General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsRichard Painter is on fire.....
At the DFL State Convention here in Rochester.
He is getting a lot of clapping and hoots of approvals. The man can give a speech. I am impressed.
The Velveteen Ocelot
(116,003 posts)all of it - or is he just running as a Democrat because the GOP won't have him?
MiniMe
(21,724 posts)I like listening to him in the time of tRump, but he is still a Republican
The Velveteen Ocelot
(116,003 posts)and its platform in favor of the Dem party platform, he's not a Republican any more. It is a condition one can recover from.
MiniMe
(21,724 posts)The Velveteen Ocelot
(116,003 posts)he still agrees with the GOP platform? Has he expressed an opinion on immigration, reproductive rights, universal health care, etc.? I can't assume he's still a Republican unless he says something supporting current Republican positions, and I haven't heard one way or the other.
saidsimplesimon
(7,888 posts)it is not easy forgiving former members of the bushit team. I appreciate his ethical approach as he has defended in the media and political world. I can not vote in his state. He has my support.
a kennedy
(29,779 posts)then I decide how I feel about Mr. Painter.
The Velveteen Ocelot
(116,003 posts)The party leaders will probably stick with Smith.
ProudMNDemocrat
(16,899 posts)People change. Richard Painter made a lot of points invoking both Al Franken and Paul Wellstone's passion for this state, and the values that make Minnesota such a great state.
BannonsLiver
(16,548 posts)If someone didnt know Painters background as a Republican and just started following him on twitter the last year or so theyd probably think hes always been a center-left Dem.
Is he sincere? Ill leave that up to the voters of MN. What is apparent to me is that hes definitely not a milquetoast face in the crowd type of pol.
ProudMNDemocrat
(16,899 posts)He is no pushover.
He is not a Law Professor at the U of M for nothing.
BannonsLiver
(16,548 posts)If I lived in MN hed have my primary vote. Smith has made very little of her opportunity. To use a sports metaphor, I never hear her name called. Seems very much like a non-factor, at least to some of us outside the state.
democrank
(11,115 posts)He earned my respect for his courageous attempts to speak up about upholding ethical standards.
His is a rare exception to my All GOPEE-ers Suck rule.
Golden Raisin
(4,619 posts)in the ongoing Trump/Complicit Republican Congress waking nightmare. When he's speaking on TV or posting on Twitter I find myself agreeing strongly with him (most of the time) and in these desperate and depressing times I don't really give a flying rat's ass about his pedigree or party affiliation.
kentuck
(111,111 posts)Party label should not be our primary concern if someone is willing to stand up in an ethical way.
dlk
(11,606 posts)And now he wants Franken's senate seat. Thank you Kirsten Gillibrand!
The Velveteen Ocelot
(116,003 posts)People can and do change their minds. I want to know if he has.
shraby
(21,946 posts)good dude to but he really should drop that position.
ProudMNDemocrat
(16,899 posts)But he did give a rousing speech. I took several good photos of him.
Physically, he is not a big or tall man. Definitely silver haired and a spitfire of a speaker. He is running in the Primary and sure to get many to hear him on the campaign trail. The Debates with Tina Smith should be intetesting.
sellitman
(11,611 posts)He's only running as a Democrat because Trump sucks.
Not good enough.