The Presidency

I remember when Senator Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts decided to challenge President Jimmy Carter in the 1980 Democratic party primary. It was a very bold move to confront an incumbent President of his own party. Clearly, the fight with Kennedy would drain resources from the Carter campaign and split the Party. Carter, of course, prevailed in the primary but went on to lose to Ronald Reagan, ushering in 12 years of Republican control of the presidency and a whole new movement in America referred to as the conservative Reagan Revolution.

The question today is whether the Republican party can get behind an attractive candidate for President not named Trump. The Democratic playbook here is to get behind Sleepy Joe and ride it out, hoping Trump is the candidate again who is the only Republican Biden can beat. As an example, can you imagine a debate next week between, say, DeSantis or Haley and the President? Such an event would be an unmitigated disaster for Biden; it is clear he cannot hold a press conference and only participates in ceremonial events which involve only trying to walk from point A to point B. 

     Both the Democratic and Republican parties are throwing the dice here, and the American people are the ones coming up with snake eyes. We need primaries on both sides so have real choices and candidates who are at least marginally qualified.