Yes, you read that right we need a Presidential Candidate ASAP! As you so well know, DJT started his campaign shortly after taking office and frequently uses campaign money to hold campaign rallies. So as a result, we have DJT 24/7. He has the bully pulpit and he is a television entertainer and he uses this to his full benefit. Put that together with the media who tend to report on the scandal of the day, the outrage of the day. Airtime is given to the President and to Republicans and their spokespersons. Many media outlets, especially in radio environments, or owned and operated by far right Conservatives. Democrats and others find it difficult to get airtime. Policy and truth telling does not sell as well as outrage.
We need to grab more focus and get more attention. We need an exciting candidate that can be out there to respond to the daily happenings not only the outrage of the day but the many things that are happening to our democracy and under the radar. We need a truth teller and an exciting compelling personality.
Of course, we need a good message. We can’t just be about going against Trump. A simple but powerful message that speaks to people, ordinary people. I hope that the Democratic Party is working on such a message. I heard one attempt and I wasn’t very impressed. I have often thought that some group, Daily Kos perhaps such collect ideas for the message and the tag line. For the purpose of this article, I am going to suggest a Paul Wellstone quote: “We all do better when we all do better”. This is just a sample of what I mean and what we need.
So now to the candidate. I mentally explored the many possible candidates for President. Bernie Sanders creates a lot of excitement and has a large following. He has his socialist designation and his party identification that make him less desirable. Bernie also is a needed voice and vote in the Senate. Elizabeth Warren is focused completely on her re-election to the Senate. Kamala Harris, the newly minted California Senator has some promise but it might be too early in her Senate career to take on this kind of effort.
So my suggestion is Joe Biden! Very popular right now, identified with the working class. He can attract the crowds and the media. Yes, I know he is old but so is Trump. Also, I am aware that if he puts his name out there we must be prepared that he might be elected. If we could win with him, then I say lets go for it. If a stronger candidate emerges later, then we can support him/her. When the time comes, he could be paired with a younger Vice Presidential candidate who could step into the Presidency if necessary.
He, like any candidate, that would come forward would need a strategy that would address Trump’s unique type of campaign. A strategy for dealing with Trump’s insults, name-calling, lies and distortions. A strategy for staying on message; Bernie Sanders has this mastered though his approach is not nuanced.
I am not a part of Joe Biden’s family nor have I been a part of his campaign. My thoughts come out of daily frustration on listening to the days events and not hearing sufficient response. Frustration on hearing lies with no competing truths. Frustration on hearing headlines and not hearing about other information with substance on policy changes and legislative efforts. Tired of seeing perceptions change based on lies and distortions i.e, polls show thata majority of folks do not trust Mueller and his investigation.
