I REALLY like Pete Buttigieg

[StarfishSaver]

Every time I see him, I feel so good about him. I love his brilliance, his empathy, his depth of insights into government, policy, people and the world. When I listen to him, I feel the way I felt when I first read "Dreams from My Father" and I thought, "Wow. This is the kind of person we need to have as president one day." This was a few years before Obama ran for the Senate and I didn't think, at the time, that he was ready either. But he got himself ready and when he was BOOM!

I don't think Buttigieg's yet ready to be president yet - he needs a little more "seasoning" beyond being mayor. But I hope he stays in the race, makes a strong showing in the primaries and then runs for governor or the Senate.

And I hope - and am sure I'll have the chance - to vote for him as president in a general election in the future. He's going to be president one day.

In the meantime, I'm just loving that we have people like Pete Buttigieg in public life. He gives me hope.

[pink]

1. I almost totally agree with you

One thing though, he is 100% ready to be president now.

If he was 50 you probably wouldn't have any doubt about him running this time. Don't you think he was the most mature candidate at the debate?

[StarfishSaver]

2. It's not his age for me

I just think he needs more governing experience.

[IluvPitties]

4. I think the racial tension in his city is not helping him.

I felt he had a chance to be less cerebral about the situation and more forceful, but that's not him.

[StarfishSaver]

8. That's part of my assessment

I think he totally cares and is trying to do the right thing and so everything right. And I wouldn't go so far to say he mishandled anything because I don't think he did. But I do think his lack of experience made him less effective than he could have been. Not a knock on him, just a reality.

But, that said, I think this situation is helping to sharpen his chops and will be one of the things that he learns from and uses to grow. Because one of the things I really like about him is his clear capacity to learn and grow.

[Celerity]

11. totally fair assessment

I hope he gets a cabinet position or is VP if he cannot win the nom this time around. He is boxed into a ruby red state and district in terms of running in Indiana.

[Qutzupalotl]

6. He will still have more executive experience than Trump will

in 2021, and of course more military experience.

[StarfishSaver]

9. True. But we should know better than to use Trump as the standard for experience

[Qutzupalotl]

14. It's a good bragging right if you're running against him.

[customerserviceguy]

5. By the time he's fifty

maybe enough homophobic old farts will have died off to make it possible for him to get nominated and elected without any mention whatsoever of his orientation.

[StarfishSaver]

10. I don't care about them

I never buy into the "America's not ready for a (fill in the blank)".

If the candidate is qualified and we want them, it's our job to go out and get the votes to put them in - and if that means finding the extra votes to overcome the old farts, so be it.

[customerserviceguy]

12. I agree

but I look forward to being alive when a candidate's orientation is not even mentioned.

[customerserviceguy]

3. He'd have a really tough time

running for a statewide office in red Indiana.

[Quackers]

7. I think a lot of people like him and would support him to be president but

They think that someone with better name recognition is more appropriate against Trump. I think he’ll surprise a lot of people over the next few months. I believe he will be one of the final three in the primary too.

[True Dough]

27. That's right

Pete has several months ahead that will "make him or break him" as a top contender for the nomination. While he has a major deficit to overcome in South Bend in relation to the tragic shooting and relations between the AA community and the South Bend police department, he may be able to make enough progress on that front to prevent it from holding him back.

I have great confidence in his abilities in the debates. He will continue to make a tremendous impression there.

[xmas74]

13. I like him

But I want him to spend time back home in Indiana as governor or even in a Senate race. We desperately need him in such a red state.

Think about him as governor or a senator. He and his husband would have time to really build their brand, to become a power couple. They discused adoption and as governor they could do it. He could revisit this in four years and assess the situation. By then he could be a true superstar in the party.

[moonscape]

40. That would be great if he could be elected, but

how could any Dem win a statewide race there?

[xmas74]

41. Dems have in the past.

I suspect in order to win this time it would need to be someone special with name recognition.

If he builds his brand he could pull it off. It would be close but it could happen.

[sandensea]

15. I like him too - but he's got no chance.

Let's face it: His candidacy's 15-20 years ahead of its time.

He's already earned a well-deserved spot in the history books, that's for sure.

[True Dough]

30. "He's got no chance."

Says the person (maybe the only DUer) supporting Mike Gravel?!?

[sandensea]

39. But Gravel isn't really running

His goal is to be in as many debates as he can. And I support his being there.

Like I said, I like Buttigieg. Nothing against him.

[Gothmog]

16. MayorPete is not ready to be POTUS

[USALiberal]

33. Lol, great analysis! Nt

[msongs]

17. huge chunks of the white and black democratic coalition will not vote for a gay man nt

[cwydro]

22. People said the same about Obama.

Would YOU vote for a gay candidate, since that seems to be such an important issue for you?

[Honeycombe8]

28. Not many who knew Obama said that. Obama was no race, really. He was Obama.

I knew from the start his race wouldn't be an issue. He was a once in a lifetime candidate, and immensely popular, even when his poll nos. weren't winning.

The gay thing is real. AAs don't like him, #1...and #2, the AA demographic has a much higher religious component, and they have issues with people being gay. At least that's my understanding, and that is reflected in the polling. They are solidly behind Biden.

[Turin_C3PO]

35. I wonder about people

who say a gay man or woman can’t win. Are they really projecting their own biases and prejudices onto other people? I think so sometimes.

[cwydro]

37. I think you're absolutely right.

That’s exactly what I think.

[StarfishSaver]

24. Then find new voters to vote for him

Don't give in to hate. We have more than enough votes to overcome haters and elect the right people.

[Laffy Kat]

18. Kind of like the thought of a Harris/Buttigieg ticket.

I'll support/vote for the nominee, but really, really like a President Harris and VP Buttigieg!

[Firebrand Gary]

19. Frankly, this is patronizing.

He's ready now, maybe you're the one who is not?

[panader0]

20. When Obama gave his keynote speech

at the D convention in 2004 I called my young children into the
room. "See that guy? That guy will be President someday."
I too really like Buttigieg.
I'm not sure if it's Buttigieg that needs "seasoning". I think it's
voters who will reject him for being gay. But brilliance, empathy and
depth he does have.
And courage.

[helpisontheway]

25. Older black democrats will not vote for him because he is gay. Nt

[StarfishSaver]

26. You know this how?

You are painting one particular racial group with a pretty broad brush.

[True Dough]

31. Exactly!

Generalizations drive me crazy!! Thanks for pointing that out.

[Turin_C3PO]

34. That's just bullshit.

Way to stereotype a large group of people.

[JI7]

36. black people in Chicago voted for an lgbt candidate who won

[AlexSFCA]

21. he is ready now but will see how his campaign is doing

He is the most positive in the race and it makes the primaries less stressful every time you listen to him. I like how he focuses on direction rather than specific policies. I believe Biden and Harris have similar approach. This is dramatically different style from Clinton, Warren and Sanders who have/had extremely detailed policy proposals. I can’t recall if Obama had that level of detail in 2008. Congress legislates not president so any of those proposal if ever reach congress would end being dramatically different if unrecognizable.

[leftofcool]

23. I will take Pete anyday of the rest of them

[FakeNoose]

29. I believe Mayor Pete has progressive liberal policies to share with us

... but he's taking his time revealing them. He's smart in realizing that some people are going to reject him immediately without bothering to hear what those policies are. It's a beginner's mistake to put everything out in the beginning of one's campaign. It's smart to hold back a few cards and play them strategically, so right off the bat he has avoided that error.

I'm saying all this because I do want to hear what Pete's policies are before I can make a decision about him. He seems to be guided by very good instincts, and I suspect he has smart friends and advisers helping him to avoid some campaign pitfalls. So far I like what I see in Mayor Pete and I believe he could be the future of our Party.

Hopefully he will continue to grow and soon we'll be calling him Senator Pete or even Governor Pete. That's when he'll be the true contender!

[True Dough]

32. Have you consulted this site?

Plenty of info here, most in the form of video clips of Pete responding to questions on a wide range of topics:

https://meetpete.org/tags.html

[democrank]

38. Pete Buttigieg is top-notch

His principles seem deeply-rooted, his vision well-thought. In my view, his time at war and the profound experience of “coming out” helps him see things in a serious way. I have no doubt that he would nominate exceptional, qualified people for cabinet positions and would truly listen to what they had to say.

This is the perfect time for new blood, new energy, fresh ideas and a brand new way of doing things. As for Buttigieg’s age....some of the toughest talk and most effective action came from Parkland High School students. High School students.