Apologia: I was planning to post this after the mid-terms but then I ran across this article at the Guardian: Cory Booker places staff in Iowa ahead of potential 2020 White House run, viz:
Booker is not the only prominent Democrat with staff active in Iowa. Montana governor Steve Bullock has placed a staffer with Tim Gannon, the Democratic nominee for state agriculture secretary, and both Ohio congressman Tim Ryan and Oregon senator Jeff Merkley have operatives on the ground.
The Maryland congressman John Delaney, who has officially announced a presidential bid, has stumped with innumerable local candidates.
Others are making more subtle moves. The California senator Kamala Harris is hosting a Washington fundraiser for DeJear on 11 September. That event will be co-hosted by Ro Khanna, a California congressman who has visited Iowa twice in recent months on behalf of Democratic congressional candidates.
SO, goddamnit [!!!!] . . .
I have been here, either as lurker or as participant through three contentious primary seasons and the long months preceding them and, quite frankly, I would prefer never to go through another one but, inevitably, we'll be having one. I'm anticipating we will hear the first rumblings after the midterms because -- if nothing else -- the pundits will all start thinking and theorizing about Who It Will/Must Be.
So, in the interests of maintaining serenity during the primary pre-season and season, I'm going to take a pledge. I'm still drafting it up and I would appreciate any comments or suggestions from the DKos denizens regarding things I may have forgotten, loopholes that need filling or denunciations of my idiocy in thinking I could/should take a higher road this time around.
Thanks.
Rik's Rules for Rik in 2019-2020.
1. I will enthusiastically support and vote for the Democratic Party candidate for President in November 2020 no matter who he or she may be and whether or not she or he was my preference in the primaries.
2. I will not speak ill of any Democratic contender during the primary season, no matter how obnoxious or unfairly I may feel his or her supporters are behaving or how unfairly and negatively I may feel about how her or his campaign is being conducted. This applies to all forums or discussions in which I choose to participate.
3. I will not belittle, or otherwise disparage any supporter of a different Democratic contender for the nomination.
4. Though I expect to have a preference for a particular contender emerge at some point, I will not directly express that preference nor will I attempt to change the minds of those who have preferences that are different from mine. I eschew open advocacy and transparency in favor of listening to the thoughts and opinions of others.
5. I will not enter or entertain any discussion that involves a third party or an insurgency against the regular order of the Democratic Party.
6. I will not forget that there are hundreds of important races at the federal, state and local levels nor will I obsess about the single presidential contest, instead I will actively engage with as many candidates and causes at diverse levels as I can manage.