Beto

[DemocratSinceBirth]

Last edited Sat Nov 10, 2018, 11:00 AM - Edit history (1)

It seems counterintuitive to believe a candidate who can't even win his statewide race is a viable presidential candidate but Beto has a certain je ne sais quoi that makes me believe he can be one. He also ran thirteen points better than Lyin Ted's previous senatorial opponent.

Beto has the ability to inspire people. He reminds me of a hybrid of Bobby Kennedy and Barack Obama.


Beto-Kamala 2020.

[dlk]

1. Given the History of Epic Cheating in Texas, I'm Not So Sure Beto Didn't Win

There was evidence of voting machines flipping votes from Beto to Cruz.

[onetexan]

18. not just the voting machines problems, the gerrymandering and other forms of voter suppression too

i'm sure the cumulative effect of all of those things contributed to his loss. I've read someone say Dems candidates need to do 10-20% better to win. This problem was years in the making. It's time Dems go to war about it as this article opines:
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/opinion-voting-rights-house-democrats_us_5be333f9e4b0dbe871a61b88

[SomethingNew]

52. How does gerrymandering effect statewide races?

[treestar]

2. The way he ran around all of Texas

Think of him doing that nationally and I bet it could happen. All bets are off regarding previous experience.

[Jersey Devil]

3. Who determined he is a "viable presidential candidate"?

You'd have to see how he did in a primary (or caucus) before that could be determined. Just the fact that he almost won in Texas doesn't do it.

But all this talk about Beto doesn't matter because he has said he is not running for president in 2020. I take him at his word until he says otherwise.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

5. Now is the time for all good men and women to come to the aid of their country.

[Jersey Devil]

6. Tell that to his wife and kids

Sherrod Brown was completely honest about it. He said if he ran for president his wife would divorce him. Maybe Beto has similar personal reasons. I'm sure both have a sense of duty to their country but it is a lot to expect people to completely sacrifice their personal lives.

[crazycatlady]

10. well after a reality TV star with no political experience was elected POTUS all bets are off

[BannonsLiver]

12. What would you expect him to say 48 hours before Election Day?

[Jersey Devil]

14. Look, let him run if he wants to, but so far

he says "no". So I think we are wasting our breath talking about it.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

17. Beto is custom made for the IA caucus.

[mtnsnake]

4. The fact that Beto came as close as he did in the state of Texas

should be proof enough that he is someone worth considering for a future presidential run. There's something magical about someone who can do what he did in the South. It's like an intangible asset that few other candidates have.

[Jersey Devil]

8. Maybe, but first he has to want to run and then he has to win primaries

Texas was a good sign for him, for sure, but one close call should not lead to a mandate for him.

[Horse with no Name]

7. He is our Man in Motion

https://m.

[dalton99a]

9. Beto would do well nationally. He has natural star power

The guy is a freaking people magnet. And he sure can haul in cash

[LBM20]

22. Not ready. Just lost a race. He has said NO to this. And ususally NO means NO.

[dalton99a]

23. Since when is losing a disqualifier for anything?

Anyone with money can run.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

28. Nixon lost a presidential race and a gubernatorial race before becoming president

[argyl]

43. Yep. And he was less than gracious upon losing the California governor's race in 1962.

After his loss, he gave his famous FU to the press.
"You won't have Dick Nixon to kick around anymore because, gentlemen, this is my last press conference."

At the time California was a Republican stronghold. He'd carried it in the 1960 Presidential election and figured he'd win the governor's seat.

After such an acrimonious comment for someone who'd never been a media darling you'd think that would've been the end of his political career. But he was elected President in 1968.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

44. He had the virtue of persistence, perhaps his only virtue, beside being a loving father.

[BannonsLiver]

11. It's only counterintuitive to people who can't think outside the box

unfortunately there are a lot of people here who seem to fit that bill, or have agendas of their own when it comes to those they’d like to see run in 2020.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

13. I didn't become emotionally invested in his race because I knew TX was a tough nut to crack

But from what I saw of him he has that rare ability to connect with people on individual level. That's a huge asset in running for president.

[BannonsLiver]

15. Exactly

We’re going to have a big field. He may be in it. I say let the chips fall where they may. The cries of experience and other assorted nonsense doesn’t sway me one fucking iota.

[dalton99a]

16. Voting is irrational. Emotions always win.

Exhibit A: Donald Trump

[DemocratSinceBirth]

25. Because a lot of people are voting for who they want as their best friend.

It's kind of like a belief in God. Folks see God as an idealized version of himself or herself.

[MrsCoffee]

19. Kamala-Beto.

[LBM20]

21. How does another coastal candidate win the heartland where we NEED to win??

[RestoreAmerica2020]

29. Yes to Harris! She is highly qualified but then we do know she has to be, que no ..right? To even s

..suggest she take second on ticket is insulting. Senator Harris credentials are impeccable, stellar, she is a polished statesman... "some just couldn't get past the color of my skin" Michele Obama stated when asked how she dealt with racism while in the WH for 8 yrs. H.Clinton (also with stellar, outstanding credentials ) wouldn't take a back seat, so why should Harris?

[Sunsky]

31. I agree nt

[LBM20]

20. He has said NO. So enough of this. He can do other things.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

24. Bobby Kennedy said no too. He didn't even get in the race until after the New Hampshire primary.

[packman]

26. Another Texan for President?

Like a steak , he needs seasoning.

[33taw]

27. I like Ayanna Pressley as well. She is very inspirational.

[IronLionZion]

30. Nixon lost the governor election in California and was later elected president

and Lincoln lost his Senate election before being elected president

[world wide wally]

32. I do think Sherrod Brown should be on the ticket for whoever headlines.

He is a proven winner as a red state progressive and would almost guarantee the Rust Belt.
Beto/Brown?
Harris/Brown?
Kennedy/Brown?
I like them all.

[IronLionZion]

33. Any Sensible Human Being 2020

[In It to Win It]

37. LOL! For the last two years, any time someone says Trump 2020...

my response was always "ANYBODY ELSE 2020!"

[33taw]

38. +1,000,000

[gay texan]

34. I agree with this 100%

He has a ton of charisma and is very well spoken. When I shook his hand I told him I felt like I was meeting Jimmy Page. He started laughing and smiled really big and said "aw c'mon man...."

[In It to Win It]

35. For now, he said 'no' to a presidential run but...

I have no doubt that if he runs, he can win. He can take it all the way.

He has the right message and despite that being just a Texas statewide race, he captured the hearts and minds of Democrats across the country, similar to how a certain presidential candidate did in 2008.

Beto won independents, increased youth and first time voter turnout. Unfortunately, it just wasn't enough people to outnumber Republicans in Texas. Fortunately for us, the country does not resemble the Texas electorate landscape. If Beto can get that type of voter performance on a national scale, which I overwhelmingly believe he can do, the nomination and presidency is his.

I won't count him out until the point where primary candidates are announced and he's not one of them.

[dalton99a]

40. If anyone is looking for a "healing" candidate after Trump, Beto should be at the top of the list

Look at what he accomplished in Texas - without pissing off people

[rgbecker]

36. I'd like to see Bernie and Beto have a conversation about the possibility.

Beto is a winner....3 terms as Representative.

[aeromanKC]

39. Beto had coattails down ballot

While Beto didn't win himself, he did have coattails down ballot that helped many Dems win their races!! Dems had a great night in Texas!!

Bidrn/Beto is my ticket.

[Garrett78]

41. He can run again for Senate in 2020. Or a House seat. Or join President Harris's cabinet.

Or maybe be Kamala's running mate. But even Beto knows this talk of him running for president is silly. I say that as someone who is very impressed by him. He won me over with what he said about anthem kneeling. But talk of him being our POTUS candidate is premature and a bit insulting to all those who are more qualified.

[moreland01]

42. Rep. Joseph Kennedy III

We're ready for another President Kennedy. It's time. Kennedy/Harris. Or the reverse is perfect too!

[sellitman]

45. Harris-Beto.

That ticket would win in a HUGE landslide.

[andym]

54. I'm not sure any ticket will win in a huge landslide

There are too many people in key states willing to support Trump and the Republicans, as witnessed by the loss of Senate seats in Indiana and Missouri, and the absolute inability to make progress in Tennessee even during the blue wave election.

[Awsi Dooger]

46. I agree because I think we need a superstar to win in 2020

Otherwise incumbency is too powerful, no matter what it looks like two years out. I've detailed countless times the incredibly favorable situational trend that favors Trump.

If we don't have a superstar atop the ticket then we are overly dependent on Trump's approval rating and state of the economy. Of course, we are dependent on those variables anyway but maybe 2-3 points less if we have a star atop the ticket.

Beto should never run for senate in 2020. That would be asinine. Run for president or stay where you are. Second statewide loss would remove the aura.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

47. He's a rock star. He's a natural.

He's likable. I didn't become emotionally invested in his race because I knew it would be a slog but what i saw of him has impressed me like no other candidate.

[LAS14]

48. He for sure has better credentials than candidate Trump did!!!!!! nt

[ananda]

49. Me dream ticket would be : Adam Schiff/Beto O'Rourke

nt

[jcgoldie]

50. I'm in 100% on Beto

Before this recent election I was really hoping for a wholesale rebuke of Trumpism. That some significant percentage of traditional republicans may regain their senses in the voting booth and send a message that Trump's ignorance, racism, and general lack of civility were unacceptable. That's not what happened. Yes, we did have a blue wave in the sense that democrats turned out in greater numbers across the country and took back the house. But in the red states like Tennessee and South Dakota, and increasingly Missouri and Indiana... and even in always purple Florida and Ohio, the rednecks doubled down on their support for Trump. They have shown that no matter what he does or says going forward, they will continue to support him because the people they hate and fear are appalled by Trump... they fear Latinos and African Americans and hate liberals worse than they value honesty or civility.

What that all means to me is that we can win back the presidency from this hateful asshole in 2020, but the margin will be razor thin. If we haven't won back almost any of that 40-45 % who still support Trump, then its unlikely we will in the next 2 years. So we need a transnational candidate because the risk of Trump scoring some sort of electoral college coup with the aid of Russian election tampering and voter suppression is too disasterous to allow. We need someone who not just appeals to democrats, and not just appeals to independents more than Trump... but someone who brings out the unlikely voters in our coalition. Someone who inspires young people and Latino voters most of all. That's what Beto did in Texas and anyone who has seen him work in open settings like town halls or debates can surely see why. He has that charisma which is similar to the inspiration that Obama had. He may not put his hat in the ring, but if he does, I think he has a good chance to win the primary and perhaps the best chance we have to take back the office in 2020 and send the asshole packing.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

51. Ohio is GONE. Better to look for Electoral College votes in TX, FL, NC, AZ, and GA

[andym]

53. Beto is a first tier potential candidate

I hope he decides to run. Charisma and winning positive messages should help him across the spectrum of potential Democratic voters.
I agree that he seems to combine features of Bobby Kennedy and Barack Obama. I also agree that defeating Trump will not be easy, because it's clear that many people besides Trump's core supporters have bought in, based on the elections in states like Ohio, Indiana, Missouri etc..

[DemocratSinceBirth]

55. His impromptu campaign stops are evocative of RFK.