Democratic Primaries
Related: About this forumHarris Takes Pragmatic Stance to Stand Out in Democratic Field
Kamala Harris portrayed herself as a pragmatist rather than an ideological politician as she seeks to differentiate herself among the top tier of candidates in the crowded 2020 Democratic primary.
My motivation is truly about how can I fix the problems that wake people up in the middle of the night, she told Bloomberg News Sunday aboard her bus on a five-day trip across Iowa. Wherever that fits on someones ideological spectrum, have at it. In explaining her approach, Harris said issues that matter most to voters dont fall along ideological lines.
When it comes to the basic things that do wake people up in the middle of the night, where would you put on the spectrum of ideology that everyone should have health care? Harris said. Where would you put on the spectrum that every child should have a decent education?
Harris, 54, has been unable to whittle away support from front-runner Joe Biden or top Elizabeth Warren after seizing the spotlight at the first debate in July with a harsh critique of the former vice presidents opposition to busing in the 1970s. A Quinnipiac poll last week showed Biden leading nationally at 32%, with Harris in fourth place at 7%.
Among African-American voters, Harris, who is black, fares worse: Biden 47%, Harris only 1%
https://www.yahoo.com/news/harris-takes-pragmatic-stance-stand-222302979.html
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
wasupaloopa
(4,516 posts)My idea is a pragmatist president and idealists in Congress
Idealists have the progressive ideas that can become law. Though of course they need to realize Congress requires compromise.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
lapucelle
(18,423 posts)wage, tuition free state university and community college, a gold standard paid family leave law, gender pay equity legislation enacted, and Roe v Wade codified into state law.
Next year, we're on track for legalized recreational pot. None of this magically happened immediately, but we have these things now, while other states don't.
There are several excellent pragmatists running for the executive position, Biden, Harris, and Warren among them.
I'm open to voting for any of our fine Democrats who have what it takes to turn policy into practice and who have the necessary patience required to do it right.
At the moment, my preference is for the woman with the plans.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
wasupaloopa
(4,516 posts)I am a Californian and I think we are very progressive but you just may have us beat.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
lapucelle
(18,423 posts)Your theory that idealists who dream big (but who might not have what it takes to get things done) are better suited to a legislative body is a point well taken.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Princetonian
(1,501 posts)Still waiting for Harris to apologize to Kevin Cooper:
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/05/17/opinion/sunday/kevin-cooper-california-death-row.html
And to clergy abuse victims:
https://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2019/06/26/clergy-abuse-survivors-question-sen-kamala-harris-record/
And to parents jailed for their kids' truancy:
https://www.factcheck.org/2019/05/kamala-harris-spins-facts-on-truancy-law/
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
LakeArenal
(28,906 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Princetonian
(1,501 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
wasupaloopa
(4,516 posts)Are you afraid of losing the lead?
I heard so much this weekend that Harris is the one to watch. For her everything is looking up.
For Biden being on top, everything can only go down. You are looking in the rear view mirror.
Bidens gaffs added together show that his mental ability is deteriorating. I know because I am 73.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Princetonian
(1,501 posts)That is as classy an attack as when Harris implied Joe is a racist "who worked with segregationists".
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
wasupaloopa
(4,516 posts)up with him. Anyone nearing our ages can see it for what it is.
For what it is worth Sanders is sharper than Biden. I am 73 and I think both are too old to be president which requires much more mental ability.
People like me realize that when we age we lose abilities. A realistic person accepts that because it is natures way.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Princetonian
(1,501 posts)I am a multi-tasker who gets little sleep and have lots to do as a busy mom with a family. My family and friends know this and understand.
You are an anonymous Harris partisan doing what Harris has done already in the first and second debate when she implied Joe is a racist "who worked with segregationsts": attacking Joe with ugly baseless accusations. Very sad.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
wasupaloopa
(4,516 posts)against Biden but his age.
I am not like those who need to find dirt on someone. If that is what you think you need to do to win you must not have much faith in your candidates chances.
I am staying pretty much out of the primary except that I think Harris being a woman and a person of color has the best chance of beating trump.
And because she has the experience and ability to be a good President.
All we have to do is let the others beat themselves.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Princetonian
(1,501 posts)Last edited Mon Aug 12, 2019, 03:32 PM - Edit history (1)
Proud WOC here who thinks Harris has no chance of beating Our National Nightmare because she has too much unaddressed baggage from her past that Republicans will only be too happy to air again and again during a general election. As it is, Harris does worse against Trump in every state and national poll matchup than THE TOP TIER CANDIDATES WHO ARE ALL SEPTUAGENARIANS.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
wasupaloopa
(4,516 posts)We in CA do. Many of us have already voted for her twice. She is the best at interrogating Repubs.
You need to tear her down because you are afraid she will overtake Biden. And you should be afraid.
You being a WOC gives you no incite into Kamala Harris.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Princetonian
(1,501 posts)Their words give me plenty of informed factual insight into Harris.
Judge Alex Kozinski asked Vienna if his boss, Atty. Gen. Kamala D. Harris, wanted to defend a conviction obtained by lying prosecutors. If Harris did not back off the case, Kozinski warned, the court would name names in a ruling that would not be very pretty.
https://www.latimes.com/local/politics/la-me-lying-prosecutors-20150201-story.html
'Harris never responded to him when he wrote to tell her that a priest who had molested him was still in ministry at a local Catholic cathedral. And, he says, she didnt reply five years later when he wrote again, urging her to release records on accused clergy to help other alleged victims who were filing lawsuits.
She did nothing, said Piscitelli, today the Northern California spokesman for SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests. Survivors of clergy abuse and their attorneys say that Harris record on fighting sex abuse within the Catholic Church is relevant as the U.S. senator from California campaigns for the presidency... They complain that Harris was consistently silent on the Catholic Churchs abuse scandal first as district attorney in San Francisco and later as Californias attorney general...
Catholics make up large voting blocs in the city and the state, accounting for roughly a quarter of the population in both San Franciscos metro area and across California.
Theres a potential political risk if you move aggressively against the church, said Michael Meadows, a Bay Area attorney who has represented clergy abuse victims. I just dont think she was willing to take it.'
https://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2019/06/26/clergy-abuse-survivors-question-sen-kamala-harris-record/
These are the heartfelt words of The New York Times' Pulitzer Prize winning investigative reporter Nicholas Kristof:
Im using strong language, I know. But I went to San Quentin to interview Cooper, reviewed trial transcripts and other documents, spoke to innumerable people on and off the record, and in 34 years at The New York Times, Ive never come across a case in America as outrageous as Kevin Coopers. So hear me out...
As state attorney general, Kamala Harris refused to allow this advanced DNA testing and showed no interest in the case (on Friday, after the online publication of this column, Senator Harris called me to say "I feel awful about this" and put out a statement saying: "As a firm believer in DNA testing..."
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/05/17/opinion/sunday/kevin-cooper-california-death-row.html
Don't Attack the Messenger. What does Harris have to say?
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
wasupaloopa
(4,516 posts)If you can look up the charges you can look up the rebuttal
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Princetonian
(1,501 posts)Harris is consistently on the wrong side of social justice in the cases I have documented in this thread:
Reply 2: https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1287&pid=236405
Reply 15: https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1287&pid=236536
No amount of rhetorical nonsense is going to fool anyone but the most partisan.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Princetonian
(1,501 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
LakeArenal
(28,906 posts)Are you afraid of your favorite your candidate has no chance ever?
Harriss political opportunism has been evident since Franken.
Her experience as a prosecutor is an anathema to me. I probably wouldnt have voted for her even without the Franken baggage.
I find her pragmatism harsh and critical.
I find her approach caustic and stiff.
All I can say about Joe, which many here dont accept. Joe is the lead everywhere.
Has been from the start. He has the most experience. We is the most well liked nationally and globally.
When folks say the only thing I have against Joe is his age, I laugh at the falseness of that. For all of us 55 and over who lost their jobs during the big Republican purge of 2009, who had to take early retirement to survive, I cringe every time someone says anyone is too old and In my opinion are full of crap and ageists to boot.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
wasupaloopa
(4,516 posts)Harris
Biden is too old because his faculties are diminishing. Call it what you want I am speaking from experience. The problem is with people who cant admit to being aged.
Old age, sickness and death is waiting for all of us.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Princetonian
(1,501 posts)This OP is tailor-made for you:
https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1287&pid=236680
It's a shame when Democrats can't bring themselves to read unvarnished facts from impeccable news stories. Sooner or later, Harris will have to answer to her DA and AG history. Don't say I didn't warn you.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Princetonian
(1,501 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
GeorgeGist
(25,328 posts)I have no sense of how she stands out.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
madville
(7,413 posts)All of her messaging and tactics just fall flat and fizzle for some reason. It's kind of off-putting, much like her forced personality where she laughs at everything she says.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
MineralMan
(146,364 posts)Who says so? People who will be voting in the primaries. That's who. Polls reflect people's opinions about such things.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
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