Stacey Abrams keeps presidential possibility alive in Tougaloo commencement speech

[TexasTowelie]

TOUGALOO — Sun streamed through the clouds and Spanish moss swayed in trees on the campus of Tougaloo College, where 55 years ago this summer, busloads of young people gathered for Freedom Summer.

It might have been a picture-perfect setting for the long-awaited announcement of a different kind of movement.

But Stacey Abrams, a rising political star whose unsuccessful bid for the Georgia governor’s office propelled her into the national spotlight and onto numerous shortlists for higher office, stopped short of making such an announcement in her commencement speech for the historically black college’s 150th anniversary.

She also left the possibility of a national campaign wide open as she addressed more than 100 graduating seniors at her parents’ alma mater, near Jackson.

Read more: https://mississippitoday.org/2019/05/05/stacey-abrams-keeps-presidential-possibility-alive-in-tougaloo-commencement-speech/

I think that Abrams waited too long to get into the race for president. However, she would be a fine addition to the ticket of several of the other candidates that already announced.

[democratisphere]

1. Abrams was unsuccessful running for Governor of Georgia.

Don't understand why she thinks she could be successful running for the Presidency in an already very crowded field.

[JI7]

2. she was not unsuccessful. the election was corrupt with the piece of shit running against

her being the one controlling the elections .

she most likely won without the shit he pulled.

[Rhiannon12866]

6. I think it was pretty obvious. The guy who counts the votes was running against her.

I hope she runs again, she ran an impressive campaign and she was clearly the best and the brightest. And I kept thinking how tickled Jimmy Carter would have been to see a black woman win the office he once held. He fought for integration from the very first public office he held (school board) and equality for women is yet another cause of the Carter Center.

[no_hypocrisy]

3. I agree and yesterday, the Governor of Georgia just criminalized abortion.

[democratisphere]

5. Should we be surprised he did this?

When will some asinine men stop trying to take away a woman's right to choose?

[Celerity]

12. Biden was unsuccessful multiple times running for POTUS before, had disastrous campaigns.

The point is people in glass houses should not throw rocks.

[Kahuna7]

18. Not even apples and oranges. Biden Senator. Abrams assembly woman.

Really?

[Celerity]

25. yes, really

[JI7]

32. without voter suppression she would be governor

[Kahuna7]

33. 100%. But she didn't become governor and only

has her assembly experience to run on. I don't think that qualifies one to run the country.

[democratisphere]

23. Abrams lack of experience in the big political leagues makes her unqualified to run, imo.

[Celerity]

24. wrong

[democratisphere]

26. It is what it is.

No experience in national politics.

[Celerity]

27. that would auto eliminate almost all governors

I will never buy into the 'more experienced' is a priori the better candidate game.

[democratisphere]

30. There is no substitute for actual experience.

[Kahuna7]

17. The point is what experience does she have that she should now

be president of the USA? Or even, V.P? She was an assemblywoman. C'mon.

[sarabelle]

4. Stacey please run for Senator. We need you there right now. 2024 is the time to run for POS.

[Celerity]

13. I agree, but IF 2024 is the time to run for POTUS that means either Trumps wins re-election or

Biden either dies in office or (highly doubtful) refuses to run for re-election, and on top of that his VPOTUS is so weak they invite a brutal primary (unless Abrams is that VPOTUS in your positing).

[Hortensis]

7. Like Sarabelle, I'm very disappointed that she has turned

the the call to run for the senate, and my gut reaction to her running was that the last thing I wanted to see was her running for president to polish her resume and/or sell a book.

However, on wondering what her goal is (not president, not senate), 2 possibilities in government come to mind, neither of which rule the other out: A high appointed position under a Democratic president in 2020 and going after the GA governor's office in 2022.

We vote in Georgia agree with her that a majority of GA's electorate wanted her for governor and that the election was blatantly stolen from us. So if her goal is to fumigate the governor's mansion and set to work cleaning up and advancing this state, it's a very important one and we'll be with her.

[JonLP24]

8. I'd love to see her run for Senate

[Jose Garcia]

9. There a bunch of other candidates already running with

much more impressive resumes.

[Kahuna7]

19. Exactly. She was an assembly woman. nt

[brooklynite]

10. I think her window has closed...

She stood out in 2018 against one Primary opponent and again one-on-one in the General Election. If she'd gotten in when there were fewer candidates she would have had a chance to build on her reputation. Now she'd be one of six women, one of four African Americans, one of ten or so progressives...

[oasis]

11. "The years ahead hold much promise". Fortune cookie quote. nt

[crazytown]

14. May you live in interesting times.

[Honeycombe8]

16. "Every worker in this country deserves to be treated with dignity and respect."

A platitude. What is a candidate going to say? "Every worker does not deserve to be treated with dignity and respect"?

Just pointing out...that's politicking.

[oasis]

22. The fortune cookie quote was meant to be in relation to Abrams' future.

In the years to come, I believe the Democratic Party will greatly benefit from her positive image.

[Honeycombe8]

15. She is unique. I'd like to see her start out as V.P.

With an eye on becoming President in the future.

She's one of those special people. The ones that people notice, that have charisma and smarts and the whole ball of wax. But she is very light on political office and executive experience.

She'd make a perfect V.P., IMO.

I'm not leaning toward supporting Biden, but if he would pick Abrams as his V.P. running mate, I would enthusiastically support that ticket.

But picking a VP is a strategy decision. People don't usually vote for the VP, but the VP brings something to the ticket. Bringing in his/her home state, a particular expertise, a nod to a demographic group that its concerns will have a seat in the Oval Office...something.

[MineralMan]

20. Too late to announce in this crowded field.

She should run for some other office, I think, first, and win that election.

[comradebillyboy]

21. It's an awfully big step from the Georgia state legislature to

the White House. Too big I think.

[Hoyt]

28. Abrams is as so superior to the white winger who won the GA gubernatorial race.

She’d make a great senator or governor, but I’m not sure now is the time for a presidential race. I wouldn’t count her out if she does run, but just saying.

I can also see her in a major domestic cabinet position, like HHS, Housing, IRS (she’s a tax attorney), or something.

[elfin]

29. Enough Already!

Crazy for her.... but not now for the Pres. At this point, she is so much better suited for either the House or Senate. Would have been best for Governor as a future launching pad. She SHOULD have won and probably did so.

[madville]

31. Beto, Abrams and Gillum were all in unique positions at the right time

They were promoted heavily by the national media and had tons of money coming in from outside their states. Everyone around the country lined up behind Beto because Cruz is probably the most unpopular Senator of all time yet he still won. Abrams and Gillum to a lesser extent but still nicely funded and positively covered at the national level.

Now here is the mistake they (Beto and possibly Abrams) seem to be making or embracing, either way you want to look at it. That national enthusiasm for them in statewide races against unpopular opponents does not translate into Democratic primary support in the Presidential race. They are on at best a level playing field and much of that national media adoration will turn on them quick if they gain any real traction.

Abrams is best suited to run for governor again in 2022. I think 2020 Senator was too risky for her against an incumbent. 2020 President or VP, nowhere close to qualified compared to the experience already running and she wouldn't get over 5% anywhere except GA and possibly SC.