I remember when I first heard Obama speak, at the 2004 Democratic convention, and I thought “Wow, he could be president, but that name is gonna kill his chances.” So if Barack Hussein Obama can do it, maybe this guy can too.
I’d be astonished if more than 5% of Americans know what or where Malta is. I think the most common association people have with the word Maltese is “a type of dog.”
So no, knowing the origin of the name is not going to help anyone.
This guy’s path to political success should be obvious - make his first name his brand. I’m not really aware of anyone noteworthy in American politics at the present time named Pete. That means essentially that “the username is available”, and he should just throw that name out there in the same way that “Bernie” did and if he does it properly, there will be no confusion about which Pete it is. If he has advisers working for his campaign who know what they’re doing, someone will have already told him this.
I donated to him as well. My first 2020 presidential campaign donation.
And at least one quinquagenarian.
I’m relieved to learn that his name is not pronounced in the way I first thought. That said, after the current administration ends (bang, whimper or yawn), hearing “President Buttcheek” fifty times a day would be a welcome relief.
Me, too. I listen to some of the Crooked Media podcasts, so I’ve known about him since he ran for DNC chair in 2017. He strikes me as smart, thoughtful, and blessedly grounded in reality.
Hopefuls need 65,000 distinct donors to make the Democratic debates. As of an email from his campaign yesterday, he’s 85% of the way there. I really want him in the debates.
At this point, my dream ticket is Warren-Buttigieg. No chance that will happen, but I like the way both of them talk about why they want to be President better than any of the other candidates.
(NB: As one measure of how unusual his name is, it’s misspelled in the thread title–it’s Buttigieg, not Buttegieg.)
I can already see the conspiracy theories accusing him of dual loyalty and taking orders from the Knights of St. John.
I have heard him interviewed a few times and he does very well. I would be open to voting for him if he gets far enough. It wasn’t in one of the interviews I heard but I believe he has said that “Boot edge edge” is pretty close. When I hear him discussed on NPR they go with what sounds to me like “Buddha-judge.”
While I don’t think he’s ready to be President, I think it’d probably be a good thing for him to be in the debates (at least the early ones, before the field winnows down). Get his ideas out there, get some attention on them, and hopefully get them adopted by one of the people who are ready to be President.
Statewide Democrats since 1990:
Sen. Joe Donnelly 2013-2019
Sen. Evan Bayh 1999-2011
Gov. Joe Kernan 2003-2005
Gov. Frank O’Bannon 1997-2003
Gov. Evan Bayh 1989-1997
Current Democratic Congressmen:
Pete Visclosky, 1st District, 1985-current
Andre Carson, 7th District, 2008-current
Last 4 Presidential elections:
Trump 56.5% Clinton 37.4%
Romney 54.1% Obama 43.9%
Obama 50% McCain 48.9%
Bush 59.9% Kerry 39.3%
It IS red - but it’s not Wyoming red. And his congressional district has been very purple for a few decades. If he wanted to run for Congress, he’d likely win.
Ah… the name is Booty Judge, baby!
Maltese language is so interesting. It’s the last surviving form of the Arabic spoken in Sicily a thousand years ago. It’s basically North African Arabic dialect in Sicilian-Italian based orthography and loaded up with tons of Italian loanwords.
The name Buttiġieġ is definitely of Arabic origin, but because it’s dialectal it’s kind of opaque to my Classical Arabic learning.
I analyze it as Bu = father, plus a probable verbal noun *ittijāj derived from the root ’jj ‘to burn, blaze, flame’. Father of Blazing, perhaps. I could be wrong, but that’s the only Arabic root I’ve found that could result in the Maltese orthography -ttiġieġ. The ġ with a dot over it indicates the alveolopalatal affricate /dʒ/ and relates to the Italian g when it comes before e or i, as in Geppetto or Gina.
I’m inclined to agree that this is a dry run for 2024, designed to raise his profile and move the Overton window on “gay President” in the necessary direction. But the way American politics has been going lately, for all we know he could end up winning.
Does he have a signature issue that he wants to push? He’s gay, and young, and he served in Afghanistan. Anything else, to distinguish him from the crowd? What are his outstanding achievements as mayor?
Regards,
Shodan
Those already distinguish him from the crowd. Also a Rhodes Scholar and he earned a commendation for his counterterrorism work in Afghanistan.
Apart from getting elected at 29 and then re-elected, which are achievements unto themselves? His website says “Under his leadership, South Bend has reimagined its role in the global economy with job growth and major investment in advanced industries, with a focus on data and technology.” I don’t know what that means specifically but I’ve found some references to success in bringing investment to the city and the business community seem to like him. Here’s a quotefrom the President of the Chamber of Commerce:
It’s all a promising start, although I’d be reluctant to say this is remotely sufficient for a White House bid. But as I said, we live in odd times politically and given that Republicans have pretty much forfeited the right to accuse any other presidential candidate of inadequate experience, who know what may happen.
BTW - the best bit of that Telegraph article:
Well, it beats Horshack: “the cattle are dying.” 
OK, yes, getting elected mayor twice is an accomplishment. Every one of the Democratic candidates has an accomplishment of at least that magnitude.
Well, not Yang. He’s apparently qualified for the debates, so I guess we hsve to count him as a real candidate now
For weeks, I have been very confused as to why anyone gave any credence to a presidential run by the mayor of the fourth largest city in Indiana. But then today I heard on the 538 podcast that he is openly gay, and that was a lightbulb moment.
He should use a Studebaker as his official campaign vehicle. Not one of the old 40s ones but like an Avanti. It should have a Maltese Falcon as the hood ornament also.
Thank you.