This is one of the occasional THB pure politics posts. President Biden’s performance in the debate last night — which I mostly slept through on cold medicine — gets these reviews from a few of my fellow Substackers, and who overall are too kind:
That President Biden should step aside is now conventional wisdom among most Democrats and public intellectuals. Only those fantasizing about a second Trump presidency will favor Biden staying in the race, which would seem to guarantee that result.
Today I want to open things up for a discussion among the THB community of who should replace Biden — when Biden inevitably steps down as the Democratic nominee (it has too be inevitable, right?).
Let me cut to the chase. My pick is Governor Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan. Whitmer has the record, offers electoral advantages, and is pretty much a bad ass. She would be appealing to a much larger base of Americans than Biden and Trump. Her VP could be chosen from a deep pool of serious leaders — Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Governor J.B. Pritzker (D-IL), or an unknown like Representative Jason Crow (D-CO).
Biden and Harris should be thanked for their service, leading us through the pandemic recovery, and setting the stage for the next generation of U.S. leadership in a post-Trump era. Their decision to go gracefully would be the most important decision that they make, for Democrats, Republicans, and Independents like me — and ultimately for the United States.
I am interested in your views. As always, keep it respectful and substantive.
WOW. I think your nominees did not acquit themselves well in Covid, net zero or this gratuitous divisive DEI nonsense. Where was the scientific method?
Roger, many thanks for agreeing to be the keynote speaker at the JOLT energy conference in Montrose last week! I’m disappointed that you were unable to able to appear in person, but appreciate that you fought through your illness to give a Zoom presentation.
Have you re-affirmed any resolution to stay out of the purely political realm?
The situation with Biden reminds me of Reagan’s re-election campaign, when critics expressed concerned about his age and fitness for office.
My conservative Vietnam vet cousin David relentlessly repeated this Reagan campaign slogan:
“If he dies, stuff him and run him anyway!”