Graham Platner isn’t a scandal. He’s a case study in what happens when an organization falls in love with its own product and fires the quality inspector. No B.S. Let’s do the autopsy.
Platner made me uneasy from the start…he sounded too good to be true…Veteran, oyster farmer and good looking guy standing up to fight the system for the people. I wanted to like him, to trust him but then the drip, drip, drip of info began leaking out…that tattoo rang my warning bell right away, and the excuse that he didn’t know what it was didn’t wash for me. The first woman’s accusation, which he seemingly explained away, the text messages and now this, a bridge much too far, the accusation of non-consensual sex. The failure of the Democratic Party to truly vet this candidate, to put the work into looking under every possible “rock,” checking out every whisper has put us here! I am so angry…this is without a doubt, and I am tired of saying this but it is true, the most consequential, critical election of our lives…and to fall down on the job in doing the necessary background checks is inexcusable! Hey Democratic Party…get your shite together, do what is necessary, however tedious and unexciting it is, to bring QUALIFIED, winnable candidates to voters!!! Voters may be turned off by Republicans, but they can just as easily lose confidence in the Democratic Party, too…do the necessary work, so we can vote for great candidates and save our country!!
Christie...your unease was the vet the party never ran, my friend.
"Too good to be true" is the oldest alarm bell in the building...and you heard it while the professionals were busy admiring the "vibe."
Your last point is the sharpest: voters don't just reject bad candidates...they lose confidence...in the outfit that keeps handing them over. Keep that line...and use it often...because it's true.
Trust is the WHOLE inventory. The checking is tedious...unexciting...and non-negotiable...EXACTLY like everything else that keeps a house standing.
It beggars belief that no one in the DNC thought to do oppo research on this man. This is yet another unforced error on the part of the Democratic Party.
Lydia..."Unforced error" is EXACTLY the right scorekeeping.
Forced errors happen against good opponents; this was a whiff at a ball on a tee.
Public posts, a searchable repository...a tattoo his own political circles discussed for months. The file assembled ITSELF.
The pattern worth your anger: parties spend MILLIONS studying the opponent ...and pocket change auditing THEMSELVES. So the mirror gets held up by Fox News...in OCTOBER...instead.
Maybe if the DNC would stop mailing surveys to us that I never fill out and asking us for money that I never give, they could spend their time researching candidates. This is another DNC f*ck up that may cost us the Senate. Then they can call a friend or a friend of a friend to do an audit to find out what went wrong.
I'm persuaded by current events, that the DNC is singularly lacking in strategic leadership AND tactical competence. It's been obvious for at least a decade that the illiberal media anchored by Fox News has captured the narrative. The DNC has never sought to launch a liberal equivalent; never sought to counter the Heritage Foundation or the Federalist Society. Instead they remain blinkered in the past. Cranking up their outmoded machinery on a campaign by campaign basis: dialing for dollars, or sending out mailers imploring someone, anyone to please send money. It's pathetic and disorganized and inspires confidence in no one. And, the future of our democracy depends upon this one, remaining Party that supports the Constitution and the Rule of Law. Dear God, I wish they were equal to the task!
This has been my feeling all along with this particular candidate. I was a bit awe-struck that people were so receptive to him, and by not recognizing that his past exists within him still.
Agreed, Stacey. My read had been that this campaign would go down in a blaze of "not-so-glory." The patterns and warning signs were there for anyone willing to look...instead of looking away.
Shit. Shit. Who missed THIS one? The point is, this is the Democratic Party. You can get over a lot of stuff when you're running with the good guys. You can't run past rape, even rape allegations. That's the Republicans' wheelhouse. Not ours. Now we're back in jeopardy.
Goes back to your recent post on how quickly one can lose their reputation after many small missteps add up. In this case many small checks missed lead to one large fail.
Jack.. Enough has been said here about the sexual assault and well… all of it. What strikes me now is that the Democratic Party is often its own worst enemy.
This is an incredibly unfortunate example. This wasn’t something we could afford but here we are.. again!
I’m pissed off too… pissed off and very concerned.
Once I heard that he had the Nazi tattoo I pretty much turned off, but. I wasn’t really paying much attention to the race.
Now, as I look at more information,when he got the tattoo he made the comment he doesn’t hide the fact that he’s a Nazi
There were allegations by a couple of a couple of women he formally dated he didn’t treat them well. Something about being scared and possibly roughed up
That was followed up by sex texting. I think something like three women a few years ago when he was married. I don’t think he’ll lay that on his posttraumatic stress syndrome. His wife back her man.
Evidently, there’s a number of poorly thought out texts or posts. I haven’t read those. But it’s not good.
Finally, the allegation of rape. I read the political article today and I watched a good part of the victims interview with Jake Tapper. I have a couple of issues or questions about it, but when taken together, with everything else-IMO he needs to get out by next Monday.
He’s lost the state democratic machine. He’s lost the national democratic people. He won’t be getting any money from those sources. A number of people are calling for him to resign.
I know a little bit about redemption, but I’m not roaring for the US Senate. Anybody seeing my tweets since 2015 would seriously doubt I should be running for dog catcher. I’ve been staunchly on the left and a democrat all my life.
He should move out and let the Democrats pick somebody who doesn’t have the kind of issues he carries around.
I am not mad, I'm disgusted! After what women specifically have faced with trump in the office and the hidden abuse files, you'd think the democratic party would have spent 5 minutes on due diligence before backing a candidate so unbefitting any office. I don't know the particulars of this whole disaster we deserve more and better from the party that represents us. I did not opine during the primary, but thought the people of Maine would do their research. I almost think this was reverse ops. The right holding down the information until the vote was cast. Now they have a huge platform for destroying Platner in particular and the Democratic Party. What is it with abusive men in places of power? We deserve respect and much better!
You are absolutely right about the failure of Democrats to thoroughly vet new candidates BEFORE jumping to support them in national elections. I also think part of the problem is being too eager to promote new candidates on the national stage before they have held any significant office at the state level. Better to find any skeletons in the candidate’s closet when it is a state, not a federal, legislative seat that is at risk. And some time spent working at the state level will likely make for a more effective politician at the national level.
But I also have to blame the DNC for this mess, and specifically Chuck Schumer singling out Janet Mills to be the DNC’s preferred candidate in the Democratic primary. She may have been a wonderful governor for the state of Maine, but at age 78 she is simply too old to be running for a first term in the Senate. And doubly so right now, given the popular mood! Platner’s fall from grace would be a lot less damaging if the more moderate candidate supported by the DNC in the primary was young enough to actually be electable, as the party could simply pivot to support the primary’s runner up. Now, though, they are well and truly stuck between two poor options, unless they can find a hidden diamond FAST!
I should have realized early on and, mea culpa, believed the women. I married more than one man in my younger years with the same charisma, the same line of what turned out to be lies or major holes in their back story. Those in the upper dem ranks have a lot to answer for. The Maine voters best send him back to the lobster pots.
When we sold our old house, we paid a home inspector to do as thorough an inspection as possible on the place before we put it on the market. We wanted to understand what the buyer’s inspector might find once we signed off on the purchase & sale agreement, as we didn’t want to be blindsided. Our inspector, a good friend, found a bunch of stuff, small and large. Some we dealt with before listing, others we worked out how to deal with if they came up during a buyer’s inspection. Ultimately, the buyer’s inspector found none of them, and the three he did find were stupid things, but we were prepared for anything real. The people of Maine deserve a candidate that can pass a thorough vetting, with any possible skeletons in the closet identified ahead of time and plans made on how to deal with them when they’re found. There are no perfect candidates, and pretending your candidate is perfect when they’re not (or worse, assuming the opposition’s inspectors are blind idiots) is both foolish and dangerous.
Given the likely attacks that have/will come from Repubs, not doing granular oppo research after the first negatives emerged and then either developing viable counter measures or immediately withdrawing support is political malpractice on the part of the Dems 🤦♀️
Worked in non-profits for years. One of my rules was to have the "What about ...?" board member, the one who was not afraid to raise the BS flag in a meeting and say, "No, this is not who we are." Kept us from making too many unforgivable mistakes and too many insurance claims. Kept us true to our mission. I was appalled over the tattoo and knew from that he had no chance. What makes me appalled now are the people who are blaming the victim, trying to ascribe to the woman who's come forward "she must be being paid by the opposition or by the DNC". And THESE are the people who voted for him or who, if they lived in Maine, would vote for him. We have become the thing we said we hated. #HoldingFast but crying inside.
The DNC failure was to endorse someone like Janet Mills in as his opposition. Respect her but voters are looking for younger, less established and PAC money enriched candidates to compete. No wonder he won the primary. The DNC is so out of touch.
Platner made me uneasy from the start…he sounded too good to be true…Veteran, oyster farmer and good looking guy standing up to fight the system for the people. I wanted to like him, to trust him but then the drip, drip, drip of info began leaking out…that tattoo rang my warning bell right away, and the excuse that he didn’t know what it was didn’t wash for me. The first woman’s accusation, which he seemingly explained away, the text messages and now this, a bridge much too far, the accusation of non-consensual sex. The failure of the Democratic Party to truly vet this candidate, to put the work into looking under every possible “rock,” checking out every whisper has put us here! I am so angry…this is without a doubt, and I am tired of saying this but it is true, the most consequential, critical election of our lives…and to fall down on the job in doing the necessary background checks is inexcusable! Hey Democratic Party…get your shite together, do what is necessary, however tedious and unexciting it is, to bring QUALIFIED, winnable candidates to voters!!! Voters may be turned off by Republicans, but they can just as easily lose confidence in the Democratic Party, too…do the necessary work, so we can vote for great candidates and save our country!!
Christie...your unease was the vet the party never ran, my friend.
"Too good to be true" is the oldest alarm bell in the building...and you heard it while the professionals were busy admiring the "vibe."
Your last point is the sharpest: voters don't just reject bad candidates...they lose confidence...in the outfit that keeps handing them over. Keep that line...and use it often...because it's true.
Trust is the WHOLE inventory. The checking is tedious...unexciting...and non-negotiable...EXACTLY like everything else that keeps a house standing.
-Jack
It beggars belief that no one in the DNC thought to do oppo research on this man. This is yet another unforced error on the part of the Democratic Party.
Lydia..."Unforced error" is EXACTLY the right scorekeeping.
Forced errors happen against good opponents; this was a whiff at a ball on a tee.
Public posts, a searchable repository...a tattoo his own political circles discussed for months. The file assembled ITSELF.
The pattern worth your anger: parties spend MILLIONS studying the opponent ...and pocket change auditing THEMSELVES. So the mirror gets held up by Fox News...in OCTOBER...instead.
-Jack
I agree. WTAF??!!
Maybe if the DNC would stop mailing surveys to us that I never fill out and asking us for money that I never give, they could spend their time researching candidates. This is another DNC f*ck up that may cost us the Senate. Then they can call a friend or a friend of a friend to do an audit to find out what went wrong.
I'm persuaded by current events, that the DNC is singularly lacking in strategic leadership AND tactical competence. It's been obvious for at least a decade that the illiberal media anchored by Fox News has captured the narrative. The DNC has never sought to launch a liberal equivalent; never sought to counter the Heritage Foundation or the Federalist Society. Instead they remain blinkered in the past. Cranking up their outmoded machinery on a campaign by campaign basis: dialing for dollars, or sending out mailers imploring someone, anyone to please send money. It's pathetic and disorganized and inspires confidence in no one. And, the future of our democracy depends upon this one, remaining Party that supports the Constitution and the Rule of Law. Dear God, I wish they were equal to the task!
I agree with you. That's why we are fortunate to have this platform and many others to remind ourselves that what happens in the future is up to us.
Amen to that!!
You stated exactly what I’ve been thinking & feeling about Platner.
It is the same way I felt when only a portion of it was reported in the beginning.
This has been my feeling all along with this particular candidate. I was a bit awe-struck that people were so receptive to him, and by not recognizing that his past exists within him still.
Agreed, Stacey. My read had been that this campaign would go down in a blaze of "not-so-glory." The patterns and warning signs were there for anyone willing to look...instead of looking away.
-Jack
“not-so-glory” has just been entered into my official lexicon. Thanks, bud.
Democrats who dumbfucked the ball into their own end zone twice are still running with the same play book
Buck...it's maddening.
-Jack
Shit. Shit. Who missed THIS one? The point is, this is the Democratic Party. You can get over a lot of stuff when you're running with the good guys. You can't run past rape, even rape allegations. That's the Republicans' wheelhouse. Not ours. Now we're back in jeopardy.
Goes back to your recent post on how quickly one can lose their reputation after many small missteps add up. In this case many small checks missed lead to one large fail.
Jack.. Enough has been said here about the sexual assault and well… all of it. What strikes me now is that the Democratic Party is often its own worst enemy.
This is an incredibly unfortunate example. This wasn’t something we could afford but here we are.. again!
I’m pissed off too… pissed off and very concerned.
#Holdfast (by my fingernails right now)
~Susan
Once I heard that he had the Nazi tattoo I pretty much turned off, but. I wasn’t really paying much attention to the race.
Now, as I look at more information,when he got the tattoo he made the comment he doesn’t hide the fact that he’s a Nazi
There were allegations by a couple of a couple of women he formally dated he didn’t treat them well. Something about being scared and possibly roughed up
That was followed up by sex texting. I think something like three women a few years ago when he was married. I don’t think he’ll lay that on his posttraumatic stress syndrome. His wife back her man.
Evidently, there’s a number of poorly thought out texts or posts. I haven’t read those. But it’s not good.
Finally, the allegation of rape. I read the political article today and I watched a good part of the victims interview with Jake Tapper. I have a couple of issues or questions about it, but when taken together, with everything else-IMO he needs to get out by next Monday.
He’s lost the state democratic machine. He’s lost the national democratic people. He won’t be getting any money from those sources. A number of people are calling for him to resign.
I know a little bit about redemption, but I’m not roaring for the US Senate. Anybody seeing my tweets since 2015 would seriously doubt I should be running for dog catcher. I’ve been staunchly on the left and a democrat all my life.
He should move out and let the Democrats pick somebody who doesn’t have the kind of issues he carries around.
George or D. Mac @worldflood1 on X
I am not mad, I'm disgusted! After what women specifically have faced with trump in the office and the hidden abuse files, you'd think the democratic party would have spent 5 minutes on due diligence before backing a candidate so unbefitting any office. I don't know the particulars of this whole disaster we deserve more and better from the party that represents us. I did not opine during the primary, but thought the people of Maine would do their research. I almost think this was reverse ops. The right holding down the information until the vote was cast. Now they have a huge platform for destroying Platner in particular and the Democratic Party. What is it with abusive men in places of power? We deserve respect and much better!
#HoldFast
You are absolutely right about the failure of Democrats to thoroughly vet new candidates BEFORE jumping to support them in national elections. I also think part of the problem is being too eager to promote new candidates on the national stage before they have held any significant office at the state level. Better to find any skeletons in the candidate’s closet when it is a state, not a federal, legislative seat that is at risk. And some time spent working at the state level will likely make for a more effective politician at the national level.
But I also have to blame the DNC for this mess, and specifically Chuck Schumer singling out Janet Mills to be the DNC’s preferred candidate in the Democratic primary. She may have been a wonderful governor for the state of Maine, but at age 78 she is simply too old to be running for a first term in the Senate. And doubly so right now, given the popular mood! Platner’s fall from grace would be a lot less damaging if the more moderate candidate supported by the DNC in the primary was young enough to actually be electable, as the party could simply pivot to support the primary’s runner up. Now, though, they are well and truly stuck between two poor options, unless they can find a hidden diamond FAST!
I’m with you on this Jack
I should have realized early on and, mea culpa, believed the women. I married more than one man in my younger years with the same charisma, the same line of what turned out to be lies or major holes in their back story. Those in the upper dem ranks have a lot to answer for. The Maine voters best send him back to the lobster pots.
When we sold our old house, we paid a home inspector to do as thorough an inspection as possible on the place before we put it on the market. We wanted to understand what the buyer’s inspector might find once we signed off on the purchase & sale agreement, as we didn’t want to be blindsided. Our inspector, a good friend, found a bunch of stuff, small and large. Some we dealt with before listing, others we worked out how to deal with if they came up during a buyer’s inspection. Ultimately, the buyer’s inspector found none of them, and the three he did find were stupid things, but we were prepared for anything real. The people of Maine deserve a candidate that can pass a thorough vetting, with any possible skeletons in the closet identified ahead of time and plans made on how to deal with them when they’re found. There are no perfect candidates, and pretending your candidate is perfect when they’re not (or worse, assuming the opposition’s inspectors are blind idiots) is both foolish and dangerous.
Once again, the Dems have formed a circular firing squad. *sigh*
Given the likely attacks that have/will come from Repubs, not doing granular oppo research after the first negatives emerged and then either developing viable counter measures or immediately withdrawing support is political malpractice on the part of the Dems 🤦♀️
Worked in non-profits for years. One of my rules was to have the "What about ...?" board member, the one who was not afraid to raise the BS flag in a meeting and say, "No, this is not who we are." Kept us from making too many unforgivable mistakes and too many insurance claims. Kept us true to our mission. I was appalled over the tattoo and knew from that he had no chance. What makes me appalled now are the people who are blaming the victim, trying to ascribe to the woman who's come forward "she must be being paid by the opposition or by the DNC". And THESE are the people who voted for him or who, if they lived in Maine, would vote for him. We have become the thing we said we hated. #HoldingFast but crying inside.
The DNC failure was to endorse someone like Janet Mills in as his opposition. Respect her but voters are looking for younger, less established and PAC money enriched candidates to compete. No wonder he won the primary. The DNC is so out of touch.