Ditto to everything you wrote. Everyone will have to hang tough and not lose their nerve over the next days. The crowd that put an insurrectionist, sexual abuser, fraud, cheat, and worse back in the WH should be reminded just what his regime os doing. I hope Platner hammers on that and that our government is spending money on concentration camps and seeking to deport anyone with brown or black skin not to mention now deciding to fund all these things they'll start cutting Social Security, Medicare, and more Medicaid and food support. This situation is the definition of madness. Congratulations Graham. Let's send Collins home at last!
It’s true, the presence of a sexually predatory creep in the White House is a good rationalization for handing a democratic mandate to a sexually predatory blackwater creep who is maybe committed to advancing the United States to the socialist rapture of like Canada
Great news. I contributed to his campaign after hearing him speak. Things are moving in the right direction. I am hopeful for the mayoral race in LA. My dream is that the time will come when no US candidate for US political office will dare say, "I stand with Israel". That will indicate liberty and justice for all has survived decades of being intimidated to make a come-back and that we the people have overcome the billionaire/AIPAC grip on our corrupt political system.
Another exceptional piece by Ken. Why waste time indulging in any of the other blather, as it’s just that, blather, as has been laid out here? I was channel hopping the other day and came upon this guy giving a talk before a crowd of people at some gathering. He got my attention, as I found him to be quite direct, quite articulate, about what people want but aren’t getting. Nothing outrageous, just things like decent, affordable health care; good public education for their kids; a transit system, including public, that gets you reliably to work and around town; no more of our money going to Israel. I said this guy’s got it, I took him to be some well-spoken citizen at an “open mike” event or some such thing. Turns out it was Graham Platner being featured on “Democracy Now!” Having heard him, seen him speak, I was left with a rather surprising sentiment, I just don’t care about those allegations. Likely a to-be-expected smear campaign, but possibly there’s something to them.
What to make of that? It reminds me of that 1988 PBS mini-series “Piece of Cake” about the pilots of RAF “Hornet Squadron” in the early days of WWII. The characters were well developed, not hackneyed and two-dimensional, but complex, with weaknesses in character to put it mildly. Perhaps the most unique among them was Spitfire pilot “Moggy” Cattermole, played by Neil Dudgeon, arrogant, cynical, self-centered, cruel, and in other ways overall quite despicable. But very good combating the Luftwaffe. As one reviewer put it, “on one level you dislike the character but on another level he is depicting exactly what is needed to survive and be effective. His death at the end is a shock. ‘Piece of Cake’ would not be anywhere as good without him.”
A “Moggy” Platner may be just what’s needed for the times, to combat the “Luftwaffe” of Trump and MAGA, the rabid Right, the neocons, the hedge fund and private equity thieves, the military-industrial complex, the health care-industrial complex, the malignancy of Israel.
anonymous comment guy, what do you think of the concept of innocent until proven guilty? In line with your hope, the other day as I was demonstrating against Israel, a person drove by and shouted from his car, "I hope your terrorist friends rape you". Was that you?
Innocent until proven guilty is a principle for courts. You seem like a good person with good politics in general, so I don’t think I’ll be successful if I reach for a court rule to help you hide from what you know in your heart. No, I don’t think Lyndsey Fifield is full of crap; I think people will stop at nothing to avoid the pain of believing violence against a woman occurred because it’s unpalatable and in this case cumbersome for conclusions many people have invested their sense of self or sense of community in. It’s fun to be on a team, so I wish it was plausible that Platner is going to have a positive effect on policy greater than the effects of the toxic precedent he sets.
I am starting to think that it's worse than the Washington democrats thinking that "the electorate can't be trusted." Rather they simply ignore the electorate when their needs and desires clash against those of the big donors.
It's not a messaging problem or campaigning problem. The Problem is that the Donors come first, always, forever and for ever, worlds without end.
i cheered for him all week and got clobbered on X by a progressive who generally likes my politics, calling me a Nazi women abuser supporter. ah well... i feel vindicated and will continue my support.
" ask who benefits" exactly! A wise soul told me long ago; when things seem odd ask who stands to gain. It's been a very useful tool many times. The recent hit job on Platner was another. The consultant class fears the time when we elect our representatives rather than buy them. Thank you for your clarity.
The purpose of the Democratic Party Establishment isn't to govern or even win elections; it's to make sure no one who would raise taxes on the donor class ever gets elected.
As long as they do, they can count on showers of campaign cash, and if they lose, their corporate masters will give them massive speaking fees, highly paid think tank gigs, and cushy jobs logging their former colleagues.
I have been typing this in comment sections for more than a decade. It explains everything they do.
I recall going to an early meeting of "Lawyers for Good Government" about nine years ago to hear another lawyer exclaiming that Democrats "need more corporate donations." And I never went to another meeting. The party is already wringing their hands about Francesca Hong in Wisconsin's gubernatorial race
It's amazing to me that people still read/watch the MSM. Why would anyone think pundits are in possession of better information or insights than any average person on the street? They are simply carnival barkers trying to get you to waste money on a game of ring toss. They have no unique insights; they are just props that feign superior knowledge when they have none and are wrong 90% of the time. They can make bold and baseless claims night after night without repercussion. The smarmy confidence they exhibit is risible. And who anointed them as experts? Ex-military, failed politicians, and other so-called D.C. insiders are all part and parcel of the same rotten system, one that works tirelessly to maintain a status quo that no longer works in 2026. When the Platner's remake the political system they see their livelihood threatened. They still look at the political world as a MMA match between time-tested political sects. They never talk about real issues or about the needs of people. No, instead, all discourse is reduced to salacious, titillating content that panders to a Jerry Springer-like audience to see who draws first blood. It's silly and stupid and I cannot understand why people continue to watch this detritus. And look at little old "liberal" Chris Hayes, formerly of The Nation, now paid a handsome salary to masquerade as the counterweight to conservative news media. Problem is, there is no difference between the two. Both survive on ratings and advertising and the resuscitation of dying, banal "scoops" of sexting, mistresses and old twitter content. Thank goodness for Substack, The American Prospect, and people like Ken, and Drop Site and Chris Hedges. Real journalism, old school "shoe leather" journalism that informs and enlightens the reader. The rest of it is just noise.
Simply wonderful writing Ken on a subject I thought I could not bear to read 2 more words about. It's genuinely scary how well you mimic the voice of legacy media.
I hadn't read before what Hayes did. Absolutely appalling. You are probably right Platner should just ignore the avalanche of dirt now about to descend upon him. Wishing him the best, come what may.
You've nailed it, Ken. I'm constantly baffled by how the Democrats seem to not want to win. How can a Beltway Democrat look at the situation in the country and think it's going well?
Ditto to everything you wrote. Everyone will have to hang tough and not lose their nerve over the next days. The crowd that put an insurrectionist, sexual abuser, fraud, cheat, and worse back in the WH should be reminded just what his regime os doing. I hope Platner hammers on that and that our government is spending money on concentration camps and seeking to deport anyone with brown or black skin not to mention now deciding to fund all these things they'll start cutting Social Security, Medicare, and more Medicaid and food support. This situation is the definition of madness. Congratulations Graham. Let's send Collins home at last!
It’s true, the presence of a sexually predatory creep in the White House is a good rationalization for handing a democratic mandate to a sexually predatory blackwater creep who is maybe committed to advancing the United States to the socialist rapture of like Canada
Great news. I contributed to his campaign after hearing him speak. Things are moving in the right direction. I am hopeful for the mayoral race in LA. My dream is that the time will come when no US candidate for US political office will dare say, "I stand with Israel". That will indicate liberty and justice for all has survived decades of being intimidated to make a come-back and that we the people have overcome the billionaire/AIPAC grip on our corrupt political system.
Another exceptional piece by Ken. Why waste time indulging in any of the other blather, as it’s just that, blather, as has been laid out here? I was channel hopping the other day and came upon this guy giving a talk before a crowd of people at some gathering. He got my attention, as I found him to be quite direct, quite articulate, about what people want but aren’t getting. Nothing outrageous, just things like decent, affordable health care; good public education for their kids; a transit system, including public, that gets you reliably to work and around town; no more of our money going to Israel. I said this guy’s got it, I took him to be some well-spoken citizen at an “open mike” event or some such thing. Turns out it was Graham Platner being featured on “Democracy Now!” Having heard him, seen him speak, I was left with a rather surprising sentiment, I just don’t care about those allegations. Likely a to-be-expected smear campaign, but possibly there’s something to them.
What to make of that? It reminds me of that 1988 PBS mini-series “Piece of Cake” about the pilots of RAF “Hornet Squadron” in the early days of WWII. The characters were well developed, not hackneyed and two-dimensional, but complex, with weaknesses in character to put it mildly. Perhaps the most unique among them was Spitfire pilot “Moggy” Cattermole, played by Neil Dudgeon, arrogant, cynical, self-centered, cruel, and in other ways overall quite despicable. But very good combating the Luftwaffe. As one reviewer put it, “on one level you dislike the character but on another level he is depicting exactly what is needed to survive and be effective. His death at the end is a shock. ‘Piece of Cake’ would not be anywhere as good without him.”
A “Moggy” Platner may be just what’s needed for the times, to combat the “Luftwaffe” of Trump and MAGA, the rabid Right, the neocons, the hedge fund and private equity thieves, the military-industrial complex, the health care-industrial complex, the malignancy of Israel.
****************************************
Addendum (6-11-26): Contrast Ken’s piece with this bit of MSM banality, cluelessness, smugness, and self-absorption, and from a professor of journalism to boot who, characteristic of the type, conveniently omits any inclusion of what Platner has actually been campaigning on https://www.patreon.com/dankennedy/posts/supporter-197-160827182?post_id=160827182&utm_id=725070b6-4066-4284-bda1-fb086ce37cd5
anonymous comment guy, what do you think of the concept of innocent until proven guilty? In line with your hope, the other day as I was demonstrating against Israel, a person drove by and shouted from his car, "I hope your terrorist friends rape you". Was that you?
Innocent until proven guilty is a principle for courts. You seem like a good person with good politics in general, so I don’t think I’ll be successful if I reach for a court rule to help you hide from what you know in your heart. No, I don’t think Lyndsey Fifield is full of crap; I think people will stop at nothing to avoid the pain of believing violence against a woman occurred because it’s unpalatable and in this case cumbersome for conclusions many people have invested their sense of self or sense of community in. It’s fun to be on a team, so I wish it was plausible that Platner is going to have a positive effect on policy greater than the effects of the toxic precedent he sets.
I am starting to think that it's worse than the Washington democrats thinking that "the electorate can't be trusted." Rather they simply ignore the electorate when their needs and desires clash against those of the big donors.
It's not a messaging problem or campaigning problem. The Problem is that the Donors come first, always, forever and for ever, worlds without end.
I'm not even sure it's the donors they protect anymore. It's just themselves and the fulfillment of their personal ambition.
pitch perfect description, Ken.
i cheered for him all week and got clobbered on X by a progressive who generally likes my politics, calling me a Nazi women abuser supporter. ah well... i feel vindicated and will continue my support.
" ask who benefits" exactly! A wise soul told me long ago; when things seem odd ask who stands to gain. It's been a very useful tool many times. The recent hit job on Platner was another. The consultant class fears the time when we elect our representatives rather than buy them. Thank you for your clarity.
The purpose of the Democratic Party Establishment isn't to govern or even win elections; it's to make sure no one who would raise taxes on the donor class ever gets elected.
As long as they do, they can count on showers of campaign cash, and if they lose, their corporate masters will give them massive speaking fees, highly paid think tank gigs, and cushy jobs logging their former colleagues.
I have been typing this in comment sections for more than a decade. It explains everything they do.
I recall going to an early meeting of "Lawyers for Good Government" about nine years ago to hear another lawyer exclaiming that Democrats "need more corporate donations." And I never went to another meeting. The party is already wringing their hands about Francesca Hong in Wisconsin's gubernatorial race
Hong is amazing, Dems everywhere need to Suppprt her. KK, you’re in WI, right? Maybe do an interview or two before the primary?
If I ruled the world, I’d replace almost every member of Congress with Graham Platner and Thomas Massie clones.
It's amazing to me that people still read/watch the MSM. Why would anyone think pundits are in possession of better information or insights than any average person on the street? They are simply carnival barkers trying to get you to waste money on a game of ring toss. They have no unique insights; they are just props that feign superior knowledge when they have none and are wrong 90% of the time. They can make bold and baseless claims night after night without repercussion. The smarmy confidence they exhibit is risible. And who anointed them as experts? Ex-military, failed politicians, and other so-called D.C. insiders are all part and parcel of the same rotten system, one that works tirelessly to maintain a status quo that no longer works in 2026. When the Platner's remake the political system they see their livelihood threatened. They still look at the political world as a MMA match between time-tested political sects. They never talk about real issues or about the needs of people. No, instead, all discourse is reduced to salacious, titillating content that panders to a Jerry Springer-like audience to see who draws first blood. It's silly and stupid and I cannot understand why people continue to watch this detritus. And look at little old "liberal" Chris Hayes, formerly of The Nation, now paid a handsome salary to masquerade as the counterweight to conservative news media. Problem is, there is no difference between the two. Both survive on ratings and advertising and the resuscitation of dying, banal "scoops" of sexting, mistresses and old twitter content. Thank goodness for Substack, The American Prospect, and people like Ken, and Drop Site and Chris Hedges. Real journalism, old school "shoe leather" journalism that informs and enlightens the reader. The rest of it is just noise.
Simply wonderful writing Ken on a subject I thought I could not bear to read 2 more words about. It's genuinely scary how well you mimic the voice of legacy media.
I hadn't read before what Hayes did. Absolutely appalling. You are probably right Platner should just ignore the avalanche of dirt now about to descend upon him. Wishing him the best, come what may.
2. “Platner Won By Less Than Expected”
Graham won with 74%. Let me say that again. SEVENTY-FOUR PERCENT! That, in my definition, is a LANDSLIDE and a MANDATE for change. Collins is toast.
I stood up and said, "Yes, Yes, Yes!!" when I saw your subject line.
I’m looking forward to Pete Hegseth endorsing Platner after the two shared their tattoos stories over beer :o)
You've nailed it, Ken. I'm constantly baffled by how the Democrats seem to not want to win. How can a Beltway Democrat look at the situation in the country and think it's going well?
Because things are going just fine for them, that’s why.
I confess to jumping to my feet and cheering when he came out to give acceptance speech.
So the big question is, how many privileged establishment women will vote blue no matter who or PUMA???
Apparently, sometimes in Maine, the pearls grow outside the oysters!
“Washington whines”
I’m almost entirely certain the establishment will come around to accept the baby killer with open arms.