When one side starts kicking the other side in the nuts, the only way to SURVIVE is to play by the same rules, otherwise, you're just a bunch of people with principles rolling around holding your aching nuts.
I get that, but we set higher standards for ourselves than the other side did, and so it’s worth exploring how and whether we come down from those to get things done, and if so, how to do so in a principled way. We faced this question with the gerrymandering war, and now we’re facing it with economic populists from the people who didn’t spend years keeping their personal records clean. In many cases, they are arriving quite damaged.
Yes, we took the high road where they took the low road. Annnnnnnnnd here we are. Just like the Nazis in WWII, we couldn't beat them then until we picked up guns, just like they did, too. Eisenhower didn't beat them with kind words, being nice folks and taking the high road.
We don't need to continue kicking once we've kicked them out, though. THEN we can reclaim the high road.
I am so so tired of getting repeatedly kicked in the nuts. I think that we need to kick back OR WE WILL DIE.
Like Charlie Angus says, "Keep kicking at the darkness until it bleeds daylight."
Mainer here. When he first announced his candidacy, I was invited to a very small gathering with him. Then the first shoe dropped before I attended, so I graciously declined.
I have always taken the moral high ground.
As someone involved in our local Democratic committee, I can tell you there has been a great deal of enthusiasm for Platner. Am I thrilled about every aspect of his past? No. But when I compare it to what we’re facing from the other side, it doesn’t come close.
What concerns me most is the possibility of Trump appointing one or even two more Supreme Court justices. The impact of that could shape our country for generations.
I’m also deeply concerned watching Project 2025 and similar policies steadily work their way into our government and institutions.
This election is bigger than any one candidate’s imperfections. For me, the alternative simply isn’t an option. So I look forward to your column today - learning how to navigate the complex issue of moral expectations while supporting this imperfect candidate.
I've certainly done really hurtful things in my past, though mostly unintentional, which makes a big difference. I don't consider myself a bad person. But i don't have to vote for myself. I often vote against candidates rather than for one. Really interested in reading your piercer in the big picture.
A great resource is the book "Good Reasonable People" by Keith Payne. There's one chapter that explains that Americans by and large do not have any coherent political philosophy. We all think we do, but we are far more driven by in-group/out-group identity than any consistent set of moral or ethical principles.
So it's not about "how do we not become them"... we ARE them. We are ALL "them," just viewed from different angles.
You send a kid to war, he risks his life, he gets ptsd, you bring him back with shitty VA support and he eventually gets himself straightened out but it takes time. He runs for office and people question his values.
He's better than the country deserves. Take a step back, take a breath, and meditate on this for a few minutes...
Given he fits the GOP requirements of misogyny and racism, I hope you cover the possibility that he could Fetterman Maine voters. (Sigh, the wayward and likely brain-damaged Senator has become a verb, the stinking turncoat).
And then there’s the other question. Let’s assume he does disappoint us. Will he be worse or better than Collins? Hard to imagine worse. Thus, the moral quandary.
Obviously we have to take the risk, I was just asking if you would address the possibility. I probably Over respect your opinions, and please hear that as a compliment. I'm sure I forward more of your articles than any one else's and I always suggest subscribing :-). Thank you for your wisdom, knowledge, and humanity (love those baby pics!)
Fetterman had a stroke and went bad. Can you accept that Platner overcame his addiction and PTSD and became good? And read the history of his tattoo. That is how he came to get it. Entirely understandable. And he’s renounced that too and has Jewish relatives. His wife thinks so and she’s living with him and apparently she is a strong person whom people trust.
I would have no choice but to give him the benefit of the doubt given the "concerning" competion ;-). I just wanted to hear Jay's take on the possibility.
An important quote from the great 20th century philosopher, Mick Jagger:
“You can’t always get what you want,
But if you try sometimes,
You just might find
You get what you need!”
In other words, politics is a nasty, dirty business. The Republicans know this and have been working under the principle that the only thing that matters is POWER! If we Democrats are to have any hope of defeating the Republicans and MAGA, we have to get a little bit nasty and dirty ourselves. Another 20th century philosopher, Karl Popper, in his work, “The Open Society and Its Enemies,” says that it might be necessary to bend the rules a little in favour of the Good Guys, rather than playing by the rules while your opponents are tearing them to pieces. The example he cites is Weimar Germany, where the political establishment insisted on playing by the rules; the Nazis didn’t, and made no secret of their intention to destroy the Weimar Constitution if they ever came into power. Which they did, and they did, and it took an enormous amount of blood and treasure to put them down.
The modern Republican Party is operating in precisely the same way that the Nazis did; while there is still a chance that we can stop their intentional destruction of the Constitution, we will certainly lose if we don’t have a few more tough hombres like Graham Platner who will go out and WIN, even if the rules get bent a little. Sure, it would be better if Platner hadn’t acted like a typical young man and done some foolish things—but who among us, male and female both, hasn’t done some stupid and foolish things in our youth? Finally, the choice is now down to Platner v. Collins. I live in Iowa, but if I were a Down Easter, I’d be working and voting for Platner no matter what! And if too few of us feel this way, we can kiss the Constitution, the Rule of Law, and American Democracy good-bye!
Not only "how do we not become them" in the candidates we tolerate, but "how do we not become them" with our own behavior, like using their tactics. One of the things I detested in a former relationship was that he would pick at me, and pick and pick and pick, until I would finally lose my temper, which I don't accept from myself. At some point, you're left with no choice, but it still feels like they won because they got what they wanted, which was causing you to react. I don't know if I'm explaining that right. Take the mid-decade redistricting as an example. It feels wrong to use their tactic, but they honestly left us with no choice.
I rarely link other writers’ work in a comment. But this is an important article that I believe everyone needs to read. The author is a BIPOC woman who has spent time with Graham Platner. Maine is an extremely white state. Platner is meeting non-white Mainers where they live. I understand he’s a flawed candidate. I just wish that people would prioritize focusing on his platform, instead of his messy past.
Let me be clear: I’ve been a feminist since I was in my teens. I’m not excusing anything he’s done in the past.
The more I listen to him speak, the more I find that we need somebody like him, ugly warts and all!
It seems most Democratic voters in Maine agree with you.
Mainer here and I agree!
Real human with actual convictions.
Really need this. Thanks :)
When one side starts kicking the other side in the nuts, the only way to SURVIVE is to play by the same rules, otherwise, you're just a bunch of people with principles rolling around holding your aching nuts.
Hope that helps.
I get that, but we set higher standards for ourselves than the other side did, and so it’s worth exploring how and whether we come down from those to get things done, and if so, how to do so in a principled way. We faced this question with the gerrymandering war, and now we’re facing it with economic populists from the people who didn’t spend years keeping their personal records clean. In many cases, they are arriving quite damaged.
Yes, we took the high road where they took the low road. Annnnnnnnnd here we are. Just like the Nazis in WWII, we couldn't beat them then until we picked up guns, just like they did, too. Eisenhower didn't beat them with kind words, being nice folks and taking the high road.
We don't need to continue kicking once we've kicked them out, though. THEN we can reclaim the high road.
I am so so tired of getting repeatedly kicked in the nuts. I think that we need to kick back OR WE WILL DIE.
Like Charlie Angus says, "Keep kicking at the darkness until it bleeds daylight."
Also Bruce Cockburn: “You got to kick at the darkness til it bleeds daylight.”
https://www.songfacts.com/lyrics/bruce-cockburn/lovers-in-a-dangerous-time
I'm sure that Charlie referenced him when he started his substack, I just didn't remember. Thank you!
LOVE Cockburn!!!
Mainer here. When he first announced his candidacy, I was invited to a very small gathering with him. Then the first shoe dropped before I attended, so I graciously declined.
I have always taken the moral high ground.
As someone involved in our local Democratic committee, I can tell you there has been a great deal of enthusiasm for Platner. Am I thrilled about every aspect of his past? No. But when I compare it to what we’re facing from the other side, it doesn’t come close.
What concerns me most is the possibility of Trump appointing one or even two more Supreme Court justices. The impact of that could shape our country for generations.
I’m also deeply concerned watching Project 2025 and similar policies steadily work their way into our government and institutions.
This election is bigger than any one candidate’s imperfections. For me, the alternative simply isn’t an option. So I look forward to your column today - learning how to navigate the complex issue of moral expectations while supporting this imperfect candidate.
Hahaha! I love what you said.
I've certainly done really hurtful things in my past, though mostly unintentional, which makes a big difference. I don't consider myself a bad person. But i don't have to vote for myself. I often vote against candidates rather than for one. Really interested in reading your piercer in the big picture.
Looking forward to reading this.
A great resource is the book "Good Reasonable People" by Keith Payne. There's one chapter that explains that Americans by and large do not have any coherent political philosophy. We all think we do, but we are far more driven by in-group/out-group identity than any consistent set of moral or ethical principles.
So it's not about "how do we not become them"... we ARE them. We are ALL "them," just viewed from different angles.
This article by a combat Navy seal now MD about Platner was very educational for me. The comments to that article by combat vets also taught me a great deal. I hope a lot of concerned people will read this: https://dbarkhuff.substack.com/p/on-platner-and-me?utm_source=direct&r=7vxhp&utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web
You send a kid to war, he risks his life, he gets ptsd, you bring him back with shitty VA support and he eventually gets himself straightened out but it takes time. He runs for office and people question his values.
He's better than the country deserves. Take a step back, take a breath, and meditate on this for a few minutes...
One thing we need to remember. Sometimes we have to just decide to vote for the Better candidate, warts and all.
I understand the impulse, but to do so without acknowledging the warts is ill-advised.
I think the warts are acknowledged by most people who are voting for him or who support him
Platner has taken responsibility for his actions and apologized. Ken Paxton has never done that. We are still a long way from the other side.
We have to win elections. Can we please start there?
This comes very close to the point I make in my piece!
I made that same point a bit stronger in response to a Charlie Sykes pieces lamenting the results of the primary.
Given he fits the GOP requirements of misogyny and racism, I hope you cover the possibility that he could Fetterman Maine voters. (Sigh, the wayward and likely brain-damaged Senator has become a verb, the stinking turncoat).
And then there’s the other question. Let’s assume he does disappoint us. Will he be worse or better than Collins? Hard to imagine worse. Thus, the moral quandary.
Obviously we have to take the risk, I was just asking if you would address the possibility. I probably Over respect your opinions, and please hear that as a compliment. I'm sure I forward more of your articles than any one else's and I always suggest subscribing :-). Thank you for your wisdom, knowledge, and humanity (love those baby pics!)
I second those emotions!
Fetterman had a stroke and went bad. Can you accept that Platner overcame his addiction and PTSD and became good? And read the history of his tattoo. That is how he came to get it. Entirely understandable. And he’s renounced that too and has Jewish relatives. His wife thinks so and she’s living with him and apparently she is a strong person whom people trust.
I would have no choice but to give him the benefit of the doubt given the "concerning" competion ;-). I just wanted to hear Jay's take on the possibility.
The term "He is the best of a bad situation comes to mind". That is why someone like James Talarico stands out and is a breath of fresh air.
Look for my big push for Talarico this Sunday!
An important quote from the great 20th century philosopher, Mick Jagger:
“You can’t always get what you want,
But if you try sometimes,
You just might find
You get what you need!”
In other words, politics is a nasty, dirty business. The Republicans know this and have been working under the principle that the only thing that matters is POWER! If we Democrats are to have any hope of defeating the Republicans and MAGA, we have to get a little bit nasty and dirty ourselves. Another 20th century philosopher, Karl Popper, in his work, “The Open Society and Its Enemies,” says that it might be necessary to bend the rules a little in favour of the Good Guys, rather than playing by the rules while your opponents are tearing them to pieces. The example he cites is Weimar Germany, where the political establishment insisted on playing by the rules; the Nazis didn’t, and made no secret of their intention to destroy the Weimar Constitution if they ever came into power. Which they did, and they did, and it took an enormous amount of blood and treasure to put them down.
The modern Republican Party is operating in precisely the same way that the Nazis did; while there is still a chance that we can stop their intentional destruction of the Constitution, we will certainly lose if we don’t have a few more tough hombres like Graham Platner who will go out and WIN, even if the rules get bent a little. Sure, it would be better if Platner hadn’t acted like a typical young man and done some foolish things—but who among us, male and female both, hasn’t done some stupid and foolish things in our youth? Finally, the choice is now down to Platner v. Collins. I live in Iowa, but if I were a Down Easter, I’d be working and voting for Platner no matter what! And if too few of us feel this way, we can kiss the Constitution, the Rule of Law, and American Democracy good-bye!
There’s certainly a strong utilitarian argument to be made, and many have made it.
I totally agree with your comment. Not to mention that I’m in my late 70s and I’m still doing stupid ridiculous things for which I need forgiveness.
Not only "how do we not become them" in the candidates we tolerate, but "how do we not become them" with our own behavior, like using their tactics. One of the things I detested in a former relationship was that he would pick at me, and pick and pick and pick, until I would finally lose my temper, which I don't accept from myself. At some point, you're left with no choice, but it still feels like they won because they got what they wanted, which was causing you to react. I don't know if I'm explaining that right. Take the mid-decade redistricting as an example. It feels wrong to use their tactic, but they honestly left us with no choice.
We are in an age of having to pick up the weapons we chose to put down.
Trump and his allies are corrupted. The work you do is vital. Thank you.
I rarely link other writers’ work in a comment. But this is an important article that I believe everyone needs to read. The author is a BIPOC woman who has spent time with Graham Platner. Maine is an extremely white state. Platner is meeting non-white Mainers where they live. I understand he’s a flawed candidate. I just wish that people would prioritize focusing on his platform, instead of his messy past.
Let me be clear: I’ve been a feminist since I was in my teens. I’m not excusing anything he’s done in the past.
https://shaystewartbouley.substack.com/p/platner-is-the-presumptive-candidate?r=2x5fj&utm_medium=ios
Thank you so much for this link. I read the whole piece, and am subscribing to her. More evidence that he is a rough diamond, and has much potential.
Odd. When I try to sign up for 'Big Picture', I learn that I'm already signed up. But I never receive a post. Odd.
Make sure you're signed up for the correct "Big Picture" substack. There are several with the words big picture in their name.
https://substack.com/@thinkbigpicture?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=3m66k