It's disappointing to me

by Regular Joseph , Monday, July 06, 2026, 19:32 (15 days ago) @ BPH

I was excited about Platner as a candidate, but he should drop out.

As I've defended him here, I think there's a big lane for earthy leftist populist. I don't accept the argument that his tatoo makes his misogyny self-evident. That's revisionist. He was a risky profile, but one that I think is worth plumbing.

I think Blackwater is repulsive, and I don't like that Platner was in it. BUT I think it is more persuasive to a lot of people when someone who was legitimately fighting these wars comes around and says they're stupid. Just like it's more persuasive when someone who owns a small business talks about an unfair tax system. I think we need to be willing to accept some sins. (Again, not this kind of rape allegation.)

Platner was fake in his own ways, I'm sure, but he succeeded in reaching a broad spectrum of people with a message and with political talent. I think it will be very hard to be popular party and have every representative of it be a suit that's been honing their CV for 20 years.