George Will: Amy Klobuchar could be the Democrats' best bet in 2020

[question everything]

(snip)

Sen. Amy Klobuchar is the person perhaps best equipped to send the current president packing.

She is from a state contiguous with Iowa, whose caucuses might, or might not, be as big a deal in 2020 as they have been since Jimmy Carter’s 1976 success in them propelled him toward the presidency. (Early voting for California’s March 3 primary, in which probably 11 percent of delegates to the Democratic National Convention will be allocated, begins the day of Iowa’s caucuses, so some candidates might slight Iowa in order to court California.)

Minnesota also borders Wisconsin, one of the three Rust Belt states (the others are Michigan and Pennsylvania) that Donald Trump took that had voted Democratic in at least six consecutive presidential elections. She is from the Midwest, where Democrats need help in Michigan (Trump carried it by just 0.3 percent of the vote), Iowa (Trump by 9 percentage points), Ohio (Trump by 9 points).

(snip)

Her state has a significant farming population and agribusiness (e.g., Cargill, General Mills, Land O’Lakes, Hormel), so she has had practice speaking to populations and interests that Democrats need, and speaking against trade wars in which farmers quickly become collateral damage. She has become informed about what could be one of the most salient issues in 2020 — the high costs of prescription drugs. In the Almanac of American Politics’ most recent (2015) vote rankings, she was the 27th most liberal senator, liberal enough to soothe other liberals without annoying everyone else.

(snip)

Her special strength, however, is her temperament. Baseball, it has been said, is not a game you can play with your teeth clenched. That is also true of politics, another day-by-day game with a long season: It requires an emotional equipoise, a blend of relaxation and concentration, stamina leavened by cheerfulness. Klobuchar laughs easily and often. If the nation wants an angry president, it can pick from among the many seething Democratic aspirants, or can keep the one president it has. If, however, it would like someone to lead a fatigued nation in a long exhale, it can pick a Minnesotan, at last.


http://www.startribune.com/george-will-amy-klobuchar-could-be-the-democrats-best-bet-in-2020/505107432/

[democratisphere]

1. Why would any Democrat take advice from George Will?

Klobuchar would be a great VP pick imo.

[question everything]

2. Not from George Will, from her constituents

I will choose her over all the other candidates declares so far.

Oh, and she did not demand Franken's resignation. A big plus for many of us.

[LakeArenal]

11. Very big plus...

It’s maddening not to see press question those Rinning regarding Franken.

[bobbieinok]

3. Will coached Reagan for debates, then praised R's performance. Coaching revealed yrs later

[Fullduplexxx]

4. Oh really what do the rest of the cons want us to do?

[comradebillyboy]

5. Will's endorsement will do more harm than good for Klobuchar.

[shanny]

6. I'm sure George Will has Ds best interests at heart.

[gilligan]

7. George Will

Go away.

[Harker]

8. I think Robert Mueller is the person

perhaps best equipped to send the current "president" packing.

2020 is way too far off.

[BlueMTexpat]

9. Love this

comment!

And George Will can just go away!

[Harker]

15. Trumpsky is way past my six month prediction.

I have faith, though, that justice will out.

[yellowcanine]

10. And if she were to become President Will would turn on her.

Read the column. He basically likes her because she is from Minnesota.

[question everything]

12. Nothing wrong with this

Many here liked Obama and now like Harris because they are bi-racial. Many like Warren, Gillibrand and Harris because they are women. I still don't think that a Californian or an East Coasters can appeal to the South or to the Midwest. So, yes, Klobuchar no-nonsense sensibilities can be ticket. I have thought so myself.

[yellowcanine]

13. It buys into the bs that the only "real Americans" are in flyover country.

And it is a fraud exploited hypocritically by folks such as Trump - and Will - both East Coasters.

[Scruffy1]

14. I like Amy.

As a matter of fact, I like her a lot. There isn't much liklihood she would leave the Senate to run for President. Quite simply, she has got the job she wants, gets relected easily and is unlikley to give that up for putting the time and effort into what would become an all consuming contest that she would have little chance to win. Also, I think she doesn't want the job. Not everyone is willing to give up their whole life to be at the center of media attention daily. I would love to see her as Senate majority leader someday.