For President in 2028 (?)

[DFW]

It's not just because I've known Mark Kelly for years (I've known Richard Viguerie for years, too, after all ). It's not just because I like hm on a personal basis, or because he's married to Gabby. I just REALLY like what he says, and his pragmatic and realistic assessments of where we stand, what needs to be done and what can be done. I really like Pete Buttigieg, too, though I have never met him. But if Mark decides to seek the nomination next year--and if he wants it, I think waiting until 2028 would be too late to say so-- unless I see someone I like better, or he says something I can't pardon (not his style--he is careful), he is definitely someone I could support for President in two years. I told him so when we met up in Paris 2 weeks ago, but I'm nobody. More to the point is the fact that I think his direct style--using facts instead of empty bluster--will connect, although I share his fear that the smarter Republicans will also see the danger they are in if they allow fair elections--something they have no intention whatsoever of doing if they can get away with it.

https://www.rawamerica.com/p/breaking-mark-kelly-warns-trump-is?utm_source=podcast-email&publication_id=6832795&post_id=198579345&utm_campaign=email-play-on-substack&utm_content=watch_now_gif&r=l4a03&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email

Besides, out of the last three Irish presidents we've had, two of them were OK (JFK-Reagan-Biden). I'm cool with three out of four, should it come to that.

[hlthe2b]

1. I have great admiration for both Mark Kelly and Gabby...

If they decide this is what they want to do, I'd support the decision and them, but I do not want to have Gabby relive the horror of her shooting and fear of a repeat on a constant basis. Maybe she already does and if the two of them assess this is something they can both live with and even prevail beyond (as their shared cause to aid Americans in turning back the Trump devastation), then so be it. Gabby, though, is the one reason I'd hope he might not run.

[DFW]

12. I knew Gabby for years before she was shot, have met with her twice afterwards

You have to have known her in both situations to really asses how she has handled this. She has come to terms with her situation, and it is a blessing that she really doesn't have any memory of the actual shooting itself, so there is no trauma to overcome. It's the recovery that she had to overcome, and she has tackled that like everything else she has taken on--with determination and looking forward. Should it come to a Mark Kelly Presidency, she will handle that, too. She won't take on more than she is capable of handling, and she won't break down due to her limitations. That's just not who she is. Mark would NEVER run without her full support, and she is more then aware enough to give her coherent inut on the subject. She was no different when Mark had his last long-term space station stay. She unhesitatingly told him to go for it, which he never would have done if she had expressed that she had misgivings.

Whatever might discourage Mark from running--if, in fact he DOES run, you can be 100% confident that Gabby is 100% behind it.

[hlthe2b]

20. That is reassuring and good to hear...

Thanks for sharing your experiences with them!

[DFW]

21. A few years ago at the "Marks and Johns dinner"

[hlthe2b]

22. Nice! and NICE GROUP!

[calimary]

2. I sure wouldn't rule him out.

[Joinfortmill]

3. I like him, too. Very smart, level headed, and a hero.

[Rhiannon12866]

4. I'd certainly enthusiastically vote for him and Gabby would make a great - and politically experienced - First Lady

And given his gifts for speaking, not to mention his political beliefs and his dedication to whatever job he's given, Pete Buttigieg would make a stellar VP.

[GiqueCee]

5. Yeah...

... Reagan was a lot of things, but OK wasn't one of them.

[TexLaProgressive]

7. "... out of the last three Irish presidents we've had, two of them were OK"

I think DFW implied that Reagan was the outliar.

[GiqueCee]

8. That's what I meant, too.

[DFW]

13. Well, in fact.....

I meant outlier, not outliar.

But close enough!

[tavernier]

6. I voted for Joe Biden because I had a neighbor

who worked with Joe for many years and told me that he was the most decent man he had ever met. I have never regretted my vote. I put a lot of stock in listening to the advice of people who have some history with a candidate. I have the same trust in your words and will keep Kelly high on my list. Thank you!

[LymphocyteLover]

9. He has some great attributes but I don't know much about his positions. I'm sure the leftists will say he's too moderate

[Martin Eden]

10. Way too soon. Haven't even had the midterms yet.

Presidential campaigns are too long as it is. Speculation on candidates is the wrong focus.

Democrats first need to focus on what we have to do to save our Constitutional democracy, and on how we can best serve the American people. The wealth gap between the top 1% and bottom half is obscene, unjust, and unsustainable.

As these efforts progress, leaders will emerge through not just words but actions. Focusing on candidates at this early stage is a mistake. We project all our hopes on a person, rather than having a robust debate on the policies and message Democrats need to move our country forward and get voters on board.

[DFW]

15. I agree that it way too soon to start a presidential campaign. It is NOT too soon to start thinking about candidates

Mark hasn't made "the" decision, and won't do it this calendar year. At least that is how he feels at the moment, and he is not looking to mislead anyone on that subject. If someone comes along that he thinks is better, he'll be the first to offer his support and say, "go for it!"

As the subject of several specific attacks from Trump and his sycophants, Mark is already in the thick of several issues, but he is able to compartmentalize. He is aware of the economic inequality, but he is also aware of other issues that need addressing as well. The eroding of voting rights, cheating on environmental regulations, China emerging as an imperial power, settling the Ukrainian situation and repairing NATO are on his mind as well. As they should be! Senators vote on bills affecting all those issues. The last thing the country needs right now is a one trick pony. I have my eyes and ears out for Democrats who are not. Mark and Mayor Pete are two who I find to be in that category. No one, including Mark, is ruling out the possibility of others.

[Martin Eden]

17. Presidential campaigns are already underway, despite no declared candidates

Newsom and likely others have for some time been positioning themselves for the big prize. There are some I like, but I maintain that speculatiing on potential candidates at this time is the wrong focus.

[KS Toronado]

11. " his direct style--using facts instead of empty bluster"

This is what I've always preferred in a politician, wish more Ds would adopt this style.

[DFW]

14. I don't think many CAN adopt his style

He was married to a politician, and so heard about the goings on at the dinner table. But as a fighter pilot and an astronaut, the Senate floor was about as far from his thoughts as the Asteroid Belt. Only when Gabby was shot, did his perspective change. Gabby knew she couldn't continue on in the House. But she didn't want to fade into the woodwork, either. Mark's Senate run would never have come about in the first place without Gabby's urging.

When I met up with him in March in Paris, his assistant got to the café first, and we got a table. I kept an eye out for him, and he showed up in a green T shirt and a baseball cap. I recognized him right away, but no one else did, and there were several Americans there. He is not one to toot his horn and show off. He listens, he does not pontificate. To run for president in the first place, you have to be fairly convinced of yourself. To win and be a good president, you have to listen when you think you'll hear something worthwhile. I found Obama in particular to be like that. I think Clinton now wished he had been more like that. Five years after he left office, a small group of us were talking about aid groups in third world countries and the percentage of available funds that went toward expenses. He said that his current initiative (CGI) was able to keep expenses down to about 5% whereas while he was in office, expenses for US Government initiatives took up over 20% of available funds. Someone (it wasn't me in this case) asked how come that was? He said, almost in exasperation, "because we were stupid, that's why!"

It's still a long time before the primary season begins, but Mark gives me the impression he will be on the lookout for "not stupid." The assistant I met up with in Paris was already very "not stupid," and I'll bet she was very typical of the type of person Mark wants on his team.

[ultralite001]

16. Can Mark Kelly convince the billionaires...

to pay their fair share???

[DFW]

18. He is not obsessed about other people's money at the moment.

Righting the injustices in the USA will have to consist of more than auditing the tax returns of 902 (or however many there are now) rich people. What is he supposed to do, go find and kill some guy worth $17 billion, seize his net worth, and distribute the money evenly among the population? That's $50 per person. OK, fine. But THEN what?

[BlueTsunami2018]

19. I'd vote for him if he got the nomination but I'm not looking for a centrist, status quo guy.

I don’t want to go back to where we were, we need big changes, “radical” changes. We need someone who is going to welcome the hatred of the oligarchs and be full square behind the working class. I’m tired of hearing “we can’t do it” or “the country isn’t ready” and not even fucking trying to do big things because the ruling class doesn’t like it. I’m tired of incrementalism and baby steps.

The fascists don’t do incrementalism, they don’t do baby steps, they do extreme and don’t give a fuck. They serve the class they represent unabashedly and aggressively. That’s where we need to be, that’s what we need to do. Kelly isn’t even close to that guy. I don’t know that the party is that party. They’ve gotten so far away from FDR it’s ridiculous. That’s what we need to get back to. That’s what people want.

You give people universal healthcare and you won’t lose an election for a decade. You give them housing, education and food security and you’ll keep winning in perpetuity.

There’s absolutely no reason why the so-called richest country in the world shouldn’t be providing basic necessities to the people. There’s no reason why we shouldn’t be top of the line in everything from infrastructure and transportation to education and recreation. There’s no reason all of that shouldn’t be available to everyone.

I’m just sick of being told we can’t have these things because a handful of money hoarding psychopaths need more and more and more.

We need a huge swing to the left.