I am eagerly following Pete Buttigieg's presidential campaign

***least*** · 03-29-2019, 12:08 PM

He's a long shot, but has gotten a lot of interest. I'd love to see him be the first openly gay president.

Maudcat · 03-30-2019, 05:48 AM

I like his message. Seems like a grown up, unlike some we could name.

DriGuy · 03-30-2019, 07:00 AM

I haven't heard of him, but I unplugged my TV about 6 years ago, because I was sick of the noise. This applies to all aspects of TV, but mostly the news and politics. Having said that, I have wondered who is on tap for 2020

***least*** · 03-30-2019, 12:21 PM

Look him up on youtube on Bill Maher yesterday. He gives a reasonable argument and shows his kindness and humanity.

***Hevyn*** · 03-30-2019, 12:23 PM

I just learned something - I've seen him interviewed & liked him - but did not know he was gay.

MindfulMan · 03-31-2019, 01:06 AM

Yep, he's married to a man.

I love him and love his message, and would love to see an openly gay President. Not sure whether Middle America is ready for it. In general I think he's too young and needs more experience than the mayor of a small city.

***least*** · 04-08-2019, 01:26 PM

I read a good article that calls Mayor Pete the "Mr Rogers" of the democratic party.

What a great compliment that is.

Mr Rogers was the epitome of kindness and compassion.

August252015 · 04-08-2019, 02:21 PM

I am intrigued by him too. My husband and I discuss politics fairly often as I have learned a lot about him as far as the importance of the local level.

Putting aside the fact that it would indeed be terrific to see a gay person (or a woman, or a non-white-or-black person...) in office for a sec - my cynical Independent leaning voter side goes to the reasons he just isn't truly electable, and it's not even primarily his sexual orientation.

Youth. He's only been Mayor (granted, the youngest elected and all that). And the level of sustainable financial backing that he could get and keep....

There are so many changes I would love to see in the viable candidates. Ultimately, I'd like to see a PERSON that I would support, not a specific "type" of person, more than anything.

I hope he keeps talking and getting his message out though. Kind of like being in the restaurant world leading the discussion of sobriety being possible, good, and acceptable among the still-rife culture of addiction, any kind of "minority" voice with an inherently valuable message needs to keep speaking.

***least*** · 04-09-2019, 02:32 PM

I think his youth is a big factor in his favor. We need a young fresh face and I think he's it.

MindfulMan · 04-12-2019, 10:26 AM

Considering that the two Democratic front runners and the Republican nominee in 2016 were close to or over 70 years old, I think people might appreciate a fresh face.

Unfortunately I predict that Trump will be reelected. Hopefully I'm wrong.

August252015 · 04-12-2019, 11:14 AM

I think a fresh face can have a few diff positives - but at 42, looking at someone near my age as POTUS as a truly experienced enough candidate would take a long hard study for me.

I'm trying to get myself away from comparisons like "well, Trump had no political experience and won, so any is better than..." (no, I didn't vote for Trump) or, "at least she's not as bad as..." or any of the endless ones we can make about whose job was less than (ahem) well done, if that makes sense.

I'm a fundamental optimist and I guess still young enough to think that we can keep making progress and change - if we can just get enough folks who vote change to be something BETTER (yeah, people were ready for a change after Obama but many of us definitely don't think that better is Trump).

I started following Mayor Pete - and Beto- on Twitter. I was "raised Republican" and as my adult years have gone I've voted Republican, also been unable to support a candidate in either party past the primary, voted Independent last time, and find myself a really mixed bag on issues so no one yet has me all aflutter. Need to keep learning and looking at what's emerging.