A couple thoughts about what we should be looking for in a Democratic standard bearer for the 2020 election. Yes, it's early, but there are some qualities that will be vitally important for a post-trump administration. (1/)
And those qualities are not really ideological. Yes, our Democratic candidate will have to present an ideological vision that's a 180 degree turn from trumpism, but that won't be a problem for any Democrat. (2/)
Every Dem who runs should be promoting civil rights, universal healthcare, real tax reform, government accountability, pro-social safety net. Etc. Etc. As snippy as some of the "Dem infighting" is, Democrats broadly agree on the issues. (3/)
Ideologically, any Democratic candidate will present an obvious and evident contrast to trump (or whoever the GOP is running). So I'd argue that ideology is less important when assessing Democratic candidates than 2 other qualities. (4/)
1. Executive/Management Competence. The real challenge for the next administration will be rebuilding the Executive Branch of our government. I don't think that anyone who isn't part of the federal civil service really understands how badly trump & the GOP have damaged it.
All of our federal departments are in shambles. The executive branch is barely functioning. Our next president will be charged with rebuilding it. Attracting talented and qualified people back to government. Hiring smart, savvy people to run the various departments (6/)
It's going to take some considerable management skill on the part of the president, as well as the ability to attract and retain smart, competent subordinates, to repair the untold damage that trump/GOP have done to every department from State to Interior. (7/)
It might be "boring." It' might not "inspire" you, but if you're interested in really fixing the damage that trump/GOP have done to our government, exceptional management skills is what we need. Someone who can oversee the rebuilding of our executive branch. (8/)
2. Diplomacy. In addition to rebuilding our government at home, the next president will have to repair our reputation abroad. We need someone who will inspire confidence in our allies and respect in our adversaries. (9/)
We will need someone who can assure the world that America will behave as an adult, responsible global citizen. That we're engaged with the world. That we understand our place in it. That we will keep our promises and honor our commitments. (10/)
It will be up to the president to do the heavy lifting of repairing our global reputation. Rebuilding our State department will be part of this, but the president will be the face. We need someone savvy enough to meet with foreign heads of state and reassure them. (11/)
The only way to make the case to the world that trump was an aberration, and not the new normal, is to elect someone who can go out and prove it. That takes a deep knowledge of global politics, and the talent to articulate the new American policy. (12/)
So those, to me, are the 2 most important qualities we need to be looking for -- management ability and diplomacy. Because the next POTUS will be tasked with fixing broken government at home and damaged reputation abroad. It's no small task. (13/13)
