TX-SEN: True to Form

[Badger]

I don't like O'Rourke.  For one thing, he reminds me of Ted Kennedy (one of the four Democrats from my home state whose name I practically use as a profanity), and his having a drunk driving accident which he tried to flee doesn't help with that.  For another thing, there are plenty of issues where I agree with liberal Democrats and on which a Senate candidate should have a position; so when I contacted his campaign for positions on those issues trying to persuade myself to vote for him and it turned out he had no position on them, I felt that he is either evasive or unprofessional. 

Then finally, he advocated banning AR-15s, and that was the straw that I thought decided me for Dikeman.   Now, I am quite moderate on gun control: I support background checks and high-capacity magazine bans and don't believe the Second Amendment protects an individual right to firearms, and think Wayne LaPierre is a horrible excuse for a human being.  But whenever a Democrat proposes banning one of the most popular firearms, and one which is not an outsized contributor to gun deaths, because it was used in one high-profile shooting and no one technically "needs" one, it tells me that they have not made even the slightest effort to understand gun culture.  And this makes me wonder if O'Rourke is going to be any better about trying to understand people who disagree with him than Cruz is: I feel like the answer to that question is probably "no."

The Kavanaugh hearings, however, have persuaded me that I need to vote for O'Rourke; I've finally come around to George Will's argument that Trump and his cadre of enablers need to be defeated no matter what.  Now, I don't know how many people like me there are: I am atypical of a Texas voter, and probably even atypical of a college-educated white Texas voter who moved here from a blue state: I suspect that most people who hated Cruz and normally vote were planning on voting for O'Rourke anyways.  But I am sure that there are a lot of people who are as jaded as I was and dealt with it by staying home.  I sincerely hope that the Kavanaugh hearings might have jolted enough of them out of complacency to make a difference.

I also remember with both Massachusetts in 2010 and Alabama in 2017, being sure that the state was going to elect an absolutely appalling canddiate because they had the right letter next to their name.  In both 2010 and 2017, I was pleasantly surprised.  I wouldn't say that Cruz himself is as personally reprehensible as Coakley or Moore, but in seeking to promote Kavanaugh he is attempting to install a nakedly partisan conspiracy theorist, shameless perjurer, and probable sexual predator to a lifetime position far more powerful than a mere Senate seat.  Texas isn't as red as Alabama, nor as red as Massachusetts is blue, and the polls have had Cruz only very slightly ahead.  I am therefore cautiously optimistic that the Kavanaugh hearings will lend Texas voters enough moral clarity to evict Cruz from his seat.

Unfair. This new poster has been nothing but quality since he joined.

[Former Dean Phillips Supporters for Haley (I guess???!?) 👁️]

I don't like O'Rourke.  For one thing, he reminds me of Ted Kennedy (one of the four Democrats from my home state whose name I practically use as a profanity), and his having a drunk driving accident which he tried to flee doesn't help with that.  For another thing, there are plenty of issues where I agree with liberal Democrats and on which a Senate candidate should have a position; so when I contacted his campaign for positions on those issues trying to persuade myself to vote for him and it turned out he had no position on them, I felt that he is either evasive or unprofessional. 

Then finally, he advocated banning AR-15s, and that was the straw that I thought decided me for Dikeman.   Now, I am quite moderate on gun control: I support background checks and high-capacity magazine bans and don't believe the Second Amendment protects an individual right to firearms, and think Wayne LaPierre is a horrible excuse for a human being.  But whenever a Democrat proposes banning one of the most popular firearms, and one which is not an outsized contributor to gun deaths, because it was used in one high-profile shooting and no one technically "needs" one, it tells me that they have not made even the slightest effort to understand gun culture.  And this makes me wonder if O'Rourke is going to be any better about trying to understand people who disagree with him than Cruz is: I feel like the answer to that question is probably "no."

The Kavanaugh hearings, however, have persuaded me that I need to vote for O'Rourke; I've finally come around to George Will's argument that Trump and his cadre of enablers need to be defeated no matter what.  Now, I don't know how many people like me there are: I am atypical of a Texas voter, and probably even atypical of a college-educated white Texas voter who moved here from a blue state: I suspect that most people who hated Cruz and normally vote were planning on voting for O'Rourke anyways.  But I am sure that there are a lot of people who are as jaded as I was and dealt with it by staying home.  I sincerely hope that the Kavanaugh hearings might have jolted enough of them out of complacency to make a difference.

I also remember with both Massachusetts in 2010 and Alabama in 2017, being sure that the state was going to elect an absolutely appalling canddiate because they had the right letter next to their name.  In both 2010 and 2017, I was pleasantly surprised.  I wouldn't say that Cruz himself is as personally reprehensible as Coakley or Moore, but in seeking to promote Kavanaugh he is attempting to install a nakedly partisan conspiracy theorist, shameless perjurer, and probable sexual predator to a lifetime position far more powerful than a mere Senate seat.  Texas isn't as red as Alabama, nor as red as Massachusetts is blue, and the polls have had Cruz only very slightly ahead.  I am therefore cautiously optimistic that the Kavanaugh hearings will lend Texas voters enough moral clarity to evict Cruz from his seat.

Unfair. This new poster has been nothing but quality since he joined.

[Galaxie]

Texas Senate candidate Beto O'Rourke apologized for once writing a critical review of a Broadway musical in his college newspaper that said the actresses' "only qualifications seem to be their phenomenally large breasts and tight buttocks"

Well

[Virginiá]

Texas Senate candidate Beto O'Rourke apologized for once writing a critical review of a Broadway musical in his college newspaper that said the actresses' "only qualifications seem to be their phenomenally large breasts and tight buttocks"

Well

Eh, it's not a good look, but totally unsurprising for a college kid. I've heard worse from my guy and girl friends and I'm sure the same could be said for a large majority of the country.

[Cold War Liberal]

Texas Senate candidate Beto O'Rourke apologized for once writing a critical review of a Broadway musical in his college newspaper that said the actresses' "only qualifications seem to be their phenomenally large breasts and tight buttocks"

Well

That's... Not great. I'd say it was a poorly worded way of saying the actresses were picked for their looks rather than talent, but even that's a rather harsh thing to say. However I think the fact that he apologized shows character. None of us are perfect, and the measure of a politician should be how we react to our imperfections being aired in public.

[Co-Chair Bagel23]

Texas Senate candidate Beto O'Rourke apologized for once writing a critical review of a Broadway musical in his college newspaper that said the actresses' "only qualifications seem to be their phenomenally large breasts and tight buttocks"

Well

I expected more from you Beto.

[Ye We Can]

Texas Senate candidate Beto O'Rourke apologized for once writing a critical review of a Broadway musical in his college newspaper that said the actresses' "only qualifications seem to be their phenomenally large breasts and tight buttocks"

Well

Who care

I can come across a number of actresses who bring nothing to a movie/performance beyond being attractive

[wesmoorenerd]

Texas Senate candidate Beto O'Rourke apologized for once writing a critical review of a Broadway musical in his college newspaper that said the actresses' "only qualifications seem to be their phenomenally large breasts and tight buttocks"

Well

[Torrain]

Texas Senate candidate Beto O'Rourke apologized for once writing a critical review of a Broadway musical in his college newspaper that said the actresses' "only qualifications seem to be their phenomenally large breasts and tight buttocks"

Well

Not a great look, but unlikely to move the needle.
If anyone thinks this helps Cruz, I’d remind you that the Senator (or a hapless intern) liked a porn video on his official twitter account, and that did nothing to affect his standing.

[mcmikk]

Texas Senate candidate Beto O'Rourke apologized for once writing a critical review of a Broadway musical in his college newspaper that said the actresses' "only qualifications seem to be their phenomenally large breasts and tight buttocks"

Well

Not a great look, but unlikely to move the needle.
If anyone thinks this helps Cruz, I’d remind you that the Senator (or a hapless intern) liked a porn video on his official twitter account, and that did nothing to affect his standing.

You're forgetting about the mindbogglingly huge moral double-standard that Democrats face in America, especially in red states.

[Co-Chair Bagel23]

Texas Senate candidate Beto O'Rourke apologized for once writing a critical review of a Broadway musical in his college newspaper that said the actresses' "only qualifications seem to be their phenomenally large breasts and tight buttocks"

Well

Not a great look, but unlikely to move the needle.
If anyone thinks this helps Cruz, I’d remind you that the Senator (or a hapless intern) liked a porn video on his official twitter account, and that did nothing to affect his standing.

You're forgetting about the mindbogglingly huge moral double-standard that Democrats face in America, especially in red states.

Whataboutism can be convenient for dems too.

[pbrower2a]

Texas Senate candidate Beto O'Rourke apologized for once writing a critical review of a Broadway musical in his college newspaper that said the actresses' "only qualifications seem to be their phenomenally large breasts and tight buttocks"

Well

Well, there is such a concept as T&A for describing how some casting is done. Some theater-goers are perfectly happy with the result.

 

[America Needs a 13-6 Progressive SCOTUS]

That is a non-story.

Sounds like Beto was simply accusing the musical group directors of sexist hiring practices/objectifying women. Such groups that engage in sexist hiring practices/objectifying women deserve to be called out for it, and criticized.

[IceSpear]

Texas Senate candidate Beto O'Rourke apologized for once writing a critical review of a Broadway musical in his college newspaper that said the actresses' "only qualifications seem to be their phenomenally large breasts and tight buttocks"

Well

Not a great look, but unlikely to move the needle.
If anyone thinks this helps Cruz, I’d remind you that the Senator (or a hapless intern) liked a porn video on his official twitter account, and that did nothing to affect his standing.

You're forgetting about the mindbogglingly huge moral double-standard that Democrats face in America, especially in red states.

[TarHeelDem]

That is a non-story.

Sounds like Beto was simply accusing the musical group directors of sexist hiring practices/objectifying women. Such groups that engage in sexist hiring practices/objectifying women deserve to be called out for it, and criticized.

[BaldEagle1991]

Texas Senate candidate Beto O'Rourke apologized for once writing a critical review of a Broadway musical in his college newspaper that said the actresses' "only qualifications seem to be their phenomenally large breasts and tight buttocks"

Well

Not a great look, but unlikely to move the needle.
If anyone thinks this helps Cruz, I’d remind you that the Senator (or a hapless intern) liked a porn video on his official twitter account, and that did nothing to affect his standing.

Agreed. However I can see this can hurt Beto’s standing for women when it comes to attacking Ted Cruz for voting for Kavanaugh.

[Gass3268]

Fake Ad Claiming Iran’s President Endorsed Beto O’Rourke Is Pulled From Production:
A neoconservative group appears to be behind a listing recruiting voice actors to pretend to be President Rouhani in an effort to portray him as backing the Texas Democrat.

[Penn_Quaker_Girl]

Is it just me or have there been a lot more "fake" ads and operations in this Senate election vs. others? Or is it just that we don't hear about them?

[BuckeyeNut]

Texas Senate candidate Beto O'Rourke apologized for once writing a critical review of a Broadway musical in his college newspaper that said the actresses' "only qualifications seem to be their phenomenally large breasts and tight buttocks"

Well

Not a great look, but unlikely to move the needle.
If anyone thinks this helps Cruz, I’d remind you that the Senator (or a hapless intern) liked a porn video on his official twitter account, and that did nothing to affect his standing.

You're forgetting about the mindbogglingly huge moral double-standard that Democrats face in America, especially in red states.

[Gass3268]

Not sure how this compares to past debates in Texas, but Telemundo and Univision finished first and second respectively in the ratings for last debate:

[Former Dean Phillips Supporters for Haley (I guess???!?) 👁️]

Not sure how this compares to past debates in Texas, but Telemundo and Univision finished first and second respectively in the ratings for last debate:

That is pretty impressive, especially because the Spanish-speaking population skews young, and this is for age 35+.

[Progressive Pessimist]

Texas Senate candidate Beto O'Rourke apologized for once writing a critical review of a Broadway musical in his college newspaper that said the actresses' "only qualifications seem to be their phenomenally large breasts and tight buttocks"

Well

Not a great look, but unlikely to move the needle.
If anyone thinks this helps Cruz, I’d remind you that the Senator (or a hapless intern) liked a porn video on his official twitter account, and that did nothing to affect his standing.

You're forgetting about the mindbogglingly huge moral double-standard that Democrats face in America, especially in red states.

[Skye]

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/03/us/politics/mcconnell-senate-judiciary-supreme-court.html

You must be logged in to read this quote.

Take that FWIW.

(I'm super angry that I clicked on a NYT article that I didn't want to read).

[daveosupremo]

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/03/us/politics/mcconnell-senate-judiciary-supreme-court.html

You must be logged in to read this quote.

Take that FWIW.

(I'm super angry that I clicked on a NYT article that I didn't want to read).

Just open it in incognito mode (or the equivalent on your phone/computer) and you get around the paywall.

[Terry the Fat Shark]

https://www.therealbeto.com/ lol