Sanders and Yang poll best along Trump voters. The both understand the suffering of people left out of the economic mainstream.
Sanders and Yang poll best along Trump voters. The both understand the suffering of people left out of the economic mainstream.
My pleasure Jane and Rob.
I heard a joke recently about Iowans in these election years. The joke can easily be applied to people from New Hampshire:
A newsman asked a New Hampshire resident who he was supporting for president.
The New Hampshire citizen said “I’m not sure yet, I’m still thinking it over. I’ve only been able to talk to these guys four times.”
I had someone say to me years back that they were voting for X because they’d talked to him. Sometimes you just wonder ...
I heard Michael Bennet today and was impressed. He is more centrist than I am, but he was smart, knew the issues, pragmatic, bipartisan, and not a panderer. One woman pressed him to commit to a female running mate and he would not. He said he would not promise free college to get votes, as it's more important to do free pre-K even though little kids don't vote. He was strong on climate change, education, and poverty but weak on healthcare. This was the first audience in which anyone other than me asked about foreign relations, probably because of recent events with Iran, and he gave standard Democratic responses.
People made a big fuss about Joe Lieberman being the first Jew on a major party ticket. Now years later this is sometimes mentioned in relation to Bernie Sanders, but I had never known this about Bennet. His mother is a Holocaust survivor. His wife was present sporting fabulous gray hair. She works or worked for Earth Justice, a legal offshoot of the Sierra Club, which may explain his strong environmental record.
He was open, taking many unscreened questions, even after his handlers told him to stop, but did not stick around for selfies as he has committed to 50 more New Hampshire town halls before the primary, which will be a challenge with the impeachment trial. He is not particularly charismatic, but attracted the most impressive audience yet of the 13 candidate events I have been to. They asked serious thoughtful qiestions not what can you do for me or my pet program. No children were in attendance, but there were lots of college students as well as older adults. Again, he did not pander to the students, but instead talked about revamping secondary education so the 70% of people who do not go on to college can get living wage jobs.
C-Span was present. If you watch the coverage I am the woman in a purple sweater sitting at the counter who asked a question.
I would like to hear what those of you here from Colorado think of him.
I've been pulling for Bennet from the day he announced his candidacy. He has had a full career of various political experiences. I don't know of any significant controversies while representing the state as a U.S. Senator, other than typical political differences. From what I know he is pretty much within the lines of what you'd expect from a centrist. He seems to be especially strong on environmental issues. His main platform is being called "the real deal" intended to contrast the unrealistic dream wishes of the more liberal candidates. The talks I've heard him give have elements of bringing the parties together and working out of the party polarization we have now.
His weaknesses, which I think are pretty much self-admitted, are that he doesn't have any attention getting glitzy grand scheme such as Medicare for all or free education. He also has sort of a milk toast personality although I've seen him being dynamic when needed. His recent claim to fame is a fiery tirade against Ted Cruz for blocking the federal budget while our state was in severe need of assistance after historic flooding a couple of years ago. It was one of the most watched something or another at the time. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUD2AErqbwM I still get some entertainment value from seeing it.
I'd vote for him in a minute over any of the other front runners. It's too bad he's not been more popular, or hasn't raised the big money at least. It seems like money rates higher than most things in determining the top dogs.
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