I'll never ever vote for him for president, personally.

I work for a very large corporation here in San Diego, and we are remote at least 3 days per week. If he did order it, not all of us are doing it.

Likely only govt workers. I don't think he can order private company workers to report to offices, can he?

Glad your position is still largely remote.

It just didn't make sense to me to add cost and stress, especially at this weird time in our countty's history.

If you find out otherwise, pls let me know?

I am private sector, maybe that's why I haven't heard of it. I know when the Federal Government demanded return to office, it has made it a shit show all over San Diego, because there are way more workers than there are places for them to park at any of the facilities.

Thanks again for the link!

That's what I'm saying, why would Newsom do this niw when prices are skyrocketing & stress levels are intense?

So you’d stay home or vote for Trump if Gavin were the alternative?

How did you feel about Kamala’s voice?

I ask because it has similar relevance to OP as your declaration.

Implying that someone won't vote for the Democrat because that isn't what was said. Also find it interesting that you ignored his anti-trans position. Any time you are punching down to a small, already marginalized group and using them as a scapegoat, you already lost me.
Also TSF won't be on the ballot ever again. To imply otherwise is ridiculous.
For me I already stated down thread that I would not vote for him in a primary and I would advocate for just about ANY Democratic Party candidate but him. No matter what I have and will always vote for the Democratic Party nominee.

You advocated for him as a candidate for president and my position is that his anti LGBTQ position is more than enough to be disqualifying.

If a candidate is scapegoating a marginalized group to score political points than in already done with them.
Not to mention California's extensive use of slave labor that he has refused to address.

but that doesn't sound like someone who may be a candidate in the future looking for votes.

What is the wording?

Last edited Thu Mar 13, 2025, 01:16 PM - Edit history (1)

Or is that 'note' for TFG a typo?

I'd slit my wrists before ever voting for a repuke.

IMO - He equivocated on trans women in sports partly because a non-trivial portion of Dem voters believe that Dems' pro-position on certain trans issues was alienating moderates and driving them away from voting Democratic. It's not clear this is actually true, but I've talked to at least 2 reliable Dems (who voted for Harris) and that's the perception. Know that Newsome is very pro-gay and pro-trans. He just moderated on trans women in sports - IMO - to forestall a perceived hemorrhage of some moderates. Again, I don't know if this is true. But that's one strategic data point among Dems that I've heard.

As for the return to work...Newsome might be pacing certain of Trump's actions, not to curry favor, but to stave-off criticism. Sending state workers back to the office is low hanging fruit for him to maintain appeal to a wider group within the electorate. Again, this is my opinion.

It is important to emphasize that Newsome has always been a social liberal - almost to an extreme in some cases - but, he's also been more of a money-tight type of Democrat. (Fiscal moderate, if you will.) He's cancelled portions of California's high speed rail due to over-budget and a feeling that we were spending billions on trains to nowhere. He hasn't hesitated to cut state contracts and spending on more specious services. As a governor, he has to make ends meet somehow. He can't print money like the feds can.

Also, while CA still maintains supermajorities in the legislature, Californians - even liberal ones - are feeling very uncomfortable with the out of control homelessness here, the high cost of housing and of living in general, and the increase of crime in certain sectors of the state. This is fertile ground for Republican demagogues to swoop in and threaten the Democratic majority. Newsome's moderation on certain issues, I think, is an effort to not give Republicans an "in" to take away our majority here.

Ideological purity can be hazardous. I think Newsome is trying to navigate those waters carefully.

What you need are pundits and strategists to do what Newsome is doing.

As for running CA, that's a different story. However, interviewing Charlie Kirk and Steven Bannon is not good for Democratic primary run. It's better to let a Democratic pundit or media personality do the dirty work.

Out what really drives this madness on the right.
We need more people like him in the Democratic Party.

Talking to Kirk and Bannon does not shed light on anything. How about Fox News, the Washington Post and CNN also the Heritage Foundation . He’s making excuses for talking to bigots. They are microscopic fish in a big cesspool.

If we don’t truly understand where they are coming from, we will be in exactly the same place we were in November of last year.
We can’t dismiss the issues that resonate on the right, which ultimately drives them to the polls.

Worshipping a strong man, hurt other people not me, deport criminals not me, women ,blacks , and any other emotional hot button they push. We need to platform our people on podcasts because there are so few places we can be heard. Mr. Newsome needs to champion democrats.

It is impossible to 'reason' with those that blatantly lie, reject factual evidence, and reason itself.

There is no such thing as a moderate fascist.
There is no such thing as a reasonable fascist.

There is only one kind of 'good' fascist.

Those that save their country do no wrong.

Last edited Thu Mar 13, 2025, 02:48 PM - Edit history (1)

I don't necessarily recommend this strategy for the many empty suits in the Dem party, but people like Gavin, Pete, Elizabeth, Alexandria, and Jasmine can take care of themselves.

This is a different media world in 2025. The cable stuff is dying off with its aging demographic. Younger people consume information in more diverse ways, most of them video or mobile-audio, not print and not couch consumption of 1990s-style cable teevee. These engagements will produce moments of truth that can go viral.

I'd suggest that people who are questioning Newsom's path probably don't understand much about the new media landscape and how we have to fight the wars today.

You don’t fight it by throwing trans folks under the bus like Newsom did.

is not the hill to die on. And you see that nearly all the comments here critical of Newsom engaging with Bannon and others is really just about the anger about the trans sports issue.

Again, engaging with the fringe is important because it may yield moments of truth that can then go viral. The engagement wars now have almost nothing to do with how many minutes somebody is on Hannity or Maddow. It is all about whether a message can go viral.

which is right-wing media.
Gavin is platforming RWNJs which have a large enough market share. How about he platforms progressives.

Pete goes on FOX and controls the narrative, bringing democratic messaging to republican viewers who otherwise might not hear it.

What Newsom is doing is platforming right wing extremists, bringing their voices to democratic listeners and normalizing them. This is the exact opposite of what Pete does.

Why isn't he going around America and talking to everyday people about their concerns if he wants to hear from a variety of voices? Why isn't he bringing on democratic voices and platforming them? Why isn't he bringing on marginalized voices? Does he actually think that privileged straight white male voices need more amplification?

Your point that young people consume media in more diverse ways is precisely why what he is doing is so harmful. Why is he bringing on right wing nazis and making statements that are unsupportive of the trans community, which go against democratic values? This just strikes me as a harmful and frankly disgusting way to use his platform. I'm really disappointed because he had been one of the candidates I was watching with interest.

That would oppress the rights of LGBTQ people or worse use them as a scapegoat. Also, there is a big difference between understanding them and platforming Nazis and murderers.

He is not anti LGBT.

Platforming them legitimizes their hateful message, destroys credibility with supporters, and discourages the people who are trying to create a strong message against trumpism. It also makes him look like a slimy politician. I was very impressed with his twitter strength against TSF and allies, now I'd never support that guy running for president in a million years.

Way to not read the room, Newsom.

They clearly don't get to experience things as we on the ground see them. It is stunning when they do this.

He's never held office, he's never DONE anything except an illegal "build the wall" scam, and he's dumber than dirt.

But I don't think this is necessarily a bad thing. We need to know what they are thinking. And not just the "out there" people but the true right wing ideologs.

And if the interviewer handles it smartly it could be enlightening.

He is platforming Nazis and murderers.
I will not vote for him in the primaries and I will do everything in my power to help ANY other Democrat get on the GE ballot over him. He is an utter and complete disappointment.

But he's picking the wrong humans.

Gavin should be talking to working class MAGAs who are about to be fired or already lost their health insurance and might be watching a loved one die because of it. Not rich convicted felons who continue to profit off of their suffering.

Although I hope he can work on actually talking to many of them directly as well. But you make an enormously valuable point.

I will not be supporting ANYONE in the primaries or in the general who is platforming right wing Nazis and normalizing their views. That is NOT what Pete or Jasmine Crockett do. They go in and fight and get OUR message out. Pete goes on Fox, speaking to a right wing audience and sticking to democratic messaging. He controls the narrative. Newsom has really disappointed me here, first with the way he has failed to support the trans community, and then by platforming right wing Nazis.

If his goal is to get votes on the right, perhaps he is succeeding? He has just lost my vote with this nonsense, and I'm disappointed because I thought he was a candidate to watch.

I am just disappointed by what is emerging as our choices. We have people shouting left and right that this candidate is a nonstarter because he's gay. This candidate is a nonstarter because he's not as pretty as Gavin. This candidate is a nonstarter because she's a woman. I don't want to be boxed into voting for a white straight man who I don't like and that's what I feel is happening, three years out from the primaries.

Last edited Thu Mar 13, 2025, 11:22 AM - Edit history (1)

expect to win elections? You have to go into it with a rational mind and not just rattling off talking points.

find some of the recently generated anti Newsom arguments of late to be very non persuasive.

Cheers

current political atmosphere. Right wing monsters need no further exposure. It's like putting up a white flag - or continue Dem habit of bringing water balloons to nuclear warfare.

and even Rogan, who whether we like it or not, do have big followings, especially amongst young men. We also need to talk to the online LW personalities. Overall, we need to get better at engaging and countering online propaganda, alot of which is driven by Russia.

I'm just not sure Newsom is the right person for this, as Calfornia is ground zero for alot of unpopular policies (immigration, crime, homelessness) that have hurt the Dem brand in recent years, and are losing centrist/conservative Dem votes (including amongst blacks and hispanics) over. We need to be more like Bill and Obama on those issues, more to the center. But we need to move to the left on certain issues, like Gaza and taking on big corps and the tech bros, that resonate with left leaning voters and young people.

I was a regional manager for a 12 state region (Rio Grande to Canada) and we tried the work from home issue for about a year. I can understand why people like it but my experience is that it was not good for our team or our customers. There is something to be said for interaction with your peers and customers.

If working from home is high on your priority list, and it is not available, then maybe look for a job where it is an option.

As far as Newsome - I have nothing against him talking to anyone as long as he doesn't support their ideology or nastiness. He represents all the people not just those that voted for him. I think it is wrong when the GOP does it and we shouldn't follow suit. Also as a Texan be thankful you don't have the sad choices we have in our State - it is very depressing.

Unless we Dems stop all of this hand-wringing and divisiveness amongst ourselves soon we will end up with someone like Trump again, and personally I was tired of it a long time ago.

Never been a big fan of the hive mind thing. Cough.

That would be okay?

The data shows that support of the Bibi administration hurt Democrats. So, is he going to reach out to them?

shout "The only good Democrat is a dead Democrat." or, Charlie Kirk's crowd shouting "When do we get to use the guns?"

And voices are NOT it.

I think he's got charisma and strength.

He doesn't need to be perfect.