Klobuchar Runs to the Center

[babylonsister]

https://politicalwire.com/2019/02/19/klobuchar-runs-to-the-center/

Klobuchar Runs to the Center
February 19, 2019 at 6:36 am EST By Taegan Goddard

Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) “placed herself firmly in the center lane of the Democratic primary on Monday, calling popular progressive policy platforms ‘aspirational,’ and declining to fully commit to them,” Politico reports.

“The Minnesota Democrat called the Green New Deal ‘aspirational’ and said that Medicare-for-all is ‘something we can look to in the future,’ during a CNN town hall hosted in Manchester, N.H., on Monday night. On free four-year college, Klobuchar said: ‘No, I am not for four-year college for all.’”

[TCJ70]

1. I'll definitely vote for "Mediocre" 2020...

...come on. Even if you don’t end up with the left-of-the-left solution, why start at the center? That’s a sure fire way to end up on the right.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

12. I'm always into logistics. Perhaps one of our candidates has done this and I havent

Researched it. But, think we need a definite plan on how you move from a for profit system to a Medicare for all/universal plan. It’s naive to me to just act like you can snap your fingers and make it happen.

I believe the ruling $$$ class knew full well what they were doing when they probably designed the HMO system on a cocktail napkin years ago. Over martinis, “ok, think now, how can we make money on something every human needs?” And make it harder to dismantle over time?

So, enormous issues to moving over. What about the health care companies ? Their employees? How do you pay for it? Raise taxes just on those who want? What will switching some to it do to the costs of private care since pools shrink? Is there a viable incremental approach? Like starting with another tier of income level above Medicaid? Etc. etc.

I wonder if there are any other countries who have done it? Sure many have universal coverage, but how many actually moved from for-profit vs. just enhancing.

[pangaia]

26. I have the same questions, not because I do not support "M4A" etc,

but really have no idea how one gets there..

Also, using terms like 'free college education,' free health care, is also mis-leading.
Although, whatever our progressives say, however they verbalize it, fox and hannoity et all will demonize it so,,,,

i don;t know the answer..

[Laura PourMeADrink]

72. Yes, it's not like trillions are just sitting in an untapped account

somewhere. And, as typical, Republicans spend more money and create
deficits, and then call us big spenders (Rovian tactic - blame your opponent
first for what you, yourself do). Think I would say less bombs/fighter jets to pay for it

Maybe because I've worked in business, but without a payback period, a rollout
plan, a study of others who have implemented the same thing, constraints,
issues, etc. NOTHING gets off the ground.

If it was in business, for example, the goal would be to achieve full
state college free tuition for all who want to go within 10 years. And the implementation might start with a pilot - perhaps a few states, or a few colleges or something like that. And study how it went after a certain period, then roll out X # year two, etc. etc.

This is cautious, but it makes the board more comfortable. Same as it would make voters more comfortable. That the cost will be spread out. That you are achieving something and know how to manage. You could even make it fun and have a lottery of some kind. And the winner is...the University of Hawaii !!

[onecaliberal]

76. That.

[alarimer]

2. The last thing this country needs is a centrist.

She has completely missed the message of the last two years. We have 12 years (with regards to climate change), which will require a radical restructuring. We need radical change in health care too. Progressive ideas like Medicare for All poll really well. I think she’s really missing the boat here.

And to think some people think “Minnesota nice” is actually nice. Far from it.

[brooklynite]

4. Most of the gettable votes are in the center...

Part of the Bernie 2016 model was appealing to disaffected base voters and getting them to show up for the first time. It didn't work.

You CAN appeal to the center with progressive policies; not with radical ones.

[Doremus]

36. Except Bernie wasn't the candidate.

If you want progressives to come out to vote you'll have more of them do so if they have a progressive candidate to vote for.

[lapucelle]

60. So BS didn't bring in new Democratic voters?

I know that the number of BS voters who crossed over to Trump in the general election exceeded Trump's margin of victory in WI, MI, and PA and that many others stayed home, but I thought the contention was that BS would bring new voters into the Democratic Party.

[Doremus]

62. Says who?

Why do you think Progressives would vote for a centrist and/or vice versa?

BTW your premise that BS caused HRC to lose the general has been disproven time and again.

[still_one]

65. It wasn't Sanders, it was those self-identified progressives who refused to vote for the Democratic

nominee by either voting third party or not voting that contributed, along with other factors we are all aware of, i.e. Comey, the media lying about the email investigation being reopened, the foreign interference, etc. All had their share.

Every Democrat running for Senate in those critical swing states lost to the incumbent, establishment, republican, and those Democrats were progressive by any standard. In addition, in those critical swing states, Jill Stein received around 1% of the vote, and Hillary lost by less than 1% in those states

[Doremus]

70. Interesting that you place "self-identified progressives who refused to vote

for the Democratic nominee" in the same league as

1. Comey's email bombshell 2 weeks before the election and subsequent 24/7 media feeding frenzy
2. Foreign interference in the form of dark money, social influences and god knows what direct illegal acts of election fraud

Personally, I'd put these "self-identified progressives who refused to vote" in the same category as the "legions of illegals who committed voter fraud," but perhaps that's just me.

[still_one]

73. The reason why is because there were several factors involved, a perfect storm if you will. The

reason I identify them as "self-identified progressives", is because how would I really know their authenticity?

[lapucelle]

67. Labels like "centrist" and "progressive" are vague at best,

ripe for misinterpretation and equivocation by all sorts of folks who are no friends of our Party. As for me, I'm a Democrat from the Democratic wing of the Democratic Party.

I state no premise in my post. Data are facts, and the facts exist in exactly the way they were stated.

[Doremus]

37. BTW, the issues many are calling "progressive" really are just average liberal ideals.

Fix healthcare
Get a climate fix in the works
Affordable college
$15 minimum wage
Better worker's rights
Parental leave
Etc etc

These aren't "far left," they're solidly Democratic.

Why are we letting repukes frame them as socialism, etc.? All right, so I know why they are, but why are WE BELIEVING THEM??? SMH

[brooklynite]

42. "Why are we letting repukes frame them as socialism, etc.?"

Perhaps you should take that up with the Democratic Socialist.

[Doremus]

64. Aren't things like affordable healthcare, livable minimum wage, et al in the Democratic sphere?

Why are you happy to let any group, liberal or conservative, define our platform and issues?

Are you washing your hands of any progressive value if the "wrong" candidate espouses it?

[alarimer]

41. Well, when "radical" is Medicare for All, we have a problem.

Because that is NOT a radical proposition. EVERY single modern country has some form of universal health care.

And higher education in some states was practically free once upon a time. Higher taxes were not radical as late as the 1980s.

And yet, to centrists, those are all pipe dreams, things we can’t do because centrists are too cowardly to actually stand for anything.

Dealing with climate change is new and we are doomed unless we radically alter the status quo, so it’s a tougher sell. I do think if we continue on the course we are on, millions are going to die, whether it’s from fires or storms or starvation.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

13. Everything you say is true..but a huge fear factor is being safe enough to beat fatnixon. And

You won’t get center and center right without a moderate.

[theaocp]

14. It's not like the policies don't hold a fascination for many conservatives.

Again, why are we negotiating away our dreams with ourselves? We tell everyone what we want to do and then negotiate. Our side seems to like to tell conservatives, "Alright, we'll water down our own policies if you'll compromise with us. What's that? You don't need to compromise since we just compromised for you. Cool." Just stop, Klobuchar. Nobody likes centrists.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

23. It's the eternal struggle between going full foward

With our progressive dreams of the way we want society to look and the practical reality of actually winning with that.

Like we know Republicans don't care about those less fortunate and want power and money for the top. But they don't actually SAY that! Why do we have to announce our plans??? We will scare so many people away. (Center right and conservative leaning Indies). And will give the other side fuel for critique. Why not just say your long term goal is universal coverage rolled out in a practical and affordable way over time. And then actually make that happen?

I work with a lot of fiscally conservative bankers who also have brains. They hate trump and are looking for the least liberal Dem if trump runs again. That's why I know from the depths of my soul that Biden could definitely win this.

[Andy823]

17. Actually

The last thing this country needs is a "my way or the highway" leader. We can plainly see this with trump and his "loyal" republicans who OK all his insane ideas no matter what. We really do need someone who can be a president for the whole country, not just their radical base.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

24. I think that might be what makes the whole US different than

Say, a progressive Scandinavian country or a very blue state like Vermont or CT. The vast majority of people there have the same liberal mindset. Not the case in the US.

[namahage]

45. It's easy to get consensus for liberal policies that benefit everyone

when everyone looks like you.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

48. Interesting take...never heard of before. You are

Saying when the population of a country/state has less diversity it is more likely to be liberal?

[madville]

25. It's a good move for the primary

The void is currently towards the center, everyone so far is playing to the left and it's crowded. Would you rather be competing for votes against one other person or ten, that's kind of how it will shape up if Biden jumps in.

[MontanaFarmer]

29. Medicare for all polls well

Until you include the information that consumers would have to give up their employer sponsored plan. Or until you say you'd have to raise taxes to pay for it. Then the polling numbers fall. I agree, we need to head that direction, but in reality there's no way politically we're getting there in 1 step. If we run on the green new deal, against trump, we'll lose. Amy klobuchar is not joe Manchin. She's quite progressive, actually, but we need to beat Donald trump, and the green new deal and Medicare for all, with no private option through employers, eliminating that industry immediately, will not get it done, in my opinion.

[kstewart33]

51. Don't dismiss Klobuchar too quickly.

She has the best record in the Senate for getting things done. She wants affordable healthcare for all but she won't support pie-in-the-sky objectives that can't be achieved with a $22 trillion deficit.

She wants to lower the cost of college and perhaps shoot for funding the first two years of college. IMHO, she can win the Midwest by winning Dems who are nervous about the more liberal candidates, and independents and Republicans who are disgusted with Trump.

We must beat Trump. That's the objective. And if a more centrist Dem is the one most likely to do it, that's my candidate.

[pnwmom]

57. The center of the Democratic party is still to the left of the political spectrum. n/t

[bigtree]

3. disappointing

...hoping this is just Politico wishful thinking.

[lostnfound]

5. Might be able to shake the cult loose from their delusions and help heal the country

That’s worth a lot. I’m tired of all the hate poisoning our country — on the right. Giving the country someone who can wake some of the cult out of their hateful delusions and strengthen the reputation of liberals throughout the Midwest might lead us to a less violent and positive future.

She’s not a fool — she did not participate in railroading of Franken. That showed integrity. She’s very smart in a rounded, whole picture, balanced way.

We have many GREAT candidates. But in this one area — the ability to shake the cult loose from their delusions — I don’t see anyone better.

[brooklynite]

7. "she did not participate in railroading of Franken..."

The only difference between Klobuchar that the other Democratic Senators is that she didn't publicly call for him to step down...she told him privately.

Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar, who serves in the Senate representing Minnesota with Al Franken, explained Friday that she didn't publicly ask Franken to resign this week because of their relationship.

"I had condemned his conduct early on when the first allegation was made," she told CNN's Dana Bash on "Inside Politics." "I felt I was in a different role as his colleague, that I'm someone that has worked with him for a long time, there's a lot of trust there, and I felt it was best to handle it in that way."

https://www.cnn.com/2017/12/08/politics/amy-klobuchar-senate-al-franken-minnesota/index.html

[Celerity]

9. +1

you beat me to it

[Celerity]

8. Klobuchar told him to resign in private and called his resignation the right decision

'The right decision,' Amy Klobuchar, others say of Franken's resignation

https://www.twincities.com/2017/12/07/amy-klobuchar-mark-dayton-others-react-to-al-franken-resignation-announcement/

U.S. SEN. AMY KLOBUCHAR

“Today Senator Franken acknowledged that he could no longer serve in the Senate and resigned. As he and I discussed yesterday, this is the right decision. Senator Franken has worked for years on behalf of the people of Minnesota and he has been a leader on issues that are fundamental to Americans’ lives, including education, privacy, healthcare and mental health. He has been a friend to me and to many in our state.

“As the women who have come forward to tell their stories across America have made clear, sexual harassment is never acceptable. In every workplace in America, including the U.S. Senate, we must confront the challenges of harassment and misconduct. Nothing is easy or pleasant about this, but we all must recognize that our workplace cultures — and the way we treat each other as human beings — must change.

“For Franni, the Franken family, Senator Franken’s friends and supporters in our state, it’s a very tough day. I want you to know I remain as committed as ever to working together and standing up for people, for common decency, and for our democracy during an incredibly difficult and divisive time in our country. And as we go forward together, we must never forget the words of Senator Paul Wellstone, whom Senator Franken quoted in part today, ‘Politics is not about power. Politics is not about money. Politics is not about winning for the sake of winning. Politics is about the improvement of people’s lives.”

snip



https://edition.cnn.com/2017/12/08/politics/amy-klobuchar-senate-al-franken-minnesota/index.html

"I had condemned his conduct early on when the first allegation was made," she told CNN's Dana Bash on "Inside Politics." "I felt I was in a different role as his colleague, that I'm someone that has worked with him for a long time, there's a lot of trust there, and I felt it was best to handle it in that way."

In a coordinated effort, female Democratic senators called for Franken's resignation in rapid fire Wednesday. Klobuchar did not join in that effort and said in a statement at the time that she spoke with him privately. By Wednesday evening, more than two dozen senators -- including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer -- had called for Franken's resignation.

"I talked to him about the fact that you had reached the situation with the mounting allegations and the fact that there was an ethics investigation going on," Klobuchar told CNN Friday.

snip


When asked about the ramifications of Franken's decision to resign, which Bash said was "under duress" -- and Klobuchar agreed -- the senator said it's "not about just toppling men." "This is about guaranteeing we will have better workplaces where people treat each other fairly," she responded. "And there is a lot of good men in the workplace. You know some of them. I think the key here will be due process."

snip


https://www.bizjournals.com/bizwomen/news/latest-news/2017/12/why-democrats-pushed-franken-out.html?page=all

snip

A contrast is just what Democrats likely want to focus on, according to The Washington Post. Forcing out Franken, along with Rep. John Conyers, shows the party is “willing to sacrifice their own in the interest of staking out the higher ground,” per The Post.

Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar called Franken Wednesday and privately urged him to step down, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported. While she plans to uphold Franken’s legacy and the work he’s done for the state, she thought his speech was “short.”

“I know that he didn’t really apologize to the people and that would have been nice,” Klobuchar said, per the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

snip


http://www.startribune.com/sen-amy-klobuchar-says-franken-s-legacy-will-last-but-adds-he-should-have-apologized/462628583/

snip

As for the farewell speech itself, Klobuchar said: “I thought the speech was short. ... I know that he didn’t really apologize to the people and that would have been nice.

“I think the bigger deal for me was that he was able to talk ... with a lot of love for our state, what he liked about his job and what he wanted to be his legacy.”

That legacy, she said, would include Franken’s work on issues like health care and privacy.

But the legacy will also be shadowed by more than half a dozen sexual harassment allegations against Franken. On Wednesday, Klobuchar said, as a seventh accuser came forward and other Senate Democrats began calling for his resignation, she called Franken to privately urge him to do the “right thing” and step down.

snip

[backtoblue]

15. I'd hardly call that railroading

She didn't go for his head in public. Talking to him privately was the right and professional thing to do, imho. Not agreeing with her assessment to him, but not seeing railroading.

We've got some awesome candidates to choose from!

[Celerity]

16. I never framed it as railroading so that is a non sequitur

I only posted what she did do.

[elleng]

33. Yes

[oasis]

6. facts and figures will surely dominate the upcoming debates. nt

[KewlKat]

10. How many here watched her town hall on CNN last night? I recorded it and watched it

This morning. The Politico swipe is unfair. Listen to her answer that young man and then make a fully informed decision. Guess I’ll have to find the transcript and post it all. I liked what I heard.

[uponit7771]

11. Yes, please post the transcripts ... I don't mind someone not lock stepping but offering SOMETHING

... in the area of a practical solution in those areas.

[DeminPennswoods]

18. She strikes me as a "pleaser" type

She won't be getting my vote in the primary that's for sure.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

28. Zero chance here.

[DeminPennswoods]

34. Actually think this is a flawed strategy

Every election, there is less electoral dependence on states that are very homogenously white. States like Ohio and Iowa are being replaced by growing diversely populated states like Colorado, Nevada, Georgia, Arizona, etc. Trying to appeal to these "midwestern" states just seems like a losing proposition.

[marylandblue]

39. That was how Clinton lost.

And fighting back in the Midwest helped us win in 2018.

[DeminPennswoods]

80. Technically, yes, but imo

the perfect combination of things simply conspired against her.

[alarimer]

44. I agree.

It’s time for Iowa to lose its primacy in the calendar. A more typical state is Nevada, say, than any midwestern state.

[smirkymonkey]

82. Nor will she get mine.

I don't know what it is, but I'm just not feeling it for her. She just rubs me the wrong way.

I could go into more depth, but I'm too tired right now.

[FakeNoose]

19. This sounds like a "hit job"

Who is Political Wire really backing? Sounds to me like they're cherry picking Senator Klobuchar's statements to make her look bad to the progressives/liberals. I'm not going to stop listening to her just because one blog did this to her.

[ananda]

20. Too bad.

I think most people are ready for radical change!

I know I am!

[Garrett78]

21. For Klobuchar, it's all about winning Iowa and hoping that propels her forward.

Anything worse than 2nd in Iowa and she's probably done.

[CrossingTheRubicon]

22. I like Amy Klobuchar more every time I see her speak.

She is a fine liberal Democrat in the fine tradition of our party.

Glad to have her in the race and in the party and in the Senate.

[MontanaFarmer]

32. Yes!

She's no centrist. She knows how to govern, and has been a part of building coalitions in the senate. M4A and GND purity tests aren't going to serve us well anywhere but ther bluest of states. They're great goals, and exactly what she called them: things to aspire to, while fixing the damage trump has done in the meantime.

[kstewart33]

52. Yep. Me too. nt

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

27. No thank you Amy.

[elleng]

30. We need someone who will BEAT trump,

which means attracting his supporters (as well as independents,) so imo it's foolish to play this particular election as looking for a leftie. It's looking for a WINNER.

[alarimer]

49. I think this is incorrect

The Usual Democratic suspects, with their ties to Wall Street or big banks or big pharma or what have you, are NOT going to win over disaffected Trump voters. Warren or Sanders are the only one willing to challenge the economic status quo and the only ones who can effectively appeal to those who have been hurt by decades of corporate looting. Higher taxes on the rich, trigger labor unions, universal health care, etc.

The rest have a sincerity/believability problem when it comes to those issues because they have been in the pockets of big business at one time or another. I simply do not believe them (possibly with the exception of Sherri’s Brown) and expect that they will all revert to middle of the road incremental bullshit (or abandon their principles altogether) once elected.

Turnout is also important. Klobuchar, Gillibrand, and some of the others will also not be able to drive turnout because they are dull.

[Celerity]

58. +1

[Awsi Dooger]

71. Sounds identical to all the rationalizations about Andrew Gillum

He was going to bring new voters and boost Bill Nelson along the way.

Meanwhile he had 46% of Floridians indicating he was too liberal for the state. That was the single most astonishing number of the entire 2018 political season. It is incredible that nobody talks about it. It is virtually impossible to own that type of number. I have never seen anything comparable.

Fast forward to fall 2020. Trump's approval rating is several points higher. The nation has become accustomed to the incumbent, and now fears change. The polls are neck and neck. Independents have partially returned to the incumbent. Hispanics are demonstrating their typical benefit of a doubt toward the incumbent, far beyond logical level based on issues.

That may sound like a negative appraisal but I'll let anybody copy it right now and see how it stands up.

Once we get to that point and it's no longer the slam dunk that many are foolishly anticipating today, now we can't afford for the nominee not to be likable. We can't afford for the nominee to have poor instincts and make rash comments. We can't afford for the socialism tag to stick and the nominee easily branded as yet another coastal liberal.

I'm a handicapper every day. The ones who try it once every four years mean well but they prioritize the wrong aspects. That's how an Amy Klobuchar is doubted and shuffled down the list.

[kstewart33]

53. Well said.

We must beat Trump. Our democracy is at stake. So I'm looking for someone who can win.

[Vinca]

31. I was feeling good about her until she started with the "aspirational" stuff.

There are some things we cannot put off. The damage to the planet won't stop because we aspire to do better. People won't get health care if we only aspire to do better. I'm all in for bold and decisive this time around.

[BannonsLiver]

35. That's her lane.

I’m not sure why that should be offensive to anyone. Not saying the OP is offended but clearly some in the thread have their hackles up. If her message doesn’t resonate she wont win. The end. No need to get riled up over it.

[babylonsister]

43. I totally agree with you.

Messages will be honed between now and the debates. Everyone needs to take a deep breath.

[Kurt V.]

56. this sums it up nicely

[marylandblue]

38. She supports free 2 year community college degrees

Which I think is actually a better idea and will help more people who need help. We shouldn't be pushing everyone into 4 year degrees. Not everyone is academically suited for it, and there are still opportunity costs of not working full time during college. Many people at the bottom of the ladder are better off getting a marketable skill and joining the work force quicker.

And I am as green as can be but I oppose the Green New Deal. It reads like a bunch of talking points thrown together without regard to feasibility or effectiveness. Truth is, we don't actually have 12 years, we are already effed on climate. We need to include mitigations for what we know is coming 30 years from now. And we need an enforceable world wide treaty with realistic targets.

[David__77]

40. "... not for four-year college for all." That's quite a quote!

...

[BeckyDem]

46. I'm not sure I understand why she is running.

[kstewart33]

55. Because most of the candidates are coasters.

From the east or west coast. Klobuchar is the only candidate from the midwest and the midwest is where the election will be won or lost.

[loyalsister]

47. That's an odd position for an "asspiring" president

or aspiring candidate for anything, for that matter.

[workinclasszero]

50. Wow I definitely cannot support

Sen. Klobuchar’s campaign!

We need to move forward not backwards. We have no time to aspire to saving this planet!

Free college and Medicare for all should be doable for a country that willingly gave billionaires and big businesses all the socialism they could handle with Trumps deficit busting tax scam!

[pnwmom]

59. Promising 4 years of college for free is pie in the sky. It doesn't have nearly the amount

of support as universal healthcare or a higher minimum wage.

[workinclasszero]

79. Well how about student loan relief then?

It is horrrendous what people have to go through today to get a degree!

It’s outright theft just like car title loans.

Loan sharking should be made illegal again and that goes for student loans too!

[pnwmom]

81. I would think there'd be much more support for that. One of my disappointments

with Biden is that he voted for multiple bills that made it almost impossible for students to get out from under loans, even in bankruptcy.

[kacekwl]

63. You are exactly correct. I am so tired

of the can't do it's too hard too complicated. We have some very smart people in the U.S. and in the world who can figure out solutions to these VERY important issues. Not every problem is a big problem. The problem is worrying what the opposition will say and how it may hurt us politically instead of saying screw you and those who pay you to trash what we know is right. As the movie says, "We have serious problems and need serious people to solve them"

[GulfCoast66]

75. Well, many democrats disagree with you.

I do not support Medicare for all and a minority of Americans do when the fact that it only works(very hypothetically) if they lose their employer provided insurance. And as soon as someone shows even a half realistic way to pay for it that does not have lots of platitudes about societal savings but show how we get another 20 trillion in tax revenues into the federal coffers. The ACA is a vehicles we can use to get to Universal Healthcare.

And free college education for all is a huge gift to the top 1/3 of Americans who can easily afford education for their kids. In addition it trashes a 50 year history of Democratic policies supporting progressive, need based initiatives.

I just watched us lose a very winnable Governors race here in Florida where our candidate proposed just these 2 policies and read weeks of post on DU by people who were confident they would win the day. They did not.

If we run on Medicare for all and free college for everyone I am afraid you are handling it to Trump.

[Freddie]

78. Glad someone agrees with me

Too many people have good, cheap (to them) employer provided insurance to embrace single payer right now. Has to be a gradual thing. 2 years free community college or trade school.
I think a Midwest candidate like Amy or Sherrod Brown is our best bet.

[Blue_Tires]

54. At least she's being real with herself

besides, had she gone all-in and fully committed herself to AOC's slate, who would have even believed her??

[Hoyt]

61. I guess that's it for Klobuchar and Sherrod Brown since they don't think Medicare is doable

right now. Of course, some alternatives are doable and will get us to the goal faster.

[still_one]

66. only for those that are single issue voters, and don't care to look at the whole picture

[Hoyt]

69. +1. Although I'm not sure some of the posts really have to do with a single

issue(s). Sounds to me we are right back where we left off last half of 2016. Hope folks wise up.

[still_one]

74. Thankfully it is still a long way off, and hopefully we don't get into that situation, and "wise up"

as you so aptly phrased it

[Gothmog]

68. I like Klobuchar and could support her easily

[GulfCoast66]

77. Sounds like she is running to where most democrats and Americans are.

Certainly not a majority on DU. But as is proven by the state of the country the consensus here is not the American consensus.

I and all democrats I know support Universal Healthcare. Few support Medicare for all because it is not a practical way, either logistically nor politically, to achieve Universal Healthcare.

No way in hell 50% of Americans with employers provided healthcare are going to vote to give that up because we promise something better. We have to work within the existing system to achieve our goals.