Avenatti

[Podgy the Bear]

Dude won't get past Iowa. He'd be a better campaign manager.

Exactly.  Democrats don't need another Robby Mook to run campaigns.

[President Johnson]

No way. He could be a campaign attack dog and should speak at the DNC, maybe running for congress or statewide office other than governor, but is as of now no presidential material. We can't play games in 2020. We need someone who can beat Trump, and beat him badly.

John Kerry and Edwards were lawyers and couldn't get elected, voters are skeptical of lawyers. He can be a convention delegate

Tell this to Barack Obama.

[Mr. Morden]

He was on ABC's "This Week" this morning and was asked about policy:

http://thehill.com/homenews/sunday-talk-shows/401440-avenatti-on-2020-campaign-the-truth-is-my-policy-issue

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[Amenhotep Bakari-Sellers]

He doesn't have a chance against Booker, but he can help campaign for Dems to be elected in 2020.

[Ogre Mage]

I think Avanetti has talent as a goon.  Perhaps I am old fashioned, but I prefer our goons to work behind the scenes.  But that doesn't seem to be his style. 

[TarHeelDem]

He's not necessarily the first person I'd vote for in the primary, but people are underestimating him. "When they go low, we hit back harder" is a stroke of brilliance and the Democratic Party would beenefit from practicing that.

[Sestak]

NO

[Mr. Morden]

Avenatti takes an unusual tack by saying that Dems shouldn't pick the person who'd make the best president.  They should only focus on electability:

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/avenatti-s-swagger-stirs-iowa-democrats-n900486

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[LabourJersey]

I think he'll definitely run, but he'll probably go nowhere and drop out after getting half a point in Iowa.

[henster]

He has no appeal whatsoever to black voters.

[The Undefeatable Debbie Stabenow]

The notion that Trump’s election means that candidates with no government experience will win and/or will be popular among the Democratic electorate really has no substantiation at this point, and if anything I think that a majority of the Democratic base will more highly value experience and competence following 2016. Have some Democrats expressed support for a “fight fire with fire” strategy? Yes, but I don’t think nearly enough primary voters would actually vote for someone like Avenatti.

[Mr. Morden]

The notion that Trump’s election means that candidates with no government experience will win and/or will be popular among the Democratic electorate really has no substantiation at this point, and if anything I think that a majority of the Democratic base will more highly value experience and competence following 2016. Have some Democrats expressed support for a “fight fire with fire” strategy? Yes, but I don’t think nearly enough primary voters would actually vote for someone like Avenatti.

He won't be the nominee, I agree with that.  What I think might be something for the Dems to consider though is the possibility that "clown car" type candidates like Avenatti end up stealing enough media oxygen in the primary race that some of the more "serious" candidates don't have as much chance to be heard.  Thus, some candidates might get winnowed out early who wouldn't have been if candidates like Avenatti weren't in the race.

[Ye We Can]

He is absolutely correct that an unabashed progressive ideologue who isn't afraid to get mean is a better option in this day and age than the typical careerists bandied about by political nerds before an election.

[Chief Justice Keef]

LOL at anybody who thinks Avenatti will be the Democrats' Trump. Trump had a TV show and a billion-dollar brand. Who the hell cares about this guy?

[Mr. Morden]

Avenatti released a two page document describing his positions on the issues:

https://twitter.com/MichaelAvenatti/status/1029385486958305280/photo/1

[Deblano]

The notion that Trump’s election means that candidates with no government experience will win and/or will be popular among the Democratic electorate really has no substantiation at this point, and if anything I think that a majority of the Democratic base will more highly value experience and competence following 2016. Have some Democrats expressed support for a “fight fire with fire” strategy? Yes, but I don’t think nearly enough primary voters would actually vote for someone like Avenatti.

I have seen quite a few people supporting that strategy, especially since there's the common complaint that the Democrats play nice too much.

This might sound like a false equivalency, but I feel that if Avenatti runs in 2020, you'll see a lot of Democratic voters going "finally there's someone who is telling like it is!". Avenatti is giving me serious deja vu, especially with how divided the (hypothetical) 2020 Democratic field with no clear frontrunner, much like what we saw from the GOP prior to 2016.

[Mr. Morden]

Delaney tweeted what seemed to be a complaint about the media's fixation on Avenatti, and Avenatti responded by saying that any candidate who whines about other candidates getting too much media coverage "should be immediately eliminated":

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/aug/18/michael-avenatti-john-delaney-democrats-iowa-2020

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[The Mikado]

I really think people are neglecting the effect on other candidates of him being on the debate stage. He'll interrupt and bully other candidates. Avenatti can absolutely make the debates all about him.

[SATW]

Delaney tweeted what seemed to be a complaint about the media's fixation on Avenatti, and Avenatti responded by saying that any candidate who whines about other candidates getting too much media coverage "should be immediately eliminated":

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/aug/18/michael-avenatti-john-delaney-democrats-iowa-2020

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Literally the Left-wing Trump.

[Deblano]

Delaney tweeted what seemed to be a complaint about the media's fixation on Avenatti, and Avenatti responded by saying that any candidate who whines about other candidates getting too much media coverage "should be immediately eliminated":

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/aug/18/michael-avenatti-john-delaney-democrats-iowa-2020

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Literally the Left-wing Trump.

Oh god we are (still being) doomed

[Amenhotep Bakari-Sellers]

Like him, or Cory Booker would be my choice against Trump, especially should the Dems have a good night in 2018.

[Reluctant Republican]

If by some series of miracles Avenatti wins the nomination, what are the chances the general election debates get physical?* As someone who wishes to be entertained, I am tempted to root for him based on that.

*With Kasich or whomever off to the side shaking his head and sadly exclaiming "Golly gee folks, this isn't supposed to be what America's about."

[Pandaguineapig]

Democrats: We Must Stop Trump! #impeach #resist

Some Democrats: Let's run our own version of Trump.

Difference being that Michael Avenatti is not a racist, sexist, misogynistic, homophobic, crude, mentally unstable and psychologically deranged (not to mention a pathological liar) deplorable who brags about grabbing women's genitalia, dog-whistles to white supremacists and neo-Nazis, mocks handicapped people and war veterans, attacks black professional athletes for exercising their First Amendment rights, undermines our democratic institutions, and is Putin's b!tch.

No he just fires female employees for being pregnant

[Deblano]

If by some series of miracles Avenatti wins the nomination, what are the chances the general election debates get physical?* As someone who wishes to be entertained, I am tempted to root for him based on that.

*With Kasich or whomever off to the side shaking his head and sadly exclaiming "Golly gee folks, this isn't supposed to be what America's about."

[Since I'm the mad scientist proclaimed by myself]

NO