A Political Fable 2: A Good Day to Vote Hard

[PolitiJunkie]

GILLIBRAND/CASTRO 2024! GILLIBRAND/CASTRO 2024! GILLIBRAND/CASTRO 2024! GILLIBRAND/CASTRO 2024! GILLIBRAND/CASTRO 2024! GILLIBRAND/CASTRO 2024! GILLIBRAND/CASTRO 2024! GILLIBRAND/CASTRO 2024! GILLIBRAND/CASTRO 2024! GILLIBRAND/CASTRO 2024! GILLIBRAND/CASTRO 2024! GILLIBRAND/CASTRO 2024! GILLIBRAND/CASTRO 2024! GILLIBRAND/CASTRO 2024! GILLIBRAND/CASTRO 2024! GILLIBRAND/CASTRO 2024! GILLIBRAND/CASTRO 2024! GILLIBRAND/CASTRO 2024! GILLIBRAND/CASTRO 2024! GILLIBRAND/CASTRO 2024! GILLIBRAND/CASTRO 2024! GILLIBRAND/CASTRO 2024! GILLIBRAND/CASTRO 2024! GILLIBRAND/CASTRO 2024! GILLIBRAND/CASTRO 2024! GILLIBRAND/CASTRO 2024! GILLIBRAND/CASTRO 2024! GILLIBRAND/CASTRO 2024! GILLIBRAND/CASTRO 2024! GILLIBRAND/CASTRO 2024!

[badgate]

XVIII: The Elephant and the Bathwater


Sunday, March 10, 2024

President Ayotte Endorses Scott Walker!
"It fills my heart with pride today to be out here speaking before you today. What a good looking crowd." (crowd roars) "Wow, I missed this. Today I'm here to talk to you about our next President. A hard working American like all of you, who comes from a state not that far from here. A former governor, and one of the most humble public servants we have seen in a generation of governance. He will do our nation proud as President. Please join me in welcoming to the stage, our next President of the United States, Scott Walker!"




Tuesday, March 12, 2024

Hawai'i Caucus



Governor Shelley Moore Capito 44%
Vice President Scott Walker 42%
Governor Sarah Palin 14%



Mississippi Primary



Vice President Scott Walker 46%
Governor Sarah Palin 43%
Governor Shelley Moore Capito 11%




Ohio Primary




Vice President Scott Walker 52%
Governor Shelley Moore Capito 30%
Governor Sarah Palin 28%


Thursday, March 14, 2024


On the Thursday evening news, Fox broke the story on a major Pentagon leak regarding the Chinese Harbor Massacre, known in America by its poetic moniker "Pompeii Tragedy." Fox reported that the Ayotte administration authorized an attack just minutes before China provided the FBI with evidence that the assassinations of GDI Director Jon Huntsman, Jr. and Secretary of State Eric Cantor on Chinese soil was a terrorist act. The subsequent attack on Chinese warships, which the Ayotte administration had publicly claimed was the act of a rogue pilot breaking out of a routine patrol formation, appears to have been the result of a pilot who either did not get the order to stand down and turn back, or did not care. That the Ayotte administration would callously throw the pilot under the bus to hide their carelessness seems to be the reason behind the Pentagon leak. Rumors abound that the source of the leak was the acting Secretary of Defense, Jared Rohmer, and former NSA Tammy Duckworth, who felt that Ayotte ordered the attack because two of her closest friends had been killed and ignored holes in the evidence they had against China. Duckworth resigned a week after the tragedy last year, and was considered at the time a scapegoat of sorts. This entire story has basically appeared with a giant SCANDAL bumper sticker on its forehead.



Monday, March 18, 2024


Palin, Capito tie Walker to Ayotte admin in Second Tuesday debate



Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Illinois Primary



Governor Shelley Moore Capito 51%
Vice President Scott Walker 28%
Governor Sarah Palin 21%



Louisiana Primary



Governor Sarah Palin 59%
Governor Shelley Moore Capito 27%
Vice President Scott Walker 14%




Wisconsin Primary



Governor Shelley Moore Capito 44.3%
Vice President Scott Walker 44%
Governor Sarah Palin 11.7%




New Mexico Primary



Governor Shelley Moore Capito 52%
Governor Sarah Palin 33%
Vice President Scott Walker 15%




New York Primary



Governor Shelley Moore Capito 66%
Governor Sarah Palin 18%
Vice President Scott Walker 16%





Georgia Primary



Governor Sarah Palin 47%
Governor Shelley Moore Capito 38%
Vice President Scott Walker 15%




Kansas Caucus



Governor Shelley Moore Capito 41%
Governor Sarah Palin 35%
Vice President Scott Walker 24%



10:00pm

The Soundbite: "Tonight you showed that we were meant to do this. Thank you for your support. Tonight our primary voters made it clear to America that this campaign is the only Republican campaign that can win in November! So let's go clean up Washington!"

10:30pm

The Soundbite: "We're in this for real now, so let's go win it! Sarahcuda is back!"

[badgate]

Republican Primary Map

Vice President Scott Walker
Governor Shelley Moore Capito
Governor Sarah Palin
Senator Tim Scott*
Senator Marco Rubio*






*Have dropped out of the Presidential race

[PolitiJunkie]

The scandal is interesting, but considering Walker was Ayotte's VP only in her first term, and everything Ayotte did wrong leading up to this scandal happened in her second term, I don't think it would affect Walker this much, especially not enough to lose his home state.

[badgate]

XXIX: POLITICO: Dissection of a Downfall; What happened to Scott Walker?


Thursday, March 21, 2024


Dissection of a Downfall
What Happened to Scott Walker?

It was a shock to the political status quo what happened two nights ago in the Second Tuesday states. While many are skeptical that the primary results are a rebuke of Scott Walker, closer inspection of the primary campaign going back almost a full year shows how the dynamite that exploded on Tuesday got its fuse lit.

On July 11th of last year, Scott Walker majorly disappointed at the first primary debate. His celebrity and level of enthusiasm across the board had raised his expectations astronomically, to be sure, but they also generated huge ratings for the debate. The rest of the GOP field was still too muddied (like the first few episodes of Project Runway) to pick the winners and losers, but one thing was clear: rumors of Walker's mysticism were greatly overrated.

Then there was the tragedy in August of last year. Governor Shelley Moore Capito's campaign has been critical of the Ayotte administration since, which did not play well in Iowa. Walker adamantly stood by-was in fact the only candidate in the field-to refuse to question the White House on what had happened. At the time, it gave Walker a huge boost, but his debate performances, while improving, were still reminding the primary electorate that they had ultimately chosen Kelly Ayotte over him eight years ago.

Since South Carolina onward, Capito and Palin's campaigns have had attack ads on Walker's "naive loyalty." In light of the recent revelations that came less than a week after Ayotte endorsed Scott Walker in Ohio, the line of attack has struck a deep cord in voters that nobody thought was there. It was like a huge formation of dominos in voters' minds all started falling at the same time. The debate before Second Tuesday was reminiscent of seeing everything people feared about Mitt Romney being confirmed by the infamous "47%" video. Sarah Palin, with folksy sass calling him a mama's boy and Shelley Moore Capito using the word "trust" twenty-two times.

Some pollsters have attributed Walker's shock defeat by a significant downturn in voter turnout from the weeks before the Fox News exposé. Full exit polls will be made available over the weekend by Gallup, and many expect them to confirm the turnout theory as an explanation for Walker narrowly losing his home state by .3%

Since Tuesday, Walker has campaigned vigorously in Pennsylvania and Indiana, apparently undeterred by the recent game change. Some are speculating that the repudiation of him, a response to an argument already internalized by the voters, was a fluke repudiation of Kelly Ayotte's administration. But Second Tuesday made it hard for Walker to win the nomination any time soon. For the first time Shelley Moore Capito leads in the primaries with thirteen states. Walker has eight, and was expecting to have fourteen after Second Tuesday.

-----

ALSO: Should Sarah Palin stay or go? Palin did beat expectations by taking Georgia this week, but still only has six states and will probably drop out by April 1. Many party bigwigs are hoping for a graceful exit from Palin, who has done wonders to improve her image and national profile. However the numbers are just not there for Palin. She would have needed to catch on earlier, beating out Walker in a major state like Texas or Florida. The loss of many conservative states to Walker/Capito also stunted Palin's momentum early on. Vote in our online poll: should Sarah Palin stay or go?

[badgate]

XXX: The Comeback



Tuesday, March 26, 2024

Walker puts Ayotte issues behind him in 90 min presser
Presidential hopeful Scott Walker held an open-ended press conference today to put his recent defeat and stumbling momentum behind him. Polls show him gaining ground on unsteady frontrunner Shelley Moore Capito in the next set of states set to vote on April 2. Walker said "I would not have given that order with that information. I am baffled and disappointed that the President did so."

Friday, March 29, 2024


Getting out of this van, Governor Shelley Moore Capito tripped and broke her wrist earlier this morning. She had to cancel the event she was about to speak at in order to go to the ER and get her wrist reset. Some are saying this could point voters toward Capito's age, despite the one term pledge she made in 2023.

Monday, April 1, 2024

Walker impresses in debate


Tuesday, April 2, 2024


Pennsylvania Primary


Vice President Scott Walker 47%
Governor Shelley Moore Capito 43%
Governor Sarah Palin 10%

New Jersey Primary

Vice President Scott Walker 52%
Governor Shelley Moore Capito 40%
Governor Sarah Palin 8%

Deleware Primary

Vice President Scott Walker 48%
Governor Shelley Moore Capito 46%
Governor Sarah Palin 6%

Maryland Primary

Vice President Scott Walker 53%
Governor Shelley Moore Capito 36%
Governor Sarah Palin 11%

Rhode Island Primary

Vice President Scott Walker 58%
Governor Shelley Moore Capito 33%
Governor Sarah Palin 9%

Maine Primary

Vice President Scott Walker 39%
Governor Shelley Moore Capito 32%
Governor Sarah Palin 29%

Missouri Primary

Vice President Scott Walker 48%
Governor Shelley Moore Capito 32%
Governor Sarah Palin 20%

West Virginia Primary


Governor Shelley Moore Capito 57%
Vice President Scott Walker 36%
Governor Sarah Palin 7%

Kentucky Primary

Vice President Scott Walker 49%
Governor Sarah Palin 31%
Governor Shelley Moore Capito 22%

Vice President Scott Walker - 16 states
Governor Shelley Moore Capito - 14 states
Governor Sarah Palin - 6 states
Senator Tim Scott - 2 states
Senator Marco Rubio - 1 state



Wednesday, April 3, 2024

Sarah Palin dropped out of the race and declined to endorse at a mid-afternoon "gathering for supporters" in Pittsburgh.

Thursday, April 4, 2024

GOP Chorus growing on Capito ouster
More Republicans are piling onto Capito's refusal to drop out besides her drubbing last Tuesday, many conservatives are calling her a spoiler and openly encouraging a third party candidate if she continues on.

Sunday, April 7, 2024


Reports indicate that the presumptive Democratic nominee has asked former Obama Chief of Staff Denis McDonough to head her transition team and that Hillary Rodham Clinton, Donna Brazile, and Jeremy Bird have signed on to her VP committee.

10:15pm, Sunday, April 7, 2024

WALKER AND CAPITO MEET SECRETLY IN HOTEL RESTAURANT





FLASHBACK: Capito: 'I will not negotiate...'




Monday, April 8, 2024

Capito quietly drops out
One-term Senator and Governor of West Virginia, the Presidential hopeful Shelley Moore Capito quietly dropped out of the race in a heartfelt email to her supporters and donors at 9am this morning.


May 8, 2024

Presumptive Republican nominee Scott Walker formally announced that Texas State Senator Konni Burton would head his search for a Vice Presidential running mate. Burton helped Walker win the DFW Metroplex in the Texas primary, and is seen as a strong contender for the Governor's chair in Texas if Governor Julian Castro resigns to become Vice President.







Final Republican Primary Map

Vice President Scott Walker - 28 states + D.C.*
Governor Shelley Moore Capito - 14 states + Puerto Rico, Guam, Samoa, etc.
Governor Sarah Palin - 5 states
Senator Tim Scott - 2 states
Senator Marco Rubio - 1 state




*80% saturation took place after Scott Walker became unopposed.



Final Republican Primary Map (with shading)

Vice President Scott Walker - 28 states + D.C.*
Governor Shelley Moore Capito - 14 states + Puerto Rico, Guam, Samoa, etc.
Governor Sarah Palin - 5 states
Senator Tim Scott - 2 states
Senator Marco Rubio - 1 state




*80% saturation took place after Scott Walker became unopposed.
VEEPSTAKES COMING SOON

[badgate]

XXXI: VEEPSTAKES (D)




Over the course of the 2024 summer, a range of names came out of Kirsten Gillibrand's VP committee. While Texas Governor Julian Catro has been considered the odds-on favorite, the committee looked at a wide smattering of candidates and left no stone or possibility unturned. By the end of July, the following names had leaked out:



Texas Governor Julian Castro (50 years old)


Former NAACP President, current President of Yale Law Benjamin Jealous (51 years old)


Nevada Senator Ruben Kihuen (44 years old)


South Carolina Governor Vincent Sheheen (53 years old)


Maryland Senator Lisa A. Gladden (60 years old)


Indiana Senator & Gubernatorial Candidate Joe Donnelly (69 years old)


Georgia Senator Jason Carter (51 years old)


Mississippi Senator David Blount (57 years old)

[badgate]

XXXII: VEEPSTAKES (R)




Over the course of the 2024 summer, a range of names came out of Scott Walker's VP committee. Konni Burton floated a wide range of names, some very shocking, some myopic, but nobody knew who Walker would ultimately pick. By the end of July, the following names had leaked out:

Alabama Senator Martha Roby (48 years old)


West Virginia Governor Shelley Moore Capito (71 years old)


North Dakota Senator Drew Wrigley (59 years old)


Former Oklahoma Congressman J.C. Watts (67 years old)


Wisconsin Senator Amy Loudenbeck (55 years old)


South Carolina Senator Tim Scott (59 years old)


Washington Congresswoman & Gubernatorial Candidate Cathy McMorris Rodgers (55 years old)

Interestingly, both campaigns are considering candidates who were leaving the U.S. Congress for the governors' mansions of their respective states.

Pennsylvania Senator Pat Toomey (63 years old)

[badgate]

READER POLL


DEMOCRATS: Who should Kirsten Gillibrand pick as her running mate?
-Texas Governor Julian Castro
-Former NAACP President Benjamin Jealous
-Nevada Senator Ruben Kihuen
-South Carolina Governor Vincent Sheheen
-Maryland Senator Lisa A. Gladden
-Indiana Senator Joe Donnelly
-Georgia Senator Jason Carter
-Mississippi Senator David Blount


REPUBLICANS: Who should Scott Walker pick as his running mate?
-Alabama Senator Martha Roby
-West Virginia Governor Shelley Moore Capito
-North Dakota Senator Drew Wrigley
-Former Congressman J.C. Watts
-Wisconsin Senator Amy Loudenbeck
-South Carolina Senator Tim Scott
-Washington Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers
-Pennsylvania Senator Pat Toomey

[Enderman]

Gillibrand/Castro would be very formidable.... but Id say the Carter dynasty should start right about now anyways I think Walker/Scott would be great.....

[DKrol]

DEMOCRATS: Who should Kirsten Gillibrand pick as her running mate?
-Texas Governor Julian Castro
-Former NAACP President Benjamin Jealous
-Nevada Senator Ruben Kihuen
-South Carolina Governor Vincent Sheheen
-Maryland Senator Lisa A. Gladden
-Indiana Senator Joe Donnelly
-Georgia Senator Jason Carter
-Mississippi Senator David Blount


REPUBLICANS: Who should Scott Walker pick as his running mate?
-Alabama Senator Martha Roby
-West Virginia Governor Shelley Moore Capito
-North Dakota Senator Drew Wrigley
-Former Congressman J.C. Watts
-Wisconsin Senator Amy Loudenbeck
-South Carolina Senator Tim Scott
-Washington Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers

[Maxwell]

DEMOCRATS: Who should Kirsten Gillibrand pick as her running mate?
-Texas Governor Julian Castro
-Former NAACP President Benjamin Jealous
-Nevada Senator Ruben Kihuen
-South Carolina Governor Vincent Sheheen
-Maryland Senator Lisa A. Gladden
-Indiana Senator Joe Donnelly
-Georgia Senator Jason Carter
-Mississippi Senator David Blount


REPUBLICANS: Who should Scott Walker pick as his running mate?
-Alabama Senator Martha Roby
-West Virginia Governor Shelley Moore Capito
-North Dakota Senator Drew Wrigley
-Former Congressman J.C. Watts
-Wisconsin Senator Amy Loudenbeck
-South Carolina Senator Tim Scott
-Washington Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers

God the Republican VP field is awful.

[PolitiJunkie]

Gillibrand/Castro and Walker/Capito would definitely be the strongest tickets, but it'd be strange if both tickets had runners up in the VP slot.

[JerryArkansas]

DEMOCRATS: Who should Kirsten Gillibrand pick as her running mate?
-Texas Governor Julian Castro
-Former NAACP President Benjamin Jealous
-Nevada Senator Ruben Kihuen
-South Carolina Governor Vincent Sheheen
-Maryland Senator Lisa A. Gladden
-Indiana Senator Joe Donnelly
-Georgia Senator Jason Carter
-Mississippi Senator David Blount


REPUBLICANS: Who should Scott Walker pick as his running mate?
-Alabama Senator Martha Roby
-West Virginia Governor Shelley Moore Capito
-North Dakota Senator Drew Wrigley
-Former Congressman J.C. Watts
-Wisconsin Senator Amy Loudenbeck
-South Carolina Senator Tim Scott
-Washington Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers

[Warren 4 Secretary of Everything]

Castro or Carter

[badgate]

Pat Toomey has been added to Walker's list. If you still have a different preference other than those on the lists, feel free to additionally voice it. I'm gonna leave this open for a few days. I might post some matchup polls later though.

[Maxwell]

Pat Toomey then. Toomey is a great VP candidate I think.

[badgate]

Kirsten Gillibrand 42%
Scott Walker 45%
Undecided 13%


Gillibrand / Castro 47%
Walker / Capito 43%

Gillibrand / Jealous 44%
Walker / Capito 45%

Gillibrand / Carter 47%
Walker / Capito 44%

Gillibrand / Donnelly 45%
Walker / Capito 45%

Gillibrand / Sheheen 41%
Walker / Capito 46%

-----

Gillibrand / Castro 45%
Walker / Scott 46%

Gillibrand / Jealous 42%
Walker / Scott 44%

Gillibrand / Carter 43%
Walker / Scott 45%

Gillibrand / Donnelly 44%
Walker / Scott 48%

Gillibrand / Sheheen 40%
Walker / Scott 47%

-----

Gillibrand / Castro 45%
Walker / Toomey 45%

Gillibrand / Jealous 42%
Walker / Toomey 46%

Gillibrand / Carter 43%
Walker / Toomey 44%

Gillibrand / Donnelly 45%
Walker / Toomey 46%

Gillibrand / Sheheen 41%
Walker / Toomey 43%

-----

Gillibrand / Castro 48%
Walker / Roby 40%

Gillibrand / Jealous 46%
Walker / Roby 43%

Gillibrand / Carter 47%
Walker / Roby 42%

Gillibrand / Donnelly 45%
Walker / Roby 41%

Gillibrand / Sheheen 44%
Walker / Roby 43%

[badgate]

XXXIII: Wet Hot American Summer

May 1 to 15, 2024

Having had a head start on fundraising for fall, the Gillibrand campaign tested out positive get-to-know-you spots in swing states they are targeting. The ad buys ran for two weeks, targeting season finales of popular television shows and news coverage of Memorial Day.

---

Wednesday, June 5, 2024

President Ayotte Censured By Congress
After months of heated testimonies and hearings in the House and Senate, the Legislative branch voted today to censure President Ayotte for her failures in the 2023 aftermath of a terrorist attack on American diplomats on foreign soil. The house passed the concurrent resolution by a 2/3rds margin, and the Senate by 66/42/2. Gillibrand, facing dicy terrain among undecideds, was one of the two "present" votes.

---

June 26, 2024

Public Policy Polling, the most trusted polling firm on both sides of the aisle, have released their first in-depth poll of the 2016 presidential election.

National
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand - 45%
Vice President Scott Walker - 46%
Undecided - 9%


Men
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand - 37%
Vice President Scott Walker - 58%
Undecided - 5%

Women
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand - 61%
Vice President Scott Walker - 35%
Undecided - 4%

Caucasian Non-Hispanic
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand - 32%
Vice President Scott Walker - 68%

African American
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand - 78%
Vice President Scott Walker - 13
Undecided - 9%

Hispanic
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand - 77%
Vice President Scott Walker - 19%
Undecided - 4%

Asian
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand - 69%
Vice President Scott Walker 27%
Undecided - 4%

Other
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand - 59%
Vice President Scott Walker - 34%
Undecided - 7%

---

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand - 223
Vice President Scott Walker - 205


No Toss Up, based on averages and this poll

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand - 294
Vice President Scott Walker - 244

---

Thursday, July 4, 2024

Presidential Candidates Celebrate July 4



---

Thursday, July 11, 2024

Walker begins to lay out campaign
Speaking before the West Coast CPAC Conference, presumptive Republican nominee Scott Walker unveiled a new stump speech that touched on the issues he did best on in the primaries, laying out a plan to slash corporate taxes and "unleash a fury of economic prosperity."

---

Monday, July 22, 2024

Gillibrand Hits Late Night Shows
Presumptive Democratic nominee Kirsten Gillibrand has been making the late night talk shows lately. Over the course of the summer she has been interviewed by Jimmy Kimmel, Alec Baldwin, David Letterman (yes, Letterman's still alive), Jimmy Fallon, and Bravo's Andy Cohen. Tonight, on a highly anticipated appearance on Late Night with Conan O'Brien, she announced that her good friend from the Senate Jason Carter would deliver the keynote address at the 2024 DNC, scheduled for next month. This effectively puts Carter out of the running for Vice President. Asked about his consideration for VP by O'Brien, Gillibrand said "Well, I've had a number of conversations with so many good friends and colleagues, and many meetings with the potentials themselves. I get the feeling that Jason just loves the connection he has to the people of Georgia, that it puts a fire in his heart to go to work for them in the Senate every day. So he told me he wanted to keep his current job, but that fire and passion inspired me to ask him to deliver our keynote address."

---

Thursday, August 1, 2024

Palin holds fundraiser for Walker, releases endorsement and gives sassy remarks

---

August

Party Organizers Descend on Dallas, Philadelphia
The cities of Dallas and Philadelphia are seeing increased business as efforts ramp up for the Democratic National Convention at the Dallas AmericanAirlines Center and Cowboys Stadium and the Republican National Convention in Philadelphia. As is custom, the challenging party will hold its convention first. The DNC is scheduled for the week of Monday, August 26, to Thursday the 29. The RNC will be the next week on Tuesday, September 3 to Friday the 6. The RNC has been criticized for scheduling Walker's address on a Friday, but insiders say it is part of a media strategy to build viewership over the course of the week and make Walker's speech a must-see event for anybody who uses a computer or smartphone.

[badgate]

XXXIV: The Pick


Wednesday, August 21, 2024

Gillibrand introduces Vice Presidential candidate in Des Moines, IA
Nearly 300 miles from the stadium in Madison, WI where Kirsten Gillibrand accepted the mantle of presumptive nominee for President, the New York Senator stood alone on a red stage with a navy blue backdrop behind her, and lit up a crowd on Wednesday morning. "Do we want a continuation of meandering failures?" "No!" "Do we want better schools and teachers and a broader safety net?" "Yes!" "Then we've gotta rock the ballot box! And I've asked you here today to introduce you to the newest member of our broad coalition. A tough governor from a tough state, who's ready to join his lone star to ours." cheers growing "My fellow Democrats, please join me and welcome Julian Castro!"

"heyyyyy"

Thursday, August 22, to Sunday, August 25, 2024

For the next four days, an impressive media machine of surrogates around the country popped up out of nowhere. The coordinated release of the surrogates built fast and powerful momentum for the DNC's viewership.


Retired Senator Tom Harkin, VP Nominee Julian Castro, & former Vice President Joe Biden


Texas Senator Wendy Davis


Democratic Nominee Kirsten Gillibrand and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton


New Jersey Senator Cory Booker


Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill once feuded with Gillibrand over military sexual assault bills, but they have mended fences and McCaskill did her darndest selling the Gillibrand/Castro ticket on Missiouri local stations.


Vice President Gene Taylor in his trademark garb at a Gillibrand town hall in Phoenix, AZ. Taylor won Arizona in 2020 and Gillibrand is hoping to keep in in the Democratic column despite recent polling.


Castro campaigned with Michelle Obama in one of the few rallys and speeches she has given since her 2016 DNC speech.


Gillibrand with Florida Senator Debbie Wasserman Schultz. Wasserman Schultz is up for reelection in 2024, and it may take coattails from Gillibrand to do it for the one-term Senator.


Castro and former President Barack Obama




Later tonight........
Democratic National Convention

[badgate]

XXXV: DNC


2024 Democratic National Convention

Monday, August 26, 2024

Inside the AmericanAirlines Center in downtown Dallas, the Democratic National Convention kicked off Monday morning. It was a decidedly more jubilant affair than the convention four years ago, which had been the first brokered convention in most Americans' lifetimes. An expected 29 million are going to tune into the first night, and polling says that considering the schedule of speakers through the week, that will only go up.



Vice President Gene Taylor, a surprise Democratic star who lead the ticket four years ago, gave a bittersweet address to kick off the first night's primetime schedule.


Congresswoman Chelsea Clinton, the Democratic gubernatorial candidate in West Virginia, introduced the convention's keynote speaker. Clinton drew on her own family's electoral history in introducing the Senator. "The Clinton and Carter families are here to stay!"


Keynote Speaker Georgia Senator Jason Carter delivered a raucous 40-minute address and was the first to turn his targets on Scott Walker. Carter praised Kirsten Gillibrand as "the right person for the job, period, game over" and called Scott Walker "the Republican doughboy." Carter criticized Walker as a serial job killer in Wisconsin and an empty suit as Vice President. "His greatest claim to fame, you guessed it, was holding a job called Vice President. And his record as Vice President was...well...we're still not sure." (laughter) "In a Latin America summit, he accidentally called the President of Brazil a pig in Portuguese. His deft hand in the Senate helped the Democrats pass great new laws protecting unions, Thanks Scott!"

Tuesday, August 27, 2024

At age 100, former President Jimmy Carter walked on the stage at the DNC with the help of former First Lady Michelle Obama. Obama stood to the side of the stage while Carter began the second night's primetime coverage by leading the convention in the Pledge of Allegiance.


The convention then recreated the infamous live balloting system from 2020 that made people on social media and at home feel involved in the convention process. The platform was adopted quickly and then Gillibrand and Castro were nominated.


Senator Cory Booker did considerably better than his humorless 2012 DNC speech, back when his star was distant in the night sky. He shared the second hour with...


"Bill would have so wanted to be here tonight. He loved Senator Gillibrand, and believed she would one day be President. We both believe that. This is a week for American heroes, and we with one voice declare: our leader is Senator Kirsten Gillibrand."

The biggest draw of the second night was the final speaker, and viewership steadily increased as the night went on.


New York Governor Bill de Blasio, with a handheld mic, paced the stage almost like a televangical preacher, working the convention crowd. His speech, a vision for a populist America, was the biggest story going into the third night's coverage.


Wednesday, August 28, 2024

The first half hour of the third night was devoted to a documentary called "Our Platform, Our Country." Many Democratic faces appear in it detailing the convention's platform, building up the pillars of Gillibrand's campaign: tenure and tuition reform, vast expansion of voting rights, a payroll tax holiday to ail a reeling economy, and an expanded role on Wall Street. The Wall Street expansion would include an expansion of the size and role of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The principles of Massachusetts Senator Ben Downing's government transparency proposals were written into the platform as well.


Former President Barack Obama delivered a 25-minute speech dissecting Scott Walker rhetorically.


Kentucky Senator Alison Lundergan Grimes, a late entry to the 2024 Presidential race considered to have come in 3rd place nationally, was given a primetime speaking spot to introduce the Vice Presidential nominee. Grimes urged her coalitions of supporters to get behind Gillibrand/Castro, calling them "a combination of the best and brightest things our big tent party has to offer Americans. So without further ado, I'd like to introduce the convention to a good friend, a fervent populist, a fighter of workers, not controllers, he's your Vice Presidential nominee, Texas Governor Julian Castro!!!!"


35 million tuned at the beginning of night three, but by Julian Castro's entrance it was 39, record breaking numbers. Some voiced concern that if Gillibrand's night on Thursday didn't deliver, there would be wave upon wave of stories about Castro overshadowing her, undoing any momentum the convention was garnering for Democrats.
"We're here to nominate the next President of the United States. I don't think there could be a better time for Kirsten Gillibrand to step up. History has demanded this service of her, and she will do us proud as President. And I believe we will make history this Fall. I believe we will take Texas' 41 electoral votes on Election Day!"

The soundbite was met with wild, cacophonous cheers from the crowd and guffaws from everyone on the #tcot hashtag feed.

Thursday, August 29, 2024

The final night of the DNC was scheduled to be held in a bigger venue than the rest of the convention. The Cowboy's stadium, completed in 2009, holds up to 105,000 with standing room. With the convention crowd and a huge use of the Battleground Texas turnout machine, almost 90,000 are expected to pack the stadium for Gillibrand's convention address. Some local Texans are protesting the fact that Democrats are allowed to use the stadium of their beloved football team.


Virginia Senate Democratic candidate Charniele Herring, seen as a rising star in the party, was tasked with the introduction speech for Kirsten Gillibrand. Herring won a competitive primary against fellow Alexandrite Rob Krupicka to be the nominee to replace retiring Senator Tim Kaine. Nate Silver has projected control of the Senate up for grabs in 2024 and Virginia's seat could be the deciding state. Virginia is also considered a must-win state for Gillibrand.


(imagine a huge crowd of people on the ground as well and a really cool stage ok)


"My fellow Americans, it is my honor tonight to present to you our next President of the United States, the Senator from the great state of New York, Kirsten Elizabeth Gillibrand!"

The crowd rose in rapture, cheering Gillibrand's walk onto the stage.



She reached the podium, and it took 120 seconds before the crowd quieted enough for her to begin.




"Madam Chairman, delegates to our fine convention, my fellow Americans across this country. I have something I have to say. The humbling task of perfecting our union continues here tonight.

...

Take a moment, right now, to remember the moments that have inspired and moved us this week. Our former President Jimmy Carter leading us in the Pledge of Allegiance, a pledge we all know in our hearts forever. His grandson, an inspirational young Senator, reminding us of our unflinching task of protecting the poor and opening equal opportunity. Our former leaders Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, the brilliant address from Bill De Blasio. This has been a convention for our vision of government. It's not supposed to be that small. It's supposed to be just big enough for all of Americans to come together, to share our experiences to better our lives and look out for each other. If elected, I will invest in our greatest resource, our children. We will make sure that colleges cannot overstaff themselves to drive up tuition, and my running mate Julian Castro has promised to fill me in on his plan for universal Pre-K at no expense to the taxpayer." (cheers) "I'm proposing a Fair Pact. You don't have to trust the government, but as long as I am in office, the government will trust the people.

...

My personal hero, who inspired me to go to law school and learn our laws and serve the people, she once said, 'you don't make progress by standing on the sidelines, whimpering and complaining.' She said, "service is the rent that you pay for room on this earth." Shirley Chisolm faced multiple assassination attempts when she ran for President in 1972. She shocked the nation when she visited in the hospital the segregationist governor of Alabama after he was almost assassinated. And she once said, "I don't measure America by its achievement but by its potential." I see that potential in this convention. I see that potential in the cornfields of Topeka, the wind farms of Lubbock. I see America's potential in the hard faces of our miners and factory workers in Detroit and Montcoal. In every face I see, there is the potential of the greatness of America. It is in the spirit of fulfilling some of that potential that I thank you for your trust and I accept your nomination for President of the United States!"

[badgate]

Gillibrand/Castro 2024!

[PolitiJunkie]

Such a phenomenal ticket. Did you announce Walker's VP or did I miss something?

[badgate]

Did you announce Walker's VP or did I miss something?

Walker has a rally scheduled for noon the day after the DNC, seems like a good day to announce his VP pick. The rally will be held in Virginia, and Walker will be introduced by the GOP nominee for Virginia's open Senate seat.

[badgate]

The first night of the DNC

WALKER - Scott Walker, Republican Presidential nominee
CONNORS - Sharon Connors, campaign manager
REYNOLDS - Shep Reynolds, campaign spokesperson
BURTON - Konni Burton, chair of Scott Walker for President VP Search Committee; Texas state Senator (R-10)





WALKER: So, who've we got tomorrow?
CONNORS: You're meeting with Senator Scott tomorrow, and Senator Toomey on Wednesday.
WALKER: Are you sure we should have waited this long?
REYNOLDS: You're the one taking forever to choose.
WALKER: I know, but-
CONNORS: He means waiting this long to announce.
BURTON: Announcing the day after LibFest has its benefits. Cuts the momentum-
REYNOLDS: Changes the story-
BURTON: Exactly, and it'll give us the weekend coverage wall-to-wall going into the convention.
WALKER: They're just both so...I don't even know.
CONNORS: Look, we don't have an option to counter the excitement surrounding Castro.
WALKER: But we thought Roby-
CONNORS: Roby's a loser, she polled awfully.
REYNOLDS: Only because half the country hasn't heard of her.
BURTON: She's the most conservative option.
CONNORS: They're all conservative!
BURTON: But Roby never had to stake out positions for the general election during the primaries.
WALKER: Well, it's too late now, y'know?
CONNORS: I know.
BURTON: If we had gone that route, we could make her the Veep choice we need. Define her candidacy around what we need to rebut Gillibrand on.
CONNORS: How'd that work out with Sarah Palin sixteen years ago?
REYNOLDS: Mister Vice President, if you want my advice-
WALKER: Always.
REYNOLDS: -go with Toomey. It'll double down on our appeal in the Rust Belt yes, but it'll give us an honest shot at Pennsylvania, and help us hold Texas...we could even talk about targeting Michigan and Minnesota again.
BURTON: Meanwhile Scott could help us with the black vote in Florida, Texas, Michigan, and yes even Pennsylvania.
REYNOLDS: He's a non-starter on Wall Street. Gillibrand would get the f***in' Chamber of Commerce for all we know.
WALKER: I haven't heard optimistic talk like that for months.
CONNORS: It's nice, isn't it?
WALKER: Yeah. It's nice.
CONNORS: Just keep an open mind when you're talking to them.
REYNOLDS: Toomey's going to be snuck into the VIP lounge at the Seattle airport, so while the press is trying to spot Cathy Rodgers in a wig, you'll be able to talk in peace.
CONNORS: And Scott's agreed to fly out to Arizona. The press knows you'll be at a small get together at Senator McCain's ranch, they think you're there to seal up his endorsement and ask him to speak at the convention next week.
WALKER: Yeah, that oughta fool 'em. Konni?
BURTON: We'll see.
WALKER: No, I mean, I won't see you again until we make some campaign stops in Texas, so if you have any final thoughts, now's the time.
(pause)
BURTON: Go with Toomey. You'll win.