What Next?

No doubt about it: Bernie Sanders is the undeniable front runner.   My choice, Amy Klobuchar, got trounced in Nevada and has no realistic path to victory.  Now what?

Despite the fact that Klobuchar still projects the qualities and strength that I think are needed for the presidency, I must acknowledge that an overwhelming number of Democrats disagree.  Sanders successfully forged in Nevada a coalition of young adults, Latino citizens, and liberal voters, and he also made inroads with many demographic groups including white, moderate Democrats like me.  No one can ignore the power of his passionate energy.

I have lots of concerns about Sanders heading the ticket, most of all my fear that he won't beat Donald Trump and that he won't encourage the turnout needed to flip the Senate and to keep the House.  I've also been hoping for a winning candidate with a calm, reassuring manner who can restore order in Washington, not exactly a description of Bernie.  If elected, his chronic anger will continue to churn and disquiet our nation.  But perhaps the Sanders voters are telling me something: many Americans are tired of pervasive inequity and don't have time to wait.  They need change now.

Two of my favorite columnists offer opposing views of Bernie's victory.  Jennifer Rubin of The Washington Post details seven steps that must happen immediately to stop Sanders.  Paul Krugman of The New York Times, who also opposes Sanders, offers something different: the case to support Bernie if he's our candidate.

For me, I'll watch Tuesday night's debate and see what happens.  With South Carolina voting on Saturday, we'll get even more information about the coalitions our candidates are and aren't forming.  In the end, all of our Democratic candidates will restore to America the rule of law, the respect for civil servants, the esteem for allies around the world, and the value of the principles enshrined in our Constitution.

Even Bernie.

The Case for Amy

The Democratic primary keeps shifting ground, and so do I.   Buffeted about as candidates rise and fall, I change my mind sometimes from one week to the next.  Here’s where I stand now.

Though I will actively support him or whoever wins the Democratic primary, Bernie Sanders is too far left for me.  His non-negotiable policies make him an easy target for Donald Trump, and I don’t think he’ll attract disaffected voters in the middle.  Elizabeth Warren, who became my choice early on as the candidate to forge a left and centrist coalition, stumbled as she struggled to defend Medicare for All and never recovered her footing.  Joe Biden, another one of my early preferences, doesn’t inspire confidence; he lacks fresh, quick thinking, and he’s rooted in the past.  Meanwhile, looming larger each day is a billionaire whose racist, sexist past repels me.

Michael Bloomberg made three stops in North Carolina on Thursday, when early voting began.  His sleek, posted signs at our nearby library are the only indications of the presidential race.  With ads that inspire viewers to reflect on the possibility of a renewed America, one not governed by a divisive and vengeful demagogue, he's hard to resist.  I’ve had several friends tell me this week that he’s the only candidate who can defeat Donald Trump.

Yet I resist.

Bloomberg’s rivals at the moment, those with centrist views similar to his own, are Pete Buttigieg, Tom Steyer, and Amy Klobuchar.  Regarding Mayor Pete, I didn’t have a good sense of the size of South Bend, Indiana, until I saw its population rank (according to NerdWallet).  It turns out that South Bend is smaller than High Point, Wilmington, Cary, Fayetteville, Winston-Salem, Durham, Greensboro, Raleigh, and Charlotte, NC.  This ranking made it clear to me: despite Buttigieg’s military service and wide-ranging intellect, he doesn’t have the experience to run this vast, unruly country.

Tom Steyer makes a lot of sense, and I agree with much of what he says.  I liked that he came to Durham and visited with residents of McDougald Terrace, unafraid to tackle the thorny issues of race, housing, health, and safety.  He lacks government experience, though, and I’d prefer someone who can take charge of Washington immediately. 

Which brings me to Amy Klobuchar, my current choice.  Representing Minnesota in the Senate since 2006, she leads her fellow senators in enacting legislation as a sponsor or co-sponsor.  Her policies are practical and focused on the needs of ordinary Americans.  She recognizes the crisis of aging in America, which I don’t hear other candidates discuss.  She has a strong history of tackling gun violence, and she’s identified numerous steps she’ll take to address climate change.  She’s been a leader in legislation to protect LGBTQ rights, and she understands the challenges of substance use and mental health.

Klobuchar is certainly as qualified for the job as Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders and more so than everyone else.  Yet nervous Democrats are looking to Michael Bloomberg.  It’s hard not to conclude that once again, we’re not ready to trust and elect a woman for our highest office.  When I first watched Senator Klobuchar at the debates, I admit that I didn’t think she had the gravitas for the job.  I now think she’s grown into it, into a definition of Commander in Chief as a woman.  She’s smart, she’s reasoned, she’s experienced, and she’s passionate.

I say give her a chance.