It Begins.

[Aegon]

Yuck, Cory Booker. I'd have to really hold my nose while voting for him. Really hope we do better.

He co-sponsored Sanders' "Medicare For All" bill. I respect that. Most of the spineless establishment Dems wouldn't touch that thing with a ten foot pole.

[Cecelia]

I happily voted for Hillary Clinton (even though I preferred Bernie Sanders) because at the very least she has been an advocate for Public Education. Cory Booker hasn't been--until it became politically convenient for him to oppose Betsy DeVos (while still knowing she'd get approved). And even now we can't be sure of his dedication to public education. He was friends with Trump appointee Betsy DeVos, and even worked with her toward her own goals. Had it not been career suicide to vote to approve DeVos, I can't say with certainty that he wouldn't have voted for her despite her lack of experience.

Yes, he'd be better than Trump. And a whole lot of people would be better than Booker. I'll take one of those, rather than settling. One that actually advocates on the behalf of public education, rather than filling the pockets of those like DeVos.

[Minimalist]

The sea change in 2016 was that the public no longer has the attention span for serious policy discussions.  This has been going on in the US since 1980 and it crossed the line into the whackosphere in 2016.  There were no significant policy differences between Clinton and Sanders but the stylistic difference was obvious.  Sanders could fire a crowd and Clinton never could.  Right wing shitballs with their idiocy aside she has always been a rather boring policy wonk.  Obama emerged from nowhere and blew right by her with his personal energy in 2008.  Sanders failed in 2016 but he made it interesting.

Here's the thing with Warren, Sanders, Biden, Jerry Brown, John Hickenlooper, John Kerry, etc., etc.  They are all old.  They've all done some good things but I get the sense that this is like 2008 and the democratic electorate wants young blood.  Hey.  I'm an old fuck and I want to see some fresh ideas.  For that reason I wish Pelosi would step down and pass the torch to someone younger in the house.  It's not that she doesn't know what she's doing.  It's the optics and she does not help with the tide that is rising for democrats.

One other thing, Cecilia.  I don't know where you got this idea that politicians on different sides can't be "pals."  Orrin Hatch and Ted Kennedy were political opposites but still great friends.  Same with John McCain and Joe Biden.  People can disagree without bringing out the knives.

[Cecelia]

Booker didn't just hang out with DeVos. He worked with her on her agenda, and supported it. He's long advocated using taxpayer dollars for charter, private, and even religious schools. It's not like DeVos and Booker just go out for a beer afterwards, but disagree on policy in regards to education. They agree on education. If DeVos had been nominated by any other Republican President, Booker would have voted to confirm her. But the toxicity of the Trump Brand made it political suicide for him to vote for her -- and he knew she'd get approved anyway.

[Minimalist]

There are charter schools everywhere.  Its an idea which gained currency and here in Arizona seems to be failing in great numbers.

https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/loc...364727002/

Dozens of Arizona charter schools are at risk of closing due to financial woes

He's far from the only one who got taken in by the scam.  Again, if perfection is your requirement you are condemned to eternal disappointment.

[Cecelia]

I'm not asking for Perfection. If I was, I wouldn't have voted for Hillary Clinton. Because she was definitely far from perfect. She had a lot of baggage, and was in bed with wall street (much like Booker is). But for me, public education is NOT something I'm willing to compromise on. I expect my Presidential candidate to be wholly supportive of Public Education, and have a record indicating that support. Booker doesn't have that, so I can't support him.

[brewer]

Had to read up on Booker. I'd consider him a viable option for the dems.

[Wyrd of Gawd]

The Dem who gets the nomination for 2020 will lose. The Dem who gets the nomination in 2024 will win.

[Minimalist]

By then there will be no more elections.

[Chad32]

I don't really care how old Bernie is, and he's not much older than Trump or Hillary. He's the most popular politician i the country, and I'm voting for him if he runs again. I still half expect Trump to bail out in 2020. He can't be enjoying himself where he is.