GIVING THE DEMOCRATS SOME GENERAL ADVICE

We have thoughts on how each Democratic presidential candidate can improve his or her campaign. In the weeks ahead, we’ll share those. For now, we’ll start with things that apply generally. 

 

The race for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination remains in its early stages (the first voting in Iowa occurs February 3), but has taken shape such that we can say the nominee will probably come from a group of four candidates. Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, or Kamala Harris seemingly have the best chance at standing on the stage as the nominee next July at the Democratic Convention in Milwaukee. We can make a case a few others – Pete Buttigieg, Julian Castro, Michael Bennett, Amy Klobuchar, Beto O’Rourke, Cory Booker -- might get there but, to varying degrees, they’re long shots. Unless something shakes up the race, that’s where we are.

So, how do these candidates make the nomination worth having? How, as a group, do they give whoever emerges as the nominee the best opportunity for taking down Donald Trump?  We have some suggestions.

Collective Advice 

The second debate held last month in Detroit

exposed flaws in the Democratic campaign as a whole.  Some pundits called the exercise - especially the second night when virtually everyone went after the front
runner Biden – a circular firing squad.  We're not sure the adjective applies, but some distressing things occurred that should stop.

Quit attacking President Obama Trump said the next day Obama got attacked more than he did. That wasn’t literally true, but we take his point. In going after Biden, several candidates challenged Obama’s immigration policies, pointedly asking Biden if, as Vice President, he counseled Obama against what he did on deportations. Biden, properly, wouldn’t say how he privately advised Obama. The 44^th President wasn’t perfect and he no doubt made decisions he’d prefer having back. But he has a 95 percent approval rating among Democrats. Whoever gets nominated will need his help in the 2020 fall campaign. Nothing good can come from running him down.

Demonstrate some flexibility Democrats get it that voters, as they showed in the 2018 midterms, care about health care. The health care discussion in the debate, however, served Republican ends, not Democratic ones. First, some candidates behaved with a “my way or the highway” attitude about their health care plans. These candidates argued there’s only one way on health care and it’s theirs. Second, other candidates offered health care plans so

complex no voter who has a life can figure them out. Democrats should set out principles and goals everybody wants – universal coverage, protection of coverage for pre-existing conditions, lower drug costs – and commit to working with other Democrats and enlightened Republicans on finding a plan that accomplishes them.

Don’t fight with each other The July debate in Detroit didn’t get overly personal, but we can see that happening soon if the candidates don’t commit to making this more about Trump than about each other. We wonder, for example, if the relationship between Harris and Biden isn’t already

Biden & Feud at 2nd Debate

fractured beyond repair. Whoever’s left for the September debate in Houston should base their complaints about any of their fellow Democrats on policy and make clear they’ll do everything possible for whoever wins the nomination. After all, any of them would make a much better president than the one we have now.

That brings us to what they should say about Trump and why America must rid itself of him.

Please Make It About Trump

Race Baiting Millions of words have been written about Trump’s promotion of racial division and discord, so we’ll add only a few. We have no difficulty believing his hate-filled diatribes against Hispanic immigrants fostered the climate that allowed the

mass shooting in El Paso. His attacks on four female members of congress, all women or color, are disgusting, as was his broadside at black Maryland Representative Elijah Cummings. Democrats, by calling him out, loudly and constantly, can drive minority group turnout and attract moderate white voters, especially women, in the suburbs. 

Rule of Law Whether the House impeaches Trump or not, his flagrant disregard for the rule of law merits removing him from office. The Mueller Report provides all the evidence needed for making the case he should go. Many of the Democratic candidates claim they’ve read it. It’s time they started showing their work.

Ghastly trade policy Trump’s tariffs may hurt China, but they’re damaging American farmers as much or more. Retailers will feel the effects soon, as will consumers. The policy is becoming one giant self-inflicted wound.

Federal government in disarray Every week it seems another cabinet level officer leaves. Director of National Intelligence Dan Coates, a respected former U.S. Senator from Indiana and one of the few grownups left in the Administration, announced on July 29 his resignation, effective August 15.  Trump then said he’d replace Coates with grossly unqualified Texas Congressman John Ratcliffe. He withdrew after a week when even Republican support didn’t materialize. Then there are all the other agencies operating with acting heads. 

We could name plenty of other things wrong with the Trump presidency. Piling on isn’t necessary for making the point it should end as quickly as possible. The sins named merely start the list and the Democratic candidates should lead the way in pointing them out.   

 

POLITICS 2020: An Early Look at the Candidates

Anyone following this blog should know we covet the 2020 presidential election as  an opportunity for ridding the country of Donald Trump and all his administration symbolizes – capitulating to Putin and Russia, racism at home, xenophobia about people of color in other countries, economic insensitivity, and many other transgressions. We doubt Trump faces a serious Republican primary challenge, so we’re closely watching the Democratic field for his opponent.

We began discussing the 2020 race in late 2017 and early 2018 when we offered a six-part American Political Agenda. In posts on October 7, October 20, November 4, November 22, December 11, and January 10 we presented issues we hoped 2020 presidential candidates would address, a code of conduct they should follow, how they can revive our atrophied government, and ways of repairing America’s alliances and standing in the world. We presented these ideas at a high level of abstraction, taking care we not promote any individual’s prospective candidacy.

We continued that trend after the 2018 mid-terms. On November 30, we described our ideal candidate, again not naming names. We emphasized electability, especially in the Midwest where Hillary Clinton failed in 2016, issue discipline, preserving the coalition that won those mid-terms, women’s rights, and the need for personal traits like charisma and a sense of history.

With the turn of the calendar to 2019, the time for abstraction has passed. Like everyone wanting a change at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, we must now evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of real people.  So, we note who’s in and offer a sense of their early prospects.

The Top Tier

*Elizabeth Warren (second term senator, Massachusetts, 69) – the first “name” candidate in the race with her January 2 announcement, she made waves with big crowds on her first Iowa trip. A ferocious advocate for consumers and economic fairness, she’s grabbed early attention with a proposal for taxing the wealth – though not the incomes – of the rich.

*Kamala Harris (freshman senator, California, 54) – a January 21 entrant, even before she reached the Senate was viewed as a potential first tier candidate with a chance at being nominated. Her January 27 kick off rally in her hometown of Oakland drew an estimated 20,000 people. She favors Medicare for all, an assault weapons ban, and a $15 minimum wage. With California moving its primary from June to March, she could benefit from next year’s electoral calendar.

*Kirsten Gillibrand (third term senator, New York, 52) – long rumored as a candidate, she jumped in January 15 and also got a positive reception on her first Iowa trip. Gillibrand has $10 million in the bank from her New York campaigns, giving her staying power. She’s been known mostly for crusading against sexual harassment in the military. Though now positioned as a liberal, she might have trouble with progressive Democrats who remember her conservative record as an upstate New York congresswoman.

Left to Right: Elizabeth Warren, Kamala Harris, Kirsten Gilibrand

The Middle

*Julian Castro (former housing secretary and former San Antonio mayor, 44) — Castro, who announced January 12, has an uphill climb because he lacks name recognition.  He could work his way into the top tier with a strong

showing in an early primary or caucus.  With Democrats anixious for a big Latino general election turnout, Castro may have a better shot at the vice presidency. 

*Cory Booker (second term senator, New Jersey, 49) - having gotten in on February 1, he already must do some catching up.  Though he supports Medicare for all and teh $15 minimum wage, some liberals remain skeptical of him, partly because of friendly past comments about Wall Street. 

Long Shots

*Peter Buttigieg (seven-year mayor of South Bend, Indiana, 37) – a Navy veteran who announced January 23, Buttigieg promotes his executive experience, military background, and says he symbolizes generational change. He is the first openly gay Democratic presidential candidate.

*Tulsi Gabbard (four term congresswoman, Hawaii, 37) – the first Hindu member of Congress and an Army veteran, she’s seen now as a progressive because she supported Bernie Sanders in 2016. Upon announcing on January 11, her record on LBGTQ issues came under fire. She once supported conversion therapy and opposed same-sex marriage. She says her time in the military changed her mind. 

*Andrew Yang (New York entrepreneur, 44) – without a record in public office, he’s staked his campaign on a universal basic income proposal.

*John Delaney (former Maryland congressman, 55) – after three terms in the House, he left Congress for a presidential bid focusing on education, improved treatment for veterans, and infrastructure.         

Others

This list will soon get longer. Former New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu, billionaire and former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown, Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar, and former Texas Congressman Beto O’Rourke, a rock star because of the astounding amount of money he raised on-line in his close 2018 senate race against Ted Cruz, have all hinted they’ll run. The closest thing in the party to real heavyweights, former Vice President Joe Biden and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, can’t put off announcing much longer. The train might leave the station without them.

So, the wild ride has begun.  We hope Democrats won’t try tilting the race toward any candidate, but will let the voters decide policy prescriptions and candidate virtues and drawbacks on the merits. That’s the best way for finding a winner.               

WHAT DO DEMOCRATS DO NOW?

DRAIN THE SWAMP, INSTALL SAFEGUARDS, AND PASS PROGRESSIVE LEGISLATION

Democrats took control of the House of Representatives on January 3. They immediately challenged President Trump on his government shutdown by passing bills the Republican controlled Senate approved last year. Following loud protests by the right wing media, Trump reneged on a pledge he’d sign the legislation that would fund the government while Congress debates his border wall request.

Speaker Pelosi knows her majority must do much more than try getting the government open. We agree. House Democrats should act boldly on oversight and policy change, demonstrating they can “walk and chew gum at the same time.”

Oversight

Limits exist on what the House can do,  given a Republican Senate apparently  more concerned about loyalty to Trump  than the country’s wellbeing. Still, after two years of government by scandal and  Tweet, Americans want oversight of the  Trump administration. For some, that means an  impeachment inquiry. While House Democrats  acknowledge that possibility, especially after Special Counsel

Robert Mueller completes his work, they don’t see  impeachment as inevitable. They recognize the danger in  impeachment that appears purely motivated by politics. 

We believe, however, the House shouldn’t wait on Mueller before beginning the oversight process, a responsibility of Congress, not Mueller. Congress must not only address the potentially impeachable offenses Muller might find, but also the other harms Trump has done to our democratic institutions. These include his irresponsible criticisms of the judiciary, the intelligence community, and the military. In exercising oversight, we hope Congress calls expert witnesses like former State Secretary Madeleine Albright,

intelligence officials Malcolm Nance and James Clapper, and historians Doris Kearns Goodwin and Jon Meacham who can detail the consequences of Trump’s actions. To anyone who sees this expansive focus as unprecedented and unwarranted, we can only say how unprecedented and unwarranted Trump’s behavior has been and offer a reminder that democracy hangs in the balance. 

If the Democratic House majority fulfills its oversight responsibilities, it will have plenty on its plate, including:

·Investigating Trump’s potential violations of the

emoluments clause of the constitution through his 

business enterprises.

·Securing and reviewing Trump’s tax returns.

·Examining the ethical breaches of Trump’s current and 

former agency heads.

·Conducting a fair, thorough, and impartial investigation 

into Russian meddling in the 2016 election. The House 

Intelligence Committee probe was a sham because the 

Republican majority on that committee protected Trump. 

Under Democrats, Congress must reassert itself as a co-

equal branch of government.  

·Holding hearings on voter suppression in places like 

Florida, Georgia, North Dakota, and North Carolina as a 

predicate for passing voter protection legislation.

This list will keep members of Congress busy during the  coming year and beyond. While the House doesn’t confirm  

appointments as the Senate does, the House can and should play a critical role in overseeing executive departments. It has subpoena power and the power of the purse. Republicans wouldn’t use their oversight powers because they feared angering or endangering Trump. Now, Democrats must use those powers and assure Americans their government operates fairly, ethically, and efficiently. 

Policy

The House members who rode last November’s blue wave 

to Democratic control ran on substantive policy issues that  

appealed to the young, voters of color, and suburban women. Now this coalition that “looks like America” must deliver.  We suggest they focus on:

·Health Care – The 2018 midterm elections were, in 

general, about health care and, in particular, about 

preserving coverage for pre-existing conditions. The 

new  House majority must keep the pressure on the 

Senate and Trump on health care.  After all, Republican 

senators may find it unpleasant facing the electorate in  

2020 after a vote that imperils the Affordable Care Act 

or  endangers pre-existing conditions coverage.

·Infrastructure – That the nation must do something

about its crumbling roads and bridges isn't in doubt. 

Trump claimed in 2016 he'd offer an infrastructure 

program. He hasn't. The Democratic House should 

pass a big infrastructure program that includes a fair, 

meaningful funding mechanism, forcing the hands of the

GOP-led Senate and Trump.

·Tax Fairness --- The House should repeal the 2017 tax 

cuts, thereby promoting fairness for middle and working 

class taxpayers, deficit reduction, and protecting Social 

Security and Medicare.

·Immigration Reform –  Yes, we must secure our 

borders (with something that works, not a wall).  Then 

we need a path to citizenship for the millions already 

here who live in the shadows. Experience, research, 

and common sense say doing this will befit the 

economy. Any immigration reform measure should 

address the plight of the Dreamers – the approximately 

800,000 people brought to the United States as 

youngsters who’ve grown up here, often serving the 

country in various ways including in the military, but who 

Trump and some of his nativist supporters suggest 

deporting even though those individuals have known no 

other home. 

The Start

The new House majority has already offered a major reform package aimed at making government more transparent, fairer, and more responsive to public will. HR 1 concerns voting rights, ethics, campaign finance, and other areas Congress should address in cleaning up the disgusting mess Trump and his cronies have made in the last two years. The measures are a good start and suggest Pelosi and her team are serious about change.

The GOP Senate and Trump will balk at many of these ideas, as they will balk at much on our list.  Let them balk. There’s another election in 2020 and the eight-point Democratic victory in 2018 indicates where the wind is blowing and what’s blowing in it. Balk too much and they might find themselves on the street two years from now. 

   

NOT NAMING NAMES: AN IDEAL 2020 CANDIDATE

COUNTRY FIRST, PROGRESSIVE, SELFLESS CANDIDATES – ANY TAKERS? 

The 2020 Presidential campaign starts now. With the 2018 midterms over and Democrats taking control of the House of Representatives, one of the biggest political questions in the United States becomes who the Democrats should nominate for the mission of defeating President Donald Trump. The field will take shape in the weeks and months to come, with the better known candidate announcements likely around the first of January (one Congressman has already announced). We’ll start examining that field in time but, for now, we offer thoughts on what – not who—the Democratic candidate should look like.

The Musts

*Electability --- Adhering to the old adage about the impossibility of saving souls in an empty church, we recognize the 2020 Democratic candidate must (1) hold the states Hillary Clinton carried in 2016  (227 electoral votes) and (2) add the 46 electoral votes she didn’t get in Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. That doesn’t require that the candidate hail from that region, but he or she should appeal to the area’s working class voters and mobilize turnout among other potential Democratic voters in those states as Clinton didn’t.

                          

*Issue Discipline --- The 2020 Democratic nominee will, unless lighting strikes, run against Trump and the loud, often irrelevant controversies he stirs up, aimed at distracting the media and the electorate from the nation’s serious problems. His bogus complaints about a dangerous caravan of migrants –

PhotCred: RisingupwithSomali.com

many of them women and children barefoot or in sandals and tennis shoes – threatening an “invasion” of our southern border served as just such a distraction during the 2018 midterms. Democratic candidates didn’t take the bait, keeping their focus on health care.  As a result, Democrats picked up at least 39 seats in the House and kept the net loss in the Senate to two seats, despite having to defend three times as many than Republicans. Democrats also picked up seven governorships, including three in the aforementioned critical states in the upper Midwest. 

Keeping the Democratic coalition in place – This relates to electability, but the ideas are not identical. If Democrats are to win elections going forward and not cede to Republicans control of large swaths of the state and federal governments, they must nurture and expand the coalition that succeeded in 2018. That coalition produced an eight percent voting preference for Democrats over Republicans. Don’t forget Hillary Clinton, unpopular and disliked as she was, got 2.8 million more votes than Trump in 2016. This coming together of people of color, young people, and progressive whites twice elected Barack Obama President. The party and its 2020 nominee, therefore,

must continue minority group outreach, find ways of encouraging participation by millennials, and attract increasing numbers of suburban white women who helped lead the charge in 2018.  We know what this looks like. Even in losing campaigns, Stacy Abrams in Georgia, Andrew Gillum in Florida, and Beto O’Rourke in Texas  showed the Democratic future lies not in running as mushy centrists afraid of “white backlash,” but as committed progressives espousing aggressive policies on health care, criminal justice reform, and inclusiveness of ethnic and marginalized groups, including women, Muslims, and LGBTQs. 

*Women’s rights --- Brett Kavanaugh ‘s elevation to the United States Supreme Court may signal the coming demise of Roe v. Wade, meaning the battle over women’s reproductive rights ramps up, not ends. Democrats must nominate a candidate clearly committed in his or her support for those rights, and one standing as an unabashed opponent of sexual harassment and sexual assault who doesn’t assume women reporting male sexual misbehavior “made it up.”

Things to Hope for

In addition to the above list of attributes and policies a Democrat running for President in 2020 must have, we see other elements of a desirable profile that would ice the cake. 

*Some Charisma --- Extraordinary personalities come along in politics only occasionally. Jack Kennedy’s eloquence, Bill Clinton’s interpersonal skills, and Barack Obama’s unique gifts of vision and inspiration don’t grow on trees. Still, a Democratic winner in 2020 should connect with Americans in ways other than ideological compatibility and policy preference. She or he must inspire us to feel good about ourselves, the country, and our future.

                

*A Sense of History --- The Democratic Party owns a proud tradition of supporting the middle class and helping the disaffected improve their lives. The 2020 nominee should understand that history and embrace its legacy. The

New Deal, the New Frontier, and the Great Society lifted many Americans into the bright sunshine of the American Dream. Even if some of the programs that undergirded those big ideas have fallen out of favor as programmatic approaches to problems, they are part of the country’s progressive past and their objectives, like ending poverty and improving educational opportunity, remain core values inherent in a just society. The 2020 challenge rests in adapting that legacy to today’s realities. In the final analysis, without the commitment to justice and equality that spawned those programs, what good is having the Presidency anyway? 

These are our thoughts.  Let us hear yours.