• archomrade [he/him]
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    11 months ago

    Tim Walz, Shawn Fain, AOC…

    In Newsom’s defense, his state is overrun with the largest, most politically-active companies on the planet - but I can’t say he’s actually done much to fundamentally improve working-class conditions or addressed housing affordability or COL. He’s applied a lot of band-aids, though.

    He’s a loud voice in a liberal state, but he’s essentially just a younger Biden. He does the most optically-left thing he can without ruffling any feathers of the biggest DNC donors.

    • blazeknave@lemmy.world
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      11 months ago

      Fuck yeah. Great selection! I wish we were still on trajectory for AOC, but 2016 set us back decades overnight. That’s how we got Biden. Walz is a great milk toast caring Dem, definitely great in Midwest, not sure about angry rust belt, don’t know his policy stances as well. Fain… oh man. That MF cares about us. He can get the Bernie vote, the wannabe libertarian vote, etc

      I might feel slightly less critical about what Gavin done here than I’m imagining your sentiment, but I can’t say you’re wrong, especially on housing. You’re absolutely right he hasn’t done the real work to make systemic changes. I do think we have tons of QoL improvements.

      To be fair, that’s my exact point. Biden’s most unelectable quality is his age. Newsom’s perfectly polished and architected candidate for this age. And he’s hot and charming. Very electable. Could probably even spin his ex for some kind of GOP brownie points?

      • archomrade [he/him]
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        11 months ago

        On the contrary, Walz has been anything but milquetoast, he’s just not as publicity-oriented as Newsom. He’s passed a number of extremely popular progressive policies, including a campaign finance reform banning corporate contributions from companies who have 5% or more foreign ownership (that’s poised to be struck down, but still an unambiguous signal against monied interests). Minnesota also has one of the lowest inflation rates in the country.

        He’s done his wildly progressive legislating while lowering taxes and running a surplus.

        But Newsom is the Democratic darling because he’s… Hot? Idk what makes him a good candidate other than his optics, and even then, he’d have almost as bad a time as AOC would agaist a reactionary GOP, but with none of the desirable progressive policies we actually need. I’m honestly a little frustrated by this sentiment… He’s a neoliberal candidate that has no other actual qualifications other than his media literacy and age, but he’s also basically the GOP’s definition of ‘Elite-westcost-liberal’. I think he’s the worst of the losing choices.

        • blazeknave@lemmy.world
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          11 months ago

          I don’t think you’re hearing my point. Electability, not policy. I agree with you on what makes for good policy. It unfortunately doesn’t stop a Trump election win

          • archomrade [he/him]
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            11 months ago

            And I’m saying I don’t think he is, unless you think charisma is the only necessary quality for electability.

            Personally I think Newsom comes off as a douche

            • blazeknave@lemmy.world
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              11 months ago

              For president? Yes. Policy will not change hearts and minds anymore. (Unless you’re a union organizer…I really do wish he would run!) Purported independent swing voters are spineless and vote for character stories and who they like, if they aren’t full of shit Republican voters to begin with.

              You feel that way about him because you’re intelligent, critical, and seeking substance. Do you think you’re the voter we’re talking about persuading?

              • archomrade [he/him]
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                11 months ago

                I’m not trying to get into an argument over electoralism right now, but I think you underestimate people’s sensitivity to their material conditions.

                Candidates like Newsom are the reason why people disengage from politics entirely. It’s why I like Walz, he’s been extremely effective at passing popular policies while heading off the most common GOB objections.

                Someone with that kind of record would be way more electable than a Newsom or a Biden. Even the most reactionary people in my life have nothing to complain about with Walz. We haven’t had an effective Democratic president since FDR, and it’s the reason our economy continues to get worse for the working class.