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A Popularity Contest For The Unpopular
I saw a pitiable statistic the other day.
Just 6% of voters in America are excited about the prospect of a Biden-Trump rematch in the 2024 general election. I wasn't able to immediately identify the source, but Susan B. Glasser cited the figure in a profoundly discouraging piece for The New Yorker called "Are We Doomed To See A Biden-Trump Rematch?"
Glasser's title said it all. For a body politic that's angry on impassioned days and dejectedly disinterested otherwise, a re-run of the 2020 elec
Douglas Adams offered the best ever critique–perhaps prediction is more accurate–for the natural progression of democracies…
An extraterrestrial robot and spaceship has just landed on earth. The robot steps out of the spaceship…
“I come in peace,” it said, adding after a long moment, “take me to your Lizard.”
Ford Prefect, of course, had an explanation for this: “It comes from a very ancient democracy, you see…”
“You mean, it comes from a world of lizards?”
“No,” said Ford, “nothing so simple. Nothing anything like so straightforward. On its world, the people are people. The leaders are lizards. The people hate the lizards and the lizards rule the people.”
“Odd,” said Arthur, “I thought you said it was a democracy.”
“I did,” said Ford. “It is.”
“So,” said Arthur, hoping he wasn’t sounding ridiculously obtuse, “why don’t the people get rid of the lizards?”
“It honestly doesn’t occur to them,” said Ford. “They’ve all got the vote, so they all pretty much assume that the government they’ve voted in more or less approximates to the government they want.”
“You mean they actually vote for the lizards?”
“Oh yes,” said Ford with a shrug, “of course.”
“But,” said Arthur, going for the big one again, “why?”
“Because if they didn’t vote for a lizard,” said Ford, “the wrong lizard might get in.”
Douglas Adams (Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy: So Long and Thanks for All the Fish)
The quote continues, with equal relevance,
What?”
“I said,” said Ford, with an increasing air of urgency creeping into his voice, “have you got any gin?”
“I’ll look. Tell me about the lizards.”
Ford shrugged again.
“Some people say that the lizards are the best thing that ever happenned to them,” he said. “They’re completely wrong of course, completely and utterly wrong, but someone’s got to say it.”
“But that’s terrible,” said Arthur.
“Listen, bud,” said Ford, “if I had one Altairian dollar for every time I heard one bit of the Universe look at another bit of the Universe and say ‘That’s terrible’ I wouldn’t be sitting here like a lemon looking for a gin.
I was taught in 8th grade whe have a mixed capitalist system. Still true today, even if the gop would rail against socialism (national defense anyone?). No politician is perfect, I wish the American public would just grow up and take competent with decent morals (not perfect). Soaring rhetoric means little.
Who are the potential Democratic candidates? If she was younger, I think Nancy Pelosi would be a strong candidate; Pelosi vs Trump in a debate would be a hoot. Gavin Newsom? Roy Cooper? Andy Beshear? (Some interesting but old (70+) governors are Tony Evers (swing state), Tom Wolf (swing state), Laura Kelly (red state); could a governor from Maine ever win?) With climate change becoming more apparent, could Newsom present practical, bipartisan answers which appeal to the independent voters over the next two years?
On the GOP side, I think there are candidates (governors) with a reasonable chance of winning a general election but I can’t see how they could be nominated; Maryland, Massachusetts &Virginia have GOP governors. What happens if Trump has a stroke, heart attack or other serious health problem? Who becomes the nominee then? I think the negative reaction to Dobbs v. Jackson will be stronger in 2024 and a GOP candidate who can minimize this issue stands a better chance in a general election.
For me, Biden has done a relatively solid job. However, as with last election, I want someone younger for the dems, someone younger than 60. Of course I want AOC and Bernie, but that’s not palatable to the boomer dems.
Amy Klobuchar would be great, or maybe Kamala, though she needs to get out there. Unfortunately, this country has a bias towards women leaders. I blame the fragmentation of the media for all of this truth warping of course.
Ahh! amy klobuchar is 62!
Still young. (Says the 61-yo)
I’d be far more worried if 94% of America voters were excited about a Trump-Biden rematch in 2024!
Sanity prevails.
I think that Jared Polis (our Colorado governor and former US congressman) could hit the sweet spot of socially progressive and fiscally responsible- which, although I can not readily site a poll, seems to be where the vast majority of American voters reside. He is only 47.
H-Man, Biden and Trump are the “Second hand Lions”. As you get older, lotsa heart, but poor execution. DeSantis will be the Republican choice while the Democrats try to find a DeSantis.
That is a great movie, tho.
I want the next President to have a genius-level I.Q., complete knowledge of foreign and domestic affairs, the ability to resolve all conflicts, and bring about global peace and prosperity…..oh, and appoints Walt as Chief of Staff and White House Press Secretary. Yeah, I know it’s double duty, but it would be fascinating to watch those press conferences.
Speaking as one with an alleged genius IQ, having high EQ (emotional quotient) or especially high SQ (strategic quotient) is far better. High “IQ” to me just means being able to solve puzzles faster than anyone else or perhaps read books faster.
America today represents what happens when a super power runs out of motivating ideas. All we are left with is an apathetic and aggrieved society who can’t figure out how to be happy so it chooses to be offended instead. One thing is for certain though, consumerism is not doing the job. We have run out of growth opportunities and global enemies to fight. So we turn on each other and lament the past instead. If someone wants to get us off this hamster wheel they need to invent an idea that will unite the largely divided 330 Million people to a cause.
+1