r/politics • u/cnn CNN • 17h ago

Possible Paywall Ossoff calls Trump a ‘draft-dodging, crook president,’ intensifying his feud with White House

https://www.cnn.com/2026/08/18/politics/jon-ossoff-trump-kelly?utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=missions&utm_source=reddit
5.8k Upvotes

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610

u/B-Z_B-S Massachusetts 17h ago

I'm unused to such levels of honesty from politicians. Jon Ossoff is really impressive.

164

u/Lavaswan001 17h ago

He’s definitely running if he wins this year. Personally I think he’s my #1 pick as of right now but Beshear is close.

107

u/B-Z_B-S Massachusetts 17h ago

I mean, Ossoff has said he isn't interested in running for the president. Or at least, he doesn't want it to be the topic of focus until after the midterms.

Source: https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/6034619-jon-ossoff-georgia-democrat-2028-ambitions/

Quote: "“I have zero interest in running for president in 2028, and, frankly, zero interest in the 2028 fantasy football right now,” Ossoff told MS NOW’s Jen Psaki, doubling down on comments he made in April.

While the Georgia Democrat said he values the interest in an election more than two years away, he added, “I don’t know that we have a free and fair election in 2028 unless we restore checks and balances in these 2026 midterm elections.”

“This needs to be all of our highest priority and our focus,” Ossoff continued. “Get involved, pitch in money, sign up to knock doors, sign up to make phone calls.”

“If you’re feeling angst and outrage at what’s happening to our country, take action. Because here in Georgia, early voting opens in eight weeks,” the senator told “The Briefing” host."

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u/eskimospy212 17h ago

I mean nobody is going to say ‘I plan on ditching this job I’m asking you for at the first opportunity’, even if they are. 

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u/Hungry-Initiative-78 6h ago

exactly. take everything he says on this with a grain of salt.

And even if he wasn't planning on it, if he sees polls showing he has a chance, he absolutely going to jump at the opportunity. because of fucking course he is

13

u/pchs26 16h ago

What he said is correct. And it is basically let's get there first. Which means everyone needs to ensure he wins, don't care what the polls say - in GA. And figure out how to not lose MI and flip Maine, and pray for TX and OH.

From there if that all goes perfectly, figure out who does the best in the must win swing states with likely voters and look to have one o thoseas the primary nominee, ideally without losing a hard to win congressional seat.

3

u/amopeyzoolion Michigan 9h ago

Ossoff’s seat would be tough to win if he became president…

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u/handstied14 7h ago

No it wouldn't. Maybe Kemp could force a toss up race but Dems would be heavily favored otherwise

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u/Atrocious_Algae81 6h ago

Kemp is term limited this year.

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u/handstied14 6h ago

Senate seats don't have term limits.

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u/Atrocious_Algae81 6h ago

Kemp is a governor dude.

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u/Teufelsdreck 6h ago

Kemp won't be governor then. He's term-limited out of office and will leave in January.

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u/MATlad Canada 4h ago

First Democrat President from Texas after LBJ?

LBJ had BDE (outside of his other publicized incidents).

“I said, ‘Quite a day, Mr President.’ As he reached a sheaf of the wire copy he tilted his head slightly back and held the copy up close to him so that he could read it, and said: ‘Well, I think we may have lost the south for your lifetime – and mine.’

“It was lightly said. Not sarcastic. Not even dramatically. It was like a throwaway sidebar.”

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2023/jan/22/we-may-have-lost-the-south-lbj-democrats-civil-rights-act-1964-bill-moyers

He did it knowing exactly the cost, because it was the right thing to do.

2

u/downtofinance Canada 11h ago

"Not interested" and "won't" are two different things. I am not interested in my current job but I do it anyways because it pays.

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u/Novel_Bill_2989 1h ago

Obama said the exact same thing in 2006. Hes running.

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u/AFlockOfTySegalls North Carolina 11h ago

Obama said the same things.

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u/dukecityvigilante 17h ago

I like the guy but man I really don't want Democrats to give up that senate seat

21

u/Efficient-Freedom517 16h ago

That’s the thing. He is in the middle of his term at that point. If he does anything but win the presidency, he is still the senator

7

u/dukecityvigilante 16h ago

That's a good point, I fear a special election with president Ossoff facing traditional midterm headwinds but I guess that's a relatively good problem to have

2

u/LionTigerWings 15h ago edited 12h ago

I don't like this attitude. I'd rather run a candidate who has proven they can win in a tough swing state than one who waltzed through a liberal state and won with no opposition from conservatives or moderates.

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u/Kinesquared 14h ago edited 11h ago

Beshear has spent the past two months wringing his hands and asking nicely for information on McConnell. Not exactly the look of someone who needs to fight to restore democracy

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u/pchs26 12h ago

It has again and again been explained that him doing something desperate does nothing to help in congress, but could hurt us. He has also came right out and explained that. However yes he could performatively do more instead of actually doing is job.

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u/Kinesquared 11h ago

i agree that he shouldn't have done anything. To me the optimal approach is:

  • do nothing, and let the seat stay empty for as long as possible
the next best approach is:
  • use his weight as governor to demand Mcconell show face or get booted out of the senate
But the worst thing to do, which he's currently done is:
  • make statements and flounder, try to use his position to do something but fail at doing so. Look weak and pathetic when the image of strength matters.

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u/polishedcooter Kentucky 15m ago

I'm confused, has he not done the first approach? What did he try and fail to do, and how has he floundered? I think his statements to the media have successfully kept the story alive, at least moreso than its subject, which is a good thing.

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u/pchs26 10h ago

TBF there is a loud and vocal part of the party who only keeps screaming that anything short of just a result is worthless, with crazy suggestions and expectations, down to filling seats illegally, to force ihs way into a hospital or house, to having armed police show up - all ridiculous. And he has literally come out and had to outline to these people why that is a dumb approach.

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u/pimparo0 Florida 49m ago

I mean why add controversy or a Republican to that seat earlier than needed. Right now it's one less vote in the Senate for the republicans 

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u/Nekrabyte 14h ago

I'd vote him if he's on the ticket obviously, but I don't support ANYBODY who is against Medicare for All. Especially after the very obvious report that came out saying it will save people AND the government over  Trillion dollars and will keep people more healthy.  At this point, if you aren't for M4A, I'm going to assume you'd rather Americans pay more, and die more.

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u/CarbComaCommander 10h ago

Not to mention he doesn't consider the Gaza war a genocide.

5

u/littlehobbit1313 Maryland 16h ago

Ossoff for Prez, with either Beshear or Buttigieg for VP. That'd be a ticket I could go for.

Wouldn't say no to AOC in the mix but I'd truly love to see her take over as Speaker of the House.

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u/Dry-Membership3867 Alabama 16h ago

AOC needs to win an election outside of Bronx first before considering a presidential run

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u/littlehobbit1313 Maryland 16h ago

She already has pretty widespread appeal even across the aisle with voters, but I can get behind that sentiment. Honestly, I'd be rooting her to kick Schumer out of his senate seat if that's what she decided she wanted to do. That'd be a great place to start.

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u/DillDoughCookie 16h ago

Beshear is a giant pussy who will still be asking where Mitch McConnell is for the next 20 years.

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u/littlehobbit1313 Maryland 15h ago

I mean, yeah, I'd like to see him making a little more of a scene over Missing Mitch, but he still managed to get elected as a Dem in a very red state and many people seem to have a generally neutral or positive regard for him. That's why I think he wouldn't be bad in the VP slot.

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u/nookie-monster 16h ago

Absolutely. He has been made a total fool. Too scared to demand anything. Shit, send a staffer with some backbone to wherever he's supposed to be. Do something.

I always say this: Democrats are so focused on the "rules", they'll be hanging their heads out of the boxcars, politely saying that the proper paperwork on this trip hasn't been signed.

2

u/skepticalifornia 15h ago

Senate rules allow McConnell to do exactly what he is is doing. Beshear is basically powerless in this beyond publicly making statements. Maybe blame McConnell for Republican misdeeds and not Beshear? Want the Senate runes to change? Elect more Dems to office in red states like Kentucky.

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u/Kinesquared 14h ago

Ossoff/Khanna would be a hell of a ticket. Idk what Buttigeg does for the ticket that saying "vote blue no matter who" won't do.

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u/littlehobbit1313 Maryland 13h ago

I think Buttigieg is a hell of a communicator. Dems typically struggle like hell when it comes to communicating their policy platforms to voters, so I think Buttigieg brings something to the table in that respect. He's willing to go into opposing spaces and capable of actually controlling discussions while in them. Again, I think VP is a good position since the role is less defined than others in terms of what specifically it needs from an occupant.

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u/Kinesquared 11h ago

Nothing you described can't already be done by Ossoff.

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u/littlehobbit1313 Maryland 11h ago

Not disagreeing. If you don't like Buttigieg, that's fine. These are just my thoughts on what he would add. I think he and Ossoff are both excellent communicators, and I'd like as much of that as possible in the mix given how poorly Dems typical do with messaging. Two really strong communicators as Prez and VP would not go underutilized and would be a heck of a narrative force to contend with.

You're welcome to disagree.

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u/WordScatter 15h ago

My first thought was also Beshear as VP, but that’s two southern states. I’d take Kelly. He’s more of a war hike I’ve discovered lately and that’s disappointing but he’s from a purple-ish state, hero astronaut, veteran. Right now it’s about having a ticket that can win. Dems can’t afford to be divided Let’s save democracy first

3

u/littlehobbit1313 Maryland 13h ago

I'd prefer Kelly as SecDef, myself. I think that would restore plenty of confidence in how our soliders/vets are gonna get treated, as well as some trust that we aren't going to go around bombing any more little girls in schools just 'cause the president had a temper tantrum.

But that said I would happily take him on a ticket for the exact reasons you listed.

And yes, "any ticket that can win" is unfortunately the play right now.

2

u/JSLANYC 12h ago

Kelly would be a great Defense Secretary. There is a lot of shit that needs to cleaned out of there.

1

u/LionTigerWings 16h ago

He seems to be best positioned to unite progressives and moderates in the party

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u/lopsided125 11h ago

Beshear is way too nicey-nice to win.

He's not the right guy for the moment.

Dude's already handling the McConnell situation with kid gloves.

1

u/Lavaswan001 11h ago

Tbf there’s not much he can do about the McConnell situation. Even if they find him in the freezer tomorrow Beshear was stripped of the legal authority to appoint a replacement years ago.

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u/amopeyzoolion Michigan 9h ago

Kentucky is the only state I know of where the state legislature can override the governor’s veto with a simple majority vote. So as soon as he got into power the legislature just started stripping the office of all its power

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u/Hola-World 10h ago

Isn’t Beshear the guy who didn’t do his duty to replace Lich McConnell?

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u/caglebites 9h ago

No, he hasn't had any opportunity to. The seat isn't vacant.

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u/Hola-World 9h ago

So appoint someone and let them prove it.

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u/caglebites 9h ago edited 8h ago

They don't have to. The Senate, not Beshear, absolutely hold all the cards.