Best Of

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How do they find these candidates?

I linked a piece the other day speculating people want more 'human' candidates, but it comes with risks. Even if bizarrely this poll at least says the scandal helps.

It’s not just that they found Platner, it’s that a huge amount of the Dem Establishment has been getting behind him despite all the scandals.

He’s an actual Nazi, with a severe women problem, who went back to Afghanistan as a privateer because he “enjoys killing people”.

That's the MAGA line, certainly.
It might be right and it might be wrong. We'll find out soon enough.

Why would MAGA object to an actual Nazi with a severe women problem?

I suppose it's down to the hyper partisanship in US politics. You don't vote for somebody with the other badge on even if they absolutely share your values.

Then why has Maine repeatedly re-elected Collins ?
And why did the Democratic primary voters utterly reject their popular former governor ?

That explanation doesn't wash.

I was thinking more of the MAGA base. Would any of them vote Dem if the Dem candidate is demonstrably more racist and misogynist than the GOP one? I bet they wouldn't. Badge would trump values.

Maine isn't really a MAGA state.
In the 2024 congressional elections it voted 54.70% to 42.75% for the Democrats.

Collins has very successfully cosplayed as an independent.

Collins is a moderate Republican, which is what she has always claimed to be, and has continually had one of the highest bipartisan ratings in the US senate:

https://www.thelugarcenter.org/ourwork-Bipartisan-Index.html

Now if you want to see someone cosplaying as an independent then there is the other Maine senator Angus King.

Morning all

First, we need to condemn without reservation the mob violence in Belfast last night. It's a strange world where we think two wrongs make a right and whatever happened with the attack which by the way was heinous and, if proven, the perpetrator needs to feel the full weight of the law, doesn't in any way justify or condone forcing people out of their homes and burning said properties.

We know Northern Ireland has a history of "ethnic cleansing" in this manner and it's something with which the authorities need to take control and stop.

A "long hot summer" then it seems with anyone looking at anyone else in a funny way liable to bring the mobs out on the streets for a bit of impromptu street entertainment. That's the way it is now, apparently? People get angry at the slightest thing radicalised no doubt by the misinformation and disinformation on X and elsewhere and out they come thinking somehow, well, what are they thinking?

If I may say so, your last paragraph doesn't really fit with the first one. A decapitation attempt (which you rightly describe as heinous) cannot be categorised as a slight thing.

And speedily dealt with by the police, with the culprit in custody.

So why the pogrom?

‘Pogrom’ 🙄

How do they find these candidates?

I linked a piece the other day speculating people want more 'human' candidates, but it comes with risks. Even if bizarrely this poll at least says the scandal helps.

It’s not just that they found Platner, it’s that a huge amount of the Dem Establishment has been getting behind him despite all the scandals.

He’s an actual Nazi, with a severe women problem, who went back to Afghanistan as a privateer because he “enjoys killing people”.

On the "actual Nazi" thing, that's really not clearcut.

Reminder that nobody has to speculate on whether Graham Platner is a Nazi from a muddy tattoo he got to look like a badass when he was a 22 year old Marine.

We have years of his anonymous Reddit posts - like this one - before he ever got into politics. They are consistently anti-fascist and anti-Nazi.

In fact the original Republican attack line on him was that he was excessively Antifa. It was only after that didn't work that they switched to the "tattoo nazi" line.
https://x.com/MarcusMStanley/status/2064344945327063171

For anyone who can be bothered (not me):

Read our full archive of Graham Platner’s deleted Reddit comments
https://themainemonitor.org/platner-reddit-comments/

Bro did three tours in the 'Raq (including Ramadi and Fallujah) in The Thundering Third as a machine gunner so he has SEEN SOME SHIT. Definitely not a recipe for considered judgement and rectitude in high office.

Morning all

First, we need to condemn without reservation the mob violence in Belfast last night. It's a strange world where we think two wrongs make a right and whatever happened with the attack which by the way was heinous and, if proven, the perpetrator needs to feel the full weight of the law, doesn't in any way justify or condone forcing people out of their homes and burning said properties.

We know Northern Ireland has a history of "ethnic cleansing" in this manner and it's something with which the authorities need to take control and stop.

A "long hot summer" then it seems with anyone looking at anyone else in a funny way liable to bring the mobs out on the streets for a bit of impromptu street entertainment. That's the way it is now, apparently? People get angry at the slightest thing radicalised no doubt by the misinformation and disinformation on X and elsewhere and out they come thinking somehow, well, what are they thinking?

Why would they stop it?

The Peace Process is the ultimate good. Surely, if a few murders, bank robberies, drug and extortion empires are the price for Peace, what’s a few people burnt out of their homes?

What will happen next is that the immigrants will be rehoused elsewhere, within days.

Another victory for The Peace Process.

Bet Tommy is drooling.

Morning all

First, we need to condemn without reservation the mob violence in Belfast last night. It's a strange world where we think two wrongs make a right and whatever happened with the attack which by the way was heinous and, if proven, the perpetrator needs to feel the full weight of the law, doesn't in any way justify or condone forcing people out of their homes and burning said properties.

We know Northern Ireland has a history of "ethnic cleansing" in this manner and it's something with which the authorities need to take control and stop.

A "long hot summer" then it seems with anyone looking at anyone else in a funny way liable to bring the mobs out on the streets for a bit of impromptu street entertainment. That's the way it is now, apparently? People get angry at the slightest thing radicalised no doubt by the misinformation and disinformation on X and elsewhere and out they come thinking somehow, well, what are they thinking?

If I may say so, your last paragraph doesn't really fit with the first one. A decapitation attempt (which you rightly describe as heinous) cannot be categorised as a slight thing.

More In Common

Reform extend their voting intention lead to 10pts this week, with Labour and the Tories tied for second place. 

➡️ REF UK 30% (+1)
🌹 LAB 20% (-2)
🌳 CON 20% (-1)
🔶 LIB DEM 12% (nc)
🌍 GREEN 11% (+1)
❓OTH 3% (+1)
🟡 SNP 3% (+1)

N = 2,087 | Fieldwork 5-9/6 | Changes w/ 1/6

Looks like Labour will need that Burnham bounce, assuming he wins Makerfield and becomes their leader

The news has all been very Reform friendly over the last week. Harry Nowak, Northern Ireland (a bit late, I guess) and terrible immigration figures of net 100,000 p a if immigration is your thang.

Net immigration is falling

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/clyp1ekd584o

In real world terms the number of immigrants in the UK is still increasing.

Until the number of immigrants in the UK starts to decrease (which requires negative net migration) then this will continue to be an electoral problem for any government.

In particular until the number of the 'wrong type' of immigrants starts to decrease this will continue to be an electoral problem for the government.

It would be interesting to see the flows of particular types of immigrants.

Ukrainians, Hong Kongers, Nigerian Christians, MENA asylum seekers etc.

Claiming to have sorted out immigration because there are no longer Ukrainians and Hong Kongers moving here is not going to impress voters.

https://x.com/jessicaelgot/status/2064437272280187284

I didn’t meet anyone with a good word to say about Starmer (though a lot of people found it hard to articulate exactly why) but also a lot of doubts raised about Farage. Lowe was described more often as an anti-establishment figure. Again I found this surprising!

As Pb said at the time, Farage taking a load of Tories will I think come to be seen as a major misstep.

Look at Northern Ireland on Monday and think about who was in charge of immigration when the arrested Sudanese was given indefinite leave to remain.

Allowing Jenrick to join Reform creates a whole set of very hard to answer questions because so often it comes down to Jenrick was the person responsible for that disaster

More In Common

Reform extend their voting intention lead to 10pts this week, with Labour and the Tories tied for second place. 

➡️ REF UK 30% (+1)
🌹 LAB 20% (-2)
🌳 CON 20% (-1)
🔶 LIB DEM 12% (nc)
🌍 GREEN 11% (+1)
❓OTH 3% (+1)
🟡 SNP 3% (+1)

N = 2,087 | Fieldwork 5-9/6 | Changes w/ 1/6

Looks like Labour will need that Burnham bounce, assuming he wins Makerfield and becomes their leader

The news has all been very Reform friendly over the last week. Harry Nowak, Northern Ireland (a bit late, I guess) and terrible immigration figures of net 100,000 p a if immigration is your thang.

Net immigration is falling

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/clyp1ekd584o

In real world terms the number of immigrants in the UK is still increasing.

Until the number of immigrants in the UK starts to decrease (which requires negative net migration) then this will continue to be an electoral problem for any government.

In particular until the number of the 'wrong type' of immigrants starts to decrease this will continue to be an electoral problem for the government.