This is the next of a new series of missives on our unfinished work to restore the promise of our country and its government. Each will focus on a single element of the many opportunities and challenges that lie ahead. Each will provide three steps we can all take to build upon our huge victories winning back the House in 2018 and the Presidency in 2020.
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The Wall Street Journal says that Ron DeSantis needs a self-deprecating sense of humor. Obviously, a complete personality transplant would be in order if modern medicine would only offer it. What a relentlessly unpleasant and meanspirited man DeSantis is. It is almost like he is modeling himself after a former President who would already have patented such behavior if it made him a dollar.
DeSantis is running to the right of Trump! If Trump mentions firearms, DeSantis will get his toadies in the Florida State Legislature to pass a law forcing all Floridians over age 12 to accept the gift of a gun and require them to brandish it. If Trump mentions COVID, DeSantis will say he has personally ripped masks off the faces of the elderly. If Trump is associated with anti-choice legislation, DeSantis will advance a state law that jails pregnant women and their doctors. DeSantis will excuse Putin, pardon insurrectionists, including Trump, and stomp on both Mickey and Minnie Mouse until their wee little mouse bodies are broken.
Why would this be DeSantis’ approach? Fresh from his Florida victory over a fully spent Charlie Crist, DeSantis could have chosen any Republican lane to the right of moderate New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu. He selected his furthest right lane because of the present and anticipated prosecutions of Trump by Jack Smith, Alvin Bragg, Fani Willis, and Letitia James. He thinks they will prevail, and that he will win the MAGA core after Trump’s demise. He would rather have most of Trump’s core than any other Republican cohort. His attacks on Trump are fashioned with that goal in mind, though after Trump's relentless assaults, the DeSantis gloves are starting to come off. DeSantis’ careful position is continually expressed: This is not the same Trump as 2016.
Former Republican presidential speech writer Peggy Noonan said DeSantis’ vibe “makes you feel he might unplug your life support to recharge his cell phone.”
It makes one wonder who will emerge as the Republican alternative to this tiny man after a series of indictments drags Trump out of the picture. Certainly not Mike Pence, a man without a following. Not Asa Hutchison, with no base to build upon. Not Tim Scott, a conservative whose x-rays reveal the possible presence of a heart and brain. Nikki Haley?
More likely, the alternative will be Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin, sitting and waiting in the wings, watching the carnage. Of the wannabees, Youngkin is the most able to appeal to independent voters, currently being flipped off by DeSantis and flipped out by Trump. Youngkin has kept his eye on his education agenda, including recovery from COVID-driven declines in reading and math. Former CEO of a private equity firm, he is being characterized as “neither never-Trump nor Trump-lite”.
Also watching are a dozen Democratic presidential aspirants, still not fully believing that understandably weary Joe Biden is running for President. Democrats wary of having an 82-year-old candidate are muting themselves, not wanting to offend Biden or diminish their November 2024 prospects. Earnest and adamant private discussions are needed.
Now is the time for Barack Obama and Hillary and Bill Clinton and Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries to convince Joe Biden he is putting his party at great risk. The fact that the Republicans are tacking even further to the right gives Democrats a huge opportunity to keep the Presidency, take back the House, and defend the Senate. That advantage will be lost if Joe Biden runs for re-election. This is not because of his performance or policies, but because Americans don’t know any 80+ year olds who have the mental acuity and physical stamina and boundless energy the Presidency requires. Fears that Biden would not survive the second term are realistic.
But for now, Joe Biden being the candidate is helpful. His skills are as advertised. With divided government, a narrow majority in the House and a narrow minority in the Senate, this President works across the aisle better than any since Lyndon Johnson. His approval levels are up. With Biden the announced candidate, Democratic candidates can develop their plans and stay out of the line of fire. Any incoming criticism will be soaked up by Biden. If the aspiring candidates are Governors (such as J.B. Pritzker, Gretchen Whitmer, Josh Shapiro, Gavin Newsom, or Wes Moore) currently they can be seen running their states and protecting a women’s right to choose.
In no way is it Joe Biden’s fault that the debt ceiling debate turned into a bizarre ritualistic game of chicken. Already pledged to avoid default, Kevin McCarthy did what he could to get spending changes without getting so close to default that he and his party could get blamed for a stock market plunge. For his part, Joe Biden pushed the next debt ceiling battle until after the November 2024 elections, itself hugely consequential. He protected his legislative achievements, including carbon reduction incentives and huge infrastructure investments. He kept Medicare off the table and saved the jobs of 77,000 new IRS agents.
There are defense and farm bills left to pass, but other than that the rest of Biden’s presidency is all about defending Ukraine, strengthening NATO, offending Putin, managing China, celebrating a decreasing inflation rate, and continuing to make progress at the border. Then we are on to the next great electoral adventure, requiring us to do these three things:
| 1) Put Your Eyes Back on Arizona | |
 | Even after electing Katie Hobbs Governor and re-electing Mark Kelly Senator, there is no question that Arizona is a swing state. We need to do everything we can to secure Arizona for our 2024 presidential candidate, and not let Kristin Sinema’s defection cost us a Senate seat. The way to do that is to get the right to choose on the ballot in November of 2024, which will take over 300,000 signatures. As has been proven in Kansas, Kentucky, and Michigan, the fight for abortion rights is an exceptional way to increase voter turnout. Arizonans for Reproductive Freedom is gathering signatures right now and could use a boost. Also, we can start keeping an eye on South Dakota. Fresh from a successful state initiative expanding Medicaid coverage, activists at Dakotans for Health are aiming to put Roe v. Wade level protections on the state ballot. |
2) Ask Joe Biden to Eschew Running for President | |
 | Joe Biden is right to be a proud man. He should be praised for doing everything he can to get the most out of his presidency. The first two years of his term produced the most significant record of legislative achievement since Lyndon Johnson, who had a huge majority with which to work. It is more than a little ironic that an important thing to do is to call Joe Biden, thank him for his service and add your voice to the many who are asking him not to run. His comment line is open from 11 am to 3 pm Eastern time every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. You can call 202-456-1111. |
3) Make Sure House Modernization Continues | |
 | One of the small bipartisan victories in the Capitol has been the work of the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress. It was chaired by Representative Derek Kilmer of Washington State, and 45 of its recommendations were adopted. Now the committee has emerged in the McCarthy led house as a subcommittee of the Committee on House Administration. Those who are at least a tiny bit interested in Congress being more transparent and using 21st century technology can subscribe for free to the news put out by the organization Demand Progress. |
It is difficult not to be beaten down by DeSantis and Trump. Their world is built upon being aggrieved. We have a strong chance of getting the country to move away from them.
David Harrison
Bainbridge Island, Washington
