Very unhelpful, thanks.
I don’t know what you want me to say. Maine has put forward two completely unacceptable candidates, and I’d rather not throw away my vote; and the idea of living in community with the sorts of people who would nominate The Boy with the Nazi Tattoo to the Senate is extremely unappealing to me, so yes, if I lived in Maine, I’d be finding my way the fuck out of there at this point in time because I would no longer feel safe living there.
If you got a Maine election ballot would you vote for Platner, Collins or neither? Regardless of if you would move out of state.
Neither:
If and only if he is the difference between 49 and 50 or 50 and 51 Democrats I’d prefer Platner wins, but not enough to cast a ballot for The Boy with the Nazi Tattoo.
If he is not going to be the difference between a Democratic Senate and a Republican one, I’d rather he lose overwhelmingly so Democrats never nominate such a shitty candidate again.
Unfortunately among the many stupid things about American politics, there is no way to know this even if this senate election is entirely predictable. There are going to be two subsequent legislative sessions where this could be the deciding vote
I’ll say the same thing I say when it’s leftists saying they wont vote Harris or Clinton or whoever - actually have the courage of your convictions and support Collins if it would genuinely be better to have her than Platner. There is no way to know in advance how many scotus seats this election will decide. You just have to decide if the odds of X scotus seats vs supporting a likely antisemite. One of those must be worse than the other and throw up your hands wont change the system that gave you this choice.
In the abstract I would rather have Collins but unfortunately she is a Republican and I have a hard line against voting for Republicans unless and until they reckon with and atone for their role in the lead up and after of January 6th. So I wouldn’t vote for Collins.
Right, this is identical logic to leftists who refused to vote for either Harris or Trump.
The difference being that the storming of the capitol on January 6th was a real thing that Republicans were responsible for. Unlike the various fantasies that Kamala Harris and Hillary Clinton were blamed for, starting with stealing the nomination from Bernie and growing from there.
And, by choosing not to vote for Platner, you’re giving the white supremacists and Christian Dominions, and those who stormed the capitol, just a little bit more power. You’re helping actual fascists, proven to be so, actual white supremacists, retain a bit of extra support.
Curious because I have exactly five posts in this 1150 post thread, but to answer your question I would be leaning toward voting for Platner depending on what comes up between now and November. Knowing Republicans’ swift-boating habits I would be particularly vigilant in investigating any crap they fling about. Having become radicalized in the past decade any DSA connection he might have I find moot.
Under no circumstances would I vote for Collins.
That’s not a difference in the logic, that’s a difference in the premises.
It’s certainly possible I have you confused with another poster in this thread!
For me, I would vote for Platner. I suppose something could come out between now and November that changes my mind, but it would have to be pretty bad.
ETA: I think I meant to ask @DigitalC .
I would not vote for Platner or Collins, if I was forced to pick one at gun point I’d go with Collins. I think having two Nazi parties is literal worst case scenario for this country and the fact that reasonable people still think we should listen to ANYTHING someone with a Nazi tattoo says is incomprehensible. It would be a lot harder if it was someone like Tuberville to be honest, at that point I might prefer Platner.
Yup, I was definitely thinking of you.
Given that most paths to a D Senate majority include this pick up, I think it is worth doing some speculative analysis of which groups will vote for him or Collins or stay home and why.
MAGA loyalists will come out for Collins. Given.
But the other GOP mainstay may stay home.
Democratic establishment voters. May not be thrilled with the economic populism Gen Z socialism package, but the tattoo bit did not stick, and the results last night demonstrate they will come out in force to vote against the Trump enabling stooge Collins even if some of the allegations against Platner bother them.
Progressives even more so.
Non college educated working class Independents many who went to Trump as a change agent … Platner appeals to them I think. He will pull them to swing D.
College educated Independents. Collins facade of moderation and not always voting party line has always appealed to them. Are they more disgusted by how much of a toadie she has been or bothered by the sexting and the other allegations?
I suspect that last group may be the key demographic?
Let the competing annoying negative ad campaigns begin! Gawd happy I don’t live in Maine!
I agree. It’s a 'garbage in garbage out" situation. There are things that are bad enough to make it unacceptable to vote for a candidate. Being part of the January 6 Party is one of those things. Whatever delusions Harris and Clinton are accused of are not.
Yes, the big winners from this election will be the owners of the TV stations based in the Portland-Auburn, Bangor, and Presque Isle markets. Oh, and Alphabet (from Youtube) of course.
The losers will be everyone in Maine who watches their local stations or social media, who will be bombarded with ads 24/7 between now and November 3rd.
Well, having this 1000+ post thread available is the next best thing.
I can fast forward through certain posters’ contributions easier here!
Yes, real fascist wanna-bes- racists, bigots, actual white supremacists, etc.