Afghanistan veteran talks about working with Pete (video)

[MBS]

Emmy Eide, also served in intelligence in Afghanistan, now living and working in North Carolina. Now retired from the military, but her husband is still in the military, at Fort Bragg, North Carolina

some key phrases:
She noted how humble Pete was, despite dazzling resume
a natural leader: "I would follow him into battle"
"a servant leader"
"walks into a room ready to listen and to learn" (as opposed to walking into a room ready to be heard)
She noted how hard he worked, and that he volunteered to help children in his free time.

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[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. Wow, what a great video, my dear MBS! Thank you.

I loved hearing about his time in Afghanistan, from the perspective of someone who was there with him.

Great details!

[pink]

2. I have been following American politics since the election of JFK

and I have never known of a candidate more perfect for the position of POTUS than Pete Buttigieg and that includes JFK. America, this is your opportunity to put the country back on track, DONT BLOW IT.

[MBS]

3. Oh, yes, this is EXACTLY how I feel!

I'm pretty much on the same political timetable, and I think that Pete presents a once-in-a generation, even once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. He is THE man for this perilous and unprecedented moment in our history.

[pink]

4. Unlike many voters, I prefer the caucus vote.

With the "first past the post" system, Bernie would probably get up most of the time because the moderate vote is split between too many candidates. Only 30% of Americans prefer the progressive candidates but yet Bernie still comes out in front. Pete won the Iowa caucus because they had the preferential system which gave all candidates a fair chance.

In Australia, we have a preferential system in our elections. When we get our ballot paper, all candidates are listed and then you number all candidates in order of preference. Eg, if that same system was used there, I would choose Pete first, Amy second, maybe Biden third and so forth. The candidate with the least votes is divided amongst the remaining candidates with the second choice, and then that continues on until a winner is declared. It might sound a bit complicated but its fairer than a candidate with only 30% of the vote winning.

Its actually good news with Warren doing so well in the debate because now she may take more votes from Bernie and that will give Pete a bit of breathing space.

[MBS]

5. I agree with you on this, too.

The fashion here seems to be to dump on Iowa right now.
But Iowa plays an important role in a couple of ways. First, the caucus system allows for actual conversation among voters about the candidates, and serves as an initial winnowing of non-viable candidates. And Iowa voters take their role very seriously.
Also, Iowa, along with New Hampshire and, to a somewhat lesser extent, Nevada and South Carolina, play a special role in that these are among the few places where presidential candidates have the opportunity, and also the responsibility, to meet voters "up close and personal." It's not only good for the voters: it's essential learning for the presidential candidates themselves.

Otherwise, it's campaigning by remote: by TV ad and mass rallies and online rants, which does not serve our country well.

[pink]

6. The proper way the voting system should work is that the winner should get more than 50% of the vote

Bernie and Warren are out on their own with the so-called progressive vote. The moderate vote is shared amongst the rest of the candidates. 70% of Americans prefer the moderates but their vote is being split amongst about 5 of them. It just doesn't work with first past the post if the winner gets less than 50%.

Apparently if Bernie ends up with the most delegates at the end of the primaries, but doesn't get quite enough to win outright he will refuse to accept the verdict of the super delegates (contrary to his 2016 stance). There is no way the super delegates will accept him because they know he's electoral suicide. The scenario ... all his supporters boycott the general election.

We are living in very interesting times. If Trump gets another 4 years, god help the whole world.