We just don’t know yet how, if at all, the current crisis with Iran might affect the presidential race. But the Iowa presidential caucuses will be held just a month from now. In this Boomer Opinion piece, BoomerCafé’s co-founder and executive editor Greg Dobbs writes about what worries him as we fast approach the caucuses, and then for seven months, the cascade of primaries that follow.
I really shouldn’t be worried about the outcome of the 2020 election. Like a lot of President Trump’s antagonists, I can’t help but believe that most Americans will see him as the dishonest, disingenuous, indecent, incurious, unprincipled, immoral, self-serving man he is. Whatever happens with Iran doesn’t change any of that.
Then again, from his life as a businessman and his behavior as a candidate, we knew all about Trump’s ugly temperament and his nasty traits before he ever got to the White House. Those of us who took measure of the man were certain that he would never appeal to the majority of American voters.
And we were right. 66-million Americans cast their votes against Trump, versus 63-million who voted for him. The trouble was, there weren’t quite enough of those anti-Trump votes in the handful of swing states where the Electoral College made its mark and gave the unlikeliest of victors his victory. Sure, some voters were more anti-Hillary than pro-Trump, but in the final analysis that doesn’t matter.
Thus, we were also wrong. He was a liar, a bully, a cheat, and everyone knew it… but as unfit as he was for the White House, he got there anyway.
So I am worried about the outcome this year, because from what we read, those who gave Trump their votes in 2016 haven’t changed sides. And if you paid attention to the way the president’s acolytes in Congress defied the evidence and defended their leader during the impeachment hearings at the end of last year, you know that if anything, his followers are more fervent than ever.
I’m also worried because others are. Others like me. Plenty of pundits who openly declare their disdain for this president also openly utter their fear that he has a fair shot at reelection. Do they know something I don’t?
The answer is no. What they know is that we’re all painting these days on a brand new canvas. With new rules. And new standards. And when we’re talking about an American president who pays hush money to a porn actress to keep a lid on their relationship, new lows.
What they know is, the polls no longer are accurate predictors of peoples’ preferences. For three years now, Trump has never had a majority of Americans approving of his performance in office. Yet he commands loyalty from the core of his political party, even blind obedience, on levels we’ve never seen before. Maybe they’re just a noisy minority but even if that’s all they are, they make enough noise to strike fear in the hearts of the rest of us.
Greg Dobbs
Beyond all that, I’m worried that the Democrats don’t have a standout candidate to beat Trump. From my point of view, all of them would make better presidents and help restore America’s long-respected place in the world— hell, Daffy Duck would be better than what we’ve got— but if we want a better president, first we have to elect one. Which means, choosing a candidate who can beat Trump in November has to be priorities 1 through 10.
Several of today’s surviving crop of candidates probably would stand up to Trump, but several probably wouldn’t. It’s too early to name names, but when each of you is making your choices, think about who might wither under Trump’s unscrupulous attacks on a debate stage, and who might not. Think about who can escape Trump’s inevitable labels of “socialist” and “communist” (which won’t be true but will resonate with lots of undiscerning voters), and who can’t. Think about which candidates most likely will grow stronger and smarter in a grueling general election campaign— let alone during four years in office— and which ones most likely won’t.
I am worried now, because I wasn’t worried last time, and should have been. Too much damage has been done to our nation in Trump’s first term to allow him a second term to do even more. Too much damage has been done to allow ourselves to be myopic again.
You are worried and so are we in Europe. Trump, in one word, is dangerous for the United States and dangerous for the world. A confirmed climate denier, he appears to be determined to turn the beautiful USA into a burning desert, viz. the latest rollback of environmental protection laws in America: The news today that the Federal government won’t need to take into consideration climate change in assessing infrastructure projects (which means inter alia the XL Pipeline will get approved).
But as we are seeing now with the Iran crisis, the Trump disaster travels abroad. And not just with Iran, with North Korea too.
Probably the most incomprehensible thing is that Trump’s support hasn’t faded. You’re very right to point it out, it’s a major cause of concern. It’s as if his fans are blind and deaf, they simply won’t look or hear the voice of Reason. It’s so very odd. I find it very difficult to understand, this excessive (and destructive) polarization of society…
Thanks again for an excellent piece.
The problem is that the United States is not a
Democracy – it is a republic. In the highly-respected Economist Intelligence Unit’s Index of Democracy, the USA comes in at 25th in between Estonia and Cape Verde. The main problem is the College of Electors whose primary purpose was to stop ‘wild cards’ becoming president. Well that worked really well in 2016. Only two states use a proportional system to vote in the College. Maybe now it’s time to either reform it or scrap it.
Thanks for this great piece, Greg. Since eliminating the electoral college requires a Constitutional amendment and does not seem within reach at this point, I stave off despair by supporting the press with subscriptions, getting people registered to vote, and scheduling lots of time to work hard for the Democratic nominee. I hope I’m wrong, but I think Yeats had it right in The Second Coming: “The best lack all conviction, while the worst/ Are full of passionate intensity.” If humans really are headed for extinction, then all of this makes perfect sense.
Great article, my concern is how can someone who could not pass a security clearance be allowed to run for president? I’m confident it will be proven he has Russian financial interest that is effecting his actions. It’s no wonder Europe is so worried about him. How to we prevent this from happening again? How can the Republicans continue to support such a corrupt person? Our system is broken and needs to be repaired.
Keep up the great work, you describe him for what he is, ” BAD ” for the country.
Greg, I am not worried about Trump for he is one man. What I worry about is the 63 million fellow Americans who think and feel so discouraged, so left out, so overlooked that they voted for a Con Man who offered them the hope of a better opportunity. A better opportunity to be heard and respected for their opinion Unto itself being liberal or conservative is not bad or good. Unless we break down the barriers between them an us there will always be a “Trump”