If we could go back to 1946, but with the technology we have today, wouldn’t Jack Kennedy been vulnerable to all sorts of sordid allegations that would have certainly doomed his candidacy for Congress ?
And yes, Platner is flawed. But for Maine, he fits. He’s a New Englander, a veteran.
Thus far he hasn’t strayed into Anthony Weiner territory.
If nothing worse comes out about Platner, it’s not great, but not candidacy-ending. Obviously if there are sex pix, actual trysts, other unsavory facts which cause his wife to abandon him, then trouble. I would add, even then, he’s not a serial adulterer (Paxton, Trump), he’s not a sexual assaulter (Hegseth, Trump), and as far as we know, his mother hasn’t accused him of chronically debasing and abusing women (Hegseth).
Immorality is a slippery slope. Let’s assume our current president is at the bottom of that slope. Throughout history, there have been many others on that slope.
JFK was a philanderer, but the press hushed that up. Nixon broke the law, but he was pardoned. Clinton played doctor with an intern in the Oval Office but was allowed to keep his job. Now Platner’s moral errors are beginning to pile up. When do we start rejecting people or holding people accountable for their bad behavior?
Also, can’t the democrats in Maine find someone else to take his place on the ballot?? Some Democrat currently in politics but with less baggage?
Political parties have to stand for something more than winning and beating the other lot! We teach young children It’s never good enough to justify yourself doing the wrong thing … just because the other kids are doing it … yet that seems to be where some democrats are… and it WILL cost them.
Unfortunately, politics is sometimes choosing the lesser of two evils. Dems need the Senate to stop, among other things, outrageous Supreme Court appointments. I would hold my nose and support Platner. If the house is on fire, you pick up and use the only available bucket even if it has a few holes.
I get where you are coming from, but I don't agree with you 100%.
I have been a lifelong Democrat from a lifelong Democrat family. As such truthfully there has been a lot of judging over the years. A lot of we are a party that is better than that. While I agree that there should be norms & standards, I'm not sure that space really exists anymore because that leaves no room for people who are different then I am, who think differently or speak differently. It also doesn't allow for rehabilitation, if someone accepts responsibility, realizes the err of their ways & no longer behaves in that manner, should personal stuff really matter that much?? Now I am not saying that covers terrible people like Donald Trump, who have abandoned morality all together. But I know in my own life I have made terrible decisions, and have hurt family, friends etc., etc. When I was younger, I had terrible ideas & behaviors. But I eventually "got it", did what I had to do to make it right & don't make those same mistakes anymore. Does that mean I should never run for office because at some point in my life I was on the wrong side of something?? I truthfully don't want to be a part of a party that believes that flawed character is a nonstarter. IDK, if any of that makes sense, LOL
Yes, but Platner and Paxton have not done this. And these aren't youthful indiscretions. Having said that, I honestly don't know what I'd do if I was voting in Maine.
It is a shame. Character should matter, but it doesn’t seem to. Districts should not be redrawn to except as to address a change with the 10year census. But if one party is allowed to redraw the maps to suit their political needs, and the other side chooses proper procedure, don’t we still end up in a downward spiral of eroding trust and government efficacy?
I wish we weren’t where we are—and I agree with your thesis—but how do we survive without adapting to the changing situation? (Even though adapting also causes a continued erosion of character and political/societal norms). 😔🤷♂️
I suppose I would be more open to this argument if I didn't recall you complaining about the family pardons Joe Biden issued. You said that you were judging Biden to a higher standard than Donald Trump, because he was claiming to be a better person than Trump.
I see this Platner/Paxton argument a lot and it's a false comparison - at least politically. The Republicans had a "normal" choice in Texas. Voters didn't just choose Paxton, they did so knowing who he is. In some ways, his criminality was a feature, not a bug.
In Maine, the situation is much different. There isn't a viable alternative to Platner, so Dem voters are faced with the choice of supporting someone whose character they find troubling. Or sitting out the election and letting Susan Collins win.
It's not ideal at all. But as the cliche says "It is what it is."
I'm not from Maine but wasn't there a former governor in the Senate primary against Plattner? She was old as dirt but I never heard any complaints about her character. Nor have I heard any complaints about Susan Collins' character. I'm a lifelong Dem but I wouldn't vote for Plattner.
Yeah, Janet Mills was in the race, but pulled out after some terrible polling numbers. She wasn't especially liked in Maine and she is also 78. Which is not a good thing in 2026.
I wish there was a viable option to Platner. But there isn't, unless Dems can somehow recruit someone new in the next couple of weeks. Sometimes in politics, you have to play the cards you're dealt.
If we could go back to 1946, but with the technology we have today, wouldn’t Jack Kennedy been vulnerable to all sorts of sordid allegations that would have certainly doomed his candidacy for Congress ?
And yes, Platner is flawed. But for Maine, he fits. He’s a New Englander, a veteran.
Thus far he hasn’t strayed into Anthony Weiner territory.
If nothing worse comes out about Platner, it’s not great, but not candidacy-ending. Obviously if there are sex pix, actual trysts, other unsavory facts which cause his wife to abandon him, then trouble. I would add, even then, he’s not a serial adulterer (Paxton, Trump), he’s not a sexual assaulter (Hegseth, Trump), and as far as we know, his mother hasn’t accused him of chronically debasing and abusing women (Hegseth).
Immorality is a slippery slope. Let’s assume our current president is at the bottom of that slope. Throughout history, there have been many others on that slope.
JFK was a philanderer, but the press hushed that up. Nixon broke the law, but he was pardoned. Clinton played doctor with an intern in the Oval Office but was allowed to keep his job. Now Platner’s moral errors are beginning to pile up. When do we start rejecting people or holding people accountable for their bad behavior?
Also, can’t the democrats in Maine find someone else to take his place on the ballot?? Some Democrat currently in politics but with less baggage?
Political parties have to stand for something more than winning and beating the other lot! We teach young children It’s never good enough to justify yourself doing the wrong thing … just because the other kids are doing it … yet that seems to be where some democrats are… and it WILL cost them.
Unfortunately, politics is sometimes choosing the lesser of two evils. Dems need the Senate to stop, among other things, outrageous Supreme Court appointments. I would hold my nose and support Platner. If the house is on fire, you pick up and use the only available bucket even if it has a few holes.
The only important thing is to win, right?
I get where you are coming from, but I don't agree with you 100%.
I have been a lifelong Democrat from a lifelong Democrat family. As such truthfully there has been a lot of judging over the years. A lot of we are a party that is better than that. While I agree that there should be norms & standards, I'm not sure that space really exists anymore because that leaves no room for people who are different then I am, who think differently or speak differently. It also doesn't allow for rehabilitation, if someone accepts responsibility, realizes the err of their ways & no longer behaves in that manner, should personal stuff really matter that much?? Now I am not saying that covers terrible people like Donald Trump, who have abandoned morality all together. But I know in my own life I have made terrible decisions, and have hurt family, friends etc., etc. When I was younger, I had terrible ideas & behaviors. But I eventually "got it", did what I had to do to make it right & don't make those same mistakes anymore. Does that mean I should never run for office because at some point in my life I was on the wrong side of something?? I truthfully don't want to be a part of a party that believes that flawed character is a nonstarter. IDK, if any of that makes sense, LOL
Yes, but Platner and Paxton have not done this. And these aren't youthful indiscretions. Having said that, I honestly don't know what I'd do if I was voting in Maine.
It is a shame. Character should matter, but it doesn’t seem to. Districts should not be redrawn to except as to address a change with the 10year census. But if one party is allowed to redraw the maps to suit their political needs, and the other side chooses proper procedure, don’t we still end up in a downward spiral of eroding trust and government efficacy?
I wish we weren’t where we are—and I agree with your thesis—but how do we survive without adapting to the changing situation? (Even though adapting also causes a continued erosion of character and political/societal norms). 😔🤷♂️
I suppose I would be more open to this argument if I didn't recall you complaining about the family pardons Joe Biden issued. You said that you were judging Biden to a higher standard than Donald Trump, because he was claiming to be a better person than Trump.
I see this Platner/Paxton argument a lot and it's a false comparison - at least politically. The Republicans had a "normal" choice in Texas. Voters didn't just choose Paxton, they did so knowing who he is. In some ways, his criminality was a feature, not a bug.
In Maine, the situation is much different. There isn't a viable alternative to Platner, so Dem voters are faced with the choice of supporting someone whose character they find troubling. Or sitting out the election and letting Susan Collins win.
It's not ideal at all. But as the cliche says "It is what it is."
I'm not from Maine but wasn't there a former governor in the Senate primary against Plattner? She was old as dirt but I never heard any complaints about her character. Nor have I heard any complaints about Susan Collins' character. I'm a lifelong Dem but I wouldn't vote for Plattner.
Yeah, Janet Mills was in the race, but pulled out after some terrible polling numbers. She wasn't especially liked in Maine and she is also 78. Which is not a good thing in 2026.
I wish there was a viable option to Platner. But there isn't, unless Dems can somehow recruit someone new in the next couple of weeks. Sometimes in politics, you have to play the cards you're dealt.