1749

There’s definitely a shared group of people who just want to tear the whole system down who voted for Trump but could switch to Bernie. But they’re all terrible people so fuck them.

1750

I think the group of potential Trump-Sanders voters is broader than that. Trump also appealed to many blue collar workers in the rust belt, many of whom blamed NAFTA/ Immigration for their economic circumstances. Leaving aside whether they are right, Bernie has also been anti-NAFTA.

Bernie absolutely could pull some of those voters back.

1751

One more!

The Nevada Assembly today passed the National Popular Vote bill 23-17. Today’s vote follows a bipartisan 17-12 vote last week in the Oregon Senate.

Fifteen states (green on the map) have now enacted the bill into law. The 15 states possess 189 electoral votes – 81 short of the 270 electoral votes that the bill needs to take effect.

1752

Buttigieg doing his first big event since announcing in Des Moines tonight. Has made substantially fewer appearances in Iowa than some of the other candidates (especially Sanders and O’Rourke).


1753

It’s crazy when you think that recently gay people couldn’t even get married, and now this guy looks like he could have a shot at becoming president.

1754

I’m not much of fan of Ezra, but this piece spoke to me about why I like Mayor Pete.
I’m so exhausted by the constant fear mongering on both sides that I long for a positive message.

1755

Yes, a positive message is a nice thing, especially after the disaster of the past two years.

1756

Worth noting that Beto has been campaigning up the eastern seaboard, starting in South Carolina, through North Carolina yesterday and in Virginia today. And he is drawing some massive crowds.

His advantage that he is fully exploiting is being the guy in the race right now without a full-time job. He can go all day every day and has the funding (and one surmises the energy of youth) to do that constantly between now and next January.

1757

I love that they have people behind the podium holding “Boot” “Edge” “Edge” signs.

1758

A positive message is good, and necessary, but I want someone who understands the only way to get a positive future is by utterly defeating Republicans. There’s no other way- they’ve proven it.

1759

‘Both sides’, good grief.

Are there examples of fear mongering on both sides?

1760
1761

Clearly the Surrender Caucus is getting a head start on appeasing our murderous robot overlords instead of organizing a functional resistance.

(I don’t think Buttmentum is wafting us in the direction of the discredited, disgraced, and frankly embarrassing DLC, but I couldn’t help the joke.)

1762

This guy is spoiling for a backlash, like when Justin Trudeau’s amazing quantum mechanics lecture got dissected by folks.

1763

If nothing else, there will definitely be several “Buttigieg isn’t ______ enough” crowds. You can fill several things into that blank (progressive, gay, diverse, passionate, angry, etc). People will find reasons to hate him.

1764

Of course there will be a backlash. It will be fierce, relentless, and disgusting. Republicans aren’t just going to roll over and let him become President (assuming he continues this momentum).

They will play off of all the dated, debunked, and ridiculous stereotypes of gay men. Anything you can think of will be thrown onto the wall to see what sticks. You think the innuendo about Obama being born elsewhere was bad? Those people have had 10 more years to hone their “skills” for this one.

1765

Fox and the GOP really, really want the Democrats to put to either Biden or Sanders.

Maybe you shouldn’t do that.

1766

Check your pronouns, bro, you’re one of the traitor Democrats now.

1767

Old45

1768

I meant a kinder, gentler backlash, like “this guy’s Norwegian is pretty shitty.”

Of course the GOP will pull out the sewage hose for whoever wins the nomination.