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David Dayen
@ddayen
This is a real shame, Tom would have served in the tradition of Wisconsin populists. His campaign had a Wellstone feel to it. But the system isn't set up for someone like that today.
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Ryan Grim
@ryangrim
Your Democratic Party: Progressive who has won county exec races in a Trump area, known for saving a paper mill by working creatively with the union to keep it alive, is dropping out of the WI Senate race for lack of money. Marc Lasry, son of a billionaire from NY, is climbing. twitter.com/NelsonforWI/st…
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Stanzo™ Brand Fedoras: They're Nice!
@that_tattoos
Replying to
@ddayen
mandela barnes can't win? he's not progressive? will his general election campaign be more susceptible to vote suppression because he's black? no sane person thinks having two progressives cancel each other out in a primary is a good thing. so explain why this is such a tragedy.
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David Dayen
@ddayen
Replying to
@that_tattoos
No two politicians, even with the same ideological makeup, will focus on exactly the same issues or use exactly the same tactics. IMO not having Tom Nelson in the Senate is a loss for the country. The tactic can be good (that's why Nelson did it) and it can still be a bummer, OK?
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Shahid Buttar (find me on Substack)
@ShahidForChange
Replying to
@ddayen
and
@NelsonforWI
You’re right
@ddayen
but overlooking the role of clickbait in undermining truly progressive candidates.
@ryangrim
knows the pattern well and recently documented its ongoing recurrence although even that analysis was charitable towards the strategic racism Tom never had to face.
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Shahid Buttar (find me on Substack)
@ShahidForChange
My reputation was the subject of coordinated racist lies indulged unethically by @EskSF @timredmondsf @politicalnotes @joegarofoli & @akela_lacy @theintercept—but the ultimate targets were 800,000 voters tricked by media outlets publishing disinformation they’ve never corrected. twitter.com/ericcurrysf/st…
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Jordan Zakarin
@jordanzakarin
Replying to
@ddayen
We often talked about Wellstone when discussing the campaign. Tom is in that mold of tireless public servant who offers a relatable neighbor populism and fearlessness to take on intractable power. Embracing underdog status and poking fun at himself made for great videos, too.
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