Took me a while to grok anything past his tattoo.

A veteran and a liberal Democrat from Maine with a plan of action who speaks directly and clearly sounds a lot better than what we got concerned now.

by past social media posts and his tattoos BEHIND.

I hope to hell he has...

who have been politically aligned our entire lives, there are tho who it has taken longer to get here

I hope that Platner has found his voice and never wavers again.

Not all adopt the nasty "tough guy" attitude that masks sadism rather than mere machismo in combat. Plenty of WWII veterans who saw the absolute "worst" of the "worst" came back with the most incredible empathy and kindness toward children, their neighbors, and both men AND women. That was also true with civilian populations in combat. Not the Hegseth stereotype, but the very opposite.

It appears he may be like the latter, rather than Hegseth type. One can only hope...

many did not. and many didn't come back at all, and what for? What for? What for? I think Platner is asking that.

when it comes to Platner.
We've been lied to, suckered, stolen from and conned by politicians in extreme fashion, so I am very cautious in forming an opinion about Platner.

When I compare him to Ossoff or Bernie or Warren who have walked the walk and talked the Truth for decades, I may trust, but first I will verify.

Luckily I don't have to make up my mind about him since I don't live in Maine. So I'll bide my time and see if he is sincere or does a Sinema on America.

as a Pennsylvanian who got on board early and enthusiastically with Fetterman, and some other examples of seeming firebrand progressives who flaked out over time, I too am cautious with him.

I do get the appeal and hope he is as he is presenting.

Young men's minds take very long to fully develop. Then they are pumped full of macho bullshit day after day, by society At school, by coaches, at church especially the Fascist KKKrishtun variety, their mentors at home if there remains one available (divorce rate), television, print glossy magazine media, porn, football, wrestling, cage fighting etc., etc,.

This hyper macho male messaging is causing and feeds the evolution of toxic masculinity.

Look at Joe Rogan, Charlie Kirk (God Rest his precious soul), Andrew dice Clay, and the epitome of masculinity to be worshiped, revelled,
-and honored in celebration. Andrew and Tristan Tate the world wide emissaries of Toxic Masculinity, lets not forget the Pete Hegseths and the KKKa$$$h Patels that are roaming around too. All perfect specimens of Poisoned and Toxic Masculinity.

By normalizing this macho bullshit - the young population of men have been made damaged, dysfunctional, often times found dangerous and repulsive human beings.

We , as a collective society, might want to take a step back before we create a cadre of cloned Donald J. Trumps running loose and wild in the streets making chaos and mayhem on a constant and regular basis.

This is why the military likes to get soldiers when they are young. Before their frontal Cortex have fully developed. They are risk takers then. They think they are invincible then.They are very impulsive. They are prone to peer pressure. There brains are not fully matured, so their minds and actions are very malleable, and to be prone and open to being influenced.

This is well know and recognized in the field of human psychology.

++++++++++
++++++++++

Does the Frontal Cortex of the Brain Take a While to Develop in Young People (especially males).


The frontal cortex, particularly the prefrontal cortex, takes a significant amount of time to develop in young people. This development is crucial for higher-level cognitive functioning, including planning, impulse control, and decision-making. The prefrontal cortex is the last part of the brain to fully mature, typically around age 25. This extended timeline is due to the brain's need for extensive neural wiring and the refinement of cognitive abilities through life experience and learning. The development of the frontal cortex is a gradual process that begins before birth and continues well into early adulthood, with the most dramatic changes occurring during adolescence and early adulthood.
Simply Psychology
+5

https://www.simplypsychology.org/prefrontal-cortex-development-age.html

hope hope hope

This is from 2 months ago, and especially relevant now that so many MAGATs are becoming disillusioned with smash-and-grab *Rumpian corruption.

We are looking at a guy who understands that real masculinity doesn't come from strength, fear and hate -- it comes from kindness, understanding and respect. He is 100-percent correct re Young Men. The Democratic Party would be wise to learn from Platner, particularly if we want to win elections.

As much as I love individual male members of our species, nearly eight decades under patriarchal rule have convinced me that the system is dangerously obsolete. Call me a radical feminist, but my patience for those who insist upon propping up the decaying carcass is over. Trump and his cabal are the perfect embodiment of a warped definition of manhood/masculinity. I’m enthusiastic about GP’s potential to assist in turning 10,000 years of primate-level domination and control in a new direction before it’s too late.

This is a paraphrase of a statement Kamala Harris made during the 2024 campaign and it has resonated with me. I teach leadership and organizational behavior at a university and this statement seems to me to express one of the essential views of leadership, along with "lead by example."

I’m glad Platner is speaking out against Trump’s obscene one and a half TRILLION dollar request for the “Department of War” and the chronic forever-war mentality in Congress.

Yes, yes -- that definitely sounds like someone who's running as an anti-war candidate.

And as far as this breathless interview goes, I'm reminded of this quote:

and corruption within the Pentagon and defense procurement.

His platform focuses on:

Pentagon Reform: Addressing the "revolving door" between the military and defense contractors.
Shipbuilding: Reinvesting wasted funds into closing the shipbuilding gap.
Veteran Advocacy: Leveraging his background as a sergeant in the Marine Corps and National Guard (serving in Iraq and Afghanistan) to reform military spending.

while another poll showed Mills leading Collins by 3 points (46% to 43%).

Take a close look at his history and how he has repented for his past indiscretions. Dive in to the true history of the man and what he has done to keep himself busy. A close look seems bro clearly indicate he not only talks the talk about what is important to him. But he also walks the walk in his journey to somehow contribute to society,... in his very awkward and abrasive way.

Planner clearly has no respect or loyalty to the "Deep State" or the maintain the status quo political machine. He vehemently abhors and talks down to the old political ways of doing things and will likely cause tremors and shaking in Washington DC if he manages to get there.

Also note he is getting some heavy weight progressive Democratic Party endorsements. Senator Elizabeth Warren and Senator he this Sanders full heartedly and full throatily endorse him and stand in his corner. The status quo,.. don't rock the boat - Den Party contingent is bound and determined to criticize and marginalize the man because he a danger to the entrenched political landscape establishments.

Take a peek at the background of Plantner,....

This info in the public domain and to my knowledge not copyrighted.

Sourced from Wikipedia:

Graham Platner
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Graham Cunningham Platner (born September 1, 1984) is an American oyster farmer and Marine Corps veteran who is a candidate for the Democratic nomination for US Senate in Maine, aiming to unseat incumbent Republican senator Susan Collins.

Graham Platner

Platner in 2025
Personal details
Born
Graham Cunningham Platner
September 1, 1984 (age 41)
Blue Hill, Maine, US
Party
Democratic
Spouse
Amy Gertner ​ m. 2024)​
Relations
Warren Platner (grandfather)
Education
George Washington University (attended)
Occupation
Oyster farmerharbormaster
Website
Campaign website
Military service
Branch/service
United States Marine Corps
Maryland National Guard
Years of service
2003–2007
2010–2011[1]
Rank
Sergeant[2]
Battles/wars
Iraq War
War in Afghanistan
Graham Platner's voice
Duration: 30 seconds.0:30
Platner criticizing the Democratic Party's corporate donors and backers
Recorded December 20, 2025
Platner has been characterized as a populist and a progressive who is critical of the Democratic Party establishment. He has been endorsed by a range of political and cultural figures, most notably Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren.

Contents
Early life
edit
Platner was born on September 1, 1984, in Blue Hill, Maine.[3] He was raised in Sullivan, a coastal town near Acadia National Park, and in Ellsworth.[4] He is the elder of two sons born to restaurant owner Leslie Harlow and lawyer Bronson Platner.[4][5][6] His grandfather was the modernist architect Warren Platner.[7]

Platner attended the Hotchkiss School in Lakeville, Connecticut and John Bapst Memorial High School in Bangor, Maine.[8] He earned the "most likely to start a revolution" yearbook superlative as a senior at John Bapst in 2003, appearing in the photo with a sign declaring "Free Kosova, Chechnya, Kashmir, Palestine, Kurdistan, Tibet".[8][9] When he was 18, he was quoted in the Bangor Daily News after protesting President George W. Bush and the Iraq War at an appearance by Bush at Bangor International Airport.[8]

Career
edit
Military
edit
Platner enlisted in the Marine Corps shortly after graduating from high school in 2003.[1] He attended the Marine Corps School of Infantry, then deployed to Iraq in 2005.[6] He served a total of eight years in the military, including three combat tours in Iraq, in areas including Ramadi and Fallujah.[10] Asked why he served in the Iraq War after protesting it, Platner said, "I thought I could do some good. And I wanted to play soldier. I might have read too much Hemingway."[11]

After four years in the military, Platner enrolled at George Washington University, funded by the G.I. Bill.[1] Shortly after starting school, he enlisted in the Maryland Army National Guard and served an additional tour of duty in the war in Afghanistan.[12][13] He returned to Washington in 2011, resuming classes at GWU and working as a bartender at the Tune Inn on Capitol Hill.[14][15] From 2011 to 2016 he alternated between living in D.C. and military deployments, before withdrawing from GWU and returning to Maine in 2016 for treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder and other military-related injuries.[13][1][11][16]

In 2018, Platner returned to Kabul, Afghanistan, for about six months as a State Department security contractor with Constellis, the private military company formerly known as Blackwater, where he provided diplomatic security to the US ambassador to Afghanistan.[17][10][18][19] He returned to Maine the same year, saying he had quickly grown more disillusioned with the military and what he called fraudulent funneling of taxpayer money to private defense companies.[12][1]

Much more at the link below,..

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graham_Platner

He used the r word and went on an antisemetic YouTube show recently saying he's a long time fan. Makes it harder for me to believe he's really changed.

In this instance, given context, I would say that to "restructure" or "reprioritize" the military might have been his actual focus.

or combined. If hear "reprioritize," that's even more vague -- financially? Culturally?

Nothing says "anti-war" like getting out of the military and then getting a job as a Blackwater merc in Afghanistan....lol

"Awwwww shucks, we fell one vote short of trying to block war funding" *wink wink* we get from Dem leadership.

...not in the loop. Once you leave the southern urban areas of Maine and away from York, Kennebunk, Biddeford /Sacco, the Greater Portland area, Lewiston/Auburn, Augusta, Waterville, and Bangor/Brewer Blue voting citizenry become rare.

Up state Maine,... Maine by the way is huge - it takes nearly six hours to drive from Kittery at the southern state border - to Caribou, Maine at the Canadian border. Way up north the voters vote red primarily,... like it was Alabama not Maine. So this is why Susan Collins keeps getting back in there as our Senator. This is the reality Graham Planner must negotiate. Planner needs to appeal to the KKKrishtun crazies and devout MAGA crowd to even think of getting his foot in the door as our senator.

Again for those who might not be in the loop - Senator Collins has served six terms. An astounding 36 fucking years. She goes back the the days of Olympia Snow,.. If anyone remembers her. That was back in the days when Republicans up here were truly moderates and sane while making an honest effort to respect and work with the other side of the aisle. Because they realized that was the only way,... that compromise was not a nasty word, if one hope d to achieve a health Democracy. Anyone remember Margaret Chase Smith, she would have spit in Trump's face if she ever laid eyes or ears upon that human fascist trash.

Collins is of a much different breed, she votes with ShitsHisPants Fascist the rotate 98% of the time. Just moans occasionally to give her self the patina of being a moderate. But she will accept the fucking MAGA red hat at the White House any day any time - trDUMP is doing a Fascist red hat give away in the Oval Office.

If Graham Planner can can force her to retire to the nearest Maine potato patch that would be just dandy. Taking out the rubbish would be such a blessing for Maine and national Democratic politics. Now let's replace Chuck Schumer with Bernie Sanders as the new Dem leader of the senate. Then let's get Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez a seat in the US senate and take the mussel off her mouth and let her opinions be freely expressed on the floor of the senate.

We need people in Washington DC with a burning inferno of fire in their bellies the clean up this trDUMP - God Forsaken FUCKING mess sooner feather than later. This is a Code Red - Defcon Five moment - we can afford no longer to pussy foot around - we must right this ship of state and regain the respect we have lost in ever crack and crevice of this world and internationally. trDUMP has made the USA a parriah. An nearly incomprehensible amount of fences need be mended before we can regain our global standing and respect. We must get to work on that mission.

... wants different words used for some reason. I wish I knew how to shut the auto edit feature off ,... It is really gumming up the works.

Sorry for the inappropriate words that are making my posts some what confusing. The Android system is the culprit.

THIS…

Presidents shouldn't be single handedly prosecuting wars even if this war were going well (which it clearly isn't). Maybe congressional authorization would have kept us out of this war, maybe not but at least it would make the war something the entire government is taking ownership of. I think that is at least as important as the merits or dismerits of a particular war.

Starting this war was wrong. I don’t need someone saying the problem is he didn’t get authorization. Of course that’s necessary. BUT it isn’t the only problem. The real problem is the US engaged in not only an unauthorized war against a country but the US unilaterally bombed a country that was not an imminent threat to us. It is ordinary people, civilians, poor and elderly people, women and children who will bear the brunt of this war.

Iran bad but he should have gotten permission is not the correct response from anyone including Democrats.

My friend Brad's brother was sent to Vietnam and KIA. He had a club foot, For sure a 4F. A classmates oldest brother was in a plane shot down in 1969 near N Korea by a Chinese Mig. No survivors. EC121 constellation 31 on board. Everyone affected to this day.

pushing him so much and I don't entirely trust them either.

Smart guys, but I stay away from that channel because, for my tastes, they laugh at their own jokes too much.

the interview with Graham Platner was very good. I can see why he's leading.

I always listen to Jon Lovett.. Lovett or Leave It.. usually very funny and often very poignant. Good guests many I've never heard of being an old lady, but interesting and funny.

did to Biden.

I considered canceling my subscription, but I didn't. These guys are good and honest. I don't have to agree and often don't but I learn something. Pod Save the World gives me an idea of what's going on outside the US..

I can see him being another Fetterman.

bombs? And now Iranian?

This seems like another piece similar to what the NYT did to undermine Kamala Harris.

bs schtick. Merely taking down those vile posts means absolutely nothing.

Since I am not in Maine, my distrust and dislike are not relevant.

like it or not, THAT is who he is

I don't have a lot to go on, but I trust the judgment of Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren.

I agree with Platner that our wars this century should not have been entered into, and Democratic leadership has been complicit in Afghanistan & Iraq.

If he's more likely than Mills to unseat Collins, he's the right choice in this primary.

I respect Senators Warren and Sanders, I think they're wrong on this one.

I don't know if I can vote for this guy even if he takes the nomination, I think he's a big mistake. Just because he talks a good game doesn't mean he has the tacit knowledge required. I think we've gone way too far past the point where trainees can be helpful. No vertical learning curves, please.

But to not vote for the Democratic nominee when every Senate seat is off-the-scale important?

Hold my nose and take a bunch of anti-emetics to put him at the top of the list. This will be my first time with ranked choice voting so I might be able to give him a pass. We'll know how he does in a few weeks.

I would like to see where his campaign cash is coming from.

I just don't trust him.

I’m tired of the NYT using hedge words like 'resembled' for a literal Totenkopf. The symbol isn't a vague artistic interpretation... it's a specific historical emblem worn by concentration camp guards.

By saying it "resembled" a Nazi symbol instead of just calling it what it is, the paper creates a false sense of ambiguity where none exists.

It’s journalistic sanitization that editorializes the news by softening the reality of the imagery. This isn't a cloud in the sky that "resembles" a bunny... it’s a historically fixed image. When they use that word, they’re carrying water for the candidate’s "I didn't know" defense rather than reporting the objective fact of what was etched on his skin.

In fairness... and this is ALL the lenience I'm willing to extend to Platner... perhaps in a drunken moment he thought "cool skull and crossbones" when looking at a catalog of designs. Perhaps he really didn't know its meaning. But in ALL THE YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS (and YEARS) between then and when he FINALLY had it covered (only when it was politicially expedient) I do not believe that he has "no idea" what it means and that nobody ever bothered to question him or tell him.

I would never be able to trust his judgement.

... when trying to tilt the narrative among casual readers who may not know what the symbol was that he had tattooed on his chest. Or who might not even know what a Totenkopf is, or what it actually represents. They go to great lengths to "color within the lines" of (barely the) truth while providing very little useful or factual info that tells the whole story.

What a skilled bunch of writers they are! (Not journalists... just writers. Barf.)

Further Reading: https://southwest.adl.org/resources/hate-symbol/totenkopf

When you rock tumble facts long enough, everything ends up "resembling" something.

You and I are on different sides of the Platner debate, but I will call a nazi symbol a nazi symbol. Cause, ya know, it was uh... a nazi symbol.

Yes it is hard for my to justify, but I hate Susan Collins that much.




EDIT: I realize the "did" in my first post is doing a lot of the heavy lifting in terms of justifying.

But he's still not ready for primetime.

I'm not favorably impressed. He acts and sounds too much like a couple of duds we had HOPED would be good representatives and weren't after all.

Not voting for hope this time, I'm voting for experience, like the experience Gov. Mills has.

No vertical learning curves, thank you very much.

resembled the text from the inside book jacket... word for word. Just a one-in-75 billion chance coinky-dinky, no more, no less.

I can see how some might not get the connection between a skull and crossbones as being a nazi symbol (as opposed to a swastika), especially when young, drunk, and in the service, seeing and facing death on a daily basis. Military units throughout time have used variations of a skull symbol. Marines often wear what is called the 'Punisher', which was introduced by Marvel Comics.

Biker groups use/used similar designs as well, as much for intimidation and group identity as possibly white nationalist/anti-semitic purposes.

So I'm willing to give him a bit of leeway on this.

"Some Democrats do express a sense of moral outrage and urgency over the war... But many others, including the party’s leadership in Congress, have shown less passion in opposing the war than they bring to fights over Obamacare subsidies."

Damn those Dems getting passionate over healthcare!

"Turn on right-wing commentators like Tucker Carlson or Megyn Kelly and you hear a more aggressive stance."

Yeah. Fuck that, MAGAt.

about Healthcare!

And not as "passionate about the war as Tucker Carlson & Meghan Kelly".

Do you actually hear yourself, Planter.

Thanks for those quotes, MorbidButterflyTat

Shame on you for misrepresenting his meaning

Attacking Dems and praising Fascists.

I have Grandsons too.. doesn't mean I have to like what Planter is doing to Dems.

about Obamacare", but not as passionate as fascists about the war.

Dems are anti-war too.. whatever Platner's attacks are.

Of course, Fascists aren't going to give a shit about healthcare for Americans.

There is nothing similar about their rhetoric.

We are projecting our disappointment with Fetterman post-stroke on Platner proactively because he has no record to run on. In terms of his talk, he is saying the right stuff. Better than Fetterman even before Fetterman's Broca's center exploded.

There is no comparison between them, and I don't get why people say "I hope we don't get another Fetterman!" when there is no symmetry there.

Fetterman, remember, was Lt. Governor. He had a record. Platner is running on, and getting called on vibes. And it is totally fair because ya know, Nazi tattoo. But there are not comparable. Apples to algebra.

like Fetterman does. And, praising Tucker Carlson and Meghan Kelly.

That's why they are alike.

There is a blurry line in what defines an 'attack' and what defines 'praise'.

That both Fetterman and Platner run under the Democratic banner is at least an implicit indicator of their underlying loyalty.

The difference to me is that Fetterman has a lot of votes that are anathema to my politics, chief among them his support for genocide abroad and a police state domestically. Fetterman had a stroke that could explain his bizarro positions. I will also admit that Platner's running for Senate being suspect. But I don't particularly care how Platner is behind the scenes as long as he isn't a predator. As long as I get policy deliverables.

I will absolutely concede that there is a lot of worry about with Graham Platner in terms of his experience, but he is talking a bigger game than Fetterman ever did and I am willing to extend him some grace until he actively turns on me. It is also a luxury of not being in Maine, so there is that.

Because Fetty blindsided us.

If Platner wins, we'll have our eyes and suspicions on him from the start.

I suspect it's all gonna be fine!

Is it because they're both dudes with tattoos* that are winning primaries against pseudo-incumbents?

Fetterman had a massive stroke that scrambled his brain, Platner did not.




*Fetterman, as far as I know, has no Nazi tattoos

I'll take him over Mills, but I have no say, for I do not live in Maine.

However, any insight is appreciated. I'm also not from Maine but have followed the race closely. I started off pro-Platner, then he had a variety of nazi and nazi-adjacent scandal, and Mills got recruited and I decided she was the best option. BUT then I watched her town halls and tepid campaign and realized she doesn't seem to really want the job. An electric speaker she is not, and so I do not think she meets the moment.

So, I am back in the pro-Platner camp solely on the basis of the words he is saying the grace I am willing to extend to members of my party. He seems like he will win, and I want Susan Collins driven into the dirt, so well, that is where I am at.

I know I do.

>> she doesn't seem to really want the job.

I saw part of Mills' town halls. There's no energy there.

Mills is a Schumer pick. May they both move on to some greener pasture.

Mills is not a revolutionary. She is a functionary. She would be a reliable, steady Democratic vote. She would be an adept back bencher with no room for advancement because she isn't going to run again.

That Mills had to get her arm twisted to get into the race tells me it isn't going to happen. She was a do-no-harm choice in the hopes that Platner would flame out. It didn't happen, which indicates he is resonating with the electorate. Rather than define him in terms of his many, many red flags, I'm willing to lend him the opportunity to delivery on policy what I am ideologically closest to. I am not in the market for betrayal, but I think rumors of his betrayal are premature.

Platner has room for reelection and seniority. More importantly, he is running with a message.

I stated in another thread: he might be dumb. There is no obligation for our elected representatives to be smart. I'd take a dummy on the right side of an issue over a triangulated genius anyday.

experienced sitting Governor, Janet Mills. Mills is the candidate who can defeat Susan Collins.

In a few weeks Maine will hold televised debates for the Democratic Senate primary. Hopefully when people can compare the two it will be clear that Mills actually knows what she is talking about, has a record of accomplishments and is an honest person with integrity. The debates will also also get Maine voters talking and they will start to pay attention and think about the June primary, something most voters have not even thought about yet.

That's when I want to see where the polling is.

I'm not understanding the hype for this guy. He has no experience, he has an honesty problem and he has a history of bad judgment.

Polling suggests that Platner will beat Collins resoundingly, Mills will defeat her modestly.

Primary polling suggests the Maine voters prefer Platner to Mills.



That is all.

I don't believe it at all and I know the Republicans will pour everything into this race to keep that seat.

Let's see where the polling is in Mid May. I know Mainers. Mainers are practical, down to earth people. Intergrity and honesty matters to Mainers.

If integrity and honesty were truly their concerns, Susan Collins would be out of a job.

They will pour everything to beat Mills or Platner, but I suspect the line of attack they'd use on Platner would only cut into the people voting for Susan Collins.

Mills is defined. Platner is not.

I worry that here on DU we are devoting a lot of time and energy attempting to define Platner in advance of any policy he is associated with. That is problematic (but understandable).

Maine is a quirky state. It has been (and is still) an interesting race. I think we win this one no matter what.

Let the GOP dump their millions, they ain't walking away from this one with a W.

yup

It's going to be just fine with Platner.

over and OUT

"Over and out" means you will not respond further. Make it so.

Then he spends four months defending all the stuff he said and did (tattoo included) to voters who have not yet tuned in.

I say, "Out with the centrists."

have a chance.

The only person in slow motion is Mills. If she wants to win, she better pick it up.

Thanks for the thread BeyondGeography

It wasn't readily apparent in those 5 dense excerpted paragraphs.

Is it this?