Being Past One's Prime!
I began writing this entry in December 2023 and then got sidetracked. At that time I was hoping that the 2024 election would be between two new faces. I thought if Nikki Haley and Kamala Harris respectively represented the Republican and Democratic Parties, that the country would have a reset and the parties could start again. Then Joe Biden would have fulfilled his mission of being a bridge to a new American decade. A Haley or Harris administration would give America the dominate female perspective, an immigrant perspective, and a minority perspective. All important qualities as we move closer to 2045.
Unfortunately, things went terribly wrong! Instead we ended up with a Trump-Biden rematch. And then even that went horribly wrong.
As Nikki Haley argued, in a perfect America, older Americans, those over 70 would be discouraged from running for president. Hence, neither Donald Trump nor Joe Biden would be candidates for president in 2024. Also eliminated from contention would be former Vice President Pence. (Pence did drop out after low poll numbers) So who would be the right candidates? How should our political parties pick candidates? Should the incumbents face primaries?
Historically, since the mid-20th century, the current office holder has not been denied the right to run for re-election and in most cases, the defeated candidate has not been allowed to run again to see if they can gain a larger audience. Only Adlai Stevenson (D) who lost in 1952 was allowed to run again in 1956, and Richard Nixon (R), who lost in 1960, was given another chance in 1968. If Donald Trump (R) becomes the Republican nominee, he will be seen as a throwback to 19th century politics. And it is equally significant because in 2016 and in 2020 Trump did not win the popular vote.
Right now money determines most campaigns long before there are primaries. Indeed, most candidates are pushed forward by donors and political action groups. Already presidential aspirants without money have been pushed out of the primary season.
The elections of 2016, 2020 and 2024 revealed the need for dirty money to propel one to the presidency. Political Action Groups and Committees have taken on a distinct role in American politics, but especially presidential elections. Donors, individual and corporate, whose gifts far exceed the legal limits, are clearly responsible for the advertising campaigns and the focus of the presidential agenda. And if one cannot raise the needed funds in the United States, foreign influence is going to play a large and illegal role in campaigns. As time progresses, it is becoming harder and harder to hide the sources of the dark funds.
While, no candidate wants to give the appearance that they are being bought, but the role of billionaires (domestic and international) and foreign nations in the Trump campaigns is hard to ignore. It has been suggested that these constituencies have teamed with the far right, Christian Conservatives, and others to support the conservative Israeli government, bitcoin, parts of the Tech sector, the Fossil Fuel industry, the Heritage Foundation and the Federalist Society to formulate the Trump platforms. Although similar complaints have been thrown at the Democrats, its platform has deviated very little over the last decade.
As a result, I think Nikki Haley was correct. The Trump approach and methodology was dated. It had the feel of a different type of organization! Donald Trump could not change, nor did he want to change. He was the record that people had grown to love and kept listening to daily. Yet, the record was starting to warp. Trump was past his prime.
Haley represented the future of America. Intergenerational, multi-racial, and immigrant. She would have brought a new approach and life to the Republican Party. A contest between her and Harris, both children of Indian mothers would have felt like a breath of fresh air. Instead America rejected her and Harris. And in doing so, by retreating to the past, America also proved that it is also past its prime and afraid to face the future.
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