General Discussion

Proud Liberal Dem

(24,798 posts)

5. So, what's the plan moving forward?

Mon Feb 4, 2019, 12:17 PM

Feb 2019

Should any politician who has something embarrassing in their closet go full disclosure now so that it can't be used against them at a weak/difficult moment? Should they pre-emptively resign? I get the outrage about Northam- and his attempts to publicly respond to it were extremely clueless and tone-deaf- but I want to seriously know what the game plan is going to be from here on out. Northam isn't the first Democratic pol we've thrown overboard in order to maintain our ability to maintain "clean hands" while politically attacking Republican hypocrites like Trump, Roy Moore, et. al and he won't be the last but this- helping ignite public controversies over Democratic politicians whom upset them and/or Trump- seems to be how Republicans plan to maintain/increase their hold on power.

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Pierce: Ralph Northam Should Resign. But Democrats Better Wise Up. [View all] mcar Feb 2019 OP

k n r DBoon Feb 2019 #1

Plus One Brazillian Stinky The Clown Feb 2019 #2

That's a stupid conspiracy theory. They would have exposed this earlier to win the Governorship! manor321 Feb 2019 #3

The thing about ratfckng is that it is not a CT, it is a fact. Nixon is laughing, wherever he is... Hekate Feb 2019 #11

The GOP could very well get the Governorship AND Lt. Governorship out of this. SunSeeker Feb 2019 #21

This. Hassler Feb 2019 #90

Some Republicans may have voted for Northam, if they had thought he was racist. Honeycombe8 Feb 2019 #94

They have established an entire RF stepup.... Historic NY Feb 2019 #4

I agree. But we also need to think before we KPN Feb 2019 #28

So, what's the plan moving forward? Proud Liberal Dem Feb 2019 #5

A. Don't pick someone who wore blackface/KKK robes mcar Feb 2019 #6

True. Northam isn't ACORN Empowerer Feb 2019 #8

But what is the plan to "get wiser to Rs ratfcking and learn how to forestall it"? Proud Liberal Dem Feb 2019 #18

The plan? How about be deliberate as opposed to reactionary. KPN Feb 2019 #33

Wouldn't that just put them in the middle of the tempest though? Proud Liberal Dem Feb 2019 #65

ACORN was a debacle. Caliman73 Feb 2019 #22

... mcar Feb 2019 #23

Ha! "Less and less popular with actual human KPN Feb 2019 #34

Feel free to use it anytime. Caliman73 Feb 2019 #37

Let's start with: anyone with a photo of themselves in blackface grinning next to a "Klansman" Empowerer Feb 2019 #7

Self-vetting. Sure Proud Liberal Dem Feb 2019 #16

How about a deliberate approach. See my KPN Feb 2019 #39

Perhaps individuals with compromising behavior in the past just shouldn't run for public office. Texin Feb 2019 #40

Agreed. How do we regulate that though? Proud Liberal Dem Feb 2019 #64

As someone who has gone through adolescence and young adult-hood it's hard for me erronis Feb 2019 #104

Once again, Charlie Pierce nails it to the wall for all to see... Hekate Feb 2019 #9

That's right mcar Feb 2019 #10

Perhaps the solution is to have the respective local and/or national parties investigate prospects. Texin Feb 2019 #43

Perhaps part of the solution is to give talks on politics since Nixon to local Dem clubs... Hekate Feb 2019 #57

That is a great idea mcar Feb 2019 #72

Didn't they already try to ratfuck Fairfax yesterday? 2naSalit Feb 2019 #12

Exactly! pazzyanne Feb 2019 #19

If we don't wise-up, our Country Polly Hennessey Feb 2019 #13

The main outrage is cominfrom cable TV True Blue American Feb 2019 #25

Our country is governed by republicans Mrs. Ted Nancy Feb 2019 #75

Yeah they just claim to be victims loyalsister Feb 2019 #89

Pierce is right, of course. Scruffy1 Feb 2019 #14

So, he's gotta go but... lame54 Feb 2019 #49

I only wish the Dems would put half the effort into running Trump out of office pdsimdars Feb 2019 #15

1+ True Blue American Feb 2019 #26

The truest statement in this whole debacle hueymahl Feb 2019 #51

No shit. dalton99a Feb 2019 #69

K & R pazzyanne Feb 2019 #17

Why can't he apologize and stay in office? HelenWheels Feb 2019 #20

Shouldn't we hold ourselves to a higher standard? mcar Feb 2019 #27

How do you measure higher standard? Cbarwitz Feb 2019 #46

I don't recall Lincoln, LBJ or Hugo Black wearing blackface mcar Feb 2019 #53

How about LBJ asking his chauffeur whether he preferred being called "boy" or the n word" LiberalArkie Feb 2019 #54

They were racists before evolving Cbarwitz Feb 2019 #56

LBJ was actually a racist Mr. Quackers Feb 2019 #58

What about Robert Byrd though? Proud Liberal Dem Feb 2019 #66

Northampton happened in 1984 mcar Feb 2019 #73

Lincoln and LBJ were incredible racists obamanut2012 Feb 2019 #67

I also don't understand the rush to judgement. LakeArenal Feb 2019 #44

K&R. Well said. KY_EnviroGuy Feb 2019 #92

The same organization that dug up that photograph is now peddling an old, and debunked... George II Feb 2019 #24

Told you!:) True Blue American Feb 2019 #29

They know how to ratfck mcar Feb 2019 #30

We do that by evaluating every situation on its merits. DemocratSinceBirth Feb 2019 #32

That's right mcar Feb 2019 #45

FUCKIN WOW !!! Bet the Russians helped them with this shit too !! uponit7771 Feb 2019 #50

I hear tell that one day Bettie Feb 2019 #61

Agreed - the GOP is expert at character assassination. They're like a school of piranha. walkingman Feb 2019 #31

We need to vet any republican to Democrat conversions better Salviati Feb 2019 #35

Excellent post. Maybe make it an OP. nt tblue37 Feb 2019 #85

Absolutely! You articulated Duppers Feb 2019 #97

+1 Power 2 the People Feb 2019 #36

And vet these former republicans better. nt Guy Whitey Corngood Feb 2019 #38

I agree with Pierce on avoiding zero tolerance policies. Baitball Blogger Feb 2019 #41

Divide and conquer. Set the various groups within the Party against one another. jalan48 Feb 2019 #42

Democrats are easy prey The Wizard Feb 2019 #47

Careful. You will get accused of intolerance with moderate, logical arguments like that hueymahl Feb 2019 #52

Making the perfect The Wizard Feb 2019 #74

Agree with everything except that our pros are all dumb Hortensis Feb 2019 #48

Question to everyone on this post Perseus Feb 2019 #55

Yeah, if we take out the racist shit, he's probably a great guy. Iggo Feb 2019 #88

Yup and Yup Blue Owl Feb 2019 #59

Listen to Charlie Pierce Tuesday at 7:30 am PT on Stephanie Miller's show. OMGWTF Feb 2019 #60

Thank You for Pierice's invaluable Cha Feb 2019 #62

At the risk of being accused of supporting Northam DirtEdonE Feb 2019 #63

It's such a tough dilemma, though ProfessorPlum Feb 2019 #100

You said it DirtEdonE Feb 2019 #106

I recsind wanting Northam to resign ASAP obamanut2012 Feb 2019 #68

Behind every purity warrior, there is a hypocrite with a political agenda. dalton99a Feb 2019 #70

I completely agree with Mr. Pierce. saidsimplesimon Feb 2019 #71

I said this Saturday and got my post hidden CTAtheist Feb 2019 #76

People in the throes of knee-jerk reactions don't like when it is pointed out. PubliusEnigma Feb 2019 #86

KnR Hekate Feb 2019 #77

Post removed Post removed Feb 2019 #78

We have no choice but to have a nasty primary with extreme vetting ecstatic Feb 2019 #79

I totally agree with this - nt CTAtheist Feb 2019 #80

I assumed, perhaps naively, that candidates for high office did oppo research on themselves. Iggo Feb 2019 #83

Perhaps, and some think they can keep the negative stuff ecstatic Feb 2019 #84

Yeh, you can't pay off a picture, though. Iggo Feb 2019 #87

Or we could wise up and not support candidates with histories that can be exploited loyalsister Feb 2019 #81

Not or. And. Iggo Feb 2019 #82

What Franken was accused of might have been criminal acts. He resigned. Did Northam break Hassler Feb 2019 #91

The fact that they're going after Fairfax now proves it's a ratfuck Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin Feb 2019 #93

All I can say to all of this is: Stonepounder Feb 2019 #95

Need better vetting of potential candidates. moondust Feb 2019 #96

Good advice. nt Duppers Feb 2019 #98

What if? videohead5 Feb 2019 #99

Northam wasn't unfairly condemned by Dems. End of story. bigtree Feb 2019 #101

Explanation njhoneybadger Feb 2019 #102

Pierce is right. But I think more should be made of the GOP's hypocrisy in not forcing King to Nitram Feb 2019 #103

YES, elleng Feb 2019 #105