From the Uber-Yurt of S. MacCune
Apparently Mr. Well-look-it’s-Alberto-Salazar-over-here was
too busy to pen today’s column. So I
find myself pinch-hitting (again). To complete the sporting theme, I am writing
from a recliner situated not so far away from the Folgefonna Summer Ski Center, a
mere 19 km from Jondal Centre in glacier-country, Norway. I haven’t seen this much white powder since I
helped produce Theatre of Pain.
Oh, and Spartan Considerations also told me to avoid talking about sports too
much, what with the O’s and their tribulations.
After moving Machado and Britton, what's next? Is Dan Duquette going to re-sign Pete
Harnisch?
Getting back on track…like any true professional, I have one
eye on 2020 and a sinking feeling about how the Democrats might blow it.
After three consecutive two-term presidencies and a sitting “Chief
Executive” who could be described, mildly, as a Know-Nothing with fascistic
tendencies, this should be an electoral slam-dunk for the Party of the People
(also a great read from Jules Witcover).
Especially when a fair number of Republicans – and not just talking
heads – are nervously eyeing the exits.
Then it hit me. More
precisely, Congressman Anthony Brown’s “voice of caution” on impeachment hit me. Now, Colonel and former LG Brown is not a
timid man. He served his country for
almost three decades in the Army, which included a tour of duty in Iraq in
2004. His awards speak for themselves. His personal courage is both admirable and well-documented.
As a politician though, Mr. Brown via his recent remarks is
exhibiting the same sort of inclination to “play it safe” that helped relegate
the Democratic Party, at the national level, to the electoral wilderness for
much of the ‘80s.
Combined with the notion that a third of the GOP could be
convinced to bolt (probably closer to 10%, 15% tops) and that Independents could
be persuaded to break 55%-45% for any “reasonable” Democrat (read: centrist/corporatist
establishment-type), I realized how the Democrats could miss the opportunity:
A “National Unity” ticket.
With Galloping Centrism all the rage in certain parts of the
country, including
(from what I hear) Howard County, MD…this idea, on its
surface, seems bold and would appear to be a combination that would compel Trump
to rely on mobilizing to almost unheard-of levels an increasingly marginalized
base of nationalist conservatives and what political strategist Kevin Phillips once
described as “middle American radicals.”
But really, such a ticket would be a manifestation of
ultra-caution born of a sense that the electorate would not be prepared to
handle a 100% full-tilt progressive combination. At the core is the misconception that the
Democrats are not “Middle America” enough and that we would need a GOPer in the #2
position to serve as a link to non-coastal elites. This is wrong-headed all around, but I can envision
some strategist making the case in the summer of 2020. He or she will rant about potential
volatility amongst “swing constituencies” in Michigan, Wisconsin, and
Pennsylvania (which in this scenario will be white women who are self-described
moderate/moderately conservative Republicans or Independents). She or he will opine that the Democratic
nominee could “put it away” in those and perhaps a couple other states by making
a “bold choice” for the “good of the country” that expands the playing field. 270 here we come…
But how many Republicans would really walk away from Trump
and vote for a Democratic Presidential candidate, even one running with a
Republican VP? I estimate far too
few. Simultaneously, the Democrats would
lose their ability to compare/contrast most effectively as any GOP running-mate
would likely share Mr. Trump’s views on a range of issues…which would no doubt
dispirit a sizable percentage of the D base. And who
would it be? Sasse? Flake? Kasich?
Corker? Scarborough? Who among them is a mortal-lock to help
change the electoral math? How could a
Harris or Brown or Holden or Klobuchar or Landrieu or Sanders or Warren (to
name a few) square their political beliefs with such a choice? How would the Democratic Convention react to
such a move? How would the media cover
it? Hint for the last three questions: not easily, not favorably, and as
Democratic weakness, respectively.
The last time a National Unity ticket was tried, the country
was in the midst of a Civil War…and we ended up with President Andrew Johnson (for
numerous articles on Donald Trump – Andrew Johnson comparisons, just Google
the relevant search terms).
So while some folks deemed to be “sensible” might start
touting such a proposal following the mid-term elections, just bear this in
mind: such a pairing may make a great
story for a day or two, but ultimately it will weaken the ticket’s positioning,
anger many Democratic activists who believe that an All-D ticket can win, and
it won’t peel away nearly enough Republicans or swing over as many Independents
as proponents of such a maneuver will claim.
Yes, hypotheticals on top of hypotheticals, but someone has
to be noodling on such matters.
Time to hit the slopes…before they hit back. There’s a tagline for you.
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