Gavin Newsom addresses the nation

[sringwal]

Who would you vote for if your choices were Jon Stewart or JD Vance?

Add an "h" and I'm all in.

 

[sringwal]

Meh.

Obama was a nobody until some time in 2007.

Trump was a laughingstock (not yet a national threat) until well into 2016.

And no one knew what the hell was going on with the D nomination last year until the debates. (Which was obviously a disaster, of course—but the point is that potential candidates weren’t even really discussed until a couple months before November.)

That's not entirely true.

 

[Paine]

You’re talking about the same people who fell hook, line, and sinker for a polished media pro in Donald Trump (they knew him as a reality TV star where he played a successful business mogul, ffs) but you are concerned those same people will be alienated by “Newsom’s performative polish?”

GTFOH

I talked about this dynamic in an earlier post. It’s on page 9.

You’re missing the difference in type of polish. Trump played a “successful outsider” who punched up at elites, even if it was a con. Newsom plays the elite insider who talks down to people while selling competence and vibes.

It’s not about whether someone is just slick on camera: it’s about who they appear to fight for. Trump weaponized media savvy to mock liberal technocrats. Newsom is a liberal technocrat. That distinction matters, especially to the disaffected voters Dems keep losing.

If we confuse surface-level media presence with working-class appeal, we’re going to lose the same voters again.

 

[Centerpiece]

I think you are being incredibly naive on this point.

Naive and ignorant. Be that as it may, we're on the same side - and splitting hairs about would-be Dem nominees at this point is silly.
Be safe Calheel. We'll get through this...

 

[Centerpiece]

I talked about this dynamic in an earlier post. It’s on page 9.

You’re missing the difference in type of polish. Trump played a “successful outsider” who punched up at elites, even if it was a con. Newsom plays the elite insider who talks down to people while selling competence and vibes.

It’s not about whether someone is slick on camera: it’s about who they appear to fight for. Trump weaponized media savvy to mock liberal technocrats. Newsom is a liberal technocrat. That distinction matters, especially to the disaffected voters Dems keep losing.

If we confuse surface-level media presence with working-class appeal, we’re going to lose the same voters again.

Agree.
We're all on the same side here... just nitpicking as to the best way forward.
Be well Paine.
I won't put you on "ignore" again...
But I may not read all of your long posts either

 

[Paine]

You know the lies were:

• Welfare Queen - that was a (1) BLACK (2) woman with (3) children (more little negroids that us white people will have to support.
• Commies, commies, commies
• Cutting taxes will pay for themselves in increased revenues (that lie persists to today)

What we can’t afford are the 1-2% of Leftists who think Hillary equals Trump.

Of course racism was a key part of Reagan’s strategy. No one’s denying that, least of all me.

But having lived through those years, you know the idea that only racism can explain his mass appeal is way too tidy. And, most important to this discussion, it lets Democrats off the hook for decades of failure to offer an emotionally resonant alternative.

Reagan didn’t just dog whistle: he spoke to people’s anxieties about inflation, crime, and national decline in a way that felt strong and coherent, even if it was rooted in lies.

If we write off every disaffected voter as just racist or duped, we’ll never win them back. Some were, absolutely. But many were just looking for hope and strength.

 

[Paine]

Agree.
We're all on the same side here... just nitpicking as to the best way forward.
Be well Paine.
I won't put you on "ignore" again...
But I may not read all of your long posts either

Appreciate that. I know my posts can be long; it’s only because I care deeply about where things are headed and think we need to hash this stuff out, even when it’s uncomfortable.

I do believe we’re mostly on the same side. But we’ve got to get this strategy of connecting with people who have tuned out right, or we risk losing the stakes entirely.

Hope you’ll keep reading, even if you skim now and then.

 

[Centerpiece]

That's not entirely true.

This^^^
Was there anyone at the 2024 DNC with a killer speech?
Obviously, it was all about Harris/Walz... and nobody could match Obama's 2004 speech... but was there anyone who spoke which stood out? Mayor Pete? Coop? Wes Moore? Warnock? Anybody?

 

[heelwithnoname]

I think it is quite interesting that this is now on page 16. Newsom certainly has us talking.

I'll admit that early on I was really impressed with his polish and speaking ability, especially while "in the moment" in interviews and such. But reading this thread I think I'm coming around to understanding he is probably not the guy for 2028. For one, whoever the candidate is in 2028 has to be MUCH more than "Trump bad" and has to connect to the voters that the Democrats seem to have lost - mainly, working class independents - on an emotional level. Newsom is sorta like Romney without being Mormon.

But I think we can legit feel good about Newsom's taking the lead on punching back at Trump - regardless of his motivations - and at the same time have serious reservations about his presidential election chances. In fact I think to echo some of the sentiment on this thread, Newsom's response should be celebrated and provide an example for other Democrat leaders.

 

[heelwithnoname]

^^ "Was there anyone at the 2024 DNC with a killer speech?"

Hell I'm a recovering Republican and I was fired up with Michelle Obama's speech...

 

[Centerpiece]

"Newsom is sorta like Romney"

 

[sringwal]

This^^^
Was there anyone at the 2024 DNC with a killer speech?
Obviously, it was all about Harris/Walz... and nobody could match Obama's 2004 speech... but was there anyone who spoke which stood out? Mayor Pete? Coop? Wes Moore? Warnock? Anybody?

That is, ironically, also not entirely true.

 

[Paine]

^^ "Was there anyone at the 2024 DNC with a killer speech?"

Hell I'm a recovering Republican and I was fired up with Michelle Obama's speech...

I enjoyed Warnock’s DNC speech. And Shawn Fain’s of course.

 

[Centerpiece]

^^ "Was there anyone at the 2024 DNC with a killer speech?"

Hell I'm a recovering Republican and I was fired up with Michelle Obama's speech...

Good example... but 2016 and 2024 proves we're not ready to elect a woman pres. Sorry, but it's true.
Trump lost to the only man he ran against. He beat both of the women.

Do you think the Obama name can carry the load in and of itself? Perhaps... but it's the fact that the Dems have tried to run a woman twice and lost to the WORST man on the planet... twice!

 

[heelwithnoname]

You are 100% correct unfortunately, and I don't think that Michelle Obama would have a snowball's chance.

BUT she/her speech is a good example of connecting emotionally - albeit in a very friendly environment - which is what I think we're saying Newsom does not do.

 

[Centerpiece]

That is, ironically, also not entirely true.

I tend to agree... but still not better than Obama 2004... but it's close

 

[Centerpiece]

All those folks are great... but I'm skeptical that a nation which elected the worst man on the planet - twice - will elect another Black man, nor will they elect a woman (and certainly not a woman of color), nor will they elect an LGBTQ person. Sorry Michelle, Mayor Pete, Gretchen, Raphael, Wes...

It's simply going to have to be a white, straight male... even one of a milquetoast variety like Coop. This is why somebody like Gavin gets any air at all.

Is Amerikkka ready for a Shapiro? Not sure.

I think they would vote in a Beshear...
I think they may even vote for a Stein...
Or a Jeff Jackson - eventually

 

[Kingpin]

All those folks are great... but I'm skeptical that a nation which elected the worst man on the planet - twice - will elect another Black man, nor will they elect a woman (and certainly not a woman of color), nor will they elect an LGBTQ person. Sorry Michelle, Mayor Pete, Gretchen, Raphael, Wes...

It's simply going to have to be a white, straight male... even one of a milquetoast variety like Coop. This is why somebody like Gavin gets any air at all.

Is Amerikkka ready for a Shapiro? Not sure.

I think they would vote in a Beshear...
I think they may even vote for a Stein...
Or a Jeff Jackson - eventually

Agreeed. Is Josh Stein Jewish? I assume not if NC elected him. He sounded great on Colbert interview.

 

[mpaer]

Agreeed. Is Josh Stein Jewish? I assume not if NC elected him. He sounded great on Colbert interview.

In 2016, Stein became the first Jewish person to win a statewide election in North Carolina. (AG)

 

[superrific]

You are 100% correct unfortunately, and I don't think that Michelle Obama would have a snowball's chance.

She would win going away. She's also expressed repeatedly that she has zero interest in ever running. Those two facts are, sadly, related.

For some reason, Americans have decided that, in a world in which retailers ask prospective clerks if they have any retail experience, it's actually a good feature for the president to have zero experience. It's most GOPers of course, but still.