The rise and fall of Beto O'Rourke

[left-of-center2012]

With a shoot by the celebrity photographer Annie Leibovitz, the Vanity Fair spread gave many the impression of a white male vanity project. And O’Rourke – who later described the cover and his choice of words as a mistake – did little to dispel that during a campaign in which he livestreamed himself having a haircut.

At 47 and with a young family, Robert Francis “Beto” O’Rourke had been billed as a new Robert Kennedy, a fresh and dynamic figure of hope who could work across the aisle. He was urged to run for president by many Democrats, including Barack Obama alumni, inspired by his narrow Senate loss last year in the Republican stronghold of Texas.

But the swearing, leaping on tables and social media antics that appeared charming against Cruz, a liberal bête noire, became grating when O’Rourke was up against fellow Democrats.

O’Rourke’s campaign launch video in March featured him sitting on a sofa and talking while his wife, Amy, sat mute gazing at him. And as the campaign went on, he failed to articulate a coherent vision, beyond his own celebrity, to stand out from the crowd. His debate performances appeared unfocused and insubstantial: in June he was bested by his fellow Texan Julián Castro on immigration. The money ebbed away. He had raised $9.4m during his first two weeks of campaigning but, by the end of June, was spending more than he was taking in.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/rise-fall-beto-orourke-democratic-010324057.html

[cwydro]

1. From the article:

Even before entering the race, there was a narcissistic blog: “Have been stuck lately. In and out of a funk. Maybe if I get moving, on the road, meet people, learn about what’s going on where they live, have some adventure, go where I don’t know and I’m not known, it’ll clear my head, reset, I’ll think new thoughts, break out of the loops I’ve been stuck in.”

Lol.

[PatSeg]

2. That pretty much sums up

my impression of him. As a senate candidate, he came across as new and refreshing. As a presidential candidate, he was exhausting and undisciplined. He was so hyper that he actually would become short of breath during campaign events, not a look one wants to see in a president.

With time and some good political advisers, he might have eventually been a good presidential candidate.

[BannonsLiver]

3. David Sirota had a lot to do with the "fall" part.

[MustLoveBeagles]

6. It certainly didn't help

[dalton99a]

8. +1. Beto was pretty much blindsided by the ambush laid for him

by part-time Democrats and other fellow Democrats

[cwydro]

21. I keep seeing this, but no one gives any examples.

It seems to me he simply did not have an organized campaign.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

22. Or was it Susan Sarandon?

[aikoaiko]

4. It's really a shame he didnt run for the other Senate seat.

It would have been a harder race than the one with Cruz but he had momentum and the money to it.

Sadly I think too many people whispered the Bobby Kennedy dream in his ear and their aren’t many people who could resis.

Still I’m glad he quit because now Democrats can distance themselves from his vocal support of a forced buyback as a confiscation scheme.

[MustLoveBeagles]

5. Wow

He's out but people can't stop kicking him. Whatever.

[dalton99a]

9. He dropped out, and they still won't stop bitching and badmouthing

Heck, from here on out they'll blame everything on him

[MustLoveBeagles]

16. I hope it dies down soon

Last edited Sat Nov 2, 2019, 10:17 PM - Edit history (1)

I didn't initially support Beto. I was aware of the Senate race in Texas but didn't follow it too closely and wondered what the fuss was all about. My original intention was to wait for Joe Biden to enter the race before I indicated my preference. There was just something about Beto I liked and I wanted to learn more about him. I liked what was seeing and hearing from him so on a whim I put him in my signature line. I have no regrets about that in spite of how things turned out. Sure he made mistakes during his campaign but show me a candidate who hasn't even when they win.

I was already expecting him to drop out but was caught off guard by how sudden it was. I thought I was doing okay with it yesterday but it's hitting me rather hard today. I've read a lot of negativity towards him both here and other sites for months. And the sad part of was that it wasn't coming just from republicans. I rarely commented on it and tried to shrug it off. But you know what? It really makes me fucking angry. Really angry. The mockery, childishness, the smug contempt, the gloating, all of it. Oversensitive of me I know, but I just can't help it right now.

[dalton99a]

23. And the willful ignorance and minimization of what he did for Democrats in Texas.

The stupid Russian bots were easy to spot. The most insidious attacks and smears I saw on social media came from supporters and operatives of his rivals (yeah, I checked the posters' FB pages)

I met Beto, more than once, and I saw the widespread enthusiasm for him - especially among younger voters - and the revival of the Democratic brand in Texas. He didn't deserve the character assassination and ratfucking at the hands of national Democrats.

[question everything]

18. I don't think it is kicking him. I think this can be a helpful analysis for future

candidates.

[MustLoveBeagles]

19. Okay perhaps

But did they really have to call him a narcissist? That was a cheap shot and not true. He most certainly is not. The orange squatter in the White House is.

[dalton99a]

24. +1. Helluva weird narcissist who put his head on the chopping block for immigrants

and victims of gun violence and racism - day after day - while others were hobnobbing with the rich and powerful

[McCamy Taylor]

7. He has not fallen. He has risen.

Too pure for DC is actually a very American liberal value.

[left-of-center2012]

10. "He has not fallen. He has risen. Too pure for DC ..."

uh, no

[cwydro]

11. "He has risen?"

Seriously?

Is this the comparison it seems to be?

Just no.

[left-of-center2012]

13. "He has not fallen. He has risen. Too pure for DC ..."

Matthew 28:6 (KJV)
"He is not here: for he is risen ..."

[cwydro]

14. I know, right?

That’s what jumped into my mind too.

Eek.

[Kashkakat v.2.0]

12. oh fer crying out loud, its hardly a tragedy that the ones who arent doing so well will start

pulling out. I hardly think its all over for him - of course it was a mistake for him to start believing all the hype and think he could jump straight to president .... but as mistakes go..... its a pretty forgiveable one.

[Politicub]

15. He gave it his best shot

He just never caught fire. After his stellar performance in Texas, I expected him to be an early favorite.

I liked his bold thinking for mandatory assault rifle buybacks. I couldn’t tell you what his other positions were, though.

[Capt. America]

17. I think he mistook all of his out of state money as a sign people nationwide really like him versus

really hating Ted Cruz.

[left-of-center2012]

20. I think, in the beginning ...

I think, in the beginning, when he'd jump up on tables and
wave his arms about as he spoke
turned some people off.