Now that there are at least 24 announced candidates for the Democratic Party Nomination, its time to ask the question:
Have the Democrats lost their freaking minds?
The 2020 Democratic Primary is a virtual buffet, a smorgasbord of delectable candidates like goodies, each vying for the focused attention of the American electorate.
At the beginning of the year, it looked like the Democrats were primed to overthrow the Trump administration in the 2020 Presidential Election.
All Democrats had to do was nominate a sensible Democrats who could go toe to toe, gaffe to gaffe, and non-political correctness to non-political correctness with “The Donald.” An easy enough political prescription to fill, one would have thought five months ago.
But what the Democrats have done is come out of the woodworks with all manner of political ideas to wage a political campaign upon in 2020. To be sure, there have been several excellent policy statements to emerge from the campaign thus far, from a free college education, Medicare for all, and reparation for Black citizens. All of which, are select group centric, without the ump, I believe, needed to attract a large swath of American voters to change horses in the middle of the stream.
Not to mention the concept candidates, therefore, the first openly gay President, the first white woman President, the first Black woman President, the first democratic socialist President, the second Black President, this is such a unique group, that the list goes on and on.
Although former Vice President Joe Biden entered the race late, he has commanded an impressive lead among his Democratic colleagues. Biden’s early lead puts him square in the bullseye of not only his Democratic competitors but the slingshot of the President as well.
Joe is a big boy, and no doubt he can handle the slings and arrows of this political circus. The fear is that the infighting from the Democrats will weaken Biden — should he win their primary — in a General Election contest, against Trump as the war of words between the Bernie Sanders camp and the Hillary Clinton group, did to weaken the former First Lady’s run in the 2016 General Election.
Already, it is difficult to discern if the flyspecking political rhetoric hurled towards Biden is coming from earnest political opponents or the Russian disinformation campaign.
One thing Democrats should have learned from their losing effort in 2016 is that constantly tearing into their political opponents is froth with not being able to mend the party for a general election battle.
I suggest that the 24 Democratic candidates caucus, then select a candidate to represent the center right section of the party, the liberal sect and the progressive wing.
And may the best woman or man win. Then on to the electoral college fight with an administration begging for dethronement after one term in office.
Harold Michael Harvey is the author of Paper Puzzle and Justice in the Round. His forthcoming memoir, Freaknik Lawyer, is slated for release in the fall. You can write to Harvey at hmharvey@haroldmichaelharvey.com.
There are to many candidates running for the office. They need who have the best shott at winning and everyone get behind that person.
Agreed.
It seems like an ego race now.
Exactly.
A smorgasbord, buffet or what have you, is exactly what the Democratic Party Nomination looks like. The sad reality is while many are reeling in supporters, with so many candidates there is bound to be many who are going to be confused by the plethora of political ideas. Talk about major divisions, this one is going to be like watching the MLB playoffs.