According to several polls, most Americans do not welcome an instant replay of the 2020 election—Trump versus Biden. An overwhelming majority of Americans want the country to move on for a variety of reasons—age, indictments, too much baggage and more. I agree.
The philosopher John Locke coined the term “tabula rasa” which means a mind as a blank slate with no preconceived ideas—a mind which has not begun to process ideas from outside forces.
So, here’s a concept. Let’s wipe the 2024 presidential candidate slate clean and start over. Let’s select two sane reasonable moderate Republicans and two sane reasonable moderate Democrats and give those currently running their walking papers.
You say it sounds farfetched. You say it’s not going to happen. You’re probably right, But a girl can dream. Here’s my dream scenario. Some well-respected legal scholars claim that Trump is not eligible to run because he violated the 14th Amendment by inciting an insurrection. What if they are right? What if the case goes before the Supreme Court and five Supreme Court Justices agree that this is so? That would mean Trump could never run for public office again.
Then, maybe, just maybe, if Trump were out of the picture, Biden wouldn’t feel compelled to run. Maybe, just maybe, he would step aside and encourage younger, more vibrant, more articulate leaders who are prepared to support future generations to run.
And maybe, just maybe, if Trump were out of the picture, some sane Republicans would step up to the plate and call for a reset to normalcy and promote civil discourse, compromise, and fiscal responsibility.
And were this dream to continue, who would those candidates on my wish list be?
On the Republican ticket, perhaps former Ohio Governor John Kasich as president and our own former Governor of Maryland Larry Hogan as Veep. These are two sane reasonable men who have tons of experience, know how to reach across the aisle, and who have appealed to both Republicans and Democrats. There are many more combos to consider—New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu and Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski as cases in point.
On the Democratic side, how about Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer as a presidential candidate and California Governor Gavin Newsom as Veep? Both these governors have garnered votes from the other party, and both are young, vibrant and support climate change, Ukraine, sound economic policies and more. There are many other such Democrats waiting in the wings—Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar, Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, Pennsylvania Governor, Josh Shapiro, Secretary of Commerce, Gina Raimondo come to mind. (I would be most excited if a qualified woman were the Presidential candidate as it is past time for a woman to be president of the United States.)
You may ask why not consider some of the Republican candidates who debated last week? Why? Because six of the eight said they would support Trump if he were the nominee. They did not qualify their support and say unless he was convicted of a felony. They just blindly said they would support him. Chris Christie and Asa Hutchinson did not raise their hands. But Christie has a ton of baggage, and Asa Hutchinson has his own age issue.
Wiping the slate clean is sometimes the right answer. When workplaces become toxic, or a Board is unethical, wiping the slate clean makes good sense.
Therapists who use the tabula rasa theory in their practices claim that patients who have anxiety, for example, suffer from that malady because of learned behaviors. Their therapies focus on unlearning those “target situations” and imagining “target situations” differently and therefore reactions become different as well. Basically, they focus on unlearning learned behaviors.
I say we as Americans should unlearn some of our past learned behaviors and react differently to some “target situations.” Let’s stop the vindictiveness, name calling and crude behavior and once again try civility, try listening to the other side, try compromise when appropriate, and try dealing with issues with a sense of compassion, kindness, and humility.
And remember as Buddha once said, “No matter how hard the past is, you can always begin again.”
Maria Grant was principal-in-charge of the federal human capital practice of an international consulting firm. While on the Eastern Shore, she focuses on reading, writing, piano, kayaking, gardening, and nature.
J McConnell says
Excellent piece of writing and very practical and rational advice….I’d cast my vote to make this happen right now.
Unfortunately, the Third World of U. S. citizens (aggrieved, combative Republicans) will probably not accept anything or anyone rational or unbiased as far as the upcoming election goes. The fact that they continue to support a dumb, goofy dude —who has driven civil discourse and traditional American values of tolerance and respect into the ditch—tells us that getting a constructive, mutually acceptable process going won’t be easy.
Joe Biden has certainly outlived his sell-by date; Kamala is okay—but not
electable— and the other potential Democratic candidates all need major support. The party leadership has to take the initiative and get the selection and support process going- and soon.
Waiting for someone to bubble up as the ideal candidate is a mistake and really a waste of time, when time is really important.
The GOP leadership has apparently lost touch with reality. The party front runner right now is an obvious threat to democracy and national stability.
There are several conservatives who could and would provide constructive leadership, but apparently the third-world extremist base of the party makes supporting someone besides the oft-indicted buffoon unthinkable.
In any event it would be wonderful if the election process could evolve into something positive, like the elections in the old days….before animosity, belligerence and lying became the norm.
Peter gallagher says
A great idea,and all good candidates.
Keith Taylor says
We can only hope for a scenario like this! Hope you’re well Maria.
Anne C Stalfort says
I’m voting enthusiastically for Biden Harris.
Wilson Dean says
Many might say your proposal is unrealistic, but the true reality is that the vision you describe may be the only thing possible to get our country out of this vicious cycle of polarization. Great article Maria!
Richard Allison says
well written and very true to articulating a necessity. I too would wish for a tabula rosa a;proach, rather than limit to a pick of choices i feel that an upper age limit for running for a federal office of say 60 years old and a limit of two terms for all elected officials at the federal and state levels. Unfortunately, neither scenario is a potential reality. The entranched two party system has become a normative entity and is well established with deep financial support and media machinery. As a left leaning conservative Democrat I believe strongly that our form of government is best and that swings of extremes have and will occur.
The US federal government has been at time extremely conservative and extremely liberal, the country has weathered financial and civil strife which threatened to destroy the fabric of the constitution and the union. But historically, the people and the country have rebounded and reset.
I feel that in the morass of todays strident party politics and the rise of fear as a motivation for electorability the best is to vote for the least of two equally bad chopicec, allow the republic to live through the demons and even perhaps violence of our not so better nature. In the end I must believe to paraphrase a leader who strode through a much more tumultuous time, “we must let the angels of our better nature” reign our minds and entrust that they will guide us through the times we are in.
Dick Deerin says
Thanks for this well written essay. However, your basic premise is flawed. The Democrats already have two sane, rational candidates. Not so much on the Republican side. You can argue whether President Biden is too old or that this or that policy is good or bad, but he and VP Harris are good, honest, smart people. I suggest the Republican Party needs to find a sane candidate.
Reed Fawell 3 says
The solution proposed guts the Republican Party and its base, which of course has been the goal of the Democrats, and to do it by any means necessary, for past two decades. And apparently everyone here is delighted.