Here are my observations and opinions on an op-ed on how Biden can unite the party.
I couldn’t help but read an op-ed in the left-leaning Arizona Republic by the local Democrat pol Fred DuVal, “How Joe Biden can unite the nation.” For those of you in other parts of the world, DuVal has been active in Democrat circles for many years and ran unsuccessfully against Gov. Doug Ducey in 2014. He’s currently chairman of the Arizona Board of Regents.
His lead gave me a good laugh before I could determine how Biden was going to unite the nation: “Sen. Bernie Sanders’ decision to suspend his presidential campaign was a magnanimous gesture towards former Vice President Joe Biden.”
His humorous take on his party’s status didn’t stop there. “It advances the prospect of Democrats winning in the fall, and consistent with Sanders’ commitment to do everything he can to assure that result.”
(Courtesy of Henry Payne)
Was it a “magnanimous gesture,” as DuVal states, for Sanders to say, “I will stay on the ballot in all remaining states and continue to gather delegates?” And to confirm that while Biden will be the nominee, to tell his supporters “we must continue working to assemble as many delegates as possible at the Democrat convention, where we will be able exert significant influence over the party platform and other functions?”
DuVal has been around the political landscape long enough to know that the nominee needs to throw a few bones to the runner-up.
He seems to think he can ease the frustration of Sanders followers by giving them a voice at the convention. “Biden and the DNC (no friend of Sanders) should award Sanders 40 percent of all convention committees” as a return gesture of goodwill.
‘Biden should give team Sanders significant voice and impact in the party platform, such as on college access, economic reform, immigration and campaign finance reform.”
He must think the Sanders people are naïve. They have to know that 40 percent representation on a committee won’t buy them success.
“Biden should assure Sanders a major address at the convention, and allow his allies control over the messaging of one night at the convention,” DuVal suggests.
Lastly, “Sanders should immediately, genuinely and enthusiastically campaign and fundraise for Biden,” DuVal recommends. Does he imagine that Sanders could give a campaign speech for Biden that wouldn’t be filled with his radical progressive ideas?
Sanders’ supporters loved it when he called Trump the “most dangerous president in modern American history.” I’m not sure that Biden will want him repeating it when Biden talks about reaching across the aisle.
Then, from those laughable suggestions, DuVal picked up on a proposal made by leftist New York Times columnist Tom Freiedman, to name his governance team.
That’s laughable and scary at the same time, beginning with Michigan’s Gov. Gretchen Whitmer as his running mate. With nearly everyone, including some Democrats, believing a Biden presidency to be extremely tenuous, does DuVal really think Whitmer is the right choice?
Then there’s Kamala Harris, on deck should Ruth Bader Ginsburg retire or die, Elizabeth Warren as trade ambassador, Amy Klobuchar at Homeland Security, Mike Bloomberg as treasury secretary, Cory Booker as attorney general, Julian Castro at transportation, Jay Inslee at the EPA, Ed Markey in Energy, Tim Kaine to the UN, Mark Udall to Interior, Heidi Heitkamp to Agriculture, and saving the worst for the last, Stacey Abrams at Labor.
If Biden were to win, and go along with DuVal’s selections, he would ensure the return of the Senate to Mitch McConnell as seven of his picks are Democrat senators.
“Our country needs to heal from the trauma inflicted … by our coarsening politics,” DuVal concludes. Of course, he wouldn’t admit that it began with the left at Trump’s inauguration, and continued with more than three years of attempts to bring down his presidency, unprecedented in modern history.
May God continue to bless the United States of America.
