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dutch777

(3,019 posts)
Mon May 25, 2020, 02:01 PM May 2020

Should Biden form a shadow cabinet now?

I continue to be disturbed about the fact that Prez Tweety is allowed to dominate the public discussion and in such a negative way. Granted Nancy Pelosi and occasionally a talking head gets a good zinger in but I think, playing at his game is a losing approach. I wonder if Biden set up a "shadow cabinet", for lack of a better term, and was very public with the discussions within this cabinet about how he would govern differently and better and how his policies and style of governance would improve things for the average American. He could basically show Trump for the terrible leader he is while showing the country what a steady rational approach to the many challenges we face would look like and project the kind of positivity and hope that good governance brings. It may also offer some hope to our allies and the rest of the world that all is not lost in the American experiment and relationships can be righted in the future.

I would not suggest that so and so is named AG or Sec'y of Ed, Defense or whatever now. More that maybe there is a collaborative group around each major policy area that discusses each important area and how it could be better governed. And that these groups include highly respected outside experts that many in the country can have faith in. While certainly it could highlight capable Democratic pols like Harris, Bernie, Warren, Reich...I would also have Bill Gates, Elon Musk, Paul Krugman and any knowledgeable, respected and forward thinking person even if they would never serve directly in government. The fact that solid thought is being put into this now, and that a Biden presidency can hit the ground running in the middle of possibly another wave of pandemic and certainly its ongoing economic and social consequences would be a way to get more people behind and excited about Biden and what he can bring. I know, 33% or more of the country distrusts anyone called an expert, but doubt that Biden will get that vote in any case. Lets excite and make sure the other 66% get out and vote Dem.

I would not be overly broad with this. Naming every possible issue that any Dem constituency may advocate will just create noise not focus and clarity. I would focus on the big things that the majority of the country is worried about right now:

--fixing healthcare delivery and being ready for whatever Covid brings (supporting frontline workers, recapitalize our non profit community hospitals & restocking the federal PPE shelves for starters)
--ways to get the economy back on track in a cohesive forward looking way (I am becoming convinced there will need to be a New Deal sort of massive public works program rather than just printing money and throwing it around. I'd look at lots of basic infrastructure and a new massive space program. Start talking about this now.)
--solid leadership on public education from K to grad school and ways to not make paupers out of newly minted college grads

I know climate change and many other things are important too but I think that is an overlay to all policy areas rather than a stand alone initiative. Again, we tend to put 300 things out there and rather than creating excitement, positivity and hope it becomes overwhelming noise. Please God let us get some clear thought and positive excitement going!

7 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Should Biden form a shadow cabinet now? (Original Post) dutch777 May 2020 OP
I wouldn't include Musk. He's an ass. nt woodsprite May 2020 #1
And not exactly a dem. Mosby May 2020 #3
The guy (Musk) is an @$$hole. CentralMass May 2020 #4
He hasn't been elected President yet. milestogo May 2020 #2
Can his campaign afford all that? Ha it would be funny to see in zoom. jmg257 May 2020 #5
nor is he even the official nominee yet RussBLib May 2020 #6
It would be seen as presumptuous and, I would argue, counterproductive in that... EarnestPutz May 2020 #7

RussBLib

(9,019 posts)
6. nor is he even the official nominee yet
Mon May 25, 2020, 02:35 PM
May 2020

but I can surely sympathize with the OP. I know there are a lot of people out there who would be happy to step forward to right this ship of state.

It will be interesting to see how quickly the GOP will revert to "deficits are BAD!" rhetoric after they lose the elections.

EarnestPutz

(2,120 posts)
7. It would be seen as presumptuous and, I would argue, counterproductive in that...
Mon May 25, 2020, 02:41 PM
May 2020

....it would deny the public the pleasure of anticipating the post-election announcements of his choices. I remember when President-Elect Kennedy would announce a new cabinet appointment every couple of days and the whole county would be talking about someone fresh and new. These folks came to be known as "the best and the brightest". Presidents Clinton and Obama had good cabinets with only the odd exception, usually someone charitably characterized as a "veteran insider" but, to me, a retread. If Biden is going to disappoint progressives with some of his choices (which I don't think he will) it can wait until after the election.

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