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Who is a pragmatist today? That's the real question.
For sure, if you ask a Democrat you will get a different answer than when you ask a Republican.
Searching for pragmatism is only false comfort. It's a desire to return to normalcy, but normalcy has changed so much we don't know any more what is 'normal' or not. What we think we know it to be is not what it actually is any longer.
We would all have to agree on many, many different things, large and small, for everything to become 'normal' again, and we aren't in the mood to agree that much just yet. We are likely to never reach that point.
If we truly wanted a pragmatist President, we would have elected one. We've had plenty of pragmatic choices presented to us in the recent past, and we have rejected them all.
I don't disagree with what you are saying, but here is my counterargument and why I think Biden would at best win white working-class voters in rural communities at at worst do well enough with them to win Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin which would bring him to 278 electoral votes if the rest of the map stayed the same as 2016. Wages for workers have remained stagnant under Trump, yet the cost of living has gone up.
I think there will be some white working-class voters who voted for Trump who will not vote for anyone in 2020, others will want to vote for Biden because either 1) they generally vote Democrat and felt Trump spoke to their concerns as a candidate in 2016, but has since failed to deliver as President or 2) Biden has stood with them on issues like protecting unions, the minimum wage, and paid medical leave even if they disagree with him on trade and immigration.
I disagree, those voters are likely lost for a few more POTUS cycles to Dems, unless Biden has the guts to denounce the DNC, on issues like trade deals (HUGE) , coal jobs(HUGE), business regs, the ACA, and promote reducing business taxes more, while retaining the rest of the Trump tax cuts (HUGE). In addition, campaign for a border wall and strict immigration control as the wwc understands illegals depress wage levels for those w/o college degrees,
To do any less = a pretend Pragmatist.
WWC discovered they can swing a national election. They will never stay home and not vote again, as long as the rad left threat remains.
Who is a pragmatist today? That's the real question.
For sure, if you ask a Democrat you will get a different answer than when you ask a Republican.
Searching for pragmatism is only false comfort. It's a desire to return to normalcy, but normalcy has changed so much we don't know any more what is 'normal' or not. What we think we know it to be is not what it actually is any longer.
We would all have to agree on many, many different things, large and small, for everything to become 'normal' again, and we aren't in the mood to agree that much just yet. We are likely to never reach that point.
If we truly wanted a pragmatist President, we would have elected one. We've had plenty of pragmatic choices presented to us in the recent past, and we have rejected them all.
It is unfortunate that in our politically polarized times that pragmatism gets such a bad rap. FDR was pragmatic. He ran in 1932 on a balanced budget but changed course once he took office and saw what a mess the country was in.
I think Americans in general are pretty pragmatic and not nearly as ideological as the extremes of either party. So here is three cheers for pragmatism......though one that is rooted in finding concrete solutions to our problems.
Wacky radical left have defeated pragmatists in their party, just as their grandpas did supporting their nominee, George McGovern. How did that turn out again? Oh yes, GM lost 49 states.
It is unfortunate that in our politically polarized times that pragmatism gets such a bad rap. FDR was pragmatic. He ran in 1932 on a balanced budget but changed course once he took office and saw what a mess the country was in.
I think Americans in general are pretty pragmatic and not nearly as ideological as the extremes of either party. So here is three cheers for pragmatism......though one that is rooted in finding concrete solutions to our problems.
Yup. I'm sure FDR was pragmatic. But if he's an example, then pragmatism means doing what must be done without regard to the emotions of the moment.
I'm sure most folks are very pragmatic in the affairs of their daily lives, but they don't seem to be when it comes to voting.
When voters go to the polls nowadays, the vote for their aspirations, or to oppose the other side, or to justify their last vote, and all kinds of other emotional reasons, but not any pragmatic reason.
And really, voting emotionally and seeing your guy win is a much greater kick than knowing your guy will do the right thing. We somehow presume our President will be pragmatic, but the truth is some are, and some aren't.
We overlook those who are and make a big deal over those who aren't. Because making a big deal gratifies our emotions the most. We love to love who we love, and we love to hate who we hate. And to hell with the other side!
That doesn't leave much room for pragmatism to exist. It needs more tolerance than we are willing to give right now.
I disagree, those voters are likely lost for a few more POTUS cycles to Dems, unless Biden has the guts to denounce the DNC, on issues like trade deals (HUGE) , coal jobs(HUGE), business regs, the ACA, and promote reducing business taxes more, while retaining the rest of the Trump tax cuts (HUGE). In addition, campaign for a border wall and strict immigration control as the wwc understands illegals depress wage levels for those w/o college degrees,
To do any less = a pretend Pragmatist.
WWC discovered they can swing a national election. They will never stay home and not vote again, as long as the rad left threat remains.
Bob, all due respect, I am a moderate Democrat but you appear to be suggesting Biden should run on the GOP ticket!
Elizabeth Warren's "Plan for Economic Patriotism" might interest you and the WWC:
Bob, all due respect, I am a moderate Democrat but you appear to be suggesting Biden should run on the GOP ticket!
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How so? JFK campaigned on lower business taxes, and Congress passed it.
A pro business Democrat , at one time, did not elicit massive laughing coast to coast.
Dems were also not Pro Free Trade in their heyday, btw. I favor fair trade deals, meaning not a massive difference between import and export $, nation by nation. I'd like deals that automatically end, the year after an imbalance exceeds pre-set, fairly negotiated national limits. Make both sides self-police the deal, at a macro level.
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