Bad idea. He should accomplish something first before claiming to be America’s Democratic Savior du Jour. Slay Ted Cruz, for example.
rev: or John Cornyn
I’ve gotten a few emails from Beto recently, including a request to respond to a survey on the issues. He’s either going to run for President or for Senate against Cornyn.
All of this announcement of preparing to make an announcement about an announcement is getting to be exhausting. If there is genuine excitement about the prospect of a particular person running, then this theatrical teasing isn’t necessary or helpful. If there isn’t such excitement, it won’t create it. My preference, I think, is that he does not run for president and instead runs for Senate against Cornyn. But I guess we shall see, and I, for one, can certainly wait until some actual announcement gets actually made.
My hope is a run against Cornyn.
Same here…
As a Texan, I would like nothing more for Cornyn to go down. The problem is that Cornyn is more popular/likable than Cruz. Regardless, Beto has my support.
An O’Rourke run for President in the 2020 primaries is not a welcome announcement to me. As much as I really, really like Beto, he is at the moment better suited and much more needed in Texas, to help push the representation of that vital state back into the zone of sanity. Another run (and win!) for Senate, or even a stint somewhere else — founding a NGO to improve lives in TX and beyond, or evangelizing global equity, or…something that puts him in a position to actually have a viable presidential run in 2024 or 2028 that is backed by real content, broader experience, and national-level policy vision to back up his charisma intelligence and general messaging.
Also, as young progressive entrant #624 in the democratic primary pool, I’m not sure he is best positioned to stand out.
Just what the Dems don’t need: a charismatic young guy with sometimes questionable policy stances and totally unprepared for the office. And who couldn’t even beat the most disliked man in the Senate last fall.
That seems to me unnecessarily unkind. He did pretty well against Cruz, who at least had to sweat a little for the first time in a long time. Admittedly, I don’t particularly see a reason for O’Rourke to run for president at the moment.
And oddly familiar.
Yesterday I put this count at 982. Good to know some have been wise enough to drop out.
It’s nice to have options like that. Republicans frown on choice.
If it was a congressional seat, open next year, I would agree. But Ted’s reelection (the next chance to politically slay) is five years+ away.
While I agree that his, and others, accomplishments are light for a fun in 2020, I think the “wait to run to beat Cruz” line is ridiculous, as even in another year or so - the momentum can die. Think Wendy Davis. Some may say, “who?” which is my point. As time passes, irrelevance and amnesia can occur.
I hope he takes his momentum and stays in public service - and bringing others into public service. As @ghost points out - senator Cronyn is up for reelection and Beto O’Rourke is also considering that run at that seat. I hope he takes his statewide momentum and recognition, and builds towards a challenge to Cronyn.
He’s a multi-term Congressman who hails from a border district at a time when immigration scare tactics are clearly the leading part of the GOP strategy. That alone makes him interesting. He raised an incredible amount of money from small donors at a time when Democrats are going to need to show their independence from SuperPACs (and major outside donors and where Bernie and Warren are probably going to help make keeping away from dark money a litmus test for Democrats). He inspired a wave of new voters in Texas and nearly won a race that many considered unwinnable before he got into it, and in so doing helped turned purple districts blue and red districts purple.
People can try and demean him all he want, but he’s more accomplished than many of the other candidates, and I for one would be glad to have him in the race.
He seems to be a great guy & I am inclined to like him myself. However, I am a little tired of everyone awaiting a Male White Savior while they demean the current crop of women candidates.
I have no particular opinion of Beto one way or the other. However, I think all this waffling and cute statements he’ll tell us later reduces his credibility. Others have stepped forward and thrown their hats into the ring. Beto has stood on the sidelines. IMO he waited too long. My reaction to his potential candidacy is “Who cares? I’m already studying a bunch of other candidates who were decisive and who have started taking stances.” Too little too late. I’ll try to give him a fair hearing, but i am not impressed so far.
The late-November O’Rourke fling was fun or whatever, but let’s see him again in 2028. I think the party has stronger, more qualified candidates right now.
Nothing against Beto, but it’s a big (or strong… powerful! very large!) field.