This Guy Got Republicans to Vote for a Democrat.

[elleng]

'Steve Bullock may not be the most charismatic candidate, but he can teach his party how to get conservatives to do liberal things.

BOZEMAN, Mont. — Remember representative democracy? The kind where we voters pick the least objectionable politician to defend the Constitution while we pay our taxes and live our lives? Consider my governor, Steve Bullock of Montana. He is so reasonable, trustworthy and effective that before he started running for president a couple of months ago I would occasionally forget he existed. Reassured that the Helena governor’s mansion was cocooned in competence, I was free to clock in at what has become every dutiful citizen’s unpaid part-time job: monitoring hourly White House flub-ups, each moral or administrative fiasco followed by a succession of time-consuming purification rituals — staring at a grove of aspens, listening to Pete Seeger sing “Shenandoah,” rereading the 25th Amendment, etc.

Introducing himself as the new governor in 2013, Mr. Bullock said, “My name is Steve, and I work for the state.” That is not the voice of a Democrat who wants to do away with the private health insurance of more than half the population. It is the voice of a Democrat who would go on to expand Medicaid coverage — twice — in a blood red state with a Republican majority legislature, a Democrat committed to keeping rural hospitals open, which probably only matters to people who don’t plan their heart attacks two hours ahead.

His is also not the voice of free college or canceling student debt. It is the voice of a Democrat who has shepherded several tuition freezes for residents at the state universities, thereby minimizing the need for loans in the first place. He also beefed up the Montana Registered Apprenticeship Program, a public-private partnership among the state and tribal colleges and more than 500 businesses whose graduates earn $20,000 more than the state average. In Montana, that’s a year’s mortgage, about three years of a kid’s tuition at one of the aforementioned state schools, 1,700 movie tickets — that’s a life.

Does Mr. Bullock, with his modest but concrete progress in a state hostile to Democrats on issues all Democrats hold dear, sound boring compared to charismatic candidates promising revolutionary change? I don’t know. Is winning boring?'>>>

P.S. ' This week, Governor Bullock will make his debate debut. As a Montana Democrat, I look forward to it because I have no idea what he sounds like trying to appeal to members of his own party. . .

A coastal Democrat has not won the general election in 59 years.'

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/27/opinion/sunday/steve-bullock-democrats-2020-montana-republicans-.html

[Skittles]

1. so did Beto

yes indeed

[Mersky]

9. He certainly did.

Was awesome to see his signs in unlikely places.

[Skittles]

11. yup

I ONLY saw signs for him, none for Cruz, in a very, very red place

[Mersky]

15. You should have seen them along this one golf course...

Two Beto signs answering back to every one of cruz's. Whoa. Never thought that would happen in that neighborhood.

Or folks putting them on their fences out in the sticks. Was a rare occurrence, but that it happened at all was heartening.

I gave stickers to a gas station clerk after one of Beto's rallies. Made the young guy's day... As if I'd given him a brand new TV or something. Seriously, was one of my favorite exchanges.

[Skittles]

16. I still have hope

I hope he can pick up steam; yes INDEED

[Mersky]

19. Hey, I have that hope, too. I think he was just warming up.

I've given Beto more money this cycle than Biden and a couple other candidates. Biden's selling of workers' rights/unions got to me, and I found him to be a stronger candidate than I expected. I think we need Biden's voice out there. We need all the dem voices out there, showing up.

But! I know why Beto is running: he's a singular talent at connecting progressive values to everyday folks, and the true liberal-minded. I think I've been able to hold on thru difficult conversations with republicans lately, in part, because he is such a good model.

I'm going to switch over to Beto ahead of the debate. Am feeling that deep gratitude for what he did in Texas.

[question everything]

20. Bullock, as a governor, has executive experience

Does Beto?

[Indygram]

23. Yes, he started and ran an internet services and software company

as well as a newspaper.

Did Bullock inspire and motivate people to volunteer and GOTV at presidential election numbers for a midterm election? Did he get youth voters to vote early at an increase of 500% like Beto did?

Beto appeals to ALL, knows how to sell more progressive policies to moderates, offers enough to progressives without scaring off the moderates, has already been battle tested against the current nasty GOP attack machine. He is the PERFECT candidate for what is needed to beat Trump.

[dalton99a]

25. +1. Even though he repeatedly called for Trump to be impeached

which was a big no-no in the red counties he visited

[Beartracks]

2. Intrigued. Thanks for posting. n/t

[JI7]

3. i like him and he would win against Trump. but he has said he would not support health care

coverage for undocumented immigrants.

[elleng]

4. There is ALWAYS something(s) about ANY candidate some of us won't like or prefer,

that's life. For ME, #1 is he would win against trump.

[JI7]

7. most mainstream moderate type white men would beat Trump

[dem4decades]

8. That's tough. Many people can't afford or scrimp to get healthcare.

They don't want to hear someone who isn't from this country is going to get something they can't.

[JI7]

12. no, it's mainly people who have a problem with minorities. they are fine with Melania being here

[Indykatie]

5. Bullock is a Good Fit for Montana

That doesn't make him the best choice to be the Dem nominee in 2020 though.

[Skittles]

21. Biden was a Good Fit for Obama

yup

[dem4decades]

6. I'd vote for the guy.

[dsc]

10. Georgia is on the coast last I checked

[elleng]

13. Right. I guess the author forgot.

Sarah Vowell, a contributing opinion writer, is the author of “The Wordy Shipmates” and “Lafayette in the Somewhat United States.”

[question everything]

22. It is considered a Southern state

Region IV: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_regions_of_the_United_States

[Zambero]

29. Texas sits on the GULF coast

LBJ was as Texan as it gets. Washington and Oregon are usually referred to as being Pacific Northwest states but are also part of the west coast. So Georgia and neighboring southern Atlantic seaboard states would certainly fit the description of "coastal". The modern definition of "coast" seems to be getting slightly truncated.

[Zambero]

28. Hawaii also has a bit of coastline

Since Barack Obama is a native Hawaiian, the coastal controversy seems to be a bit of a stretch.

[Mersky]

14. Brought out some good points. Will take a closer look at Bullock. nt

[oasis]

17. I'm glad he'll get the national spotlight to state his case next week

during the debates. Bullock is impressive and will represent the Democratic Party with dignity.

[Qutzupalotl]

18. Agreed. We could all probably learn something from him.

An understanding of federalism combined with passionate advocacy for his constituents will appeal to moderate Rs disaffected with Trump. (There still are some.) That’s one way to win.

I’m looking forward to listening to him on a national debate stage.

[elleng]

27. Thanks. I like the way you think,

reflecting how OTHERS may think.

[Qutzupalotl]

31. Likewise. I remember your respectful advocacy of O'Malley

in the last primary. Although I supported a different candidate, I noticed you stayed positive, just posting good things about him. I never saw you go negative against any other candidates, or DUers for that matter. I wish I could say the same for myself.

[elleng]

32. Thanks.

[Zambero]

30. Yes, a longshot but his presence bolsters the "big tent" concept

I guess there wouldn't be much use for debates if candidates were virtual carbon copies of one another.

[Indygram]

24. If he appeals to conservatives he probably won't appeal to progressives

I don't get the impression that he is very inspiring or dynamic. It's going to take new voters to beat Trump and I just don't get the impression that he has the ability to bring in new voters.

[underthematrix]

26. Steve Bullock is in my top five.

[Celerity]

33. mine too nt

[crazytown]

34. "a Republican majority legislature" in DC

is a different animal to GOP State legislatures.