11 Comments
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Bill Flarsheim's avatar

I hope she decides to run for something, maybe the Maine statehouse. She sounds like a fine Senate candidate already, but Maine would be helped if she were anywhere in state government. And maybe she’ll still win up in the US Senate someday.

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Sarah McKee's avatar

I'd never heard of Smith-Rodriguez before, and am very sorry about it. She sounds like just the sort of solid, capable person of whom this country's public life has a crying need.

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Mark Tomko's avatar

Thanks for writing this, Noah.

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Kathi Ruel's avatar

So sorry she dropped out.

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David Plunk's avatar

Damn what a badass, dropping out just to make sure votes aren't fractured in a way that helps the worst candidate in the race. I hope she finds another office to run for.

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Elaine Schoonover's avatar

I am also sorry she dropped out. It's looking more and more like Platner is very egotistical. His insistence on staying in the race seems very.... Trumpian.

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Sunset & Fire's avatar

It's so disheartening to read this. Dems and progressives can't throw their money at the easy-button candidate fast enough, and they don't seem to feel the need to look below the surface - or at other potential candidates.

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DR Darke's avatar

Unfortunately Platner has the money to buy name recognition, and now he can run on a redemption arc.... 😒

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Kathi Ruel's avatar

My thought exactly.

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David Perlmutter's avatar

Some days, I wish the U.S. had stuck with an appointed Senate, as it was until the early 20th century. You might have a more dignified class of people in the Senate, who could easily check the power of the assholes in the House, as well as one less set of elections to endure.

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DR Darke's avatar

" I wish the U.S. had stuck with an appointed Senate, as it was until the early 20th century. "

Yeah, but what that usually meant was that you got a bunch of rich bigots who knew other rich bigots, so it was very much a Straight White Male's Locker Room.

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