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Stephen Robinson's avatar

The Maine race is an example of Schumer’s complete failure as a leader and recruiter of talent (the latter is what he so often boasts about when saying he should remain in his role). Unseating Collins should have been a priority after 2020 (and still within reach even if Harris had won). But Mills is a terrible choice — her age alone suggests Dems learned nothing from Biden and Feinstein, at least regarding voter sentiment on the matter. She’s not even that popular in Maine. Schumer could have recruited someone who would contrast better with Platner and would actually run a vigorous campaign (Platner is everywhere).

Schumer also screwed up Michigan. He backed Stevens — a baffling choice — rather than McMorrow (arguably bc Stevens is more loyal to both Schumer and Israel).

Look, Schumer doesn’t have to back the progressive/Sanders choice, but he should at least support viable candidates in the center left lane.

Lucius's avatar
6dEdited

Him picking mills comes off (to me anyway) as an attempt to find someone allied with him and his interests who would help make sure the party continues jogging to the right and punishing the progressive wing.

The fact that he regularly snubs and works against candidates in the center left lane makes is really telling.

Stephen Robinson's avatar

It's alarming that the best Schumer approved candidates he could find were Stevens in MI and Mills in Maine.

Noah Berlatsky's avatar

I mean, Peltola is the big one.

Patris's avatar

Mills is no choice

Noah Berlatsky's avatar

I’d prefer her to platner! Her polling is terrible right now though.

Patris's avatar

shallow maybe (likely?) but I don’t get what message she’s embodying- other than not being Susan (aarrgh) Collins… (still, made a contribution)

David Perlmutter's avatar

They always let the old guys hang around too long. Term limits!

Noah Berlatsky's avatar

Term limits mostly just give power to lobbyists. They sound good, but are unfortunately bad policy.

Patris's avatar

There needs to be a cap - age/effectiveness (but then how to measure?), perhaps a mentoring position.. it’s time

Stephen Robinson's avatar

You don't need term limits to remove Schumer from leadership. That's a party problem.

Bill Flarsheim's avatar

In conjunction with Israeli Independence Day (next Monday), the local Jewish Federation is hosting three members of the Israeli Defense Force (IDF). They were at our temple last night for the family dinner and services afterward. It was the standard Israeli liaison playbook I’ve seen my whole life. Each of the three officers (two women and a man) spoke briefly about their service and the Federation rep talked about how difficult it had been for Israeli service members over the last three years. She stressed to opportunity to speak to the soldiers individually.

The crowd was polite and we clapped when we were supposed to, but there was no enthusiasm and quite possibly, no interest at all. The organizations that tie Jewish Americans to Israel still function as they always did, but they are becoming fossils of a time that is passing. Continued American military support for Israel is now dependent on the Christian right. American Jews, especially those under 50, are rapid moving on.

Lucius's avatar

The sooner that quisling motherfucker goes the better.

Maryjane Osa's avatar

“Up to and including…”. My first smile of the morning. And I finished my coffee a while ago.

mermcoelho's avatar

As far as I’m concerned, he can’t leave fast enough. I really hope he retires, so NY can have a primary without his specter hanging over it.