Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search
13 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Jon Stewart talking with Graham Platner about policy. (Original Post) SleeplessinSoCal Wednesday OP
I still think... 2naSalit Wednesday #1
Are you in Maine? SleeplessinSoCal Wednesday #2
... 2naSalit Wednesday #4
I'm just not seeing what you are seeing -misanthroptimist Wednesday #5
I don't like his brand of not ready... 2naSalit Wednesday #6
Fair enough -misanthroptimist Wednesday #7
I have been in... 2naSalit Wednesday #8
"Ready for primetime national politics" usually means Bluetus Wednesday #9
He'd better be ready. SleeplessinSoCal Thursday #10
Not for me. 2naSalit Thursday #11
It isn't me. n/t SleeplessinSoCal Thursday #12
Actually he does look good to folks out here in Maine, too. eShirl Friday #13
Well, Platner has just earned himself my vote -misanthroptimist Wednesday #3

2naSalit

(103,792 posts)
1. I still think...
Wed Apr 29, 2026, 04:17 PM
Wednesday

He's not ready for prime time. I don't really agree with Jon Stewart on much of his political ideas so it doesn't do anything for me. I am worried that he'll be another fetterman/sheehy and that's really bad for us.

Stewart's endorsement doesn't do anything to convince me of platner's cred. He may look good to folks out there in the rest of the country but up here, not so much.

Vertical learning curve is a big mistake at this point in our existence.

SleeplessinSoCal

(10,436 posts)
2. Are you in Maine?
Wed Apr 29, 2026, 05:46 PM
Wednesday

What I like about their conversation is both exposing the lost opportunities to establish new policy that would essentially right the ship of state. Platner seems to have been engaged in local politics for some time. He has Warren's endorsement. And he's young! He's no Fetterman.

2naSalit

(103,792 posts)
4. ...
Wed Apr 29, 2026, 06:25 PM
Wednesday

I am a registered Maine voter. He talks a good game when he has prepared statements or in a friendly conversation like this but when he's asked hard questions, he's either poorly defending himself or complaining about the party and blaming us for shit we have no power to change. To me, his defenses sound like those of a cheating husband.

He has never been elected to any significant office and has no real track record that I can find. He should run for lower office before trying to jump to the US Senate. Fetterman talked a good game during his campaign too, I remember.

And remember, a misogynist can act like they are not until they show you they are still a misogynist. He has nothing to offer me as a female Maine voter. What was that saying I saw here on DU just today, 'once a dick always a dick'? Or how about, when people show you who they are, believe them the first time, before they figure out what you want to hear?

Just being younger and running on the Democratic Party ticket does not automatically mean he's a good fit. Perhaps he should be running for a House seat first, he can always try again, Mills cannot.

I don't like his tattoo story, I don't like his excuses about that; I don't like his asshole remarks about rape victims and I don't give a fuck when he imparted his wisdom on that; I don't like his attitude about the Democratic Party, if he has so many complaints, why isn't he running as an Independent? I get a sense of condescension from him that's a lingering stale fish odor.

Will be voting for the smart lady with much experience who won't be having a vertical learning curve. We need Mills like we needed Biden and Pelosi in the recent past, someone who can easily slide into the driver's seat, take the wheel and steer us away from the brick wall or cliff we're headed toward with measured skill... like Janet Mills. I don't think he passes that test, at least, not for me.

He recently held a series of town hall events, one in my small town even, but I couldn't get in because you had to register via an RQ code in the newspaper, that's it. And I'm sure he had his scripted message down pat by then which is mostly complaints about the party and billionaires.

And who's funding him?

He just doesn't pass my smell test.

-misanthroptimist

(1,824 posts)
5. I'm just not seeing what you are seeing
Wed Apr 29, 2026, 09:37 PM
Wednesday

I also think that "not ready for primetime" is just what we need more of in the US.

And, yes, I am in Maine.

2naSalit

(103,792 posts)
6. I don't like his brand of not ready...
Wed Apr 29, 2026, 09:46 PM
Wednesday

And having seen it in the state I just evacuated from, among others, I'm not willing to take a chance on inexperience at this critical time.

I am for Mills for the same reasons I was for Biden and Pelosi, their experience is what pulled us out of the nightmare of orangeanus 1.0, we need that experience again for the same reasons. I'm not against young politicians, those with a sense of mission, but for the current decline in our nation, I don't want student drivers this time around, especially not in the Senate.

And, for reasons stated below*, I have many discomforts about Platner. I'm not convinced he's not a spoiler.


*https://www.democraticunderground.com/13244565#post4

-misanthroptimist

(1,824 posts)
7. Fair enough
Wed Apr 29, 2026, 09:59 PM
Wednesday

One thing I will say, is people can (and do) change. I was definitely a dick when I was young (under 30). Hate to say it, but I had many of the same attributes as the current occupant of the WH. Time and experience changed that. There was no life changing event (except the birth of my children). I just evolved over time and with the acquisition of new knowledge and experiene.

I know a lot of people believed the Republican assertion that Obama was the most left candidate for President in decades. Some voted for him on that basis, even. (Not me.) They were wrong.

So, no, we don't always get what we thought we were getting. Sometimes, you just gotta take the shot and hope it goes in the basket. Even if Platner turns out to be another Fetterman or Sinema, we're still better off than we are with Susan Collins -and he'll be a one term Senator.

I just don't think Evans will win. (And I could be wrong about that, too.)

2naSalit

(103,792 posts)
8. I have been in...
Wed Apr 29, 2026, 10:17 PM
Wednesday

Favor of Mills all along and she solidified my resolve several weeks ago when she said a few things in an interview where there were tough questions but the one thing that really got my attention was when she noted that every time Collins had a challenger in the general election, they were novices and they lost.

Bluetus

(3,031 posts)
9. "Ready for primetime national politics" usually means
Wed Apr 29, 2026, 10:34 PM
Wednesday

a "good fund-raiser", which is a euphemism for "He will do whatever the big corporations want."

Latest Discussions»The Way Forward»Jon Stewart talking with ...