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(93,563 posts)
23. i'm a considered writer, not a kneejerk poster, and I always make the effort to be clear
Tue Jan 20, 2026, 07:17 PM
Tuesday

...as I have in the op.

I don't know what you're calling 'Dem hate' but I can assure you that I don't have a modicum of hatred for Gavin Newsom, so I'm not going to spend time on that.

I've enjoyed a long enough life that I've been privileged to bring my support to each and every Dem nominee for president, and in my district and state, as well.

In those instances, I often find myself sprinting far ahead of most of the Democratic debate over their fitness or efficacy of their candidacy; looking behind and seeing not the actual opposition tearing them down, but our own professed Democrats creating drag on them.

If this fellow runs for president (I don't vote in Ca,), and I think that's what you;re getting at here, you won't find a stronger supporter when he's nominated, and I won't drag him to the ground with complaints about him being 'weak' on something or the other, or grind down on his messaging.

I don't think he did that effort any favors, and, that's what I'm getting at. he's not a candidate, but if he's seeking my vote in a primary race that's likely to have an expansive field, maybe he could demonstrate the professionalism and diplomacy that I expect from my president in publicly relating what he wants to other leaders around the world, especially our allies.

That's the leadership that I expect and have grown fond of in my decades of this.

We live in a world where the U.S.'s success has been greatly enhanced by our ability to not only forge good cooperative relationships with other nations, but our respect for their own ability to make those decisions for themselves, whether or not they want to have those relationships with us.

Although Gov. Newsom gave their sovereignty lip service after berating them, he did so with the assumption that European leaders had an obligation to stand with a California governor whose country doesn't seem to have it's sit together enough to even save his own state from Trump yet, admittedly, despite how 'tall and strong' he's decidedly been in opposition.

Newsom hasn't yet figured out how to stop Trump, any more than leaders who aren't in any way a part of the solution to removing him from power. He has a Dem dominated state with a solid, workable Dem majority. He can't assume everyone else can just muscle their way through this crisis.

What's wrong with just leaving it at speaking his mind to those leaders, and not coming out and deriding them at the same time Trump is attacking them from the other side? Wouldn't it be more effective to continue to appeal to them in private, instead of trying to emasculate them in this forum?

I got the sense here that Newsom is on a learning curve, and it's frankly surprising to see him come forth with a response that's so scolding and condescending. I'd think he'd realize Europeans have had more than enough of that kind of arrogance from the U.S. already, and would offer a different face to allies who'v been treated as doormats lately, despite their past sacrifices for this country.

I mean, he's not actually the boss of them.

Recommendations

3 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

Yeah he needs to be more weak and ineffectual like Merrick Garland. BannonsLiver Tuesday #1
Yup, par for the course LR3 Tuesday #3
Um, no Dave says Wednesday #50
You are absolutely right. sheshe2 Tuesday #2
Appeasement didn't work out too well for Europe in the 1930's newdeal2 Tuesday #4
I was disturbed when I heard him earlier today. brer cat Tuesday #5
He didn't "blow up" MorbidButterflyTat Tuesday #6
So he didn't say... TheProle Tuesday #12
Newsom is right Skittles Tuesday #15
That wasn't my question to the previous poster, but noted. TheProle Tuesday #16
He was addressing the press. MorbidButterflyTat Thursday #94
Not arguing anymore TheProle Friday #102
Mark Carney appears to be the only leader who truly gets it peggysue2 Thursday #68
Right on time. Kingofalldems Tuesday #33
What do you mean? MorbidButterflyTat Thursday #93
+ 1. If I were casting a remake of The Darkest Hour starring DUers I know who would be playing Lord Halifax. BannonsLiver Tuesday #13
Thanks for the video IcyPeas Tuesday #20
You're welcome, and I agree with you. MorbidButterflyTat Thursday #95
i'm a considered writer, not a kneejerk poster, and I always make the effort to be clear bigtree Tuesday #23
European parliaments have frank discussion, at cachukis Tuesday #28
Nothing personal MorbidButterflyTat Thursday #96
He did not creon Wednesday #53
If he is planning to Greg_In_SF Tuesday #7
Right....because the other party is Bettie Thursday #72
You're right Greg_In_SF Thursday #85
There is nothing remotely MAGAt about Gavin Newsom MorbidButterflyTat Thursday #97
Post removed Post removed Friday #100
Quite the ironic assertions Torchlight Friday #101
Non-ugly American Starbeach Tuesday #8
not even wrong creon Tuesday #9
THANK YOU Skittles Tuesday #18
We are always in transition. Trump has spoiled the cachukis Tuesday #10
Agree IcyPeas Tuesday #22
DURec leftstreet Tuesday #11
Sorry he's absolutely right fujiyamasan Tuesday #14
I would say he is right. It's a fucking embarassment from all corners. Not excusing any US politician. boston bean Tuesday #17
Totally agree with you. nt Raine Tuesday #19
Newsom is right. And Europe consistently looks weak. Renew Deal Tuesday #21
Europe looks weak because they're dealing with internal issues haele Tuesday #30
What do you mean by TimeToGo Tuesday #35
Sorry, typing on my phone, will correct the stupid haele Tuesday #36
😎 We've all been there TimeToGo Tuesday #40
I couldn't agree more Fiendish Thingy Tuesday #24
He's right though. GoodRaisin Tuesday #25
Maybe. I think that they get it. themaguffin Tuesday #26
I'm on Newsom's side here. The entire world needs to be more vocal in their stances against Trump. LonePirate Tuesday #27
Hell no. TIME TO KICK SOME ASS. Irish_Dem Tuesday #29
"Nice guys finish last." Leo Durocher anciano Tuesday #31
..in bed. Qutzupalotl Wednesday #58
I voted for him for governor but I'd rather have someone else as President kimbutgar Tuesday #32
I support Newsom's remarks and attitude 100%.. Escape Tuesday #34
Wondering what European leaders think of America voters. Emile Tuesday #37
I find nothing wrong with what he said. nt Chalco Tuesday #38
Newsom is right about the complicity of the world's superrich. He's doing his part. I don't see any other Democratic ancianita Tuesday #39
how is this fellow the 'Democratic cause? ' bigtree Wednesday #46
Thanks for your usual thoughtful post. Much appreciated. I want to point out that he is frustrated, because ancianita Wednesday #48
Nothing worse than mealy mouthed apologists & critics of courage NotHardly Tuesday #41
Not a good look for Newsom. OGBuzz Tuesday #42
Hmmm GusBob Wednesday #43
Would giving specifics be viewed as treason? n/t BadgerKid Wednesday #44
Meh, when you lead an economy as large as California's, you get to say certain things JonAndKatePlusABird Wednesday #45
I doubt they cared at this point beyond bemusement bigtree Wednesday #47
Sorry, I'm sick and tired of meek capitulation. Arthur_Frain Wednesday #49
Well, The High Road markodochartaigh Wednesday #51
our votes for Obama kept the Democrats in control of the WH for EIGHT YEARS bigtree Thursday #62
Yes--I felt it was a bit over the top with the "knee pads" and "pathetic" being thrown around crimycarny Wednesday #52
Newsom was right on substance but still made a strategic error. tritsofme Wednesday #54
I like the fire Sugarcoated Wednesday #55
No one whose judgment included marrying Kimberley Guilfoyle DJ Synikus Makisimus Wednesday #56
I disagree with some points, agree with others, and just plain don't markodochartaigh Wednesday #57
I think this is a load of CRAP, to criticize one of the few Democratic Party leaders Jack Valentino Wednesday #59
so bigtree Thursday #60
'...and like all macho displays in response to political challenges, the OP's response contained more heat than light' Jack Valentino Thursday #89
it would be a different discussion if it centered on what I wrote in the op bigtree Thursday #92
Thank you, amigo.... My main fault on this forum has to be Jack Valentino Thursday #98
I stand with Gavin Blues Heron Thursday #61
👍 👏 💯 🗣🔊 ColoringFool Thursday #63
why is he attacking the Europeans? bigtree Thursday #65
Did you read what he said? It's a wake up call. Blues Heron Thursday #66
did I read it? bigtree Thursday #67
Your overreacting , this is 2026- there is a new, less uptight electorate out there, the fuddy duddy era is over Blues Heron Thursday #70
you're bigtree Thursday #71
This thread sure went south on you pretty quickly. BannonsLiver Thursday #73
I think Newsome was absolutely right. That is the problem with almost all politicians and so called leaders, Autumn Thursday #64
We need more Gavin Newsoms and less tone police Renew Deal Thursday #69
Hmmm, disinvesting in the US FHRRK Thursday #74
no, what you wrote is specious bigtree Thursday #75
Let me give some general advice FHRRK Thursday #81
it's already assumed in this format that respondants are positing their own opinions bigtree Thursday #82
Again, IMO, people are looking for fighters FHRRK Thursday #83
do you know what specious means? superficially plausible, but actually wrong bigtree Thursday #84
For the love of all things holy FHRRK Thursday #86
let me put it more plainly bigtree Thursday #87
"I lied..." FHRRK Thursday #88
did you tell the truth? bigtree Thursday #90
Whew! FHRRK Thursday #91
Bullshit. Newsom was brilliant. He's positioned himself as the anti-trump. Euro leaders want that. Sibelius Fan Thursday #76
he also positioned himself as anti-European leader bigtree Thursday #79
at least he's trying - which is a lot more than so many other leaders samsingh Thursday #77
but that's not the issue I'm raising here bigtree Thursday #78
Newsom really fucked over the elderly and disabled CountAllVotes Thursday #80
Recommended. H2O Man Thursday #99
K&R LetMyPeopleVote Friday #103
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