C'mon, Flann, that's nonsense.

by Publicola, Wednesday, June 03, 2026, 09:05 (6 days ago) @ Flann

It's fair to wonder about the change in party primaries that made the rank-and-file more influential in the nomination process. But state legislatures appointing senators was a very bad thing. It made for such dysfunctional politics that many states effectively enacted a popular vote for senators before the 17th amendment was approved and ratified!

I can't imagine how much more insane our politics would be today if state legislatures still were charged with choosing senators, especially given the extreme nature of contemporary gerrymandering. Woof.

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Complete thread:

F'ing Platner gonna cost the Dems any chance at the Senate - BPH, 2026-06-02, 13:16
- It would be just great if Dem public servants and candidates - BillyGoat, 2026-06-03, 08:02
  - He was always a shitty candidate - Greg, 2026-06-03, 16:29
    - Does it affect your opinion - nedhead, 2026-06-04, 21:12
      - No. In fact... - Greg, 2026-06-05, 07:04
    - Wasn't Janet Mills the strongly preferred party candidate? - nedhead, 2026-06-03, 16:54
      - Somebody backed him and gave him money - Greg, 2026-06-03, 17:19
        
        Elizabeth Warren backed him over Mills - San Pedro, 2026-06-04, 08:35
        
        So did Bernie - Greg, 2026-06-04, 15:37
        
        are you saying Platner doesn’t believe in his stances? - Jay, 2026-06-04, 15:57
        
        What do you think about his personal character? - Greg, 2026-06-04, 16:31
        
        you seem to know him better than I do - Jay, 2026-06-04, 19:50
        
        It's broader - Greg, 2026-06-05, 07:02
        
        But the centrists, they really stand for something. - nedhead, 2026-06-05, 07:11
        
        Unreliable how? - Romulox, 2026-06-04, 18:35
        
        The people? - nedhead, 2026-06-03, 17:45
        
        I guess you could blame the party - KGB, 2026-06-04, 06:38
      - Yes, very much so. - Publicola, 2026-06-03, 17:09
  - Swalwell - BPH, 2026-06-03, 08:10
    - Duh. - BillyGoat, 2026-06-03, 08:40
- Maybe the 17th Amendment was a mistake - Flann, 2026-06-03, 07:21
  - The Senate was a mistake - Romulox, 2026-06-03, 11:37
  - Really? a) there are plenty of “normie” younger Democrats - Jack, 2026-06-03, 09:56
    - I recall Caro being at least somewhat sympathetic - Flann, 2026-06-03, 10:29
      - Agreed on the primary system, of course - Jack, 2026-06-03, 12:01
  - C'mon, Flann, that's nonsense. - Publicola, 2026-06-03, 09:05
    - You’re correct in the diagnosis - Flann, 2026-06-03, 09:43
      - Never defer to me on anything - Publicola, 2026-06-03, 13:40
  - I have no problem with his politics and his policies - BPH, 2026-06-03, 08:09
    - Does he continue to do stuff? - ndbk32, 2026-06-03, 09:56
      - they were, and - Jay, 2026-06-03, 10:12
    - Politics and policies are central of course - Flann, 2026-06-03, 08:37
      - Character does matter - Regular Joseph, 2026-06-03, 20:28
      - Your last paragraph is the key for me - BPH, 2026-06-03, 09:06
- Susan Collins is very concerned by the texts - KGB, 2026-06-02, 17:23
- I'm not convinced this will do him in. - domer.mq, 2026-06-02, 16:40
  - Agreed. I’d like to see OGerry’s take - Jack, 2026-06-03, 07:31
    - We've come a long way from George Mitchell and Bill Cohen. - OGerry, 2026-06-03, 08:05
      - I don't know how true it actually is - KGB, 2026-06-03, 08:35
        
        And I would also add - Jack, 2026-06-03, 08:38
        
        And if you don't care about prices at the pump, go try to - BillyGoat, 2026-06-03, 08:41
      - Great stuff, thank you - Jack, 2026-06-03, 08:34
        
        Ayuh. - OGerry, 2026-06-05, 08:01
  - Maine is a blue state - Dallasdomer, 2026-06-02, 20:26

the Polo Grounds

C'mon, Flann, that's nonsense.