My Mind is Set . . . Finally
The year 2020 is just two months away, and primary season will kick into high gear. I’ve been reluctant to choose a favorite Democrat to run for the office of President of The United States until now. Before I continue I want to state that I am handily impressed with the field of candidates overall. There can be only one nominee, and whoever that may be I will heartily support with my vote next November. I believe that any of the candidates now running can beat the monstrous beast currently occupying the White House. I do think some candidates can do it with greater ease than others. I also think, after listening, reading, watching them all interact, that some candidates have better ideas than others. I also think that some candidates have better leadership skills than others, and some have the ability to unite this country better than others – something we sorely need, especially after the last three years. These reasons form the criteria of my selection process, and for all of these reasons I have decided to endorse Mayor Pete Buttigieg for President.
I know, a lot of people are thinking, “Hmmm, a gay guy endorses the gay guy. Surprise, surprise.” Well, it wasn’t that easy. First I didn’t welcome the specter of being a gay guy endorsing a gay guy. In fact, I was slow to warm up to Pete. My initial favorite was Kamala Harris. I like her a lot. I think she would be an excellent president. I’ve always liked Joe Biden, and had he run in 2016 I don’t think we would have the mess we have now. I like Elizabeth Warren, she is a native Oklahoman, and that speaks to me, not to mention her brilliant ideas. Bernie Sanders has some great ideas, too, so do most of the others.
There were two factors that pushed me solidly onto Team Pete. In a sense they are two sides of the same coin. As much as I like Elizabeth and Bernie, they can be rather dogmatic and inflexible. We have dogmatic and inflexible right now, and look at what that’s accomplished. We need a president that can work with diverse ideals and temperaments. I believe Pete can do this. The other factor is Pete’s ability to bring people together, even conservatives and liberals. The only other candidate, who I think could be as effective in uniting Americans, would be Joe Biden, but, as much as I like Joe, his time has passed.
There was one other factor that is a little more difficult to articulate. I tried to imagine next fall a scenario in which each Democratic candidate was up against 45 (or Pence or Romney if 45 makes an early departure from office). I asked myself which one could compete most effectively against any of those three. With Biden, all we would hear would be “Ukraine.” With Warren, it would be “Pocahontas.” With Bernie it would be “Socialist.” Pete has no such baggage, and it certainly wouldn’t be the gay card because even the most rabid Republicans know that it’s a non-issue to most Americans.
There are those who wonder of if a gay guy could get elected in the United States. I’ve previously explored this thought, and I’ll repeat what I’ve stated in the past. In 1932 people thought a guy in a wheelchair couldn’t get elected. In 1960 some thought a Catholic couldn’t win. In 1976 people wondered how a peanut farmer might fair at the poles. In 1980 it seemed scandalous that a divorced actor might win. In 2008 a black president seemed unimaginable, and in 2016 the idea of a sexual predator winning the White House was absurd. All of your civics teachers taught you that anyone can grow up to be president in the United States, and they were right. So, Mr. Hurst, you too are right. We do have a “queer running for president.” Get used to that idea because he might very well be your commander-in-chief very soon.
https://www.bluewatertales.com
I know, a lot of people are thinking, “Hmmm, a gay guy endorses the gay guy. Surprise, surprise.” Well, it wasn’t that easy. First I didn’t welcome the specter of being a gay guy endorsing a gay guy. In fact, I was slow to warm up to Pete. My initial favorite was Kamala Harris. I like her a lot. I think she would be an excellent president. I’ve always liked Joe Biden, and had he run in 2016 I don’t think we would have the mess we have now. I like Elizabeth Warren, she is a native Oklahoman, and that speaks to me, not to mention her brilliant ideas. Bernie Sanders has some great ideas, too, so do most of the others.
There were two factors that pushed me solidly onto Team Pete. In a sense they are two sides of the same coin. As much as I like Elizabeth and Bernie, they can be rather dogmatic and inflexible. We have dogmatic and inflexible right now, and look at what that’s accomplished. We need a president that can work with diverse ideals and temperaments. I believe Pete can do this. The other factor is Pete’s ability to bring people together, even conservatives and liberals. The only other candidate, who I think could be as effective in uniting Americans, would be Joe Biden, but, as much as I like Joe, his time has passed.
There was one other factor that is a little more difficult to articulate. I tried to imagine next fall a scenario in which each Democratic candidate was up against 45 (or Pence or Romney if 45 makes an early departure from office). I asked myself which one could compete most effectively against any of those three. With Biden, all we would hear would be “Ukraine.” With Warren, it would be “Pocahontas.” With Bernie it would be “Socialist.” Pete has no such baggage, and it certainly wouldn’t be the gay card because even the most rabid Republicans know that it’s a non-issue to most Americans.
There are those who wonder of if a gay guy could get elected in the United States. I’ve previously explored this thought, and I’ll repeat what I’ve stated in the past. In 1932 people thought a guy in a wheelchair couldn’t get elected. In 1960 some thought a Catholic couldn’t win. In 1976 people wondered how a peanut farmer might fair at the poles. In 1980 it seemed scandalous that a divorced actor might win. In 2008 a black president seemed unimaginable, and in 2016 the idea of a sexual predator winning the White House was absurd. All of your civics teachers taught you that anyone can grow up to be president in the United States, and they were right. So, Mr. Hurst, you too are right. We do have a “queer running for president.” Get used to that idea because he might very well be your commander-in-chief very soon.
https://www.bluewatertales.com
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