Ben Higgins - Lauren Bushnell - Bachelor 20 - Discussion - #2

Time will tell is the phrase for everything "post show." ;)

bleuberry wrote:That's the thing sosleepy, I have a hard time believing this is something he even wants. I don't know a lot about Ben pre Bach but this seems to have come out of nowhere. Or am I off base?

Bleu, I always enjoy your perspective: What do you think as at work here?

veg_out wrote:

bleuberry wrote:That's the thing sosleepy, I have a hard time believing this is something he even wants. I don't know a lot about Ben pre Bach but this seems to have come out of nowhere. Or am I off base?

Bleu, I always enjoy your perspective: What do you think as at work here?

I'm not Bleu, but like I said, I do follow politics somewhat: Ben probably has some connections with people in the local party that think he would be a good choice for the seat, so they've asked him.  He has a squeaky clean persona that he managed through two seasons, he's good-looking, and Lauren's pretty.  Outside of Presidential politics, being "bland" can be a very good thing.

Honestly, though, they probably just want a warm body for the race and might as well try someone with name recognition.  The seat isn't going to flip in a Presidential year.  If it were the midterms, I'd say Ben would be in a better position (because fewer people vote and therefore, name recognition and local seats may flip more than they will in Presidential years, when more people vote and those that do tend to vote down a party line and less on name recognition for local races).

It doesn't sound like he'd have much of a shot at winning that seat. Having lived in both countries, politics here is completely different from in Canada. Trump may be different but we haven't had the general election yet so we'll see. I like Ben but doubt I'd agree with much of his potential platform as a GOP candidate so wouldn't be voting for him if I lived there. For me it's more than likability and looks. JMO

nd4reality wrote:

bleuberry wrote:I'm surprised so many of you think it makes sense. I really like Ben, but no . He's young, slightly a pushover, and doesn't have any relevant experience right? He's just all wrong for politics IMO.

Actually a pushover is exactly what the big wigs want. Someone who they will be able to manipulate easily. IMO.

But I agree with you overall, Ben as a nice guy really does not fit politics at all. There is such a thing as being too nice. Politics is a dirty game. Why Ben ?????

I agree , Ben does not fit politics. Although if he decided to do it I think Lauren would fair well by his side. I just saw a clip on the internet from a reporter "Tomi Lahren" reminds me alot of Lauren., very pretty

kimberlyg wrote:I follow politics and didn't like the way the article was worded; I agree that it made it seem like they liked Ben because he was a pushover.  Not because Ben himself had some kind of passion for it.  He's also probably doomed in that seat.  If he wants to run GOP, he needs to find a more conservative district.  Being a "nice Bachelor contestant" isn't going to help him win in an area that has different political values than GOP voters.  Especially in a Presidential year when people tend to vote straight ticket more than during midterms.

And Trudeau may be very good looking, but I'm pretty sure he won because of his ideas and not just his looks (I'm not Canadian, but I'd like to think Canadians just made a smart choice idea-wise ).

He'd have to craft himself as something quite different than the typical Republican, and establish a record of breaking with the party, in order to win. All of which can work superbly at a state or local level, but becomes much more challenging if you try to leave your little corner of the world.

If he does have some interest in politics, and is willing to take a risk and share his REAL mind, even a losing race can be used to start forging a political identity. Running a losing candidate is still a strategic decision for a political party.

Ash2214 wrote:

Alanna wrote: I just burst out laughing. Okay. This sounds like how kids at my school would get fined more for jaywalking than underage drinking (Big 10). That's hilarious and ridiculous. Thanks Ash!!

It made me laugh too. I find it funny because she had to be making a pretty big spectacle out of herself to get arrested at an event with thousands and thousands of people in attendance IMO

Or just bad luck.

Either way, my mind just goes to "Coachella" and "young" and writes the whole thing off. I'm pretty straight laced, but, jeez, everyone can make mistakes. This one never bothered me at all.

babs wrote:Politics is dirty and Ben has never seemed like he would be the type to play that game.  I think sticking to the charities that he loves, maybe even running one, is more in tune with his personality.

I've seen a few pretty clean politicians, who mange to play it without any negativity. Our local congressman (who is well known personally in my town) seems to be one. There are limits to how far someone of that type can go politically, of course, but it is quite amazing to watch them fight for local interests while staying out of the dirt, and there is actually quite a lot of good a person can do without aspiring past a certain level. They let the other politicians around them swirl in the theater of it, while they quietly write good bills and even get some passed. If Ben were to want to do that, it would be cool with me.

I also come back to realizing that we really don't know these people at all. I just root for them (the ones like Ben who seem like truly decent people, even if I don't lean his way politically) to have good lives.

dw_a_mom wrote:

Ash2214 wrote:

Alanna wrote: I just burst out laughing. Okay. This sounds like how kids at my school would get fined more for jaywalking than underage drinking (Big 10). That's hilarious and ridiculous. Thanks Ash!!

It made me laugh too. I find it funny because she had to be making a pretty big spectacle out of herself to get arrested at an event with thousands and thousands of people in attendance IMO

Or just bad luck.

Either way, my mind just goes to "Coachella" and "young" and writes the whole thing off. I'm pretty straight laced, but, jeez, everyone can make mistakes. This one never bothered me at all.

I've been to Coachella, Stagecoach and quite a few Warped Tours in New England. I've had drinks at all of them. For you to be singled out and arrested in a herd of thousands and thousands of people, you have to make a spectacle of yourself. Even if it was just "bad luck" and she happened to be near police officers, she must have been hammered that she couldn't even pull herself together to not get caught.

In reality, there are many and far worse things to be arrested for, but as someone who is close to Lauren's age, I would never want to have an arrest record. IMO.

We have no idea what led up to her arrest, and probably won't. I didn't know people thought about it that much . It's her issue to deal with, so I don't really care.

Al wrote:We have no idea what led up to her arrest, and probably won't. I didn't know people thought about it that much   . It's her issue to deal with, so I don't really care.

It was brought up yesterday because of Ben's potential political run, which is why there is discussion about it. If these people willingly go on a silly reality television show, they're fair game to talk about. IMO

Yes, I know. I'm talking about the speculation of what led to her arrest, it's like splitting hairs Imo. We'll probably never know.
ETA: Ash I'm not trying to single you out. Just knowing she was arrested is enough for me, I don't need to know the fine details of these people's lives and indiscretions