this post was submitted on 09 Jul 2026
44 points (97.8% liked)

politics

30342 readers
2073 users here now

Welcome to the discussion of US Politics!

Rules:

  1. Post only links to articles, Title must fairly describe link contents. If your title differs from the site’s, it should only be to add context or be more descriptive. Do not post entire articles in the body or in the comments.

Links must be to the original source, not an aggregator like Google Amp, MSN, or Yahoo.

Example:

  1. Articles must be relevant to politics. Links must be to quality and original content. Articles should be worth reading. Clickbait, stub articles, and rehosted or stolen content are not allowed. Check your source for Reliability and Bias here.
  2. Be civil, No violations of TOS. It’s OK to say the subject of an article is behaving like a (pejorative, pejorative). It’s NOT OK to say another USER is (pejorative). Strong language is fine, just not directed at other members. Engage in good-faith and with respect! This includes accusing another user of being a bot or paid actor. Trolling is uncivil and is grounds for removal and/or a community ban.
  3. No memes, trolling, or low-effort comments. Reposts, misinformation, off-topic, trolling, or offensive. Similarly, if you see posts along these lines, do not engage. Report them, block them, and live a happier life than they do. We see too many slapfights that boil down to "Mom! He's bugging me!" and "I'm not touching you!" Going forward, slapfights will result in removed comments and temp bans to cool off.
  4. Vote based on comment quality, not agreement. This community aims to foster discussion; please reward people for putting effort into articulating their viewpoint, even if you disagree with it.
  5. No hate speech, slurs, celebrating death, advocating violence, or abusive language. This will result in a ban. Usernames containing racist, or inappropriate slurs will be banned without warning

We ask that the users report any comment or post that violate the rules, to use critical thinking when reading, posting or commenting. Users that post off-topic spam, advocate violence, have multiple comments or posts removed, weaponize reports or violate the code of conduct will be banned.

All posts and comments will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. This means that some content that violates the rules may be allowed, while other content that does not violate the rules may be removed. The moderators retain the right to remove any content and ban users.

That's all the rules!

Civic Links

• Register To Vote

• Citizenship Resource Center

• Congressional Awards Program

• Federal Government Agencies

• Library of Congress Legislative Resources

• The White House

• U.S. House of Representatives

• U.S. Senate

Partnered Communities:

• News

• World News

• Business News

• Political Discussion

• Ask Politics

• Military News

• Global Politics

• Moderate Politics

• Progressive Politics

• UK Politics

• Canadian Politics

• Australian Politics

• New Zealand Politics

founded 3 years ago
MODERATORS
outrageousmatter@lemmy.world
aidan@lemmy.world
jordanlund@lemmy.world
little_cow@lemmy.world
Theonetheycall1845@lemmy.world
JuBe@lemmy.world
Lasherz12@lemmy.world
44
A defiant Platner exits Maine Senate race (www.semafor.com)
submitted 15 hours ago by return2ozma@lemmy.world to c/politics@lemmy.world
26 comments fedilink hide all child comments
top 26 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] CharlesDarwin@lemmy.world 3 points 4 hours ago* (last edited 4 hours ago)

He's gone. This guy is accused, if credibly, of sexual assault. He's hounded out of the race. And probably should be.

Meanwhile, Donvict was convicted in court of rape. He's been ordered to pay 5 million dollars in relation to that court case. And he's still in office and holds the reins on the conservative movement and their party.

The Murc's Law media and the right wing and all the bullshit artists trying to cover up for being conservative:

"both sides"!

https://www.instagram.com/original_pringles/reel/DZ8zh0NR01T/

[–] AdolfSchmitler@lemmy.world 7 points 8 hours ago (1 children)

Kind of surprised tbh. Thought he was going to double down but at least he dropped out early enough to let someone else run.

[–] velma@sh.itjust.works 2 points 8 hours ago (1 children)

Did you watch his video? He did double down, but at least he suspended his campaign.

[–] AdolfSchmitler@lemmy.world 3 points 8 hours ago (1 children)

Double down as in continue running. No I haven't watched the video but heard he went with the "we can't let accusations be judge jury and executioner" or something like that, which is disappointing.

[–] velma@sh.itjust.works 1 points 8 hours ago

Yeah sorry, I was expanding on your comment more than correcting you but I see that didn’t come across clearly.

[–] TranscendentalEmpire@lemmy.today 3 points 7 hours ago (1 children)

Called it. Even if you completely ignore the Nazi tattoo, which you shouldn't. But I am willing to believe a scenario that involves an American ignorant enough of history to unwittingly get a Nazi symbol on their chest.

However, I didnt for a second think that his walk matched his talk. You aren't antiwar if you volunteer to go to war, re enlist twice, and then sign up to be a military contractor. You do that because you like violence and are a chud. I was also highly skeptical that someone who grew up going to one of the more expensive private schools in that region of the country, would really know much about class dynamics and socialism.

This guy was just going to be another Fetterman. A rich kid pretending to be for the worker while being bank rolled by their rich conservative family.

[–] Nouvellalia@lemmy.world 3 points 7 hours ago* (last edited 4 hours ago) (1 children)

I am willing to imagine a dumb 20 year old army dong getting one, I am not willing to imagine he kept it for two decades through all that macho crayon eating, nips out with the boys, and never knew what it was. Regardless, your read on him is right. As soon as he got elected, he'd pop off the condom and treat us like his little war-girls.

[–] TranscendentalEmpire@lemmy.today 4 points 6 hours ago

With context it's not believable, but people wouldn't even engage with other criticism of his history unless you took the whole Nazi tattoo off the table.

If that had been the only glaring issue with his character it would be damning, but combined with his actual history and him being a nepo "small" business tyrant...... I couldn't see how anyone was willing to extend him the level of trust he gartered. It's like people haven't heard of politicians lying for personal gain or something.

[–] NABDad@lemmy.world 31 points 13 hours ago* (last edited 13 hours ago) (2 children)

“The corporate media system and the political establishment got to act as judge, jury, and executioner,” Platner said in an 11 minute, 15 second campaign video. “We live in a political system that is not built for normal people.”

Ok, I'm disappointed, but seriously? Is he trying to suggest that it's all a lie, or is he trying to suggest that all normal people have a couple sexual assaults in their background?

Does he think his history counts as "normal people"?

[–] velma@sh.itjust.works 13 points 11 hours ago (1 children)

I’ve literally seen people arguing that Platner is normal and that we should elect him anyway because we aren’t going to find people who haven’t sexually assaulted or raped women.

[–] NABDad@lemmy.world 9 points 10 hours ago

That's pretty pathetic.

[–] TheDemonBuer@lemmy.world 14 points 12 hours ago (2 children)

Does he think his history counts as "normal people"?

I think he does think that. Apparently many disagree. My question is: why don't the really normal people run for office themselves? If even one tenth of one percent of people who are celebrating Planter dropping out were to run themselves, there'd be so many candidates you'd think at least one of them would be acceptable.

[–] akilou@sh.itjust.works 13 points 9 hours ago (1 children)

I'm assuming you're a normal person. With a job. Are you willing to leave your job to run a campaign? And what if, in a year when the election happens and the campaign is over, you don't win? Now you don't have a job.

[–] TheDemonBuer@lemmy.world -5 points 9 hours ago (1 children)

I'm assuming you're a normal person.

No, I'm not normal. I'm problematic. I wouldn't pass liberal purity tests. So it can't be me, it's gotta be one of y'all. People like me and Platner can't do it, we're far too flawed. Evil, even. It's going to have to be one of the morally normal liberals. So which one of you are gonna step up and make the sacrifice?

[–] velma@sh.itjust.works 11 points 9 hours ago (1 children)

Could we stop framing literal rape and voluntary mercenary work as “liberal purity tests”?

[–] TheDemonBuer@lemmy.world -4 points 9 hours ago (2 children)

I said we were evil. Is that not strong enough language?

[–] celeste@kbin.earth 4 points 8 hours ago

Did you rape someone? In that case, engage in restitution for your victim(s) like Platner did not do. Turn yourself in to relevent authorities, if that is what your victims(s) want.

Maybe I wouldn't want you in the Senate, as a rapist, where you would have more power and access to victims, but you could probably work in the background in politics or in your local council after you genuinely acted to make up for your behavior.

If you're talking about saying bigoted shit on reddit, that is not the level we're discussing anymore.

[–] velma@sh.itjust.works 0 points 8 hours ago (1 children)

Despite common belief, sarcasm can be read from text pretty well in most cases.

[–] KingOfSleep@lemmy.ca 0 points 8 hours ago (1 children)

I can't tell if you're kidding or not...

[–] velma@sh.itjust.works 0 points 7 hours ago (1 children)

People like me and Platner can’t do it, we’re far too flawed. Evil, even. It’s going to have to be one of the morally normal liberals. So which one of you are gonna step up and make the sacrifice?

You're telling me this isn't dripping with sarcasm?

[–] KingOfSleep@lemmy.ca 2 points 53 minutes ago (1 children)

Whoosh

[–] velma@sh.itjust.works 1 points 51 minutes ago* (last edited 46 minutes ago)

Ah damnit you're right I missed that! I'm not looking out for jokes when I've got people defending rape at me hahaha

[–] NABDad@lemmy.world 14 points 11 hours ago (1 children)

I'd guess it's primarily the same thing that prevents normal people from changing jobs: losing money, losing healthcare, not being able to pay your mortgage, not being able to take care of your family.

[–] velma@sh.itjust.works 3 points 11 hours ago

Yep, the pursuit of power comes with a price. One of the many reasons these candidates should be vetted more thoroughly - they are seeking a position of power over others.

[–] KnitWit@lemmy.world 5 points 10 hours ago* (last edited 10 hours ago)

He’ll be giving interviews with Tucker Carlson by year’s end.

[–] Ferrous@lemmy.ml 0 points 9 hours ago

Shout-out to all those folks who dug in to defend this guy's Nazi tattoo. Bizarre.