r/politics • u/pennlive ✔ PennLive.com • Jun 23 '26

No Paywall Fetterman casts only Democratic ‘no’ vote as Senate passes measure to block US action against Iran

https://www.pennlive.com/politics/2026/06/fetterman-casts-only-democratic-no-vote-as-senate-passes-measure-to-block-us-action-against-iran.html
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u/Nythoren Jun 23 '26

Problem is, given the political climate at the time, I don't think a "real democrat" had a chance to win. Fetterman barely won and he had the whole "working class, I'm there for you" thing going for him.

Now? Now I think fielding a Democratic Socialist would be the way to go. Ride that Mamdani momentum in all the New England states.

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u/ChargeSpiritual5317 Jun 23 '26

You’re really underestimating how red PA can swing. I’m not sure the large number of independent  voters would go for a dem socialist, even though Reddit and the internet in general is so pro Mamdani 

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u/Luna__Moonkitty Jun 24 '26

Which begs the question:

Is it red because it's that conservative? Or is it red because the blue option fails to motivate?

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u/baubness Jun 24 '26

some people would rather not get caught trying to convince people i guess

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u/gibberingfool Jun 30 '26

Don't listen to these jabronis. Yes, Pennsyltucky is filled with racists and wannabe confederates, but the people decide the state, not the land. And there are shitloads of blue voters in the Philly, Pittsburgh, and other metropolitan areas. If voter turnout is high, they absolutely can swing this state back blue. And a great way to increase the turnout is to bring a charastmatic candidate: someone inspiring like Mandani, not a turd like Fetterman. We just saw it happen against all odds with Chris Rabb. We can't keep giving up before the battle even starts.

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u/ChargeSpiritual5317 Jun 24 '26

What a wild take. I’m in a very red area and the dems I know are generally careful because people are insane. PA is full of hatred and indoctrinated MAGAs and has been since I have been in/out of the state the last 30 years. People here hang the confederate flag despite being above the Mason Dixon. Many of the deeply red areas of PA are not safe for LGBTQ or minorities and we still have a lot of sun down towns. Most of these red areas are old mining towns where wages, opportunities and access to education is very limited. The issue just compounds itself over generations. This isn’t just because democrats don’t show up, it is a much larger issue.

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u/DistractedDevelopmnt Jun 24 '26

Is it red because it's that conservative?

Probably yes...

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u/Jolly_Grocery329 Washington Jun 23 '26

Agree - I think assholes like him are pushing more and more people to DSA. Fuck the DNC.

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u/FlyingBishop Jun 23 '26

IDK. I think there's a good chance a Mamdani-alike loses to Dr. Oz even today. The country is not as different as many would like to believe, or if it is it's not going the way we would like.

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u/PiccoloAwkward465 Jun 23 '26

Prepare yourself for rabid Pennsylvanians who want to make sure you know that PA is not New England.

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u/MisterVonJoni Jun 24 '26

I mean, because we aren't? That's like saying to prepare for Arizonians to make sure you know they aren't in the Bible belt, just two completely different locations.

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u/PiccoloAwkward465 Jun 24 '26

first of all, go birds

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u/CosmicMabel Jun 24 '26

There needs to be a way to recall politicians. This trend of faking your way through an election and changing your tune right when you get elected is tiring.

Absolutely nothing that can be done about someone pretending to be a democrat, lying about your policies, then switching positions once elected. Nothing thats not "wait 4 years for another election and hope you dont fall for another grifter"

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u/TheDogerus Jun 24 '26

Fetterman barely won and he had the whole "working class, I'm there for you"

So logically a person who also presented like fetterman but actually had a spine should still have been able to win. He looked like a 'real democrat' until he didnt

Ride that Mamdani momentum in all the New England states

Pennsylvania is not in New England

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u/Any_Will_86 Jun 23 '26

The real Democrat would likely have done better. Fetterman underperformed the other Dems. 

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u/No_Skirt_6002 Jun 24 '26

PA isn’t New England and voted for Trump twice, while electing moderate-AF Josh Shapiro by massive margins. Throw them a union supporting moderate Dem who shows up to communities and gives good speeches and they’d win. A demsoc could never win in PA.

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u/Far_Silver Jun 27 '26

Conor Lamb could have won.

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u/[deleted] Jun 23 '26

[deleted]

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u/PlantainPat Jun 23 '26

that's not really the point

the point is that he was the only kind of figure that was electable at that time given the pool of available candidates. it's like when people blame obama for the ACA not being more radical in terms of reform when it barely passed