General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsSo, it's looking like the whole Platner "controversy"
Is just more Republicant rat fuckery.
Quell surprise.
Didnt we learn this lesson when that non-entity accused President Biden of sexual misconduct?
Its high time to ignore this unsubstantiated bullshit and refocus on the objective: Dump the fucking worthless oxygen thief of Maine.
Ocelot II
(131,785 posts)peppertree
(23,577 posts)
Ars Longa
(653 posts)Blue Owl
(60,037 posts)They have nothing to run on just desperate attempts to distract and blame others while they stand neck-deep in tRumps cesspool
Bluetus
(3,275 posts)Obviously they would rather face Mills than Platner.
But AIPAC has been doing shit like this for 40 years. It isn't just Russia, Iran, N. Korea, and China.
The only people NOT represented in our elections today are AMERICANS.
Emile
(44,068 posts)has a habit of going after progressives.
questionseverything
(12,214 posts)Ziggy Beans
(83 posts)Says more about them than anything else
Polly Hennessey
(9,049 posts)Cha
(321,511 posts)your cause.
It says nothing about those who weren't okay with Planter's own words, like this one.. Except we're not okay with it.
IbogaProject
(6,177 posts)He is the Democratic Nominee, take bad mouthing him somewhere else.
Cha
(321,511 posts)to do.
The Primary is not "over." When it is, I will be behind the Candidate. I always am.
niyad
(135,277 posts)election are in. Facts matter. .election dates, truth, badmouthing truth, a candidate's own words and actions, etc.
IbogaProject
(6,177 posts)Sorry I thought their primary ended.
Bluetus
(3,275 posts)to create, amplify, and demagogue this shit. Platner hasn't dodged any of it. He has openly acknowledged all the legitimate claims. And he has said some of them are lies.
It seems Mainers have a pretty clear view and: a) take him at his word, and b) allow for the idea that we evolve as we mature.
The real story here is not a tattoo, or the time he might have held the arm of a MAGA operative. The real story is that people like Mamdani, AOC, and Platner are tapping into the deep anger that Americans of all stripes have about what has happened to our country in the past 25 years. The people behind this are the ones who profit so greatly from the fascism they have been able to establish. Fortunately, they are easy to recognize. They are the multi-billionaires. We need to turn the spot where it belongs. Platner is not the problem.
MorbidButterflyTat
(4,951 posts)Why did he "apologize" for things he didn't say or do?
reACTIONary
(7,414 posts)...he excuses it. Some accept his excuses, some don't.
Or maybe he did deny it? If so, I haven't heard about it.
(Not)
flamingdem
(40,996 posts)CivicGrief
(386 posts)But someone is glad to control the narrative. What happened to all the preaching about talking about the issues that concern people?
AZ8theist
(7,753 posts)She's just a brainless automoton doing whatever Repuke leadership TELLS her to do.
ALBliberal
(3,440 posts)Con man abuser of everything we hold dear including our WHITE HOUSE dozing off in the oval abusing reporters!
We need democrats!!!!!!!
dave99
(530 posts)for shitstain. probably much more if including its crew
usonian
(27,098 posts)DAMN, They ain't perfect. CONDEMNED.
MEANWHILE
Felons, rapists, pedophiles, traitors, war criminals, mass murderers of young school children, blackmailers, money-launderers (for starters, he's the president) and associated violent mobs and rogue gestapo murdering cops get PARDONED.
I suggest that we focus, as does Bernie, on the OLIGARCHS controlling government and making us pay for their trillions in "welfare for the rich"

Rallying With Sanders, Platner Condemns 'Corrupt Politicians and the Corporations That Bought Them'
https://www.commondreams.org/news/bernie-sanders-graham-platner
"We will defeat the oligarchy and the political system that it maintains," said Graham Platner. "The politics of Susan Collins."
eShirl
(20,540 posts)Troy's running to replace Janet Mills, who'll be at the end of her term limit (governor)
usonian
(27,098 posts)There's also a video there.
https://berniesanders.com/oligarchy/#upcoming
Scroll down to Maine
MorbidButterflyTat
(4,951 posts)Here's one though.
?w=1800&resize=1800,1800
Gore1FL
(22,998 posts)Boo1
(593 posts)he was always a shithead. Some just decided to ignore that and elect him anyway.
Gore1FL
(22,998 posts)He certainly has always had the Kristen Sinema "LOOKATME" gene.
There was a time he seemed to be a good choice. I thought so, at least. I was wrong, but I am not typically easily duped.
Boo1
(593 posts)Because I wouldn't.
Gore1FL
(22,998 posts)But when he was elected the choice was Fetterman or Oz.
paleotn
(23,054 posts)SamuelAdams
(341 posts)It's not a binary choice. You're happily choosing to run him instead of a popular, twice-elected governor.
paleotn
(23,054 posts)questionseverything
(12,214 posts)Shes polling at less than 10%
ColoringFool
(1,374 posts)allegorical oracle
(6,683 posts)allegorical oracle
(6,683 posts)still kicking.
Bluepinky
(2,585 posts)I hope Platner wins, and I wish Franken would get back into politics. We cant let the party thats okay with pedophilia derail us.
Nanjeanne
(6,809 posts)life. Many vets come back from 3 deployments with issues. He speaks about this and I admire his struggle to get back into a system that is, at best, difficult to navigate. But nothing Ive learned would make me not support him if I were in Maine. And as far as this recent story re Lindsey Fifield - I feel someone who went into a business to support Kavanaugh and destroy Christine Blasey Ford who had accused Kavanaugh of a much more serious crime. If all women need to be believed, Fifield better start with herself.
SamuelAdams
(341 posts)What about himself admitting he was a bad boyfriend? That's all lies too?
Nanjeanne
(6,809 posts)Of nothing remotely like what Fifield said. I believe them and so does Platner as hes spoken of this past that he is not proud of. If you read the whole article you would see they never claimed physicality or claimed he talked about his Nazi tattoo so what would they have to go along with.
Thats your sum total of the other two.
Gee a bad boyfriend. Good for him for acknowledging that. Id bet theres millions of bad boyfriends who would never accept that part of them and work to be a better man.
Callie1979
(1,483 posts)No one is perfect. But I also wont dismiss the women who say their relationships were troubling.
paleotn
(23,054 posts)Aviation Pro
(15,882 posts)And Mills should stay in her lane. Her personal ambitions sicken me.
paleotn
(23,054 posts)And for those some, it seems a candidate must be perfectly aligned and pure as the driven snow or they're immediately tossed on the rubbish pile. With that mindset, the Dems in question are easily manipulated by the really nefarious people in our political system.
One of the great ironies in modern American politics. To a significant degree Gaza got us where we are right now. Not completely, but in a game of inches, every inch counts. Same dynamic. Same failure to understand binary choices. And that life rarely aligns with our preferred choice. Most of the time it's choose the best of the lot because that's all ya get. Don't choose rationally and you run a far higher probability of the worst case scenario. Four more years of Donnie Trump. Or six more of Susan Collins. Little difference.
The last thing you want is a twice-elected popular governor running for Senate. Better off trying the man who has never run before than the woman who has won with the same electorate twice.
Aviation Pro
(15,882 posts)78 fucking years old and clueless as far as the issues that younger generations are facing. She should just fucking retire instead of embarrassing herself.
EdmondDantes_
(2,274 posts)Blackmail, long con? Or are you going with the theory that if you dismiss one on claims of it being partisan that inherently dismisses the other?
Aviation Pro
(15,882 posts)Im attuned to the objective, remove that bag of nothing and useless glass hammer from the Senate.
Nanjeanne
(6,809 posts)came up they sounded like something he might have said given the anger and alcohol. Not easy being in a relationship with someone struggling like that. Many vets come back after multiple deployments and have those difficulties. Something Platner speaks about. They never claimed physicality or claimed he talked about his Nazi tattoo so what would they have to go along with.
Thats your sum total of the other two.
Dave says
(5,498 posts)The other two, both Democrats, say he had at times negative attitude (one chose to be anonymous). The Times solicited input from 3 others, in the name of fairness. All three said he was gentle, generous, and a nice guy.
This is too much like past Republican smear campaigns to not be highly suspicious that they're doing it again.
ED, you protest too much. I hope you vote Democrat every chance you get, but I'm suspicious you may not.
paleotn
(23,054 posts)Seems like you are.
Bluepinky
(2,585 posts)Until the Repubs expunge all their pedophiles from holding political office, we should ignore their utterances on morality.
MorbidButterflyTat
(4,951 posts)spanone
(142,236 posts)ColoringFool
(1,374 posts)Response to ColoringFool (Reply #16)
paleotn This message was self-deleted by its author.
pat_k
(14,496 posts)I just re-read Jane Mayer's The Case of Al Franken.
Start with a drip drip, then pile everything you can possibly dig up on without looking past the surface. Release in rapid succession so there's no time for individual reports to be scrutinized. Cue outrage at "nothing terrible in isolation, but look at the number of them!"
It sure looks like the same playbook.
Perhaps Jane will do an investigation of "The Case of Graham Platner." I'd sure like to hear more background on each and every report. I suspect it comes down to the same thing. A whole lot of smoke with no actual fire.
New Yorker
The Case of Al Franken
Jane Mayer
July 22, 2019
https://web.archive.org/web/20190829044419/https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2019/07/29/the-case-of-al-franken
calimary
(91,427 posts)There. I said it.
I used to work in the entertainment arena. Based in L.A. Covered all the celebrity stuff because L.A. was and still is a company town, and showbiz dominated everything. You went after the stars cuz your bosses wanted it, cuz THEIR bosses wanted it, and you knew ALL your listeners AND viewers AND readers wanted it, from coast-to-coast.
When it came to even casual encounters, everybody hugged and kissed AND air-kissed, A LOT. It never meant anything deeper than that, as far as I could ever see. I still feel sorry for Al Franken, who I feel was pretty much railroaded outta there. Yeah, he sometimes pushed the limit, especially as a comedian, but not once did I ever feel like he deserved to be crucified like that, for any reason. But I guess some people are just driven to run over others, especially if fame and glitter, and power and influence are involved. And Al Franken took his job as Senator VERY seriously, and got a lot done to serve his constituents.
I wont say anything more than - its nice to be retired.
Initech
(109,602 posts)They can't win elections otherwise.
B.See
(9,055 posts)Yes, there are legitimate concerns re some of this guy's past behavior and comments, and yes, would be nice if there was a front runner in Maine with less baggage.
But, IMO that's up to Maine's voters. And if they choose him then he is unquestionably the preference over a rubber stamping right wing maga suck-up like Collins.
And that has consistently been my position, whether it was Mamdani's candidacy in NY, or Crockett vs Talerico in Texas (when tv comedians decided to weigh in on 'who can't win').
I don't tell Democrats in other states who to vote for. However, in the face of a Republican alternative, I will support their choice.
MaineNative
(107 posts)just making me more determined to help out. Its just getting more koo koo, the stories keep changing, and the paper of record, Portland Press Herald, chose to publish parts of the original NYTs hit piece with a disclaimer that they basically didnt verify the story. That was worth another 25 dollar donation.
Form the PPH today - Fifield, 40, who lives in Virginia, is listed as a visiting fellow on the website of the conservative group Independent Women. Her resume includes previously working for the conservative Heritage Foundation and briefly on former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haleys 2024 presidential campaign.
Lets be very clear: This is a lifelong GOP operative whos dedicated her career to electing Republicans, the Platner campaign said in a Thursday statement.
marble falls
(73,432 posts)... like we did with Sen Al Franken.
paleotn
(23,054 posts)oldmanlynn
(878 posts)Maybe we can revert to that in 10 years from now but right now we gotta vote every damn Democrat we can into office
maliaSmith
(219 posts)Fetterman is totally nuts. He said things about Platner that I won't repeat, but they're sick as Fetterman is.
Aviation Pro
(15,882 posts)And his hoodie.
Emile
(44,068 posts)SamuelAdams
(341 posts)They also insisted we must nominate Sinema.
Nixie
(18,249 posts)completely fabricated ideologies as purity tests that they measure good Democrats against. If they dont march to the fabricated ideologies, they are threatened with being primaried and/or sitting out elections for purity reasons, which gives the GOP more power.
mr715
(4,814 posts)Nixie
(18,249 posts)isnt a purity test.
Fabricating ideologies and then imposing them is a purity test.
mr715
(4,814 posts)Last edited Sat Jun 6, 2026, 07:25 PM - Edit history (1)
Then you can keep telling yourself that.
Nixie
(18,249 posts)someone noticing whitewashing.
Because you are very worried and concerned over people noticing the whitewashing of Platners history.
Susan Collins Susan Collins Susan Collins Susan Collins
Susan Collins Susan Collins Susan Collins Susan Collins
Donald Trump.
Edit: So, do spare me your historical purity tests
Nixie
(18,249 posts)Spare me your obvious whitewashing.
Speaking of Susan Collins, Platner admitted he voted for her 3 times.
Ima go get a "I'm not concerned" tat.
Call me a Nazi.
Nixie
(18,249 posts)noticing the hypocrisy of whitewashing Platners past.
mr715
(4,814 posts)I have no deep concern over people noticing the hypocrisy of whitewashing Platner's past.
Perhaps I would take your keen "noticing" skills and consider noticing Susan Collins and her role in enabling Trump.
Or, alternatively as I suggested somewhere else, grieve.
Nixie
(18,249 posts)all hope Susan Collins doesnt use Platners admission that he voted for her 3 times in her campaign.
Enabling Trump. It is nice to see the bro culture finally noticing that Trump was enabled, as the rest of us have said would happen years ago.
MorbidButterflyTat
(4,951 posts)Witnessing this repeated bro bullying on a Democratic board makes me sick.
Nixie
(18,249 posts)betsuni
(29,423 posts)I'm wondering why his supporters don't just say, Oh well, let Platner be Platner.
Nixie
(18,249 posts)senate is. Very trumpish to break things and then splain to rank-and-file Democrats how to fix it.
Let Platner be Platner. I think youre on to something,
dalton99a
(96,198 posts)calimary
(91,427 posts)Especially the Republican part. Look who THEY stand with. Still!
Response to Aviation Pro (Original post)
Name removed Message auto-removed
H2O Man
(79,462 posts)PCIntern
(28,793 posts)Might say I have (fill in the blank) behavior, like these women are saying.
Yeah: I reacted to things contrary to the way they thought I should. My ex went ballistic when some motherfucker insulted me as I held a door for him and his wife, and I gave him a sneering reply. She talked about that for eight years. How DARE I speak to strangers that way?
Another was upset because she came on to me and for a variety of reasons I did not wish to be intimate with her. She thought she was the second coming of Candace Bergen, which she most definitely was not in any sense. Any. She had nothing nice to say about me because a man is never supposed to refuse that.
I could go on and on. My wife has (essentially) no complaints.
a kennedy
(36,739 posts)Its always what the hell is gonna happen next. 10 days at most.
BComplex
(10,015 posts)The (commercially powered) powers that be in this country are jumping all the hell over his ass!
It is so friggin' pathetic! The very same media that brought donald trump into EVERYONE'S life in the world, is now talking about how friggin' unacceptable Graham Platner is!
Don't forget how scary liberals are in all of this!!! Heaven forbid we have people who support democratic values in real time! Not the nice, polite, quiet, willing-to-play with the rulers faux "liberals" (who the 1% will fund every day of the week), but the ones who actually give a damn about the citizens of the USA and the world!
The same media who gives the entire republican party....the Gym Jordans, the Jeffrey Epsteins, the donald trumps, the Ken Paxtons, etc. a TOTALLY free pass, is jumping all over one dude!!! One dude!
Like "the whole house is on fire and don't think for yourselves just panic and run!!!" They couldn't be more obvious, and so many democrats ( who don't even think about, much less grasp, what it means about losing Maine) are going to join the chorus.
Just another carefully choreographed media/1% blitz.
WarGamer
(18,935 posts)Soul_of_Wit
(198 posts)PCB66
(203 posts)I think this is the time for the Democrats in Maine.
That guy is beaucoup dinky dau.
CivicGrief
(386 posts)Dog-piling on the character assassination of a Democratic candidate by the right-wing smear machine? Good idea.
Kingofalldems
(40,408 posts)Even DU.
Recall the Al Franken smears
CousinIT
(12,888 posts)...Collins is a sure yes vote for any nominee of SHilter's.
Platner - not so much - unless he turns out to be another Kirsten Sinema, Joe Manchin, or John Fetterman. And, he could...but I'd take that chance over Collins' absolute yes.
After midterms, one or more justices might retire. That would allow SHitler to pack the court even MORE. But not if the Senate is Dem-dominated.
Platner's past is not great. Some of it he takes ownership of - or says he does. Some of the recent claims are questionable (that coming from Republican operatives). Much of it will be political ammo from Collins and the Repugnants to defeat him.
So... that's where I land, priority-wise.
BOTTOM LINE: I'M NOT A MAINE VOTER, so it's really none of my business. It's up to Maine Dem voters. . My opinion = 0
patphil
(9,327 posts)John Kerry, Al Franken, Hunter Biden, Kamala Harris, Joe Biden, and many more.
On the other hand, republicans give people of their own party a free pass for much worse stuff than Greg Platner has been accused of.
As a result, they win elections, and we watch as our nation circles the drain.
We need to realize that much of what we hear from republicans is definitely rat fuckery, designed to destroy a campaign and, in this case, allow a weak willed, compliant republican senator get reelected again so she can whine about how bad the president is, and then vote for all the shit he stands for. It shouldn't come to this, but our elections are beginning to look like classic battles between good and evil.
Republicans will do whatever it takes to get elected, and Democrats seem to just stand there and take it.
Greg Platner isn't perfect, but on his worst day, he's better than Susan Collins is on her best. After all, Trump is a convicted felon, and probably a child molester. He lies, cheats, steals, and kills for personal gain and/or revenge.
If you don't think he kills, just take a long look at all he's done. The worst is the destruction of USAID, which has caused about 1 million deaths in Africa; more than half of which are children.
Time for Democrats to stand and deliver in Maine.
vapor2
(5,118 posts)They will stop at nothing and I would vote for Platner
JustABozoOnThisBus
(24,777 posts)Dems are forgiving him because our minority is so slim.
If we had a large majority, or if the Reps had a large majority, we'd "Franken" this guy in a heartbeat. Franken got ousted for doing a lot less, or for doing nothing.
I think we're about to shoot ourselves in the foot. Again.
Soul_of_Wit
(198 posts)Coult it be that? Pretty please.
JustABozoOnThisBus
(24,777 posts)With the song "High Hopes" in my ear.
Soul_of_Wit
(198 posts)Lyndsey Fifield is MAGA and tries to hide that fact. The "I sometimes vote for Democrats" defense is not going to fly.
-misanthroptimist
(1,940 posts)Response to Aviation Pro (Original post)
ZDU This message was self-deleted by its author.