Roy Cooper makes it official

[hedge]

And, at least in the ‘70’s and ‘80’s, a shitload of Chi Psi’s were Moreheads…..or, a shitload of Moreheads were Chi Psi’s…..

Yep, Chi Psi was the smart frat. Nice house and property, too...

 

[Mundial]

The Chi Psi guys were smart.

 

[ZZLPHeels]

When you’re explaining, you’re losing…..BIG.

Yup. Incoming swift boat ads from western NC MAGATs who voted to defund FEMA saying “Roy Cooper let my grandpappy die”. Facts don’t matter anymore. The ads will be effective because if you repeat a lie enough, people will believe it.

 

[Huh?]

Facts have never mattered in statewide NC elections. At least that's what Harvey Gantt told me.

 

[GoHeelsweeeehoooo]

I think Cooper is the best candidate for the Democrats this year - I still expect it will be very close - I'm hoping Jeff Jackson will run in 2 years against Budd

 

[Zoo_View]

I had a girlfriend that moved to Portland around 1981...we carried on that long distance thing for about 3 years and I visited her more often than I should have during that time. I loved an old bar called Three Dollar Dewey's back in those days and saw a lot of interesting music around town (she was a bonafide hipster). We'd take the ferries out to the islands in Casco Bay sometimes. I spent the month of January there once. It was like visiting another planet.

In 1981, Three Dollar Dewey’s and most ANY PLACE near or on Commercial Street would have been tough bars.

Portland started gentrifying long before Portsmouth. Lots of “The Peninsula” started gentrifying long before “3 Dollar Dewey’s” did.

In 1981, Portland and Portsmouth were NOT cool waterfront places……they were working waterfront towns struggling from decades of hardcore over-fishing……alongside inland mill towns disintegrating.

 

[rodoheel]

If Cooper wins, I’m good……I’m not ecstatic…….he’s OLD.

Cooper is one boring as can be politician. Stunningly boring. Only Cal Cunningham or Al Gore makes Cooper look exciting.

I figure the 2026 US Senate race is 48.5% Democrat to 49.7% Republican even with Cooper as the nominee.

Honest question - have you met Cooper? He is far more personally engaging than a lot of politicians I've met with. And 68 is not really notably old by current political standards, where we keep electing people in their late 70s and even 80s in some places.

But in the end,. all your complaining about this is really pointless if you don't have another idea for who a better candidate would be. There is no point to whining about your desire for some perfect exciting candidate if you aren't going to say you think there's actually a person who would give Dems a better chance of winning the seat. If you agree that Cooper is the person (real person, not hypothetical person) who gives Dems the best chance to win the seat, then stop whining about it and let's figure out how to get him elected.

 

[rodoheel]

I think Cooper has the best chance to win the US Senate race as a Democrat in 2026.

I think he’s an underdog.

I also think he’s a boring as shit, uninspiring candidate.

Chuck Schumer fucked North Carolina AND the country when he screwed up and annointed Cal Cunningham instead of Jeff Jackson (did it again in the year Schumer annointed the woman who’d never run for office)

Cooper’s shot at winning a U.S. Senate seat is predicated on a major recession - I don’t want a major recession.

I'm not gonna disagree with you that Jeff Jackson is, and would be, a better candidate than Cal Cunningham. But Cooper is a lot closer to Jackson than Cunningham. And personally I think Cooper is a better candidate than Jackson, right now, due to name recognition if nothing else. Jackson's star is rising and his time is coming.

 

[Zoo_View]

Facts have never mattered in statewide NC elections. At least that's what Harvey Gantt told me.

I was in Gantt’s campaign manager’s office when “The Hands” ad hit.

We all knew what that campaign was about; but, that ad clarified a shitload.

 

[lawtig02]

I think Cooper has the best chance to win the US Senate race as a Democrat in 2026.

I think he’s an underdog.

I also think he’s a boring as shit, uninspiring candidate.

Chuck Schumer fucked North Carolina AND the country when he screwed up and annointed Cal Cunningham instead of Jeff Jackson (did it again in the year Schumer annointed the woman who’d never run for office)

Cooper’s shot at winning a U.S. Senate seat is predicated on a major recession - I don’t want a major recession.

Cunningham was just as good a candidate as Jackson would have been when he was nominated in 2020. Probably better. I have no idea if Cunningham would have won if he had kept it in his pants, but in terms of their name recognition, charisma, etc., it would not have made sense to run Jackson that year.

I do agree about Beasley. She's an absolutely incredible person but was not a good candidate.

I'm about 70% sure it was in Jackson's long-term best interest NOT to be the candidate in 2020. He has tremendous potential. He's also still young. He needs to pick the right spot, and I don't that would have been the one.

As for 2026, I don't think it has to be a major recession for Cooper to win. That's entirely possible, but it's not necessary. Look at the polling right now. Trump will not be on the ballot. Regardless of what the RNC says, Cooper is perceived as a moderate. It's why he's done so well in prior elections. He's the right guy for this cycle. Jackson, Stein, etc. have PLENTY of opportunities to come.

 

[8992Tiger]

As I recall, it took FEMA 3 days to show up after the floods in TX, right? So Roy stays back in NC to let relief agencies do their thing, while the pub-led relief agency stayed back to wait on a signature. Yes, I am WELL aware of relative competence.

 

[Zoo_View]

Honest question - have you met Cooper? He is far more personally engaging than a lot of politicians I've met with. And 68 is not really notably old by current political standards, where we keep electing people in their late 70s and even 80s in some places.

But in the end,. all your complaining about this is really pointless if you don't have another idea for who a better candidate would be. There is no point to whining about your desire for some perfect exciting candidate if you aren't going to say you think there's actually a person who would give Dems a better chance of winning the seat. If you agree that Cooper is the person (real person, not hypothetical person) who gives Dems the best chance to win the seat, then stop whining about it and let's figure out how to get him elected.

I’m merely saying that if Roy Cooper is our hope to win a statewide race in 2026, we’re fucked.

If Cooper didn’t run, who was our hope in 2026?

Most importantly, what’s our plan to win the Legislature…….the US House……the US Senate?

Roy Cooper is not inspiring anyone…..he might help turn an R-seat to a D-seat.

 

[Zoo_View]

Cunningham was just as good a candidate as Jackson would have been when he was nominated in 2020. Probably better. I have no idea if Cunningham would have won if he had kept it in his pants, but in terms of their name recognition, charisma, etc., it would not have made sense to run Jackson that year.

I do agree about Beasley. She's an absolutely incredible person but was not a good candidate.

I'm about 70% sure it was in Jackson's long-term best interest NOT to be the candidate in 2020. He has tremendous potential. He's also still young. He needs to pick the right spot, and I don't that would have been the one.

As for 2026, I don't think it has to be a major recession for Cooper to win. That's entirely possible, but it's not necessary. Look at the polling right now. Trump will not be on the ballot. Regardless of what the RNC says, Cooper is perceived as a moderate. It's why he's done so well in prior elections. He's the right guy for this cycle. Jackson, Stein, etc. have PLENTY of opportunities to come.

You’re equating boring ass “Vote for me I’m not quite a Republican” Cal Cunningham to Jeff Jackson? Each ad I saw for Cunningham I thought, “What a boring as fuck Republican…..”…..then I learned he was the Democratic nominee……my thought was……”WTF!”

 

[heelinhell]

A shitload of MAGA types in 1984 voted Democrat by instinct in 1984…..they now vote Magic R.

Hunt got 37% of the white vote and I imagine that few if any were MAGA types, but you are far more astute than I when it comes to NC politics which is why I rely on your perspective and love you like a brother

 

[Zoo_View]

Cunningham was just as good a candidate as Jackson would have been when he was nominated in 2020. Probably better. I have no idea if Cunningham would have won if he had kept it in his pants, but in terms of their name recognition, charisma, etc., it would not have made sense to run Jackson that year.

I do agree about Beasley. She's an absolutely incredible person but was not a good candidate.

I'm about 70% sure it was in Jackson's long-term best interest NOT to be the candidate in 2020. He has tremendous potential. He's also still young. He needs to pick the right spot, and I don't that would have been the one.

As for 2026, I don't think it has to be a major recession for Cooper to win. That's entirely possible, but it's not necessary. Look at the polling right now. Trump will not be on the ballot. Regardless of what the RNC says, Cooper is perceived as a moderate. It's why he's done so well in prior elections. He's the right guy for this cycle. Jackson, Stein, etc. have PLENTY of opportunities to come.

I don’t give a RAT’S ASS about politicians having opportunities to come.

Needing Terry Sanford to save our asses in 1986 exposed the errors of “the Hunt Machine.”

Needing Jim Hunt to save our asses in 1992 certainly exposed how wedded to “the Hunt Machine” and fucked up Democratic Party was.

I loved Obama as POTUS.

Roy Cooper and Josh Stein have done yeoman’s work electing themselves……,Ditto for Obama……..have any done shit building a Democratic Party??

 

[donbosco]

I was in Gantt’s campaign manager’s office when “The Hands” ad hit.

We all knew what that campaign was about; but, that ad clarified a shitload.

I was at the state fair putting Gantt pamphlets under the windshield wipers of cars around that time. Like to got shot a few times.

 

[Zoo_View]

Honest question - have you met Cooper? He is far more personally engaging than a lot of politicians I've met with. And 68 is not really notably old by current political standards, where we keep electing people in their late 70s and even 80s in some places.

But in the end,. all you’re complaining about this is really pointless if you don't have another idea for who a better candidate would be. There is no point to whining about your desire for some perfect exciting candidate if you aren't going to say you think there's actually a person who would give Dems a better chance of winning the seat. If you agree that Cooper is the person (real person, not hypothetical person) who gives Dems the best chance to win the seat, then stop whining about it and let's figure out how to get him elected.

It’s 2025……personally engaging doesn’t matter much.

68 means he’s 74 at re-election……

I’d much rather elect a 35-45 year-old.

That’s part of why I’m saying we’re fucked if we elect a 68 year-old guy.

 

[rodoheel]

I don’t give a RAT’S ASS about politicians having opportunities to come.

Needing Terry Sanford to save our asses in 1986 exposed the errors of “the Hunt Machine.”

Needing Jim Hunt to save our asses in 1992 certainly exposed how wedded to “the Hunt Machine” and fucked up Democratic Party was.

I loved Obama as POTUS.

Roy Cooper and Josh Stein have done yeoman’s work electing themselves……,Ditto for Obama……..have any done shit building a Democratic Party??

This all just feels like randomly directed anger without any real direction or purpose. What exactly is it that Roy Cooper needs to do towards "building a Democratic Party" that he hasn't done?

 

[Zoo_View]

This all just feels like randomly directed anger without any real direction or purpose. What exactly is it that Roy Cooper needs to do towards "building a Democratic Party" that he hasn't done?

Expend some political capital that has zero to do in the short-term with electing or promoting Jim Hunt or Roy Cooper.

 

[Centerpiece]

Informing is not explaining.

But seriously, you seem skeptical about Cooper for this race. Who would you prefer?

He’s not just skeptical, he’s already predicted Roy will lose, bigly.