Outside of Sanders and (possibly) Biden, do we have a weak 2020 lineup?

[Higgins]

Honestly, I am praying Sanders or Biden enter the fray in 2020. I've watched videos of speeches and statements by the other potential candidates, and honestly, it looks like the weakest field of backbenchers since maybe 1988, 2004 if I am being generous. I don't see a single winner among the lot outside of Biden or Sanders. Every one of them seems to have some major hindrance that would easily be exploited to death by Trump.

Anyone else feel that our field in 2020 does not look strong?

[Higgins]

No you don't. All of the candidates are pretty strong. Harris, Booker, and Warren could all do pretty well. Unless the nominee is Martin O'Malley I think it'll be competitive

I can't see Booker or Harris being nominated.
Warren could be nominated, but I think she would be easily painted as "Clinton clone" simply for being a woman and would lose. I think that while Hillary was a horrible candidate, we should not underestimate sexism in our society. Hillary's loss is not something I'm blaming on anyone else but her, but I do feel she would've had a (slightly) easier time of it if she were a man.

[Higgins]

2016 was a weak GOP line-up, look what happened.

1972 was a strong line-up, look what happened.

1988 was a strong line-up too (besides Dukakis and Jackson anyway), look what happened.

In short: Wait and see. And if Trump manages to stay where he is, then it'd take some kind of anti Hail-Mary for the Democrats to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory even with someone like Kerry or Dukakis or 2000-era Gore anyway.

I'm a cynic. I see Trump as a nigh-unstoppable force. I have relatives who are hardcore Trumpists, and Trump can literally do no wrong. These aren't outwardly racist Klan type people, mind you. But Trump to them is how FDR was to a lot of people in the 1930s - viewed as akin to a savior. I've seen (non-ironic) comments saying Trump is the best President we've ever had.

The fact that a lesbian married couple I know in PA are hardcore Trumpists doesn't really help my faith any. Even people who would be out of step with GOP values - like a 26 year old former Heroin addict I know who is into partying hard with hard drugs even now - loves Trump. These aren't the kind of people you'd have seen rallying around GW Bush.

[Higgins]

2016 was a weak GOP line-up, look what happened.

1972 was a strong line-up, look what happened.

1988 was a strong line-up too (besides Dukakis and Jackson anyway), look what happened.

In short: Wait and see. And if Trump manages to stay where he is, then it'd take some kind of anti Hail-Mary for the Democrats to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory even with someone like Kerry or Dukakis or 2000-era Gore anyway.

I'm a cynic. I see Trump as a nigh-unstoppable force. I have relatives who are hardcore Trumpists, and Trump can literally do no wrong. These aren't outwardly racist Klan type people, mind you. But Trump to them is how FDR was to a lot of people in the 1930s - viewed as akin to a savior. I've seen (non-ironic) comments saying Trump is the best President we've ever had.

The fact that a lesbian married couple I know in PA are hardcore Trumpists doesn't really help my faith any. Even people who would be out of step with GOP values - like a 26 year old former Heroin addict I know who is into partying hard with hard drugs even now - loves Trump. These aren't the kind of people you'd have seen rallying around GW Bush.

Why do these people love Trump so much?

Lesbian couple: Because he's not a politician so he's not corrupt.
Former addict/party girl: https://www.facebook.com/An0malyMusic/videos/1617404181603525/?hc_ref=ARTUkjvnv3jX83R70N6SiWceY7Wq7viUBAZSCR0XSwPRnlNK_zXlxJMcG5gAEbPhhUw&pnref=story.unseen-section

That's a video she reposted.

My parents (age 63) support him because he's a "businessman and that's what we need "he's not a politician so he doesn't belong to anyone" those sorts of answers. If I bring up something he's done wrong, I'll get a "whataboutHillary" type answer.

[Higgins]

"Outside of Sanders"...?

Sanders is weak, weak, weak too.

Weak nationally? I utterly agree. He could never win a general election on his own.

Within the party, as a figure who holds immense power at rallying the progressive wing to support a nominee, and potentially make or break that nominee's candidacy in the general election? Immensely powerful.

People are underestimating the power of the 'Bernie Bros'. They are our Tea Party, and Bernie is our Trump. He's the 21st century William Jennings Bryan. He'd never win an election but he's basically begun a realignment of the party.

[Higgins]

Are we defining "weak" by ability to win the nomination, ability to win the general election, or ability to be a good president?

Ability to win the general.