1,000 posts AMA: CraneHusband/Corbynite

[Ancestral Republican]

Thought I would do one of these. Ask away if you dare.

[Ancestral Republican]

With thousands of political figures to choose from, why do you opt to name yourself after a man facing so many allegations of anti-Semitism? Specifically, one who has found basically zero electoral success.

Because those allegations are fictional. And, electoral success isn't the barometer of whether a politician deserves respect - look at who the US and UK have elected in recent years. This specifically stemmed from an debate with Blairite (which is a name actually worthy of criticism imo) and was only meant to be temporary, but I quite like it.

Why did you change your avatar color from Red to green?

Light green looks better and there are a lot of red NYC avatars here already.

[Ancestral Republican]

Favorite current U.S governor?

Tom Wolf, Roy Cooper, Laura Kelly are up there.

Why are you supporting Howie Hawkins when US democracy itself is at stake?

There was a thread that said endorsing Biden would cause him to lose the election, since this website only endorses losers in the GE, so I went with Hawkins. I'd like to see Trump lose.

[Ancestral Republican]

You are a Hawkins supporter. Why Independent avatar and not Green avatar?

Light green looks better imo

What do you think of Corbyn’s successor?

He's alright, he seems fairly middle of the road in terms of Labour, but I would have to see how he would actually lead the country, which will probably never happen. At least not in the immediate future.

[Ancestral Republican]

What's your opinion of Theresa May's dancing skills?

One of her best attributes.

[Ancestral Republican]

Are you now, or have you ever been, a member of the Communist Party?

I've never been a member of any party. But I've often thought it would be funny to do, because of that trope. I had relatives who worked for TASS's Washington bureau during the Cold War, and they actually joined the CPUSA and got membership cards. That was pretty brave, given the insane streak of McCarthyism running rampant at the time.

[Ancestral Republican]

Who is your favorite President of the United States (graded on a historical curve or otherwise)?

Who should be the progressive standard-bearer in 2024?

Thoughts on Sherrod Brown?

Abraham Lincoln, followed by FDR and Grover Cleveland.

For president? Depending on how a potential Biden administration goes, Harris might well shore up support from most of the Democratic Party, so there might not be a serious challenger. But there also could be a progressive running as well, and in hindsight those are nearly always better than the eventual nominee. See Kennedy, Ted; Jackson, Jesse; and Bradley, Bill. I'm not sure who at this point would fit the bill. Maybe Jeff Merkley as a dark horse with left-wing bonafides.

Sherrod Brown is great, he's one of the few Democrats representing a swing area that hasn't completely capitulated to the right to stay in office (like a certain congressman from the Staten Island area.) My only beef with him is his votes for Trump's out-of-control military budgets. I don't understand why so many Democrats were rubber stamps for that, especially when their votes weren't even needed to pass it. But in general I approve of his tenure. I don't think he should run for president or vice president, because there's no guarantee you keep the Senate seat unless Ohio swings left in the next few years, which I don't see happening.

[Ancestral Republican]

What is your ancestry?

Are you a religious person?

Why is your new display name "Kefauver"? I thought you were into more lefty stuff.

I'm a mix of western and central European

Yes, liberal Judaism.

I'm a big admirer of Estes Kefauver. I respect his fight against organized crime, his progressive ideals, and I believe he should have been the Democratic nominee in 1952. He got 3 million votes and Adlai Stevenson got 78,000? C'mon man!

[Ancestral Republican]

Your username is a Decemberists reference, no? Do you like any other 2000s Indie acts?

Yes! They're one of my favorites.

Maybe the Lumineers if that counts.

[Ancestral Republican]

I get why you dislike Max Rose, but why do you think Malliotakis is better?

I don't think she would be a better congressperson, but her winning would be less damaging to the Democratic Party. We don't need a toxic near-Republican representing the party, especially when his seat is hardly required for a majority. See also: Auchincloss, Jake.   

[Ancestral Republican]

Would you rather live in Suffolk County or Westchester County?

Suffolk County. I'd live on the bay and fish every day and then ride the LIRR into the city when I need to.

[Ancestral Republican]

What’s your favorite watering holes in Suffolk? Mines Whales Tail and Sandcity

I've never actually lived there, I live in Brooklyn. But once the craziness goes away I'll definitely be exploring out there more.

[Ancestral Republican]

Who's the greatest President who never was? Who are three of them?

Top 3: Robert F. Kennedy, Bernie Sanders, Henry A. Wallace

[Ancestral Republican]

Who is your favorite President of the United States (graded on a historical curve or otherwise)?

Who should be the progressive standard-bearer in 2024?

Thoughts on Sherrod Brown?

Abraham Lincoln, followed by FDR and Grover Cleveland.

For president? Depending on how a potential Biden administration goes, Harris might well shore up support from most of the Democratic Party, so there might not be a serious challenger. But there also could be a progressive running as well, and in hindsight those are nearly always better than the eventual nominee. See Kennedy, Ted; Jackson, Jesse; and Bradley, Bill. I'm not sure who at this point would fit the bill. Maybe Jeff Merkley as a dark horse with left-wing bonafides.

Sherrod Brown is great, he's one of the few Democrats representing a swing area that hasn't completely capitulated to the right to stay in office (like a certain congressman from the Staten Island area.) My only beef with him is his votes for Trump's out-of-control military budgets. I don't understand why so many Democrats were rubber stamps for that, especially when their votes weren't even needed to pass it. But in general I approve of his tenure. I don't think he should run for president or vice president, because there's no guarantee you keep the Senate seat unless Ohio swings left in the next few years, which I don't see happening.

Why is Grover Cleveland your third favorite President? That strikes me as odd coming from a left-leaning person.

I don't necessarily agree with some of his politics but I admire his ethical commitment and governing style in an age of corruption.

[Ancestral Republican]

Shameless bump for 2,020 posts. Preferably nothing about the election.