Beto O'Rourke: I'm running for governor.

[demmiblue]

I’m running for governor.

Together, we can push past the small and divisive politics that we see in Texas today — and get back to the big, bold vision that used to define Texas. A Texas big enough for all of us.

Join us: http://bit.ly/30mq3KP

Link to tweet

[jcgoldie]

1. excellent

Some folks here have voiced that he may be too liberal for Texas. We shall see he always has a charismatic message and he inspires people to get to the polls many from groups of less likely voters. Sooner or later he will break through.

[In It to Win It]

3. He is... especially with his views surrounding guns

but I think he can soften that. He will need some “middle of the road” voters, that “mushy middle”, to vote for him.

But I think he can give a good challenge to Abbott.

[JI7]

4. Any Democrat that runs will need new voters to win

At the very least it's an investment into a state that has become more favorable for Democrats in terms of demographics and could help in the future and local levels.

When Beto lost the Senate race some Democrats at local levels still won becsuse of the increased turnout of Democrats in those places.

[dalton99a]

5. It's a given that immigrant-hating Trump trash won't vote for him.

[Elessar Zappa]

10. For Beto to win in Texas,

not only do we need to increase the turnout of Hispanic voters but also reverse the trend of Hispanics drifting toward Republicans.

[Evolve Dammit]

17. They really hate the ideas about all men created equal and freedom of religion. So yeah.

[dalton99a]

2. Great news.

[48656c6c6f20]

6. If Beto wins I'll break my rule #7

Never, ever, and 20 minutes after you die, go to Texas again.

[live love laugh]

28. I wanna move there now so I can vote for him.

[harumph]

7. I'll vote for him - but he has the baggage

of some unfortunate statements:
https://www.npr.org/2019/09/12/760386808/orourke-promises-to-take-your-ar-15-but-americans-are-split-on-buybacks

Both Dems and Repugs in Texas own guns and many city dwellers are just one or two generations
from the farm/ranch which is quite different from traditionally urban Du'rs who love to weigh in on this issue.

The sad fact is that Repugs are going to have a field day with his on-the-record statements.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

8. Go Beto

Link to tweet

?s=20

[LudwigPastorius]

9. I'm afraid that Beto destroyed his chance of ever being Texas governor with this tweet.

No matter how much you and I may agree with the sentiment, this won't fly with a majority of Texas voters.

[helpisontheway]

22. I was thinking the same thing. They will play that in ads over and over again. Nt

[calimary]

24. And that's a shame. I happen to agree with that message.

But then again, I’m one of those who would take ALL guns, starting with assault rifles.

Unless, of course, I can have my two friends back. Accelerating argument ending in murder-suicide - because there was a gun in the house, within easy reach.

[Polybius]

45. If that's real then he's a moron

That will haunt him in Texas.

[LudwigPastorius]

48. That was actually tweeted out AFTER he said it live during one of the primary debates.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/video/2019/sep/13/beto-orourke-on-gun-control-hell-yes-were-going-to-take-your-ar-15-video

It played well to us, but in a wider contest, talking about confiscating guns is a big a 'third rail' as talking about eliminating Social Security.

[ananda]

11. Happy smiley.

!!!

[onetexan]

12. Woooopp!! K&R

Bravo Beto!!! Abrogate Abbott!!

[FakeNoose]

13. Good luck and may God bless Beto!

By the way ... nobody in Texas (or any other state) needs to own an AR-15 or any other assault weapon.

[tritsofme]

14. I don't think he is viable as a statewide candidate, especially after that quixotic presidential run

But would love to be proven wrong.

[BlackSkimmer]

23. I don't either, but who knows.

I hope he stays in the race for the long run at any rate.

[Elessar Zappa]

27. It'll be a tough race to win.

Mainly because of his tweet that he would come for the AR-15s. Not the best message in Texas.

[left-of-center2012]

46. I agree

As I recall, he dropped out before the primaries began.

[malaise]

15. He can win this

Go Beto!

[blogslug]

16. Will I get my heart broken again? Maybe.

Will I put my faith and time and money into this candidate? You bet I will.

[Ohio Joe]

18. K & R - nt

[oasis]

19. Build Texas Back Better With Beto!

[calimary]

25. I like that campaign slogan!

[pandr32]

20. Wonderful! Just got up in Hawaii and saw this.

Bannon in custody, too. It feels like it is going to be a good day.

[SYFROYH]

21. Good luck Beto.

I like a lot of things about you.

I don’t like your mandatory gun buy back proposal, but I don’t live in Texas.

[sellitman]

26. How many times does he have to lose before he

Moves to a State he can actually win in?

Sorry but the truth hurts.

[pamela]

29. He's only lost once. N/T

[gldstwmn]

33. And only by 2% at that. He has been quietly working toward this

since he ended his presidential campaign. Abbott is one snowstorm away from being unemployed.

[BlueCheeseAgain]

37. 2018 was a Dem wave year. 2022 likely won't be.

On the other hand, it's a state race, not a federal one, so voters are probably more likely to look past party, since it doesn't directly affect who controls Congress.

[Polybius]

44. Beto has moved way left since then

He publicly said that he's coming for your AR-15 and AK-47. He won't get anywhere near 48% in 2022.

[orleans]

30. not sure he can win the state--wish he'd run where he could win

we need his voice.

i'd love for him to win the state but.... can he?

[Laura PourMeADrink]

39. Yes he can. But needs a rapid FB response team

IMHO to counteract what Abbott will spew out to the low infos.

Needs and ad man plus a crew of volunteers to monitor FB. Counter add needs to be generated within an hour and fed out to the same database of users who got the Abbott filth.

[gldstwmn]

31. Well done.

[Calista241]

32. He couldn't beat Ted Cruz in 2018 with a D+7 edge.

What makes anyone think he'll be successful with a R+5 election?

It's R+12 right now, I'm just hoping it goes down by half between now and next year.

[pinkstarburst]

35. I will always be Team Beto

and I will support Beto 10X more than Julian Castro any day of the week because in 2018, Beto showed up and TRIED to beat Ted Cruz. Julian Castro stayed home and worked on his memoir. Now it's time for 2022 and Beto is Texas's best hope. They have outlawed abortion. We froze in the ice storms last winter. I am so thankful he is running. We need someone with the guts to TRY. And all the nasty naysayers can sit down and stuff if as far as I am concerned.

I have the utmost respect for Beto. He is a true Texan who cares about Texas.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

40. Amen x 1 million!!! Texas' best hope !! Is so true. We will

do it pinkstarburst! I am excited I cannot wait to get to work.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

52. At the risk of sounding super dumb

What do you guys mean with R5, D7

Generic ballot?
.

[UTUSN]

34. K&R for, Beto, can you hear me?!1

Mishmashing several of the posts in this thread. NOT Debbie Downer, just from the broken part of the heart after his loss to Cancun Carnival CRUZ.

Then came other things - whachamacallems, baggage, lapses in judgment, just *tired*?!

Items:

* Running himself ragged to every one of the 254 counties on the "judgment" that he wants to talk to *EVERYBODY*. Uh, ain't it basic that there is a definite segment of people/voters who have *ZERO* interest in talking relating to any given candidate, who will *NEVER* vote for said candidate, and that it is basic smarts to funnel time, energy, and money into places committed and places with a chance of relating/voting for the given candidate.

* So all that "wasted" time and energy spent in the out of reach places wears you out and diminishes the performance for the long haul.

* Baggage: The gun thing. There are things not said because 1) they are NOT going to happen and 2) the place (guns in Texas) is not hospitable to saying it. Guns and Texas. An alternative phrasing can be things like "common sense registration" or "like a Driver's License. Not: Take'em away (in Texas).

* Mixed signals: Wants to talk/relate to wingnuts who will *NEVER* (repeat *NEVER*) vote for him, then talks a few very Lib points (not in Texas) like the gun thing and traveling around for days in the company of Joe KENNEDY III who went on to challenge Ed MARKEY, a perfectly good Dem in a Dem place (WHY?).

* A post above said he needs to run for something in a state he can actually win - like RFK and Hillary running in, oh I don't know: NEW YORK!

* He's run in one and a half races, the former lost, the other pulled out. The stench of losing is catching up and must NOT be allowed to. It's like lawyers only asking questions they know the answers to. Granted, there are rarely sure things for winning races, but losing too much is a deadly stench.

**********And as others also said, I'll be a fair weather friend and rejoice IF he wins.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

41. Nooooooooo

[UTUSN]

43. Noooo to what I think/perceive? Plus my own post includes multiple posts from others?

Look, let's start with my undeniable Democratic status. We can go on from there to the SLEW of my years' long supportive Recs or posts I send your way. It's not a matter of expecting something in return. It's fine to disagree with me or anybody. But dismissiveness with a just *offhand* shush is off-putting.

Here's the problem: It should be needless to say that I am a *TOTAL* Dem, I *TOTALLY* support Dems, or rather the Dem *AGENDA*. I also want to *win*. I am not threatened by CONSTRUCTIVE criticism, whether aimed at me or aimed BY me for the purpose of improving our effectiveness to WIN. We can't do anything without winning.

We need to be hard headed, street smart, tougher than our gentle philosophy. To win. Texas is *easy* for wingnuts to win, like a hot knife through butter. Obviously, hard HARD butter for Dems.

Do I need to be more explicit that I hope this fellow wins? Why am I getting a Nooooooo?!1 Is there anything not true in what I said? We can say my stuff is emotive, my own perception/impression. I guess somebody might claim it's not true FOR THEM. What's mine is mine. I love you.


**********ON EDIT, maybe THIS is the (my?) problem: (from another thread: ) "Future First Cat of Texas!!!" ---------so he's a cat person. I'm a dog type. I admire cat behaviors and skills, if I have to say it.

[druidity33]

47. Unfortunately...

Last edited Wed Nov 17, 2021, 06:30 AM - Edit history (1)

i agree with your assessments about Beto. I like him but don't think he'd win.

But there is someone else! And despite the fact that i can't stand him and think he would be pretty awful (but way better than Abbott)... if we could get McConaughey settle on a D (or maybe an I) after his name, he would win Texas by 10%. Baggage and all.

[UTUSN]

49. Hah! - well, you had me until you got to the AWwwRight jerk. If we have to "get" somebody

Last edited Tue Nov 16, 2021, 10:33 PM - Edit history (1)

to put a D after their name, it's a no-go.

Whatever his/AWwwwRIght "baggage" connotes with you - a worse national problem with him for me is having another celebrity, flake, whackjob flailing what's left of our civic life to pieces.

To be clear, I do not share your "can't stand the guy/Beto" or "think he/Beto would be pretty awful" - not one bit. But thanks for the bit about my assessments, which are meant constructively to improve his game and chances, not to discredit him.

[druidity33]

50. I think Beto would be great...

but i don't think he'd win. I don't think Awwright guy would be great (better than Abbott by far though), but i do think he would win.

Is that clearer?

[UTUSN]

54. Not to prolong this, but not really clearer since "can't stand" him is totally different.

"Winning" for me doesn't mean replacing one ahole/ABBUTT with another one.

[druidity33]

56. Well....

I'd rather have Manchin than some random asshole Republican. Even though Manchin is mostly useless and frustrating. So, i guess me and you are different people. On the internet. Not agreeing. Quelle surprise!

[Laura PourMeADrink]

51. Oh wow, I was just joking... Thought we were

DU buddies. Sorry. Yes, of course all your concerns listed were valid! But it's not like we have a slew of good Dems in the hunt. I support him because I worked for him last time and have seen him in action.

In Austin, in the park across the river, we waited among thousands and thousands for him. Young people, old people and in-between people. It was literally like waiting for a rock star. There was a buzz so strong that I hadn't felt from our party since 2008. Excitement.

I know there's some baggage. But I truly feel he can win. If we work hard and we combat the vicious FB smearing this time.

[UTUSN]

53. I insist that we *are* DU buddies, just didn't know what the one-word reply meant.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

55. Just an unfunny person trying to be funny not in person.

[BlueCheeseAgain]

36. I wish him well.

Many voters seem willing to elect governors and other state officials of the other party, when they won't do so for federal office. Hence MA, MD, VT, KS, KY, LA have governors of the non-dominant party. I do wonder how his gun control stance will play in Texas, though.

[Blue Owl]

38. C'mon Texas, get with the program!

[Dopers_Greed]

42. As someone who lives in Texas, sorry that I have to say it, but...

He stands no chance.

Not many people here are still excited about him after the presidential run.