It looks like the Democratic Presidential contenders, those who a left, are locked and loaded, ammunition at the ready.
The ammunition against Bernie is his age, his angry-old-man, no-compromise rhetoric, his free college, free healthcare, housing for the homeless, lack of support for gun control …
For Warren, it’s her age, her “fight!, fight!, fight!” rhetoric, free college and healthcare, taxing people with over $50 million net worth, increasing taxes on corporations…
There’s Mayor Pete’s youth, his candor about being gay, his unpopularity with blacks and hispanics, his small city government experience…
Amy Klobuchar has ideas that are solid, but not exciting, a reputation of spewing vitriol at her staff, a record of over-zealous prosecuting of blacks when she was a county attorney…
Tom Steyer has no political experience, none. He does have a lot of money, but as of this writing, only 2% backing nationally…
Tulsi Gabbard has less than 1% backing, so…
And then there’s aging Joe Biden, he who was on the wrong side of the school busing issue, the guy with the longest career in politics, but that includes some big mistakes, and who looked like a deer in the headlights during some the debates. Oh, and his numbers are melting like ice cream on a summer day…
And finally, there is the really, really, really old rich guy, Mike Bloomberg, the one who made “stop and frisk” famous, the guy with a history of racist and sexist comments, the one is trying to buy his way into the Presidency one hundred million at a time…
Those are the candidates and at least some of the ammunition each is firing at the others. The common flaw: not one is perfect.
The sniping has increased in recent days as moderate democrats shake in their boots at the possibility that Bernie might go all the way and liberals shake in their boots at the possibility he won’t. Both extremes shake and shiver at the lack of democracy in a billionaire – their billionaire, to be sure – actually blowing every other Democratic candidate away, like leaves on a front porch. It seems so incongruous to them, a Democratic billionaire. Not since Franklin Roosevelt has a Democrat come from big money.
And through it all, Trump’s people are quietly hoping the fighting continues, just as it did in 2016. But now, instead of just Hillary and Bernie taking each other down, all of them taking all of them down. It’s a Republican dream: a repeat of the bitter anger that depressed Democratic turnout and left an astonished Trump alone at the finish line.
And that will happen, unless the Democrats disengage their circular firing squad.
Here’s a novel idea for Democratic candidates: concentrate on what you can and will do for the country instead of what others can’t or won’t do.
Bernie’s idea of universal healthcare isn’t new; it’s already successful in numerous other countries. He has, for years, worked on legislation with both Democrats and Republicans. He’s genuine, authentic.
Warren’s plans are well thought out and will help solve many national problems. She, too, is the real deal.
Klobuchar is highly electable, smart, and pragmatic.
Pete is clearly brilliant and part of the next generation of leaders.
Steyer is self-made and laser focused on Climate Change- THE problem of our time, heck of all time.
Bloomberg is self-made and has successfully governed the biggest city in the country.
Biden has real experience on the national and international stage, has been there and done that for decades, with grace and civility.
Gabbard… Ok, not much there, compared to the others.
The common asset: they’re all good.
As each competes by targeting the others’ flaws, they are fully capable of convincing voters that not one of them is good enough to be President, that Democratic voters should just throw up their hands and walk away as many did in 2016. Trump’s dream.
They are also capable of choosing the person who, although not perfect, will do the most good for the country, who will solve, not all, but many of the myriad problems we face as a nation and a world.
And a great example why perfect is the enemy of good.