‘The Democratic establishment is completely disconnected from where Democratic voters are,’ one strategist told Eric Garcia, after the rebuke to the seemingly out-of-touch 75-year-old Senate minority leader

Democrats are pressing Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, 75, to stay out of future primaries after his 78-year-old pick for Maine’s Senate race dropped out this week, Politico reported.

On Thursday, Gov. Janet Mills announced that she would drop out of the Democratic primary, essentially clearing the field for insurgent progressive candidate Graham Platner to become the party’s nominee to challenge Republican Sen. Susan Collins.

Schumer had backed Mills, the two-term governor of Maine, for the marquee race involving the only Republican representing a state with a majority that voted for Kamala Harris.

But Mills consistently polled behind Platner despite a litany of controversies around the oysterman regarding his use of a slur for people with disabilities, and his comments on Reddit from more than a decade ago about Black people not tipping at restaurants and about sexual assault.

  • ViceroTempus@lemmy.world
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    13 hours ago

    Agreed, I really like such an idea. I think another option of giving them a tip or bonus if they were exceptional would also be nice. A carrot to go with the sticks, so to speak.

    • wonderingwanderer@sopuli.xyz
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      11 hours ago

      Only if their constituents vote on an all-or-nothing bonus. Not individuals tipping politicians because that would easily be abused by the wealthy and is basically a bribe.

      • ViceroTempus@lemmy.world
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        5 hours ago

        Yes, agreed. I was thinking more like a stipend that’s been put aside during their years of service. Did a good job? You get the money that was put aside. If not, well it just rolls back into the government’s budget for the next worthy politician.

        • wonderingwanderer@sopuli.xyz
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          2 hours ago

          Maybe we could just make their pension contingent on the same exit vote where their constituents decide whether or not they go to jail.