Cory Booker and Deval Patrick
Yes, ahem, if RantWoman is going to mix Black History Month with the latest bout of "The RantWomen Voted (yep. Sure 'nough. Done)" RantWoman admits it would be only sporting to do a little more actual research about Cory Booker and Deval Patrick than what they offer in the Voters' Guide from the WA Secretary of State. But start there.Presidential Primary 2020 voters Guide
Cory Booker: audio Recording
Deval Patrick Audio Recording
Sen. Booker and Gov. Patrick, alas, still appear on the WA primary ballot even though they have suspended their presidential campaigns. Since their names both appear, RantWoman will suggest that readers who want to know more use their search enginesand maybe consider whether either would be a good fit for Vice President or a future cabinet position.
RantWoman will also take this opportunity to express interest in Rank Choice Voting. RantWoman might like to put one of these two into some kind of ranking. RantWoman will not do that here though because RantWoman has definite preference and because the country is going to have enough trouble weaving complex constituencies together just with the people who are still campaigning.
BREAKING: Emergency Rant.
Just VOTE ALREADY! Tell all the Washington Democrats just get people to participate in the primary!RantWoman has been reading breathless tweets from WA State Democratic Chair Tina Podlodowski. Ms. P claims without any citations that Secretary of State Kim Wyman is sending subtle and not-so-subtle messages aimed at discouraging people from voting in the primary. RantWoman has limited capacity to research this on her own and will see what Twitter yields by tomorrow.
In the meantime, please permit RantWoman to wax nostalgic for the mists of the late 20th century: when RantWoman moved to WA in 1992, the state had no presidential primary, only caucuses, and other offices had an entirely open primary. Shortly after RantWoman moved to WA both major parties sued to block the open primary on first amendment free association grounds. Now many races besides the US presidency have top two primaries. If more than two candidates run for an office, the top two vote getters advance after the primary even if they are from the same party. RantWoman is permitting herself to fantasize about a truly open primary and the faint possibility of knocking the current White House occupant off the ballot entirely in WA.
There. Wasn't that a good fantasy?
Now back to how WA votes this time. RantWoman has participated in more than one presidential caucus and has consistently found them unfriendly to people with disabilities and generally NOT how RantWoman prefers to engage her civic mindedness. RantWoman definitely prefers an actual election So RantWoman is going to say it again: Just VOTE already and if you like read further of RantWoman's topical rants below!
The Candidates
Elizabeth Warren: just vote for the woman, the more experienced woman. Unless there is a really kick-ass Congress, a possibility RantWoman does NOT see Elizabeth Warren will not be able to implement everything she promises anyway, but her legislative track record indicates she will be well-equipped to get something done.Amy Klobuchar: the other half of the New York Times Vote for the Woman recommendation. RantWoman prefers it when presidential candidates know the names of the heads of state in countries right next door. RantWoman prefers, if someone flubs something like that once, someone who takes initiative and gets out in front of correct info as quickly as possible. RantWoman still prefers Elizabeth Warren for starting out from a stronger position about health care, but RantWoman is not charmed by Warren's dismissal of Klobuchar's openness about needing a legislative process to get to improved access to health care. If she winds up being the nominee RantWoman will of course vote for her.
Michael Bloomberg, Mayor Pete, and Bernie Sanders:
--If Bernie Sanders is working his behind off engaging young voters, much as RantWoman likes some things about Mayor Pete, RantWoman thinks he is kind of an idiot for trying to tell the people Sanders is mobilizing that what they want is not possible or practical. The election is going to need EVERYONE to turn out. It is going to need a platform and a strategy to win on and it is also going to need a congress that can get things done. Dems are not going to get anywhere about any of this if they are in too much of a hurry to settle on a candidate and cram everyone intoanyone's ideological boxes.--RantWoman lived in Indiana for 7 years before moving to WA. In that time, RantWoman had some opportunities to observe racial dynamics in Indiana politics. RantWoman will default to believing people from the South Bend / Gary area about what racial politics mean in their area.
--RantWoman would just flat prefer that Mayor Bloomberg skip running himself and use his money down-ballot to enable some red to blue flips in Congress and state offices. RantWoman, though, is amused by reports that Bloomberg might be offering people $2500 / month to work on his campaign. RantWoman notes this is closer to a livable income that all the 2016 internet memes about George Soros supposedly paying people $15/ hour to show up at rallies. RantWoman does not know anyone who ever figured out how to invoice Soros for services rendered and would encourage people to be cautious about Mayor Bloomberg's offer as well.
Biden: RantWoman is finding it hard to look pass the women who do not like his tendency to grab them. Patting a wheelchair user on the head and promising to "fully fund the ADA," NOT how the ADA works, sorry not sorry but RantWoman's #CripTheVote view: if Biden is the nominee RantWoman will hold her nose and vote for him.
Michael Bennet. Who?
Tom Delaney. Who?
Tulsi Gabbard. No. Just No. Not feeling it even if RantWoman were to award a teeny tiny boost for "woman of color.".
Tom Steyer: Being a Billionaire is not a qualification.
Andrew Yang: RantWoman found his ideas interesting but not well-formed enough to run a Presidential campaign on. He was never going to get RantWoman's vote. Now he has a CNN commentator gig and RantWoman is trying to decide whether she even wants to hear his opinions about the people she does want to consider voting for.
Anyway, RantWoman will say it again: VOTE! Do NOT skip the primary. Your vote matters!
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