There can be little doubt in any regular reader’s mind about my political loyalties. I’m not sure why I think I have the chops to opine with you because my track record for picking presidents isn’t very good. I’ve been voting since 1968 (voting age was 21 way back then) and had to write in a candidate because neither major party choice suited me–yes, I wrote in Gene McCarthy. Since then I’ve voted in every election and picked exactly two Oval Office sitters. I’m two for nine–that’s .222. If I were a major league batter I’d be on the bench.
That aside, I’m going to lecture Democrats here. I hate to turn away readers, but if you are just not interested in anything that smacks of blue politics, you should stop reading now.
Democrats–We’re so bland we make oatmeal seem like jalapeño poppers!
There is no doubt that today’s executive branch is a rudderless dingy floating adrift. There has been little of substance come out of this White House in seven months. They can’t quit bickering with each other. Every time a real issue like tax reform, healthcare, or infrastructure comes up the Republicans would rather begin a conversation about whether or not it is a good idea to lie about meetings with foreign governments, or whether or not there should be, yet another, shake-up in office staff.
There hasn’t been a Democrat interviewed on television in weeks. They don’t have to abase the president; his own party is doing that for them. Democratic votes don’t even get counted when considering legislation; the congressional leaders simply look for how many Republican defectors there will be before folding their cards.
GOP poll numbers are abysmal. Of course, the polls have been wrong, but I doubt that heartens the serious Republicans much.
Democrats should be riding high. Democrats should be dancing in the streets. We should be shredding tickertape. Well, we’re not. We’re twiddling our thumbs, sitting on the sidelines, and waiting for lightning to strike.
Overheard, “Oh gee, 2020 is so far away and so much can happen. Making presidential plans now is wasted effort.” Twiddle, twiddle.
That thinking is wrong! Democrats are foundering and wasting precious time. Nobody, including me, wants a three and a half year campaign. But, Democrats need a face now. Mr. Trump stands behind a podium and makes outrageous misstatements about everything American. The media and masses shout out, but there is no distinct Democrat to take him on face to face, word for word. It is time to start the 2020 presidential debates today.
We don’t get to choose who is going to be POTUS. People choose to run and we get to pick one of them. Traditionally that person starts to emerge two years before the vote and gathers some steam 18 months to a year ahead of Election Day. But, these are not normal political times.
I’d rather see former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean as Democratic National Committee chair. He’s got better ideas and more energy than former Sec. Tom Perez, who is in that position now, but I don’t want Dean to run. I don’t want Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Joe Biden, or Hillary Clinton to run either. I’m of the same mind as the Queen of England. It’s time to skip the retirement-age Baby Boomers and go for the Gen Xers and Millennials.
I could name a dozen Democrats who have the skills, intelligence, and temperament to become a quality president. I’m not going to suggest one, but I am making a plea, loud and clear, that one of you; a Governor, Senator, Representative, military expert (probably not a business tycoon) step up now.
You, Sir or Madam, may think it’s too early, or you’re not ready. It isn’t too early, and you’ll never be completely ready until you plop down behind that Resolute desk. Today is the day we need a face, and a strong voice to put up against Donald Trump. There is too much political fodder slipping away. We need to take the debate to him and force him to answer for his outrageous behavior. We need a quality person who is willing to dive out of the relative safety of the frying pan.
If you volunteer, you’ll be mobbed with support to help make the case for our issues. We’ve always believed all humans are created equal and each one deserves the chance to achieve. We need to be proud of our 320 million person community, and that our government is organized to help that community thrive. In addition, the community needs to pitch in with Herculean efforts to make the American experiment continue to succeed.
Our ideals include commitments to healthcare as a right; saving the earth with science, research, and product development that includes jobs; bringing honor to our country by offering consistent and humane assistance to a global community; taking the focus of education away from private and religious groups and refocusing on promoting public education. There is more. But today, those ideals are not being articulated and it is making us look unorganized and even weaker than the Republican sideshow.
One brave soul thinking about running–you’re out there–step up. Fill the void. We need you.
Opinions vary.
First of all, I should point out I am registered as an independent. That said, I appreciate your comments but, in my opinion, you are missing the point.
The real problem is not the Republicans or the Democrats. The real problem is going with your selected party, right or wrong. A perfect example is the information contained in a commentary by Paul Krugman on 8/317. Senator Lindsey Graham was quoted as saying the Senate effort to repeal ACA was a “terrible policy, horrible politics” and a fraud”. So how did the Senator vote on this atrocious bill? He voted for it because he is a Republican and you shouldn’t vote against your party. At best, very hypocritical and without moral principals.
What we need is someone who understands that Party affiliation is not always the best way. What we need is someone who understands that good ideas come from all Parties and negotiation and compromise can lead to good legislation. Unless that happens, this country is in serious condition.
Pure rubbish! Republicrats and Democrats have blocked and stalled every attempt the presidents agenda reducing him to executive orders. How is that his failure?
Your comments are unrealistic and without merit.
Registered unaffiliated voter, Nevada,
Just like what happened for eight years under Obama.
Absolutely spot-on. We need to think about that NOW. And yes, we need a young, innovative candidate that will spend time on the issues, rather than how bad the other guy is. My voting record is much the same as yours–only 3 winners in all the time I’ve been voting, but candidate bashing has gotten so much worse over the years. There’s always been a give and take as far as insults, but in my lifetime, I’ve never seen it this bad. We Dems need to realize that we have been complacent for far too long.
Well said and well written.
“Plop down behind that Resolute desk”, do you mean the one that Obama was so fond of resting his feet on? “We’ve always believed all humans are created equal”, unless of course, you are a fetus, then you are nothing! We all see where the last eight disastrous years has delivered to us. It is refreshing to have a non-swamp, non-party first, make America Great Again President! Both Democrats and Republicans are resisting cleaning the swamp, because they area ALL creatures who prefer to reside there!
Drain the swamp? You must be joking. The swamp has only gotten deeper. We have more DC insiders in this White House than ever before.
Umm, you must be pretty young.
Response to Lew: Lew, Congress members and their staffs get their health insurance through the Obamacare exchange. They get it through the D.C. exchange which has controlled costs and has choices, much like the California exchange that has over a dozen insurers to choose from and several policies from each. Many of the state exchanges are working, but are not touted for some reason. This all came about in 2009 when the bill was being debated and Sen. Chuck Grassley introduced an amendment that Congress get their insurance through the exchanges as a farce and a way to stall the debate. The Dems. went for it and it became part of the final law. Full disclosure, we, the citizenry, do pay for much of the cost of Congress’s health care as an employment benefit and they can afford the Gold Policy, but they do buy from the exchange.