What did Florida's nomination results on Tuesday really show? Besides the obvious flattering adjectives used to describe Andrew Gillum's bold thrust into state and national politics , the 800 pound unseen donkey in the room was the complete absence of any national strategy from the Democratic National Committee. There was neither a common unifying message for Democrats to rally around nor a central organizing structure to deliver the message and candidate. Without minimizing Mr. Gillum's unexpected far left victory, the losers in this political exercise were the majority traditional centrist Democrats whose vote was split between Ms. Graham and Mr. Levine . While their persona were distinct their politics were not. Their loss is good government's loss. The populist, polarizing, destructive politics of the far left and right marches on. Is there a unifying voice of sanity from either party left to preserve our fraying "Union "?
Here's my takeaway: Republicans love to complain about how poor people don't have "personal responsibility," but yet refuse to EVER take responsibility for failed policies, lies they got caught telling, or obviously racist statements.
4
Fellow Democrats - our liberal, inclusive ideals simply are antithetical to rural American sensibilities. Period. (ok, i said it..sue me). This sprint to the left is so stupid at this juncture.
The root of the problem is more socio-economic than political. Manual labor just isn't valued any longer. Hence, we no longer have futures for manual laborers. Rural America and grass root Republicans are comprised of mainly manual laborers. ok?
You should understand by their turnout at the polls---they're fighting for their lives.
Democrats fail to understand that rural America has won the Presidency, the Senate, the House, the majority of State Governorships and Legislatures, the Supreme Court. All won via the electoral process. Tip: One's coming up in November.
Having apparently served in the U.S. Navy, DeSantis has associated himself with the Navy SEALs, saying he was an advisor, though it appears he was a lawyer not a warrior. Maybe he fixed parking tickets. Perhaps bone spurs kept him from joining his advisees in receiving the coveted SEALS trident. Certainly, he would like their luster to rub off on him. I am equally confident of two things: 1) a shameless opportunist like DeSantis can be elected governor in a mixed-bag state of sensibilities like Florida 2) the SEALs don't deserve to be soiled by his chest-beating appeal to racists.
Mr. Gillum -- I was so pleased to read that you won the Democratic nominee for Governor in Florida, I was so happy, that I laughed out loud because I believe that it is the African-Americans who will save our country. I will be praying for you, and I will support you with my words.
I just ask of you two things: please don't be a cheater, if you are married, and don't think you can hide it. Cuz cheating skews everything you do, and your thoughts, your ego, your perception and your focus becomes blurred. If you aren't married, please be a chaste man, not a lustful womanizer. Please be a decent man.
Next, speak kindly to white folk. You can really help our whole nation. Please be a governor for everybody in your state, and please don't disenfranchise the white men. As flawed as some of them may be, and as off as their politics may be, they have been played by politicians, and they are still in our family, and they still have a place at the table. Please don't exclude them.
God bless you, and don't become an ego-maniac. Surround yourself with decent people. And please be a faithful, chaste man.
1
What people now call "far left" are policies promoted by FDR and other real Democrats.
Florida is a regressive, racist state in many areas, so Gillum has an uphill battle.
On the other hand, all but the most cultish Trumpoids would rather have a New New Deal than the predatory income inequality, theocracy, environmental destruction, and Trumpism that the GOP has embraced.
I love how all the talking heads are already saying Gillum has lost. We should all just give up now.
Really delighted that Gillum is the candidate! Delighted, too, to see that Donna Shalala is back in the fray, But I wish the voting system were somewhat more modern. These two won by margins that are less than the votes cast for the third candidates in their races. That's not democracy. And for commentators on TV and elsewhere to yodel as if these were massive wins is indicative of minds marinated in medieval practice. They prefer conflict to democracy.
3
I am not optimistic that the Fla. governor's race will remain civil or that one can predict who will win the governor's race but Fla. Dems have spoken. Now it's up to the voters of Fla to get out and vote for whatever candidate represents what they want in terms of gubernatorial leadership. This win is evidence that the only poll that counts is the one that is done on election day by counting votes.
Gillum was not a Sanders progressive when he entered the race, but with low poll numbers it became clear to this former Hillary surrogate (that's right) that he would have to reach beyond the mainstream Democrats to find support. He was able to obtain support from an aggressive black PAC, draw in the Berniecrats starving for a victory in Florida, and black voters with endorsement from the Democratic Black Caucus of Florida. But look at the total turnout. The mainstream Democrats, the Graham and Hillary Democrats will get behind him and work hard to push him through the general. Like we did Obama. It's a team effort.
To answer all the criticism that the Democratic Party is shifting left: you had your chance to elect the centrist candidate in 2016, and failed. When centrism loses to one extreme, it dies two deaths.
The Democratic party offers white candidates, black candidates, and women candidates. Too bad that the Democratic party are not offering anything to have voters switch from the Republican party to the Democratic party.
Republican voters may not like Trump but they are not voting for Trump, but will be voting for Republican candidates.
Democrats will not win since the Democratic party is not offering anything for a non Democrat to vote for a Democratic candidate.
1
The fractured Democratic party.
The party of elected candidates that are closet Republicans and liberals.
Ask for what the the Democratic party stands for and they will tell you that the Democratic party stands for Democrats being reelected.
For Ron DeSantis to brand Andrew Gillum "as outside the political mainstream of his traditionally moderate state" is like Rudy Giuliani calling Oliver Wendell Holmes a clown.
That said, I am not sanguine about Democrats' prospects in Florida this November. Across most of yesterday's primary races, overall GOP turnout was significantly higher than for the Democrats.
We constantly hear about superior Democratic motivation for the coming election cycle. Looking behind the actual wins and losses, the data do not support the prediction of a blue wave.
A BBC reporter noted the FL primary tirnout, saying"It seems everyone in the United States is energized by politics. Not me, I'm worn out.
Graham was a stronger candidate in the general election. Gillum is vulnerable on a number of fronts, such as the lack of any significant non-political work history, the high violent crime rate in Tallahassee, his handling of emergency services after Hurricane Hermine, and being tainted by the investigation of various local political operatives. Either one would have a tough row to hoe in one of the most tax averse states in the country.
1
Soros money, single payer and another Baltimore fiasco in the making. Thank goodness it’s just the primary.
Mr. Gillum will win because he is in favor of legalizing marijuana.
Marijuana should be legal. Many people use it regularly for their health. When it is legal more adults will have access without the stigma and risk.
Got gave us this weed. It's a plant, yo.
Not happy that Democrats on the far left won in states like Florida. A lot of old-school Republicans are disgusted by Trump and might well have switched parties to vote for a moderate Democrat but they are not going to switch over to a far left candidate. They will hold their noses and vote Republican. Democrats just lost Florida I think.
2
Trump’s victory- getting rid of Bush, Clinton and the other troglodytes- has a huge silver lining. It will wind up transforming our politics for the better
When beyond the primaries, we witness 19 black female mayors in Louisiana, in Shreveport, Baton Rouge, and New Orleans; when San Francisco, Rochester, NY, Charlotte, Atlanta elect black female mayors, we are witnessing phenomena bigger, deeper and more profound than partisan politics and power fund raising.
A fight is breaking out, deepening the American identity, its mission of public service; the stewardship and purpose of public treasuries, the values of elected office; the skills of leadership; the limits of public shame, the direction and intent of national goodwill and power, of democracy and equality by merit.
Add to the wave, Congressional candidates who have defeated embedded incumbents or secured open seats. For the first time, we will see two Muslim-American females (immigrants with Middle Eastern and East African roots!) in Congress, representing districts in Michigan and Minnesota, and a Puerto Rican female in the Molinari/Maloney Bronx/Queens district.
This is deep change, new roots! Achieved by a return to the grassroots, away from corporate money and establishment values to broad community goals. It puts people—workers—first! Tom Perez doesn't get this. Neither do the cults that fight over manners and hegemony.
(Part 2 below.)
4
Sing it, Wally...... from the rooftops!
I'm afraid this doesn't end well for Democrats. Over 100,000 more Republicans voted in their primary than Democrats voted in theirs. The idea that any Republican, the Party that puts Party over Country, will be switching teams in this election is somewhere around zero. Fiscally conservative Democrats may not vote for the Trumpsters stooge, but they won't be voting for Gillum either. Finally, the "base" in Florida, for Democrats, is not that deep. I hope I'm wrong, but am not counting on it.
13
Democrats just lost Florida I think. The moderate Republicans won’t swing that far left.
1
@Mack Dem turnout was nevertheless WAY up, and even more could well show up for the general. Also are you forgetting about the 3.5M unaffiliated voters?
Gillum comes from parents who worked hard, he was the first in his family to graduate from college, and has dedicated his life to public service. As mayor of Tallahassee which has the fastest growing economy per capita in Florida he has promoted common sense gun control reform,, higher paying jobs, invested in early childhood education, access to quality, affordable healthcare, strengthening public school education, real action on climate change, workforce training programs, and increasing investments in law enforcement and community policing.
His opponent Rep. Ron DeSantis is one of the president's closest allies in Congress trying to enact the same radical agenda as the president.
Andrew Gillum is a candidate that is progressive, intelligent, and will be a great choice for governor in Florida in the mid-terms this November.
13
Gollum is an exceptional man and would certainly have my vote but I don’t think he can swing moderates who dislike Trump but are wary of the far left.
Some say this election will prove if the far left can win political races.
The far left will win the governorships of Florida and Georgia in a few months, as well as the White House in 2020.
The reason? Our American democracy has been lost to wealthy corporate interests.
The wealthy corporate elites do not even pretend to care about America’s well-being anymore. They are simply making money for themselves as the Times reported last week when it reported that our corporations have spent most of their tax cut money on share buybacks instead of worker wages and capital improvements.
P.S. - The sterling Mr. DeSantis needs to take an Ivy League course in campaign rhetoric. He just crippled his own campaign by trying to make a subtle appeal to negrophobia, not that Mr. Gillum needed the help in this political climate.
17
@Howard Gregory
It’s been said many times and bears repeating many times; what has become the “far left” in American politics is centrist in Europe. That the wealthiest country in history has become indifferent to the welfare of all but its rich is incomprehensible to the rest of the developed world. The present awakening here is simply the survival instinct in action.
4
After the Civil War there was a hopeful period for national social progress before it disappeared under Jim Crow. We saw a hopeful period for progress under Obama, too, that is under threat by the ethnonationalist backlash that Trump represents. Now we will have to see which side wins: whether continued progress soon after Trump is gone is possible, or whether we are at the beginning of another long period of retrenchment and discrimination.
5
This is terrific news, as it will assure Republican victory in November.
2
Just because we’re Democrats doesn’t mean we’re any less susceptible to demogoguery than Republicans. In a race where a plurality is all it takes to win and the center left candidates split the vote and a ‘Progressive’ minority ekes out a victory, the prognosis for the main election is not good. And, why ‘progressive’ in quotes? Because they are as much that as Trumpsters are ‘conservatives’. There goes much our chances for a Democrat governor in Florida. Oh, they’ll grind their teeth in the face of this kind of criticism and in the end they’ll blame the center left and voters as a whole for their defeat. We aren’t smart enough or staunch enough to deserve them. So, like the followers of McGovern they’ll denounce politics as rigged and disappear until a new generation replaces them.
5
One factor in Gillum’s win was that billionaire Jeff Green ran attack ads against Graham and Levine, the leading Democrats in the primary. He did not run ads against Gillum probably thinking Gillum had no chance of winning. I voted fir Gillum thinking that Graham would win, and I planned to support her in November. My hope is that Gillum will bring out the young Sanders supporters and will increase voter turnout among African Americans and help defeat Rick Scott in the Senate race. We have put up with Scott as Governor for eight long years, and eight is enough.
3
Just sad to read many of these comments.FDR and Republican,General Eisenhower would be considered radical Democratic Socialists! I am a recently retired Independent.I really am in favor of healthcare for all,lower college costs,infrastructure spending,despite my taxes increasing.Spent $250,000 to send my 2 sons to college,the youngest in his last year.I want to see our country succeed,I wish the best for future generations.I am so grateful for these young politicians,like Andrew Gillum.All you HRC fanatics,we voted for her.Time for the Democratic party to return to it's roots,and maybe I and many others will register as Democrats again.
30
I expect the Florida gubernatorial race to now be as intriguing as the House races around the country.
I'm also exceptionally curious how thousands of displaced/relocated Puerto Ricans to Florida will affect voting numbers and turnouts. Not to mention, black voters will be energized by the opportunity to elect the state's first black governor. How will this affect turnout in such a... unique state as Florida?
I imagine it will be close, it will be nasty, and Mr. De Santis' opening salvo will only be the start of an ugly battle over the next ten odd weeks.
6
@SM
Thanks for your comment on turnout.
Given the variety of faces in the picture of Gullim’s post-election celebration, it could be that turnout will far exceed Florida’s past history. Ralph Nader did not give the vote to Bush, the stay-always gave it away. Nader’s voters were a “statistical error” compared to the stay-always.
No matter your state or your politics, always vote, especially if you are not enthusiastic about your choices. If you don’t vote, you may get the candidate you like the least.
It will be very interesting to see how displaced Puerto Ricans vote! Especially now that the higher death toll has finally been published.
The problem with Democratic candidates is that they offer themselves to be elected but they have nothing to offer voters.
The Democrat party has nothing to offer voters since everyone goes their own way. The Democratic party is simply a party with out anything to offer voters.
The Democratic party was destroyed by Bill Clinton and Obama who were both closet Republicans. Bill Clinton goal was to aid business groups, and Obama goal was to aid business groups. This is how both Bill Clinton and Obama enriched themselves.
The Democratic party needs to stop being closet Republicans but this will not happen. Being a closet Republican will make you wealthy.
2
Give me a break.
Obama in 2008: "I want to be honest, it'ss not as if it's just Republicans who monkey around with elections…"
But when a Republican says it, it's racists and he's a "deplorable." If this is the way libs fight Trump's reelection campaign, he would love it.
5
Context matters:
The phrase “monkey around” is common colloquial English.
The phrase “monkey up” is not.
I think there’s almost no chance of Gillum prevailing in the general election, but I hope De Santis can summon the decency to avoid devolving into a blatant racist.
I wish the press would stop using the euphemism of 'Trumpism'. Call it what it is, Fascism.
14
If DeSantis keeps making "monkey" comments like he did today he's gone. Sure the rednecks and "Trumper" will vote him come what may, but the big counties with Black, Latino and moderate white voters like myself will not only vote, but work for him. He's a fine candidate, articluate and presents hope not DeSantis' gloom and doom.
34
@JWMathews this race is over, the Democrats will lose both the Governership and the Senate in Florida. Hopefully the Democrats will throw a lot of money at their Floridian candidates, but the results will be two loses,and it will not even be close
1
Racist Ron, the Fake Tea Party know nothing, is just another Harvard/Yale Clown masquerading as working class. Good riddance from the 6th cong. district of FL. He accomplished zero for us in six years. His “deployment” in Iraq was with jag Corp. maybe got a Purple Heart for a paper cut. He took documents from Russian operatives. And he broke early on use of the word “monkey” in dog whistling to the trump white supremacists.
13
Know nothing Desantis sez “don’t monkey this up”. This is not a saying. Never has been. “Don’t mess this up”. Yeah, that’s a saying. Racist Ron rides again.
12
Tariffs and taxes have driven Trump's plein jeu, more noise than national success. Ask Wisconsin or Iowa soy farmers, Southern pork producers, small industrial manufacturers, or American icons like Honeywell, 3M, Harley-Davidson, investment and corporati will tell you Trump's numbers don't work—remember his casinos went bankrupt surrounded by money with rigged odds!
Still, look at his energy, tax, trade, consumer, and environmental policies, Trump's rigs the odds so the House (the corporati and wealthy) wins. Yet he loses! The VA, healthcare, education, housing are out of reach and opiate addiction is out of control. Banking rates and energy prices are going up.
A live Omarosa and a dead John McCain both rendered Trump impotent this week. But still violence, dead children, one 18 months, Trump's words, resumed war games, deaths at video games, killer cop teaching other cops, psychic violence by a man insisting football players stand who refused to lower the flag for a patriot, by a comic, violence by promise, violence—its many forms--blanketed this week.
Threats and fear lurked in every discussion, especially their absence of details! What, exactly, is Mexico's deal? North Korea's agreement? What actions are pending against the US at the World Trade Organization? Exactly how many businesses have lost sales and jobs?
Who gets the tariff money? Watch Trump's deals until he is indicted or removed.
12
As a Floridian I see no better political contest for the times then a DeSantis vs. Gillum contest. Had it been a regular democrat vs a non trump aligned republican ( as opposed to this Trumpian vs Bernie Sanders type) I think we could predict the outcome in Florida: a Republican win. But I think of our last presidential election and that certain overlap between the Bernie Sanders voters and some Trump voters. This may not be the clear cut choice some people are talking about. For those wanting to rattle the status quo the choice between DeSantis and Gillum is going to be a hard and perhaps unpredictable one to make. Its way more then hard conservative vs. liberal left. As a Trump voter I am giving Gillum a good look and I like a lot of what I see. There may not be many like me but there are enough to sway this state one way or the other.
11
Another Takeaway - Politics is becoming more 'extreme' as candidates are either 'far left' or 'far right' and voters in the middle (the independents that decides elections) are left with no comfortable choice at election time.
The political parties are moving to the 'left' and the 'right' and leaving the 'sensible middle' voter no reason to go to the polls.
What happened to the adage, 'move to the middle' in the general election? Answer: the extreme primary candidates and ideological voters make this impossible!
22
I’m an independent voter and I will only vote for a candidate who supports Medicare for All, which is what most Americans want and need.
68
Yes, indeed. Independents care more about the candidate than blindly voting, say, row D. I personally have a hard time voting for someone with Christian beliefs.
12
@JK: The 'far right' had pulled the 'center 'so far right that the 'far left' is often centrist. Not too different than FDR Dems.
14
Nice to know that DeSantis is just like Trump and use's vulgar terms in describing his opponent.
Florida can either elect the bully little six year old or they could elect an adult, it's up to them.
34
Trumps choice for republican candidate for governor of Florida has already started the dog whistle racism that the Donald loves so much. Calling a black candidates campaign an effort to “monkey” up the state of Florida while implying that he’s articulate (because people of color aren’t normally articulate in Trump world) is just the beginning. Expect dog whistle politics and Trumps tweeted invective to color every election in the country.
16
The gender beats ideology angle doesn’t make sense
The moderate white women beat liberal men in he races described
These women were part of the establishment and beat the younger less funded progressive
1
Given that justice may be served Trump by various states instead of relying on the nonexistent morality of the Republican Congress, a Florida Governor will have the most experience with what dark and gruesome creatures inhabit swamps....
4
The most glaring fact about yesterday’s and other state primaries is the fact that the total vote for the robust list of Republican candidates is larger than the total for the robust list Democrat Party candidates. If the parties’ votes either stay home; or, come home, the Democrat candidate will lose.
You can see this in this same phenomena in the Missouri Senate primaries. The Democrat candidates got a total of 605,503 votes (Mrs. McCaskill, + 5 others). The Republican (Josh Hawley, + 10 others) got a total of 663,553 votes, a deficit for the Democrats of 58,050.
The Democrats and their left-wing media propagandists don’t seem to be addressing or attacking this problem of their structural deficit in the confederate and border-states. Their Party is in the minority; and they don’t have a solution, no do they seem to be interested in seeking a solution to this problem.
Instead the propagandist media (who are fully in ideological and political control of the Party) are positioning their propaganda to fabricate a “feel good” story line about the “breakthrough” of an African-American Floridian, who has won the Democrat Party’s State gubernatorial primary.
This “victory” is neither a breakthrough, nor a victory of any sort. It is a victory that as hollow as the Georgia gubernatorial primary won by Democrat Stacey Abrams, who will face Republican Brian Kemp in the November general election.
@roger g. - Wishful thinking on your part. Out of the registered voters in Florida (40% Dems, 36% Reps, 20% Ind, 4% Other) There will be a lot more that show up in Nov. than showed up last evening. You can count on that!
4
@TBW,
More dreaming about Florida. Go to the interactive map and click on the results of the individual counties of the State!
At the end of the day, Parties need to be run by politicians not propagandists. Its not about "spin" or even the superficial differences between the candidates, its abut the votes and if your registered voter percentages were correct Hillary would have won Florida. But she did not. Heck, Rubio or Jeb Bush would have won the Republican Presidential Primary in 2016, which they didn't either.
And your answer is propaganda spin not political analysis. You're the one who's dealing in hope over reality; at the end you state: "... There will be a lot more that show up in Nov. than showed up last evening. You can count on that..."
Either more Republicans or more Democrats participated in the gubernatorial primary election for their party. The results say more Republicans. Which is all I'm saying. That is what happened.
I am also saying that this also happened in Georgia and Missouri's primary elections as well. Which is also supported by the NY Times' maps and graphics of those elections too.
I'm not dealing in hope, just numbers. If Democrats want to win state-wide political offices, they'll need to start fielding candidates who more broadly attract the political interests of the electorates of those confederate and border states.
Interesting that this article points at Georgia's Abrams as a serious contender for governor
Reminds me of two years ago when I took a screenshot of the NYT claiming Clinton had like a massive lead in the "polls". Neither Abrams or this guy have any chance of winning the job they are running for
3
Florida should have voted a white centrist woman for governor. She is pragmatic, and seemed to me she had her integrity intact. She could have gone all the way to the WH and have a chance.
Instead they voted for a guy under FBI investigation for corruption. Not only that but also in the pocket of George Soros. And to make it worse, easy potatoes for the GOP candidate. So in essence they lost the November election last night.
Meantime Mr Trump continues to show that what he says goes. He supported candidates and they keep winning. Mrs McSally kept telling him to stay out of her race, until she kissed the emperor’s ring, and won as a result.
And the socialist blue wave? Oh that’s right, loosing steam and fracturing the DEMS more every day:
‘Stephanie Murphy, a moderate won her primary by more than 70 percentage points against an activist backed by liberals who included Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’
Keep parading this side show called Ocasio-Cortez, in fact, I am sure the GOP is going to start paying for her to be paraded even more, since every time she opens her mouth, the DEMS loose another race.
If what they say is true, and the future is female, it seems right now that she will be wearing red. Just like Ocasio-Cortez said in Kansas: “We’re gonna flip this seat red in November.”
5
Impressive win for the Democratic candidate for governor. Too bad he will loose in a landslide due not to the fact he is a Dem but because he is going down the socialist rabbit hole. Americans are compassionate but they are not idiots, if the Dems want to win they ha e to appeal to the independents.
3
I just read in my local paper website that Ron DeSantis told everybody not to "MONKEY THIS UP" by voting for Gillum.
He didn't even make it to Labor Day weekend without getting racist and ugly. Even Fox News is calling him out, and saying that this is unacceptable language.
Not only is DeSantis racist, he is too stupid to not go and openly tell everybody he is racist.
Here we go....Trump clone versus a black candidate. This will be a lot more exciting than hanging chads.
23
Could I respectfully ask that the Times stop using the phrase "Rust Belt" to describe the midwest? The term has negative connotations, and is no more accurate here than it is in the New York City area, particularly if you include much of NYC's and NJ's infrastructure, including bridges and tunnels.
The midwest (like New York State and New Jersey) does, unfortunately, have abandoned factories. But we also have a robust economy, including vibrant factories, white collar work, high tech, and agriculture. Indeed, we grow many of the products that help feed New York City.
So, might I suggest sticking with "midwest." If you insist on being derogatory, there's always "flyover country." But why not stay neutral and friendly, and just say "midwest"?
Standards' Editor, please take note.....
8
Not sure why race is the primary point of discussion about the Democrat governor candidate in Florida. The fact is he is essentially a communist running under the Democrat banner. That is the "first" that should be of significance to the reader, not his color. Leftists have hijacked the Democrat party and we will pay the consequences of that conversion!
2
@Strongbow2009 - Race is indeed the primary point when his Republican foe uses terms like 'monkey' and 'articulate'. And if you think that any Democratic policies are 'communist', well, the 1950s called, they want their John Birch Society t-shirt back.
4
You have no idea what communism is
Big reason why guys like you throw out the cheap name calling shots
Again more ignorance from the Russian GOP bubble
4
Trump and Ron DeSantis are twins.Ron DeSantis called his black opponent ;Andrew Gillum; a monkey. This is a racial slur. Condescending and mean. DeSantis must make a public apology. Ray Sipe
10
I love it that Gillum ran as the only non-millionaire and won the primary. And Mr. DeSantis should stop with the 'monkey" banter. We all know that he's trying to do and it's really quite low and despicable. Many whites are not going to fall for racist rhetoric--explicit or implicit.
17
The Florida Trump clone is a racist.
If he uses such vile and racist language on a regular basis,
then the conclusion he has been a racist for a long time
can't be misunderstood.
Lets be honest with Trump opening his campaign with racist and vulgar language about Mexicans, then this Florida GOP
candidate has a history with what racist language that Trump uses.
Vote this type of racist tactics out in the Midterm elections.
8
@PropagandandTreason
Can't stand - Will not stand white racism in the Midterm elections.
Stop - Vote - and bring back decency and respect in
political discourse.
1
DeSantis appears to be a hard-line Trump toadie like the rest of the SWAMP, typical of todays' destructive, plotting, scheming, uncivil and destructive Trumplican Party. He has already falsely accused his opposition (the Democrats at least) of irresponsible spending, tax increases, fostering illegal immigration and crime, being "Socialists" (when he cannot even define "socialist"), etc., etc. NOT TRUE - ALL LIES! ALL FAKE SCARE TACTICS! This from a man who would be the Governor of the Sunshine State - a liar and fraud!
The entire country will be forced to raise taxes because Trump and his crooked cronies have already deficit spent $1.4 TRILLION on gifts to the uber-rich, many of whom live in Florida. We have not addressed infrastructure, education (Florida's is not good), entitlements, medical care, etc.
ALL ELDERLY SHOULD BE OUTRAGED. You will probably lose much of your SS benefits and Medicare access. There will be no way to balance your budget without raising taxes since the average wage is barely keeping up with inflation, BUT THE RICH ARE GETTING EXPONENTIALLY RICHER. The Trumplicans will blame this on the Democrats, but you know better; you know WHY this is happening. It's already baked into the cookies and the money is in the pockets of those who least need it.
14
The state of the Republican party is amusing ... they chose a disgracefully GROVELING Renfield over an experienced manager. It's as if they're masochists just begging to be subjected to the next humiliating act Trump wants them to perform. Creepy.
1
Please stop using the term "Rust Belt" (as in "The ability of Republicans to hold onto these states in 2018 may say as much about Mr. Trump’s political future as the pitched races of the Rust Belt").
It's offensive to many of those of us who live here. Why not "Great Lakes States"?
If by "Rust Belt" you mean some other states besides those bordering the Great Lakes, your meaning is lost on me. (Or do you mean it to refer to the entire Midwest, including Nebraska and the Dakotas? I really don't know.) In other words, the term is both offensive and imprecise. Please re-consider your use of this term.
4
@vkt -- western New York is still the rust belt, recovering slowly. I thought Republicans were all about not-PC, calling it what it is, etc.?
@Lee Harrison
Are you inferring that I vote Republican or agree with Republican derision of "political correctness" because I object to the term "Rust Belt"? On what grounds?
I regret to see that you seem to be so attached to this derogatory term, especially now that you know that at least one person who lives in the region apparently covered by it finds it offensive.
(Also, viewed in a certain way, I think your comment about western New York kind of makes my point about the imprecision of the term.)
Great. He has probably zero chance of winning in Florida. Way to go, Democrats. Stupid choices mean more years of Republican rule.
3
May I request from the NYT and any other news media who use the term "Trumpism" to define it? What does Trumpism mean: to be a corrupt, sociopathic liar who sold out the country? Or just a candidate who lies a lot, attacks other people verbally, and claims victim-hood?
10
@cyclist -- I like "Trumpismo" ... to suggest the connection with all the latin personality cult/strong-man dictators who styled themselve "El Lider" this and that, usually "El Lider Maximo" ... something.
Trump is "El Lider Boca Maximo"
3
@cyclist BOTH!
Gillum proposes a 40% corporate tax hike! Hey if that's what the Left wants in Florida, then they can have it. Talk about a job killer. Corporations will be exiting Florida as fast as possible. We will take those jobs here in Tennessee where the taxes are low. Thank you.
https://www.atr.org/gillum-wants-40-corporate-tax-rate-hike
2
@Southern Boy -- the ATR is Grover Norquist. You need to be honest about what you claim and what backs it up, and what the facts of the matter are.
It is true that Gillum stated:
"In a post on Medium, Gillum wrote that 90 percent of Florida-based corporations "pay no state corporate income tax,” and the ones that do only pay 5.5 percent, "lower than ruby red bordering conservative states Alabama and Georgia."
So if you were paying zero corporate income tax and a change makes you pay anything ... that's infinity, not 40%
Just exactly why do you think it would be so terrible if Florida actually collected corporate taxes uniformly?
And why would it be so terrible to collect what Alabama and Georgia do?
And did you bother to understand whether other taxes might be cut, or what Gillum proposes to use the money for? No clue, eh?
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@Lee Harrison,
Thank you, you wrote, "the ATR is Grover Norquist. You need to be honest about what you claim and what backs it up, and what the facts of the matter are." I know that. I provided the link to his website, so I am honest. If being progressive is raising taxes so high that it is impossible to do business then the progressives can have, but I will have no part of it and vote against candidates who propose such nonsense. From all that I have seen and heard so far from progressives, I have concluded that they want nothing but a welfare state. Thank you.
Wow, Gillum won. it's great, and its scary. Now it's about the election -- takes no genius to see this will be an ugly no-quarters battle, likely to be crazy-expensive as outside money comes pouring in, and likely to be a narrow polarizing victory by either candidate.
Hours ago Ron DeSantis said that voters would "monkey this up" if they elect Gillum. Can you believe it? In 2018 DeSantis trots out something this racist-stupid? It's not likely to get better folks...
Make no mistake about it, this race will hinge on two things:
* Gillum's ability to energize Democrats who usually don't vote to get to the polls, starting with blacks, latinos, and young people.
* DeSantis' ability to get scared white people to turn out to vote in support of a self-announced Trump clone -- out of fear.
"Monkey it up" is just the first salvo. The race-baiting and dog-whistle is just beginning. The only question is whether DeSantis is actually doing Gillum's work for him with this bleep, energizing more Democrats than Trumpers.
My prediction is that this election will hinge on the hispanic vote and the women's vote. It's pretty obvious that Gillum can turn out blacks and the traditional Democrats who vote. But who wins the hispanic vote (or gets them to the polls) and how many women who are suburban swing voters will refuse a Trump clone ... that will swing the election.
3
Maybe the slate of Democratic candidates will bring out all the voters who stayed home in 2016, and result in a greater turnout than than for the most recent presidential election. Trump wants evangelicals leaders to "to go out and make sure all of your people vote." Let's all show him who has the greater numbers.
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amen
In the first 6 comments I already see two saying that the trend is toward more extreme candidates. While this appears at least somewhat true for the republicans, there is much less of a surge from the left in the Democratic Party. While a Sanders backed candidate won the Democratic nomination for Governor of Florida, two “moderate” candidates won nominations for house seats. Also, Ann Kirkpatrick, in Arizona, won a nomination for a house seat in Arizona. This primary appears to be following the overall trend for Democrats, with left leaning candidates winning something like 20 or 25% of the primary races. Interestingly, at least by my reading. the left leaning candidate victories are enjoying disproportionate coverage in the Times.
What is the real takeaway: the Democratic Party really is a big tent party, with a wide spectrum of candidates winning primaries.
The Democrats need to embrace this as a brand. That means getting behind all primary winners and stop criticizing other Democrats as too progressive or not progressive enough. Such a brand would be an excellent base from which to attack Republicans who have sold their souls to Trump.
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@Nancy from a Nancy on the other coast, you said this perfectly. Every contest is set upon as an indication that all the far left candidates are winning/losing or that all the establishment candidates are winning/losing. Being admittedly on the far left side, I also recognize that not every district will go for my favorite candidate, nor should it. Diverse views make for better solutions.
It is funny you mention the skewed coverage because I feel like it is the other way around, but I've not tallied the numbers...it is easy to get sensitized one way or the other. We can't get caught up in the micro-tribalism. We are a big tent and need to respect that...well said.
Unless I am misremembering the turnout numbers, over a million Florida Republicans turned out for their primaries and voted for a candidate for governor. Less, maybe far less, Democrats (I'm remembering less than 250,000) voted in the Democratic primary for governor. Since primary voters tend to be more motivated to vote in the general election, Democratic candidates in Florida have a very steep mountatin to climb before they can claim a legitimate chance to win in November.
I would like to think that states other than the usual Democratic strongholds would be able to go for Democrats, but I won't hold my breath.
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@vineyridge Actually, you are mis-remembering. The GOP vote was 1,618,473. The Democratic vote was 1,509,960, a difference of 108,513 out of more than 3 million votes cast. So, you're talking about a difference of 3%. So, to win the Dems have some work to do, but if Mr. DeSantis keeps going with the blatant racism, he may do the Democrats work for them.
Going forward, I hope all honorable citizens will keep our differences in perspective. They are tiny compared to the descent into Orwellian-level dishonesty, corruption, and pettiness that the GOP now represents. We can operate in good faith and strike compromises. Let's all work together now, for the good of the country.
“...they intend to brand Mr. Gillum as outside the political mainstream of his traditionally moderate state.”
Well, a president was elected who was outside the political mainstream, and he made that a selling point. Perhaps Gollum can do the same.
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This is far past time. In Georgia, there is a large population of African Americans and others of color (about 40%). The lock on government by Republicans - white and male for the most part -- has usually completely ignored the interests and concerns of anyone else in the state, including any Democratic voters, anyone of color, those who need healthcare or who are struggling. This was the death knell for many rural hospitals since Medicaid was not expanded.
In Florida, 43% of the population are minorities.
The ideology bubbling up has been vicious. These are regions that suffered from Jim Crow and then were revived in the New South and the reverse immigration movements from the North. The anti-immigration viciousness seen in the Georgia primary campaigns runs against the state's interests: its largest business is agriculture that depends on migrant labor. The last time legislators attacked immigrants, crops rotted in the fields.
This may be a time that the center will not hold. Ideology on the far right is more threatening to a state's business interests and longterm future of its young people. Large companies will not want to be sited in retro states that are appealing to past bigotry, are anti-immigrant, anti-women, anti-LGBT.
The South has been rushing back to the neo-Confederacy with a shove from Trump. Hopefully, we can take a stand and hold our ground based on American principles of equal rights, free speech, and freedom of the press.
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If Mr. DeSantis is already using thinly disguised racial slurs he's scared, knowing his opponent has ideas and thinking people on his side. When your only platform is Trump you can win a primary but in such a diverse state as Florida using "monkey" may appeal to some but disgust everyone else.
As for Arizona, who knows where that state is going, it'll take a little time to sort out losing Senator McCain.
Whatever these primaries tell us, it matters not at all until November elections. Then we'll know what kind of country we want to be going forward.
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"In some cases, Democratic women easily beat back male candidates running markedly to their left, suggesting again that primary voters are looking more to identity than ideology to shape their choices."
Uhhh what? How can you look at the results and come to that conclusion? Or maybe the primary voters are rejecting far left ideology and going back to more sensible Democratic ideas and principles.
Gillum won by 3 percentage points, not a landslide. On top of that, he only got 1/3 of the vote, no where close to a majority. To break down these results and erroneously simplify it to the candidates "identity" is ludicrous.
Identity politics is one of the reason the left lost to Trump. Doubling down on them is a poor strategy and to continue to view the world in that lens will be to the detriment of that party.
3
I hope Democrats don't get their hopes up.. I see a lot of chicken counting long before eggs have been hatched. At this point in time- I don't see any signs of a November "Blue Wave" - In fact I see a GOP "Red Tide" --
We Democrats did it again - We early rallied around #MeToo and Parkland - We had the protest march, drum circle, poetry slam and free concert - but never organized.
The average male 18 YO kid will say he is going to vote; but when the free concert is over - he never registers. The Democrats have been trying to square this circle for decades.
The GOP has November locked and Trump will be re-elected in 2020.
I don't like it any more than you.
1
If voters are looking more to identity than ideology as stated in the article, we have a problem.
4
Gillum's victory will be a disaster for Florida Dems in November. He won with 34% of the ballots because his opponents Graham, Levine, & Greene split the moderate vote. A big percentage of these centrist voters will stay home dooming Gillum's prospects. Even if by some miracle he convinces them to come out simple 3rd grade math indicates more people voted Republican than Democrat in this primary. His GOP opponent Ron DeSantis won his primary with 56% of the vote. He has the perfect resume for a Florida Republican governor. He's a graduate of Yale University & Harvard Law School, an Iraq veteran & Navy reservist, who touts endorsements not just from Trump, but from Fox News pundits Sean Hannity & Laura Ingraham. He has the backing of every deep-pocketed interest in the state: from Big Sugar to the theme parks. Lawton Chiles was the last Democrat to hold this office squeaking by with a 64,000 vote margin in 1994 . If a moderate can't succeed in this conservative state then a progressive like Gillum has zero chance. This point really can’t be overstated & will sound harsh: Dems in Florida are nincompoops who seem incapable of winning anything of consequence lately. Seriously, I’m not sure Florida Dems could win a coin toss if you gave them heads and tails. This is a party that lost to the governorship to Rick Scott...a man who had never held public office. Twice. This election will finally put to rest the absurd notion that the far left can be competitive in political races.
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In the Florida governor's race we at last have a head to head clash between a true liberal and a true reactionary both of whom are unafraid to stand up for what they really believe. Too many Democrats --Hillary and Bill Clinton immediately come to mind--are so personally invested financially and status wise that they refuse to push for any changes that might upset their well heeled power base. We need to look to grassroots activists for a new generation of leaders. Many think that Gillum and Abrams are lost causes but if they and others like them stay true to their message of universal heath care, free college /trade school tuition, and a livable wage for all, then the middle class will sooner or later see the practical advantages of making common cause with the poor and disenfranchised. OK.
4
Another Takeway: the limits of contemporary polling. None predicted Gillum's win, much less captured his momentum.
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@Ann -- Democratic turnout for the primary was poor. That's an unfortunate fact that can be read several ways.
Whichever way you read it, Gillum got his people to the polls.
1
For those who are expecting a strong showing by women come November, you may well be in for a disappointment. Reports of primary victories may be selling false hope. While there is an increase in women candidates and women primary winners, the number of women likely to be elected -- at least in the Senate -- is few. There are 9 vulnerable Senate incumbents --two women and 7 men. Those running against them include eight men and one woman. Accordingly, odds are that, after November, there will be one less woman in the Senate.
The reality is that most women are contesting incumbents who are highly likely to trounce them in the general elections. Having lots of women in futile contests is what we have right now. Don't let reports of great gains for women deceive you. None of the pundits believe that will happen. Those who predict great gains are selling false hope.
3
@michjas - And just what is it that you are selling? Are you trying to discourage people from getting behind and supporting these women? Just what is the purpose of your warnings?
If Democrats and progressives show up to vote, they will overcome the consequences of indifference about voting in their ranks. In a lot of districts that means that they will win. However, there are so many gerrymandering Congressional Districts that it's still unclear how many seats in Congress the Democrats will gain. However, it does give an advantage to state wide elections where Republicans are less than the majority of the electorate. Arizona is a western state which tends to be more libertarian whether Republican or Democrats are concerned and it usually elects Republicans. Florida is pretty much divided and can go Republican or Democrat. It will be a tight race.
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@Casual Observer Look at the final voting numbers in Florida. They don't paint a pretty picture for Democrats. .Gillum won with 34% of the ballots because his opponents Graham, Levine, & Greene split the moderate vote. Had Gillum gone head to head against Graham he would have lost in a landslide. There are no runoff elections in Florida. Their quirky election laws doesn't require a primary candidate to win 50% of the vote. So you end up with impending disasters like this. Gillum has no chance in this conservative state and will lose by a huge margin to his GOP opponent Ron DeSantis. After this election there will be no need to caution Democrats not to be too progressive. The party will move to the center where races are won.
5
Hopefully these candidates, the ones that have benefitted from the support of the very involved and passionate Sanders supporters, will have the good sense to honestly reach out to what I believe should be called the 'silent centrists' in this country, and hopefully the passionate Sanders supporters will have the political sense to allow them to do so.
20
Medicare for All would benefit most Americans, including “centrists”.
4
@Paul
What does "honestly reach[ing] out" look like? If it means shifting the policy agenda to something less pro-working class or otherwise watering down that progressivism, I'd say those so-called 'silent centrists' can kick rocks
@Paul I was born and raised in Florida. Worked in Georgia for over 25 years. Both states are ready to elect a moderate African American governor. But neither state is going to elect a progressive governor no matter what their ethnicity. The far left has almost no power in either state. This has nothing to do with de facto segregation; voter ID laws; that's absurd. It's 2nd grade math. There are more Republican voters than Democratic voters. Gillum, Abrams and the progressive cause will go down to epic defeat in November. This is especially true of Gillum. That point can't be emphasized enough. He actually lost his primary race. Over 66% of the voters cast their ballot for other candidates. Gillum won with 34% of the ballots because his opponents Graham, Levine, & Greene split the moderate vote. Had Gillum gone head to head against Graham he would have lost in a landslide. Graham would have made the race competitive. Gillum makes it a lock for Republicans.
1
Without question, even though Trump isn't on any ballot this fall, he will make sure that voters know that a vote for his favorites is a vote for him. That is exactly how he played these contests starting back in Alabama with Judge Roy Moore. For him the mid-terms are like "sweeps month" with radio and television. He wants/needs to score the highest in the ratings not for any particular policy but for him personally. He is already said that if he (via his chosen candidates) loses, there will be violence.
And just like the broadcast television programs, if the ratings are low in November, there is a good chance he won't be back in your living room for the next season in 2020.
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@Tom Q There may be in blue wave but it won't be in the Sunshine state unless Miami sinks into the Atlantic . Yes I acknowledge there are many Florida voters who have stayed on the sidelines. But even if a miracle happens, they get off their couches and vote for Gillum there are still more Republican voters than Democrat voters. It's 2nd grade math. Gillum is the type of candidate that will energize the Republican base. He's too far to the left for most moderate Democrats. Then there's the FBI investigation. Just a few months into the Tallahassee mayor's run, FBI agents delivered a subpoena to his city hall in June 2017, requesting thousands of pages of records from key players in city government. The investigation has since dogged Gillum's campaign, with new developments dripping out with unpredictable frequency. The most important thing voters don't know for certain is the extent of Gillum's exposure in the investigation. Documents indicate the FBI inquiry is wide in scope. Especially before charges are filed, it can be difficult to see a case's contours. Gillum's Democratic opponents never addressed this issue. But it's unlikely that his Republican opponent will hold his fire. Floridians—or really any voters—don't want to put a 'tainted' candidate in office. Gillum isn't well-known among voters which means he doesn't have a reservoir of goodwill to draw down on against tough corruption allegations. Doesn't look like fertile ground for a blue wave.
1
@Bill Brown -- you seem to have no clue about Florida politics ... starting with the fact that southern Florida (Miami particularly) is a Democratic enclave. Dropping it into the sea would not help democrats.
And then there's the fact that Trump won florida by 1.2% over HRC, and Trump clones have had a hard time making Trump's numbers ... in part because they generally aren't facing HRC.
And then you pivot to the FBI investigation ... it's obvious from your "the cases contours" that you are both plagiarizing and misrepresenting the following article
https://www.tampabay.com/florida-politics/buzz/2018/07/20/what-we-know-a...
People who read the NYT tend to be the kind of people who you know ... actually check things. The kind of people for whom facts actually do matter.
You might consider taking this kind of stuff elsewhere, because it doesn't go far at the NYT.
The 'rustbelt'? You mean the industrial midwest and breadbasket?
8
No. Northern Midwest and Great Lakes. Where industry cut and run and ruined millions of lives and communities.
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@Nellie
Another way to look at it?
A section of the country who blindly follow trump, regardless of how many lies he tells.....
1
DeSantis is already telling Floridians not to “Monkey it up” by voting for His opponent. Wow.
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@miller Talk about running scared. When you resort to name calling it's to cover your lack of ideas.
Andrew Gillum is an honest hard working man,
from modest beginning and the kind of man our nation needs to fight back the damage of the trump presidency.
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@Gianni
And under FBI investigation for corruption. Such an honest man.
2
Here is the real takeaway -- the Democrats are being drawn further to the left and the Republicans further right. Tribalism reigns in the Age of Trump. And the nation is sadly smaller for it.
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John Jabo...our current tax code, our 17% of GDP healthcare rip-off, our 1% campaign finance corruption, our unConstitutional gerrymander, our unDemocratic Senate and Electoral College and voter suppression laws are all severe right-wing defects of American government in 2018.
The logical solution is to move leftward toward the center toward representative government and progressive solutions.
Reality has a liberal bias.
D to go forward; R for reverse.
Bring on the blue wave.
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@John Jabo There is no governing philosophy, no vision of America, on the right. Stewardship of our priceless natural resources, advocating for a decent, equitable safety net, supporting individual rights to self-determination, reining in the excesses of capitalism- these are not just left wing ideas, but human values which must be defended by all. A vote for trumpism is a vote to destroy the founding ideals of this nation.
14
@John Jabo This state is a not ....I repeat not an important venue to test the progressive message for the national stage. That's insane. The last time Floridians elected a Democratic governor was Lawton Chiles in 1994....yes it's been that long. Chiles, never flashy, was considered a moderate lawmaker who rarely made waves. If anyone thinks a defiant progressive like Gillum who only won 34% of the Democratic vote has any chance in this conservative state then they are not paying attention. The Florida GOP is popping champagne corks. He's the perfect candidate to run against. He's too far to the left on the issues Sunshine State voters care about. He and the progressive cause will go down to an epic defeat in November.
1