I’ve read every comment to my essay yesterday. In the ‘About’ section of The Warning, I state that my goal is — and will continue to be — to foster a community that encourages respectful and civil debate.
There is a strain of fandom that has taken root in our politics that has turned dialogue into whatever passes for screaming between Red Sox and Yankees fans in a mixed bar in the ninth inning of a playoff game. American politics is real life. It is a business full of nuance that requires the ability to hold contradictory thoughts on multiple subjects simultaneously, and understand how people unlike you might see the world.
I respect that you may agree to disagree with my opinions — and I want you to share your perspectives within our community. Discussion and debate should be celebrated, but so should an openness to hearing different points of view than our own.
As I said yesterday, I believe in choice. Ultimately, the American people will decide if Congressman Phillips is a stronger nominee than President Biden. He will have to earn the trust of the American people.
I share with you Congressman Phillips’ announcement of his candidacy for president of the United States from yesterday in Concord, New Hampshire:
Hear more about Congressman Phillips’ decision to jump into the 2024 presidential race in this interview with CBS News chief election and campaign correspondent Robert Costa:
I will close by saying that my intention is to continue writing The Warning every day. I will keep it pointed at the fascists, racists and opportunists who would gladly watch it all burn down for either amusement or power. This will not become a platform to promote the Dean Phillips for President campaign.
Steve, I agree that a healthy debate is necessary for a robust democracy to flourish. But this isn’t it. I listened to Phillip’s speech and interview and nothing speaks to me of him being charismatic or even up to the challenge or task of running this country on day one.
You are now representing a guy who’s been in Congress less than two terms. His experience is mostly running a family business, not a multi-national corporation, so we don’t really know his business acumen (you can’t fire family).
Furthermore, we are currently facing international issues and war with Ukraine and Israel; threatening to bring a host of nefarious players into this conflict, and you expect Phillips to be the savor? He has no foreign relations experience. He’s not a veteran, so what experience will he have on day one to handle these complex and constantly evolving challenges we face in the Middle East, Asia and Northern Africa? He doesn’t!
Additionally, it’s almost too late in the game to switch candidates. He would have been welcomed six months ago; not now, when the party needs to coalesce behind Biden to stop fascism in its tracks. The stakes are too high for a Hail Mary pass and hand the ball to the fourth string quarterback to save the day.
He’ll just reinforce many of the problems republicans place blame against Biden for; mostly unfairly; but enough to muddy the waters with independents and make our mission even more difficult to overcome.
And what possible good can come of this? He’s running because poll numbers are bad? Since when are polls even close to being correct in the age of Trump?
I don’t see much of an upside with this campaign, and if saving democracy is the goal, you’d be failing miserably with this candidate, whom no one has even heard of, and isn’t exactly an inspirational figure in American politics.
Please elaborate and tell us why you think this guy can win? And if it’s because he’s not Trump or Biden, then I don’t think you haven’t been paying attention throughout this campaign season.
I just do not understand why you would not use your considerable talents to persuade doubters to vote for Joe Biden.
He has done an outstanding job. You could help. That would strengthen democracy.