We’re living a crisis. Our democracy is under assault. Our institutions, political norms, rule of law, and national character are suffering. The damage Trump will inflict on our world, if he gets another term, is incalculable and unimaginable. He is deranged and capable of anything – literally, anything.
This will be an emergency presidential election. Only one thing matters: ridding ourselves of the bully, the malignant narcissist, the unhinged man-child, in the White House. Everything else is secondary.
Issues matter, of course. Health care. Climate change. Guns. Russia. China. Electoral reform. Cannabis reform. Compared to the threat posed by Trump and his minions, however, Democratic debates on these issues are like Medieval arguments over the numbers of angels that could dance on a pin head.
It can’t be about who best matches my opinons. It’s about winning. About beating Trump. (And replacing spineless Republican Senators.) Otherwise, we are fucked.
Bloomberg seems like a tough sob, and up for the job. I love his eagerness to take it directly to Trump. He knows Trump. He gets Trump’s con.
You can tell a lot about a man by the woman at his side. And Bloomberg’s partner of 20 years, Diana Taylor, seems like a badass. I’m impressed.
As far as issues go, Bloomberg has put his fortune where his mouth is; I like his priorities, and his moderation. I like his sharp intellect, tempered with common sense. And I love his understated, workmanlike slogan:
Mike will get it done.
Here’s my view of the other Democratic candidates:
Amy: She’s great. She’d make a fine President. I think she probably could beat Trump. I hope Bloomberg picks her for VP.
Mayor Pete: I love him. Wicked smart; born for this moment. He could be a great President. I just don’t think he could win. His combination of gayness and inexperience is too much of a risk. This is no time to take chances.
Warren: Brilliant, driven, but probably unelectable. Her moment has passed.
Biden: Old. A tragic figure, sad and tired. His moment is gone. (And the Hunter Biden nonsense will never die.)
Sanders: If picked to run, we might as well anoint Trump as savior and king. Democratic Socialist? Give me a break! Moreover, a quarter of Sanders (suicidal) backers say they would not support any other Democrat. What’s wrong with these people?
So there you have it – my sky-is-falling take on our current politics. I know that it’s easy to scoff at my Chicken Little clucks. Sometimes, however, the sky really is falling (as the dinosaurs discovered 65 million years ago). This is such a moment.
Some are outraged that Bloomberg is trying to buy the election – spending hundreds of millions of dollars to compete with the underwhelming slate of Democratic candidates. I say, have at it! Whatever it takes to beat Trump.
“Bloomberg has the right stuff – a moderate progressive with a heart of gold but the toughness of a rattlesnake – for what is going to be an incredibly big, brutal task: making Donald Trump a one-term president.” – Thomas L. Friedman, The New York Times, Feb. 13, 2020
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Hi Wayne, it is uncanny how you have captured my own thoughts on this. I totally agree with EVERY word in your eloquent, cogent, and forceful essay. Bravo to you!
ReplyDeleteWayne, I agree with both you and Chris and I've been hoping his candidacy would take off. Dan Balz thinks he's the only hope to defeat Trump and I agree. I've got my absentee ballot right in front of me and I'm voting for Bloomberg in the FL Democratic primary. Fingers crossed. L
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