The Democrats need to rally together rather then eating their own over the California fires. There is strength in unity.
Just ask the "new" unqualified Defense Secretary, pre-confirmation.
This page is a permanent link to the reply below and its nested replies. See all post replies »
beckyromero · 36-40, F
As I've said, though I don't care much for him, Newsom is not to blame.
But Bass? She's tone deaf. Dems need a competent candidate who will beat a potential strong Republican challenger. Bass could drag done a couple House candidates with her in 2026.
Sometimes party unity is a BAD thing. Imagine if Republicans had rallied around Nixon in 1974. Or, look at it the other way. Imagine had they convinced him to go sooner rather than later. They almost certainly would have done better in the November mid-terms.
Just as Sen. Barry Goldwater and other leading Republicans told Nixon the writing was on the wall, some prominent Democrats need to tell Bass that her standing for re-election in 2026 is foolhardy.
California is also suffering from what voters inflicted on themselves: term-limits.
But Bass? She's tone deaf. Dems need a competent candidate who will beat a potential strong Republican challenger. Bass could drag done a couple House candidates with her in 2026.
Sometimes party unity is a BAD thing. Imagine if Republicans had rallied around Nixon in 1974. Or, look at it the other way. Imagine had they convinced him to go sooner rather than later. They almost certainly would have done better in the November mid-terms.
Just as Sen. Barry Goldwater and other leading Republicans told Nixon the writing was on the wall, some prominent Democrats need to tell Bass that her standing for re-election in 2026 is foolhardy.
California is also suffering from what voters inflicted on themselves: term-limits.
MarkPaul · 26-30, M
@beckyromero Bass hasn't been impressive in her handling of this crisis, no doubt. But, Democrats seem to think taking hard stands against their own in public is some noble display of tough love. It didn't work with kicking Biden to the curb and it won't work now. No sane person in 21st century politics has "family discussion" in the media and wins.
If Republicans did what they did in 1974 today with a convicted felon and sexual predator, maga would have crashed and burned by now. But, they didn't and they are on the doorstep of taking over all branches of government in a substantive way. While "eating your own" may have been the right thing to do at one time, it's not a workable solution with current sensibilities.
If Republicans did what they did in 1974 today with a convicted felon and sexual predator, maga would have crashed and burned by now. But, they didn't and they are on the doorstep of taking over all branches of government in a substantive way. While "eating your own" may have been the right thing to do at one time, it's not a workable solution with current sensibilities.
beckyromero · 36-40, F
@MarkPaul
I'm just saying, sometimes it is best to cut your losses for the best of the team.
You don't start the injured pitcher with the 6.00 ERA against a high-offense opponent in the deciding game of a playoff series because you signed that pitcher to a ten-figure contract when there are others you can start with a 3.50 ERA.
It doesn't have to happen in the media.
There's a big difference between Republicans in 1974 and those who call themselves Republicans today.
I don't think a comparison of elective politicians of the two times is worth the effort. You didn't have Republicans resigning in 1972 and 1974 because Nixon was going to have them primaried. There are a lot in Congress, state houses and legislatures who are Trumpets. That (and talk radio) are the two big differences.
I'm just saying, sometimes it is best to cut your losses for the best of the team.
You don't start the injured pitcher with the 6.00 ERA against a high-offense opponent in the deciding game of a playoff series because you signed that pitcher to a ten-figure contract when there are others you can start with a 3.50 ERA.
No sane person in 21st century politics has "family discussion" in the media and wins.
It doesn't have to happen in the media.
If Republicans did what they did in 1974 today with a convicted felon and sexual predator, maga would have crashed and burned by now. ...
There's a big difference between Republicans in 1974 and those who call themselves Republicans today.
I don't think a comparison of elective politicians of the two times is worth the effort. You didn't have Republicans resigning in 1972 and 1974 because Nixon was going to have them primaried. There are a lot in Congress, state houses and legislatures who are Trumpets. That (and talk radio) are the two big differences.
MarkPaul · 26-30, M
@beckyromero Nancy Pelosi originated your argument as she gave Biden the hook. Personally, I'm a fan of Nancy Pelosi, but her over-orchestration of "cutting the loss" after the disastrous debate was a disaster all by itself. If the voters are unhappy with Bass (and they have reasons to be), then there is a process to vote her out. Orchestrating her ouster is a proven losing way. How many examples of how to lose do you need?
How quickly you have forgotten. The argument with Biden who just had to be cut to for what was deemed best for the team all took place in public. And, the Democrats patted themselves on the back, on the head, and on their asses by marveling in the media how noble and pure they were for having a "family discussion" in public. So, yeah it doesn't have to happen in the media, but that's where it is going to happen. Again, if the voters want Bass out, there is a way for voters to do that. It doesn't have to be orchestrated for them by sanctimonious people who think they know what is best.
You are the one who brought up the 1970 era Republicans as a comparison. While I am a passionate fan of history, sadly the political environment of the 1970's is different from the one from today. That's MY point.
The Democrats need to unify in public; they need to encourage an empowered voting public. And, they need to win elections instead of chasing purity by blaming those who they deem are not pure enough.
How quickly you have forgotten. The argument with Biden who just had to be cut to for what was deemed best for the team all took place in public. And, the Democrats patted themselves on the back, on the head, and on their asses by marveling in the media how noble and pure they were for having a "family discussion" in public. So, yeah it doesn't have to happen in the media, but that's where it is going to happen. Again, if the voters want Bass out, there is a way for voters to do that. It doesn't have to be orchestrated for them by sanctimonious people who think they know what is best.
You are the one who brought up the 1970 era Republicans as a comparison. While I am a passionate fan of history, sadly the political environment of the 1970's is different from the one from today. That's MY point.
The Democrats need to unify in public; they need to encourage an empowered voting public. And, they need to win elections instead of chasing purity by blaming those who they deem are not pure enough.
beckyromero · 36-40, F
@MarkPaul
I think it's a big jump from Bass to Biden. From mayor to the presidency.
Biden wasn't asleep on the switch while a fire burned an area greater than the size of Paris - and is still burning. Biden was not incompetent as president. He helped the country recover from a pandemic. He wasn't tone deaf about it.
There's also the strong possibility Bass will face a recall. Newsom survived one because other than going to a restaurant there was no big scandal about him. Gov. Gray Davis did not survive a recall; his was about voter anger for a power crisis and high energy costs.
If they did that, then Bass would face no major Democrat opponent and she will run again - and lose.
If any Democrats run against Bass, they will have to criticize her handling of the fires. How could they not do so? Politics is a hardball sport.
And June 2, 2026 is less than 17 months away.
Bass against Caruso again? She'll lose, possibly without even making it to a run-off. The campaign will be about the fires and virtually nothing else.
A competent, generally respected Democrat against Caruso (or any other Republican) in a mostly two-person race? The Dem would win, possibly without even making it to a run-off.
The problem would be finding that competent, generally respected Democrat.
Former Rep. and current HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra is smart and would probably make a good mayor. My hunch is he will run for governor instead.
Rep. Jimmy Gomez? Does he want to give up what coud be a couple decades in Washington?
Others are probably going to be deemed to old.
I think it's a big jump from Bass to Biden. From mayor to the presidency.
Biden wasn't asleep on the switch while a fire burned an area greater than the size of Paris - and is still burning. Biden was not incompetent as president. He helped the country recover from a pandemic. He wasn't tone deaf about it.
There's also the strong possibility Bass will face a recall. Newsom survived one because other than going to a restaurant there was no big scandal about him. Gov. Gray Davis did not survive a recall; his was about voter anger for a power crisis and high energy costs.
The Democrats need to unify in public
If they did that, then Bass would face no major Democrat opponent and she will run again - and lose.
If any Democrats run against Bass, they will have to criticize her handling of the fires. How could they not do so? Politics is a hardball sport.
And June 2, 2026 is less than 17 months away.
Bass against Caruso again? She'll lose, possibly without even making it to a run-off. The campaign will be about the fires and virtually nothing else.
A competent, generally respected Democrat against Caruso (or any other Republican) in a mostly two-person race? The Dem would win, possibly without even making it to a run-off.
The problem would be finding that competent, generally respected Democrat.
Former Rep. and current HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra is smart and would probably make a good mayor. My hunch is he will run for governor instead.
Rep. Jimmy Gomez? Does he want to give up what coud be a couple decades in Washington?
Others are probably going to be deemed to old.
MarkPaul · 26-30, M
@beckyromero Wow... you must really have a low regard for the "regular" voters: How could they possibly know not to vote for Bass if no one tells them and doesn't hand them another candidate who is pre-screened for purity. And, how can another Democrat possibly know to challenge Bass if it isn't orchestrated?
The same arrogance that kicked Biden to the curb is the same one that is now cropping up to eat Bass alive. It's a proven path to Democrat suicide in the name of purity and the attitude, "we know better than the poor helpless voters who need our help." Again, this is not a defence of Bass and her performance. It is a lesson learned that the Pelosi way didn't work at the presidential level and it won't work here.
If Bass can redeem herself with the voters, then that that's the path to success. If she can't or takes herself (HERSELF) out of the running, then that's the path to success. If another candidate wants to challenge her (Democrat or Republican or Other), then that's the path to success. Orchestrating her ouster is a proven path to failure. Kamala Harris was "found" as a competent replacement for the voters and she failed... maybe for all the wrong reasons, but a failure just the same.
"A competent and generally respected" candidate needs to find his/her way to the voters. And, that may still be Bass. Orchestrating a solution to protect the "helpless" voters to sell them on someone who looks good, looks young, looks pure, looks enthusiastic, looks competent sounds like machine politics. It's been tried. It's a failed approach.
The same arrogance that kicked Biden to the curb is the same one that is now cropping up to eat Bass alive. It's a proven path to Democrat suicide in the name of purity and the attitude, "we know better than the poor helpless voters who need our help." Again, this is not a defence of Bass and her performance. It is a lesson learned that the Pelosi way didn't work at the presidential level and it won't work here.
If Bass can redeem herself with the voters, then that that's the path to success. If she can't or takes herself (HERSELF) out of the running, then that's the path to success. If another candidate wants to challenge her (Democrat or Republican or Other), then that's the path to success. Orchestrating her ouster is a proven path to failure. Kamala Harris was "found" as a competent replacement for the voters and she failed... maybe for all the wrong reasons, but a failure just the same.
"A competent and generally respected" candidate needs to find his/her way to the voters. And, that may still be Bass. Orchestrating a solution to protect the "helpless" voters to sell them on someone who looks good, looks young, looks pure, looks enthusiastic, looks competent sounds like machine politics. It's been tried. It's a failed approach.
beckyromero · 36-40, F
@MarkPaul
Respectfully, Bass and Biden are not comparable. Bass' actions with regards to budget cuts may have contributed to the crisis. Biden got us out of the pandemic.
Also, the mayoral race in Los Angeles is not a partisan race. There are no party primaries. If someone gets 50% +1 on June 2, 2026, they are elected. Otherwise, the top two have a run-off in November.
There's only 17 months to the election.
If a Democrat jumps into the race in the next couple months, is that going to be "eating their own" if s/he focuses on City Hall incompetence and goes after Bass for the city's response to the fires?
[media=https://youtu.be/UzCcnFX3y6o]
Respectfully, Bass and Biden are not comparable. Bass' actions with regards to budget cuts may have contributed to the crisis. Biden got us out of the pandemic.
Also, the mayoral race in Los Angeles is not a partisan race. There are no party primaries. If someone gets 50% +1 on June 2, 2026, they are elected. Otherwise, the top two have a run-off in November.
There's only 17 months to the election.
If a Democrat jumps into the race in the next couple months, is that going to be "eating their own" if s/he focuses on City Hall incompetence and goes after Bass for the city's response to the fires?
[media=https://youtu.be/UzCcnFX3y6o]
MarkPaul · 26-30, M
@beckyromero You don't seem to want to learn from the debacle of pushing Biden to the curb in an orchestrated way. The conditions don't have to be the same to learn a lesson. The issue does remain the same... orchestrating a candidate change vs. respecting empowered voters to do the "right" thing.
If another Democrat jumps into the ring to challenge Bass and give voters a choice... that's not eating their own. If, like Pelosi and her minions did with Biden, if Democrat officials have public "family discussions" (this was their term to describe what they were doing) in the media to attack Bass, that is eating their own.
I am advising against orchestrating toppling Bass. I am in favour of voters making a candidate selection (even if that includes Bass) without such orchestration.
If another Democrat jumps into the ring to challenge Bass and give voters a choice... that's not eating their own. If, like Pelosi and her minions did with Biden, if Democrat officials have public "family discussions" (this was their term to describe what they were doing) in the media to attack Bass, that is eating their own.
I am advising against orchestrating toppling Bass. I am in favour of voters making a candidate selection (even if that includes Bass) without such orchestration.