How to Beat Trump

wjastore

Dec 21

W.J. Astore

A Winning Platform

News that the Colorado Supreme Court has ruled that Trump is ineligible to be included on the presidential ballot due to his encouragement of and participation in "insurrection" during the January 6th Capitol riot is being greeted as tidings of comfort and joy in many quarters, especially among Democrats facing lengthening odds in the 2024 election. Is this the way to beat Trump: to bar him from the ballot due to his alleged crimes against the Constitution and the country?

Readers of Bracing Views know that I'm not a Trump supporter, nor for that matter do I support Joe Biden. Trump, I wrote back in March of 2016, disqualified himself from office when he boasted during a debate that U.S. troops would follow his orders irrespective of their legality. The man is most definitely an ignoramus and therefore is a menace to himself and to others.

That said, being an ignoramus is not disqualifying for the presidency.

After a swift appeal, I'd wager the U.S. Supreme Court will reverse the decision of the Colorado Court, putting Trump back on the ballot. What then?

I think it's relatively easy to defeat Trump in November 2024: run a candidate whose views and deeds correspond to the views and desires and priorities of the vast majority of Americans. The working and middle classes.

Cartoons like this one are frankly unconvincing

If I were a candidate for the presidency, and wanted to maximize my vote vis-a-vis Trump, here are a few things I'd support:

Higher wages for American workers. A hike in the federal minimum wage to at least $15 an hour.
Health care for all. Use the common wealth for common health.
"Free" college education at state colleges and universities. (By "free," I mean subsidized at a tolerable level for students, with tuition and fees capped at $2000 a year.)
Legalization of marijuana for personal use across the USA.
Criminal justice reform that would greatly reduce the number of non-violent offenders held in prison.
Major reductions in military spending and a commitment to peace and diplomacy.
With the hundreds of billions saved from reductions in war spending, a major commitment to rebuilding American infrastructure, including the creation of a new Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) tied to alleviating damage due to climate change.
An end to divisive rhetoric and talk of "deplorables" and "blue and red" America. A national celebration of and renewed commitment to the U.S. Constitution.
The salute of brave people willing to inform Americans of crimes being committed in their name. The return of Edward Snowden to America and a celebration of his patriotism and service to America. The pardon and release of Daniel Hale from prison. The dropping of all charges against Julian Assange. A commitment to freedom of speech, the press, and indeed of all Constitutional rights.
Privacy for the people; transparency for the government.

That's ten positions that I believe would garner the support of a majority of Americans in the 2024 election.

The problem is that the main rival to Trump in 2024, Joe Biden, is a "nothing will fundamentally change" guy who lacks the will, energy, and wherewithal to motivate and unify the American people behind these and similar popular positions.

What does Biden have going for him? Well, he's not Trump. That's seemingly the beginning and the end of Democratic messaging. And it's not enough. Which is why Democrats are so excited about the Colorado Supreme Court's ruling.

That court ruling isn't going to stop Trump. What will stop Trump is a candidate of courage and conviction who truly wants to serve the people. All the people, equally. The obstacle to be overcome is a Washington establishment, including most especially the corporate owners and donors, the big money people, that is determined to block any candidate or any party that is truly dedicated to the Constitution and to the needs of the people writ large.