Speaking as an Illinois resident, and seeing how much Pritzker has been moving onto the national stage in recent months, I think that it’s a given that he’ll run, barring a complete collapse of his support in Illinois, a major health issue, or a scandal.
Minor. Hefty is not a disad, IMHO.
Do you want to be correct, or do you want to win elections? It’s that simple.
Those who care a lot about electability might consider the candidate names.
The best presidential name ever was U. S. Grant. No wonder he won twice.
Trump as a verb speaks of winning and power. That’s the politically best presidential last name ever. There’s no way to know how many votes that name got him, because the name effect is unconscious. I think – lots.
If the voters are at all inclined to reject MAGA, they want something new. So Gavin Newsom is pretty darn good.
JB Pritzker isn’t great. But JB sounds powerful to me, just like the JD in JD Vance. And JB Pritzker has nothing to remind you that the man is Jewish. I suspect that is a plus.
Josh Shapiro, on the other hand, has a very Jewish name. I guess that Josh is currently a young man’s name, so he has that.
Gretchen Whitmer is hard to spell. I have some age-related memory loss, but I have to say that I find her full name hard to remember.
Buttigieg is even harder to spell, but at least Pete is good.
Wes Moore is good because more is way better than less.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is politically bad. That’s why she goes by AOC so often. If nominated, she’d have to pivot to the center on policy, but she can’t pivot away from that feminist-sounding hyphenated last name.
Some will be thinking that America elected Barack Hussein Obama II not so long ago. And elected him twice. So, yes, an Ocasio-Cortez might one day win.
Obama got around his name by describing himself as a skinny kid with a funny name. Can AOC do something like that?
Not a challenge, but a question - Did / does she refer to herself that way? I guess I thought that was created by the press, but I was late in hearing about her, so in my head it’s her full name then “AOC”. Yes, I actually visualize the quote marks.
Back on topic, I can’t help but think a prospective candidate’s chances will be slim if they aren’t seen stepping up to this latest shit show. Gavin and JB are showing up and I’m impressed. Who else will take a stand?
Since some people made the same mistake as JD Vance and assumed that Newsom was copying Trump’s style, Newsom clarified:
I think it’s getting to Trump - did anyone else notice that he’s really toned down the CAPSLOCK?
MD Senator Chris Van Hollen is an early top candidate, IMO, standing out for moral clarity on things like due process (Kilmar Garcia - VH may well have helped ensure he didn’t disappear in the torture prison in El Salvador), Gaza, and even against the cowardice of some Democrats who refuse to criticize the fascist bent of the administration.
Dude, by that standard (almost) any Dem or for that matter Pub would qualify. Because at least a non-Trump Pub would not have the MAGA cult of personality to carry out their fucknuttery. So improvement through ineffectuality.
I’d argue that it’s a serious problem, because if you support Israel you will lose votes, and if you don’t you will lose votes. It seems an impossible needle to thread.
Don’t non-Jewish politicians face the same dilemma?
Ask Kamala Harris
With the current issues in Gaza, the votes you lose by supporting Israel might be significant, but a tiny % of the votes and other support you would lose by supporting Palestine over Israel.
Last time I found a vote on aid to Israel the vote in the House was 193 GOP and 173 Dem AYE and only 21 GOP and 37 Dem NAY. So politicians do not seem very concerned about the anti-Israel or anti semitic voters.
It didnt seems make any real difference in that election.
Voters aren’t the concern when it comes to policy on Israel- AIPAC is. Stop supporting Israel, and a huge load of campaign funds suddenly vanish, and I don’t think Hamas is going to start lobbying congress any time soon.
For a non-Jewish presidential candidate it will be one issue they are asked about. For a Jewish presidential candidate it will be THE issue they are asked about. Before the current war, I don’t think that would’ve been a big issue but now it is.
You’re going to say it was inflation again. Yeah yeah we heard you. And to a large extent, I agree with you. But that’s for those who voted. Many who supported Obama and Biden stayed home. If they hadn’t stayed home, the election would’ve come out much different. I know from friends and family one of the main reasons why Some didn’t want to vote was because they saw both candidates as supporting genocide. I wasn’t with each one of them during election day so I don’t know for sure if they voted or not but that was their main concern going into the election. It’s not an inconsequential issue .
Excuse the self quote. To clarify, antisemitism would be a big issue and might be insurmountable for a presidential candidate but their position on Israel wouldn’t have been as important before the current war.
Well, the votes are a consideration, but yes, this and other donations are the big ones.
Voter turnout 2020 was 158 million, in 2024 it was 154 million. Do you have any cite that shows that in the battleground states it made a difference? I mean, this is a small but not insignificant difference.
In the NY Times, regarding reactions to the shooting at an ICE facility:
Mr. Newsom also responded on X to Mr. Vance’s remarks on Wednesday, posting: “No thanks, JD. I will not be going ‘straight to hell’ today.”
“Though when I watch you speak I certainly feel like I’m already there,” the governor wrote.
Good one, Gavin!
Not sure this fits here, but I can’t find better place offhand …
I just got a text from Chuck Schumer asking me if there was anything he could do to convince me to contribute $20 to some Dem fund or other. Maybe it’s lack of rest (we’re trying to socialize a badly neglected rescue dog), but I just kind of blew up. If it hadn’t been a bot that wouldn’t accept replies, I would have said, “GROW A checks forum [EXPLETIVE DELETED]ING SPINE, YOU GORMLESS WORM! OR IF YOU CAN’T, GET THE [EXPLETIVE DELETED] OUT OF THE WAY OF SOMEBODY WHO HAS ONE!!!”
I’m 78 (and one day), and I swear I’m not half as fossilized as some of this crew.
There … I feel better. And apologies, if necessary, for the rant.
Sometimes it pays to be the angry old man.
I’ve thought about getting a trump 2028 shirt, but with Mary on it 