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Thursday, October 26, 2023

One Biden primary challenger, Kennedy, has flipped from Dem challenger to Independent challenger. What's next from the less-than-content faction?

 Politico, publishing its latest about Dean Phillips -

Dean Phillips has told lawmakers he’s running against Joe Biden

But one person who talked to the representative said he was still being coy.

Rep. Dean Phillips speaks with reporters.
Dean Phillips, a millionaire businessman, could self-fund much of his own campaign. But he’s struggled to hire staffers. | Alex Brandon/AP

Rep. Dean Phillips has begun signaling to fellow House members that he plans to launch a challenge to President Joe Biden.

Two people familiar with the discussions said that the Minnesota Democrat has told some colleagues of his intent to run, though a third person who has talked to Phillips recently said he had demurred when asked. That person said Phillips was clearly considering it but when asked point blank whether he was running, replied: “We’ll see.”

Phillips has [...] taken several steps in recent weeks toward launching a presidential run, including calling New Hampshire Democratic Party Chairman Ray Buckley last week and reaching out to several potential staffers about working in New Hampshire.

Among those he’s approached are Steve Schmidt, a former Republican consultant, and Bill Fletcher, a Tennessee-based Democratic consultant, according to a person familiar with the nascent campaign. Schmidt and Fletcher did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The Messenger first reported Phillips’ outreach to Schmidt.

Phillips and a spokesperson also did not respond to a request for comment.

A Phillips bid would face steep challenges. He’s a three-term congressman squaring off against Biden, who is sitting on more than $91 million in cash and supported by the entire party machinery. [...]

Phillips, [... has] struggled to hire staffers. Bill Burton, a longtime Democratic consultant and Barack Obama campaign veteran, said on X that “someone” approached him “for a conversation” about Phillips, but it was “not something I took seriously even for a second.”

Should Phillips go through with announcing, he will need to quickly get himself on the ballot in key states. He’s already missed the deadline to appear on the ballot in Nevada, the second presidential nominating state for Democrats. South Carolina, the first nominating state in the new calendar, has a balloting deadline of Nov. 10.

Dean of the maybe, maybe not dance, with the clock running while hoping somebody takes him seriously.

If he runs, Kennedy will get more votes than Phillips. Marianne Williamson would be another candidate to top Phillips' charm and appeal, while likely better on policy.

Don't do it, Dean. 

Bad, bad idea.

____________UPDATE____________

On her campaign website, Williamson publishes about Israel - Gaza. In part:

As President, in the years leading up to this I would have been far more active on behalf of an effort to broker peace between Israel and the Palestinians. Supporting Israel militarily yet not playing an active role in emphasizing the need for Palestinian justice was a failure of American leadership and a transgression against our own values. Once Trump was out of office, I would have moved the U.S. Embassy back to Tel Aviv. I would not have allowed the Abraham Accords to minimize the cause of justice for Palestinians. I would have demanded justice for Shireen Abu Akleh. I would have demanded that no military assistance provided to Israel – created by a Congressional Memorandum of Understanding that extends until 2028 — be used in a way that supports the occupation of the West Bank, the settlements, or the blockade of Gaza. I would have stated my opposition to all three. I would have worked assiduously with Middle East peace builders both there and here. I would have supported all efforts to create the resurrection of plans for a two-state solution. I would have used American power to side with our highest ally: humanity itself.

I do appreciate the moral clarity of President Biden’s speech on Tuesday. It was clearly from his heart. My clarity and compassion would have been more universal, however. I would have emphasized to the American people that Hamas is not the Palestinian people, and the Palestinian people are not Hamas. Palestinian Americans, just like Jewish Americans, would have heard in my speech both respect and support. As an American, and as a Jew, I stand with Israel. But I stand no less for the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people.

On Wednesday the President met with Jewish American leaders, which I would have done as well. But I would also have met with Arab-American leaders, particularly Palestinian, to begin a deeper dialogue on how the world will go forward from here — specifically, what role America can play in trying to pick up the pieces at the end of all this. As President, I will dedicate the power of the U.S. government to creating a phoenix of peace arising from the ashes of this war. Peacebuilding will be a cornerstone of my Presidency, and the peacebuilders of the world will always have my ear. People have asked me what my Department of Peace would do in this situation? The point is that a Department of Peace could have helped prevent it.

In the meantime, President Biden is correct to have warned that other nations – clearly, I assume, a reference to Iran – should be very careful not to interfere. The President is right to be concerned about Iran’s involvement; I share that concern. The President of the United States must always be on heightened alert to protect America’s homeland as well as our interests abroad, and no American law enforcement, military or intelligence agency should blithely assume that this situation couldn’t have repercussions for us as well. I am sure that they do not.

The day after the invasion, I was sitting at an airport bar in Reno, Nevada, when I struck up a conversation with a gentleman sitting next to me. We talked and enjoyed each other’s company, and after a while he told me he’s a Palestinian-American and I told him I’m a Jew. The irony was lost on neither of us. Both of us were reminded of the world as it should be, for we were experiencing it together. It is to the achievement of that world – for every Palestinian and for every Jew, indeed for every citizen of the world – that I dedicate my life, and would dedicate my presidency.

Wordy perhaps. But clear in advancing Two-State peace as the proper ultimate goal. With Phillips doing a straddle, he has scant policy statements online facing grave national issues. There is this. Beyond that level, we might only guess. 

Williamson is real. There. Upfront. Committed.

___________FURTHER UPDATE___________

While hating tweets, Crabgrass is not above using one now and again:

https://twitter.com/DeRushaJ/status/1716842784236179930

View that in context, Alpha News, in part (which Crabgrass hates to cite): 

How Phillips differentiates himself from Biden on a policy level remains to be seen, since, as of January, he had voted in line with the president’s agenda 100% of the time, according to FiveThirtyEight.

Westlin’s comments came in response to images of a “Phillips for President” bus that was spotted traveling through Ohio Tuesday, which seemed to confirm reports that Phillips will launch a presidential bid Friday in New Hampshire.

It appears Dean will do it. I like Williamson better.