WHO is surprised about Platner?

[WarGamer]

Normal Dems were rolling our eyes and holding our breath... guess we were right.

Self inflicted gunshot wound to the foot.

[LisaL]

1. Not me.

It was clear there was a lot more dirt on him.

[mr715]

2. I was?

[BannonsLiver]

3. "Normal Dems"

You mean normal Dems who think Ukraine brought a war on itself and should have surrendered a long time ago?

Folks who said other Dems should stop talking about Epstein?

Who hailed Trump’s goofy war with Iran as a golden opportunity for the Iranian people to “rise up” while citing the delusional pablum of a neocon think tank as evidence of that?

Or how about Trump’s birthday boy parade not really being about Trump but rather about the Army? lol

That kind of normal?

[WarGamer]

4. What were we discussing the other day about 50% of the population?

[WhiskeyGrinder]

6. If Platner has no haters, it means I am dead, and I'm pretty sure no one here would call me a "Normal Dem."

[yardwork]

44. I'll call you a Normal Dem!

We're a big tent.

[WinningAgain]

7. Not in the slightest

[Llewlladdwr]

8. I'm willing to be gracious...

and assume that both the folks who alerted on my posts concerning Platner's unsuitability as a candidate and the folks who served on the juries that voted to hide those posts are truly shocked and puzzled by this entirely predictable turn of events.

[boston bean]

18. I was alerted tonight on this subject.

[Shrek]

42. Watch your inbox for the forthcoming flood of apologies

I am sure they're on the way.

[W_HAMILTON]

9. You mean you didn't like Platner? I figured he'd be right up your alley.

Which Democrat(s) are you a big supporter of nowadays?

[WarGamer]

11. Mayor Pete...

Ro Khanna, Sara Jacobs...

[Abolishinist]

13. Interesting that you mentioned Sara Jacobs.

My wife was introduced to the Jacobs family back in the 80's, when she was working with Joan on some design work. At the time, Irwin was in their house/garage working on the start-up that would eventually become Qualcomm. Since then, their funding for the arts in San Diego has been amazing. Their massive donations rebuilt the San Diego Symphony, funded The Rady Shell, supported Cygnet Theatre at Liberty Station, and so much more.

We've been to their residence on numerous occasions - they have an incredible personal art collection as well.

What is it about Sara that intrigues you?

[WarGamer]

20. A serious resume... well spoken. Personable.

[kentuck]

10. Hey!

He's an oyster farmer...

[LudwigPastorius]

22. Well, he sure hocked an oyster right into the middle of the Maine Senate race.

...with an assist by everybody that voted for him.

[pinkstarburst]

12. Was completely expecting this

Let's say that you bought the whole "I had no idea it was a nazi symbol" thing, which is a stretch, but whatever. Some people really wanted to insist he could have done that by accident and then also not gone to have it removed once he realized it was problematic.

No normal nice dude is sexting 6 different women while married. That's creeper behavior. I am not going to be shocked when there are more women who come out with similar stories to his ex. This guy is clearly messed up.

[LeftInTX]

14. It was an ancient Hindu-Sanskrit thing!

Seriously, when I read that it wasn't a Nazi tattoo, I was like, "Then what is it?" I saw some interesting responses justifying it. Some I had never heard before.

I know swastikas are ancient Hindu-Sanskrit, but Platner just didn't seem like the type.

[wackadoo wabbit]

24. It wasn't a swastika; it was an SS Totenkapf (death's head)

As you pointed out, swastikas can have religious meaning, especially among Native Americans and Hindus.

A Totenkapf has no religious meaning. It was used by Hitler's SS, and it means exactly what you'd think it means.

[LisaL]

16. As far as I could tell, the guy was a heavy drinker and a womanizer.

Not a good combination for a political career.

[TVguyCards]

15. What is the world is a "Normal Dem"?

[QueerDuck]

45. I take your point, and I agree that "normal" was an unfortunate and divisive choice of words....

... and while I cannot speak on their behalf... looking at the context of the thread, however, I think it is fairly clear what they were trying to articulate.

Speaking for myself, when people look for that baseline definition, they are usually describing a pragmatist. To me, that means a Democrat who:

--- Has realistic expectations of what is actually politically achievable.
--- Rejects "all-or-nothing" purism, knowing it usually results in getting nothing.
--- Understands electoral math, recognizing that DSA-branded candidates do not win competitive R+10 districts.
--- Values incremental progress, choosing a step in the right direction over total gridlock.
--- Prioritizes building coalitions and finding compromise to advance our core goals.
--- Focuses on winning elections based on the reality we have, not the "utopia" we want.

So... the original phrasing wasn't great... but the underlying desire for practical, effective politics is something a lot of us share.

[mcar]

17. Not me. nt

[FoxNewsSucks]

19. What do you mean "NORMAL" Dem?

I think I deserve an explanation, and clarification whether or not I'm "normal", along with documentation showing who put you in charge of deciding that.

[Sympthsical]

21. "Normal Dems"

Well, try this on.

Maine voters looked at "normal Dems" and Platner with all his red flags, and they still told the party "Nah, gang."

I didn't think Platner was a great pick - wouldn't have been my choice - but the voters sent a message.

While I'm progressive, I don't love the DSA because they clientele with some . . . unsavory elements.

But if you're not reading into an increasing amount of Democratic voters who are signaling they want a change of course, then you've put your head in the sand.

Normal Dems.

Normal sounds increasingly like a synonym for asleep.

[yardwork]

47. Gosh.

It's almost as if you're suggesting that we should look at the big picture and read the evidence and notice that voters want candidates who (1) push for progressive improvements AND (2) don't come with their own personal shitshow of issues.

Are such unicorns in existence?

I offer my state's former two-term governor, Roy Cooper. Now running to flip the Senate seat Thom Tillis is vacating, Cooper is an excellent candidate. Progressive politics, he's popular, and comes with zero "issues."

Democrats feeling disheartened could look to Cooper as an example of hope. We have good candidates in this party, if people look for quality instead of flash.

[Takket]

23. not surprised at all......

character flaw after character flaw kept getting pointed out and we just kept sweeping it under the rug. for the life of me i can't figure out how no third option attracted voters for the primary beyond Mills/Platner, but here we are.

[Jack Valentino]

25. "Normal Dems" ???

Please expand upon that thought.... as I am very anxious to know what "Normal Dems" are, and whether I am 'normal' or 'abnormal'.........

[lapfog_1]

28. I am a normal Dem

... Abby Normal.

I get that many want younger Democrats, populist Democrats... fight fire with fire... But this one populist Democrat might have been a step too far. I don't want to defend him by having to say "but what about grab'em by the pussy Trump".

But that's just me...

[QueerDuck]

46. Nope... it's not "just you".

[live love laugh]

34. I also want to know what "normal Dems" means.

WarGamer
7:51 PM

WHO is surprised about Platner?

Normal Dems were rolling our eyes and holding our breath... guess we were right.

Self inflicted gunshot wound to the foot.

[Jack Valentino]

36. I think it means "someone who is not too far left", and/or

never supported or expressed sympathy for any candidate who
claimed to be some kind of 'socialist'....

(although many extreme liberal positions win majorities
in public opinion polling, when the question of 'party'
is left out of it....)

[live love laugh]

37. Why not let the person who said it explain?

[walkingman]

26. Disappointed.....but not surprised. ☮

[Coldwater]

27. Platner needs to drop out by July 23rd

for the Maine Democratic Party to name a replacement

[MichMan]

30. July 13

[Coldwater]

32. OK, Thanks

I was just watching it on the local news. apparently, they reported the date inaccurately

[FascismIsDeath]

29. I'm not. The tattoo should've been the end of it really. But there were tons of early red flags aside from that.

Just because someone says "Medicare for All" and presents as blue collar working class and even has the benefit of a military background does not mean they are a good person.

[tritsofme]

31. Who could have possibly foreseen that the Nazi tattoo guy who said terrible misogynistic garbage all over the internet

would have even more terrible skeletons in his closet?

Absolutely shocking!

[Keepthesoulalive]

33. I don't always agree with you but you were right

I couldn’t stand him but if you stated he had some serious problems with his history you would be labeled as non progressive. Oh well.

[dpibel]

35. You seem thrilled!

What a win for...normal Democrats?

[SalamanderSleeps]

38. Please proceed. What is a normal Democrat.

Not charged. Still fucked.

Trump's life is a cacophony of rape.

I guess this is the hill we are going to die on.

Utilitarian ethics only work when your bowl is full.

[Jirel]

39. This is why the rule against trashing our candidates...

… is trash, and it’s time for it to end. We have problematic people in our party. If it’s taboo to criticize them, we don’t deal with it in a timely manner. We lose races because we won’t clean our own house.

[Stacey Grove]

40. The SS Totenkopf tattoo

was the first deal breaker. Now there are plenty more.

When the truth is sacrificed, anything goes I reckon.

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

41. Not me

[Torchlight]

43. Good to know you're on this

[yardwork]

48. ....

[Greybnk48]

49. I felt he had addressed all of this.

He was open about his former "dark self" after his military service. His substance abuse and mental health issues.

I'm not sure how this newly revealed episode of aggressive behavior with a woman is a surprise given what he's said in the past. He's who the voters wanted. I personally would not have voted for him, but when Mainers did, I donated to his campaign to take down Susan Collins.

That said, I think we have time to find someone to rid us of Collins...finally. Finger's crossed.

[Maru Kitteh]

50. I'm NEVER surprised by any man who rapes unfortunately.

It took me a long time to really understand what my grandmother meant when she said “Don’t ever say what a man won’t do.”

There’s plenty of misogyny in every faction of every party, especially in the dark, no matter what they may espouse in the light.

[GPV]

51. Not surprised, and not normal in the sense that I'm a Green who

became a Dem to caucus for Bernie.

[RoseTrellis]

52. Not me

Platner had more red flags than almost any Senate candidate I can remember — and it was treated as an inconvenience rather than a disqualifier.

The tattoo was the first tell. We were asked to believe a grown man had a Totenkopf on his chest for 17 years and genuinely never understood what it was. Maybe. But be honest with yourself: if he’d had an (R) next to his name, would we have extended him that same benefit of the doubt? Or would we have called it disqualifying on day one?

I get that politics is a dirty business. But it’s been genuinely jarring to watch how many of us were willing to look past red flag after red flag simply because he was our guy running against a Republican.

And now, even with party leadership pulling endorsements and calling for him to withdraw — not because they suddenly found a conscience, but because they know he can’t win — the instinct from some corners is still to pick apart his accuser. Where did “Me Too” go? Where did “believe women” go? We spent years telling the country that an accusation deserves to be taken seriously, not litigated into oblivion by the accused’s supporters. That standard doesn’t get to disappear the moment it’s inconvenient for our side.

If we only hold our values when they’re easy — if “at least he’s not a Republican” is the whole argument — we’re not standing for anything. We’re just picking a team. And that’s a bad look, regardless of which team it is.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

53. Not me

The Nazi tattoo was a deal breaker