thread about it already.

Another lovely!

that Harris would have said this (all’s fair in a primary fight, after all). Actually, I’ve had some problems myself with all the attention that’s been given to this “I have a plan” strategy.

(1) First of all, this line was taken pretty much verbatim from fellow Massachusan John Kerry’s 2004 campaign. I am not misremembering this, because I was very involved during that primary and general. And I recall vividly rolling my eyeballs (and later almost wanting to throw my shoe) every time he said “ I’ve got a plan for that!” He would say it a dozen times in every speech, and I didn’t see it as being a successful electoral strategy with lots of voters. “Then tell the plan!” I’d yell at the TV.

(2) Far more relevant, however, is the fact that having a plan doesn’t mean squat in the real world. You can entice voters by saying you’re going to tax the wealthy by x% and use it to do this and that thing. But almost no plan, by any president, gets enacted in the form in which it was conceived, if at all. There’s that pesky thing called Congress, among other things. Having a detailed plan is not really any better than simply stating your general view or approach to an issue. So I don’t get too excited when someone says they have a plan.

I don't think that everything a candidate says is going to be happen by divine fiat but I do expect to get some form of what they are saying.

I much prefer that plans, policies and direction be laid out so that we can understand what the candidate is considering. I have great issue with the "Gee, I am going to run for president because I think it's a good idea and I will come up with a platform after a few weeks of campaigning and seeing which way the wind is blowing" methodology.

as their approaches to them, and even plans. On most issues, there’s not much daylight between the candidates on basic issues. But that is really just a part of what I look for. I also look deep into their bios, to see where they’ve been and what they’ve accomplished that might have direct bearing on the role of a president. I also look at their communication skills: their ability to convey ideas and issues clearly, succinctly, and fairly eloquently. I assess their temperament: are they measured and likely to listen to all kinds of advisors, or are they my way or the highway types. Could they conduct diplomacy with a steady hand and calm demeanor? I try to get a sense of their depth of understanding (are they thinkers or merely sloganeers?) and their intelligence (no more stupid or just doctrinaire presidents for me). And perhaps most important but often most forgotten, I look at character. It’s really damned important.

I look at a lot of things. I haven’t been truly unhappy with any of my choices these past 48 years of voting (even when they’ve lost).

and raise it to

Anyone posting something said by a "justice democrat" to make a real Democrat look bad. Nice try though.

Last edited Fri Jul 12, 2019, 11:01 PM - Edit history (1)

...Harris campaign in meltdown over Shaid's remark.

....Alexandra Rojas is even worse. She was on Chris Cuomo's show last night, asked questions. but seemed pre-programmed with talking points.