“Trump’s going to get re-elected, isn’t he?”
Thomas Friedman, a liberal New York Times columnist, says he has been asked this question by many of his readers and friends. Friedman has won three Pulitzer Prizes and is a mainstay of the Times’ unabashed liberal coverage of all things political.
When responding to this question, Friedman discovered that the root cause for concern was the June Democratic presidential debate. With Democrats’ next debate coming up this week, it’s a timely question.
Along with his readers, Friedman was stunned by the far-left — dare I say extreme — positions taken by all the Democratic nomination front runners.
Friedman almost always can be counted on to support liberal policies and politicians without hesitation. But in a recent Times’ column, he called for a return to sanity.
He was shocked that so many candidates wanted to get rid of the private health insurance that covers 250 million Americans. He favors “strengthening” Obamacare.
He was shocked that so many wanted to decriminalize illegal entry into our country. He thinks people need to “ring the doorbell” when entering.
He was shocked that so many wanted to provide comprehensive health coverage to undocumented immigrants. He thinks that keeping the promises we’ve made to fellow Americans including our veterans should take priority.
Friedman didn’t mention other radical left proposals embraced by various Democrats: the Green New Deal, reparations for slavery, abortion redefined as permissible infanticide, packing the Supreme Court with liberal justices, abolishing the Electoral College and ICE, free college tuition, cancelling student debt, a wealth tax, a 70 percent top marginal income tax rate, a 16-year-old voting age, and voting rights for ex-felons.
With blinders on, Democratic candidates are engaged in a race to the left. Each is trying to outdo the others by proposing yet another new government social program, the sum total of which equals a radical left-wing revolution.
Does a revolution constitute a winning electoral strategy? Friedman doesn’t think so. He wrote:
“Dear Democrats: This is not complicated! Just nominate a decent, sane person, one committed to reunifying the country and creating more good jobs, a person who can gain the support of independents, moderate Republicans and suburban women…and that candidate can win!
“But please, spare me the revolution! It can wait. Win the presidency, hold the House and narrow the spread in the Senate…‘No,’ you say, ‘the left wants a revolution now!’ O.K., I’ll give the left a revolution now: four more years of Donald Trump.”
Friedman says the Democratic candidate should focus on building unity and on good jobs. He’s disturbed none of the candidates describe how they plan to grow the economic pie or celebrate American entrepreneurs and risk-takers. “Where do they think jobs come from?”
He wants a candidate that encourages legal immigration of both high-energy and high-I.Q. foreigners.
In a recent column, I made a stab at what Democrats need to do to beat Trump in 2020. Friedman has a few more readers than I do, but comparing our to-do lists, we’re on the same page, or at least in the same chapter.
I’m no Donald Trump fan. I did not vote for him. I don’t like his personal style or his populist, anti-immigrant rhetoric. I am appalled by his incessant, inane tweets.
I do like much (but not all) of what his administration and the Republican Congress have accomplished: tax reform, pro-job and pro-growth policies, and regulatory reform.
Democrats, listen carefully to this week’s debate. And beware: If you lose Thomas Friedman and the New York Times, strap in for four more years of Donald Trump.
The viewpoints expressed above are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of The Independent.
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What’s the matter Howie? Are you so tired of getting beat downs for your misinformed partisan opinions that you’re now using other people’s opinions as a way of insulating yourself from criticism? But don’t worry, your message is still clear: Democrats bad, Republicans good, Trump less good but still gooder than Democrats. LOL
We can all smell your fear of the left, Howard.
You had best prepare yourself for what’s coming.
And it’s not a swing to the right. Quite the contrary.