As the US approaches the high point of COVID-19 infections in mid-April we can fully expect the level of fear, outrage and a growing possibility of violent reaction to this crisis to peak and rumble throughout our nation for months to come. Without looking backward, now is the time in which we must have strong, honest, purposeful leadership for all Americans to ensure concentrated collective action. What we do have are the sporadic heroics of a handful of state governors and scattered efforts of individuals. At the national level we have gross incompetence and reactive efforts that are seemingly intent on managing this crisis as nothing more than yet another challenging public relations stunt.
Where is the voice of the opposing party that represents competence, purposeful action and plain-spoken and data-driven leadership? We have Biden hunkered down in his basement providing soft-spoken and well intentioned reminders that he’s still here. We have Pelosi and Schumer doing an excellent job shepherding the operational deliverables that are badly needed. But we are not providing an alternative to the clear and present danger speaking from the White House that is going to cost the US 100,000s of thousands of unnecessary deaths and likely another four years of Trump. At that point our country, as we know it, will be lost. Seriously, what are we waiting for?
Here’s what needs to happen and happen this week:
Schumer and Pelosi must convene all the Democratic POTUS contenders and get them fully behind our Unity Plan where our team speaks with one message. In parallel Bernie must immediately endorse Biden and galvanize his base to throw their collective shoulders into this moment in history. Within two day of Biden’s initial fist-pounding speech announcing and defining the Unity Plan he needs to announce his cabinet appointments, which is best served with Warren as VP and Harris as AG. The other primary POTUS contenders need to be slotted into appropriate positions to ensure that all of the various Democratic groupings coalesce.
With our solidarity established Biden will lead a daily televised task force call that leads with science, honesty and plain-spoken integrity. Think FDR’s fireside chats coupled with military precision. Biden leads these calls as our POTUS contenders, leading scientists, governors and politicians, and business leaders provide a clear alternative to Trump’s nonsensical performances.
The messaging should focus on providing clear assessments of our situation, highlight the failures of the Trump administration and give the nation an honest path forward. To counter the disadvantage of not having the formal authority to provide an official voice through the bully pulpit we’ll need a media blitz funded by Bloomberg and citizen donations to blanket our conventional and social media to sell this movement. All opportunities to get this messaging out should be explored.
This isn’t a coup. This is about taking the gloves off, avoiding the conventional approach of following the rules and providing an alternative that’ll focus on saving American lives and present the Democrat party as a clear and preferred alternative to the current hegemony of a tin-pot dictator and a complicit Republican party. This is about saving our country today and for generations to come. Seriously, what are we waiting on?