Last edited Sat Jan 13, 2018, 08:51 PM - Edit history (1)

I think what Chelsea did back when was brave and patriotic but I dont want to primary democrats.

I didnt read past the headline, my bad.

...when it will be too late to matter...

I'm not saying we should primary people, but do we really, REALLY have to set up a situation in which the only people to whom Dem politicians can be held accountable are people to their right?

We don't need to take the position that all dissent within this party is treated as intolerable.

It's not possible to suppress dissent in one election and then ever allow it again later.

for Congress. There are plenty of competent people who could run, and from what we've been hearing, many are. So why do we have to even consider someone who broke the law (and he/she did regardless of motive), and who has stability issues? We can do better. The fact that President Obama pardoned her has more to do with her mental issues/stability than her fitness to run for Congress. Then on the other hand, Congress seems to have their share of folks who may have their own mental stability issues these days. Dare I say Congressman Nunez.

As to the idea that law breakers should not be allowed to stand in our primaries...applied strictly, Andrew Young and Bobby Rush could never have been congressmen, no one who was ever an organizer for the United Farm Workers could ever have run for anything and Tom Hayden could not have had a long and effective career in the California State Senate.

Historically, we'd have had to turn down anybody ever arrested in an antiwar or antiapartheid protest, most suffragettes or abolitionists(had they wished to run as Democrats-in their era they likely wouldn't have, but then again in their era how many of US would have?) or anyone involved of the great strikes in the early history of the American labor movement.

In the 18th and early 19th Century, anybody who signed the Declaration of Independence would have been barred(defying the British Empire was always a violation of the laws of the day).

Whatever you think about Chelsea(I doubt her campaign would actually catch on, and I'm not sure why she decided on a Senate race) those are the implications of a strict "no lawbreakers" policy.

Sorry.

Despite what she's been through, knowingly or not, she still sent 750,000 documents to a hostile foreign power. She'd be a terrible candidate, especially with Russia's colaboration with Wikileaks to get Trump elected.

I don't think she has a realistic shot, but still, she would be an embarassment (and maybe dangerous) to the party and country.

If not, who put her up to this bonehead move? I'd better go over and check JPR...

One of their heroes!!!

Uff da!

Her choice, of course, but . . .

I hope so, I would never vote for this, in my opinion, traitor.

Just what we need - someone with a spotless reputation.

Huh? Is this a joke?

He's a ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee ... I trust his experience.

No! And challenging Ben Cardin who just released the Report from the Foreign Intelligence Committee on pervasive Russian influence in our elections and systems and those of our Allies?

Double No!

I suggest Ms Manning chat up Julian Assange, see if he has any openings at Wikileaks.

The moran in the White House is a perfect example of what happens when we elect an "outsider" who hasn't climbed the rungs of politics for higher ofice. There are exceptions of course, like the great Al Franken, but usually jumping into a job without qualification is foolish.

Ms Manning should test the waters at a state level office first to see if she has the chops, not only for politics, but to see if she can even weather the slings and arrows of an election, IMO.

to be the next president of the United States.

As for Chelsea Manning, I don't see her campaign going anywhere.

I wish I had a billion dollars so I could follow his example. ...And also buy a Lamborghini.

Totally agree. Start on a city board.

Ain't going ANYWHERE. I hope she is kept off the ballot, this is beyond absurd. Has someone on the far right put her up to it?

... but making decisions on the basis of trolling the other party crazy is a terrible way to run the country. See the current republican party.

Trump and his allies would welcome a Democratic Senator like her. It would open up a new line for them to attack "Democrat hypocracy".

This could get ugly.

Chelsea will be a fringe candidate, who won't get much traction.

But in today's ugly environment even a fringe candidate with a record like hers could potentially bring a lot of self-righteous, attention-seeking, mouth-breathing bigots out of the woodwork.

It also makes me wonder how much of the stuff she has done was done for publicity.

couldn't she go pick on a Republican Congressman in Maryland???

for some of those with no other marketable skills, isn't it?

Her application for a security clearance would be hilarious to read. Perhaps the Trump kids could help her fill it out.

Perfectly said.

originated in the Executive Branch. The federal judiciary are granted access as needed and members of congress usually have access to to all classified appropriations & authorization legislation; however, most members not in leadership or on intelligence, armed services & appropriations committees tend to avoid going to the secure rooms where classified information is stored, processed & discussed. A Representative or Senator who requests information and is rebuffed by an administration has leverage if their colleagues back them up with respect to delaying/blocking legislation or nominations. But even if they get a contempt vote out of it, the administration just refuses to prosecute it.

Manning is to the left as Arpio is to the Right.

Why doesn't she challenge a Con instead that of a seated, valuable Senator? Perhaps as she has never held office she should start with local gov. first. I find it ironic that a person convicted of handing over docs to Wikileaks would challenge one of the few senators who is trying to stop cyber crimes.

“Democrats on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee are calling on the Trump administration to vastly expand the U.S. response to Russian interference in elections, with increased sanctions and a new inter-agency body to coordinate government policies.

In a 200-page report commissioned by Sen. Ben Cardin of Maryland and released Wednesday, Democratic committee staff describe efforts by Russia to influence elections throughout Europe for years and say many of those countries have made aggressive moves to push back.

With months to go before this year’s midterm elections, the Democrats contend that Washington does not yet have a coherent plan to confront Russian cyber campaigns aimed at disrupting U.S. democracy. Cardin — a longtime critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin — said it was time to develop one”.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/politics/bs-md-cardin-russian-20180109-story.html

read past the headline

so much going on

But this will be up to the Democrats of MD.

This doesn't smell right at all.

Chelsea can just find another rock to crawl under. She's unqualified and unwanted.

I also expect Trump and his Russian handlers to try this against every Democratic senator up for election this year: pick people who are so awful I could beat them in November to primary every sitting Democratic senator in this class. With enough crossover voting, some of those individuals could make it to November...at which point they're easy pickings for the GOP.

There is a simple and effective way to counter this, but it's expensive: every damn time one of Trump's plants files to run for the Senate as a Democrat, we have someone whose campaign platform revolves around getting rid of Trump and erasing all the harm he has done file to run as a Republican.

Or state leg? Why primary a good incumbent Dem?

Andrew P. Harris (R-Cockeysville)

Primarying a sitting democratic senator is not a good move.

I don't understand Manning's thinking, re: this matter. I do hope she finds some good, intelligent, wise advisers.

Her advisors don't.

I want to know who's and what's behind this move to primary a sitting Democratic Senator who seems to be doing a good job for Maryland.. and the country.

While i am no fan of cardin, he doesn't have the fire i want in a rep, and i support bds which he doesn't, this is a waste of time. And as far as andy harris, lone rethug fr md, his district would rather self immolate, than ever vote for a dem

Is she ready for this?

It's her choice, of course, and I don't live there. I agree with others upthread, as well - this isn't a place that needed a primary.

Why? What experience does Manning have? also, Maryland is not completely progressive democratic anymore. There are many pockets in my state that do vote democrat that are not completely progressive enough to vote for Manning.... The transgender WILL be an issue.

The comments here on this post reveal some ignorance about how how the world is changing.

The world can change all it wants. Manning is as qualified to be a senator as she is to be a brain surgeon.

People need to temper their tantrums about the "status quo" with the realization that qualifications still matter.

It's a protest thing. The guy in there is a dem but accomplishes nothing.

Business being there than anybody else that cares about dem causes. Times are changing. Virginia was an indicator of what is possible. We don't need the same old lawyers and businessmen who are so called qualified.

who are trying to primary a sitting Democrat is a good thing? Not all change is good.

Oh I forgot. Young people have no regard for experience. I'm not too worried as most can't be bothered to vote. Voting isn't exciting like a rally and you can't instagram your selfies at the booth.

It's important to keep an open mind and accept change. The people you accuse of not voting are the same ones self organizing protests against fascists and trump. This is the dems of the future. Encourage it, the days of tweed coat chin stroking liberals is over.

Russians
Stein voters
People too lazy to vote or too mad their candidate didn't win the primary, I believe they like to call themselves "disillusioned" or "disenchanted"
Gerrymandering

Yes of course they like to go to protests. Again, like rallies it's sexy and exciting and they can post selfies. Voting isn't sexy. It's a civic duty.

Dem issues. It was kids that got him there. He is the real thing, they got out the vote, dems. It happened all over the state, because the candidates actually had the balls to talk substance and mean it.
I used to think the same way as you do for ever, I'm not buying it anymore. These young people have something, they are motivated and they aren't buying the same old bullshit promises while we continue to get fucked by the republicans, the banks and the corporations.

I'm not from Maryland. Please be specific about what he's done wrong. Does he vote with Republicans? Did he vote for the Republican tax bill? Did he vote to take away Obamacare?

Waiting for specifics on why he should be primaried by a celebrity. Thanks in advance.

Elected and spread lies about Hillary.

Why would ANYONE on the left support this person, let alone make her a hero?

That was enough I guess.

Dems need to show they are the party of qualified candidates. I love Manning but Cardin is a fine senator. Manning is no way qualified for this office. She should Run for a lower level office first. Build the qualifications.

Google says minimum age for US Senator is 30... I wonder when they changed it - didn't the minimum USED to be 35?

It’s in the Constitution, hasn’t changed.

She only needs to pay a $290 filing fee.

I know we would all rather just pretend the war crimes in Afghanistan never happened and are not still happening. She is obviously a principled person with courage. Subjected to torture for disclosing the truth about our wars. The crimes have not stopped. Here is a little video making the rounds, about 20 sec. into it is the casual murder of an Afgani truck driver for no reason. This is why they hate us. She has the courage to ask the tough questions of our military.

https://www.facebook.com/EngageArmamentLLC/videos/1663752147017217/

In other words, she has the history of doing the wrong thing.

I understand there is a bipartisan consensus to keep the wars going, I think it is un-american.

You think Julian would have given Chelsea the time of day if this was about making Putin's boy Donnie look bad?

no hero, as far as I'm concerned, she's a traitor who should still be in federal custody for the rest of her life.

US senate so she can make federal law. How will she get a security clearance? NO NO NO NO NO NO

I have nothing against her personally, but please, not now, not this time!

Average Americans just love traitors who release information that get US assets killed. It will really burnish our reputation as a serious party!

Looks like Obama got suckered and it has always been about ego and deception for Ms. Manning. She should still be doing time.

And no surprise the nuts a JPR and a few of them who troll us here are supportive of this.

Link to tweet

is hopelessly naive.

She has an ad up.

from her wiki: Chelsea "spent a semester studying history and English at Montgomery College, but left after failing an exam." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chelsea_Manning

Does it matter? Yes, because legislators make laws and she has no business putting herself forward for that position without a JD.

Case in point. But at least he ran as a republican. Manning the Democrat spells trouble in November any way you slice it and was probably cooked up to draw attention away from the Trump train wreck and give repukes facing reelection a new Nancy Pelosi piñata.

something to think about.

My informed analysis:
- Manning won't have any significant funding to campaign
- Cardin won't even acknowledge Manning as a candidate
- Manning will get less that 10% in the Primary, assuming she stays in

All to Keep an Old Straight White Man in Power:

https://theintercept.com/2018/01/15/centrist-dems-launch-smear-campaign-against-young-trans-woman-all-to-keep-an-old-straight-white-man-in-power/

And there will be plenty more where that came from.

I don’t think it will amount to much, but I didn’t think Hillary would lose by 74 EV’s either.

Our opponents are playing a long game, but you won’t even allow the possibility that she’s been talked into this and/or that her campaign will receive tangible support from people who wish us nothing but harm. I’m not one for tinfoil but I’m glad people are calling bullshit on this candidacy for more than just Manning’s nonexistent resume. I find that much healthier than your informed analysis.

Danica Roem won in Virginia with solid backing from the party. Opposition to Manning has to do with just about everything other than being transgender.

in the WH

Maybe @XYchelsea poisons the well to the point where Dems stay home or split the vote and the Republican wins??

You're acting like we haven't seen this playbook executed before....

...Name a Democratic candidate ginned up by the Republicans who caused discord?

I've known you for awhile and I know for a fact you're smarter than this...

I have no doubt that Russia interfered in the Presidential Election, but there's no evidence they pressed Trump (or any other candidate) to run. And as for Cardin, he's a nice guy, but how is he consequential enough to warrant an attempt to interfere? If I was going to sow chaos, I'd at least pick someone who's a prospective Presidential candidate in 2020. And I'd pick an alternative candidate who'd have some actual prospects.

If folks are fuckin' stupid enough to elect Manning, then that's a bonus for them.

And only God knows what they're cooking up for 2020

...level and run for State Senate or Governor and work hard for her state and then show on a National level that she can represent her state.

I also cannot take her seriously that she would run against Ben Cardin, an excellent Democrat who is also working hard on protecting election integrity and going against the interference of the Russians....

What exactly is Chelsea running on as her platform and why she wants to primary Ben Cardin?

She wants to "make a statement".