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 All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search
Joe BidenCongratulations to our presumptive Democratic nominee, Joe Biden!
 

Funtatlaguy

(10,856 posts)
Wed Feb 12, 2020, 05:45 PM Feb 2020

A "Pragmatic Socialist" rant about the best "ham sandwich".

This will be long and rambling but therapeutic for me.
So please forgive my indulgence.

Here’s where I am now after two contests.
I think we now (probably) have 4 ham sandwiches 🥪 before us.
A “ham sandwich” being that most of us here would vote for anything or anyone (even a proverbial ham sandwich) that gets the Dem nomination to oust the existential threat to our democracy out of the White House.

I personally had hoped for a female ham sandwich.
I loved both Harris and Warren.
I thought that our country really needs and is ready for (hello, Hillary got 3 million more votes) a woman.
As for ideology, when I take those online tests, I always score as the most liberal (even more so than Sanders).
However, I grew up in the southeast surrounded by very conservative religious Republicans.
I know who they are and what they care about and pushes their political buttons.
So, that’s where my political pragmatism comes in.
When volunteering in local, state, or national campaigns, I usually support the most progressive candidates in the primaries but have to “settle” for someone more moderate in the general.
That’s ok. That’s politics in current America for a myriad of reasons that we here all know.

Anyway, back to this years Dem Prez Primary.
Even though my heart is still with Warren, my head just can’t see a very viable way forward for her after New Hampshire. It should have been one of her best states.
So, very regrettably, I’m looking for another sandwich.

Biden - love, love, love him personally. Hate what he has been put thru in his life with all of the personal family tragedies. Hate the Ukraine crap with Hunter. Love, love, love his wife Jill. But, I think (barring at least a third place in Nevada and a first place in SC), I don’t see the way forward.

Bernie - I loved him and voted for him in 2016 primary and Hillary in general. Love his energy which I think has actually increased since his heart procedure. Love that we might expand the electorate under him if young people would turn out en masse. But, would they? And would it be enough in the purple states we would need to offset any loss of moderate Dems that would be scared away by the demonization because of the Socialist label.

Mayor Pete - How amazing has the meteoric rise been of this 38 year old gay married Mayor of a small city? He is so smart and so well spoken. I find it interesting, though, that when most of the media pundits “analyze” his pros and cons that very few mention the gay thing. They just say he’s too young, or too inexperienced being only a small town mayor. Inexperienced? After Trump? Well, I can tell you that in the South, there’s only one negative that matters to a lot of people (especially moderate Dems and Independents) that are somewhat religious and still uncomfortable with homosexuality. Most wont say this quiet part out loud but they don’t like the idea of two men kissing in their White House. America isn’t ready. As our nominee, Pete would be savaged by people both left and right and center (although much of it will be thru robots, Russia, etc.).

Amy - Wicked smart. Super well spoken. Great dry sense of humor. From the Midwest which is a bonus. A lot more moderate than me but that might be a good thing. Other than her “supposed temper” with her staff, not a lot of negatives are out there YET. In some ways, she’s still an unproven national entity. But could she just possibly be the “right ham sandwich” for this moment in time? Could she be our best compromise candidate and bridge and unite our moderate and liberal wings especially if she picked a male POC as her Veep?

Mayor Mike - So, looming out there with his mighty checkbook is the former GOP NYC Mayor. The huge positive being that we wouldn’t have to hold any bake sales for him. He would fund his own general election and possibly (thru some PACs) those of many of our Senate candidates in purple state races. He has earned some progressive bonafides on the gun issue. The cons are the stop and frisk issue and possible somewhat racist comments in his past. As an old white dude, that is impossible for me to say how that will affect our black Dems. I defer to them on whether or not that is a dealbreaker for them. Also, there are those in our party that don’t want another person linked to Wall Street and don’t like the idea of someone “buying” the Dem nomination and presidency.

So, After all of that, I don’t know where the hell we are and what we must now do.
I just know that if we don’t get a ham sandwich that most of us will promise to pour on the mayo and mustard and whatever else is needed between the Dem Convention in Milwaukee and November 3, 2020, that the Big Orange Cantaloupe faced Devil and his greedy corporatists and Armageddon encouraging Evangelical Dominionists (like Pence) will lead our nation and possibly our earth to irreparable ruin.

GO HAM 🥪! Whoever you turn out to be. I will give you all of my love and support!!
Going Blue, no matter who!!!





If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
8 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
 

msongs

(67,193 posts)
1. ham is exlusionary this season, perhaps tuna, or egg salad, or even plastic cheese nt
Wed Feb 12, 2020, 05:50 PM
Feb 2020
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

jls4561

(1,241 posts)
2. No more plastic cheese, please
Wed Feb 12, 2020, 05:55 PM
Feb 2020

not for another four years.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

tblue37

(64,979 posts)
3. I'm thinking Klobuchar/Stacey Abrams might be a winning ticket. nt
Wed Feb 12, 2020, 05:56 PM
Feb 2020
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

Funtatlaguy

(10,856 posts)
4. Abrams is awesome. Kemp stole her Governorship.
Wed Feb 12, 2020, 06:06 PM
Feb 2020
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

Laelth

(32,017 posts)
5. I vote for the ham sandwich.
Wed Feb 12, 2020, 07:06 PM
Feb 2020

Now, which one was that?



-Laelth

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

Funtatlaguy

(10,856 posts)
6. Lol. They all are. Some just have different bread 🍞 and condiments.
Wed Feb 12, 2020, 07:34 PM
Feb 2020
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

Laelth

(32,017 posts)
8. Oh, no! No! Too many choices. I want all the ham sandwiches.
Wed Feb 12, 2020, 08:02 PM
Feb 2020







-Laelth

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

Karadeniz

(22,267 posts)
7. The media keeps mentioning that voters aren't decided, many not deciding until it's cast the ballot
Wed Feb 12, 2020, 08:02 PM
Feb 2020

Time. I think the reason is that we have so many fabulous candidates, it's hard to settle on onr!

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
Latest Discussions»Retired Forums»Democratic Primaries»A "Pragmatic Socialist" r...