Zephyr Teachout

[Mister Mets]

Zephyr Teachout is an academic associated with Occupy Wall Street who has gotten some attention for her primary challenge against Andrew Cuomo in New York.

There's a discussion about her elsewhere.

https://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=197170.125

She has the boingboing endorsement.

http://boingboing.net/2014/09/02/zephyr-teachout-the-most-awes.html

She'll probably lose, and this thread will become pointless on Tuesday Night.

But it would be interesting to consider the possibilities if an activist with no loyalty to the establishment wins such a significant office. It seems to me that there's an opening in a presidential primary for a post-Obama progressive especially with the enthusiasm behind the elections of the likes of Elizabeth Warren, Tammy Baldwin, Brian Schatz, Chris Murphy, and Bill De Blasio.

[Maxwell]

Governor for less two years. That would be crazy. Obama at least held office for three years.

That being said, she would have some good Presidential connections - She worked on the Dean campaign, Dean could help her on the fundraising side.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

Maybe some future election, but definitely not for 2016.

[Stand With Israel. Crush Hamas]

It's exactly the kind of insane thing I could see her doing.

That being said, I see her run going roughly akin to the runs of Ron Paul on the GOP side. She'll make a certain wing go absolutely nuts, stay in long past her viability, and be a general nuisance to the party and the convention.

She'll likely be a huge boon to whoever most "mainstream left" candidate in the race is, because they'll look reasonable by comparison. That role could also be played by Sanders, but he's more genial and reasonable-sounding.

[NHLiberal]

It's exactly the kind of insane thing I could see her doing.

That being said, I see her run going roughly akin to the runs of Ron Paul on the GOP side. She'll make a certain wing go absolutely nuts, stay in long past her viability, and be a general nuisance to the party and the convention.

She'll likely be a huge boon to whoever most "mainstream left" candidate in the race is, because they'll look reasonable by comparison. That role could also be played by Sanders, but he's more genial and reasonable-sounding.

Just out of curiosity, what about Zephyr Teachout's platform and issue priorities do you find to be unreasonable? Unless you mean her candidacy overall/style which would make more sense. I agree with the rest of your post though.

[Mister Mets]

Governor for less two years. That would be crazy. Obama at least held office for three years.

That being said, she would have some good Presidential connections - She worked on the Dean campaign, Dean could help her on the fundraising side.

Presidents have been getting less qualified.

Clinton was the first small state Governor elected President.
W governed a state where most of the power was held in other offices.
Obama had been in congress for four years.

Activists are typically not as concerned about resumes, but in a crazy scenario where Teachout becomes Governor and runs for President, there wouldn't be many running on her particular issues. Her youth would help her with younger voters, while ensuring a purer record (it's conceivable that she has never expressed an opinion against gay marriage.)

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

Obama had been in congress for four years.

He beat Lincoln.

[Mister Mets]

Obama had been in congress for four years.

He beat Lincoln.

Sure.

I would count Obama as more qualified than Lincoln and Chester Arthur. Lincoln was a fantastic prez, while Arthur is likely underrated.

Lincoln's predecessor, James Buchanan, is likely one of the most qualified Presidents ever, as a former Senator, Ambassador, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee and Secretary of State.

Lincoln's successor, Andrew Johnson, had the distinction of serving in every possible local and federal office, as a Tennessee State Representative, Tennessee State Senator, Congressman, Governor, Senator, and Vice-President, plus small-town mayor and Military Governor during the Civil War.

So the qualifications don't necessarily mean that someone will be a good President, and a lack of qualifications aren't necessarily proof of a poor president, though there have also been excellent well-qualified presidents (George Washington, Thomas Jefferson) and crappy presidents with low qualifications (Franklin Pierce, Warren G Harding.)

[MATTROSE94]

If Zephyr Teachout ends up defeating Andrew Cuomo in today's primary election and then goes on to win the New York gubernatorial elections this year and again in 2018, she could very well be a top choice for the Democratic nomination in 2020 or '24 depending in her record as governor or the national political climate. If she loses today's primary, then her political career is likely over however.

[Lief 🗽]

Teachout is actually a very charismatic and personable politician, IMO. Watch some of her videos on YouTube. She's probably too left-wing to ever win anything though.

[Lambsbread]

I like the sound of "President Zephyr"

[H.E. VOLODYMYR ZELENKSYY]

Maybe if there's some sort of insurgent anti-establishment leftist wave in 2016, Teachout will have a snowball's chance in hell of winning, but probably not otherwise.

This whole episode will probably knock Cuomo out of contention, though.