Here's a game plan: Biden replaces Harris with Newsom and then resigns
By: Douglas MacKinnon, Opinion Contributor (The Hill)
Let the 2024 games begin with a whirl of nonsense. The proposed 'strategy' of replacing Biden with Newsom does conform with Democrat political priorities to game the system. The idea being floated is as nonsensical as the idea of a red wave. This is nothing more than a media concoction whose intent is something other than it seems.
If Newsom were that strong a choice then Newsom could win the Presidency on his own without trying to game the system. The reality is that replacing Harris with Newsom wouldn't change anything. Newsom would be another Harris. But, then, if Democrats can't game the system then it's not worth doing.
Tuesday delivered some clarity, confusion and mystery — better news for the Democrats than basically everyone expected. That said, the results came despite both President Biden and Vice President Harris being unpopular with a large segment of the electorate, including a number of Democratic pundits and voters.
It's not getting as much attention as I believe it should, regarding why the anticipated red wave never reached the shore, but I believe one of the main reasons is "Trump fatigue" and even hatred for former President Trump. As long as he is still considered a potentially viable candidate for 2024, or a political force by the left, that fatigue and hate will be enough to drive many Americans to the polls to vote against any Republican.
But, within that force-of-nature voter reflex is a warning sign for the Democratic Party. What if Trump is not a candidate in two years? (He has said he'll make a "very big announcement" on Nov. 15.)
I have written that I don't believe Trump will run but will drag out the anticipation for as long as possible to keep his "brand" in the news and the campaign donations flowing in. If he does declare that he will not be a candidate in 2024, how much energy will leak out of the Democratic vote machine? Potentially quite a bit.
That possibility, coupled with the drag that Biden and Harris are already attaching to the Democrats' chances to retain the White House in 2024, raises a critically important question of strategy for their party: Do Democrats jettison both Biden and Harris or keep them and more than likely lose to a strong Republican ticket of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and, perhaps, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley?
What Tuesday's voting demonstrated is that our country is still equally divided and deeply polarized, with no political healing on the horizon.
That reality speaks to the need for a proven vote-getter with lots of money and a logistical machine behind him. In Politics 101, California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) meets — maybe even exceeds — those qualifications.
Newsom won reelection easily and now has the luxury of turning his ambitious eyes completely toward the White House. The question then becomes, will his party turn its eyes toward him as the person who might save it from the Biden-Harris dilemma it is surely about to face?
If the answer is "yes," the "solution" is really not complicated at all. In one scenario, Biden could ask Harris to resign and replace her with Newsom, who then becomes the heir apparent for 2024. Or Biden could replace Harris with Newsom and then resign himself, making Newsom the president before 2024 and arming him with the full force of the Oval Office.
Republicans can write off Newsom all they want as the politician who "ruined" California. The fact is, he is a proven vote-getter and has a formidable Democratic machine behind him. More than that, he has demonstrated that he is no political wallflower and seemingly has no intention of "waiting his turn."
Might the Democrats leapfrog him into the Oval Office before 2024? It would be political malpractice for them not to consider the option.
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The narrative being floated by this so-called 'strategy' is that Biden didn't come out of the 2022 midterms a winner. The media is beginning the drumbeat that Biden and Harris are liabilities. Apparently Biden is weaker after the elections than before the elections.
But, then, the cagey subterfuge of the media seems to be why everyone was expecting a red wave. And the media will rewrite history to make that narrative stick.
This article is nothing to do about nothing.
Internet speculation based on nothing.
That is correct. The American press has become internet trolls. But that's the same press that was trolling about a red wave, too.
Newsom is spending time and money building a national brand. He has aired commercials in Florida, newspaper adds in Texas, rented billboards in multiple states, gave a speech at a festival in Austin and raised campaign funds fort a number of Dem races across the country. He will be in a position to run in 24 if Bidern doesn't or in 2028.
Sounds like Michael Bloomberg trying to buy an election.
Democrats might try anything and they are sure to get away with all of it!
Haven't you seen the reporting that Democrats retaining the Senate allows gaming the judiciary? If Democrats can't rig the system then Democrats aren't interested.
Which raises the question - how can the judiciary be independent when the President nominates and Congress approves?
Pointless, silly speculation.
That's correct. But that's how Democrats think.
Here is a better plan. The Trump testify under oath about everything from Clifford/McDougal saga to Helsinki to Ukraine shakedown to DOJ interference to taxpayer money allocated for border security to January 6th to-----------good lord this could go on for days. None the less testify under oath like every other American citizen would do and see how many times he takes The Fifth Amendment. How many hundreds would it be? Or would it be in the thousands?
End this shyster crap once and for all.
That is only a lateral move. Newsom is no better that what we have now.
I think Harris would have to voluntary resign. I don't think Biden can fire her.