In my experience, talking about kids on dates is something you need to get out as soon as other basic compatibility is established. It's an immediate dealbreaker for many, and it's a critical component of a future relationship. If your date doesn't want kids and you do, you basically skip GO and are straight to "okay well guess we're just friends now" or "nice knowing you".

Having a nap in a sunbeam

I'm confident that he will flip a lot of disillusioned repubs.

You seem to like to use historical references but with absolutely no respect to their context. I think you need to look again at the intention of the original term rather than the literal meaning at the time. A petite bourgeoisie today would be those people making maybe 200k usd a year who bought their houses 30 years ago and are now so paranoid of the evil leftists coming to tax their money that they consistently vote against their own self interest because they identify with the "upper class". "Petty bourgeoisie" does not just equal "small business owner". It's the people who help put fascists in power because they're scared of the poor and working class.

Again, Graham identifies with the working class.

If he came from a political background or was groomed by other congress critters I might better share your skepticism. However he was specifically approached by a leftist organization to run because of his activism against a corporation trying to open a large scale commercial fishery in his town. I highly recommend you watch some of his town halls and hear him speak for himself

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=GLEftvgSBJs

There was an interview posted just a bit ago that actually addresses those concerns.

https://lemmy.zip/post/65885461

Specifically, his response to the interviewer asking about him getting to DC and not being effective. In summary, he is not just looking to empower himself, he's looking to empower the working class as a whole. He is attempting to organize and build the power of normal people by uniting them and enabling them to better pressure ALL politicians. He is building a network who is ready to fight against the billionaires and he is under no illusions that he can do it alone.

People mindlessly parroting back today's talking points for the anti-left smear campaign does make you look like a shill, yes.

How about you actually go do, let's say, 5 minutes of listening or reading to what Platner actually believes or has to say before you speak? You can even set a timer if you like.

That narrative make absolutely no sense the second you pick at it. If he's bougie and a rich kid protecting his own business interests, then his interests align with mainstream DNC and the DNC would back him, not Mills. If his interests were fascist and authoritarian aligned, then he would be in step with current Republican rhetoric and he could just run as that and completely trounce Collins because she's ancient. Either one isn't what we've actually seen. Instead, entrenched DNC establishment paid big money for attack ads to prop up Mills, and billionaires have been giving millions to Collins to keep her in her seat. If he's a nazi fascist bourgeoisie plant, why would the fascists and bourgeoisie fight so hard to keep him OUT?

This has major "name three songs" energy.

11,000 volunteers just for his campaign sounds like a decent start. He has also been proactively approaching and getting the support of various unions, like the nurse's union, united auto works and electrical workers to name a few. Don't worry, there will be more.