Dem Primary randoms, week of 6/23

[redheadbaker]

Another mediocre white male joins the race 

www.cbsnews.com/news/joe-sestak-running-for-president-former-congressman-and-3-star-admiral-joins-2020-democratic-presidential-race/

Former Pennsylvania congressman and retired three-star admiral Joe Sestak announced Sunday that he is running for president, becoming the 25th candidate to seek the Democratic nomination. Sestak, a Vietnam War veteran who also served in Iraq and Afghanistan, made his announcement in a video posted to his campaign website.

[winecat]

Thank goodness. I was getting worried that the mediocre white man contingent wouldn't have anyone they could identify with.

[krystee]

Happy First Debate Week!!

[Bernadine]

Can't wait for the debates! I helped to set up the viewing parties for our Democratic Central Committee, and it should be a good time.

But more than that, I'm really anxious to hear from some of the candidates who haven't received as much press.

[ufcasey]

A Washington Post article that articulates my reluctance to support Gillibrand because of her history on gun rights issues
www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2019/06/24/grieving-community-changed-kirsten-gillibrands-mind-guns-it-didnt-change-much-else/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.1faa4712a077

"In a Sept. 19, 2008, letter to the organization’s executive director, Gillibrand wrote that she opposed bans on “certain firearms for cosmetic features, bullets of a random size” and “magazines holding an arbitrary number of cartridges.”

“I appreciate the work that the NRA does to protect owners’ rights and I look forward to working with you for many years in Congress,” she wrote."


and this:


"And after standing behind Gillibrand at a news conference about gun control a few months later, Pryear never heard from Gillibrand again. She had no clue that the senator still spoke about her daughter until a Washington Post reporter told her.

Gillibrand’s office said the reason it never contacted the mother again was that it couldn’t find a way to get in touch with her — even though Pryear still lives in the house she lived in when she met the senator, with the same phone number she said she originally shared with Gillibrand’s office."


Not specific to her, but I feel a lot of politicians do this - pick a victim and tell their story repeatedly on the campaign trail as a narrative that helps explain why the politician has a certain position on something. But then the politician neglects to actually form any kind of relationship with the victim's family (or the victims themselves if they are still alive). It's a gross misuse of someone's tragedy, even if it's for a good cause (passing a bill).

[ufcasey]

Article on how some South Bend residents are not having it with Buttigieg:

www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2019/06/24/we-dont-trust-you-after-fatal-police-shooting-black-residents-confront-buttigieg/?utm_term=.15010df5d68b

Though black residents’ frustrations with the South Bend Police Department predate Buttigieg’s tenure, it was clear on Sunday that the mayor’s presidential ambitions had done little to improve matters. At one point, when audience members were asked to be respectful of Buttigieg’s schedule and reminded that his time was limited, outrage erupted.

“You gotta get back to South Carolina like you was yesterday?” one man yelled, referencing Buttigieg’s decision to briefly return to the campaign trail on Saturday so that he could deliver a speech at the South Carolina Democratic Party Convention.

[ufcasey]

Beto is proposing a "war tax" which will act as a trust fund for veterans to pay for their healthcare and it would be instituted at the implementation of any new future war.

www.cnn.com/2019/06/24/politics/beto-orourke-war-tax-veterans-plan/index.html

Households making less than $30,000 per year would pay $25; those making less than $40,000 would pay $57; those making less than $50,000 would pay $98; those making less than $75,000 would pay $164; those making less than $100,000 would pay $270; those making less than $200,000 would pay $485; and those making more than $200,000 would pay $1,000. "This new tax would serve as a reminder of the incredible sacrifice made by those who serve and their families," O'Rourke's plan says.

[heyjude]

Jun 24, 2019 10:43:56 GMT -5 ufcasey said:

Beto is proposing a "war tax" which will act as a trust fund for veterans to pay for their healthcare and it would be instituted at the implementation of any new future war.

www.cnn.com/2019/06/24/politics/beto-orourke-war-tax-veterans-plan/index.html

Households making less than $30,000 per year would pay $25; those making less than $40,000 would pay $57; those making less than $50,000 would pay $98; those making less than $75,000 would pay $164; those making less than $100,000 would pay $270; those making less than $200,000 would pay $485; and those making more than $200,000 would pay $1,000. "This new tax would serve as a reminder of the incredible sacrifice made by those who serve and their families," O'Rourke's plan says.

I don’t know about this.

[ufcasey]

Jun 24, 2019 10:51:37 GMT -5 heyjude said:

Jun 24, 2019 10:43:56 GMT -5 ufcasey said:

Beto is proposing a "war tax" which will act as a trust fund for veterans to pay for their healthcare and it would be instituted at the implementation of any new future war.

www.cnn.com/2019/06/24/politics/beto-orourke-war-tax-veterans-plan/index.html

Households making less than $30,000 per year would pay $25; those making less than $40,000 would pay $57; those making less than $50,000 would pay $98; those making less than $75,000 would pay $164; those making less than $100,000 would pay $270; those making less than $200,000 would pay $485; and those making more than $200,000 would pay $1,000. "This new tax would serve as a reminder of the incredible sacrifice made by those who serve and their families," O'Rourke's plan says.

I don’t know about this.

Same. On the one hand, having a financial impact to non-military families when military families have to go war might help generate the much-needed public outcry against a war happening in the future. Also, we should have a source of financial funding to support veterans when they get out of a war, starting at the outset of the war. If we can fund weapons, we can fund healthcare.

On the other hand, sometimes war is needed (see: Hitler) and this kind of threat of taxation could delay the US entering a war for a humanitarian crisis in fear a public outcry against their taxation. Also, the last time I checked the public doesn't get to vote on whether or not we go to war so why would we all be taxed for entering a war which could potentially be against the will of the public? Most importantly - why is the government not just forced to budget for this instead of taxing Americans specifically by income level? We don't do this tax for planes/guns/etc for war, the government just pays for it with magical money.

[Deleted]

I don’t think a war tax is going to change anything. The idea of a veterans trust fund sounds nice, but the fact that our veterans aren’t properly cared for isn’t due to lack of money, it’s lack of care and morals in those who manage the purse strings. Same goes for those who benefit the most from war - some public outcry over a tax isn’t likely to deter them when there’s money to be made on defense contracts.

[heat40]

Julián Castro can’t catch a break. Article about him usually being the first to take a stand on things, yet he doesn’t get the attention that others do.

www.politico.com/story/2019/06/24/julian-castro-2020-1379553

[VillainV]

Jun 24, 2019 10:43:56 GMT -5 ufcasey said:

Beto is proposing a "war tax" which will act as a trust fund for veterans to pay for their healthcare and it would be instituted at the implementation of any new future war.

www.cnn.com/2019/06/24/politics/beto-orourke-war-tax-veterans-plan/index.html

Households making less than $30,000 per year would pay $25; those making less than $40,000 would pay $57; those making less than $50,000 would pay $98; those making less than $75,000 would pay $164; those making less than $100,000 would pay $270; those making less than $200,000 would pay $485; and those making more than $200,000 would pay $1,000. "This new tax would serve as a reminder of the incredible sacrifice made by those who serve and their families," O'Rourke's plan says.

Or you could, you know, just budget appropriately for military healthcare and properly fund the VA. We already tax for that.

[ESF]

Jun 24, 2019 18:48:31 GMT -5 heat40 said:

Julián Castro can’t catch a break. Article about him usually being the first to take a stand on things, yet he doesn’t get the attention that others do.

www.politico.com/story/2019/06/24/julian-castro-2020-1379553

This is a good article, thanks! While I really, really want women's leadership, Castro's message really speaks to me. I admire how hard he fights for the poor, and I feel like he talks about the issues not just in terms of people's economic well being but in terms of their dignity.  I feel like he's the candidate we don't deserve.

ETA and his police reform bill is a serious game changer. The proposal to restrict qualified immunity is both simple and genius. It's amazing that nobody else has put that out there.