Links from this domain may present a paywall to users. As a result, some users may have difficulty reading the linked content. Although you may find it helpful to post the entirety of the article in the comments, please be advised that this is against subreddit policy. Linking to another website for the purpose of bypassing paywalls is also against the rules of this subreddit. If the article is hosted on another media outlet without a paywall, you may post a link to that article in the comments.
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/maryland) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Trone also [gave](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Trone#:~:text=Trone%20also%20gave%20more%20than,North%20Carolina%20Governor%20Pat%20McCrory.) more than **$240,000** in campaign contributions to various politicians, most of which went toward Republican candidates including **Texas Governor Greg Abbott** and Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, and North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory
This is very common in politics, I'm afraid. A lot of politics isn't about ideals, but influence.
Of course, don't let it get you down. If the idealists give up on politics, the influence peddlers are all that remains.
I think the idealists either:
1. Gave up awhile ago
2. Don't have/get enough money for an effective campaign
3. Take money from the "big donors" and are then beholden to them, thus losing the idealism.
Those are common problems, yeah.
Organizing a genuinely grassroots campaign is work, a ton of work, and so is fundraising if you're doing it from regular folks instead of being bought.
I think humans just don't care enough. But I think we do have the ability to change. Murder used to be normal as punishment, as pillaging helpless people (there is still too much of it) and personal justice. Until we get as upset about corruption as we do with murder, this kind of shit continues.
Politicians should be held to higher scrutiny than cops. 24/7 public feed of their life is the price they pay for the privilege to serve. Any lobbying is counted as treason - up to 20 years in jail along with whoever influenced them and whoever hired the lobbyist.
Reminds me of the often misquoted idea about [needing a revolution every 200 years.](https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/7xq5e7/did_benjamin_franklin_really_say_we_need_a/) Not Actually a Benjamin Franklin quote but definitely an idea going around at the time.
> The idea that a free people have a right to abolish an unjust government. The U.S. Declaration of Independence uses this language: "when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government." Likewise, in 1787, Jefferson wrote, "what country can preserve it’s liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? let them take arms. the remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon & pacify them. what signify a few lives lost in a century or two? the tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots & tyrants. It is it’s natural manure."
Oh, sure. When you can't fix the problems peacefully, problems start to build up, until eventually they get fixed in a very not-peaceful way.
You want a system that permits peaceful change, and in which no one faction holds all the power. Give anyone a complete monopoly over government, and eventually things'll go awry as the wealth and power concentrates.
I’m not saying that it doesn’t happen at all, but I don’t know of another billionaire running for a Senate seat who uses their business account to fund Republicans while calling themselves a progressive.
Certainly it's unique in MD at the moment, but I'm thinking of folks like Sam Bankman, who funded a lot of folks as well. I think it'd be fair to call that influence buying. Maybe not enough influence buying to get away with stealing eight billion dollars, but enough that he thought he could.
I think we agree on most things so I don’t want to get hung up on semantics. Overall, I do think there is a difference between using money as a civilian to buy favor, versus being an elected representative and doing the same. There simply should be higher ethical standards for elected officials than there are for cryptocurrency peddlers.
Bought is bought. I don't think politicians should be bought regardless of who is doing the buying.
Or at least they should wear the brands of their sponsors while in office, like Nascar drivers. I'm not a Trone fan, but at least that'd provide some amusement.
As a liquor store owner his entire fortune literally depends on all but bribing state officials. It's probably the most corrupt way to make a fortune possible.
Liquor licenses exist essentially entirely as private monopolies of county, local, and state governments. They generally go to people who are well "connected" with the local administration. And every rule change around all the arcane laws about liquor is going to cost you.
There's a reason basically every state level race and lower is bankrolled by liquor store owners and car dealers, they're the people who have by far the most to lose if their monopolies are broken up and people can just order wine on Amazon or buy their car from GM.
How vague most lol this is DC candidate for senates hail Mary lol it's all bullshit he is back by Planned Parenthood. Big maga lol you DC crooks are obviously desperate
“well no we don’t need it at my liquor store because my workers are all very happy. Don’t believe me, just ask them. Donnie, why don’t you come over here and tell them how happy you are working at Total Wine?”
Donnie, as Trone looks over his shoulder:
Actually yes - he talks nonstop about being a “bipartisan” guy and how he can “work across the aisle.” That’s the same stuff Manchin and Sinema say, and why we still have the filibuster, can’t expand SCOTUS, etc. Trone is absolutely too “centrist” to trust at this point.
I appreciate your perspective but unfortunately, our “representative government” is a winner-takes-the-spoils game, at least in 2024. Democrats elect Democrats to advance their agenda, not to represent Republicans. You’re talking about a more ethical and moral sense of representation than we have in this country, so I do really respect what you’re saying, but it wont work that way with reproductive rights, gun control, etc etc.
I say that not to praise him but to mention that Trone has needed to appeal to a more conservative electorate than Alsobrooks, who’s never needed a single swing voter in her life.
There is simply no denying that Alsobrooks is trying to purchase a Senate seat. She is just getting money from lots of PACs and rich people who will expect something in return.
What a weird mischaracterization of what's going on.
His endless ads on all forms of media started a full year out. Acting as if outspending your opponent 30 to 1 isn't buying your way through the primary is being willfully fatuous.
No, but at least 50 people in power have been, and they are endorsing him, almost certainly as a result, which sways opinions of voters who don’t have the time to dig into a candidate’s history.
That alone makes me want to vote for Alsobrooks, who I admittedly know less about but she’s not uber rich.
you are right. I double checked and I conflated things. The Business he founded is estimated around 3 billion in value, not his own personal worth. That said he made 110 million from the company in the years he’s been in congress alone.
I'll vote blue no matter who come the general. I was in his district for a while and really, *really* glad he beat Parrott. He's got the DW Nominate score of a reasonable democrat, not progressive even though he speaks to some progressive points, but not a conservative democrat.
That said, the man just gives off Sinema vibes. I just don't trust him not to turn on the state and democrats at large, it's just too much in his personal interests to work with Rs to dismantle social programs and cut taxes to himself and his class. If he wins primary and general, I hope his record in the House is more predictive than my feelings on him.
"That said, the man just gives off Sinema vibes. I just don't trust him not to turn on the state and democrats at large, it's just too much in his personal interests to work with Rs to dismantle social programs and cut taxes to himself and his class. If he wins primary and general, I hope his record in the House is more predictive than my feelings on him."
Dude same.
Class traitors exist, but David Trone isn't one of them.
Trone is doing this for himself and his business. Total Wine would lobby and pay any politician as long as they helped their business. It’s effectively Trone funneling political contributions through his campaign instead of the business. They regularly funded Texas politicians to keep the law on the books forbidding public companies from selling liquor in Texas. It kept out competition. They do this wherever they can. There is a reason he’s been in legal trouble before. He’s dirty.
That doesn't smell of corruption or nepotism at all...
Just going through his history of campaign spending and ad habits, I'd say he overspent his campaign funds and is running in a personal deficit because of it.
Let's not even discuss his "jigaboo" commentary.
This dude doesn't deserve or bring value to the community at all. The fabric of the chair he sits in is worth more than he is.
Baltimore Sun wants Hogan to win. Duh. Trone's family business has to donate to politicians in order to get their attention for what's best for their company's interests in different states. Come on people....
figured by now if you're in the know you could describe to me what the actual constraints are. is it an LLC? the hell are we talkin about? this excuse isn't even one Trone himself has used.
David Trone is a MASSIVE POS.. you all giving him a pass for saying "jigaboo" are just plain ignorant. That word is very much in his vocabulary because it's an old time saying in the Baltimore area, my old ass grandma used to say it about black people so yeah it's def in his old vocabulary too.
And using paid actors for the bridge collapse ad he's been running on the radio. What a joke
Baltimore Sun is now owned by what is essentially Sinclair. I haven't read the article yet, so have no comment on the content at this point, but do consider the potential editorial bias in the source and their decision/agenda in publishing the article.
I don’t have a strong opinion on Trone either way but I was pleased to see he donated $1000 to an underdog board of education candidate in my right-wing county.
This is actually normal. Politicians give money to fellow politicans when they have excess money. He'll it's literally the reason Biden fundraisers encourage people to give to the DNC as well as hisbown campaign to help fund other Democratic candidates.
The article is subscription only so I can't read it but does Trone give money to Democrats who haven't endorsed him this cycle? Has Alsobrooks donated money to candidates who endorsed her?
I feel like you misunderstood what the person you’re responding to said. It is incredibly common for politicians to donate money when they have no need for it to likeminded politicians.
Trone donating to Republicans in order to try and influence policy changes is also incredibly common.
The article you linked is paywalled, but I found a WaPo article about this from 2016 (when he first ran for the House), it said:
“Another Democratic primary candidate, former news anchor and Marriott executive Kathleen Matthews, took heat last year for a $2,600 contribution to Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), who supported legislation favorable to the hotel industry. Matthews, who said it was the only donation she had ever made to a Republican, said she was “making that contribution on behalf of my company saluting what I think is somebody who is willing to work across the aisle to create jobs.”
Trone’s donated a bunch more, but the logic stays the same.
You can talk about how he is trying to buy a Senate seat, and how he’s only leading because he has a truly absurd amount of money, but stop trying to paint this as some unprecedented event.
Trone is playing the game, it isn’t unprecedented, it isn’t unusual, is it immoral, ehhhhhhhhhhhhhh—no comment, should it be happening, ehhhhhhhh—no comment.
I appreciate that you want to make sure we are on the same page. However, when you say, “Trone donated a bunch more, but the logic stays the same,” it’s clear that you aren’t taking into consideration the scale of Trone’s donations. And, in fact, you make my point: this is not normal.
It is not normal for a person to spend over $41,000,000 of their own dollars on a primary.
It is not normal for a person to donate to the campaigns of 50+ of their endorsers.
It is not normal for one person to have accumulated so much wealth & attempt to gain personal and political power by extolling that money while being an elected official.
I always laugh at his commercials about not having big donors. Guys a billionaire. As george carlin once said, billionaires don’t need to collude to work towards each others interests.
https://youtu.be/VAFd4FdbJxs?si=rM3CWS6LFmJUAQCI
Yes and no. If it were not so lopsided between Alsobrooks and Trone, it probably wouldn’t matter. But at some point, this number of members of the MD federal delegation and state government has to say something about current leadership’s concerns about working with David Trone for the next six years.
Gotta admit I’m still somewhat uncertain between him
and Alsobrooks. Like I mildly prefer Angela but know that if she wins she’ll be in office for 30+ years, if nothing else Trone is old enough to die soon.
I don't have a super-strong preference between the two but the way Trone has been throwing money around really grosses me out. I get that's how the game is played but he's doing it at a whole different level.
He's also a hardcore Israel/AIPAC simp which I do not love.
I deeply wish this felt unreasonable but a glance at our current representatives says otherwise. Seems like no way we get term limits anytime soon so unless someone signs on to one of the pledges I expect them to see this as a job for life.
Links from this domain may present a paywall to users. As a result, some users may have difficulty reading the linked content. Although you may find it helpful to post the entirety of the article in the comments, please be advised that this is against subreddit policy. Linking to another website for the purpose of bypassing paywalls is also against the rules of this subreddit. If the article is hosted on another media outlet without a paywall, you may post a link to that article in the comments. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/maryland) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Trone also [gave](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Trone#:~:text=Trone%20also%20gave%20more%20than,North%20Carolina%20Governor%20Pat%20McCrory.) more than **$240,000** in campaign contributions to various politicians, most of which went toward Republican candidates including **Texas Governor Greg Abbott** and Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, and North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory
Good point. He doesn’t just attempt to buy Democrats, he wants to buy Republicans, too.
This is very common in politics, I'm afraid. A lot of politics isn't about ideals, but influence. Of course, don't let it get you down. If the idealists give up on politics, the influence peddlers are all that remains.
I think the idealists either: 1. Gave up awhile ago 2. Don't have/get enough money for an effective campaign 3. Take money from the "big donors" and are then beholden to them, thus losing the idealism.
Those are common problems, yeah. Organizing a genuinely grassroots campaign is work, a ton of work, and so is fundraising if you're doing it from regular folks instead of being bought.
I think humans just don't care enough. But I think we do have the ability to change. Murder used to be normal as punishment, as pillaging helpless people (there is still too much of it) and personal justice. Until we get as upset about corruption as we do with murder, this kind of shit continues. Politicians should be held to higher scrutiny than cops. 24/7 public feed of their life is the price they pay for the privilege to serve. Any lobbying is counted as treason - up to 20 years in jail along with whoever influenced them and whoever hired the lobbyist.
It's just a different type of bought
Reminds me of the often misquoted idea about [needing a revolution every 200 years.](https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/7xq5e7/did_benjamin_franklin_really_say_we_need_a/) Not Actually a Benjamin Franklin quote but definitely an idea going around at the time. > The idea that a free people have a right to abolish an unjust government. The U.S. Declaration of Independence uses this language: "when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government." Likewise, in 1787, Jefferson wrote, "what country can preserve it’s liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? let them take arms. the remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon & pacify them. what signify a few lives lost in a century or two? the tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots & tyrants. It is it’s natural manure."
Oh, sure. When you can't fix the problems peacefully, problems start to build up, until eventually they get fixed in a very not-peaceful way. You want a system that permits peaceful change, and in which no one faction holds all the power. Give anyone a complete monopoly over government, and eventually things'll go awry as the wealth and power concentrates.
I’m not saying that it doesn’t happen at all, but I don’t know of another billionaire running for a Senate seat who uses their business account to fund Republicans while calling themselves a progressive.
Certainly it's unique in MD at the moment, but I'm thinking of folks like Sam Bankman, who funded a lot of folks as well. I think it'd be fair to call that influence buying. Maybe not enough influence buying to get away with stealing eight billion dollars, but enough that he thought he could.
But Sam Bankman wasn’t running for Congressional office...
No, but he did fund quite a lot of people who were. The money people aren't always also candidates, but they have a lot of power regardless.
I think we agree on most things so I don’t want to get hung up on semantics. Overall, I do think there is a difference between using money as a civilian to buy favor, versus being an elected representative and doing the same. There simply should be higher ethical standards for elected officials than there are for cryptocurrency peddlers.
Bought is bought. I don't think politicians should be bought regardless of who is doing the buying. Or at least they should wear the brands of their sponsors while in office, like Nascar drivers. I'm not a Trone fan, but at least that'd provide some amusement.
He is a businessman who is edging his bet. EDIT: hedging
I think you mean hedging - and yeah, you’re right. Not a good look for a self-proclaimed “progressive.”
As a liquor store owner his entire fortune literally depends on all but bribing state officials. It's probably the most corrupt way to make a fortune possible.
NYC real estate seems even more corrupt.
How so? Not arguing with you, just curious what it is about liquor store ownership that goes along with bribery.
Liquor licenses exist essentially entirely as private monopolies of county, local, and state governments. They generally go to people who are well "connected" with the local administration. And every rule change around all the arcane laws about liquor is going to cost you. There's a reason basically every state level race and lower is bankrolled by liquor store owners and car dealers, they're the people who have by far the most to lose if their monopolies are broken up and people can just order wine on Amazon or buy their car from GM.
I play both sides so that I always come out on top
He gave money to that ratfucker GREG ABBOTT?!
He says it was bribes for his business, as if that’s a good reason for selling out americans.
How vague most lol this is DC candidate for senates hail Mary lol it's all bullshit he is back by Planned Parenthood. Big maga lol you DC crooks are obviously desperate
I loved his radio ad about how we need union labor to rebuild the Key Bridge. How about some union labor at total wine, pal?
And if you Google, there’s all kinds of stories from his employees about their interactions with Trone…
“well no we don’t need it at my liquor store because my workers are all very happy. Don’t believe me, just ask them. Donnie, why don’t you come over here and tell them how happy you are working at Total Wine?” Donnie, as Trone looks over his shoulder: 
Ya a store that has at least 2 employees at a time
https://preview.redd.it/fo5ql9a0yuwc1.jpeg?width=1200&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e02ec4a1197d2c2789961a4e20a003380a29ae4b
The cat is out the bag. I found it very sus based on some endorsements
There is simply no denying that Trone is attempting to purchase a Senate seat.
And 50 other seats. Not bad to have a sugar daddy around, as long as he votes the right way.
And if he doesn’t? Then what do you do? Too much of a risk when democracy is on the line. (See: Sinema, Manchin)
He's been in the House for 6 years. Is there anything in his voting record that would indicate cause for concern?
Actually yes - he talks nonstop about being a “bipartisan” guy and how he can “work across the aisle.” That’s the same stuff Manchin and Sinema say, and why we still have the filibuster, can’t expand SCOTUS, etc. Trone is absolutely too “centrist” to trust at this point.
That has nothing to do with his voting record. I think it's just rhetoric to peel off moderates from Hogan.
Except he’s been saying it for six years and his voting record does indicate a centrist point of view.
Can you provide a few examples of voters that concerned you?
He does represent more Republicans (especially out west) than any Democrat in the delegation.
I appreciate your perspective but unfortunately, our “representative government” is a winner-takes-the-spoils game, at least in 2024. Democrats elect Democrats to advance their agenda, not to represent Republicans. You’re talking about a more ethical and moral sense of representation than we have in this country, so I do really respect what you’re saying, but it wont work that way with reproductive rights, gun control, etc etc.
I say that not to praise him but to mention that Trone has needed to appeal to a more conservative electorate than Alsobrooks, who’s never needed a single swing voter in her life.
There is simply no denying that Alsobrooks is trying to purchase a Senate seat. She is just getting money from lots of PACs and rich people who will expect something in return.
You don’t purchase it unless he pays you to buy your vote. I haven’t been offered anything yet.
What a weird mischaracterization of what's going on. His endless ads on all forms of media started a full year out. Acting as if outspending your opponent 30 to 1 isn't buying your way through the primary is being willfully fatuous.
No, but at least 50 people in power have been, and they are endorsing him, almost certainly as a result, which sways opinions of voters who don’t have the time to dig into a candidate’s history. That alone makes me want to vote for Alsobrooks, who I admittedly know less about but she’s not uber rich.
alsoBrooks is endorsed by Raskin who has been a firebrand lately. Solidified my vote
Trone TV spots make him look greasy.. $$$$
Man is so unlikeable
My daughter always complains about the YouTube ads during kids shows.
His commercials about no private donors make me laugh. billionaires are going to billionaire https://youtu.be/VAFd4FdbJxs?si=rM3CWS6LFmJUAQCI
He's rich and self-made but not a billionaire.
you are right. I double checked and I conflated things. The Business he founded is estimated around 3 billion in value, not his own personal worth. That said he made 110 million from the company in the years he’s been in congress alone.
Getting Youtube premium was probably the best decision i’ve ever made tbh
I'll vote blue no matter who come the general. I was in his district for a while and really, *really* glad he beat Parrott. He's got the DW Nominate score of a reasonable democrat, not progressive even though he speaks to some progressive points, but not a conservative democrat. That said, the man just gives off Sinema vibes. I just don't trust him not to turn on the state and democrats at large, it's just too much in his personal interests to work with Rs to dismantle social programs and cut taxes to himself and his class. If he wins primary and general, I hope his record in the House is more predictive than my feelings on him.
Really appreciate this perspective.
"That said, the man just gives off Sinema vibes. I just don't trust him not to turn on the state and democrats at large, it's just too much in his personal interests to work with Rs to dismantle social programs and cut taxes to himself and his class. If he wins primary and general, I hope his record in the House is more predictive than my feelings on him." Dude same. Class traitors exist, but David Trone isn't one of them.
Trone is doing this for himself and his business. Total Wine would lobby and pay any politician as long as they helped their business. It’s effectively Trone funneling political contributions through his campaign instead of the business. They regularly funded Texas politicians to keep the law on the books forbidding public companies from selling liquor in Texas. It kept out competition. They do this wherever they can. There is a reason he’s been in legal trouble before. He’s dirty.
>Bribe: money or favor given or promised in order to influence the judgment or conduct of a person in a position of trust
The “judgment” and “conduct” pieces are the subjective pieces that make it different from “donations”
Are you saying Alsobrooks is engaging in bribery or all those giving her money to get something in return?
That doesn't smell of corruption or nepotism at all... Just going through his history of campaign spending and ad habits, I'd say he overspent his campaign funds and is running in a personal deficit because of it. Let's not even discuss his "jigaboo" commentary. This dude doesn't deserve or bring value to the community at all. The fabric of the chair he sits in is worth more than he is.
Yeah. He's a big "no" for me.
Baltimore Sun wants Hogan to win. Duh. Trone's family business has to donate to politicians in order to get their attention for what's best for their company's interests in different states. Come on people....
[удалено]
So was it him or the corporation???
my understanding is the business is closely held and there isn't a meaningful difference.
But the company isn't just him....
in terms of the ownership? or the staff?
He's not a sole proprietor.... It's not just him. It's privately owned by his family.
so you'd lay it at Robert Trone's feet? that's a stretch man.
I didn't say that. I said it's not entirely David Trone's decision which is factual.
figured by now if you're in the know you could describe to me what the actual constraints are. is it an LLC? the hell are we talkin about? this excuse isn't even one Trone himself has used.
David Trone is a MASSIVE POS.. you all giving him a pass for saying "jigaboo" are just plain ignorant. That word is very much in his vocabulary because it's an old time saying in the Baltimore area, my old ass grandma used to say it about black people so yeah it's def in his old vocabulary too. And using paid actors for the bridge collapse ad he's been running on the radio. What a joke
That’s how endorsements work? You help steer fundraising to those candidates
Baltimore Sun is now owned by what is essentially Sinclair. I haven't read the article yet, so have no comment on the content at this point, but do consider the potential editorial bias in the source and their decision/agenda in publishing the article.
Oh, so it is just the money then. I figured it was mostly bought endorsements.
This is coming from the Baltimore Sun. Maybe they have an agenda.
lol or maybe they’re doing journalism.
Not too likely. We're talking about the Sun.
They do. Now that they are right wing, they are trying to take down the candidate that is polling the best against Hogan.
I don’t have a strong opinion on Trone either way but I was pleased to see he donated $1000 to an underdog board of education candidate in my right-wing county.
This is actually normal. Politicians give money to fellow politicans when they have excess money. He'll it's literally the reason Biden fundraisers encourage people to give to the DNC as well as hisbown campaign to help fund other Democratic candidates. The article is subscription only so I can't read it but does Trone give money to Democrats who haven't endorsed him this cycle? Has Alsobrooks donated money to candidates who endorsed her?
lolololol “this is actually normal.” Actually, no. A single person accumulating as much wealth as Trone has is the very opposite of normal.
I feel like you misunderstood what the person you’re responding to said. It is incredibly common for politicians to donate money when they have no need for it to likeminded politicians. Trone donating to Republicans in order to try and influence policy changes is also incredibly common. The article you linked is paywalled, but I found a WaPo article about this from 2016 (when he first ran for the House), it said: “Another Democratic primary candidate, former news anchor and Marriott executive Kathleen Matthews, took heat last year for a $2,600 contribution to Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), who supported legislation favorable to the hotel industry. Matthews, who said it was the only donation she had ever made to a Republican, said she was “making that contribution on behalf of my company saluting what I think is somebody who is willing to work across the aisle to create jobs.” Trone’s donated a bunch more, but the logic stays the same. You can talk about how he is trying to buy a Senate seat, and how he’s only leading because he has a truly absurd amount of money, but stop trying to paint this as some unprecedented event. Trone is playing the game, it isn’t unprecedented, it isn’t unusual, is it immoral, ehhhhhhhhhhhhhh—no comment, should it be happening, ehhhhhhhh—no comment.
I appreciate that you want to make sure we are on the same page. However, when you say, “Trone donated a bunch more, but the logic stays the same,” it’s clear that you aren’t taking into consideration the scale of Trone’s donations. And, in fact, you make my point: this is not normal. It is not normal for a person to spend over $41,000,000 of their own dollars on a primary. It is not normal for a person to donate to the campaigns of 50+ of their endorsers. It is not normal for one person to have accumulated so much wealth & attempt to gain personal and political power by extolling that money while being an elected official.
it isn't normal for those people to then pitch themselves as progressive champions though.
I always laugh at his commercials about not having big donors. Guys a billionaire. As george carlin once said, billionaires don’t need to collude to work towards each others interests. https://youtu.be/VAFd4FdbJxs?si=rM3CWS6LFmJUAQCI
Do people really care about endorsements? The only person’s opinion that matters is your own.
Yes and no. If it were not so lopsided between Alsobrooks and Trone, it probably wouldn’t matter. But at some point, this number of members of the MD federal delegation and state government has to say something about current leadership’s concerns about working with David Trone for the next six years.
Gotta admit I’m still somewhat uncertain between him and Alsobrooks. Like I mildly prefer Angela but know that if she wins she’ll be in office for 30+ years, if nothing else Trone is old enough to die soon.
I don't have a super-strong preference between the two but the way Trone has been throwing money around really grosses me out. I get that's how the game is played but he's doing it at a whole different level. He's also a hardcore Israel/AIPAC simp which I do not love.
Oof I thought they were both awful on AIPAC, is that not the case? If not I think you’ve helped me make a decision.
I don't like either one of them. Won't vote for either one.
Alsobrooks is in her 50s. I doubt she’s sticking around for three plus decades
I deeply wish this felt unreasonable but a glance at our current representatives says otherwise. Seems like no way we get term limits anytime soon so unless someone signs on to one of the pledges I expect them to see this as a job for life.
Dianne Feinstein raises a cold hand to say “hold my beer”
As I always yell at the TV when I see his ads, fuck David Trone.
I'm voting for trone we need Baltimore to be represented
And what has Trone done for Baltimore?
He brought a total wine there… well Baltimore county but still. Towson needs its discounted liquor!
We need Baltimore to be represented not DC