Paging US Citizens

[_Ceeboo]

Dear US citizens,

I realize that it's very early to say, but If you had the lone decision - or a magic wand - who would you like to see be the next President of the USA come 2020?

Thanks in advance.

[_Res Ipsa]

I probably won’t have a pick until next year.

[_honorentheos]

I probably won’t have a pick until next year.

Sidestepping the question of having a magic wand to impose my own choice on the nation, I tend to agree with you. It's too early to tell who the best candidate might be and the campaign will almost certainly influence the candidates in ways that matter to me as well. In large measure I'm undecided overall as to how liberal I feel given the significant increasing budget deficit, trajectory of the global economy, and what the details might include regarding how one combats climate change in an increasingly opaque global future. I suspect there will be plenty of events between now and when I have to decide that the candidates will have to respond to as candidates related to these and other important issues that will influence my thinking. Trump screwed up the only positive I saw coming out of 2016 (federal fiscal restraint) which means the pendulum isn't going to swing naturally between economic poles in 2020, and that really sits poorly with me.

[_EAllusion]

The best person for the job is probably someone I'm not familiar with. Happily, or unhappily as it were, my live options are much more narrow. I don't know who'd I'd wave a wand for because I think the best person for the job changes based on who controls other offices.

[_Themis]

Trump screwed up the only positive I saw coming out of 2016 (federal fiscal restraint) which means the pendulum isn't going to swing naturally between economic poles in 2020, and that really sits poorly with me.

LOL People actually believed he might be fiscally responsible. Kinda hard to do believe with promises of big tax cuts and major military spending. Republicans have forgotten what fiscal conservatism even means a while ago.

[_honorentheos]

Trump screwed up the only positive I saw coming out of 2016 (federal fiscal restraint) which means the pendulum isn't going to swing naturally between economic poles in 2020, and that really sits poorly with me.

LOL People actually believed he might be fiscally responsible. Kinda hard to do believe with promises of big tax cuts and major military spending. Republicans have forgotten what fiscal conservatism even means a while ago.

I didn't think Trump was going to be fiscally conservative. His infrastructure promises alone were going to explode the deficit. Paul Ryan is the one who shocked me.

[_Some Schmo]

I have no idea who I'll vote for in the primary. So far, I like the way Pete Buttigieg is talking (but it's way too early right now to decide).

If I could wave a magic wand, I'd like to have John Kasich primary Trump, or even better, run as an independent.

[_Gunnar]

I have no idea who I'll vote for in the primary. So far, I like the way Pete Buttigieg is talking (but it's way too early right now to decide).

If I could wave a magic wand, I'd like to have John Kasich primary Trump, or even better, run as an independent.

I certainly agree that Whomever is eventually chosen as the Democrat candidate, I fervently hope that by the time of next year's primaries enough Republicans have become sufficiently disgusted with Trump so that he is primaried out in favor of a Republican candidate who is much less dishonest, dishonorable, incompetent and corrupt than Donald J. Trump.

[_MeDotOrg]

For me to day Politician X, Y or Z at this early date is trying to prognosticate in the face of about 18 months of all of Trump's legal battles with a field of Democrats so large they could run as a Mutual Fund, as I suggested in an earlier post.

Remember the early front runner for the GOP in 2016? Scott Walker.

Rather than any candidate, I'd like to talk about the way the election will be fought. How will we deal with deliberate misinformation being spread on the internet? Will there be any attempt to Make America Great Again by having a civilized election where we talk about issues?

Unfortunately, this this next election will be about Donald Trump, whether or not he is the candidate. I can remember that, even in the early days of the Trump candidacy, all of the coverage around him seemed to suck all of the oxygen out of the room, in the sense that he dominated the airtime for GOP candidates.

If I hope for a miracle, it is that we find a way to heal after the 2020 election. I don't that it is in the cards right now. But in answer to your question: Assuming the magic wand is a gun to my head, I would say Joe Biden, but I have reservations about his age. I would personally be happy with a younger candidate. Breaking out of the field will be a huge problem. My ideal candidate would have the experience of Biden with the youth and enthusiasm of Beto O'Rourke. The next President's greatest problem is going to be healing a divided nation. People may look for an idealog on the left or the right, but I want someone who can speak and be heard by both sides of the aisle, and right now that seems like a unicorn.