47 Comments
User's avatar
Jeff Tiedrich's avatar

*applause*

Expand full comment
Jeff Tiedrich's avatar

yes, I bought a subscription just so I could leave that comment

Expand full comment
Jeff Tiedrich's avatar

yes, I interrupted the writing of my own post so I could read yours and then bought a subscription so I could leave that comment

Expand full comment
Noah Berlatsky's avatar

thank you!

I did feel like I was channeling you to some extent!

Expand full comment
Rachel Baldes's avatar

Big Praise, and a kitty gets Tiedrich treats? Nice.

Expand full comment
CirceIYKYK's avatar

I love when someone sees what I see. Gavin Newsome sometimes gets it right yay applause. When he doesn't get it right it's usually a case of some marginalized group so that he can gain favor with the "middle". Democrats strength will always be the unity of those who are marginalized. Good job of calling him out. I fear that if the party embraces his version of politics the democratic party will be divided and weakened. People are not going turn their backs on their loved ones.

Expand full comment
DR Darke's avatar

It's that kind of half-smart, heartless political calculation that has NeoLiberals thinking that they can attract "Romney Republicans"....

...as if anybody with a conscience would WANT to attract the member of some Far Right Racist Homophobic Misogynistic Cult like the Mormons!

Expand full comment
Stephen Fromhart's avatar

Spot on It's a shame because realistically a young, tall, handsome white guy would be the perfect visual for winning a presidency because most Americans are misogynistic, racist, and still in thrall to the white patriarchy, but we must be done with this a-hole, especially since his podcast courting manosphere dickheads. He's a conniving chameleon not to be trusted. He's a Fetterman-type who thinks the way to win is to tap into the culture hate and lies (e g., immigration is a legitimate problem) that helped the Republicans win. Please DNC, show some spine and distance yourself from this guy

Expand full comment
Dionne Dumitru's avatar

Until recently, I failed to understand how he could have been married to Kimberly Guilfoyle. All cleared up now.

Expand full comment
Rachel Baldes's avatar

I too fail to understand how any sane human being can choose to spend time with a woman that any Trump also chooses to spend time with (as well as the woman apparently spending her one life going to press functions like a nightmare botox barbie. But he's made it clear what they all have in common: zero true principles and a willingness to say and do and abide by any harm to the rest of society. Just as long as their checks clear. Gaza has been instructive that way for Blue Maga same as Red.

Expand full comment
Mark's avatar

I heard Ruben Gallego say similar poll watching garbage about falling into the trap instead of standing up for what’s right. They’re both pretty pathetic

Expand full comment
Maryjane Osa's avatar

Jesus, Newsom—read the fucking room! Where do you think you are? The French fucking Laundry?

Expand full comment
DR Darke's avatar

I thought The French Laundry had better taste than that?

Expand full comment
David Perlmutter's avatar

Nobody that out of touch with the real world should be allowed to hold office.

Expand full comment
🐝 BusyBusyBee 🐝's avatar

What is it with men like Newsom? Does he believe it’s his *time* and no matter how repulsive he is, he’ll just have a glide path to the Dem nomination in 2028 if he appeals to <<waves arms around>> this? Pro tip, if you want to win in a race with other democrats, this is not the image you wanna be putting forth right now. I guess he’s working with the same consultants as Big Gretch because both of them are falling pretty flat these days.

Expand full comment
DR Darke's avatar

It's the Clinton NeoLiberal way—behave enough like a Republican, and maybe you'll ATTRACT Republicans!

No, you won't, ever—because Republicans at least stand by their (ignorant, bigoted, half-wit) principles and HATE any Democrat—which is how WE should treat Republicans, every last scumsucking one of them.

Expand full comment
Kay-El's avatar

I would have possibly considered voting for Newsom as President someday, but that day will never come. Having those RWNJs on a podcast blew a hole in that idea and his comment on Abrego Garcia collapsed it.

Expand full comment
Maryjane Osa's avatar

Molly Jong-Fast has good advice for Newson: You go on *Bannon’s* podcast, to reach *his* audience. Pissing off the libs is what *they’re* trying to do— pissing off your own people doesn’t expand your audience. 🙄

Expand full comment
Kay-El's avatar

Exactly

Expand full comment
Rachel Baldes's avatar

I need her to listen to her own advice I guess. Not as much as Ezra Klein but a lot.

Expand full comment
Lisa J. Miller's avatar

Yes I, too, bought a subscription so I could comment on the POS Gavin Newsome. Not just for that reason. 😆 But I've never warmed to him and have known for a long time he had too much baggage to ever be POTUS. Especially with his antics of late. A distraction?! Wtf?!! He's a human being!! Grrrr.

Great post.

Expand full comment
Ken DeBusk's avatar

I am disappointed that my state, Michigan, has two eminently qualified possibilities, Gov. Whitmer and Sec. Pete (don't wish to embarrass myself by trying to spell it), and both have said "No way!" I know so little about Newsom or some of the others, but endearing yourself to the anti-immigrant haters is no way to get my vote. Oh, if only Bernie would run again....

Expand full comment
Noah Berlatsky's avatar

well, I think AOC is currently running with Bernie's endorsement! (long way to go till 2028 though...)

Expand full comment
Ken DeBusk's avatar

I knew she was touring with him, but hadn't heard the actual rumor that she's running. I have viewed her much as John the Baptist, "a voice crying in the wilderness" and "preparing the way for one to come after him", but I like her chutzpah and message. I just wonder if she's not too far left for the more rightward leaning Dems. I sick of being treated like ignorant trash. I can read the Constitution and laws and realized very quickly he was driving us off the cliff as quickly as he could, enriching himself and other oligarchs in the process. It's not Sunday, I will stop preaching to the choir now....

Expand full comment
Noah Berlatsky's avatar

I mean, I don't know if there are rumors...I think the rallies are just very much the sort of thing you'd do if you were running for president!

Expand full comment
DR Darke's avatar

FUCK more Rightward leaning Dems.

They need to come to us, and we need to STOP catering to them.

Expand full comment
Rachel Baldes's avatar

💡

Expand full comment
Ken DeBusk's avatar

The question you raise is that of winning, and whether or not Dems will or can win again. The farther left we move, the more we make the right-wing attractive to some non-progressive Democrats. There's a "sweet spot" we seem never to find lately. I don't care if people disagree with me, but I care if MAGA wins more. I want them to yield to the truth as opposed to the non-religious cult nature of DJT and his evil group, believing every lie without question. I know they don't like the word "woke", but the alternative is to be asleep. That's where most MAGA people seem to be, content to let Trump spout lies without being questioned.

Expand full comment
Noah Berlatsky's avatar

I just don’t think policy or election works like this at all. a lot of people do, but it doesn’t seem to help them win elections.

Expand full comment
DR Darke's avatar

That the same excuse you Clinton NeoLibs have been using for DECADES, and it's a LOSING Strategy! It's more like you keep making excuses for NOT helping the working or middle classes, and halfheartedly supporting scapegoating LGBTQ persons and Brown people, because the DNC elites all get that sweet sweet corporate cash as bribes to stay the fucking course like every other Rethuglican does—and they expected Donald Trump, for some inexplicable reason, to do. (Donald Trump only has one party—"The Keep Donnie Diapershit Out of Prison Party".)

If the working and middle classes had well-paying jobs and strong unions, and a social safety net worthy of the name, they could care LESS if their neighbors wanted "gender-affirming therapy" or lived a same-sex polyamorous communal relationship, and they would happily accept undocumented immigrants because those immigrants do the jobs they really don't want to have to take any longer. I'm old enough to remember when the Republican Senator from California (and former Fred Astaire co-star) George Murphy *supported* bringing "illegals" into the United States to give them jobs in agriculture and and transportation under the "Brasero Program". (I also remember Tom Lehrer mocking the Brasero Program in his song about Sen. Murphy and his former career.)

Expand full comment
Rachel Baldes's avatar

100 fucking percent

Expand full comment
mermcoelho's avatar

We need to inspire people and show them a vision of who we could be. AOC does that. Fuck, trump did it, never mind that he’s a liar and his vision is horrifying. “More of the same” is not inspiring, especially when you’re helping bomb children.

Expand full comment
Rachel Baldes's avatar

I've never met any really rightward leaning Democrats, just people brought up better than they are willing to be-but incapable of registering R.

Expand full comment
Ken DeBusk's avatar

There are right-ish Democrats, but they don't often admit that fact. I often hear people say they are social Democrats and fiscal Republicans. I'm not sure what name I'd give those people, but if they are not with "us" (ANTI-MAGA!), at least they're close enough that we have a chance of getting their votes. All we need to do is persuade MAGA that you can't be a Christian and a Trumper simultaneously, the battle is won. DJT is in it for himself. He doesn't really give a hoot as to what you call him and his cult of personallity as long as you give big tax cuts to the rich, cut the benefits to the poor, and generally model yourself on the Asshole-in-Chief until you open your eyes and ears and realize that you're being fooled. Am I partisan? YOU BETCHA! Open your Bible to Matthew 25:40, put your finger on the page, and follow along: "And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’" (ESV)

Whether or not you believe the Bible, count on them (MAGA) at least claiming to be Christians even if their actions/words belie that claim. Cut SNAP or Medicaid? You're certainly doing it to the poor. I could quote verses for hours (I'm a recovering Baptist) but I don't need to preach to the choir. 

Expand full comment
mermcoelho's avatar

Fuck yeah!

Expand full comment
Rebecca's avatar

I get the feeling that Gavin did this because the focus wasn’t on how great and smart and handsome he is by focusing on tariffs instead of immigration. He wants us to focus on HIM, and everything else is a “distraction”, in that it distracts us from his wisdom.

Expand full comment
mermcoelho's avatar

I have been beyond appalled at Newsom’s activities lately. This shows how completely out of touch he is with the actual battle we’re facing. Great piece!

Expand full comment
rebecca wilova's avatar

It’s ok, the more Newsom raises his public profile the more it’s clear that he’s the wrong guy for the democratic nomination in 2028. Unfortunate so much but good, we needed to know that. Abrego Garcia is the whole game. Due process is the whole game. Trans documentation accuracy is the whole game. Trans rights are the whole game too. I’m shocked and appalled Newsom doesn’t see this or understand this, and at least we know. Definitively.

Expand full comment
DR Darke's avatar

Gavin Newsom reminds me of that kind of "Liberal" that Aaron Sorkin is—perfectly willing to embrace Right-Wing causes if they think they're "fashionable", and utterly lacking in any moral courage.

They're the kind of "Liberal" that's why I no longer call myself one....

Expand full comment
Jonathan D. Simon's avatar

Following in Tiedrich's footsteps - and thanks for the discount. This is the money graf:

"I have mentioned this before, but it’s just worth reiterating because people like Gavin Newsom apparently do not understand it. But if you do not have a democracy, you do not have a democracy. A tyrant with the power to arrest, imprison, disappear, and kill his enemies does not have to worry about polls or elections, because he can just murder his opponents if they get too uppity. Abrego García is not a “distraction.” He’s the whole ball game. If Trump can do what he has done to this man, we have no democracy, and the Democrats are a superfluous joke."

BTW, I think your case is so strong on this that it doesn't need the Tiedrich-adjacent scatological name-calling, and in fact the overall impact and penetration may well be weakened by it. It's a tough call and don't get me wrong: I love what Jeff does with fuck and shit and their many close cousins; and I think it can work in many cases for you and me as well. But I'd be more selective about how and when you let your spleen hang out: Newsom may be a piece of shit but he's really more hook than focus here and calling him one takes away, imo, from the power of your *general* case, which is so important that it needs all the power it can get.

Expand full comment
Stephen Fromhart's avatar

Did I interpret this wrong, or are you taking potshots at allies? Not sure we need that now. The "BTW" paragraph was completely unnecessary and condescending imo and I'm not sure I even agree that decorum wins the day anyway. Each to their own though. I wish you the best of luck as an ally. You made me curious enough to read some of your material.

Expand full comment
Rachel Baldes's avatar

I love how we're all absolutely committed to making sure Noah feels appreciated even if we are kind of porcupines to each other while doing it lol

Expand full comment
Jonathan D. Simon's avatar

I didn't mean to offend (I'm also ambivalent at best about decorum), was trying to offer friendly advice about what would make a powerful piece like this appealing to a broader readership -- which I think is part of the battle. I'm an editor and it's what I do all day!

I could very well be wrong. I advocated for reposting some of Jeff Tiedrich's more furious pieces on our WhoWhatWhy site and faced reluctance and pushback from my decorum-valuing colleagues -- which is what originally got me thinking about parsing out in what kinds of pieces it worked (and didn't work) to name-call and/or go heavy on the epithets. As I noted, I enjoy those kinds of pieces - they give me desperately needed emotional confirmation; but I don't think we're all wired that way. And I just thought this particular piece would have been stronger with more decorum.

Definitely an ally! Thanks for checking out my writing!

Expand full comment
Noah Berlatsky's avatar

I think there's room for people doing both. a lot of my writing is less shouty. but sometimes...

Expand full comment
Jonathan D. Simon's avatar

Indeed, and I didn't mean to disparage either your style or a column with which I'm in violent agreement. I just thought your case, both against Newsom and more generally, was so strong that it would have been a great meal even without the ketchup.

Expand full comment