November 22, 2019--Adam Schiff

Watching the Democratic debate the other night, continuing to be decidedly unimpressed with the 10 candidates still standing (plus the two hovering in the wings--Michael Bloomberg and Duval Patrick) I wondered if these are the best contenders we can come up with. With at least 330 million Americans, can't we do better? Much better?

I continue to have the fantasy that Michelle Obama will enter the race, convinced she could win in a walk. And wouldn't it be sweet revenge to have an Obama defeat Trump.

About this I've taken a lot of grief from readers and friends who think I'm crazy. Maybe I am. 

But I have another thought--Adam Schiff for president!

He's in his 18th year in Congress and we know from how he has been handling the impeachment process that he is brilliant and blessed with eloquence and practical intelligence. In his almost-too-many years in Congress he has played significant roles in issues ranging from press freedom to the Saudi intervention in Yemen. On the other hand he supported the invasion of Iraq.

And he's a marathoner and triathlete.

Think about it. We could do worse. In fact, it looks as if we are.

December 7, 2018--Off And Running

Below is a list of the 35 or so 2020 potential Democratic nominees for the presidency.

Does anyone look like a winner to you? I don't mean capable of winning the nomination but becoming president?

My favorite, Joe Biden, is approaching 100 and thus I am worried.

Alphabetical list of individuals who have expressed an interest in running for president:

• Michael Bennet, U.S. Senator from Colorado since 2009
• Joe Biden, Vice President of the United States 2009–2017; U.S. Senator from Delaware 1973–2009; candidate for President in 1988 and in 2008
• Michael Bloomberg, former Mayor of New York City 2002–2013
• Cory Booker, U.S. Senator from New Jersey since 2013; Mayor of Newark 2006–2013
• Sherrod Brown, U.S. Senator from Ohio since 2007; U.S. Representative 1993–2007
• Pete Buttigieg, Mayor of South Bend since 2012
• Bob Casey Jr., U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania since 2007
• Julian Castro, U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development 2014–2017; Mayor of San Antonio, Texas 2009–2014
• Oscar De La Hoya, boxing champion from California
• Tulsi Gabbard, U.S. Representative from Hawaii since 2013
• Eric Garcetti, Mayor of Los Angeles, California since 2013
• Kirsten Gillibrand, U.S. Senator from New York since 2009 U.S. Representative from 2007–2009
• Kamala Harris, U.S. Senator from California since 2017
• John Hickenlooper, Governor of Colorado since 2011; Mayor of Denver 2003–2011
• Eric Holder, U.S. Attorney General 2009–2015; Acting U.S. Attorney General in 200 from Washington, D.C.
• Jay Inslee, Governor of Washington since 2013
• John Kerry, 2004 Democratic nominee; U.S. Secretary of State 2013–2017; U.S. Senator from Massachusetts 1985–2013
• Amy Klobuchar, U.S. Senator from Minnesota since 2007
• Terry McAuliffe, Governor of Virginia 2014–2018
• Jeff Merkley, U.S. Senator from Oregon since 2009
• Martin O'Malley, former Governor of Maryland from 2007-2015, former Mayor of Baltimore 1999-2007, candidate for President in 2016
• Duval Patrick, Governor of Massachusetts 2007-2015
• Beto O'Rourke, U.S. Representative from Texas since 2013 Democratic nominee for United States Senate election in Texas in 2018
• Tim Ryan, U.S. Representative from Ohio since 2003
• Bernie Sanders, U.S. Senator from Vermont since 2007; U.S. Representative 1991–2007; candidate for President in 2016
• Tom Steyer, billionaire hedge fund manager, philanthropist, environmentalist, liberal activist, and fundraiser from California
• Eric Swalwell, U.S. Representative from California since 2013
• Elizabeth Warren, U.S. Senator from Massachusetts since 2013

The following people have been subjects of speculation about their potential candidacy within the last six months, although they have neither personally expressed interest nor declined to run:

• Steve Bullock, Governor of Montana since 2013
• Andrew Gillum, Mayor of Tallahassee 2014-2018, Democratic nominee for Governor of Florida in 2018
• William H. McRaven,  retired United States Navy Admiral
• Adam Schiff, U.S. Representative since 2001, from California
• Howard Schultz, former CEO of Starbucks, from Washington
• Mark Warner, U.S. Senator from Virginia since 2009, former Governor of Virginia 2002–2006

You can use this as a scorecard, as I did, by crossing Duval Patrick's name off the list of contenders. He withdraw from consideration as I was working on this. I hope that's not a case of cause and effect.

More soon will begin to drop like flies and others, like New York City mayor Bill de Blasio, will declare. He, like almost all the others, has no chance, but running, going forward, can be good for one's brand.