Tue Apr 23, 2019, 05:55 PM

what makes Pete B. so popular?

As someone whose impression of Mayor Pete is that he seems decent enough, but not exceptionally impressive or outstanding, I've been a bit puzzled by his terrific popularity. But I may have a theory... I think he's seen as a youth candidate.

We are at a time when economic opportunity is worse for young people than it's ever been in my life, when the young are generally getting screwed, and intergenerational relations are becoming far more adversarial than they used to be (even though people mostly seem to be getting along well enough with their own parents, which was less common a generation ago).

I think this creates an exceptional demand for a candidate who represents the young. Pete Buttigieg is unusually young and fresh-faced, and addressing issues that matter to the young. Also, being gay helps align him with the young, as anti-gay prejudice is mainly found in older generations, and young people know it.

Am I getting warm?

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

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44 replies	Author	Time	Post
what makes Pete B. so popular? (Original post)	paulkienitz	Apr 2019	OP
Exceptionally impressive and outstanding,	elleng	Apr 2019	#1
I feel that in the current field, being highly intelligent and articulate is not exceptional.	paulkienitz	Apr 2019	#5
That is great news, and some have those qualities more than others!	elleng	Apr 2019	#7
I'm 71. I think Mayor Pete is exceptionally impressive.	rzemanfl	Apr 2019	#2
true dat	paulkienitz	Apr 2019	#6
So true my grandson just moved in with my ex	marlakay	Apr 2019	#38
Intelligent, articulate, impressive, warm, carring	leftofcool	Apr 2019	#3
white. male. booker is a rhodes scholar too.	Kurt V.	Apr 2019	#4
bologna	elleng	Apr 2019	#10
Why?	Control-Z	Apr 2019	#41
It's also a great thing that Booker was a Rhodes scholar, but this thread is about Buttigieg.	The Velveteen Ocelot	Apr 2019	#20
Booker doesn't make himself as available to media	JI7	Apr 2019	#30
I did not know that.	Control-Z	Apr 2019	#40
It's more than that. He really is exceptional; he's a military veteran (Naval intelligence);	The Velveteen Ocelot	Apr 2019	#8
Yes. an unusually clear way of explaining things and he seems completely at ease with himself	elleng	Apr 2019	#11
I think you're right. The way he explains things seems to be essential to his appeal.	LonePirate	Apr 2019	#13
Was quoting Ocelot.	elleng	Apr 2019	#14
+1	Docreed2003	Apr 2019	#16
He answers questions	Renew Deal	Apr 2019	#9
You are indeed	thegoose	Apr 2019	#12
I'm an old boomer	riverwalker	Apr 2019	#31
His answers reflect that he has thought about the issue, not just memorized a sound bite.	IphengeniaBlumgarten	Apr 2019	#15
He's appealing to me like Trudeau or Macron	LakeArenal	Apr 2019	#17
I think it is a couple of things.	WeekiWater	Apr 2019	#18
He is really good at being a blank slate that people can project their ideals and visions on.	WhiskeyGrinder	Apr 2019	#19
Bingo	SharonClark	Apr 2019	#44
Smart and well spoken plus he has no voting record he has to defend.	jalan48	Apr 2019	#21
He does have several debatable actions in South Bend. nt	LAS14	Apr 2019	#26
Find us a two-term mayor who doesn't have "debatable actions"	True Dough	Apr 2019	#27
Right. I'm just saying that no voting record is balanced by mayor record. nt	LAS14	Apr 2019	#32
Because of Trumps bluster, I responded well to someone who was soft spoken	patricia92243	Apr 2019	#22
got a good laugh from you saying anti-gay prejudice is maily found in older	msongs	Apr 2019	#23
Yeah, it seems to permeate all age groups.	cwydro	Apr 2019	#42
He's an amazing guy!	Turbineguy	Apr 2019	#24
Doesn't sound scripted.	LAS14	Apr 2019	#25
he makes himself available to large media	JI7	Apr 2019	#28
I'm underwhelmed	zipplewrath	Apr 2019	#29
To me his really over the top intelligence means that he would...	LAS14	Apr 2019	#33
He clung to bipartianship	zipplewrath	Apr 2019	#39
He is very likable.	MineralMan	Apr 2019	#34
Buttigieg is the most media-savvy of all the candidates, and that's my main criteria.	marylandblue	Apr 2019	#35
A major factor for many IMO is his ability to defend gayness vs ReligiousRight	bobbieinok	Apr 2019	#36
He's the anti-christ	Ruby the Liberal	Apr 2019	#37
this will help you understand... 'Meet Pete', his new database on issues and policy, 990 topics	Celerity	Apr 2019	#43

Response to paulkienitz (Original post)

Tue Apr 23, 2019, 05:57 PM

elleng (103,614 posts)

1. Exceptionally impressive and outstanding,

highly intelligent and articulate. Has nothing to do with his age.

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

what makes Pete B. so popular?

1. Exceptionally impressive and outstanding,

5. I feel that in the current field, being highly intelligent and articulate is not exceptional.

7. That is great news, and some have those qualities more than others!

2. I'm 71. I think Mayor Pete is exceptionally impressive.

6. true dat

38. So true my grandson just moved in with my ex

3. Intelligent, articulate, impressive, warm, carring

4. white. male. booker is a rhodes scholar too.

10. bologna

41. Why?

20. It's also a great thing that Booker was a Rhodes scholar, but this thread is about Buttigieg.

30. Booker doesn't make himself as available to media

40. I did not know that.

8. It's more than that. He really is exceptional; he's a military veteran (Naval intelligence);

11. Yes. an unusually clear way of explaining things and he seems completely at ease with himself

13. I think you're right. The way he explains things seems to be essential to his appeal.

14. Was quoting Ocelot.

16. +1

9. He answers questions

12. You are indeed

31. I'm an old boomer

15. His answers reflect that he has thought about the issue, not just memorized a sound bite.

17. He's appealing to me like Trudeau or Macron

18. I think it is a couple of things.

19. He is really good at being a blank slate that people can project their ideals and visions on.

44. Bingo

21. Smart and well spoken plus he has no voting record he has to defend.

26. He does have several debatable actions in South Bend. nt

27. Find us a two-term mayor who doesn't have "debatable actions"

32. Right. I'm just saying that no voting record is balanced by mayor record. nt

22. Because of Trumps bluster, I responded well to someone who was soft spoken

23. got a good laugh from you saying anti-gay prejudice is maily found in older

42. Yeah, it seems to permeate all age groups.

24. He's an amazing guy!

25. Doesn't sound scripted.

28. he makes himself available to large media

29. I'm underwhelmed

33. To me his really over the top intelligence means that he would...

39. He clung to bipartianship

34. He is very likable.

35. Buttigieg is the most media-savvy of all the candidates, and that's my main criteria.

36. A major factor for many IMO is his ability to defend gayness vs ReligiousRight

37. He's the anti-christ

43. this will help you understand... 'Meet Pete', his new database on issues and policy, 990 topics