Why Doesn't Anyone Like John Fetterman....except for voters?
https://thephiladelphiacitizen.org/john-fetterman/
Back during the fateful 2016 presidential election, when he was starting to get a sinking feeling in his stomach, former Governor Ed Rendell advised the Clinton campaign on a strategy to shore up Hillary’s prospects in Pennsylvania. “Put her in a car with John Fetterman,” he said, “and let them drive through the state, talking to voters in every county.”
Rendell, long the master of what in politics was once called “the common touch,” had recognized what the elite political establishment still struggles with when it comes to the 6 foot 8, tattooed, progressive Braddock, Pa mayor turned lieutenant governor: That, in the last 15 years or so, the electorate’s hunger for authenticity has trumped ideology, and that, as the Democratic Party veered more and more into its elite, bi-coastal brand of politics, its roots as the champion of working families was suddenly in jeopardy.
Alas, we know what happened. Rendell’s advice went unheeded, (one former Clinton campaign official tells me that, in their Brooklyn—Brooklyn! — campaign headquarters, there was precisely one staffer with midwest roots, cleverly nicknamed by all his Harvard and Yale colleagues “working class”), and Clinton lost Pennsylvania amid an exodus of Rust Belt middle-class voters. And now we know that wasn’t a one-off; the drift of folks — of all colors — into the Republican fold who shower after work has steadily continued.
That’s why the Fetterman story this campaign cycle is so fascinating. The Democratic establishment has once again lined up against him — locally, Mayor Kenney, labor leader Ryan Boyer, and Democratic City Committee Chair Bob Brady are all effectively behind the straight-from-central-casting centrist candidate Conor Lamb, even while Fetterman maintains a gargantuan lead in the polls with some three weeks till election day. What’s going on here?
Calculating political risks......
snip
long, in-depth article, worth your time, IMHO, if this race is of interest to you.
Ali Velshi sits on the board of this media org, btw.
= new reply since forum marked as read
- Groucho Marx
repubs have mastered the art of faking sincerity, as seen oh so tragically in the trump cult. The most insincere, faked-up, caricature of a "working class" guy who "speaks for the people" in fucking history was "elected" president.
Not saying that Fetterman is fake, he does have that feel of a real, this is who he is type of guy. We need more like him in the Dem party.
If a democrat is popular locally, with people who ACTUALLY KNOW THEM, and they're ahead in the polls, VOTE FOR THEM.
WTF???
Um no....
But simply looking up the actual results is not do-able?
Your mind had already been made up when you supposedly "met" Fetterman.
And based on your "analysis", why did Arlen Specter (formerly a Democrat many decades ago when he tried to run as a Democrat for the District Attorney here in Philly, and when he didn't get the "machine endorsement", switched parties, ran as a Republican, and then won the position)?
And then fast forward with Specter as a GOP Senator (after his 1980 election and 5 terms) - why did he lose after a party switch back to being a Democrat, who went on to lose to teabagger Toomey for a Senate seat that he had held for 30 years?
And why the hell did Katie McGinty get LESS votes than Hillary Clinton in 2016 when McGinty ran against Toomey for that same Senate seat?
https://www.electionreturns.pa.gov/General/OfficeResults?OfficeID=2&ElectionID=54&ElectionType=G&IsActive=0
https://www.electionreturns.pa.gov/General/OfficeResults?OfficeID=1&ElectionID=54&ElectionType=G&IsActive=0
Last edited Mon May 2, 2022, 06:28 PM - Edit history (1)
Because you apparently neglected to look at the rest of the field and results for that primary, and do some extrapolation.
BRAD BUMSTED and SAM JANESCH | The Caucus May 6, 2017
HARRISBURG — The mood of Pennsylvania voters, incensed about the self-serving actions of their politicians, could propel the scandal surrounding Lt. Gov. Mike Stack and his wife, Tonya, beyond the normal shelf life of a few weeks or months into an issue in the 2018 election that could hurt Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf, political analysts say.
It’s clear Wolf wants Stack off the ticket. And he never chose him in the first place, given lieutenant governor and gubernatorial candidates run separately in the primaries. Stack and his wife allegedly heaped verbal abuse on members of their state police security detail and their mansion staff, prompting complaints to the Wolf administration, The Caucus first reported last month. Inspector General Bruce Beemer is said to be near completion of a report that will be delivered to the governor.
Wolf hasn’t said whether he will release the report to the public, but the allegations have already been widely reported across the state, as have Stack’s apologies and denials of any “abuse.” Stack’s wife was allegedly the worst offender, sources say. But a source sympathetic to Stack says the lieutenant governor can’t “throw her under the bus.” As the elected official, Stack is still responsible. The inspector general’s report will likely determine whether Wolf will need to take decisive action to endorse and fund an alternative candidate for lieutenant governor.
The Stacks’ conduct, if proven, is “appalling,” said Moe Coleman, director emeritus of the Institute of Politics at the University of Pittsburgh. Wolf should move with “party elders” to leverage Stack out of the 2018 primary and then recommend a running mate whose campaign the multimillionaire Wolf could help finance, Coleman said. Stack has insisted he is running for re-election.
https://lancasteronline.com/news/local/analysis-scandal-surrounding-lt-gov-stack-could-hurt-wolf-in-2018-election/article_e08f5f28-3274-11e7-bcc5-3fad7a098ca3.html
Published: May. 16, 2018, 4:13 a.m.
(snip)
When Stack won the Democratic primary in 2014, Stack collected more than 351,000 votes for nearly 47 percent of the vote. Political newcomer Nina Ahmad, of Philadelphia, joined the race late this year but with a war chest of about $800,000, which helped to propel her to a second-place finish in the Democratic primary with more than 23 percent of the votes.
Chester County Commissioner Kathi Cozzone surprised some people with a strong showing in third place, with more than 18 percent of the vote. She was the first name that appeared on the ballot, which carries an advantage, but had only raised about $62,000. Stack, meanwhile, had to settle for less than 17 percent of the votes, even though he had amassed nearly $1 million for the primary race. The only candidate he beat was Montgomery County businessman Roy Sosa, who finished with just more than three percent of the vote.
Stack's campaign spokesman, Marks, said it takes $3 million to run a competitive statewide race, especially when geography is working against a candidate. The loss was the first time a sitting lieutenant governor had lost in a primary, according to the Associated Press.
(snip)
https://www.pennlive.com/politics/2018/05/pa_lt_gov_mike_stack_john_fett.html
If Stack had not run, one could take that 17% of the vote that he did get, and add it to the 37% for what? Right. 54%.
And I say this as someone who voted for the runner up - Nina Ahmad - for that primary. But I sure as hell warmed to Fetterman after seeing this ad - and I have posted it many times on DU but it cuts to the chase of his "personality" -
And interestingly enough, just as Tom Wolf is an alumnus of the Peace Corps, John Fetterman (as "the next generation" ) is an alumnus of AmeriCorps. That netted Fetterman a nod on President Obama's "Champions of Change" list -
https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/champions/americorps-alums/john-fetterman -
Fetterman reminds me a lot of Cory Booker - both men were mayors of a city (where obviously Newark, NJ is many times larger than Braddock, PA), but both men also "had their hearts in the right place" and made the effort to literally get out into the streets to WALK THE WALK AND ACT.
E.g., when Booker was out there digging people out of the snow -
Democrats have ceded the term "populist" to the GOP for some idiotic reason. I see Fetterman as a literal "liberal populist". The "populist" doesn't necessarily hue to a strict talking point party line but manages to tap into certain perspectives of the philosophy of the party that can be highlighted and added to the party's repertoire to broaden the message.
The fact that D.A. Larry Krasner won a 2nd term in office here in Philly without the "party machine" vote, should give some hints regarding how some things are bubbling under the surface and manifesting here.
Cool video.
Wolf and the tie was the one I was thinking of.
IMO, there are few factors that aren't mentioned much or are sometimes considered less important. These are factors in the 2016 and 2020 elections that played a role, again, just my opinion.
Just a few thoughts up front about people. People interact by "connecting". I don't really believe that trump eats McFood on any regular basis but saying that gives folks a "connection" to just like remembering. I'm sure that the lying filth has 3 people following him everywhere ready to make him some fresh lobster salad or whatever he wants. Also, decision fatigue and information overload play huge roles when campaign issues get complicated.
Many trump voters were either a few cans short of a 6 pack or just lacking the plastic thing to hold it all together. These folks are primed for actions of the "shoot from the hip" nature.
We're talking about someone who's aggressively denigrating and prone to harsh and insulting statements... emotional outbursts. Folks that have a poor ratio of thinking with glands v brains would be prone to liking trump.
Nothing unites people like a common enemy. For some people just that much may be enough to swing them.
Aside from that, your username reminds me of a favorite Warren Zevon song. 
The deal was made in Denmark on a dark and stormy day
So he set out for Biafra to join the bloody fray
He's actually very likable, not the least bit scary, and he's a true liberal/progressive. He doesn't project a slick movie star image of a liberal politician, so they don't really know how to relate to him. But it's not fair to judge John Fetterman on looks alone. His track record as mayor of Braddock and as Lt. Governor speaks for itself.
I believe independent, non-party-affiliated Pennsylvanians will give him a chance, as long as they're willing to listen to his ideas. He really is one of us and he cares about our state. He's been working for us for a long time.
Dr. Oz is a joke and a TV huckster. I'd be shocked if voters chose him over John Fetterman.
The resulting vote tally of that race was significant in that it really established the vote-splitting that was going on with the top-of-the-state-ticket races, and that was before they passed Act-77 that got rid of straight-party voting.
I.e., Hillary Clinton got more votes during that election than Katie McGinty. 
