I spent hours before the June primary in Maine watching Platner on MS NOW and listening to podcast interviews with him and I found him to be awfully articulate for an oyster farmer. Grant him that much: he had a good voice and knew how to use it. That generated excitement which was wonderful to see. Unfortunately, Platner is a deeply troubled man. I had my own questions about whether someone with terrible PTSD and issues with alcohol would remain true to the cause long term; look at Fetterman. I viewed his 12 minute video as tragic, as his human failings and frailties were on full display. And yes, it was pathetic that he didn't take a moment to apologize to his accusers. Time to move on. The energy is there to defeat Susan Collins. Someone well vetted now needs to carry the message.
Right on. The through line on a lot of the problem is MISOGYNY. Misogyny got us Trump. Commentators’ inability to see this or their own misogyny leads them to crazy positions like “the Establishment” did this. It makes them see competent women as nags and scolds. It trivializes harm to women. And it is so deep that people can get press coverage suggesting repealing the 19th Amendment like this is a real possibility in a way that media would never cover the notion of repealing the 13th amendment. And it is a problem on the right and the left. Misogyny was was MAGA and Bernie Bros had in common. It grips women as well as men. Nothing saddens me quite so much as these women sucked into “Tradwife” nonsense. It is a baffling hatred. Why do so many people hate and mistrust women so deeply? It is deeply discouraging to me. I am 67 and I have struggled with and against it all my life and sometimes it feels like we have made no progress in my lifetime.
His kind of rhetoric doesn't inspire change, it breeds cynicism and division. If Dems hope to defeat Susan Collins, they must leave Platner's self-serving narrative behind & refocus on the values of accountability, integrity, and winning the election for the people of Maine, not the ambitions of one deeply flawed candidate.
What I still can't figure out is why the other Democratic candidate, Gov. Janet Mills, was forced out as soon as Platner showed up. Except that she had 3 strikes against her: she's a woman, she's wicked smart, and she's not photogenic. Never mind that she faced Trump down in the Oval Office when he tried to ambush her. Never mind that she spent most of her time as Maine's attorney general facing down Trump Mini-Me, then-gov. Paul LePage, every time he tried to ride roughshod over the Maine state constitution. Never mind that she never had to raise her voice or engage in histrionics. She has the chops, she has the experience, but alas she is not pin-up material. So much for qualified women candidates...
I spent hours before the June primary in Maine watching Platner on MS NOW and listening to podcast interviews with him and I found him to be awfully articulate for an oyster farmer. Grant him that much: he had a good voice and knew how to use it. That generated excitement which was wonderful to see. Unfortunately, Platner is a deeply troubled man. I had my own questions about whether someone with terrible PTSD and issues with alcohol would remain true to the cause long term; look at Fetterman. I viewed his 12 minute video as tragic, as his human failings and frailties were on full display. And yes, it was pathetic that he didn't take a moment to apologize to his accusers. Time to move on. The energy is there to defeat Susan Collins. Someone well vetted now needs to carry the message.
I just subscribed to you Alex because of the blunt way you used real words here to say what sounds like THE TRUTH. I like how you think, Alex.
Same here!
Me too!
Right on. The through line on a lot of the problem is MISOGYNY. Misogyny got us Trump. Commentators’ inability to see this or their own misogyny leads them to crazy positions like “the Establishment” did this. It makes them see competent women as nags and scolds. It trivializes harm to women. And it is so deep that people can get press coverage suggesting repealing the 19th Amendment like this is a real possibility in a way that media would never cover the notion of repealing the 13th amendment. And it is a problem on the right and the left. Misogyny was was MAGA and Bernie Bros had in common. It grips women as well as men. Nothing saddens me quite so much as these women sucked into “Tradwife” nonsense. It is a baffling hatred. Why do so many people hate and mistrust women so deeply? It is deeply discouraging to me. I am 67 and I have struggled with and against it all my life and sometimes it feels like we have made no progress in my lifetime.
Graham Platner is a dirtbag. Not one, not two, but more women spoke of him as a misogynistic prick. Believe The Women! I do!
https://justvote.substack.com/p/the-standard-doesnt-have-a-party?r=2toxww&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
I’m with you. From the start my gut wasn’t buying what he was selling. Glad he’s gone.
His kind of rhetoric doesn't inspire change, it breeds cynicism and division. If Dems hope to defeat Susan Collins, they must leave Platner's self-serving narrative behind & refocus on the values of accountability, integrity, and winning the election for the people of Maine, not the ambitions of one deeply flawed candidate.
What I still can't figure out is why the other Democratic candidate, Gov. Janet Mills, was forced out as soon as Platner showed up. Except that she had 3 strikes against her: she's a woman, she's wicked smart, and she's not photogenic. Never mind that she faced Trump down in the Oval Office when he tried to ambush her. Never mind that she spent most of her time as Maine's attorney general facing down Trump Mini-Me, then-gov. Paul LePage, every time he tried to ride roughshod over the Maine state constitution. Never mind that she never had to raise her voice or engage in histrionics. She has the chops, she has the experience, but alas she is not pin-up material. So much for qualified women candidates...