Dreams of 2020

[Karl Henning]

Can this libertarian restore conservatism?

[...] Noting that the Articles of Confederation excellently referred to powers not "expressly" delegated, Weld says, "I might have been an anti-Federalist." Imagine having a president who knows that there were anti-Federalists.

The top of the Libertarians' 2016 ticket was another ex-governor, New Mexico's Gary Johnson, who was too interested in marijuana and not interested enough in Syria to recognize the name Aleppo. Weld, however, is ready for prime time.

[...] If the florid face of today's snarling GOP wants to be renominated, he will be. Five-hundred days into his presidency he had 87 percent approval among Republicans, 10 points above Ronald Reagan's rating at 500 days. And in the autumn of 2019, upward of 20 Democratic presidential aspirants might clog the stages at "debates" that could become contests to see who can most arrestingly pander to activists — a disproportionate slice of the nominating electorate — who are enamored of "Medicare for all," government-guaranteed jobs and generally gobs of free stuff (college tuition, etc.).

If in autumn 2020 voters face a second consecutive repulsive choice, there will be running room between the two deplorables. Because of its 2016 efforts, the Libertarian Party will automatically be on 39 states' ballots this fall and has a sufficient infantry of volunteers to secure ballot access in another nine. So, if the Libertarian Party is willing, 2020's politics could have an ingredient recently missing from presidential politics: fun. And maybe a serious disruption of the party duopoly that increasing millions find annoying. Stranger things have happened, as a glance across Lafayette Square confirms.

[XB-70 Valkyrie]

Hmmm, let's see, where did I leave my ten foot pole? 

[Karl Henning]

It could be a fatal error, if liberals are ready to do Trump's work for him.

Liberal hostility toward Trump aides could galvanize the GOP base

[bwv 1080]

Are there any electable candidates among the likely Dem contenders for 2020?  Will the public elect an near-octogenarian Bernie Sanders?  I think the Dems are going to misread dissatisfaction with Trump as a mandate for their own brand of knee-jerk populism and give the Donald another four years

[Karl Henning]

Are there any electable candidates among the likely Dem contenders for 2020?  Will the public elect an near-octogenarian Bernie Sanders?  I think the Dems are going to misread dissatisfaction with Trump as a mandate for their own brand of knee-jerk populism and give the Donald another four years.

That is the concern.  If they didn't learn from Nov 2016 that I'm not that narcissistic bigot who lies with every second breath! is insufficient as a strategy, then we're all buggered.

[bwv 1080]

That is the concern.  If they didn't learn from Nov 2016 that I'm not that narcissistic bigot who lies with every second breath! is insufficient as a strategy, then we're all buggered.

People will understandably vote for a narcissistic bigot who they believe represents their interests over a saint they believe does not.  Politics is not a Manichean struggle of good vs evil, it is a balancing of competing interests within a constitutional framework.

[Karl Henning]

People will understandably vote for a narcissistic bigot who they believe represents their interests over a saint they believe does not.  Politics is not a Manichean struggle of good vs evil, it is a balancing of competing interests within a constitutional framework.

Yes.

[Karl Henning]

Not looking for sainthood.

But decency.  Yes, decency would be . . . nice.

[zamyrabyrd]

People will understandably vote for a narcissistic bigot who they believe represents their interests over a saint they believe does not.  Politics is not a Manichean struggle of good vs evil, it is a balancing of competing interests within a constitutional framework.

Saint Hillary of the Satanists?

[springrite]

First, let's see if a moderate or traditional republican (Paul Ryan?) would try to wrestle the republican party back after it was kidnapped by Trump.

[Karl Henning]

Saint Hillary of the Satanists?

No one has called Hillary a saint, of course.

And, please, Lord, have her go away.

[Karl Henning]

First, let's see if a moderate or traditional republican (Paul Ryan?) would try to wrestle the republican party back after it was kidnapped by Trump.

Ryan's trouble, is his history of having enabled El Tupé;  he is terminally damaged goods.

By now, with all their complicity (not all of it unwilling) the GOP has become the Party of El Tupé.  The GOP's failure, in terms of serving the country, is complete.

If the Democrats cannot get their act together, their failure, too, will be complete, and America will continue to descend into darkness.

[Karl Henning]

Opinion:  Ocasio-Cortez just did Democrats a big favor

In her shocking primary upset of Nancy Pelosi's heir apparent, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez just did Democrats a big favor.

I mean no disrespect to Rep. Joseph Crowley, the New York Democrat she beat. The head of the House Democratic caucus is by all accounts a nice guy, and he might have made a competent speaker of the House.

But now he won't be speaker. And this, in a very concrete way, clears the way for a new generation to take the reins of the opposition — leaders who appeal to the emerging electoral majority that already dominates the party and will soon dominate the country: progressive, young, female and nonwhite. It is no accident that Ocasio-Cortez, a 28-year-old Latina, is all four.

A majority of House Democrats are either women, people of color or gay. A disproportionate number of their strongest candidates in November's election are women, and many are young. Of the 54 on the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee's most competitive "Red to Blue" list, 19 aren't yet 40 years old, and 26 are women. The Cook Political Report sees Democratic women outperforming Democratic men by 15 points in primaries.

[Karl Henning]

Opinion:  Ocasio-Cortez just did Democrats a big favor

In her shocking primary upset of Nancy Pelosi's heir apparent, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez just did Democrats a big favor.

I mean no disrespect to Rep. Joseph Crowley, the New York Democrat she beat. The head of the House Democratic caucus is by all accounts a nice guy, and he might have made a competent speaker of the House.

But now he won't be speaker. And this, in a very concrete way, clears the way for a new generation to take the reins of the opposition — leaders who appeal to the emerging electoral majority that already dominates the party and will soon dominate the country: progressive, young, female and nonwhite. It is no accident that Ocasio-Cortez, a 28-year-old Latina, is all four.

A majority of House Democrats are either women, people of color or gay. A disproportionate number of their strongest candidates in November's election are women, and many are young. Of the 54 on the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee's most competitive "Red to Blue" list, 19 aren't yet 40 years old, and 26 are women. The Cook Political Report sees Democratic women outperforming Democratic men by 15 points in primaries.

As for the insurgency, Crowley is the only Democratic incumbent to be ousted this cycle. Of the 29 candidates on the "Red to Blue" list that the DCCC endorsed during their primaries, 27 have prevailed. The Center for Responsive Politics tells me that in 85 percent of Democratic House primaries this year, 252 of 296, the winner was the candidate who raised the most money; of the 44 exceptions, 31 were women — suggesting the reason is gender, not ideology.

The ouster of Crowley, who, fairly or not, had the aura of an old-time party boss and a conventional pol, gives the Democrats a vital chance to own the emerging electorate of young, female, nonwhite and progressive voters. This coalition can beat Trump in 2020 — and thwart Trumpism for years to come.

[Karl Henning]

Speak no more of socialism

The trouble with left-wing Democrats is that they lack a proper respect for right-wing demagoguery. Hence, at the moment, many of them extol socialism — which is to American politics what curling is to sports — and are calling for the abolition of ICE, generously giving [El Presidente Tupé] yet another opportunity to demagogue on immigration. They will, if allowed, declaim their way to another defeat.

[Florestan]

Opinion:  Ocasio-Cortez just did Democrats a big favor

the emerging electoral majority that already dominates the party and will soon dominate the country: progressive, young, female and nonwhite.

Take heart, then: according to WaPo, as soon as this electoral majority will dominate the country the Dems will rule the US for at least a generation to come. Be careful, though, what you wish for.

[Karl Henning]

Why, you almost seem to suggest that you know my wishes  0:)

[Florestan]

Why, you almost seem to suggest that you know my wishes  0:)

I believe I am not far off the mark in thinking you would quite like the Republican Party to be badly defetead in the next Congress and Presidential elections --- and in thinking that you don't expect the Libertarian Party to replace the Democratic Party for this. 0:)

[eljr]

It could be a fatal error, if liberals are ready to do Trump's work for him.

Liberal hostility toward Trump aides could galvanize the GOP base

The Trumpets are in a feeding frenzy.

The hostility toward the reasoned is a giant factor in Trump's popularity and will give him the next election as well.

[Karl Henning]

I believe I am not far off the mark in thinking you would quite like the Republican Party to be badly defeated in the next Congress and Presidential elections --- and in thinking that you don't expect the Libertarian Party to replace the Democratic Party for this. 0:)

In that much, you do not exceed reason