The “Who is running in 2020?” tea leaves thread, Part 2

[Mr. Morden]

Swalwell has made 10 Iowa trips since Trump was sworn in as prez, and isn’t ruling out a presidential bid:

https://www.mercurynews.com/2018/08/09/eric-swalwell-iowa-presidential-run/

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In other news, the Guardian says their sources confirm earlier reports that Bloomberg’s current presidential flirtation would see him running as a Democrat, in contrast to previous cycles when he thought about running as an Independent:

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/aug/10/bloomberg-eyes-2020-presidential-run-as-a-democrat-but-can-a-centrist-unite-the-party

[TheSaint250]

In other news, the Guardian says their sources confirm earlier reports that Bloomberg’s current presidential flirtation would see him running as a Democrat, in contrast to previous cycles when he thought about running as an Independent:

His chances of winning would go from <1% to a solid 0%.

[All Along The Watchtower]

If the Democratic Party nominates Michael Bloomberg then they/we really do deserve to lose.

I'd probably write in Karl Marx.

[RogueBeaver]

Swalwell considering, he's making his 10th Iowa trip. Of course he's a native Hawkeye...

[96FJV]

Blooomberg could probably be a contender solely cause he'd have the most money to spend. However, he is not going to be the nominee.

[Progressive Pessimist]

Blooomberg could probably be a contender solely cause he'd have the most money to spend. However, he is not going to be the nominee.

If he wants to take up a donor role, he would be much more effective that way.

[Mr. Morden]

While in Iowa, Avenatti says he's planning a New Hampshire trip for next month:

https://www.concordmonitor.com/Stormy-Daniels-Lawyer-to-visit-nh-considering-political-future-NHPrimary-19403833

[Mr. Morden]

Blooomberg could probably be a contender solely cause he'd have the most money to spend. However, he is not going to be the nominee.

If he wants to take up a donor role, he would be much more effective that way.

Bloomberg is already spending $80 million to help Dems in the midterms:

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/20/us/politics/mike-bloomberg-democrats-election.html

Of course, that isn't necessarily unrelated to the possibility of him running for president.  The more donations he makes to Democratic candidates, the more allies Bloomberg potentially makes for his own run.  (Were he to actually run, which still seems rather iffy, since he's toyed with it before and not pulled the trigger.)

[America Needs R'hllor]

The Joe Biden Foundation has started a new LGBT youth initiative to promote family acceptance.

http://time.com/5361952/joe-biden-lgbtq-family-acceptance-as-you-are/

Why is LGBTQ stuff always pushed on children?

There is a reason why.

Precisely beause of homophobes like you.

[President Johnson]

While in Iowa, Avenatti says he's planning a New Hampshire trip for next month:

https://www.concordmonitor.com/Stormy-Daniels-Lawyer-to-visit-nh-considering-political-future-NHPrimary-19403833

He's a good guy, but we can't play games in 2020. The nominee must beat Trump, and beat him badly.

[RogueBeaver]

Klobuchar to Iowa next month.

[smoltchanov]

If the Democratic Party nominates Michael Bloomberg then they/we really do deserve to lose.

I'd probably write in Karl Marx.

You are lucky not to live under marxist regime. I know what it means and wouldn't wish it even for the worst enemy...

[America Needs R'hllor]

If the Democratic Party nominates Michael Bloomberg then they/we really do deserve to lose.

I'd probably write in Karl Marx.

You are lucky not to live under marxist regime. I know what it means and wouldn't wish it even for the worst enemy...

This is a great post. Young leftists today don't know what communism is like, and see billionaires or Republicans or whatever as their enemy, so many of them endorse Marxist ideas or outright communism to trigger the enemy or to display antagonism to them or even out of real ideological convicition. It's quite unsettling.

[Alabama_Indy10]

If the Democratic Party nominates Michael Bloomberg then they/we really do deserve to lose.

I'd probably write in Karl Marx.

You are lucky not to live under marxist regime. I know what it means and wouldn't wish it even for the worst enemy...

This is a great post. Young leftists today don't know what communism is like, and see billionaires or Republicans or whatever as their enemy, so many of them endorse Marxist ideas or outright communism to trigger the enemy or to display antagonism to them or even out of real ideological convicition. It's quite unsettling.

[RogueBeaver]

Tim Ryan continues courting the wellness vote, but seems a bit less committed to running than that Intercept piece made out. He's still considering challenging Pelosi again and says he won't decide till after election day.

[Mr. Morden]

Tim Ryan continues courting the wellness vote, but seems a bit less committed to running than that Intercept piece made out. He's still considering challenging Pelosi again and says he won't decide till after election day.

The Intercept piece quoted anonymous sources in Ryan's political orbit.  Which I think will probably tend to offer a more accurate read on his intentions then you'd get from just asking him.  He's obviously not going to admit out loud in August 2018 that his plan is to run for president, since he's in the middle of running for reelection for his House seat.  It's not really practical for him to publicly admit that after he's reelected in November, his plan is to ignore his job in Congress in order to spend most of his upcoming term campaigning for the presidency.

[96FJV]

Would Klobuchar really have a chance in a Dem primary? I like her, but I think most people find her too moderate.

[ajwiopjawefoiwefnwn]

Avenatti in Iowa, says he's exploring a bid.

This primary is going to be an absolute clown car.

[Chief Justice Keef]

Would Klobuchar really have a chance in a Dem primary? I like her, but I think most people find her too moderate.

I think she'll have trouble breaking out in the clown car that will be the 2020 Dem primary, but if she gained momentum I could see her winning Iowa.

[aaroncd107]

https://www.politico.com/amp/story/2018/08/12/kasich-ohio-special-election-trump-773757
Kasich says “Maybe I will. Maybe I won’t. I don’t know.”

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

McAuliffe basically says he supports impeachment. Sounds like something a candidate would say: https://www.politico.com/story/2018/08/12/mcauliffe-impeachment-trump-putin-774271

[Coldstream]

Swalwell:

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news-campaigns/401466-california-democrat-on-multiple-trips-to-iowa-ill

[NewYorkExpress]

McAuliffe basically says he supports impeachment. Sounds like something a candidate would say: https://www.politico.com/story/2018/08/12/mcauliffe-impeachment-trump-putin-774271

Of the likely Dem field, I think only Steyer is also backing impeachment at this point.

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

McAuliffe basically says he supports impeachment. Sounds like something a candidate would say: https://www.politico.com/story/2018/08/12/mcauliffe-impeachment-trump-putin-774271

Of the likely Dem field, I think only Steyer is also backing impeachment at this point.

Steyer is the only other candidate who has outright said they support impeachment, but Gillibrand, Booker, and Sanders have called on Trump to resign, and when the house had to vote to table two impeachment resolutions from Al Green, Seth Moulton voted against tabling both times, and Joaquin Castro voted Present both times.

[TarHeelDem]

It's not that surprising, really. Given the trajectory of the Russia probe I'd say impeachement proceedings against Trump are likely to begin before the first 2020 primary. These folks are just hedging their bets. Best to be ahead of the curve.