Former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, a Republican, is not worried about former President Donald Trump getting reelected in 2024, saying, “I don’t think it’s going to happen.” New Jersey ex-Governor Christ Christy does not believe former President Donald Trump would win the Republican primaries. Neither does Nick Mulvaney, his former chief of staff. Mitch Mitchell, the Republican leader in the U.S. Senate has had only critical words whenever he has anything to say, and he rarely has anything to say, about the former president. We don’t know if they passively wish the former president not to run or actively work to prevent it from happening, but they represent a segment of the Republican Party that looks somewhere or to somebody else to find their candidate in the upcoming presidential election. Someone such as Governor Ron DeSantis.
The Republican Party has been in a difficult situation with at least two powerful forces pulling in opposite directions: Mr. Trump’s loyal supporters working fiercely against those who don’t want him to be nominated, among many reasons is the fear of losing the election to the Democrats. In the current political climate with the force against Mr. Trump within the party growing, it is a real possibility. Trump’s supporters see it. The Republicans see it and they work feverishly to find a solution, hopefully a winning one.
Some influencers in the party pin their hope on President Biden’s age, and his mental and physical weaknesses. Sean Hannity played that angle by telling California Governor Gavin Newsom with exaggerated concern for the Democratic Party, and the nation, that President Biden is mentally and physically incapable of being the president of the United States. Ironically, he inadvertently polished the governor, who came out of the interview shinier than before. That will contribute to the dynamics of American presidential politics as discussed below.
The solution for the Republicans is right in front of them. They have probably thought about it but still waiting for the horse-trading deals to be completed before they announce it: A Trump-DeSantis ticket. It seems unthinkable and strange. But such a ticket makes a lot of sense in many terms: huge campaign money, no distraction regarding ideology, an enlarged voting base, a presidential candidate looking good on TV and drawing huge crowds at rallies who would compensate for the rough-edged, somewhat unlikeable but young vice-presidential candidate with vast executive experiences and a forceful character. It is not just a promising solution; it might be a winning solution. I have said that Mr. DeSantis’ presidential candidacy did not make sense in this presidential race with Mr. Trump also a candidate. But a DeSantis vice-presidential candidate makes a lot of good sense. Even if the former president’s legal problems prevented him from running, the Republicans should use the same formula.
That possibility is something the Democrats must consider carefully and be prepared for. Loyalty dictates that President Joe Biden will secure the Democratic nomination regardless of his weak knees or feeble mind. But how can Joe Biden beat a formidable Trump-DeSantis ticket? The answer was indirectly provided by Mr. Hannity. Once in a while, Mr. Hannity provides good service to American politics and to Democracy. By putting Gavin Newsom on his show, he gave the governor a vast forum (the Republicans of course watched Fox News, and the Democrats flocked to the show to see how Newson performed) to convince the Democrats that he is the DeSantis antidote. That leads to the obvious slogan: Gavin Newsom for vice president.
A Biden/Newsom ticket is not just food for idle thought or banter at a sushi bar but is worth serious consideration for the Democrats. How to effectively counter the Republicans’ attack on Mr. Biden’s health issues? How to convince the populace that if something happens to the octogenarian president, the nation will be in good hands?
Vice President Kamala Harris has achieved a remarkable political career and leaves a tremendous legacy. But the Democrats must not forget that Mr. Trump got 76 million votes only three years ago. The 2024 election is the ultimate fight in American politics. It will not be a musical chair game where a Republican Bush as president would not steer the country toward a direction drastically different from a Democratic Gore as president. 2024 will see changes much more radical and extreme than what we have seen since 2016 if the Republicans win again. If the Democrats feel they must win the battle, that means the heart and mind of the voters, they cannot afford to go with symbolism. They have to go with substance that requires a Democratic slate that represents stability, steady hand policy-wise, and experience. That is Joe Biden, who needs a young enough and experienced enough vice president who can take over on short notice the helms of the country. That should be Gavin Newsom who has extremely successfully run the largest state of the United States for two terms and possesses a formidable brain, a big heart, and good common sense.
The power that be in the Democratic Party only needs to convince the vice president to spend more time with her family, and in a year or two she would be appointed to the presidency of a university, such as the UC system.
With Trump/DeSantis versus Biden/Newsom, the 2024 presidential election would be a historic political fight. The divide between Republicans and Democrats is so deep and their hatred for each other has risen to unprecedented levels, the 2024 presidential campaign election would be a political Foreman-Lyle slugfest.
But we the people, the American people including politicians of both parties, need to find a silver lining in this political storm. The 2020 election result with the loser garnering 76 million votes, reminded the winners, the Biden-Harris team, that the governed are not just the Democrats or liberals but also the Republicans, mainstream conservatives, and extremists. That meant everyone’s voice should be heard especially when it was vocal and loud. The Biden administration has listened to and adjusted the Democratic Party’s policies, especially with respect to immigration and dealing with China and Iran, and did it smoothly and effectively.
Should the Trump (or another Republican)-DeSantis (or another Republican) ticket win the 2024 election, they should do the same by looking closely at the number of votes going the other way and tempering their racist and discrimination tendency, especially the myopic and dangerous thinking that once they gain power, they can do anything and will do everything to retain and solidify power.
JOHN P. LE PHONG.