If not, never mind. I'll be blunt anyhow.

I'd prefer it. Plus, I'm not far behind you.

I smoked it for the last time in 1974, the same time I quit working W-2 jobs and started doing what I wanted to do with my life. Grass made it too easy to lay back and let things happen, instead of making things happen.

My most guilty confession is that I have eaten Fritos bean dip with Fritos many, many times. The stuff is horrible, but it works with original Fritos, for some reason. I don't know what's in Fritos bean dip, but I can't count how many little cans of it I have consumed. The medium-sized bag of original Fritos is just the right quantity to use up an entire can of the dip.

In my toking days, that was a standard munchy in my house. See the photo below. However, there was no need for the little bowl. The can was just fine.

The original Fritos pick up just the right amount for a perfect balance of oily corn chip and pasty bean dip. The Scoop Fritos pick up too much bean dip, which spoils that perfect balance.

By the way, I looked at the ingredients and they're not horrible.

Dodgeball. We'll, I had very good reflexes and almost never got hit. But, I never liked that game, and hated throwing the ball at people. Still, I did get picked last for most game, for sure. I was a skinny kid who would rather read. Classic nerd.

Fritos, but can’t eat them anymore because of too much salt and greasy☹️

Oh, well...

Using the Fritos as a scoop. No muss, no fuss.

Those Fritos and bean dip sound soooo goooood, man!

I'm curious about this:

do better than Hillary Clinton in bringing all kinds of voters to the polls, we will lose to Trump. Clinton won the popular vote, but lost because she lost in three states we had no business losing. I know why. You know why.

If we fail to put forward a solid, respected, well-known candidate who appeals to a very broad sector of the voting population, we will lose the 2020 election as well. In order to win we are going to have to not only win the popular vote, but with a margin large enough to overcome election meddling, voter intimidation, outright cheating and worse. Only through an overwhelming victory will we be assured of winning against those odds.

The 2020 election is going to be pivotal. If we fail to win, and allow the Republicans to continue running the government by executive fiat, we may never get another chance.

How's that?

We want the same outcome -- a democratic president.

A massive turnout will help us achieve that, as well.

...as Rachel M. pointed out, after last week's SCOTUS ruling about gerrymandering, whichever party has majorities in state legislatures draws the voting districts for the next 10 years based on the census. That's why the GOP victories in 2010 - the last census - were so significant. This whole thing could easily spiral out of control into permanent GOP rule. <shudder>

More people are going to vote AGAINST him rather than FOR a particular Democrat. But we shall see. Whoever comes out as the candidate next summer, that's who will beat Trump.

It's not specific at all.

"If we fail to put forward a solid, respected, well-known candidate who appeals to a very broad sector of the voting population, we will lose the 2020 election as well."

That's not blunt at all. That's a generalized statement that almost every campaign says will describe their candidate by the end of the primary process.

Allow me to be blunt, which candidates exactly does your criteria qualify as being THAT type of candidate?

Name names. Don't pussyfoot around.

Biden is the strongest, though, as indicated by maintaining a lead in polling since before he announced.

Nobody who can be characterized as a Socialist, though. That's pure poison for a presidential candidate. Which, frankly, eliminates Bernie Sanders. But, he's dropping like a stone, albeit slowly.

Nobody who is currently polling under 10%. Those are not exciting the population of voters who are paying attention.

Nobody polling under 5%, absolutely. All of those should drop out tomorrow. They're dragging the selection process down.

I went back to 2007 to see how your criteria would have worked for Obama's first presidential primary campaign.

Hillary Clinton 39%, Barack Obama 26%, John Edwards 13%, Bill Richardson 5%, Joe Biden 3%, Dennis Kucinich 3%, Chris Dodd 1%, Mike Gravel 0%, Undecided 9%

That was a typical poll result for the same time period as now back then.

So, kudos -- your criteria passed my "what about an upstart campaign like Obama's" test.

According the the RCP Polling average Obama was around 23% at the end of June 2007

You posted as I was in the process of changing my post. I decided not to be so lazy and check myself.

Thanks again for backstopping that.

Perhaps just before the first primary/caucus would be a safer point to declare who is an unviable candidate.

more of the old "only my candidate can win" malarkey...as your candidate would say.

However, there are candidates running who cannot win. Some of them are closer to the top of the polls than is comfortable.

Anyone the Republicans can hang a "Socialist" sign on will not win. And that's a fact.

They're going to hang that sign on whoever our candidate is. They hung it on Obama, and people believed it.

It will stick to Bernie Sanders, because he has called himself that. If he is the nominee, all the Republicans will have to do is run the clip of him saying, "I am a socialist" constantly and he will lose. It's a no-brainer. That label, when it sticks, is poisonous.

There is nobody else running who has called him or herself a socialist.

I guess Biden might be the guy hardest to hang the label on.

I welcome their vote for a Democrat, but never count on it. The trick is to get everyone who would vote for Democrats to actually go and vote for Democrats. That's what we're sometimes not so good at.

A lot of people call themselves independents these days, but some are likely to vote for Democrats and the others for Republicans. We need only the ones who might vote for a Democrat to show up, but we need all of those.

I think they are going to go right to Communist.

Don't tell me you can't imagine Trump saying "Commie Liz said today..." or Commie Joe or Commie Bernie. You get the point, I'm sure. That's what we're up against.

which is what they will do.

Any one of the top five can win.

To argue otherwise is baseless.

Yes, there were probably nearly a dozen things that contributed to that loss, some under her control, some not.

I agree, we need to be aiming for an "overwhelming victory." I'm still not sure who will ultimately have the best chance of delivering that... I'll be watching the polls as we get closer to my state's primary day, and that will inform my vote. By the time primary season rolls around, who knows what the field will look like and how people will be polling. I'll be surprised if it still looks like Biden is our strongest choice... but could be.

among the general populace.

among numerous other factors.

They convinced some not to vote, and others to vote for third party candidates. We need to do better at convincing people not to waste their votes and to make sure and show up to vote.

The Russians will be trying again, of course. We know that, so let's plan for it and behave accordingly.

I have never been on a campaign team. My experience is in sales, marketing and advertising. Sooo, I would start with a 5 year plan, work my way back to what must be done in year one in detail, fill in the blanks for years 2,3,4 and 5.

Looking into my crystal ball, I don't think we should expect to lose Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania in 2020. A lot can happen between now and then, so never say never. The DNC needs to fund raise and plan an aggressive ground game. Our candidate needs to insure fellow Democrats keep our base energized and involved in every state.

New Hampshire, Minnesota and Florida were won by margins of less than 2% in 2018. I am sure this did not go unnoticed. What can we do to win my margins at least as well as our 2018 elections? Democrats need the best polling service we can afford (or go in debt for). Fivethirtyeight.com, Nate Silver is a good free source, and yea that Hillary would win by 40% prediction really gave same a false sense of inevitability.

Our candidate will need to show up more often at events than in 2018 and make him or herself available to voters in all possible forums. This could include inspirational speech from our candidate on their plans to deliver "their dream", or for Hold a major concert event, open to all political parties around the country. Let media consultants, and people like Rob Reiner and Jon Stewart give you hand with how to entertain, engage and educate and audience. Audience participation should be encouraged.

Let Donnie run the circus sideshows. We need to use every opportunity available and plan get out the vote efforts on a national level.

President Obama rolled up his sleeves, ran his self ragged and still managed to smile and engage an audience. I think President Obama's entire team was awesome, a playbook for the win.

Clinton is a great human being - kind, caring and definitely 'up' on policy.

But there were just too many 'never Hillary' haters out there for her to overcome. Sadly, they outnumbered the never Trumpers and the 'we can't elect Trump because...Supreme Court!' people.

is to stay alive. I'm 74-1/2 and I'm not planning to die under a Rethug presidency. Let's just outlive the fuckers.

I mean, my genes are on my side. Both of my parents are still alive, at age 95, now. So, there's that. But, I've been a smoker all my life, so there's that, too.

Life's a game of craps with loaded dice.

Of course you will be alive "much" longer. After all we have the cleanest water, air and coal in the history of history because Donny made it happen. Soon you will have the greatest health care in the history of history. Donny said last week it will be available in a few days. So maybe during his 4th of July KKKlan rally he will let us see it. MAGA. Thank you God for sending the Donald. God be blessin, the United Staaaash!

Darned if I am going to die until that Con man is out of office.

Being "blunt" here has proscribed limits.

With all due respect, of course. I know how to be blunt without going past the limits. Trust me.

...after being here 3 weeks.

I am 71, my knees are bad, I fall over for no apparent reason except bad balance, and it makes me very cranky to have to deal with the absurdity of the political and cultural situation right now. What the hell did I go through in the 60s and 70s with all my political activism only to be fighting the exact same battles again!!

I don't have time to pull punches talking about this situation. I am exceedingly foul mouthed and rude to political pollsters, and isolate myself from any Trumpers because I have so little impulse control left I feel like I would attack someone who said the wrong thing and probably end up dead from it.

I am a little old lady in my body and an Amazon warrior in my mind. That discrepancy could get me killed if I don't socially isolate.

I feel like the last two years have aged me 10 years.

So I really don't know what is going to come out of my mouth or off of my keyboard from day to day.

Forbearance is the most I can expect. I have gone beyond caring whether I get forgiveness.

Just had a conversation with a young woman(23) who is passionate about her campaign to get low income affordable housing in our neighborhood instead of condos. It was wonderful and I got a chance to actually advise her on tactics and strategy. Get involved with young activists if you can. I'm been doing this more and more with this new generation. They are smart and driven and will be helped by your experience. Also, since I've been doing it I've found something out about myself. When I feel like losing hope and life is getting hard I think of these young folks, MY ALLIES, and get motivated to stay positive because to be negative is kinda betraying their energy (and my heart). I'm still young so this may change. I hope not.

and behind bars!

I just turned 69 nineteen days ago. My first vote was cast for George McGovern in 1972. I had just gotten out of the Army in September and briefly volunteered to do some local campaign work for him. I still remember how shitty it felt to be forced to serve in the military while not being able to vote. Our generation changed both of those injustices. We ended the draft and lowered the voting age to 18.
My thoughts on the current situation pretty much align with yours. I plan on being blunt as well with posts. I'm proud of what our generation accomplished back in the day but at the same time dismayed by how much of that activism has disappeared. As our generation phases out and the next one dominates the scene I can only hope that trump has inspired the same kind of activism today as Viet Nam and Nixon did back in our day.

You many have noticed that I have oft contended that we can win - IF WE DEMS DON'T MAKE TOO MANY MISTAKES! [I have mentioned the circular firing squad, the targeting of electable Dem incumbents, targeting Biden].

Sometimes it seems that some of ours are 'stubborn' in a way we criticize some of those on the other side. It is frustrating.

I have an additional frustration. The fear that trump screws up so bad, any Dem can get elected, and we somehow nominate someone with insufficient broad appeal and no landslide, and repeat [yes, there will be different circumstances but that aside], yes, repeat some of the same 2010 problems - and will be unable to correct much of the trump damage.

That said, 'through vicissitudes and . . . '

not only a solid Democratic President, but 2/3 majorities in both houses of Congress. That's a very difficult goal to achieve. Only with a presidential candidate who can draw in a broad spectrum of voters will there be coattails long enough to make that Congressional victory happen.

But, with that combination, we could do anything. And we should. It's long past time for this nation to serve its people properly. All of its people. Long past time.

Always be blunt...we love you for it!

Strangely enough a lot of republicans seem to like Blunt.

As in the traitor.

So blunt away!

Like you,been in the Dem trenches since 1960,actually,the fall of 59'. And being a bit older,and sharing the same ideals,this could very well be the last go around for me. I think you and I have heard most to the Lame Ass excuses for not getting involved. As a famous Senator from Minnesota said,if you do not vote,your right to bitch is gone.

And yes,I and several other Old Geezers will be banging the phones for whom ever is our Standard Barrier is.

Will you respond to criticism of your opinions thoughtfully or bluntly?

Now if he is nominated I will certainly vote for him. However when he recently put his foot in his mouth on working with segregationist senators and then candidates and others had a differing opinion, you seemed to assign the blame elsewhere. Warning and lamenting about these "attacks" on him.
Is this primary just for show ? Are the other 19 candidates window dressing for Biden's candidacy ? Booker and Harris didn't invent this issue and their comments on it are not shocking.

I think he is the strongest candidate. But, I think Warren or Harris could also win if they win the nomination. Sanders cannot win. Not in this lifetime.

The rest might as well drop out tomorrow morning, frankly. They're done.

this opinion is here, I think Sanders could have beaten trump had he won the nomination in 2016. There were republicans who would never haveq voted for Hillary that didn't like trump. I still think that his policy ideas that unabashedly focus on income inequality and building the country from the bottom up rather then the top down are the right thing for the country. With a focus on poverty and lack of access to quality public and secondary education and healthcare. In his own way he has some solid civi rights chops as well although he seems to be reviled on this in some quarters.
However I've thrown in the towel.
The only influence any of us have is one vote and the few measly bucks we contribute. Their is no changing minds here.

That's why I switched from supporting him to supporting Clinton.

Sanders is closer to my philosophy, but I could not see him winning. But, then, I couldn't see Trump winning, either, and he didn't win the popular vote. He is in the White House on a fluke or serious manipulation of results in one way or another.

I do not think Sanders can win in 2020, either. In fact, given the field of candidates this time, I'm sure he won't win the nomination. By the time the primaries begin, he'll be farther down the list, I'm certain. He's certainly not doing better for himself right now, anyhow. He's too inflexible and set on his platform. His candidacy won't fly in 2020.

it play out. I am likely to vote for Sanders in the primary but in the blue state of Oregon my single vote is not going impact the outcome.

Interesting.

Maybe Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders and Liz Warren are a bit too old to be president.

-------------------------------------------------

Funny, I was thinking the exact same thing.

The presidency -- for someone with a deep sense of responsibility who truly cares (like Joe Biden and other Dems) -- is perhaps the most demanding and stressful jobs on this planet. I'll be 62 in a couple months, and though quite active (full time job, still playing competitive softball) I do not have the stamina mental or physical I had 10 or 20 years ago. I understand this can vary based on the individual, but an 80+ year-old president?

Call me ageist, but that's a bridge too far for me. Elizabeth Warren would be 79 at the end of her 2nd term, and that's the max I will consider supporting in the primary.

You are so wrong on the age thing. 60 is now considered the new 40. Why, because a lot people are living way into their 90s. Advancements in medicine and information on how to take better care of ourselves is abounding now. I live in a 65 and older community and believe me we are more active then some of the younger generation what with being on their cell phones or playing video games all the time. We're on the go all the time. And another thing is we know how to talk to each other and listen to each other, so I will have to very much disagree with your conclusion.

... the stress and mental demands of a president burdened with myriad consequential responsibilities who must also be able to learn and process new information and make critically important decisions -- often during an extended crisis which can be physically as well as mentally demanding.

This isn't just a matter of opinion. Decline with age is a biological reality, supported by science. In the article below, people in the upper percentiles can retain memory into an advanced age and their abilities based on previous experience can remain intact, but learning and processing new information declines. That can be a severe limitation for a president.

National Institute on Ageing

As with anything there are exceptions -- people in the very top percentiles -- but there is decline, nevertheless. Among even the healthiest adults, risk factors both mental and physical increase with age.

And let's remember we are not talking about someone who is enjoying a relatively easy retirement lifestyle; we're talking about the most powerful and demanding elective office on earth. Joe Biden has been known for gaffes throughout his political career, going back decades.

Personally I'm not willing to take that risk, and how old is too old to be president -- 90; 95; 100?

We'll do that in 2020, too, you know. So, lets choose the VP carefully, shall we?

When John McCain chose Sarah Palin for a running mate, he didn't just lose Nicolle Wallace's vote, he lost the vote of a retired sheriff I know personally.

I know that's an extreme example, but it does go to show that the VP choice is more important than we often give it credit for. I know all the serious candidates are in it to win the top slot for themselves and not play patty-cake, but surely some of the contenders would accept second slot if it came to that.

>sigh<. We have a whole lot of Senators running. Given our minority status in the Senate, I do hope all of them are mid-cycle in their terms.

Agree.

than you but have been active in Dem politics since Sam Rayburn gave a speech to our graduating class when I had the honor of being the VP of our class and acted as one of his escorts while he was visiting our school. Actually I started down the path of being Democrat when I was about 14 and asked my father (a dyed in the wool Dem) "What is the difference in Democrats and Republicans" . His response was very simple, "The Democratic Party is the party of the working man and the common man. The Republican Party is the party of big business, banks, and the rich elite". I knew we didn't fit in that party.

After I finished law school I ran as the Democratic candidate for the state legislature. I lost , I was later a coordinator for Senator Lloyd Benson's campaign in our small city. I worked in Congressman Jack Brook's Washington office. He got beaten by a Republican after serving 42 years in the House (longest serving House member at that time). After working for Mr. B I worked a couple of years for Texas Governor Mark White.

My point is you and I have seen a lot in all those years we have been active in Democratic politics. I think it has given us old timers a perspective and ability to see the "big picture" that a lot of younger candidates don't see.

I think Joe Biden's goal in becoming President is to rebuild and restore our Democracy that Trump is in the process of dismantling. But Joe is a pragmatist and a very smart man. He knows there is a good possibility that he might die before his term is over. I think he will select one of the bright and capable that are currently his opponents in the primary to be his VP. Someone he will have confidence in to be a good President. I also think he will select some of them to be on his cabinet and in other high offices. He will mentor them and make them better politicians in the future. They will place on his desk new ideas of the younger generations and he will accept some of those proposals to move our country forward. It is a win win situation for them and for the country.

A lot of pundits and others are questioning whether Biden could stand up to Trump just based on his performance in the first debate. If I am not mistaken each candidate made a pledge that he/she would not disparage or attack another candidate personally in the debates. Biden made that pledge and if he makes a pledge he stands by it. Joe is a fighter and he will fight for what he believes, but he interpreted his pledge to mean he would not fight with the other candidates. His response to Trump would not be anything like his responses he made to the other candidates (several of whom did not honor their pledge.).

MM, keep up the good fight and say what you are thinking and what you believe.

We've got to do better this time.

memorialized in one graduating class alone, died in their fifties and sixties, quite a few first diagnosed with serious conditions in their fifties. Classmates aside, I have lost several friends in their sixties.
Some conditions tend to reveal themselves in earlier years. Some, such as certain types of breast and prostrate cancers are more aggressive in younger patients.

Healthy seniors with healthy life-styles and good preventive care have the best odds to survive into
their mid to late 80’s and way beyond.

There... I minimized and trivialized without any objective evidence to support it, two rather than merely one demographic.

Funny, indeed.

I certainly don't want the few years I have left to be living with a republican in the White House or a republican controlled senate. That said, I become discouraged when I see once again, Democrats eating their own in a primary season. I am afraid that by the time the primary season has ended, I will end up disliking most of our candidates because of their political attacks on other candidates. It feeds the republican political machine and is picked up by the mainstream media who just loves a nasty horse race.

And the rest need to stop attacking the others. That is a lose-lose proposition.

This always amazes me. Talk about your policies and plans without demeaning fellow Democrats.

Work together. Don't diss each other. Easy.

destroy character on a global basis, serves voters and our mutual democratic goals.

A candidate can demolish a rival’s policy position, debate her agenda for the country, bring up a past vote or political conduct issue, question his or her electability, but does not need to give Republicans ammunition, or render a rival’s future endorsement worthless in the eyes of a constituency we need to win the GE.

Frankly, campaigning against Obama in 2008, Hilary and supporters went scorched earth. He didn’t
and he won. Yes, I have plenty of examples, but refuse to re-litigate a campaign.

and I felt like Hillary got some really terrible political advice. The nastiness was such a turn off for voters and Obama didn't go there. Though I think Hillary could have been an excellent president, Obama clearly was a much better candidate and in the end, you can't be a good president, if you don't make it to the White House. Attacking other Democrats is not a good political strategy.

I'll have what you're having.

I have no control over what other people say, nor do I want any.

The better.

No rule against being blunt. Except for me being a few years younger than you, I feel the same way. Go for it. I may join you.

DUers and you don't say stupid right-wing things, you'll be good.

It's the personal attacks that get people tossed off this website, usually. Just don't attack people. Attack ideas, instead.

Bravo!! Blunt away!!

when warranted. Screw the niceties and PC - our children and grandchildren's future hangs in the balance in 2020. VOTE - DONATE - VOLUNTEER....whatever you can do.

What you can't do is personally attack other DUers. That's what has gotten so many people banned. Avoid that and you can write pretty much what you please, as long as you don't take right-wing positions or show bigotry.

I have a healthy respect and an unquenchable thirst for Democratic Party history.

You lived it.

And in failing health. I have already asked here and elsewhere for you all to find someone to vote Democratic in my place, if i don't make it to next election.
That being said, I have a hard time thinking America will be fooled again. But then, I have a hard time understanding why we were fooled once.

I was so surprised on election night in 2016. Shocked that such a man could win the White House.

Now that I've learned it can happen, I'm even more committed to try to prevent it from happening again.

from her. A nominee under FBI investigation is an already compromised and vulnerable candidate, no matter her qualifications.

Didn't Biden bring it on himself with segregationists/boy remarks?

I see you prefer Biden. Biden is 3 years older than you (one year older than me). You say you are not sure you will be around for the next, what 2024? election. Should you be seeking to do a job a difficult and demanding as President of the United States? Should I? No. Should Biden?

I fall asleep in my chair in the evening. I fall asleep sitting at the computer. And I am healthy and active. When I get tired, I get somewhat mentally dull. My words hesitate. I would not presume to do a job like President.

Again, my apologies to Biden, who I think is a good person, and his supporters.