this post was submitted on 05 Jun 2026
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The scandals are going to keep piling up. (lemmy.ml)
submitted 2 weeks ago by geneva_convenience@lemmy.ml to c/usa@lemmy.ml
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[–] Juice@midwest.social 13 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

I'm not gonna join in taking him down, Susan Collins has got to go. But I'm not gonna believe for one second that he is an actual socialist, or worth defending.

AOC was a tenant organizer, Mamdani was active in DSA and already had lots of experience in city government while maintaining his DemSoc creds. Platner just went, "imma be senator" and made a commercial with him pulling a net, or chopping wood or some shit.

If he spent any time whatsoever in actual spaces engaged in actual struggle, he would have gotten the tattoo covered up way before his run. The crypto-fash allegations actually stick to him, and that is his fault. The fact that no one can like actually vouch for him is what really puts me off. I dont care if his heart is in the right place or whatever, his ass was always in the wrong place, and thats all we have to go off of.

Don't vote for Collins, cast a safe vote for Platner because unseating a Republican party operator with a buffoon would be funny. But will it change jack shit? Maybe for the Democratic party, but not for anyone else.

[–] geneva_convenience@lemmy.ml 18 points 2 weeks ago (3 children)

It's not that Platner is worse than Collins. It's that people are putting their time and effort into promoting literal Nazi candidates propped up by consultancy firm Fight Agency instead of working for real organic alternatives. Recently Maureen Galindo who was actually "rough around the edges" (unlike what they claim Platner is) was dogpiled by the entire Zionist Democrat establishment including AOC for saying she wanted to put Zionist billionaires into ICE camps.

Everything about Platner is a fake created image. Platner will just be another Fetterman.

[–] Carl@hexbear.net 13 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

Maureen Galindo

This is a really interesting comparison to make. Maureen got NONE of the grace that Platner has been extended from ANYONE. Even Hasan who has been all in on Plat and generally has a "lesser evil" attitude towards elections dismissed Maureen as MTG-like.

[–] ZeroHora@lemmy.ml 8 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

Is the USA this fucked that the alternatives are a fascist, a guy with nazi tattoo and a woman saying that Jewish people are controlling the world? LMAO

[–] djsoren19@lemmy.blahaj.zone 6 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

uh, yeah? absolutely?

There's a fascist in the white house, democracy as an institution has completely failed here.

[–] Athena5898@lemmy.ml 3 points 2 weeks ago

That implies the US was ever a real democracy. You can't claim democracy with slaves.

[–] Athena5898@lemmy.ml 5 points 2 weeks ago

Remeber go vote! 🫠

[–] Juice@midwest.social 2 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Well, I think there could be some practical utility to having a Dem senate seat flip. Lots of socialists and radicals vote in elections, and I'd like to see the seat flip blue, if only to punish the right. But practically, I agree actual conditions and consciousness won't be affected by this election. I'm in favor of checking a box on a specific day, but anything beyond that is a waste of our capacity.

There are specific edge cases where having Platner in that position is marginally better than Collins. Other edge cases where he is worse. I think the current approach of much of the left is good for the first scenario, Platner is a good case of "he isnt one of us, here are the receipts" when our enemies try to pin his false progressive pedigree on us. A future primary against him with an actual progressive candidate would help expose the complicity and corruption of the Democrats, if his term actually goes Fetterman. There would be much more evidence for it after 6 years than now when he has no record.

Honestly I dont think he will win so its all kinda moot. Just because he is a marginally viable candidate doesn't unseat Collins, you can't vote a dragon out of office, they have to be "slain" politically. The concrete basis, the mass movement capable of getting her out, just doesn't exist in Maine, as far as I can tell. Support will only lead to demoralization, but I think there's tactical utility to flipping the seat.

But like I said, there are scenarios where he is actually worse than Collins, so a political difference could appear in prioritizing those edge cases

[–] geneva_convenience@lemmy.ml 7 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

But like I said, there are scenarios where he is actually worse than Collins, so a political difference could appear in prioritizing those edge cases

Who cares? Are there any other states into which self-proclaimed progressives are taking so much effort to promote a "slightly better" (actual Nazi mass murderer) candidate? This is all so clearly an orchestrated multi-million dollar campaign by the DNC establishment with their very polished Nazi turd. There's nothing progressive going on here.

[–] Juice@midwest.social 4 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I never said progressives should make an effort to promote him. I said multiple times that we shouldn't. Just let the situation run its course and queue up the next bozo.

If Platner goes right with Fetterman, that hurts democrats in the eyes of progressives. That is a good thing for socialists, because it gives us a basis to criticize the democrats and affect consciousness around them. But we should not put any effort into promoting him, even tactically, because doing so could harm radical movements in the eyes of the working class.

Do you understand the difference between, "I hope he beats a republican" and "I will do whatever it takes to get him elected"? My position is literally " I dont care and neither should you" and you're telling me to not care differently.

You seem really invested in the idea of not checking a box for him. You haven't addressed any of my points, and have started making up things I didn't say to attack the idea of checking a box that, by your own admission, doesn't matter if it is checked or not.

I am interested in knowing under what conditions a vote for Platner is worse than a vote for Collins. If you can't come up with even a single one, then what are you even talking about?

[–] geneva_convenience@lemmy.ml 5 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (2 children)

Hurt the Democrats? It hurts the progressives. It's like nobody has learned a thing from Fetterman. Running some guy with a shady past and all the red flags isn't going to help the progressive movement. It's only going to turn off people in the future when the inevitable betrayal comes.

And people should be turned off by a "progressive" movement which endorses Nazi mass murderers. Because it isn't a viable political strategy. Which loops back to my point.

This is like promoting Kamala against Trump instead of picking someone better. Even if Platner wins it won't help in the long term.

[–] LeninsBeard@hexbear.net 2 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

It feels like you are completely talking past this person trying to make your point.

[–] Juice@midwest.social 0 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

I'm not advocating for progressive groups supporting him at all!

I'm saying that maybe people in Maine should check a box for him.

If he is a Nazi that could also work out for progressives as a propaganda point (you are certainly wearing the tread out on it) and help sell the idea of party discipline for the masses, another win for socialist politics, and another loss for Democratic party, since socialists tend to like the idea of party discipline

Fetterman hurts the Democratic party in the eyes of progressives. That is good for socialists who want to split the dems and create a legitimate alternative to the Democratic party.

There are numerous examples of a left challenger overturning shitty Democrats. AOC, Jamaal Bowman, Summer Lee, Marie Newman, Abdelnasser Rashid, and Chris Rabb are all examples of progressives taking a win off of moderate Democratic incumbents. While many of these examples are far from perfect, they prove a trend of replacing shitty moderates with progressives.

Its also not a foregone conclusion that he will vote in lockstep with republicans 100% of the time, and if he does then a more progressive candidate could primary him. The only instance where you might be correct would be if he becomes a literal Fetterman, and even though I tend to agree that is a very strong possibility, you can't prove that and there is little real indication that is the case. Its far more likely he is an idiot than it is he is a Nazi. He would have covered the tattoo if he was a Nazi trying to infiltrate progressive politics. Its far more likely he is going to be a moderate than a ringer for the extreme right. But I wouldn't rule it out.

You dont have to agree with me! But stop lying about what I'm arguing.

Edited a rude first comment that I wrote out of frustration

[–] geneva_convenience@lemmy.ml 4 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I’m not advocating for progressive groups supporting him at all!

I’m saying that maybe people in Maine should check a box for him.

So you're advocating for him.

[–] Juice@midwest.social 2 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

I'm not a progressive party though, I'm just some moron online. I dont consider checking a box a actual work that progressives should do. I would not advocate an endorsement or knocking doors or doing propaganda.

Maybe you think voting is the be all end all. I do not. Maybe you think individual votes are the same as party support. I do not. The senate is a fundamentally undemocratic institution and its probably a waste of time to run as a socialist for Senate.

But voting is just checking a box, and we let the undemocratic political machine do what it does, nothing more.

[–] Athena5898@lemmy.ml 10 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I see democrats have learned nothing. And now y'all are telling us to vote for a literal Nazi. Fucking hell.

[–] Juice@midwest.social 0 points 2 weeks ago

I'm not pro-Platner, I'm anti Collins.

Do whatever you want, the stakes could not be lower. I'm tired of this campist framing, I dont care about Platner and I dont live in Maine. I was trying to point out that there might be a tactical move in there thats worth considering, but whatever.

I'm not telling you to vote for a Nazi, I'm just trying to have a normal discussion about politics, and tactics.

All I asked for is a sane, tactical reason not to vote for him, just a normal reaction. If Platner is a Nazi then the race is between two far right maniacs, so what's the difference between them? What's wrong with having an opinion that prefers one over the other of they are both equally bad?

[–] pomegranatefern@sh.itjust.works 5 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

Didn't Maine approve ranked choice voting specifically to not get locked into a "which one sucks less" trap? How is it that I don't even see a "hey, if Platner has too many red flags for you, put this person as #1 and Platner as #2" campaign any time this discussion comes up?

[–] lemonhat75@lemmy.today 3 points 2 weeks ago (7 children)

Every time I see some dumbass shit like this, it's a good reminder that most of these libs would have hated MLK after the FBI started leaking dumbass shit about him committing adultery.

This is a distraction from his policies, which very powerful people will do anything to keep from becoming a reality.

Go cry about Brett Kavanaugh, Pete Hegseth, Donald Trump (the fucking president)....

[–] QinShiHuangsShlong@lemmy.ml 22 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

If MLK was a guard at Abu Gharib, got a giant totenkopf tattoo, and bragged about his "adventure" in the middle east and how much he enjoyed maiming, murdering, torturing, and raping his way across the middle east it would be just and right to hate him.

[–] geneva_convenience@lemmy.ml 22 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Comparing MLK to a literal Nazi Abu Ghraib guard who bragged about how much he enjoyed gunning down brown people and the only reason he quit the military was because his pay wasn't increasing.

[–] ClathrateG@hexbear.net 19 points 2 weeks ago

This was known about for over a year, there was plenty of viable candidates with the same and better policies without the baggage(to put it lighly)

[–] deathmetaldawgy@lemmy.ml 18 points 2 weeks ago

Oh come on. Do not dare compare MLK and other revolutionaries to Platner. If Fred Hampton had a Nazi tattoo and did fucking four tours of Afghanistan I would have talked my shit for that too. Don’t you ever use real revolutionaries to cover your disgusting liberal politicians gross crimes.

Yeah shame on those damn tankies for sticking to morals, policy, and holding people who are supposed to be part of our party accountable.

Go cry about Brett Kavanaugh, Pete Hegseth, Donald Trump (the fucking president)…

lol, I have, and I was the first time around when I was in High School and too young to vote. I was still very young, impressionable, I showed up to anti US military/Anti War stuff, I called my senators and representatives, I called the ones I disagree with too. You know what each and every one of them did? They had a staffer answer, “listen” and respond with a generic “thank you for bringing these issues to our attention, we assure you we will remain in contact to ensure the people of MN have a voice that can be heard!” Yadda yadda, and then they all sent me automated emails asking for donations. That’s it, no matter who or how many I times I called.

You know who is worthy of criticism in that time? Hillary and the DNC! They had the easiest win, possibly even helped Trump gain popularity and numbers because he wasn’t taken seriously as a threat. Now in 2024 we did an exact repeat, only this time Kamala was on tv the fucking day she lost, SMILING, saying “it’s okayyyy 🥲😅” like she wasn’t calling Trump (rightfully so!) a fascist just a week before. If that’s how they react to fascism I do not see why anyone thinks the DNC is willing to, much less ready to fight fascism in the US.

It is up to the people now, the working class, the unions, and a socialist party (a real one, not this American nationalist bullshit)

[–] Lussy@hexbear.net 7 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

what fucking policies are people even talking about? What part of his past informs you of his fucking policies?

[–] Drewfro66@lemmygrad.ml 5 points 2 weeks ago

Agreed, but his policies are also nothing special

[–] lemonhat75@lemmy.today -1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

You guys are right. We may have a Democrat candidate for Senate that is pro-medicare for all and is an anti-zionist, but he's not perfect enough. He served as a machine gunner marine and not a ROTC officer like Pete or James David Vance, who would never say the things Platner has. That's why I'm going to fully support Susan Collins. I just couldn't live with myself knowing that Trump and MAGA may be held responsible if Democrats win the Senate with Platner. It has to be done the right way, with true revolutionaries that have zero life experiences.

[–] Keeponstalin@lemmy.world -1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

They can never answer what alternative Mainers should vote for, they keep hitting these same notes without ever acknowledging the much worse opposition or platner's actual policy platform

[–] Marasenna@lemmygrad.ml 3 points 2 weeks ago

we have to vote for Himmler because the alternative is Hitler

I don't know what the situation is with Maine ballots but if you can't write in an actual left candidate then don't vote.

platner's actual policy platform

Do you hear yourself? Who gives a shit about the "actual policy platform" of the war criminal with the nazi tattoo?

[–] hyacin@lemmy.ml 1 points 2 weeks ago

Iron Sheik quotes running through my brain. 🤣

[–] Keeponstalin@lemmy.world 0 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

Back the Zionist candidate if you want, just like AIPAC and the Republicans. If there was literally any other candidate in Maine that also had progressive policies, no shit they would be preferred. But there isn't.

[–] geneva_convenience@lemmy.ml 3 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Wait, which is the Zionist candidate, you mean all of them?

[–] Keeponstalin@lemmy.world -3 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Platner is literally the only anti-zionist candidate on the Maine ballot

[–] geneva_convenience@lemmy.ml 7 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Endorsed by Chuck Schumer... Are you actually buying this?

[–] StinkySocialist@lemmy.ml -1 points 2 weeks ago

Yeah I don't like him either. Is there a better option in that race though?

I don't spend time defending him or telling people to vote for him but I don't get wasting time and attention on him unless there is a better option either 🤷