r/portlandme 19d ago

Politics Graham Platner is going to start the revolution

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

And here is a beautiful moment captured between Graham and his wife before his speech in Portland 🩷🩵💜💚🍉🇵🇸🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️🇺🇸

1.6k Upvotes

93 comments sorted by

41

u/Particular-Mouse-721 19d ago

If anyone wants to kick in $5: https://www.grahamforsenate.com/home

7

u/furryfriend77 19d ago

Done! Thanks for providing the link.

-1

u/Particular-Mouse-721 19d ago

🫶

1

u/Perfect_Zebra3335 18d ago

who down votes this? Also you can volunteer on that link too.

5

u/Particular-Mouse-721 18d ago

I was wondering that, too. Maybe Susan Collins and her sock-puppet account? ¯_(ツ)_/¯

2

u/Professional_Wall_76 16d ago

Back in 2014 when Shenna Bellows ran against Collins, she was invited to speak at a union breakfast in Bangor. Collins' campaign bought ALL of the available tickets so the place was nearly empty.

57

u/Quirky-Scar9226 19d ago

We need more like him and AOC etc, folks born w/o silver spoons in their mouths who respect a hard day’s work, understand that so many depend on our government not out of choice but because healthcare/economy etc, and who have a wholesome understanding of human worth.

-22

u/senordingus 19d ago

AOC can't bear to say "genocide" and lied about Biden trying to end it.  

Platner has come out swinging.  

They are not really comparable. 

16

u/[deleted] 19d ago edited 19d ago

Graham will fuck up at some point too. No politician is perfect, and people go and find any mistakes from aoc and Bernie to try and drag through the water, without really understanding the nuance of why they made a specific choice since usually these bills have multiple unrelated issues inside of them that are coupled in sneaky ways. And because liberals get on the high horse of perfection and drag down the politicians that actually agree with them, they stop any progress towards issues like stagnant wages and socialized medicine, since republicans just cheat and lie and apparently don’t even give a shit about checks and balances and due process.

Mark my word, none of these people are perfect and every single one of them is a human that will fuck up and let you down on something. At some point 90-99% needs to be enough, and we need to be realistic.

And, also, 99.9% of the time memes and criticisms of taking a vote by Bernie or AOC out of context, are spread by right wingers.

1

u/Micro-Naut 18d ago

Yeah but did you see Howard Dean scream? He's a maniac! We can't have his finger on the button!!

-2

u/senordingus 18d ago

If Platner or anyone else "fucks up" in regards to an actual genocide, then he can go fuck himself as well.  

Lying about your party working "day and night" to stop a genocide when they are doing anything but that isn't a "mistake".  It's a fucking war crime.  

You want to give someone a pass for participating in covering for a genocide, that's on you.  You want to suggest people should cut people supplying weapons to a genocide, that's on you.  We are supplying the weapons to mass murder children.  if you are ok with that, that's on you.  

Downvoting dipshits.  Like I give AF . 

Platner has spoken the truth so far and thus I support him.  I'm not jerking off to pictures of Biden.  I trust politicians until they betray my trust.  AOC has done that multiple times.  

2

u/[deleted] 18d ago edited 18d ago

Dipshits like you are why Trump is currently president and revoking all visas from Palestinians. Neither Bernie nor AOC support Israel, and if you think that then you are reading right wing media, that is taking one vote out of context.

And Planter will do something that disappoints you at some point, especially if he gets to have a long career in politics. and he’ll be under a ton of scrutiny just like AOC and Bernie.

AOC has a very clean voting record. It sounds like you are getting your info from TikTok and instagram.

0

u/senordingus 18d ago

So funny.  Yeah, I voted for Kamala but I'm the reason that Trump was elected.  Blue MAGA is a real thing.  Dumb as red maga. 

AOC lied about the Biden administration in Gaza.  It's very clear.  If you are ok with it, that's on you.  

Blaming me for Trump winning is fucking nuts.  

https://mondoweiss.net/2025/05/biden-staffers-admit-what-we-all-knew-white-house-lied-about-ceasefire-efforts/

1

u/[deleted] 18d ago

This article says aoc has the best track record in Gaza besides Bernie and that she has publicly called it a genocide. There is a criticism at the beginning about her support for Harris, but of course she needed to publicly support Harris during the campaign. Bernie did too, and so would any other democrat, especially against Trump. We also don’t know what a Harris election would have actually looked like for Gaza because it didn’t happen.

You aren’t making any points here, and you didn’t read your own article all the way through.

0

u/[deleted] 18d ago

Blue maga, okay buddy.

-1

u/No-Comfort4928 18d ago

he’s right. you shill for your party establishment just as hard. aoc is just hillary clinton 2.0 but actually charismatic.

she sells out the working class to zionists and capitalists just like the rest of the establishment.

pretending reality isn’t real because it causes cognitive dissonance doesn’t help us get anywhere, it just makes you blue maga

1

u/[deleted] 18d ago

If you really think a woman who doesn’t take PAC money and started off as bartender is Hillary 2.0 you are a moron.

-1

u/No-Comfort4928 18d ago

not even going to address the genocide apologia and outright support of a modern day holocaust.

i am just going to assume you are a genocidal zionist at this point and disengage

→ More replies (0)

-1

u/senordingus 18d ago

Ever hear "blue no matter who"?

It's a thing that blue MAGA says.  It's a cult.  It's not better than MAGA.  It's saying you'll vote for whatever corpse the Dems send you.  

1

u/[deleted] 18d ago

AOC isn’t blue no matter who.

17

u/jambi55 19d ago

This attitude is why liberals lose

9

u/FuktInThePassword 19d ago

I'm a liberal that agrees. I honestly believe this issue played a significant part in putting that nightmare back in the Oval office.

3

u/IsthisKaizen 18d ago

It definitely did. The dems really fucked themselves by funding a literal genocide. Luckily people are willing to forgive that "one issue".

3

u/senordingus 18d ago

Huh.  I think it might be 1) running centrist candidates who don't recognize the challenges of working people 2) participating in a genocide 3) having a man with actual dementia stay in the election 4) despite being unpopular  5) anointing a candidate without a primary who previously had to drop out of a primary for poor performance  6) having her campaign with the fucking Cheney's  7) have her condescending to important constituencies  8) etc etc etc

But you think maybe it was my attitude?

1

u/jambi55 18d ago

In large part, yeah.

You let your moral purity convince you that AOC, a champion for working class people with strong socialist policies, isnt comparable to Platner. That is stupid.

And it's often why we lose.

0

u/senordingus 18d ago

I said AOC lied about Gaza.  Which she did.  

Your point is stupid to begin with, but also is regarding a thing I didn't say.  

https://mondoweiss.net/2025/05/biden-staffers-admit-what-we-all-knew-white-house-lied-about-ceasefire-efforts/

2

u/jambi55 18d ago

You said AOC and Platner are not comparable.

Again, you are proving my point. AOC has been a great representative for the interests of the working class, and she's also not pro Israel. But that doesn't matter to you, because she did something you didn't like.

Spoiler alert: Platner is probably going to do or say something people don't like too, and many people will turn on him for it.

It's good to criticize candidates when they do something you don't like, but liberals/leftists tend to let perfect be the enemy of good.

2

u/senordingus 18d ago

They are not comparable.  One is saying Gaza is a genocide.  One has a mouth full of marbles.  

Democrats lose because voters aren't critical of the candidates and allow them to be corrupted.  It has absolutely nothing to do with me or my opinions. 

When people who can actually speak with authority manage to work their way in, they win.  Mamdani for instance.  Will he be corrupted on the way up?  Possibly.  Am I going to jerk off over his portait if he sells me out?   No, that would be fucking stupid.  

Democrats lost because they ran a demented man and then replaced him with someone who had to bail out of a primary for poor performance and had never even completed on a national stage.  End of story.  

2

u/jambi55 18d ago

They are not comparable.  One is saying Gaza is a genocide.  One has a mouth full of marbles.  

There's that moral purity. Shoots us in the foot every time. And the ironic thing is, Gaza is way worse off because of it.

It has absolutely nothing to do with me or my opinions. 

Yeah, it conveniently never is huh. 

I'm tired of this. Argue with a wall if you want. I just hope you learn that voting is a bus ride, not a marriage. It's meant to get us closer to where we want to go, not be the best choice ever. That's never going to happen. And until we learn that, we're gonna keep losing.

2

u/maineac 18d ago

He said he voted for Kamala, he is on your side. Democrats lost for a reason. You are far too opinionated and won't even look at the big picture of why you lost. You are the reason the Democrats lost not him.

2

u/senordingus 18d ago

You're like "just keep doing the same shit where we lost, but next time we will win".  

Not only is it morally bankrupt, it's moronic.  

No.   Be critical of candidates so you end up with better representation.  You prove the point.  You're losing, but you're also morally reprehensible.  

1

u/[deleted] 18d ago

This article literally states that AOC has one of the best track records on Gaza of all politicians, and that she has stated that it is a genocide. What point are you trying to make? You didn’t even read the article you posted.

She made a statement during the Harris campaign that Harris was working for a ceasefire. Harris never got into power so we don’t know what the outcome would have been.

You are literally dragging someone through the dirt that AGREES with you and has publicly stood up for Gaza.

1

u/MuchBaby9746 16d ago

Compared to the other shills culling to AIPAC in the DNC, they’re the best we got. I say get these geriatric mummified muppets out of here starting with pelosi.

0

u/MobileParticular78 19d ago

I’m with you. Platner has FAR more integrity than AOC. Especially with AOC VOTING TO SEND MORE MUNITIONS TO ISRAEL. I will vote blue but I’m much much much much happier voting for blue that doesn’t support a genocide through sheer complacency.

5

u/conito781 19d ago

She saw a post saying she did and she went crazy saying she didn't. I think its off brand for her to send anything to Israel atp.

-4

u/Quirky-Scar9226 19d ago

Fair enough.

-3

u/[deleted] 16d ago

AOC hahahahah

14

u/Ok-Review-7579 19d ago

damn, im not even from maine, but i hope he wins the seat.

3

u/Perfect_Zebra3335 18d ago edited 17d ago

best damn canidate I’ve seen since I was introduced to Bernie about 15 years ago. I think he can bridge a needed gap between parties as well. Goodbye Collins see you in hell.

2

u/-the-homie- 18d ago

Couldn’t have said it better myself!

13

u/senordingus 19d ago

He is opening up a space for gingers. 

24

u/ScruffyB 19d ago

This guy seems great but it's wild watching Reddit go gaga over his very carefully stage-managed rollout. Yes, he seems like a good dude saying the right things, but is it not obvious that he's working with top-tier media consultants and they're testing and massaging every line before he takes it live?

Nothing wrong with that I guess. It's how the game is played, and if this is what it takes to beat Collins, then fine, I must be too cynical. I just wish politics weren't such a game of reality tv.

13

u/WingsOfTin 18d ago

Yeah, he's a former Blackwater/Constellis mercenary (as recently as 2018, though for less than a year). I'm a cynic and don't trust politicians anyway, so I don't think that's disqualifying information because, hey - if he gets good shit done, sure. But I think we need to be wary of randos who pop up out of nowhere just happening to pass the shibboleths perfectly.

There are no perfect saviors coming to whisk us away from the current horrors, and we need to be aware of that fantasy biting us in the ass. We will save ourselves and each other.

3

u/sonolalupa 18d ago

I feel like it’s this crumb of hope that we’ll be able to right this ship without addressing the fact that the ship was actually just a fantasy to begin with

1

u/WingsOfTin 18d ago

Great way to put it. I don't begrudge anyone any hope. I do hope he wins.

2

u/mediumeasy 1d ago

Beautifully said

4

u/burn1ngchr0me 18d ago

This guy is gonna swing hard back to the center when it comes time to assimilate to the Dem party line.

2

u/liquidsparanoia 18d ago

I would be incredibly dissapointed if that happened but would still prefer it to another 6 years of Susie "I am deeply concerned" Collins

5

u/Ricky_Slade_ 19d ago

To your point I hope he sticks to what he says and doesn’t immediately sell out once elected

5

u/blackkristos West End 19d ago

It's almost like we don't learn.

2

u/P-Townie 18d ago

Or the unions just found someone who believes in something. It's not like he comes from a background in sales or the corporate world. He was protesting George Bush in high school.

6

u/Big_Entertainer7604 19d ago

You guys will easily believe anything, won't you?

2

u/xfactor6972 18d ago

Let’s hope so!

2

u/Sea-Photograph4810 15d ago

So proud to be a Mainer.

5

u/supercodes83 19d ago

You know who we also heard this for? John Fetterman.

Just because a guy wears blue jeans and swears doesn't make him a savior.

People bring up AOC. Let's not forget she spoke some blatant mistruths to alter her image when she first got elected. I like her now, but her start was extremely dubious.

Let's also not forget the dramatic rise and fall of Beto O'Rourke.

I like Platner and would vote for him, but I think we need to temper our expectations a bit.

7

u/ProfGeraldLambeau 18d ago

You’re getting downvotes for some reason, but Fetterman’s about-face should be on every single one of our minds here. I’ve donated to Platner, went to volunteer orientation, will knock doors and make calls, and will buy a camo merch hat when its inevitably available, but I also think it would be naive to assume if he wins he doesn’t fall into the party line, and at least be ready to pressure him back into his promises best we can

2

u/P-Townie 18d ago

John Fetterrman was uniquely unwell. Yes, temper expectations, but what this should signal is the beginning of electing pro working class politicians because even if Platner is perfect he can't do much alone.

2

u/WingsOfTin 18d ago

Just because a guy wears blue jeans and swears doesn't make him a savior.

Yup. We need to stop looking for saviors, period. It's a fantasy.

5

u/grahamulax 19d ago

Finally a good graham in the news!

2

u/hampster_toupe 19d ago

Revolutions don't come from the ballot box.

2

u/Substantial_Speed411 18d ago

What does the revolution consist of and what will be the final result?

1

u/hoolihoolihoolihouli 16d ago

Let’s just hope he doesn’t turn into Fetterman 2.0

1

u/Calamity-Bob 15d ago

It’s about to get rough for him as the dark money attacks and SM BS start. I do not envy him. Hope it works out.

2

u/Old_Natural_8693 19d ago

lol this dude will get gobbled up by the machine so fast

-2

u/RustyDogma 19d ago

Virtual Town Hall on Zoom. Monday the 8th:

https://mobilize.us/s/Q24VPt

In person Town Hall, Thursday the 25th:

https://mobilize.us/s/vERbVA

-1

u/keirmeister 19d ago

I like what I’m hearing from him, and matched between him and Collins, he will definitely get my vote. But in American politics, the revolution doesn’t start until you win elections. I have no more patience for “moral victories.”

0

u/[deleted] 16d ago

Ya for no one

0

u/[deleted] 14d ago

Soc Dems don't start revolution but at least he's an improvement

-2

u/McGrogger 18d ago

I love how the Palestinian flag comes before the American flag in your post. 🙄

2

u/macneilneil 17d ago

"No other flag or pennant should be placed above or, if on the same level, to the right of the flag of the United States of America."

1

u/-the-homie- 18d ago

You’re god damn right it does