55 Comments
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Sukey Pett's avatar

Platner's video was FOUL. He was whining about the unfairness of the Mean Democrats. He owes a huge apology to the voters of Maine. He lied to them and let them down.

MrsCQ's avatar

Do you know where I can access the video? I don't have X account.

User's avatar
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2h
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MrsCQ's avatar

Thank you. I did several times. The only one that popped up was the video on X. Maybe it will go up later on the other feeds.

MrsCQ's avatar

Very quirky but I was able to finally watch the entire video from the first link from my email notifications but that first message is not here. In any event, thank you very much.

MrsCQ's avatar

Couldn't agree with you more.

Dan Sescleifer's avatar

Glad Platner is gone. Please keep Chuck Schumer as far away as possible from the selection decision for the next Democratic candidate.

Bison Doc's avatar

Not to worry. According Executive Director Murphy-Anderson, the selection - by law - will be entirely by the Maine Democratic Party. Lawrence O'Donnell interviewed her on the Last Word tonight.

Michael G Baer's avatar

Hurray🎉🎉🎉

Take the wins, baby.

With tremendous Hopium for a big victory and 🤞🤞🤞 that the Maine party will make us all proud with their process. Prayers up for that 🙏🙏🙏

Sheila Fyfe's avatar

We just sent a contribution to the Maine Democratic Party... not just because we want to help them, but because we want to send a message to Graham Platner. And that was the most effective way we could think of. Thank you, Simon.

Sheila Fyfe's avatar

It's especially important to show support for the party now since there is speculation that Platner will try to flood them with messages urging them to keep him on.

Emma MacArthur-Warner's avatar

I DO want to help the Maine Democratic Party. I like them, and I feel sorry for them having to deal with this, plus of course we need to win

Millie Polli Haskell's avatar

Grat News Simon, Thanks for the update! Will discuss all in the morning!

Richard Stuart McGowan's avatar

I’m in. Maine can do it.

Deb Gordon's avatar

Thanks for the update, Simon. I was waiting for Platner’s resignation to donate — and just did.

Millie Polli Haskell's avatar

I forgot, I did send a donation to the Maine Democratic Party earlier.

Janine Lanza's avatar

Glad I sent a donation to the Maine Democratic Party earlier today. I want to help them overcome this challenge and beat Collins in November

Mary Kay Ness's avatar

Thank you for providing more information and background on the Graham Platner's withdrawal from the Senate race in Maine. I am so relieved and pleased that some women spoke up about the physical violence he displayed (and duplicity) during sexual encounters. I gather he was effective (though duplicitous), in speaking for and about the working class. Collins is a weak candidate (though rich) and I am hopeful the selection process for another candidate can have a similar (genuine) appeal.

BeeBeeinNYC's avatar

My hope is that, rather than throwing up their hands, Mainers channel their energy, anger, and frustration and show Platner he was a blip on the radar screen. They found something that inspired them, for which he can be thanked. They now know what they want and what they don't want. Let them get him/her and send them to Washington.

Blake's avatar

Simon, thank you so much for this updated information. Go figure…as I had just messaged you with a couple questions, only mere minutes afterwards did this post show up haha. I remain cautiously optimistic about Maine in spite of this setback. It’s not how we start, it’s how we finish. It’s not how we fall at any point, it’s how we bounce back! Thanks Simon ✌️🙏🇺🇸.

Patrick's avatar
3hEdited

Let's not over-fucking complicate this. Pick someone who can win, then everyone else block and tackle.

And just because you need to introduce a new candidate and get people excited, don't forget to keep driving and pushing on Collins' negatives.

Day Piercy's avatar

Please don’t refer to Senator Collins as a bitch. It’s disrespectful of all women.

Emma MacArthur-Warner's avatar

I agree. It looks like he changed it, so that’s good

Adam's avatar

He reminds me of a childhood friend. In my teens I learned lessons about toxic relationships, mis-placed loyalty and what "doing the right thing" really means depending on the situation. So, at first look I disliked him. I grudgingly got on the bandwagon cause Collins has to go but... no. Not him. And certainly not now. No one's going to hold their nose and vote for this rapist and miscreant!

Now we know and this time instead of having a pick shoved at voters, "here ya go" with a wave and a smile by Dem leadership, they're actually going to try do things right (including the optics) this time.

Let's see what transpires. I'm always optimistic and now maybe a bit more hopeful about the future.

N  Zweng's avatar

Platner showed his true colors in his announcement that he was withdrawing: rather than take ANY accountability for his actions, he blames "structural forces" (read Democratic national and state parties) for crushing his prospects. No, Graham, YOU crushed your prospects by your lies, and your past misogynistic and unlawful behavior. You deceived the people of Maine into thinking any and all of your misdeeds were in the past. You knew that was untrue. You deceived the people of Maine into thinking you were one of the working class, but you knew you came from, and were well-supported by, a well-off family.

Please leave the stage and keep your recriminations and victimization story to yourself.

Barbara Grothus's avatar

I'm a little surprised no one has mentioned the situation in New Mexico where the winner of the D Lt Governor race (our very popular 2-term SoS) dropped out two weeks after the primary (for health reasons) leaving the Ds without a candidate. Of course, there was a 2nd place candidate, and the winner of the D primary for Governor, former Interior Secretary, Deb Haaland, decided to endorse a one time candidate, the current State Land Commissioner, who dropped from the race last fall due to health concerns related to her husband. It is a similar situation where the State Central Committee (SCC) of the D Party will be the voters who decide the replacement candidate. It is a bit of a ruckus here as people unfamiliar with how this election happens, feel confused/upset about the process. I will be a voter in the SCC election. In NM, the candidates for Governor and Lt. Governor run separate primary campaignss, and after the primary it is a "forced marriage." In this case, Deb Haaland put her finger on the scale, and it has rubbed a lot of people the wrong way, not just Democrats. This was the first election where non-party voters (Decline to State or as some call them "independents") could choose a party ballot and vote. These voters overwhelmingly chose the D ballot. So a lot of them are also feeling burned by the "Kamala effect." The election will be on July 25.

Kate Feldman's avatar

wow I had no idea. Thanks for this update. Keep on keeping on!

Deborah Potter's avatar

Kate, you commented on my June 29 post about this, and I need to thank you for your kind words. https://substack.com/profile/45542178-kate-feldman/note/c-284977145?r=35imqc&utm_source=notes-share-action&utm_medium=web

Barbara Grothus's avatar

I don't mean here so much. In the broader context tho. I don't always have time for all the comments, probably common.

Deborah Potter's avatar

I've been spending a lot of time explaining the process of determining who will replace Maggie Toulouse-Oliver to others, including members of the press when they get it wrong. Our State Chair and our Bernalillo County Chair have thanked me for that.

Many people don't know that it is very common for a sitting Governor to weigh-in on a State Central Committee vote like this. The thing different for Deb Haaland is that she will most likely be our Governor-Elect in November and explained her process, and that Governor Lujan-Grisham has not made an endorsement, probably because it is so late in her second term as Governor.

People also don't realize that we members of State Central Committee are representing those who elected us, and that's why the ballots are non-secret. Our names and votes can be viewed by our constituents by request after the election. Unlike in Maine, the State Central Committee's election process is stipulated in our DPNM State rules, so we are always ready to do this again when needed.

Republicans who criticize the process in NM may have no idea that the State Statute governing elections applies to their party as well, or they may just be just feeding the disinformation network with wild criticisms.

Barbara Grothus's avatar

Pretty sure MLG had her hand in the pie. And yes, the Rs have the same process. It is little understood. Every elected position has a different process for an appointment when there is a vacancy. Sometimes the Governor, sometimes the County Commission, sometimes the SCC. When Deb vacated her seat in Congress to become the Secy of Interior, an SCC election was also in progress, and people who never intended to be involved in the party got elected in order to support one or another candidate. Never seen again. One person said it was a "tactic." It's irritating.

Deborah Potter's avatar

Yes, the process varies both by position and by the timing of the vacancy.

I voted for Melanie Stansbury as an SCC member to replace Deb Haaland on both votes, since it was before rank-choice and no candidate received more than 50%. We also voted for judges when there was a vacant seat.

When MLG wants to endorse, she has conveyed that information to us as SCC members very clearly since we are the ones voting.

Every SCC election attracts people who are not dedicated to doing the job they were elected to do, and are only there to help get one person elected at a moment in time. We seasoned Democrats usually take our SCC role more seriously than that. ☺️