100%. That said, you don't have to love Newsom – I sure don't – to still recognize he's triangulating or will be malleable on the subject.
Replies
I don't think Newsom is particularly committed to his trans position, but he's already scared a huge portion of the coalition.
aug 23, 2025, 1:45 pm • 1 0 • view
I get that. And maybe it's pre-primary bluster (though I doubt it given the left's track record!), but if by some miserable chain of events, it's Newsom v Trump or Newsom v Vance in 2028? Why on earth would someone left of fascist _not_ vote for Newsom in that scenario?
aug 23, 2025, 1:51 pm • 1 0 • view
The last thing I want for the anti-fascism coalition is to start building that opt-out permission structure now.
aug 23, 2025, 1:51 pm • 0 0 • view
If the candidate is this divisive then your energy would be better placed pressuring the party to put up better candidates than arguing against an 'opt-out' structure that you and the party have no control over.
aug 23, 2025, 5:21 pm • 0 0 • view
Certainly better to push on the party to get behind better options, of course. "We can do better." is great. But building up this familiar "I would *never* vote for " mantra is just self-sabotage.
aug 23, 2025, 5:55 pm • 0 0 • view
The Right knows how to find and drive wedges, no matter who the candidate is going to be. We really, desperately need for those wedges to find as little purchase as possible when it's time.
aug 23, 2025, 5:56 pm • 0 0 • view
Except the right didn't have any part in Newsom's implosion. He's wedging us against ourselves all on his own and the strategic move is to throw him in the trash.
aug 23, 2025, 5:58 pm • 0 0 • view
I'm saying it could be Newsom, Pritzker, AOC, Warren, or anyone else in 2028, and the Right would be following the same strategy regardless. There's a good chance the nominee will be someone you or I personally detest, and yet electing them would be an improvement over anyone in the MAGA camp.
aug 23, 2025, 6:07 pm • 0 0 • view
It's not like the left of fascist crowd has a good track record of closing ranks and doing what needs to be done to shut the door on this era. So I'd just as soon have the people in our camp *not* already starting the process of preparing to defect.
aug 23, 2025, 6:09 pm • 0 0 • view
Better not be Newsom then or I'm staying home. I don't care how you feel about that. Goodbye now!
aug 23, 2025, 6:08 pm • 0 0 • view
Sure.
aug 23, 2025, 6:09 pm • 0 0 • view
Agree to disagree. You have to have firm lines that differentiate your beliefs from your enemy's. I understand different people have different lines but I have absolutely no respect for being asked to compromise on that line. Newsom has crossed it for me and for countless others. End of discussion.
aug 23, 2025, 5:57 pm • 0 0 • view
they've already shown they won't.
aug 23, 2025, 1:52 pm • 0 0 • view
Yeah, that's my gripe.
aug 23, 2025, 1:56 pm • 0 0 • view
The litmus for me is "I think this person might actually put these nazis against a wall." Which is why I'd vote for Newsom if it came down to it. But it's pretty inexcusable for him to be so wrong about this issue, which obviously matters in an existential way for parts of the coalition
aug 23, 2025, 2:03 pm • 0 0 • view
We share the same litmus test, which is why I'd vote for him in a general despite his comments being outrageous. But I don't like seeing some allies psyching themselves up to withhold their votes for anyone who would attack MAGA if given the power.
aug 23, 2025, 2:19 pm • 0 0 • view
To me, they're punching at liberals who are desperate for an actual opposition leader, when trying to influence Newsom would be a better use of resources.
aug 23, 2025, 2:24 pm • 0 0 • view
That makes sense. And Newsom seems susceptible to being influenced.
aug 23, 2025, 2:34 pm • 1 0 • view