“To summarize: It is a well-known fact that those people who most want to rule people are, ipso facto, those least suited to do it. To summarize the summary: Anyone who is capable of getting themselves made president should on no account be allowed to do the job.” — Douglas Adams, in The Restaurant at the End of the Universe, part two of the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy.
I think the only people allowed to run for Congress, are those who actually went to a grocery store in the last year. (For president, only those who know how to open doors themselves.)
It seems the more money that becomes part of any election the more indirect or molded or manufactured the image becomes for the candidate. Wouldn’t it be great to get our new and improved government to remove citizens United and the electoral college in the first 100 days? If you could no longer buy candidates or swing states it might seem more stable. (To me IMHO)
Getting rid of Citizens United is a must, but it's also a very heavy lift. For the Supreme Court to overturn it, it'll have to be expanded or several justices will have to retire or die off and be replaced by pro-democracy justices. Can Congress overrule SCOTUS on what seems to be a constitutional question? As I understand it, it'll take a constitutional amendment -- no one's idea of a quick fix. Same goes for getting rid of the Electoral College, which is actually *in* the Constitution, rather than just an interpretation of it.
The National Popular Vote Compact has been working on a work-around for several years. States commit to casting their electoral votes for the winner of the popular vote. It's become law in 19 states that represent 222 electoral votes. The goal is 270. More about it: https://www.nationalpopularvote.com/state-status
We need the Dems to get together and get things done. We need a 5 or 10 point plan outlining their priorities and what they will do to achieve them. Trump, with the help of The Heritage Foundation, did this very well as much as it pains me to say.
“We need . . .”? Who’s your “we”? How much do you know about how the “Democratic Party” functions? Some parts of it function quite well, and others — well, take a good look at the DNC for starters. The Republican Party is comparatively monolithic. Should Dems become more like them?
The winner take all aspect of the electoral college is not part of the constitution. Jefferson started that. Heather Cox Richardson mentioned this in one of her recent talk, but I don’t recall which. I’m just adding to your comment—not contesting any of it.
The more money, the more creating appearance, the more lipstick on the pig. There is too much money in politics. People talk more about money raised than about what is actually going to get done.
I supported Jordan Wood's campaign from its inception. Four months later, while trying to get Jordan's story out, Platner came out of nowhere to declare, and in ten days appeared before thousands with Bernie and Troy. Felt more like a bulldozer than a grassroots movement. Lots of press coverage right away. There are good candidates who can help people, but finding them is difficult in our system. I fantasize about an informed electorate that has unfetter(men)ed access to an online forum where potential candidates can share their ideas and advance when their message resonates. Probably possible only in a not-for-profit election environment
I cannot help but chuckle at people who promote tattooed pols like Platner and Hegseth.
Back in the summer of 1970, my Marine drill instructor, the late Gunny Botine, used to remind all of us officer candidates that "A tattoo is permanent evidence of a temporary lapse in judgment." Logically, the more tatts a person sports, the more frequently they suffer lapses in judgment. That is why you rarely see tattooed people in boardrooms but frequently see them working in jobs like nightclub bouncers or forklift drivers in warehouses or rock stars like Justin Bieber, who is trying to remove some of them.
One thing that strikes me about Katz and his two co-conspirators in the Platner case is that none of them are working class, and yet they purport to go out and find "working class" candidates. As for Bernie Sanders, he is fixated upon certain ideas, so people need to examine his endorsed candidates from a wider perspective. In the end, the energy for a campaign needs to come from a candidate who is authentic and driven by a desire and plans to make things better for people.
Marketing = B***S*** on adrenalin. The lack of vetting is so stupid, especially given the stakes are so high and the fact that the opposition will certainly do a deep-dive investigation of an opposing candidate, that it is unbelievable. Both parties are run by idiots. I am so thoroughly disgusted.
This is a really valuable summary. I wasn’t aware of this backstory, and I follow politics closely. Sanders’ judgment in people has always been atrocious, and the Dems need to be skeptical of anyone he supports. There also needs to be some behind the scenes pressure on Dems, including Mamdani, to distance themselves from Katz.
In a column with more than 30 paragraphs devoted to Morris Katz, Graham Platner, and Bernie Sanders, Lurie devotes a scant two paragraphs to Zohran Mamdani, and they disclosed only that in a press conference a month ago, Mamdani didn't throw Katz under the bus. Fwiw, I'm not a Sanders fan, I saw through Platner's faux-working-class credentials PDQ, and the less said about Fetterman the better, but dragging Mamdani into it merely through his association with Morris Katz is borderline McCarthyism. Now I'm off to make sure my Public Notice sub doesn't automatically renew.
I think that the difference between Mamdani and the Platner and Fetterman fiascos is that Mamdani is authentic and Katz appears to have done a good job of helping to show that authenticity. Platner and Fetterman were Katz's creation of Franken-candidates with the superficial flourishes that appeal to people who do not examine candidates in any depth. Mamdani was also a bit of fresh air after New Yorkers fell for the superficial Eric Adams in the last mayoral election.
Sorry to hear you will be leaving because you disagree with something that was written. This is a great forum to dispute things one disagrees with without being subjected to nasty trolls. Please reconsider.
Fortunately I subscribe to several (too many!) other Substacks excellent posts and valuable discussions on subjects of interest. This one was pretty far down my list, so I doubt I’ll miss it. If I do — well, my sub doesn’t run out till next spring.
You make a good point. If they’re going to mention Mamdani’s use of Katz as an adviser, they might have said more about that. Clarified the role and whether or how it’s different from Katz’ candidate search. PN has several contributors. I’ve canceled annual subscriptions, too, though. It’s good that we have so many choices.
"Furthermore, Fight Agency likely reaped a quick windfall by working for billionaire Tom Steyer, who fell short in his self-funded vanity campaign for California governor"
Now I understand the ugly, tone-deaf attack ads the Steyer campaign put out, which turned off so many voters I was texting for the campaign. I figured he had consultants who didn't know CA or how to run a field operation. The texting operation was woefully understaffed, shocking to me and others who have volunteered on campaigns. Steyer had a lot of good ideas and a personality that people liked when they saw him in person.
I know this wasn't your main point, but: as a Californian voter, I agree that Steyer has good ideas and a winning personality. For me, neither of those qualities overcame his lack of government experience, his self-admitted ignorance of Sacramento doings (he refused to pass judgment on Newsom's tenure because he hadn't followed it closely enough), his billionaire status, and his seemingly unquenchable desire to spend his way into high office. And I obviously wasn't the only voter who felt this way.
I wish him well and hope he continues to spend his fortune promoting progressive causes, as the private citizen he is and should remain.
I agree. Candidate Becerra, who will be our next governor, has lots of excellent experience at several levels of government, in CA and DC, which should serve him well. My concern about him is the reason I supported Steyer - the climate crisis getting closer to the tipping point of no return - and Becerra's website doesn't mention it at all.
A Gen Z kiddie marketing group not doing their due diligence shouldn't be surprising; it exposes the weaknesses in such a group. But the Dem establishment earned this kind of stuff bc they continue to slurp the billionaire's stuff, ignore the real issues everyday Americans face and have been completely inept at dealing with the growing fascism taking over America. Middle of the road failures like Schumer, Jeffries and James Carville have steered the Democratic Party into the ditch. Bitching about the fact the guy towing them out of the ditch has tattoos and a sketch history is an earned problem.
Whatever you want to say about Katz and his team they're right to look for people who will FIGHT. Democratic voters are not voting for socialists because of left wing policies they're voting for people who are willing to speak the truth, fight for what's right and confront the billionaire class that has stolen all the economic gains of the last 45 years.
It's well past time for the Dems to get together and come up with a 5 or 10 point plan for Day One. The Trump bashing is getting old. The press and voters need to challenge the Dems to get it together. And, yes, appearances are not enough. Morris Katz got paid, but hopefully will not get hired again.
Bernie Sanders, as his two presidential bids showed, is a die-hard misogynist. Of course he'd rather have a "progressive" candidate who's an abuser of women than admit that for him crimes against women don't count for much.
May I humbly suggest that the term "blunderkind" might be a more appropriate descriptor for Katz? The future political prodigies he foists upon the nation should be taken with a Platner-sized heap of salt.
Yep now is the time to gather together is a large circle and perform the traditional Democratic party circular firing squad.
Sure, political consultant make a living. I have been in may startups and one thing always became clear to me, you HAVE to make a profit to stay in business. How can you have professionals, with experience and skill, managing a complex campaign if they do not get paid? I will agree, there is no doubt mistakes made, due to greed, inexperience, incompetence etc... Welcome to small businesses. Please propose a solution to the inherent problem of how to get the resources, skills, connections and experience needed to help a novice break into politics. Or are you saying only 'establishment' politicians are allowed to be in politics at the national level? I hope you understand that Democracy requires real choices, right?
I agree Fetterman is broken. I agree Platner was rough. But I STILL want to see some investigation of the people helping the one ex-girlfriend who leveled accusations at Platner. Watched too many episodes of the Maury Povich show where it turned out the woman lied to just assume an accusation is true. I keep hearing the word 'Credibly' used, but never any reason to consider it credible, just the assumption that since he had already been accused by the same woman of lesser wrongs, he MUST be guilty of the latest accusation. Have also seen the current Republican party all too ready to lie and cheat and even break the law, so I want to see who was really involved. Most of the main media has been corrupted by Trump, so when they do their usual dance of pouncing on every possible 'scandal and repeating it for months, excuse me if I don't just repeat their mantra.
The countless times I heard "Nazi Tattoo" before I ever saw it was a skull. Most people would assume they meant a swastika, don't you think? You talk about 'threats' but again, vagueness! Please be more clear, and what was her source of knowledge? Where in the timeline was it? After he had the Tattoo removed? IF you make accusations, bring the details, I want evidence!
Without Platner, we would never have known the real hunger for major change in Maine. Chuck Schumer's choice of a very old 'moderate' ex governor would have faced off against the incumbent, a very old 'Moderate' Senator. No major change. Now we have a candidate with a chance, unless you want to change the narrative and focus on Platner, when he is no longer in the race?
Sure, investigate, but please stop making it about PLATNER. So far as I can see, he got recruited, said 'Sure', and got attacked from three sides: Republicans and their operatives, Establishment Democrats and their operatives, and Major Media which has been corrupted by Trump. I think for a novice he handled himself well, despite not being a trained and curated, raised in a vat Democratic Candidate (many of whom have 'failed').
“To summarize: It is a well-known fact that those people who most want to rule people are, ipso facto, those least suited to do it. To summarize the summary: Anyone who is capable of getting themselves made president should on no account be allowed to do the job.” — Douglas Adams, in The Restaurant at the End of the Universe, part two of the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy.
The Woody Allen paradox(attributed to him, anyway): I wouldn't want to join a club who would accept someone like me as a member.
I think the only people allowed to run for Congress, are those who actually went to a grocery store in the last year. (For president, only those who know how to open doors themselves.)
And close their own umbrellas!
Not too much to ask, is it?
Katz is the kind of person the Democratic Party doesn't need.
It seems the more money that becomes part of any election the more indirect or molded or manufactured the image becomes for the candidate. Wouldn’t it be great to get our new and improved government to remove citizens United and the electoral college in the first 100 days? If you could no longer buy candidates or swing states it might seem more stable. (To me IMHO)
Getting rid of Citizens United is a must, but it's also a very heavy lift. For the Supreme Court to overturn it, it'll have to be expanded or several justices will have to retire or die off and be replaced by pro-democracy justices. Can Congress overrule SCOTUS on what seems to be a constitutional question? As I understand it, it'll take a constitutional amendment -- no one's idea of a quick fix. Same goes for getting rid of the Electoral College, which is actually *in* the Constitution, rather than just an interpretation of it.
The National Popular Vote Compact has been working on a work-around for several years. States commit to casting their electoral votes for the winner of the popular vote. It's become law in 19 states that represent 222 electoral votes. The goal is 270. More about it: https://www.nationalpopularvote.com/state-status
We need the Dems to get together and get things done. We need a 5 or 10 point plan outlining their priorities and what they will do to achieve them. Trump, with the help of The Heritage Foundation, did this very well as much as it pains me to say.
“We need . . .”? Who’s your “we”? How much do you know about how the “Democratic Party” functions? Some parts of it function quite well, and others — well, take a good look at the DNC for starters. The Republican Party is comparatively monolithic. Should Dems become more like them?
The winner take all aspect of the electoral college is not part of the constitution. Jefferson started that. Heather Cox Richardson mentioned this in one of her recent talk, but I don’t recall which. I’m just adding to your comment—not contesting any of it.
The more money, the more creating appearance, the more lipstick on the pig. There is too much money in politics. People talk more about money raised than about what is actually going to get done.
I supported Jordan Wood's campaign from its inception. Four months later, while trying to get Jordan's story out, Platner came out of nowhere to declare, and in ten days appeared before thousands with Bernie and Troy. Felt more like a bulldozer than a grassroots movement. Lots of press coverage right away. There are good candidates who can help people, but finding them is difficult in our system. I fantasize about an informed electorate that has unfetter(men)ed access to an online forum where potential candidates can share their ideas and advance when their message resonates. Probably possible only in a not-for-profit election environment
I cannot help but chuckle at people who promote tattooed pols like Platner and Hegseth.
Back in the summer of 1970, my Marine drill instructor, the late Gunny Botine, used to remind all of us officer candidates that "A tattoo is permanent evidence of a temporary lapse in judgment." Logically, the more tatts a person sports, the more frequently they suffer lapses in judgment. That is why you rarely see tattooed people in boardrooms but frequently see them working in jobs like nightclub bouncers or forklift drivers in warehouses or rock stars like Justin Bieber, who is trying to remove some of them.
Uh-rah to Gunny Botine - may he rest in peace!
One thing that strikes me about Katz and his two co-conspirators in the Platner case is that none of them are working class, and yet they purport to go out and find "working class" candidates. As for Bernie Sanders, he is fixated upon certain ideas, so people need to examine his endorsed candidates from a wider perspective. In the end, the energy for a campaign needs to come from a candidate who is authentic and driven by a desire and plans to make things better for people.
Marketing = B***S*** on adrenalin. The lack of vetting is so stupid, especially given the stakes are so high and the fact that the opposition will certainly do a deep-dive investigation of an opposing candidate, that it is unbelievable. Both parties are run by idiots. I am so thoroughly disgusted.
This is a really valuable summary. I wasn’t aware of this backstory, and I follow politics closely. Sanders’ judgment in people has always been atrocious, and the Dems need to be skeptical of anyone he supports. There also needs to be some behind the scenes pressure on Dems, including Mamdani, to distance themselves from Katz.
In a column with more than 30 paragraphs devoted to Morris Katz, Graham Platner, and Bernie Sanders, Lurie devotes a scant two paragraphs to Zohran Mamdani, and they disclosed only that in a press conference a month ago, Mamdani didn't throw Katz under the bus. Fwiw, I'm not a Sanders fan, I saw through Platner's faux-working-class credentials PDQ, and the less said about Fetterman the better, but dragging Mamdani into it merely through his association with Morris Katz is borderline McCarthyism. Now I'm off to make sure my Public Notice sub doesn't automatically renew.
I think that the difference between Mamdani and the Platner and Fetterman fiascos is that Mamdani is authentic and Katz appears to have done a good job of helping to show that authenticity. Platner and Fetterman were Katz's creation of Franken-candidates with the superficial flourishes that appeal to people who do not examine candidates in any depth. Mamdani was also a bit of fresh air after New Yorkers fell for the superficial Eric Adams in the last mayoral election.
Sorry to hear you will be leaving because you disagree with something that was written. This is a great forum to dispute things one disagrees with without being subjected to nasty trolls. Please reconsider.
Fortunately I subscribe to several (too many!) other Substacks excellent posts and valuable discussions on subjects of interest. This one was pretty far down my list, so I doubt I’ll miss it. If I do — well, my sub doesn’t run out till next spring.
Ok, then. I have had to do a bit of pruning myself.
Wow. It's no wonder Dems can never do anything when their own supporters spend energy on this kind of in-house hatred.
If you think this is an example of “hatred,” you may never have seen the real thing in action.
You make a good point. If they’re going to mention Mamdani’s use of Katz as an adviser, they might have said more about that. Clarified the role and whether or how it’s different from Katz’ candidate search. PN has several contributors. I’ve canceled annual subscriptions, too, though. It’s good that we have so many choices.
"Furthermore, Fight Agency likely reaped a quick windfall by working for billionaire Tom Steyer, who fell short in his self-funded vanity campaign for California governor"
Now I understand the ugly, tone-deaf attack ads the Steyer campaign put out, which turned off so many voters I was texting for the campaign. I figured he had consultants who didn't know CA or how to run a field operation. The texting operation was woefully understaffed, shocking to me and others who have volunteered on campaigns. Steyer had a lot of good ideas and a personality that people liked when they saw him in person.
I know this wasn't your main point, but: as a Californian voter, I agree that Steyer has good ideas and a winning personality. For me, neither of those qualities overcame his lack of government experience, his self-admitted ignorance of Sacramento doings (he refused to pass judgment on Newsom's tenure because he hadn't followed it closely enough), his billionaire status, and his seemingly unquenchable desire to spend his way into high office. And I obviously wasn't the only voter who felt this way.
I wish him well and hope he continues to spend his fortune promoting progressive causes, as the private citizen he is and should remain.
I agree. Candidate Becerra, who will be our next governor, has lots of excellent experience at several levels of government, in CA and DC, which should serve him well. My concern about him is the reason I supported Steyer - the climate crisis getting closer to the tipping point of no return - and Becerra's website doesn't mention it at all.
You're absolutely right about that. We will need to push Becerra as hard as we can on this.
A Gen Z kiddie marketing group not doing their due diligence shouldn't be surprising; it exposes the weaknesses in such a group. But the Dem establishment earned this kind of stuff bc they continue to slurp the billionaire's stuff, ignore the real issues everyday Americans face and have been completely inept at dealing with the growing fascism taking over America. Middle of the road failures like Schumer, Jeffries and James Carville have steered the Democratic Party into the ditch. Bitching about the fact the guy towing them out of the ditch has tattoos and a sketch history is an earned problem.
Whatever you want to say about Katz and his team they're right to look for people who will FIGHT. Democratic voters are not voting for socialists because of left wing policies they're voting for people who are willing to speak the truth, fight for what's right and confront the billionaire class that has stolen all the economic gains of the last 45 years.
It's well past time for the Dems to get together and come up with a 5 or 10 point plan for Day One. The Trump bashing is getting old. The press and voters need to challenge the Dems to get it together. And, yes, appearances are not enough. Morris Katz got paid, but hopefully will not get hired again.
Bernie Sanders, as his two presidential bids showed, is a die-hard misogynist. Of course he'd rather have a "progressive" candidate who's an abuser of women than admit that for him crimes against women don't count for much.
May I humbly suggest that the term "blunderkind" might be a more appropriate descriptor for Katz? The future political prodigies he foists upon the nation should be taken with a Platner-sized heap of salt.
Yep now is the time to gather together is a large circle and perform the traditional Democratic party circular firing squad.
Sure, political consultant make a living. I have been in may startups and one thing always became clear to me, you HAVE to make a profit to stay in business. How can you have professionals, with experience and skill, managing a complex campaign if they do not get paid? I will agree, there is no doubt mistakes made, due to greed, inexperience, incompetence etc... Welcome to small businesses. Please propose a solution to the inherent problem of how to get the resources, skills, connections and experience needed to help a novice break into politics. Or are you saying only 'establishment' politicians are allowed to be in politics at the national level? I hope you understand that Democracy requires real choices, right?
I agree Fetterman is broken. I agree Platner was rough. But I STILL want to see some investigation of the people helping the one ex-girlfriend who leveled accusations at Platner. Watched too many episodes of the Maury Povich show where it turned out the woman lied to just assume an accusation is true. I keep hearing the word 'Credibly' used, but never any reason to consider it credible, just the assumption that since he had already been accused by the same woman of lesser wrongs, he MUST be guilty of the latest accusation. Have also seen the current Republican party all too ready to lie and cheat and even break the law, so I want to see who was really involved. Most of the main media has been corrupted by Trump, so when they do their usual dance of pouncing on every possible 'scandal and repeating it for months, excuse me if I don't just repeat their mantra.
The countless times I heard "Nazi Tattoo" before I ever saw it was a skull. Most people would assume they meant a swastika, don't you think? You talk about 'threats' but again, vagueness! Please be more clear, and what was her source of knowledge? Where in the timeline was it? After he had the Tattoo removed? IF you make accusations, bring the details, I want evidence!
Without Platner, we would never have known the real hunger for major change in Maine. Chuck Schumer's choice of a very old 'moderate' ex governor would have faced off against the incumbent, a very old 'Moderate' Senator. No major change. Now we have a candidate with a chance, unless you want to change the narrative and focus on Platner, when he is no longer in the race?
Sure, investigate, but please stop making it about PLATNER. So far as I can see, he got recruited, said 'Sure', and got attacked from three sides: Republicans and their operatives, Establishment Democrats and their operatives, and Major Media which has been corrupted by Trump. I think for a novice he handled himself well, despite not being a trained and curated, raised in a vat Democratic Candidate (many of whom have 'failed').