to the same old same old. Change is sometimes necessary and often costly. Change to the better, of overcoming racism will be costly. It would be better if it wouldn’t but then we are discussing humans.
I say pick the person you expect to be the best for the job, as long as their personal issues won’t hurt the job and get on with it. And best for the job is the person that can actually perform it best, not the cutest, or whitest, or most educated, but the person who can actually perform the work required, understand it and why and in a political leader, the one who can do the best for the most people. Not who can perpetuate their dislikes or screw the most for the fewest. The anti trump if you will. I don’t care what their religion or color or gender is, only can and will they actually be a leader. Right now we have a few choices, the other side has trump. I have made my choice for the primary, out of the choices we have and I’ve eliminated those who I don’t think are up to the job. I’ve hired a lot of people over the decades and made two choices that didn’t meet the needs of the job at hand. One because he talked the talk but couldn’t walk the walk. He lasted less than 2 hrs. The other because he had the on paper skills, a good referral and had the background, but he ended up being, well a lessor trump. You make choices based upon the choices you have and the needs of the job. No one will be perfect, but what you really need is perfect enough.
schrodingers_cat
@debbie: Bingo.
Mnemosyne
@UncleEbeneezer:
I don’t talk about it around these parts as much as I used to, but I did make a point of seeing “Hamilton: the Exhibition” when I was in Chicago this summer and spent WAY too much at the gift shop.
Sab
@Steeplejack: I very carefully did not say any troll stuff. So do not thank you for implying or suggesting I did, asshat.
Sab
@Sab:I did specifically say a lurker so that you would not make the wrong implication, which of course you did. I am disappointed in you.
Capri
FWIW, to date I’ve seen 2 bumper stickers. One was for Pete and one for Yang. I have heard that there is a huge Yang Gang of millenials on line – he’s going to be around for awhile.
randy khan
@germy:
Oh, definitely, a candidate doing the exact thing you’d expect a candidate to do when someone endorses her opponent is evidence of hate.
randy khan
@joel hanes:
I’ve never seen Les Mis, but have heard the music enough on Sirius XM to know that I definitely prefer Hamilton.
I’ve seen two transformative musicals in my lifetime – A Chorus Line and Hamilton. (Utterly different, but both are epochal moments in Broadway history.) I’ve seen other fine shows, but nothing else is in the same tier as those two.
randy khan
@Roger Tait:
More like a Bolton.
Another Scott
@japa21:
Since, AFAIK, Medicare Part A doesn’t cover prenatal care and obstetrics (presumably that would be covered under Medicaid for those eligible), and a bunch of other stuff that people need to buy other coverage for (Part B, Part D, Medigap Coverage, Medicare Advantage), I agree that lumping everything into “Medicare For All” as a short-hand that needs to be addressed by those who want to use it to describe their universal health care proposals.
I assume those addresses are coming up.
DPE-AFLCIO (from 2016):
There are lots and lots of moving parts. There are several Federal (FEHB, VA, TriCare, ECHO, Medicare) and Federal/State (Medicaid, SHIP, CHIP) systems. It’s not going to be easy to roll all these things up into a single system and candidates really need to make the case that there are benefits in doing so. And that’s even before we get to the other private parts of the health care system.
Medicare expansion (lowering the age for eligibility) seems like a no-brainer. Expanding benefits under Obamacare and Medicare and Medicaid seems like a no-brainer. All the rest is very, very difficult.
In that sense, Pete is right. But everyone who has looked at this closely, and knows the history of Obamacare, knows that. Warren knows that – that’s why she said that her bottom line is getting toward universal coverage and “I will not sign a bill into law that does not lower costs for middle class families.” His posturing on this is grating.
Cheers,
Scott.