The Perfect Presidential Storm and the Coming Political Realignment

The political realignment that began with the 2006 Congressional elections—originally only a punishment by the voters for the corruption and incompetence of the then Republican majority—now appears to be the growing into a possible tsunami for the Democrats in the 2008 presidential election. With each joint appearance, the Democratic field competing for their Party’s nomination has become more impressive. Without question, there are at least 6 Democratic hopefuls who are qualified to be President. Some, like Joe Biden and Chris Dodd, may be over-qualified to be President (if there is such a thing.) Imagine how a Richardson-Obama ticket would electrify the nation! Or, perhaps it will be an Edwards-Richardson combination? Imagine a cabinet with Secretary of State Biden, Attorney General John Edwards with Senator Clinton as Majority Leader. Even if we wind up with a Clinton-Richardson ticket, the Democrats will have to wage a terrible campaign to lose the next election. To paraphrase James Carville: The good news for Republicans is that the Democratic Party is capable of clutching defeat from the jaws of victory.

Why am I so certain? Think of the “hot” issues on American’s minds and the incredible obstacles facing the eventual Republican nominee. In no particular order, here are the difficult, if not impossible issues: Immigration, Incompetence, Corruption/Criminality of the Bush Administration, Energy Prices, Health Care, the Middleclass Tax Burden, Education, the Degradation of our Military, Crime (now surging in some urban areas and particularly in the suburbs), U.S. Prestige and Standing in the World, and lastly, “the elephant in the room,” the Iraq War. It is a long time before November 2008, and the future is always unknown. Things could happen to change the calculus. Right now, it looks like the 2008 presidential election will bring about a huge political realignment. The Republican Party is on the verge of coming apart and when the current Immigration Bill is defeated watch for brutal internecine warfare between the Bush “statists” and the born-again nativists. As for me, I CAN’T WAIT!

Happy with the debate so far, I remain

Savant

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