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pat_k

(14,779 posts)
71. Simon presents compelling numbers, but I don't necessarily agree with the distance part.
Thu Jul 9, 2026, 05:48 PM
Jul 9

Now that Platner is no longer the nominee, Simon is expressing his negative assessment of him more clearly. Before he was nominated, Simon expressed reservations about an unvetted candidate. After he was nominated, he was fundraising and calling on folks to help make the campaign successful. He now seems to have concluded that Platner was gaslighting people on multiple fronts -- including the strength of his support and ability to beat Collins.

As he points out, almost any way you look at it statistically, Platner was under-performing relative to where he should have been. And this indicates less of a "movement" than the accepted narrative would indicate.

My views are less clear. But I did take time to revisit the following Washington Post Op Ed from June 8. I just sort of wrote it off when it came out just before the primary. I'm still processing all the various views on Platner, but I may be starting to lean toward the "gaslighting" view. And from that perspective, caution about accepting the narrative that he was the leader of powerful movement without question is prudent.

Here's that op ed:

https://wapo.st/4h0gHJF

I know firsthand why Graham Platner shouldn’t be a U.S. senator
I quit the campaign last fall, disturbed by what I'd learned about the Maine Democratic Senate primary candidate
June 8, 2026

Genevieve McDonald, a former Maine state representative, is the former political director of Graham Platner’s Democratic Senate primary campaign in Maine.
...


Not sure if this addresses your question. My thinking on Platner is in flux, so I'm not being very clear

On edit: Back to the "distance" thing. I'd be happy if Troy Jackson, who campaigned with Platner, were the new nominee, so I guess I disagree with the distance thing. But I think I would be happier with Bellows. She's a fighter and having a woman after this fatally flawed man seems fitting.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

Don't let the door hit you! BigmanPigman Jul 8 #1
I hope we Mainers can clear up the mess quickly, secure a worthwhile candidate and dispose of Susan Collins Bumbles Jul 8 #3
They shall. pat_k Jul 8 #19
Suspending? Innocent Smith Jul 8 #2
Every politician does this. progressoid Jul 8 #10
Campaign funds iemanja Jul 9 #75
Please make sure candidates are vetted MissKat Jul 8 #4
It's not about Fetterman or Bernie. It's about what Mainers are telling us they want. MadameButterfly Jul 8 #20
Let's see. 2024. Primary over. Primary candidate chosen. Ask or told (whichever way you view it) to step aside AZLD4Candidate Jul 8 #5
The point is Platner denies it Akakoji Jul 8 #8
Yesterday someone said they won't believe until he admits he raped her sarisataka Jul 8 #16
Other than the accusation, is there evidence of it? AZLD4Candidate Jul 8 #33
He has a history sarisataka Jul 8 #34
Well, we can kiss this senate seat goodbye. 2024 showed me what happens when we change candidates AZLD4Candidate Jul 8 #37
If we must tolerate candidates sarisataka Jul 8 #40
I'll elect people. You elect saints AZLD4Candidate Jul 9 #45
I'll elect people sarisataka Jul 9 #53
Homophobe too? Based on what evidence exactly? AloeVera Jul 9 #54
It is something he has admitted to in the past sarisataka Jul 9 #55
He has not "admitted" to making remarks as you describe them. AloeVera Jul 9 #78
You can keep on making excuses sarisataka Jul 9 #79
Yes, he miscalculated people's tolerance for the redemption arc and belief that people could "evolve". AloeVera Friday #80
OFFS, executioner, really MorbidButterflyTat Jul 9 #61
It showed one thing that can happen MadameButterfly Jul 9 #70
Jenny Racicot is a credible withness PCB66 Jul 9 #44
Let's give him credit for doing the right thing MadameButterfly Jul 8 #21
He didn't "do the right thing" PCB66 Jul 9 #58
OK, do you wish he'd stayed in the race? MadameButterfly Jul 9 #64
In this day and age, accusation means conviction. You run one first to see how it floats. AZLD4Candidate Jul 8 #32
You seem to be forgetting his very own rape apologist posts. That niyad Jul 9 #57
I'm not rationalizing anything. This seat is lost to us now. 2024 is my evidence. AZLD4Candidate Jul 9 #59
Interesting first sentence, since I never said that you had niyad Jul 9 #69
Wait till Gavin Newsom announces a Pres run if he so chooses Bengus81 Jul 9 #41
The timeline was dictated by the candidate's actions, not the GOP. QueerDuck Jul 9 #46
Platner's "vetters" MorbidButterflyTat Jul 9 #62
He's awful. His vocal fry comes and goes... it's a defensive reflex. QueerDuck Jul 9 #63
Fuck him. He had a tattoo of a totenkopf on his chest one of the very last images that people saw before Botany Jul 8 #6
And he worked for Blackwater. Crowman2009 Jul 8 #11
The skull and crossbones or Totenkopf precedes the Nazis Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin Jul 8 #12
Doesn't matter. evolves Jul 8 #14
Please stand by as we return to our regularly scheduled program. 🤓😄 littlemissmartypants Jul 8 #35
Most everything the Nazi's used as symbolism came from somewhere else. Bengus81 Jul 9 #42
MAGA goes back to the Metropolitan Amateur Golf Association Torchlight Jul 9 #50
This. yardwork Jul 8 #23
Several great choices pfitz59 Jul 8 #7
Two great females who have already lost big to Collins, and one who lost big to Platner MadameButterfly Jul 8 #22
Hatchet job, timing was sus duckworth969 Jul 8 #9
My main question about Plantner is . . . AverageOldGuy Jul 8 #13
He was Anti Israel and anti old politicians. The driving forces in Democrat politics these days. SMH. Pompoy Jul 8 #17
Was the Maine Democratic Party for Platner? I thought they were for Mills MadameButterfly Jul 8 #24
Well all said lets be glad it happened in time to replace him on the ballot. Exultant Democracy Jul 8 #15
In 5-7 years... AdamGG Jul 8 #28
Yes, July 13 was the deadline for a nominee to drop out. LisaL Jul 8 #39
Maine will get a new nominee in an open process. And that candidate will be stronger than Platner. pat_k Jul 8 #18
I liked the optimistic title to your post MadameButterfly Jul 9 #65
Simon presents compelling numbers, but I don't necessarily agree with the distance part. pat_k Jul 9 #71
Didn't Bellows get buried by Collins when she ran against her before? MadameButterfly Jul 9 #72
You're right. She did. A decade ago (2014) pat_k Jul 9 #73
Thanks, this is helpful MadameButterfly Friday #81
I'm also "from away," as they say in Maine. pat_k Friday #83
Thanks! She does seem terrific MadameButterfly Friday #86
Costello impressed me but when I've mentioned him ... pat_k Friday #87
I agree. The people who would have supported him went for Platner MadameButterfly Friday #88
He's toxic. xuplate Jul 8 #25
Governor Mills may have some miles on her... GiqueCee Jul 8 #26
Not according to the polls MadameButterfly Jul 9 #66
The executive director of the Mane Democratic Party is on with Lawrence asking for donations. SamuelAdams Jul 8 #27
I just watched her. sheshe2 Jul 8 #30
It depends on whether they listen to Maine voters MadameButterfly Jul 9 #67
Structural pressure ? What the hell.... reACTIONary Jul 8 #29
I spotted that too and was on my way here to comment... so I'll just add my thoughts to yours. QueerDuck Jul 9 #47
Thanks for your thoughts! reACTIONary Jul 9 #56
What exactly does "We believe for the movement to continue" mean ToxMarz Jul 8 #31
I think Mainer's thought they were in a movement MadameButterfly Jul 9 #68
No more posers, please. littlemissmartypants Jul 8 #36
There's no Independent candidate on the ballot Warpy Jul 8 #38
Yep...and bowing to her Fuhrer still claiming "I think he learned his lesson" Bengus81 Jul 9 #43
So, what about Janet "See you in Court" Mills? 70sEraVet Jul 9 #48
I never understood the problem either BumRushDaShow Jul 9 #49
He had me fooled. I thought he was just gruff and blunt. bucolic_frolic Jul 9 #51
This obsession on a Democratic forum is almost funny - let it go, it's no longer relevant. ☮ walkingman Jul 9 #52
More rape apologists and defeatists?? MorbidButterflyTat Jul 9 #60
Let's regroup but also remember that Trump has been convicted of like crimes that he is only accused of. twodogsbarking Jul 9 #74
Unlike Republican voters, some Democratic voters iemanja Jul 9 #76
Wrong is wrong even if you wear vestments. twodogsbarking Jul 9 #77
Anyone else thinking he's NOT gonna drop out? Llewlladdwr Friday #82
I'm leaning that way Shrek Friday #85
This message was self-deleted by its author Shrek Friday #84
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