Ds' lack of critical thinking makes them laughing stock.
No end in sight.
11
We end up with a bunch of pandering, groveling, flip-flopping (and probably corrupt) candidates because reasonable people wouldn't put themselves through that kind of demeaning circus.These are not the best of the best. These are people who are willing to give up their dignity for a shot at the title.
News organizations like the NY Times and CNN have a lot to answer for when it comes to creating the toxic environment. If you could tear yourselves away from gotchas, identity politics, obsessing over trivia, wild speculation, manufactured outrage, and horse races, we might have a better class of people running this country.
37
Let's put the blame where it largely belongs: the media. In their frenzy to be the first, to have the most salacious story, to capture as much *market share* as they can has turned political campaigns into circus freak shows. If it weren't for the media's endless coverage of Trump's nasty antics, we wouldn't be in the mess we're in today. Les Moonves said Trump may not be good for America but he's great for CBS. Thanks a lot!
Only the media cares how someone eats chicken or drinks beer. What is their voting history? Have they evolved or is there a cynical turn at the last second? What are their policy positions today and how can they justify them? What bold, new ideas do they bring to the table. How do they plan to clean up the disaster of the Republican/Trump years? What are their ideas on foreign policies? How will they engage an emboldened Russia and China and North Korea. How well do they know the Constitution? Etc. Etc. Etc.
The same probing coverage should be given senatorial and congressional candidates. They do write the laws after all.
Media, do what the First Amendment of the Constitution gave you protection to do. Inform the public with information needed by a self governing citizenry. Enough with the clown cars and gotcha pies in the face. No one is amused. And you are undermining democracy for the almighty dollar. Stop it!
44
Stand up for all Americans.
Promote the rule of law and enforce them.
Rid us of the Tea Party and Donald Trump.
Case closed.
9
And let's not forget that Gillibrand defended the cigarette manufacturers in their valliant effort to avoid reimbursing those awful people with lung cancer, who had been prevented from learning what those companies knew to be a fact - that cigarette smoking is harmful.
12
Self-esteem and self respect are important character traits.
Unfortunately voters are fickle and these two characteristics can come off as haughtiness.
As for Mr. Booker, one would think that a Rhodes Scholar would know what languages are spoken in Switzerland and that there is indeed no Swiss language.
11
Politics in the US are so much ( like everything ) personalized .
Ideas are less important than big celebrity people.
It is because the legislative system in the USA is so corrupted by lobbies. Congres and Senate don't actually create ideas or programs. They are too busy taking money and looking like they are doing something just conformist to the general opinion.
In that sense Alexandria OC is very different. She thinks.That is why so many conservatives would like to treat her like young novice. She is not. She has ideas at the heights of politics in Europe.Which are much more sophisticated than in the USA.
7
"Trying to get everyone to like you is a sign of mediocrity." General Colin Powell
19
Excellent article, Mr. Bruni, but be careful. Today it’s very fashionable for classic liberals like you (I mean that as a compliment) to be vilified by the new extreme progressives as “radical conservatives”.
The groveling of the Democratic presidential hopefuls has a very simple reason: they’re terribly afraid of the far left. Tell those fire-breathing Socialists something simple and reasonable but against their “green dreams”, and you’ll find yourself on the heap of have-beens, just like the veteran politician that AOC has so gloriously defeated.
8
Every half-educated person knows that there is no such language as "Swiss". Was he that ignorant, or did he just get flustered?
6
Remember John Kerry and "Lambert Field"? The he fell off a bike.
I think too many of the established Democrats are also trying too hard to emulate Beto O'Rourke and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in their social media savvy skills, which propelled both to national prominence, and are failing badly at it. (Are you listening, Elizabeth Warren? Hey, I really like you!)
In all fairness, it is very hard to be yourself in this day and age when move you make and every word you say is being mercilessly dissected by professionals and otherwise. I understand is hard not be self-conscious, but sometimes you have to shrug it off.
Trump does all the time, especially when he is wrong.
FDR and JFK never apologized for being a couple of rich boys. It just makes them appear more authentic embracing who they were. FDR lead this country through a great crisis and created some of the programs that we take for granted today.
It like Ted Cruz and Donald Trump Jr. growing beards. You were never cool, so why bother?
4
Bravo Frank ! I'm groveling.... but actually I mean it because I hope the democratic candidates read this and heed this. Authenticity wins, and trying to be someone you're not, or back an issue you really don't believe in loses. It's so transparent. Trump didn't win with the base, he won with the segment of the middle who didn't like Hilary, many of whom bought the Hilary mythology the Hilary haters created. When McCain groveled to the base by bringing on Palin, he lost the middle, and that's where is strength was. John Kerry didn't fight the Swift Boat attack which he said he regrets because he wanted to do just that. Who ever really liked someone trying to be someone they're not ?
13
How true. I hope they all read this article.
4
As usual, Bruni has it backwards. If Gillibrand ate the chicken the wrong way the mainstream propaganda media would have labeled her as un-authentic and out of touch with the voters she says she wants to represent.
Besides, as a guest at the meal, what is wrong with asking respectful questions about the local cuisine so as not to insult the host?
Candidate obsequiousness is a pro-Trump contrivance the media is pushing. Like when they say:
Klobuchar was a bad boss
Gillibrand is a flip flopper
Harris doesn't like black people.
Warren is dodgy
The fact that right now Trump is appropriating Hillary's 2016 campaign slogan, "Stronger Together", shows how little the media understands the candidates or the mechanics of campaigning.
6
I'm using a fork to cut into a nice little bit of pork tenderloin so I'm not really an expert but do vegans eat cheese? I think not.
3
My son, who is 16 years old, knows that the Swiss speak German or French or Italian, plus whatever other foreign languages they have learned. I don't think he knows about Romansh. He has been to Italy but not Switzerland.
Booker has outed himself as an ignoramus.
Tell me, should I vote for a man less intelligent than anyone in my family? (NB, I didn't vote for Trump).
10
Bruni is right! More than "grovelers", they're "panderers" and yes, appear inauthentic. Gillibrand is genuinely nice but becomes skittish when out of her comfort zone. Sometimes it's OK to scowl or disagree, Kirsten. As to Warren, just imagining her drinking a beer is the funniest thing I've heard in ages. Cory Booker? Well I WAS open-minded about him until I heard he was a vegan (what would HE serve the Clemson football team, veggie burgers? I'd rather have cold chicken nuggets). Not know that Swiss isn't the national language of Switzerland, while a minor infraction,nevertheless shows a lack of education that might be the result of having lived too long in Newark, perhaps? I think I'm going to scratch him from my list of possible "Trump-killers". Harris isn't bad but I'm not sure I like the idea of my president having been a public prosecutor, but that's just my personal idiosyncrasy. And whatever we think about Trump, we KNEW what we were getting BEFORE he took office and that's why I've always blamed the voters much more than the man himself because no one can say they were surprised by his ego, laziness, or mendacity. That DOES prove that the appearance of authenticity means a lot to voters, and frankly REAL authenticity is a very important trait. Trump's authenticity should have disqualified him from winning because it was UGLY. The Dems, on the other hand, are too pedantic. Ya want authentic and a Trump-killer? How about NANCY (Pelosi) for president?!!
5
@ManhattanWilliam: she will be 80 in 2021....seriously, you want to run a 78 year old woman against a 72 year old man?
2
The real problem for the Democratic Party is to run a candidate who can win some crucial States that they lost in 2016.
Ohio, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Michigan.
The Democrats need a candidate with an actual track record of winning in the upper midwest.
The real issue is winning the presidential election and not losing once again, regardless of gender, color, race, ethnic origin.
It simply is not clear how this Frank Bruni's article is relevant to the only question that is going to count. Winning the 2020 presidential election.
3
Some of the stuff is cringe inducing, and they should just stop apologizing for being in the race.
Still, Frank Bruni, why repeat the description of Sen. Warren's (lame) Instagram video?
Do you not think that there have been several thousand lamer exercises in politicking by the other members of Congress?
What you ( media you) choose to focus on and pass along becomes the "truth." Maybe Truthy would be a better descriptor. The Trump way: what is repeated endlessly wields more power than what is real.
You must have been at old-time local political events on the campaign trail --ones at VFW halls where the politician can barely remember where s/he is, eating with forced heartiness of food that is instant heartburn, and reciting some political speech done 30 times before. There was always plenty to cringe at. Shaking hands and hugging people and posing for pictures.
Plus, never have people in the public eye been followed so closely, so creepily, by professional and amateur recorders, with online vultures ready to attack. Imagine what you would look like with 24/7 monitoring by people determined to uncover all of your faults.
3
Dear Dems: Fawning and eagerness to please will not get you elected.
Greenstein wrote about the qualities of effective presidents by studying presidents from F.D.R. to Clinton, which I read in the Presidential Studies Quarterly.
An effective president is a skilled public communicator, an "active-positive" president, secure in his or her emotional moorings and free to channel energies into productive leadership. Nixon and Clinton are cited as examples of individuals with impressive intellects but handicapped by significant emotional shortcomings which negatively affected their leadership, the antithesis of leaders such as Eisenhower and F.D.R. Roosevelt and Kennedy were rhetorically gifted presidents. After enduring Trump's incoherent rants, we crave a gifted communicator. Please restore the dignity of the office. Eating fried chicken with one's hands or posting pictures of one's dental work is irrelevant. Don't waste your time.
Exceptional political skill is vital. How will you operate in a stalemated system? Again - think F.D.R. How will you inspire public support and build bridges?
You must state your goals clearly and consistently. In what direction do you want to take this divided country?
We crave the security and stability of ethical and moral leadership. We crave a scandal-free administration. We are exhausted by the psychopathic drama of the Trump Era.
We need an exceptional leader to lead us out of the mess we are in. Where are you?
7
Barring some miracle, it appears that Democrats will once again snatch defeat from the jaws of victory in 2020. I can not get excited about this gaggle of Senators, some of them first term, who have delivered this plethora of Presidential aspirations. Shouldn't they be sitting in the Senate Chamber, tending to the business of governing this country?
And then there are the billionaires...
6
Sure, some of the campaigning gotchas can be embarrassing, but please don't think Trump's way is the right way because he got elected. Being elected to this nation's highest office not only for his innate inability to be "pc", but for his disdain for political correctness, isn't a virtue to be emulated by responsible adults who are striving for the office that demands respect and adult-like mannerisms, not to mention smarts woefully lacking in the status quo.
1
The Dems lost their spine when Bush stole the election from Gore; since then they've been groping in Foggy Bottom looking for it.
3
Trump never changes his accent.
Other politicians change theirs as they go from region to region.
In a nutshell, that's why people love him and why he won.
2
Frank, you're right. They shouldn't be wasting their time trying to please everyone. They should be wasting their time trying to please you. Just you.
5
Once upon a time, John McCain's rumning mate, Sarah Palin had pizza with Trump in New York. Both ate their slices with knife and fork
Was it because the pizza slices were too hot? Did Palin not know pizza is hand-held while eating it? Was Trump afraid of getting messy? (he should know better)
Did anybody give a rat's whisker?
Why should anybody give a rat's whisker?
Which is worse? Politicians who don't "do like the Roman's do?" Or, everybody else who obsesses over this stuff?
It seems the latter manages to find a way to blur the lines between image, and just being nitpicky?
How one eats fried chicken or pizza is really their business; why it shoukd be criteria for political consideration is ridiculous.
5
The field would do well to heed Mr. Bruni. Coming across as inauthentic is the LAST thing America wants or needs right now.
3
Mr. Bruni, I voted GOP until 2000. I saw the damage Newt did. I realized how fake "Trickle Down" was. I felt anger over HW’s Willy Horton scam. Then came Cheney/Bush tax cuts for the rich, the first time ever during a huge, expensive war. That sealed it for me.
I will continue to vote against the ugliness of the Far Right, but won't stand for the lunacy the Far Left displayed during the 60's - 70's.
Mr. Sander’s “break up the banks! – Medicare for all”, Ms. Cortez green war on poverty through clean living are naïve thinking compared to the rooted in reality the ACA represented.
Last November, Dems won big time around Northern Illinois. Don’t blow this chance.
4
So let's contribute to the entire political culture becoming little more than an episode of the Jerry Springer show. Maybe Democratic hopefuls should start by exhorting their crowds to attack the press. Seems to work for Trump. Nancy Pelosi just turned Trump and the Republicans knickers inside out over Trump's vanity wall. And she did it by following the rules, something McConnell and his ilk ignore.
1
If Kirsten Gillibrand doesn't already know that Southerners eat fried chicken with their fingers, she shouldn't be running for president.
2
@Asheville Resident
EVERYBODY eats fried chicken with their fingers. You don't have to live in the south to know that.
2
Bravo! I couldn't have said all of this better. These Democratic candidates are so sad. I'm looking for the candidate who doesn't grovel to the public and the media and apologize for who they are. I'm also looking for the candidate who doesn't spout off Medicare for All and the new green deal. Blah. I think climate change is real, but I'm tired of people shoving it down my throat every second I read the news. Stop with the self-righteousness. I want Medicare for All, but it's NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. Americans voted overwhelmingly for candidates that were against Obama Care in 2016. They're not going to go one step further and vote for Medicare for All. Right now things are not looking good and I'm afraid we're going to have 4 more years of Trump.
2
Trump fearless? I guess you didn't notice how he cringed before the Mighty Ann Coulter, willing to cause pain and suffering to the entire nation in hopes of winning her approval? He's not fearless -- he's heedless, clueless, and oblivious to the needs of anyone on the planet but himself. That's not something to emulate; it's something we need to replace, as soon as possible, with a real leader.
5
I am sorry, but eating fried chicken with your fingers in that setting is not pandering. Just like eating pizza. Just do it. Doing otherwise is far worse.
They should look for a war vet, Captain or Major, who's been wounded, comes for a military family, speaks forcefully, and has progressive values.
1
These candidates should model the most authentic Democratic leaders from the past up until now. Tip O'Neal, Barbara Jordan, Joe Biden, Michelle Obama and Barack Obama always seemed comfortable in their own shoes.
Perhaps this tentativeness Frank see's is due to the women in the race. After all only 1 woman has seriously done this before and looked what happened to her. These women are determined, hard working and exceptionally capable but they're trying to get to the top of a mountain on a trail that has only been broken once. For the men it's a paved road and the perils only come from themselves. For the women it's one cautious step at a time avoiding boulders, crevasses and sharp cliffs.
It's no wonder they seem a little tentative. But they're going to warm up fast and then watch out Frank.
1
We need someone who has fought and suffered for real things, a great orator, someone of stature: MLK, FDR. In a country of 300 million, there has to be a least a couple.
1
Agree 100% with Bruni. And to add to it, Democrats need to get off the defensive and start playing offense. So Trump thinks Warren gamed rhe system? Really? Is there any doubt from the illiteracy of his tweets that Trump entered Wharton through the typical rich boy gaming of the system? She should demand to see his grades and test scores. Release your test scores Trump!
4
'Authenticity' cannot be learned nor cultivated, even with the help of an army of campaign advisors who try to promote the relatability of their candidates through embarrassingly transparent gimmicks. Authenticity is in your DNA. You've got it or you don't. Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders have it.
Through years of personal and political experience they are both comfortable in their own skins. They don't have to present themselves to be who they are not. Their authenticity comes across as genuine and palpable, something I am yet to feel at a visceral level with any of the current candidates.
2
A better way to put it: don't let the GOP define *anything* about the Democratic party, history, policy, or candidates.
In the last four decades, Republicans have been able to slap labels on what they oppose, which then frame the conversation.
If the Dems had paid a little more attention to GOP verbiage in 2010, they would have corrected the phrase "buy insurance" to "have insurance" during every discussion about the Affordable Care Act. Huge difference in implications, and it's affected the conversation ever since.
It may be too late to swat down "identity politics", "socialistic", "free [anything]", "open borders" and more.
The Democrats should start now to emphasize truth, facts, and competence.
6
Good point, Frank. Go with Pelosi. She has Trump's (and the GOP's) number.
2
The main difference is that Democrats are aiming for a different part of people’s brains. Trump appealed to very primitive thinking ( Hitler style) while Democrats, as imperfect as they may be have an appreciation for those who support them.
4
Omigosh yes! Please don't be characatures. Please be real.
1
Since 1980, Republicans have won lots of elections by telling people that tax cuts pay for themselves, that the creeping theocracy of evangelicals is an All-American thing, that we would be greeted as liberators in Iraq, that climate change is a hoax, that coal is clean, that corporations are people, etc.
So I don't mind indulging the Democrats during this silliest of seasons, nearly two years before the next presidential election.
Nancy Pelosi for POTUS, btw. :)
2
Oh yes, this is who we want going up against Kim Jung Un, Putin, the ayatollahs... Elizabeth Warren, Beto, or Kamala. I'm not so sure.
3
Thank you Frank Bruni.
“All that bowing and kow-towing
To remind you of your royalty,
I find a most disgusting exhibition.
I wouldn't ask a Siamese cat
To demonstrate his loyalty
By taking this ridiculous position
Yes, Your Majesty;
No, Your Majesty.
Tell us how low to go, Your Majesty;
Make some more decrees, Your Majesty,
Don't let us up off our knees, Your Majesty.
Give us a kick, if you please Your Majesty
Give us a kick, if you would, Your Majesty
Oh, That was good, Your Majesty!”
From “The King and I” by Oscar Hammerstein and Richard Rodgers
Such a petty column this was. My first thought from your title was that Pelosi should not be grovelling to AIPAC. That's the kind of grovelling that worries me. Sounding like a stiff actor while grabbing a beer is not really a problem to worry about is it?
2
Democrats, Stop Groveling
Absolutely! Embrace your incompetence.
1
Journalists, Stop Reporting on Things That Don't Matter
5
A Dem circle firing squad is what this is. Buckle up as this is going to get fun...watching radical liberals try to out-liberal each other with the dimwit AOC calling the shots from the cheap seats. This is gonna be great theater for the next 18 months.
1
@shackman28
Radical liberals? In this country? Where?
Yeah, I guess that after a few a few decades of Democrats running as Republican moderates (remember those?), anything to the left of that would look like "radical liberal".
5
While I agree with most of this, Pelosi's "...whatever they call it..." was divisive and tone-deaf. Thank god she's not running for president.
1
@Alix Hoquets
Actually, Pelosi is sounding more and more like the best candidate.
4
I agree with Bruni's main argument here. And I agree it is an advantage for Pelosi to know how to play hardball and not care too much whether she pleases everyone. But her condescending remark about "the green dream or whatever they call it" in the face of a looming global catastrophe is both stupid and irresponsible. When half of Florida is underwater and millions of climate refugees are on the move, including millions of Americans who will have to move out of coastal cities, Pelosi won't be around to say, "Oh, sorry, I was just being politically realistic."
1
Trump is authentically inauthentic. That is, anyone with half a brain can tell he's putting on a show, but he is so open about his phony intentions that it comes off as somehow real or genuine. "He's so transparently putting o a show that he's being honest thathe's putting on a show."
To me, he's a panderer to the nth degree, but he's a genuinely phony panderer, so someone can see through it and feel that it is readable - and hence real. It's convoluted, sick and perverse, but that's how Trump got as far as he did.
There are two other things that, paradoxically, relate to Trump's power grab: truth and humility. Trump's "truth" is based on the falsehoods that government has committed (e.g., the Iraq War, the Great Recession, the sub-prime crisis), which he calls out as "you can't trust the system...it's rigged." Since Trump calls them out, he then becomes a truthteller.
Humility states that we must give Trump a pass because he's not a politician, therefore the rough edges, because 60 million plus voted for him (show some humility and respect for our fellow voters!), and finally, and most importantly, are WE so perfect, ourselves? He gets a humility pass based on the human belief that arrogance, judging Trump, trumps ignorance as the greater sin.
Political candidates should resist their handler's ruinous recommendations that they wear plaid shirts, drive an old truck, bake cookies, shoot something, speak in a voice or dialect other than their own and other bad advice they trowel up to make their meal tickets more "appealing."
I just want candidates who will give direct, truthful answers to the questions they're asked, who can admit when they're wrong, and who are comfortable in their own skin, no matter what it's clothed in. And a genuine sense of humor helps, too. Oh, and intelligence. And experience.
4
The GOP Party should NOT win any election in modern America.
The last 40 years provide ample evidence that the GOP is antithetical to the concept of egalitarian liberal democracy, indeed it's at war with the notion.
It hampers social progress at every opportunity.
It involves us in conflicts that waste our souls and resources.
It makes the rich richer and then again richer, while pulling the rug out from under workers.
It fans flames of regression, bigotry, tribalism, xenophobia, and hyper-regionalism.
It preys on faith for votes while devaluing science, truth, our secular underpinnings, and ironically the most universal notions of most religions.
Most people don't support their policies and directions.
Yup they should NOT win elections yet they do!
How?
Well 42% of us are invariably behind them and that 42% mostly VOTES. It is rabidly COMMITTED to GOP winning because some nugget in the GOP playbook for winning - from abortion to xenophobia. That 42% votes GOP regardless of the GOP's putrid smell or taste.
To the contrary the other side of the coin - the 58% - will almost invariably eat its own. sacrifice the big picture for narrow purity. disenchant itself, turn unfulfilled enthusiasm into protest a wasted vote or withheld vote, or lazily not vote.
Worse their candidates will annoy almost EVERYONE with some drive to own identity/victimization politics!
STUPID! Stop the drama; get seriously committed to winning. This is war. Winning existentially important!
4
Democrats, and most politicians of either stripe, are incapable today of being genuine. Their entire existence is fake.
Perhaps Democrats should start lying. It’s obviously politically correct.
1
"[Pelosi] helped lead the party to triumph last year. She can point the way to an even more important triumph in 2020."
Oh? And what did she lead the party to in 2016? Trump. And what did she lead the party to in Obama's 8 years? 1,000+ seats lost.
So please spare us the Pelosi hagiography.
1
Nice hatchet job, Frank. Who cares? The campaigns haven't even gotten off the ground yet!! Give them time to grow. Yeesh.
2
"Democrats, Stop Groveling"
As James Carville kept saying, "the party that led the USA out of the Great Depression and won World War 2 has *nothing* to apologize for!" (And like Carville or not, he was a brilliant political strategist -- "it's the economy, stupid!" -- and he played a major role in leading the Dems out of years of irrelevance and the political margins).
To which the Dems might add some updates: the party got Medicare, Medicaid, and the Voting Rights Act passed, as well as Civil Rights legislation, and passed the Affordable Healthcare Act -- and implemented them all -- and the party that cleaned up this filthy stables of a shambolic financial mess created by Republican policies in 1992 and 2008.
How about running on that record of fiscal and economic sanity, and concern for the rights and well-being of the 99%, as evidenced in legislation (not loose demagogic talk a la Trump!)?
And, of yes, the "small" matter of basic integrity in government and ending unprecedented corruption at the highest levels by vigorously prosecuting malefactors and then providing lasting reform to make sure this never happens again!
Sounds like the basis of a a platform to me! And one that will win!
7
Yet politicians are expected to grovel before AIPAC; to act as if it isn't a representative of a foreign country that uses its lobbying and political donations to influence our government; and to act as if criticising AIPAC is anti-Semitic.
2
I agree, Frank...it has been cringeworthy to watch Dems trying too hard. However, I've not yet seen Pete Buttigieg do so. He is one to watch as we move toward 2020.
1
We don’t anoint independent/bipartisan/blue ribbon commissions of “experts” to make our laws and execute them; we elect people to make our laws and execute them.
As time goes on you will see how Senator Sherrod Brown from Ohio does not have that problem. The voice, haircut and wrinkled suit is real. There is plenty of time for the electorate to get to know him. He doesn't have to be coached how to get it.
3
Talk about infotainment media. This column is trivial, and not even that entertaining either. The media is all personality all the time on these candidates.
Policy differences are treated as personal-drama conflict---it's how will various political factions react-- instead of explaining the issues. That’s why voters are confused and easily led.
Bruni often criticizes the media, but is going along with it’s trivialization of our politics. The respected NYT wants a place for cute personality columns. Compete with cable TV? Frank is on CNN, too. And nice writing style.
Dems are ‘groveling’? Well, what positions would you like to see them TAKE? Give us an example, Frank.
He calls the Green New Deal idealistic and fantastical.
How about a bit of data to back that up, Frank.
What are other nations doing? Or is that too heavy a subject for a personality columnist?
Are any of the super-crucial issues plaguing this country interesting?
Gillibrand eating chicken? Warren and her beer, or something? Booker and swiss cheese or something?
But Bruni was a restaurant critic before. Just the background we need in these perilous times?
We look forward to the reports on fund raiding dinners.
2
Imagine a political climate where you vote FOR your preferred candidate, instead of how it is now, where you vote AGAINST one. I hope very much that we can find our way to a place where your vote is cast to fulfill your civic duty, and not as artillery lobbed at the other side.
But, Frank, these Corporate Democrats are only their genuine authentic selves around their big money donors.
And then there's someone like Bernie Sanders. He doesn't change because the room changes. Whether he's in a room full of factory workers or in a room full of millionaires, he's still going to preach Medicare for All. He's not going to comb his hair simply because a billionaire walked into the room.
Oh, and you forgot to mention the hot sauce in Hillary's bag.
2
I used to work in Switzerland. Where they spoke German, French, Italian and Switzerdeutch. < I hope I spelled it right. But not Swiss. And I have to agree with Mr. Bruni, be your own person if the public like you then they will hopefully vote for you. if not, be Hillary Clinton you saw how far that got her.
1
Herein lies the problem with paid image consultants and the like. Nobody really knows who one really is until they make a social blunder by accident. That is the only time we see who these people really are.
Drop the script and start to improvise so we can see who you really are.
3
I wish people would get a hold of themselves including this author. Brooker invented a new language "Swiss", so what. I, who grew up as their next door neighbor, could not understand most of their dialect and neither could I understand the Bavarian dialect. I survived and learned to converse with them and so did the wonderful Swiss and Bavarian people.
Gillibrand eats a piece of chicken with a fork. I still eat chicken with a fork and of all things a knife.
The suggestion that if these people want to be elected, they have to become another Mr. Trump, who is such an ill mannered and crude individual? Too bad for the America.
1
35% of potential voters will vote for Trump anyway. Among the current crop of Democratic wannabes, there's probably none that can capture the hearts and minds of the other 65% of all shades! Sad! Very Sad!
1
Still waiting and hoping for someone better than those whose hats are in the ring so far. None of the above right now, but all far superior to the despot wannabe. Someone who will be the glue among us who can campaign with necessary vigor and govern with intelligence for the greater good.
And, please, Joe and Bernie, just don't. You've had your opportunities. Enough.
1
It's not their fault. They lived through the last election when the media, including the Times and WaPo were all to eager to fill the front page with amusing Trump notes, while getting Hillary all wrong. The old private server sourpuss.
The fork thing, like the Swiss thing, is nonsense. Write about what they will do for the people who work for a living. And be fair to the women, because there's a lot of daylight there.
4
Oh, please, these criticisms are so petty. I support a candidate other than Gillibrand and Booker, but who cares about the incidents you cited? At least they are out there meeting with people. Who among us hasn't said or done something awkward in unfamiliar circumstances? Why is it evil to try to fit in, or to tell a joke (Booker's was actually kind of funny)? The media seem to be once again focusing on inconsequential "flubs" instead of serious policy matters, and this column is no different, even if it is packaged as a serious critique.
2
In fairness, it can be hard to know how to eat a piece of fried chicken in public.
5
Bruni's right. If Democrats want to rise to their principles and fall on their swords trying to prove that as a country we've evolved to where we can elect a Massachusetts progressive who took Trump's "Pocahontas" bait like a rookie or a milquetoast vegan like Booker (wait till Trump starts calling him Soy Boy) as president, then we'll all watch as Florida, Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania hand the White House back to Trump and he continues to trash the Constitution for the next four years.
2
Silly me. Here I thought I was about to read a thoughtful piece about how the Democrats need to stop worrying about how to appeal the 30% of voters who are going to support Trump no matter what, ignore the sexists who are afraid of female candidates, stop playing it safe, and put forward bold visions for the future of the country.
Instead, I got a Big Media critique of some tiny media moments of candidates eating chicken or posting on Instagram. Even stop to wonder, Frank, about how candidates starting thinking that they would be judged not on their record and their ideas but on social media trivialities?
4
Bruni asserts that he wants a candidate who will stop apologizing and trying so hard to please people. But what he really wants is the opposite: a candidate who will stumble over her or himself (and her or his values) in order to toe the centrist line, all the way through. Maybe he could just call up Hillary to make another run?
1
As a Democrat, it's difficult for me to justify a candidate who doesn't represent my values. Those values include equitable income, fair international relations, single payer healthcare and meaningful environmental policy. It is clear to me from the writing of columnists like Bruni, that this puts me on the far left of the party, but I'm not going to abandon my principles now, especially as the progress of time reveals them to be more and more necessary. What Bruni wants is the opposite of what he says--a candidate who will toe the centrist line, all the way through. Maybe he can just ask Hillary to run again?
1
The point I think you missed is that we want a good President, not our favorite candidate.
1
Personally, I think Elizabeth Warren can work a room and a crowd very authentically. Her message is clear, consistent and has the moral high ground. It helps that she's been banging this drum for at least 15 years, ever more urgently since the 2008 crash. I'm not going to begrudge candidates the occasional misstep in trying new methods of getting their messages to more people, even if the execution is a little ham-handed. It's still early days and they are all trying to see what works best.
But what I am going to begrudge is the media covering every last little hiccup as if it's the coming of the electoral apocalypse. Or making early judgments about whether a candidate is "likeable", which only seems to apply to women. Here's what I would request: unless the transgression is rooted in bad policy or an outright lie, how about we stop nitpicking their every utterance and every move?
Mr. Bruni, you've said it yourself--this is a crowded field. So instead of the press vilifying candidates for negligible offenses and giving fodder to the GOP hit squad (Hillary Clinton's emails, anyone?), let's instead make sure we end up with a candidate who can beat the current occupant of the White House in 2020.
6
Let’s be careful about people who think they are on higher moral ground. There are plenty of Republicans you can vote for.
Most of the announced Democratic Party Presidential Candidates are tripping over their tongues to thread the needle past the politically correct crowd, that are ready to pounce on them like a 20 year old Yelp reviewer that was ignored by a server in a restaurant. Pelosi because of her age and experience seems like one of a few Democratic Party politicians that isn't walking on eggshells and terrified that someone is going to say something negative about her. I don't know why she doesn't look in the mirror and do her best Stewart Smalley impersonation, and after a couple of self-affirmations decide to run herself. Even though I am not thrilled with some of her past positions, much like Bernie Sanders she is consistent doesn't need a focus group to decide what position on an issue plays best to the easily aggrieved.
2
Any candidate who does not know that you eat fried chicken with your hands should withdraw.
3
If Cory Booker could not even discern the provenance of the reporter's accent, he's probably lucky the reporter didn't speak Spanish.
Let's be clear, Bernie gives zero fakeries about a chicken fork.
4
There's one Asian candidate who's is running and I hear nothing about him. His name is Yang.
1
I keep hearing about the far left. The ship of state is listing so far to starboard that if it goes any farther it will start taking on water. So at the moment, from where we are now, far left is upright with an even keel
7
Good point, although don't go too far the other way and become overly authentic like Beto.
I disagree with one thing you said:
"Many of these candidates’ quickness to embrace it without qualification has as much to do with indulgence as with leadership."
Frank, climate change is nothing less than a dire emergency. But it's being treated as "just another issue". ANYTHING that helps elevate it to the needed mindshare is a GOOD THING.
6
The Democratic Party must back a candidate who truly believes in their platform, can convey that authenticity and can get down in the mud to defend it.
And be a decent likable person: that is very important, as the past election has shown.
People know when you're phoning it in. People can tell when you don't deeply believe in what you are saying.
That's one of the reasons that Hillary lost. ( I'm a Dem, fwiw.) She wanted the presidency for herself as much or more than for all of us, and it showed.
Look at the money raised by Beto, who inspired people.
The campaign should focus on what we all need, black, white, gay, straight : health care, wages, jobs, climate change, unions, police abuse, control over corporations,
taxing the super wealthy.
1
I would totally vote for Nancy Pelosi in 2020. Age be damned.
8
Damned if you do, damned if you don't.
Donald Trump is an unprepared, uncurious, unprincipled, crude, and possibly criminal politician, and yet Mr. Bruni suggests that Democratic candidates should best follow Trump's style.
Even worse, Trump has actively worked to destroy everything for which Democrats have achieved or stand for, but Mr. Bruni and other pundits insist that Democratic leaders should forget those achievements and aspirations, and hew to a bland and meaningless "middle" instead of fighting against climate change, inequality, inadequate health care, civil rights, etc.
Maybe Democrats should instead heed how successful Republicans have been by doing things their own way and firmly pursuing their "principles," namely, reducing taxes for the very rich and otherwise protecting the interests of that small sector of society.
Thank you, Mr. Bruni, for your marvelous column and for your allusion to Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln would have understood the absurdity of all of the attention that has been given to these relatively insignificant events. (And maybe that is why these candidates are obsessed with getting the presentation of all matters, however unimportant, right. These events do receive a lot of attention.)
Happy Birthday, Abraham Lincoln.
You are so right, Mr. Bruni. Democrats should have a sure win and they don't need to be obsequious to get it. I'm sure the Green New Deal has some aspects to consider but I am very skeptical of leaning far to the left. And doing away with the insurance industry is a sure loser. Please, Democrats, don't mess this one up!
1
Agreed.
Democrats have the momentum going into 2020. They should focus on their goals, and their message, rather than whatever gossip the Fox News hosts are trying to stir up.
1
If Mr Booker thinks that the people of Switzerland converse in "Swiss", that doesn't look good for his prowess in foreign policy.
3
Has the media learned nothing? Perhaps they could stop being hypercritical of every other step the candidates make and instead focus on the damage trump is doing to the country. (As an added bonus-when covering trump, immediate fact checking and using the fact check as article/column headlinesinstead of "Trump says" headlines and calling trump's lies "lies" instead of all the euphemisms could go a long way toward countering right wing media propaganda.) But I digress. Why don't you try focusing on what the Democrats are offering in the way of policies? Did the media learn nothing from 2016? Quit harassing the Democrats.
7
There is no mention of Tulsi Gabbard. She does not seem to be a please-all-of-the-people-at-any-cost sort of candidate. She sticks to her guns on her positions even in the face of the establishment media and press. She would prefer to let you know her positions rather than simply ape your positions. She seems to be punished by the DNC for having supported Bernie Sanders in the last election (one in which he would likely have won both the popular and electoral vote).
While I can't say yet that I will vote for her, I think that this articulate and tough officer and veteran who should earn broad-based appeal (not least for not being a groveler) deserves a good look.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tulsi_Gabbard
2
Frank Bruni is right about the pathetic attempts by many Democratic contenders to be Republican Lite in the Red States with early primaries.
They should watch what Nancy Pelosi does, and try to emulate her.
After seeing how easily Speaker Pelosi got the best of Donald Trump, we can begin to understand why Republicans have spent so much time and money over the years demonizing her.
The boys in the Republican establishment are terrified of competent women.
4
A consequential percentage of voters are themselves obnoxious. If we now must cater to this segment of the electorate, we are racing to the bottom.
We’re good with people who eat fried chicken with their hands as long as no pinkie fingers are raised.
Obsequiousness is less annoying than pandering—but only if the sycophancy is more deferential than servile.
Potential candidates should take this column to heart to avoid rebuke. To those already reprimanded or ridiculed: take note.
Bruni simply lays bare those whose actions have caused the hopeful, the eager and the faithful to wince. He is not anyone’s gauleiter.
The next year will yield a painful pageant in which character blemishes beget banishment. The terror begins.
1
Amen, amen, amen. They're pandering because they're phonies. It's part of politics, which is essentially sales, but so egregious with Gillibrand, Booker, Harris, Warren, O'Rourke... all phonies, hilariously on the make and shallow.
Klobuchar has some, too, touting her number of Senate bills as a plus, the weight of which is underwhelming enough to earn the moniker "Cotton Candy Amy." Unfortunately, part of her otherwise refreshing authenticity includes meanness to subordinates and ducking the banksters. Gives me pause, and she'd been my early pick.
Now I don't know where to turn - Bullock? No foreign policy exposure... Bennet, very light and amorphous. Sanders and Biden too old? Can either beat Trump? Biden's folksiness hides deep banker connections, a not-so-nice past record on urban law and order and Anita Hill. And his roaming hands with females should put him dead in the sights of #MeToo. Sanders is too histrionic.
Don't get out over your skis, D's. Don't let the heady rush of recent surface successes blind you to the hard, serious slog this is. Don't let this become a conceited "deplorables" debacle.
Debt-free college instead of "free college" - free college for those who can afford it is unaffordable to the taxpayer. Reform ICE, not dump it - that's just plain stupidly preaching to the choir. Universal, affordable healthcare - is Medicare-for-all the best way to accomplish that? Medicare is front-funded for decades by its senior beneficiaries... Please think! Think!
2
The media has to stop focusing on nonsense like whether Gillibrand eats fried chicken with a fork or Warren's past native American claims.
Please start to talk about the issues Americans face and where each candidate stands on these issues.
We're also sick of hearing about Trump's every tweet.
5
I understand they believe human-induced global warming and climate change is happening at the Pentagon. "Politically fantastical" would be if they really took their oath seriously, and defended the United States against "all enemies, foreign and domestic". The "Green New Deal" hardly compares to that Frank.
1
It is difficult to watch Democratic hopefuls mishandle criticisms that should be no-brainers.
There isn’t a person in the United States who hasn’t watched some clown on TV send away for a “23 and Me” kit, find out they’ve got a trace of German DNA, dress up in Lederhosen and start dancing around their living room reveling in their new-found lineage. Elizabeth Warren had well-founded family lore saying she had Cherokee blood in her genealogy. She stated it, got ridiculed for it and so she proved it with a DNA test. End of story.
That makes her pretty much like millions of Americans who try to find a connection with their past every day. She didn’t put on a headdress or use it to her advantage in any way. The few instances where she self-identified as native-American were no different than the “23 and Me” customers getting excited about a drop of blood that makes them think they have discovered something unique about themselves.
She should stop trying to justify it. She should just say, “I didn’t do anything different from what millions of Americans do every day to better understand their heritage. If you don’t like it, don’t vote for me.”
Don’t try to justify it.
The people who are peddling this garbage aren’t going to vote for her anyway. The people who are inclined to vote for her don’t want to see her groveling. They want her to stand up for herself and tell these carping “Gotcha” mongers where to get off.
273
@Robert
Unfortunately,she did use it in an underhanded sort of way to score points so she could land a teaching job at the colleges of her choice by posing as a minority candidate, which she decidedly is not. That's just facts, whether you admire her or not.
15
@Robert I can appreciate what you are saying but what bugs me about Warren and any other white person, is the effort put forth to find a way to get to the front of the line in a diversity focus environment. At some point in her life she had to stand in front of a mirror and say, naw, it doesn’t feel right putting American Indian on my application. She can deny it all day long but no one will believe her. Whites won’t dismiss her as being opportunistic and people of color should be honked off b/c it dismisses the importance of having diversity goals.
10
@Robert. Her effort to game the system by lying speaks to her character, which matters.
8
Strange to me that Bruni praises Pelosi for being flippant about the proposed Green New Deal, and characterizes such a manner of speaking as refreshingly authentic. I have a hard time believing that Pelosi did not really hear what her fellow Democrats are calling this set of proposals. If she did, than it was inauthentic for her to say “the green dream, or whatever they call it” and if she didn’t, that shows an unadmirable lack of attention to what is going on in her own chamber. We need candidates who will give serious attention to serious issues, and be willing to listen to new ideas. Many Dems won in 2018 by offering that, not thanks to Pelosi.
Machiavelli advised that leaders behave like archers; aim high not to hit the point aiming at, but aim high because reality like gravity pulls downward and by aiming high the target can be hit. The “Green New Deal” should be treated in the same way; let’s aim to achieve all it aspires to bearing in mind that as Mr. Bruni points out “coming up short would still be meaningful improvement.” I think a Democratic candidate framing this way would be seen as authentic and brave.
1
Democrats, do what the Republicans do. They elected the most unqualified President in history, who has no dignity nor the intelligence to know the difference between right and wrong, who insults everybody that dares to challenge him and lies all the time - and they support him, make excuses for him and rally others to support him. Democrats need to support one another and stick to what they think is right All Democratic candidates for President are on track. Whoever leads the pack needs to represent their colleagues who represent the people. It's not about my idea is better than yours, it's about all ideas are better than Trump.
2
The trivialization of governance has gone on for some time now. It has allowed for many distractions while serious changes were taking place and damage being done. This is not the same as the baby-kissing photos that go back decades (a century maybe?) but relates to being dismissive of the totality of a candidate because they wear boxers rather than briefs, or eat their chicken with a fork or don't fold their pizza. This is what happens when you stop teaching social studies and parents' modeling is reduced to slogans rather than thinking.
1
At age 72. I see too many Democrat Party candidates that seem to be political "selfies". Tramp Trump. Find a JFK, The Party needs someone who can be quoted, whose words want to be remembered, and whose ideas lift our hopes of a better America and world. I have yet to see such a candidate.
3
Here's a winning "tell it like it is" and don't- care-who -doesn't- like -it stance for a Democrat to take. Say, "Capitalism is the best system in the world to produce food, cars, cell phones and golf clubs but it fails to produce affordable healthcare for all. Government can and must." Also, "I don't care if you're brown, black, yellow, red or white. If you entered this country or stayed here illegally and are working illegally, you are breaking our laws and you must face consequences for your bad choices." Just those two statements of fact and principle would win enough votes in the key swing states to take the White House and the Senate.
1
I get your point, but I'm gonna have a hard time voting for anybody who eats fried chicken with a fork--thank god it wasn't Warren. And for all my respect for my congressperson Pelosi, when she makes up childish nicknames for progressive initiatives, she sounds like Trump. He needs no help from her.
agreed, mostly. the media-savvy (not to say media-saturated) electorate can smell consultant-grooming, focus-group caution, triangulation, pandering, false modesty, and hand-gesture-coaching a mile off. the 20th century mania about career-killing "gaffes" (a politician going off demographically-tested script) has caused an equal and opposite reaction - a good half of DJT's appeal was that he was unscripted, unapologetic, and totally spontaneous. His lies aren't "gaffes" because he's not pretending he isn't a liar. In the next general, a D's position on the left/right spectrum will be much less important than where they land on the phony/authentic scale.
1
Advice from a Republican who can't stand the sight of DT:
Stop preaching to the Choir and read CNN's Chris Cillizza's article entitled "How the Democrats are handing Donald Trump a viable path to a SECOND TERM." This is the reality Dems must face if they are to defeat Trump. Get off of the soap boxes and find a viable candidate that sane Republicans and Independents can support!
1
It would also be great if the candidates would stop trying to impress us with heartwarming stories about how they grew up in a log cabin and were raised by working class saints.
Some of our greatest leaders had very humble beginnings. Some of them didn't. Who cares?
If you give us great leadership, great ideas, and integrity, we won't mind if you had a normal childhood. Or one that's just too boring to tell us all about.
3
So Cory Booker doesn't realize that Switzerland has multiple official languages: French, German and Italian among them.
1
The most 'authentic' Democratic candidate to run would be Joe Biden should he decide to get into the race. Why is so much focus placed on his age? He was authentic and charmingly jokingly acknowledging it in a recent candid interview. As an aside, the difference between him and Trump is only 4 years. Both are authentic in their own polar opposite ways and Joe is unequivocally equipped to take on his fellow septuagenarian hands down in a peer-to-peer brawl. His natural style, honesty and confidence coupled with a healthy dose of spontaneous sarcasm and humor would serve him well to antagonize Trump in any debate.
It is hard to see any of the candidates currently running who have Joe's naturally charismatic appeal. He doesn't have to learn to project a contrived authenticity. He has already proven himself to be an unabashedly genuine politician in the eyes of the American public during decades of public service.
Authenticity is not something you learn over night to project a certain persona you are not during a campaign. Attempts to so come across as disingenuous and even somewhat pandering to targeted voting blocs. Real authenticity is something you can't hone in a matter of months. You either got or you don't. It's in your DNA. Joe's got it.
2
Totally agree with Bruni's sentiments here.
It brings to mind a day-old mishap by Kamala Harris. Asked by a couple of radio DJs during an interview, whether or not she had smoked marijuana, she spun some tale about smoking weed in college, while listening to Tupac and Snoop.
Problem is, Harris went to college in the 80s. Tupac and Snoop didn't start recording albums until the 90s.
Oops.
2
@Vin: Do you think she's unelectable for smoking weed on into the 90s?
@Steve Bolger,
She said she listened to Tupac and Snoop in college.
Right now I couldn't decide on a democrat if my life depended on it, but I know that with bullies (trump) you must stand up to them, so unless a democrat will ditch Michelle Obama's call for when they go low we go high- and instead be prepared to get down in the mud and take on the MAGA bullies, the Dems are doomed to fail, and with their ever expanding field, they are also laying the groundwork to do what Dems seem to do best- blow a sure thing. it's WAY too early to be choosing someone and CNN anchors who keep asking the non candidates who they will be endorsing at this time- is a joke.
119
@cagy: This isn't hard.
Find out who most closely reflects your point of view, and vote for that person in the Democratic primary. (How else will anyone figure out what matters?) Then vote for the person with "D" next to the name. (Anything else -- including not voting -- is a vote for Trump.)
19
@cagy
Today the Senate Intelligence Committee released its non partisan report that after two years and 200 witnesses they found no collusion or conspiracy between Trump and his campaign and the Russians. A real blow to those Trump haters and the MSM.
Yesterday, Rasmussen released its poll indicating among all voters Trumps approval rating increased an amazing 9% points to 52%. Even after the government shutdown and the SOU address that so many on the left criticized.
2
@OldTimer
Hey old timer, where did you get the silly idea that report was “non partisan.” It came from the Republican dominated Senate “Intelligence “ Committee. “ The very definition of an oxymoron!
19
Amen, Frank! The LAST thing we need is another president that folks say they would like to have a beer with or who “speaks his or her mind.” Instead, we need an experienced, competent executive with knowledge of our constitution & governmental norms. Given the enormity of the task it’s highly unlikely that such a person will be average.
3
Hooray! A new Frank Bruni--one who wants Democratic candidates to stop pandering.
Obviously not the same Frank Bruni who has written column after column warning the Democrats not to nominate any anybody who won't pander to Trump's white working-class voters.
Maybe it's time for yet another Frank Bruni, one who gives his ever-shifting (but always banal) advice to Republicans instead of Democrats.
To take it step further.....I am a fan of Amy's, but I don't think it was necessary to announce outdoors during a blizzard to show she's "got grit".
1
I have the feeling that Amy Klobuchar doesn't care what anyone thinks. She's a winner, respected by her colleagues, and, as evidenced by her sharp questioning on the judicial committee, not flustered by anything Trump can throw.
6
I don't disagree with the main points that Frank makes but where did the need for groveling and conformity begin? It began with the media picking on trivial issues to distract the ignorant and easily misled masses, rather than focussing on issues and the platforms of the candidates. Was Hillary Clinton likeable? Is Kamala Harris not black enough? or is AOC a dangerous "socialist", just like they did to Bernie Sanders in the past? this while giving Don the Con a pass-- his outrageousness was very entertaining and it helped sell papers and keep people glued to cable news, tweeter, facebook etc. As a public service to the country , the media could attone for its past missdeads by engaging in a robust campaign to educate this country in what socialism is and what it is not. Stop commenting on Nancy Pelossi's red or pink dress, and focus more on the many ways the 1% is ripping us off. And when the orange charlatan begins to insult candidates with monikers (a la "Pocahontas" or whatever) counter with the same (Don the Con?) . Call a spade a spade. The time to go high when they go low is over, look what it got us. The very survival of democracy is at stake here.
10
@Sitges: Trump attracts eyeballs without undermining the interests of advertisers. That is why he is a media darling.
1
@Sitges yeah, like Trump, blame the media...
@Jim For a very different reason and if you can't tell the difference I feel very sorry for you!
Trump grovels as well. Whenever Ann Coulter says jump he asks: "How high?".
5
@Carl Hultberg
Once your point Carl, Trump is a master of controlling the message where as the Democrats spend much more time attacking their own party.
I finally had to register as an Indie out of shame and embarrassment.
Frank, based on the comments below you can safely say that reading comprehension is a struggle for many of your readers. Personally I think you are offering sound advice and why the so called Deplorables voted for Trump, he was real. Like him or not, he was real. Unfortunately it’s going to take the re-election of #45 to get the attenditon of the Never Trumpers
3
@MTM: We're all in Trump's locker room now.
There are so many substantial critiques that apply to the candidates, that I really don't care if Kirsten Gillibrand tried to follow the saying "When in Rome, do as the Romans," or that Cory Booker joked about a language called "Swiss."
3
Excellent! And thank you. Don't tell me how you can relate to me ever again. Tell me how you are going to lay the wood to Donald Trump and all he represents. You do that and I might start eating fried chicken the way that YOU do. As this article said--take a cue from Nancy. Please.
9
Any Democratic candidate is going to have to reach a majority of likely voters. Tell the activists who wake up every morning waiting to be offended by anything to chill.
There really are far more important issues than how one eats a favorite regional food.
The media needs to remember that, as well.
6
Democrats watched a group of self righteous low-information Bernie Sanders supporters stamp their feet hold their breath and withhold votes for Hillary Clinton against their own self-interest and the interest of the country. Out of spite. This realization that a portion of the Democratic Party would rather lose than compromise has put enormous fear into the hearts of Democratic candidates. Unlike Republicans we are willing to throw it all away in the name of who even knows what. If we want to prevail in 2020 this needs to change and change quickly. This is all sad beyond belief. Lies spew out of the mouth of Trump unchallenged by the Republicans while we pick apart every word out of the mouths and every action of our candidates.
13
@CLSW2000: Nihilism encroaches on the center from the right and the left.
2
I want clearly stated policy and workable plans for needed change, in detail. I want statistics and boring numbers. But mostly I want truth and outrage. I want somebody to look Trump in the eye and say, “You are telling an absolute lie to the American people in this very moment, Sir!” I want facts that illustrate how much damage Trump has caused our country and statements as to why he MUST NOT be reelected! I want the curtains pulled back, revealing how little the Great Wizard of Oz knows about how government works. I want his corruption exposed, no matter how many nicknames Trump comes up with. Male or female, I want a warrior.
17
@Kathryn: Workable policies derive from accurate understanding of the innate processes of self-organizing systems.
2
@Steve Bolger - it would be fun to ask Trump what he thinks about that! I think he’d say something like, “Well we’re looking into that and we’ll have to wait and see.” Or, he might just say that’s a hoax!
1
Bruni waxes about sycophancy and Democrat Presidential candidates as if they are not one and the same. Trained since college to repeat and copy a singular expected point of view to get patted on the back, how else does he expect this collective gaggle of charlatans to perform? However, Booker again demonstrating linguistic ignorance and Gillibrand obviously jettisoning Emily Post’s guide book, pale in comparison to the authenticity challenged Warren.
It doesn’t matter which way you turn. Whether a blizzard in Minnesota, or political prostitution in California, the coming out party and sudden campaign trail is already littered with casualties certain to disappear once the main event begins. However, if this early side show is any indication, even the facially challenged Speaker, who apparently never reads a bill before applying her signature, is unlikely to serve as pillar of wisdom shepherding this misbegotten flock to anywhere but the slaughter.
1
This is not good. With the exception of Amy K and Biden, the field of actual and anticipated Democratic candidates is so unlikable and inept that they will decrease support for Democratic ideals simply by repeating those ideas. In 2016 the DNC should not have played favourites between Clinton and Sanders. In 2020 though the DNC should usher the no-hopers off the stage pronto.
4
I'm a bit surprised at Gillibrand. De Blasio and Bloomberg both use utensils to eat pizza. And in New York, no less!
2
It’s too many candidates and far too early. I’m already tired. Of the asinine comments and downright lies from trump. Let his base wear themselves out traveling to his foolish campaign rallies and then watch him jet off to meet with dictators and then to play golf.
If they think he’s going to do anything for them than other to expose them as racists and unable to use any sort of common sense to figure out the truth, well that just said it.
But if Elizabeth Warren’s thought that was published in a NYTimes article yesterday that the president might be in jail by 2020 comes true, she’s got my vote.
3
Yes, democrats should take a lesson from Trump.
1) Don't pander and try to please everyone. You never will and you will be seen as insincere.
2) Don't discuss policy issues. Just come up with a 140 character catchy campaign phrase and rally the crowds around it. Did Trump actually campaign on his detailed agenda? HA!
3) Keep it to 140 characters. Liberals talk too much, too long, too many big words. There is a reason "KISS" is an acronym.
2
@NBrooke
The idea of not talking policy and issues and what Americans actually need is what alienated many millions of voters in 2016 that ultimately resulted in Trump getting elected in the first place mainly because he told people what they wanted to hear.
The democrats were not paying attention, put the wrong candidate in place and just thought Hillary Clinton could get elected by telling everyone how terrible Trump was. That was the KISS style which also resulted in most to "assume" Hillary was going to be elected.
I might suggest you break the word "assume" into three syllables which will confirm why, this time around, the "KISS method won't work either.
1
@NBrooke: Much of what Trump says is the same thing over and over. His 500 word vocabulary is downright boring.
1
I don’t think President Sanders has a problem ruffling feathers. Oh sorry, getting ahead of myself.
3
Agree Frank. Never understood fake smiling? Too big of a price to pay for almost anything.
2
There is a lot of truth to this column, but it won't change a thing. Politicians have been this way ever since there have been politicians. Even back to the days of the Roman republic. Read Livy. But it does give us something to laugh about.
1
I guess everyone is forgetting the Bernie Sanders lesson from 2016: saying where you stand and rooting for your true beliefs is again permissible, even respectable in American politics. And it should give Democrats a huge advantage in every part of the country, if they are honest enough to grab it. Our world is going through major changes -- let's only mention three: the environmental challenge, the Information technology revolution, the population shifts brought about by globalization and its consequences. Facing these requires daring and imagination. Conservatism, as an ideology, is based on defending the status quo and class privileges. Progressivism (which Americans falsely label "liberalism") means embracing change and the welfare of ordinary people. So our era should be a progressive's paradise... if only progressives truly dare to play their historical role instead of disguising as "centrists", which has no ideological standing -- and no future -- whatsoever.
2
Since when is "eagerness to connect" a bad trait? I appreciate that Democratic candidates attempt to use Spanish even if it turns out that they are speaking to someone from Switzerland. I appreciate that candidates have the etiquette to look around the room and attempt to eat the same way everyone else is. I appreciate that candidates are taking to livestreaming on Instagram while celebrating New Year's Eve with a beer from the fridge even though it may be a little forced. Many may disagree with me, but I'm sure I'm not alone in valuing attempts to connect even if they are wonky at times.
Sure, there are always going to be some misfires, but I'd be much more interested in reporting on misfires in policy stance and misfires in logic.
3
Nope. You're reaching for a new level of meta here, Frank. You're putting the spotlight on stories and criticisms that didn't ever deserve merit and then criticizing how these candidates are responding to things they shouldn't have had to respond to in the first place.
You're also playing into how Democrats are typecast. As insincere and out of touch. Or maybe too sincere and coming off as overly eager. Either way these are tired tropes. And certainly not helpful ones.
10
Frank, this sort of hyperbolic scrutiny of the infinitely small details of the Democratic campaigns is of a piece with their own excessive self-flagellation. Both the media and candidates should focus on the big picture of what this country needs, rather than getting side-tracked by the irrelevant minutiae that excite our vast public commentariat.
5
I believe that Trump won the election for two reasons: he knew how many Americans were against illegal immigration, and he refused to be politically correct. Not to say he found the sweet spot on either issue. But he tapped into real feelings when he appropriated these issues.
(Well there's a third reason he won: her name is Hillary. The worse candidate possible was the darling of the Democratic Party elite.)
7
@farhorizons: Trump owes it all to James Comey's untimely exposure of Anthony Weiner's computer that turned out to contain only Clinton e-mail files already in FBI possession.
1
"The most important thing is honesty. Once you can fake that, you’ve got it made."
6
Dear politicians please don’t change. Until Veep returns this is comedy gold.
2
Bruni's request that politicians 'be themselves' and not grovel is as fantastical as the green deal of the far left. Politicians are two things and two things only- narcissistic and groveling. If they weren't groveling and narcissistic they would be plumbers, teachers, or accountants; in other words, they would have real jobs.
2
@boji3: Patience to spend 4 hours per day groveling for money is an occupational requirement of politicians. Al Franken discusses the process at considerable length in his now futile "I'm testing the waters for a presidential run" book.
One big problem for our Democratic politicians is to be/seem "of the people" while having taken large corporate/1% campaign donations and then voting for policies that haven't helped "the people" at all. This bind can make for a lot of hyprocrisy.
9
In mounting a campaign the very very very first thing you need to have tattooed on the inside of your brain is who are you and why you are running. Surprisingly, few manage to grasp that simple reality and therefore, as questions swirl, candidates can't always find a quick answer.
In this case I think for many the honest answer is because Donald Trump is faltering. So it seems but if anyone has risen from ashes of the dead it's Trump. They see opportunity not a plan. Many are certainly qualified but few are solid in their future for the country. And with social medial and Republicans jumping on any misstep it's hard to blame them for being so eager to get it right.
But it's like dating - the more you tell the person you adore them the more it comes off as desperate and that's not a selling point. Most can't wait to detach and find someone more attuned to their needs. After a lifetime of shilling, Donald Trump has learned how to sell himself, for better or for (mostly) worse.
3
Are you suggesting Kirsten Gillibrand is a complete phony who will say whatever her audience at the moment wants to hear?
5
@RRBurgh no, he's not...he's saying, I think, that she could very well appear that way if she doesn't take his very practical and commonsense advice...
I was impressed by Max Rose D NY-11 talking to the media made some good points about anti-Semitism and vitriol. "... Kevin McCarthy ... hypocrisy ... Seriously, you are not agents of the Republican party."
The reference to Sen. Gillibrand's chicken-eating triggered a similar memory from a cruise ship incident eons ago. It was on the S. S. Norway, the former Ile de France--my single stateroom had not been refurbished and the tile in the bath was pink & black like my wardrobe in junior high in the early 50s! But we had a stop at an island the cruise line had bought--it was yet to completely outfitted-- and the island of St. Thomas was the other stop--time enough to tour Blackbeard's Castle and to have lunch. I chose a large diner-style cafe where I knew I could have a decent hamburger. There was tables and booths but a huge counter that formed a square in the center. I chose a stool. About 5 stools down, was an older couple--I was 40 or 41 at the time--whom I had noticed in the dining room on the ship. They also recognized me. We chatted briefly and their luncheon was served---cheeseburgers! And, unsurprisingly, each attacked that burger with knife and fork---and a struggle. After frustration had set it, they turned to me and in unison said, "Help!" All I had to say is that hamburgers and suchlike are considered fingerfood and the French fries were also. Now, I often would use a fork to eat fries with just to avoid greasy fingers. They were so relieved and while it was bit awkward at first, they did fine.
1
"A more important win in 2020." Lord, I want it so bad, Mr. Bruni--I can taste it.
You are so right about Mr. Trump. Talk about a guy that didn't give a (fill in some appropriate--or inappropriate--noun). About what he said. Or did. Or what people thought of him. Or didn't think of him.
And so help me, Mr. Bruni--I DIDN'T think of him as often as I could. But he obtruded himself upon my field of vision.
He won.
I think, sir--in all honesty--this caught up with him. You cannot be President of the United States and not give a (fill in your choice of noun). So far as I can see, this man's "administration" is going down in flames. I could be wrong.
Remember "A Hundred And One Dalmatians"? With Glenn Close doing Cruella DeVille? Lotta fun. I saw it years ago with my kids. One line stuck out.
Cruella (berating some ashen-faced minion). "What kind of sycophant ARE you?"
Ashen-faced minion (anything to please). "What kind of sycophant does your ladyship WANT me to be?"
I swear, Mr. Bruni: in that whole crowded theater, I was the only one that laughed. But I did. Loud and long.
These Democrats you mention: maybe none of 'em would have laughed at all--
--unless everyone else were laughing too.
Come on, sir--let's both be charitable. You can't simply run for President and not give a (fill in noun) for anyone or anything. Can you?
Or can you?
Kirsten Gillenbrand not now, not ever!
Come back Al. We need you!
3
Frank Bruni is the rare Times editorial writer who actually makes sense once in a while, instead of simply penning transparent propaganda. He has not allowed his hatred for Trump to blind him to why Trump succeeds, which is why Bruni is perhaps the most dangerous pundit in America to the Republican cause.
3
If you’re explaining, you’re losing. But if you’re a Democrat, any slip you make will be seized on by the media and run into the ground - in big part because the right wing will
seize on it and amplify it all out of proportion. (Remember the controversy over how to order and eat a Philly cheese steak? Wearing the ‘wrong’ color suit?)
If Democrats seem gun shy, it’s because they know they have targets on their backs - and the right wing has turned opposition research into a lethal weapon. The media enthusiasm for running with the ‘scandals’ they manufacture is complicity.
Republicans enjoy the soft bigotry of low expectations; no one is shocked if a Republican says something racist,sexist, or worse. (Trump makes jokes about Pocahontas and the trail of tears - but Warren is the one who has to apologize?)
It’s curious that you don’t mention AOC Mr. Bruni - she doesn’t back down, she’s not intimidated, and she can punch back above her weight class. Maybe that’s why she and Pelosi seem to be getting along. It’s also why AOC is freaking out Republicans - she refuses to play their game.
1
What IS the matter with Democrats?! This weekend Trump sent out a shocking twitter about Native American genocide; Democrats are slient. Democrat congress woman sends out a tweet about AIPAC: Democrats, including Pelosi, in combat mode against her. Democrats, unlike Republicans, always lose sight of who their enemy is. Republicans know this about the Democrats, and use it at every opportunity.
2
@Terence: The fact that money buys influence in Washington is a dog bites man story.
1
Bruni describes the democratic hopefulls as POTUS describes the media and most democrats. Fake News
In Bruni's words
But too much self-flagellation and genuflection can look foolish and smack of fakery.
3
And this is the problem with the Democratic Party! It wants to please everyone. It develops it policies on the fly. Depending on where and when a Democrat is speaking, he/she constantly tests the wind. Since the Democrats abandoned their core of average American Middle Class people and accepted Upper Middle income types in the Urban core, they no longer understand Middle America. I seriously doubt if they even understand upper middle income people and their problems.
Democrats are adrift. At the end of the day, you can't please everyone, please the left foot and the right foot will object.
3
Re: Kirsten Gillibrand:
What fool eats a piece of fried chicken with a fork? What bona fide New Yorker eats a piece of fried chicken, or a slice of pizza, with a fork? Do you, perhaps, have eyes? Do you actually have have to ask someone?
Really?
Sorry. Not the kind of person I would like to see in the Situation Room during a situation.
4
Perhaps more experienced politicians like Cory Booker and Kirsten Gillibrand remember what happened the last time that the Democrats embraced such an agenda.
That agenda included a guaranteed income support, a massive reduction in the military budget, decriminalization of marijuana,and was led by a candidate who compared the conduct of a sitting Republican president whose aides were being indicted to that of Hitler. Aided by a youth movement every bit as energized as that of Representative Ocasio-Cortes; George McGovern won the Democratic presidential nomination and went on to lead the party to its worst defeat in modern history.
If we are going to head down that path again, perhaps Teddy White's old phrase is best: wake me when its over.
1
All this stupid behavior is a result of our ridiculously long and expensive election process. Think how different a 6 month process would be: focused, direct, and hundreds of millions cheaper.
5
@Doug How about 90 days. That's long enough in so many countries.
1
Trump went all white supremacist veiled with fake caring...and he is president. Democrats do not realize that is the country they live in - and this is why they are the Washington Generals - they don't care.
America stands for racism and white supremacy, tinged with warmongering and hate.
2
Let me say a big AMEN!
1
Who eats fried chicken with a fork? Aliens, lizard people, and politicians that's who!
2
Trump got elected despite his problems. The people who voted for him don't care if he grabs women's genitals without their permission, openly lusts after another man's wife, or cheats on his own wife with a porn star or a Playboy bunny. They don't care that he used to be a Democrat & supported abortion. They don't care that he's bigoted & ignorant. They don't care that he went bankrupt six times. They don't care that he lies. They don't care that he sends out misspelled tweets by the dozen. They don't care that he settled a fraud case against his "university." They don't care that he consorts with Russian oligarchs and they don't care that he's enriching himself while in office through conflicts of interest. They don't care that he does business with a foreign crown prince who murders journalists and lies about it. With standards this low, it's obvious that Democrats should quit worrying about whether or not their politicians wore blackface 35 years ago, smoke pot, are gay, or call themselves socialists. Nothing any of the Democratic candidates have done, or currently do, could possibly scrape the bottom of the barrel as much as Trump does every day. We have to start electing people who are going to carry out a strong Democratic agenda, period. As long as they stay on the right side of the law, they should eat fried chicken with a knife and fork, or forego beer if they don't like beer, and concentrate on doing a better job than Trump. Which will be the easiest task of all.
6
No, actually the lesson is forget about the Leftwing indoctrinated masses who wouldn't vote for you if you delivered a cure for cancer.
2
I would definitely prefer Pelosi. She is a barracuda and you need to be.
3
And stop apologizing every time you turn around!
Everything is offensive to someone, I guess, but please, use common sense.
6
The anecdotes about Gillebrand and Booker pretty much show who they are.
The real problem here as that they're trying to play all american jack and jill for the cameras because you people (there I said it) JOURNALISTS will rip them to shreds if they stumble or even if they don't. If you don't want to have to report on trivia like this, well then just don't and tell us what bills they sponsored and what their policy positions are — admit it, that would be harder to write in a way that was interesting. Accept that this is a non-fiction assignment out on the campaign trail and stop the "creative" writing.
Gillebrand isn't being eager to please, daddy was a congressman who gave her his seat. She really did grow up in wealth and power with nothing but unearned privilege around her. One would expect her to be lost at sea at a Carolina picnic. In her home chicken was always eaten with a fork. She was probably horrified to see people eating with their hands, or at least mystified.
As for Booker, well he's a show off isn't he? How else to explain his belief that any serious number of people in the country want him to be President? He hasn't accomplished anything, started any movements, passed any legislation. He's an ethnic community identity politician. If he has something to say he'd better get around to saying it quickly. Hey, i speak a little spanish is exactly the button you'd expect an identity politician to push. Has he got any others? We'll see.
1
The good news is most of the probable Democratic candidates are pretty much on the same page. So no matter which one we get as president, assuming they don't blow it in the general election, we should at least see some progress on the economy, the environment, education, and healthcare. Of course, if we end up with Bloomberg in the primary, he'll suck up all the moderate votes ("moderate" meaning people who are only on board with issues that don't involve higher taxes or anything else that might upset the Chamber of Commerce), while the candidates with more ambitious agendas will end up splitting the rest of the votes 17 different ways. It will be a sort of mirror image of the 2016 GOP primaries.
2
The media--that means you, Frank, are a huge part of the problem, focusing on little burps and nonsense issues of humans being human. I'm learning to despise all of you.
Focus on what the candidates say, and their records of what they've done in their professional lives.
3
Trump won because all other candidates were typical "politicians", fake/liars who would say anything to be elected then forget about every promise once elected! Media always focus on the person, never on the actual political message, so media, nytimes..., created this problem with "fake" politicians! Media's focus on the person but not on the actual "political message" was the reason why a narcissistic racist clown, Trump, could become President!
Why are nytimes... not focusing on changing the racist political system, Electoral College and gerrymandering, that is designed to make non-white votes to count less than white votes? Hillary, and Gore, would have been President of USA if USA were a real democracy! USA is still a racist/segregated country, an "apartheid" regime!
3
NYT fawning over Kamala Harris who is another Hillary Clinton. Be careful. Trump beat Hillary once and he can do it again against her clone.
1
@thomas jordon
Respectfully, if you consider Ms. Harris to be "Another Hillary Clinton", you haven't been paying attention.
Pelosi/Warren 2020!!!!!!!!!!!
3
Brain dead Booker should be informed that they don't speak Swiss in Switzerland. There is no such thing as the Swiss language. God help us when such an idiot is a viable candidate for president. Go tell the buffoon that they speak German, French, and Italian in Switzerland depending on what part of the country you are in.
4
@Dave: Switzerland is a unique demonstration of a multi-lingual democracy that commands special attention for that reason.
1
@Dave
You're knowledge of the various languages spoken in Switzerland is impressive, Dave. Maybe you should run for president.
@Dave
Woops: YOUR knowledge of the various languages spoken in Switzerland is impressive, Dave. Maybe you should run for president.
Agreed but the Republicans not only grovel they are doormats!
1
Oh, leave Elizabeth Warren alone. Wait until you disagree with her policies to criticize her. By making fun of a simple home instagram, you are just as petty as the "proper way to eat chicken or cheese steak" people.
239
Thank you! I think it’s a bit mean-spirited to make fun of Sen. Warren for that Instagram post- what did she say, something like, “thank you for being here?”
I say that to my friends all the time. I said it to my ex all the time. If I love someone, I’m going to appreciate their presence; how is that hokey?
This all just sounds like people- or, sorry, male people- trying to bring down a promising female candidate using whipped-up nothings.
25
@Ellen I admire Senator Warren, agree with many of her policies, and genuinely believe she has the nation's best interests at heart. But the way she took Trump's Pocahontas bait, then the DNA test, then that apology? It's weakness. Sniveling. It's blood in the water of the shark tank that will be the 2020 election or what's required to deal with brutal dictators like Putin, Un, and Erdoğan. Of course she'll get the Dem vote if she's the nominee, but swing voters, veterans, and independents like me will vote incumbent or Libertarian and then Trump has another four years of trashing the constitution and our standing in the world.
7
@Kate B. I like Warren, but, c'mon, that little "I'm going to grab a beer" moment was as phony as it gets.
14
I believe we will have that moment when reality rears it's head and requires less spin and more truth...Frankly, to truly neuter Trump, you must beat him at his game..He is not a smart man, but he is nasty and cagey.....So, taking him down with real facts, real numbers and then making fun of his 24/7 lying is required......It is like your kid and the Easter candy.......Kid comes down the stairs with a face rimmed in chocolate......You ask the kid if he/she got into that Easter basket. Kid denies doing it........Trump WEARS chocolate. Start beating him with it.
2
Is the media really going to focus on this kind of superficial nonsense (again) in the run-up to the 2020 election?
2
I think that Mr. Bruni has bared his dislike of democrat candidates. Period.
Yes, thank you. Yes.
1
Ttump won with hate vote from voters and a little help from the Russians and even Hillary. Anything else is moot.
1
They've all got the Hillary Clinton disease... they seem to not know who they are.. Clinton didn't even know why she wanted to be president... --- it's the Democratic obsession with identity politics; putting on a different mask to please different people..
..
1
Every NYT editorial that characterizes Trump supporters as despicable just re-energizes them to vote for him. good work NYT!
2
A dead skunk in the middle of the road gets my vote over you-know-who.
3
"When the Democratic Party forms a firing squad, we form a circle."
-Mo Udall
3
“If you stand for nothing, what will you fall for?”
2
Groveling, insults, gaffes, read all about it!!!
“News” media, please stop focusing on this stuff. You really are the enemy of the people when you waste our time, and force our politicians to waste their time, on cheap, sensationalist drivel.
1
Gillibrand didn't eat friend chicken with a fork and Booker didn't talk about the "Swiss" language because they were pandering. They did that because they're clueless. Who in the world eats friend chicken with a fork? BTW, Booker's initial comment to the reporter "Tu hablo Espanol, Si?" is awful Spanish.
1
No, Trump did not succeed because he was honest, genuine or sincere, except to the extent that he was an honest, genuine and sincere racist, misogynist and moron. He succeeded because he tapped a specific group of poorly educated ("I love the poorly educated") who harbored the same prejudices that were part of his platform and speeches. He was able to win because these voters hold an inordinately controlling segment of the electoral college. Democrats do not need to nominate a "blunt" candidate. They must select a candidate who challenges the moral, ethical and cultural depravity of the ruling party. If the majority of the nation actually supports Trump's positions we are lost anyway.
1
If the Dems keep it up, Chump is a shoo-in foe re-election.
3
I guess we don't have to worry much about any of these donning camo plus blaze orange and blowing a Chinese ditch chicken (pheasant) out of the sky in Iowa this coming fall.
Ok, my bad, which one will it be?
3
This article is a bit disingenuous because reporting in the NYT itself is also often groveling and appears to be mostly driven by focus groups and pre-understood conclusions rather than by actual attempts to get at the essence and truth of a particular issue. That wasn't always the case.
Trump ate pizza with a fork and knife.
2
Nancy Pelosi for President.
2
@sunny Please, God. Yes! No other Democrat is as reviled as Nancy. Outside of the two blue coasts she would win absolutely zero electoral votes. She would be fabulously dressed and talk a great game about immoral walls and tax cut crumbs. Her loathing of us in fly over country would drip out of her lips. And come Election Day, Trump would be able to honestly boast about having one of the biggest wins ever. Mega win.
3
I just want someone who's not insane.
5
Elisabeth Warren should fold it up after the series of apologies. She has lost all credibility and now is identified as a wimp. Imagine her in one of these so called debates with the lout in chief? She will not look good. We need someone with a spine who does not mind getting dirty.
3
Remember when John Kerry went duck hunting to show off his bona fides? And so right about Nancy! Talk about knowing your convictions and being comfortable in your own skin!
1
Trump, jerk that he is, is probably just being himself. The Democrats might try his approach rather than their usual political correctness. They rather timidly tend to lose a lot of elections that they should have won.
It’s called self esteem. Liberals are in short supply. They love everybody and consequently nobody.
2
Here we go again.
Fried chicken, beer and cheese.
How insightful.
Why should anyone run for office with our "journalists " continually ripping apart presentation instead of policy ?
4
The headline says it all. Stop. Groveling. Now.
2
Well said; while any of the current presidential candidates is miles better than the current swine in the Oval Office (intent in insulting and belittling anybody challenging his childish stupidity), they must stand on principle and the facts, no matter how they may impact their audience. Flattery to please all all the time is theatrically absurd...and suggesting 'slimeballing' instead of a clear message to oppose Trump's dogma of lying whenever he opens his mouth... to keep his mantra of "fear, hate and division" intact.
2
The solution is easy: Bernie Sanders all the way!!!
3
I have no idea what Warren was thinking with that video. I’m sorry, but she ain’t plain folks and the lunch bucket crowd isn’t stupid.
1
Ironic. A revolt against a celebrity President by cultivating celebrity. It would be hilarious if it wasn't so pathetic.
I agree that the groveling and apologies have reached ridiculous proportions and therefore their sincerity becomes suspect. Also, it is true that the sweeping proposals of the Green New Deal are politically unattainable in the present. However, if we continue on the path that we are on environmentally (and time is running out), the thinking that will truly be pie in the sky is expecting that we'll avoid a mass extinction (including Homo Sapiens). I'd be careful on that one, but all in all, I agree with the column.
Mr. Bruni has finally stumbled upon a truth about the current Democrats that has been obvious for a dozen years now, and which has been shouted from the proverbial rooftops by a man he would die before emulating, Russ Limbaugh. This should be a defining moment for him, but that is unlikely while he works for the Times. I wish I could remember who said it, but about 20 years ago, looking back at Ronald Reagan's success in office, a forgotten pundit said that much of it was due to the fact that Ronald Reagan was the first president in a half-century who gave Washington a breath of fresh air by rising every morning and proceeding with his day without giving a damn what the NY Times editorial page had to say about anything. Good luck, Frank!
3
@Joe Pearce
And Reagan was a disaster. So ...
1
Your column is critical of politicians equivocating and engaging in political expediency when the cameras are shoved in their face demanding an explanation or retraction.
The fried chicken scenario you cite, Mr. Bruni was indeed worthy of some eye rolling but hardly a serious offense & it definitely does not disqualify one to seek a presidential nomination. Ms. Gillibrand, like Mr Booker are relatively young politicians. Neither is certainly an experienced Presidential candidates savvy about local customs or possessing fully formed national policy positions. I'm willing to cut many of these younger candidates some slack, allowing them to find their respective national public voices. Even Ms. Harris' refining of her position on Medicare for all with respect to private insurance companies, might be construed as less an expedient response to a liberal CNN mob than a thinking out loud realization moment that a 180 degree shift from private health insurance to universal health care, is indeed complex. At least Democrats are talking about health care and appear to genuinely desire all Americans to have access to good and affordable health care. Of course, there will be lots of stumbles and refining of positions along the way. Republicans, on the other hand, avoid talking about health care whenever possible, as it it doesn't even matter or exist.
That Donald Trump's boorishness, vulgarity & pathological lying makes him authentic to & admired by his base is beyond sad.
2
The declared candidates will affect the platform but not one of them is electable in a national election. Senators don't win elections, governors do. Obama was an outlier.
Hopefully someone unexpected will emerge as Carter did in '76 and Clinton in '92. If they don't, the Democrats are in for a lot harder fight than they anticipate. So they'd better be ready to fight the most unprincipled person to ever hold the office. Who gleefully and successfully lies every time he opens his mouth. Who relishes the fight.
"I'm not Trump" has been tried. Try again.
2
@Lou Good Senators only win when running against other Senators - i.e. JFK vs Nixon; Obama vs McCain
In professional sports, you don't get to take the field/court unless a lot of experts, over a long period of time, have agreed you are the real deal. The public would be better served, if both political parties had the ability to impose the same discipline on potential candidates, so that the inept were sidelined before their own ineptitude tainted the worthy issues of the day. Presidential politics is like professional sports - the stakes are too high, to let the inept, and even perfectly good and earnest people with zero charisma, into the race. Why is this so difficult to understand. It's not the 'issues' and 'experience'. There is no experience that prepares you to be President (although governor of a state, a la FDR, is good), and taking the right stand on the 'issues' is pointless (indeed a disservice to those issues) if voters do not like you as a person.
Unfortunately, this piece is loaded with calories. Empty ones. Please enlighten us with something we don't already know. In its own way, snarkiness is an even lower form of groveling, while 'taking a knee' is perhaps its highest form. Besides, how do we know these politicians are just being their real selves?
2
The very problem with the media is front and center in this column. The focus was on chicken eating, wrong headed accent identification and striving to appear less wonkish.
Donald Trump is an arbiter of political behavior only because he has no moral compass and had no problem whatsoever in lying constantly and without embarrassment to the American electorate. He cares very much about what people think. He hangs on the words of Ann Coulter, Fox and friends and, of course, let's not forget Vladimir. All of his behavior is far, far more cringe worthy than Warren's silly Instagram post.
I am a fan of Mr. Bruni's but this gets a D- from me.
1
@Donna
I agree with your grade.
1
There is no way that I or any other self-respecting rational American can support a Trump presidential opponent who follows Trump's approach to campaigning. The author deludes himself when he says that the sizeable minority of Americans who supported -- and continue to support -- Trump wrongly "interpreted" his blatantly obvious character defects as something other than what they obviously were (and continue to be). After two years of daily Presidential tweeting which only amplifies what a truly despicable human being Trump is, the only conclusion that can fairly be drawn about Trump supporters is that they understand him and admire him. So Hillary was not wrong when she called them "deplorables"; they are just that, and fortunately are not yet anywhere near a majority of elegible voters. My advice is to run as the opposite of Trump, and ask voters to support truth and decency. Issues like health care or saving the planet are fine, but they don't get to the heart of the matter: we don't deserve to have a shameless, boastful liar as our national leader. And all we need to do is to vote him out of office.
1
BRING BACK AL FRANKEN!
3
This comes from Bruno? Mr Groveling in chief? The behavior he criticizes is his main approach to his columns, with excessive concern about appearances and style.
3
This piece is dead on. You knew you'd take heat for criticizing Democrats but it's very good advice in a Presidential election.
3
I’m gonna wait until all candidates have been filmed eating blue crab. I mean, that’s a real test.
5
You illuminate neither news nor issues here. Just try to keep us informed. Politicians will do what politicians do.
3
Cory Booker "doesn't speak Swiss"? Does he not know that the Swiss speak German, French and/or Italian? What language is Swiss? I truly hope he was trying to be funny.
2
Please don't encourage the Democrats to start, doin' it Trump style.
Bruni, "In the context of Trump and the unprincipled Republicans who have enabled him, Democrats’ willingness to search their souls, admit error and think expansively and inclusively is beyond refreshing. But too much self-flagellation and genuflection can look foolish and smack of fakery."
Soooooo, Republicans are unprincipled, but the article is about Dems flip-flopping and having no standing principles, which is apparently laudable, but just not too much? This paragraph makes no sense.
2
I'm a moderate Republican who didn't vote for the idiot in the whitehouse who shall not be named. I've been hoping that Democrats wake up to support a smart, ethical candidate who understands what's needed to get things done. That includes being genuine as well. Warren, Harris, O'Rourke, and most others are little more than political by-products saying what they think they're supposed to say. That's part of what caused Clinton to lose. I watched Amy Klobuchar's announcement and read about her before. If you want a candidate that will win support of the middle 20% or so, she is by far the most likely candidate out of the group of likely ones.
1
Sad thing watching smart women politicians parsing fried chicken in South Carolina, corn dogs in Iowa, and I suppose soon enough Philly Cheese Steaks in Pennsylvania. Sad because just about all of them would have mounted a much smarter and inspiring campaign than did the First Woman Candidate in 2016. Not likely any of them would have been foolish enough to take the upper MidWest for granted. They all deferred, and did what women too often do — politely waited their “turn.” Barrack Obama did not wait his turn in 2008. Now, all at once, they all run when the thing was there for the taking in 2016. Pass the corn dogs at this summer’s Iowa Fair.
The Democratic candidates come across as "valley girls" in so many ways. The one with the most depth appears to be Warren.
1
@caveman007
Depth of knowledge, yes. But she hasn't really connected to voters as much as her policy positions might predict. I don't she can win, or should win.
Look where the same behavior got Hillary Clinton. Her attempts to "get local" were totally awkward and cringe inducing. Phoniness does not sell well in most of the country.
4
Great article. Please stop treating the public like idiots and they may start acting (and voting) smarter. It seems to work in other societies. No reason it can't work for us.
1
Cory was not off base when he said he didn't speak Swiss, even most native born Germans have difficulty understanding Schweizerdeutsch also in Europe we all call the cheese Emmenthaler for the region in Switzerland it originates from.
103
@Robert Keller
Yeah, but Cory didn't know any of that. He just heard "Swiss radio" and thought "OK, Switzerland, so they must speak "Swiss", I don't speak "Swiss". If he had a moment longer, the only thing that would have maybe occurred to him is "oh yeah, oops, the Swiss speak German and French"...
We Americans sorta leave off with "Come on, man, speak English!" when we hear an English speaker speaking what they would call "English".
3
@Matthew -- I'm willing to give Booker the benefit of doubt and believe that he knows there is no Swiss language, per se, and that this was just a failed attempt at humor. The real problem here was in presuming to respond in another language to a question that was asked in English. I mean, who does that?
5
@Matthew
"... and Italian and Romansh" (the four official languages). It looks like you missed the joke from Robert Keller.
5
Swiss (German) is very much a thing.
76
@Swiss
How about Swiss (French)? For example, Geneva and Lausanne?
4
@Swiss: Yes, but there is no language called "Swiss." There are three "official" languages in Switzerland: German, French, and Rätroromanisch. Schweizerdeutsch is a dialect, not a separate language.
https://www.schweizerdeutsch-lernen.ch/blog/warum-ist-schweizerdeutsch-keine-eigene-sprache-sondern-ein-dialekt/
7
The cadre of "official" Democratic Party 2020 presidential candidates will coalesce into two camps; the progressives and the "pretenders" who spout progressive themes but are in reality moderate neoliberal Republicans.
The "pretenders" will PUBLICLY promote progressive public policy initiatives like Medicare For All, livable inflation-adjusted federal minimum wage, and most importantly, will frame the majority of their nascent campaigns around the obvious mendacity and malfeasance of Mr. Trump.
But PRIVATELY the "pretenders" will seek approval and financial support from the Wall Street mega banks, muti billionaires/multinational corporations and the big check private cocktail circuit held in the platinum lined ghettoes of America.
The "progressive" candidates will promote what may seem like a "radical" "socialist" agenda but this is simply the mirage of contrast obscuring the reality America adopted a peculiar type of socialism over three decades ago; Socialism for the elite class.
That is why trillions of taxpayers dollars and federal/state/local debt has been spent or incurred to fund "middle class" tax cuts only billionaires receive, massive subsidies for the businesses for job creation which ordinary working class Americans never get and private pleasure palaces like NFL stadiums and golf courses.
Ordinary Americans have voted for "change" which was illusionary and a "centrist" agenda which was anything but.
1
I agree with this article. Plus I would add: Democrats, please stop apologizing. Just. Stop. Every time they do they end up offending more people and causing more division. This situation with Warren is beyond ridiculous. I mean, who cares? Maybe she was excited to have Native American ancestry. Sounds pretty innocent to me. Why the hoopla? Why is she apologizing? Why is the MAGA crowd hammering on it? She explained herself, now ignore them and move on. As I am only now beginning to understand where the term "snowflake" came from, I now believe identity politics really will be a death knell for the party. As I explained to an activist friend, we have laws already on the books against discrimination. What more are we supposed do except enforce them? Focus on issues the majority of Americans want like healthcare and infrastructure. At least, this is what I want.
5
Adam Schiff is hardly groveling when he is determined to find out the truth about Russian money laundering and its connection to Trump. Burr might think that the Senate is complete in their investigation, but they’ve hardly scratched the service. Schiff will dig in deeply and pluck out the roots of this most unholy of alliances between Putin and Trump.
Going forward, each of the candidates must stay focused on eliminating Russian interference in our elections.
3
I have the answer to the 2020 Presidential Democratic candidate dilemma:
Frank Bruni should run for President.
He's my consistent hero.
End of story.
2
Yup. Having said that, it's also time to stand for something and that's a whole lot more important than worrying about whether or not you are eating your fried chicken correctly. I still think that Clinton would have made it had her campaigning been less mush and more attention to what actually matters to people.
1
Kind of like how Gillibrand, the onetime Second Amendment supporter, got to Washington, looked around her, realized that wasn't going to fly anymore on a national Democratic stage, and overnight became a staunch advocate of gun control.
3
a billion dollars -- how many schools could that build, how many hospitals, how many factories, how many trains, subways, buses?
Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed.
This world in arms is not spending money alone. It is spending the sweat of its laborers, the genius of its scientists, the hopes of its children. The cost of one modern heavy bomber is this: a modern brick school in more than 30 cities. It is two electric power plants, each serving a town of 60,000 population. It is two fine, fully equipped hospitals. It is some fifty miles of concrete pavement. We pay for a single fighter with a half-million bushels of wheat. We pay for a single destroyer with new homes that could have housed more than 8,000 people. . . . This is not a way of life at all, in any true sense. Under the cloud of threatening war, it is humanity hanging from a cross of iron
3
@true patriot
And just who is the largest arms dealer in the world? The mighty USA. And that comes courtesy of the Military Industrial Complex, unique to this country. And that beast needs to be fed.
As always, Shakespeare already said this:
Polonius:
This above all: to thine own self be true,
And it must follow, as the night the day,
Thou canst not then be false to any man.
Now Dems just don't feel impelled to change the last word to "person" and follow this advice to the letter.
1
My Grandfather was "racist". He did not like Japanese people. But, then, one of his sons died in the pacific theater in WWII. The feeling was widespread, hence we had internment camps. (My brother's best high school friend was Japanese, incidentally.)
My husband's grandfather was 1st generation German immigrant and he was killed in an accident at his railroad job. Grandma believed until she died that his coworkers killed him because, you know, during WWII we were fighting the Germans.
The realities of situations and times matter. Get us out of war instead of insisting that everybody love Muslm immigrants.
1
I agree with you on most points made, but since when does a candidate's food preference (vegan) have anything to do with their political qualifications?
Oh yeah, I forgot, by your own admission, you like to eat your food while it's still squirming. Anthony Bourdain would be so proud.
When your platform is socialized medicine, the elimination of health insurance, taxing success and now Green Dream fossil fuels out of existence, how you eat your chicken or speak "Swiss Cheese" is critical; this so your progressive platform can avoid scrutiny and introspection. Keep it coming far left Dems you are playing right into Trump's camp.
All these actions by presumptive candidates are in the old tradition of kissing babies, petting pets and eating more grease-laden frankfurters than the world knew existed. What makes these actions more obviously hypocritical today is that each such action is captured by every media zoom lens known to man and the need of media to distribute these scenes rather than honestly and perceptively, honestly and critically parse the candidates' superficialities.
I’m still fascinated by the fact that so many people think that liberals and democrats are more authentic and truthful than republicans. All these politicians are here to play the fake game. Some are better than others. There is no authenticity in the political world. Never was, never will be. Neither side is here to HELP you, they are here to use you to help themselves.
This is quite right, Frank Bruni. Thanks.
"In the context of Trump and the unprincipled Republicans who have enabled him"
At first, I just assumed this was mere virtue-signalling (like we never see that in this forum, right?).
But no, it's actually much worse. Folks like you really do believe that half the country was "unprincipled" (or worse) for electing Trump. You've become the new Spanish Inquisition (and intolerably boring, to boot).
Keep it up. See how far your intolerance and bigotry toward half of your fellow citizens gets you in 2020.
If you want authenticity...
for the sake of the world
mention that Old White Male Democratic Socialist Senator Bernie Sanders
or you really don't want authenticity...
or you are scared of Sanders
you don''t really want bold ideas...
Polling shows that the majority of citizens want health care for all, more affordable college, better education and infrastructure, and higher taxes on wealth and less use of the military.
But, generally, the best Congress money can buy ignores what their voters want because it is not where the money comes from...
Citizens want bold change,
and if only Trump checks the box...
Someone commented that there are too many constituencies to please and the candidates are bending over backward to not offend any of them. There's absolutely a great deal of truth to that. But I'd also offer that it's early and as a liberal I'm open to listening to every one of them with fleeting judgment. I'm a sixty year old white woman so I'm not among any of the groups who could possibly be offended and perhaps my opinion is nothing more than that. But we'll be splitting the baby if we don't realize that people in the middle will once again decide this election. I'll add that I firmly believe in universal health care and in green jobs but if we aren't careful Trump will succeed in painting Democrats as Socialists. I don't care how many times AOC tries to make socialism sound appealing, it ain't gonna fly with a lot of folks in western PA, Ohio, and MIchigan. We'll need those people because Florida is firmly in the red column. And finally, if we don't return the Senate to the Democrats all these progressive goals will be in the end just wishes...
198
@Sue Williams If you read AOC's Green New Deal, you realize that the GOP doesn't have to "succeed in painting Democrats as socialists." They're doing a fine job of that on their own.
6
I am a Floridian and my state is not "firmly in the Republican column." Trump only won here by a 1.2% margin over Hillary Clinton and Democrats won the state for Obama twice. It's not inconceivable that Florida
can swing back to blue in 2020. We have the 4th largest number (29) of electoral votes which should merit strong focus by the Democrats. Don't underestimate us so soon!
20
@HMP: I hope you're right about your state, but I hope the Democrats don't count on it. Florida has had since 2000 to demonstrate that it knows how to run a fair election, and so far Lucy has been more reliable holding the football for Charlie Brown.
7
I agree, but my reasoning is this: If a person cannot decide whether or not to eat chicken with a fork and knife without taking a poll, how could that person possible make the difficult decisions required of a President?
5
The very same applies to journalists. In this case Mr. Bruni obsequiously neglects to mention Tulsi Gabbard who is without doubt the most genuine, sincere and intelligent candidate running thus far.
I don't vote, I never have nor ever will. I refuse to be part of and enable the subterfuge, malfeasance, massive corruption and cronyism. I do however support Tulsi 100% and have followed her for years.
If our illustrious media had modicum of honesty they would report the facts rather than attempt to smear and destroy her.
All one has to do is watch BOTH Charlie Rose interviews of Bashar al-Assad to appreciate her stance. She is 100% correct. There are over 1000 oppositions vying for control of Syria.
I have friends who's family resides in Aleppo - they paint an entirely different picture of what our media states. In fact they solidify everything Assad stated in both his interviews.
But we know how are media operates and specifically why someone who is truly a threat to the other candidates is deliberately being ignored and lambasted.
To paraphrase Abraham Lincoln: You can please some of the people all of the time; all of the people some of the time; but you can't please all of the people all of the time. So Democratic candidates please stop trying to please all of the many different groups that make up the purported Democratic electorate all of the time - if you truly believe something say so; if you truly don't believe something say so; and, most importantly, if you're not sure say so.
2
From your lips to the candidates ears, then minds, then actions. Authenticity is more important than their subtle policy differences.
However, the "woke" left and their penchant for eating their own makes one hesitant to even breathe.
3
Mr. Bruni is hilarious. Sure, there's a lot of groveling going on with the Democratic presidential candidates. In large part, that's because it is February 2019. For most Americans, they won't start paying a lot of attention to the presidential campaign until this time NEXT YEAR. So at this phase, of course the Dems are trying to define themselves as 31 flavors for everybody because we're still a year away from the first primary and hard core progressive Democrats (or a handful of left-leaning independents) are the people they need to reach in the early stages. If the Democratic nominee is triangulating like this in two summers, then maybe Mr. Bruni's point would land with a little more relevance. We know that he and most of his brethren in the political media will certainly point it out.
A strange comparison with Pelosi - she's not running for anything and doesn't need voters.
1
@areader
She'll run again in 2020. She's in the House of Representatives. Every 2 years. That's how it works.
1
@Pono,
California District 12
Seriously.
1
Dems have their work cut out. If there's one thing Trump's good at it's elections. Russians or no Russians. Challenge is that there's not an electable alternative at this moment, as far as the eye can see. Anyone claiming otherwise is in blissful denial. Just the way it is, at least for now.
2
As the field narrows through the primaries, the candidates offering the best solutions for a majority of Americans will prevail. I’m not crazy about any of the declared candidates.
Beto O’Rourke knows how to campaign. He did the unthinkable and came very close to unseating Tea Partier Ted Cruz in the crimson state of Texas. I hope he waits while the declared candidates talk their way out of contention. He’ll be a breath of fresh air for Americans, probably even some in Trump’s rabid base.
5
For Elizabeth Warren’s sake, let’s assume that grabbing a beer in the middle of a campaign video was a calculated maneuver intended to appeal to the working class. Because if it wasn’t—if she really couldn’t have waited to get that cold one—there’s a 12-step program with her name on it.
5
@NA
Summation: In the era of Kavanaugh, women aren't aloud to have a beer without asking permission.
@Jugko
Oh my goodness. It has nothing to do with asking permission. If a man did the same thing in a campaign video, social media would be all over him. And rightly so.
1
I simply want a rational person who is willing to listen, to think, to not act like they need to be an expert on everything, and who is pragmatic. I will use the Green Energy New Deal as an example. All sorts of candidates are falling all over each other to endorse the thing even though you suspect they have not read it, know it is not feasible, and would likely be a disaster. Why, it is the cool thing of the moment. These candidates must have nuanced views on the climate issue, but, let’s all run towards this because it is popular until it is not. This is not to diminish the importance of the issue, but we all know that this thing is not going to fly.
5
@Robert: At the level of president, it is necessary to coordinate experts, so the ability and desire to absorb expertise is essential, lest one get bored like Trump and go off twittering.
Agreed. This is one of the reasons I admire Bernie Sanders so strongly. He doesn't pander, he doesn't alter himself, he just is who he is, and he sticks to his message: income inequality. That's it. That's been his message from day one. He has stuck to it and never strayed. By no means is he a one-trick-pony -- he has an impressive voting record and has done incredible work on a number of issues -- but the main reason voters resonated with him so strongly in 2016 was because he didn't alter his core principles based on the moment's political trends, the way so many politicians do. He has one message, and he sticks to it. He is who he is, gruff and all. No embarrassing staged Instagram videos for him. Just one consistent, and ever resonant message: income inequality is destroying this country.
16
Watching from afar I see the that Republicans view the electorate as individuals so they speak to and tailor their message - largely economic- to appeal to individuals. The Democrats see a collection, or coalition, of more or less aligned interest groups, often defined by victimization; they must be careful that support for one group not be seen as coming at the expense of another group, or of creating a hierarchy of victimhood. Their worry that they may offend, or any past action may have offended, some part of the coalition results in the frequent apologies to which the author made reference. It can be difficult for voters to see that a candidate could be a strong leader after watching him or her apologize for two years.
3
This column’s advice for Dems is excellent. And this is exactly why Amy Klobuchar is terrific. A down-home Midwestern woman. She speaks clearly and honestly. She is sure of herself. She’s not auditioning for a role; she’s already authentic.
4
The Democrats are obviously nonplussed when it comes to taking on the diploma divide. They would rather have your mind than your ring around the collar shirt but come the end of the day it's the votes that count, so grab that chicken leg and prepare to get greasy.
The fantastical thing about Donald Trump is that people are free to see in him whatever they want, and find it. Trump's cachet? He is bigger than life. His political career went from impossible, to improbable to inevitable in the time it takes a kid to get through high school. He's liked because he is not like us and we cannot be him. Trump's valence and jejune approach to government creates a perpetual vortex which both sides of the aisle find mesmerizing and at the same time extremely frustrating.
There's no pretentious soft side to Donald Trump. No eating fried chicken hands on, wearing blue jeans or kissing babies. He's better than that and we know it and yet we don't care. What we see is what we get.
The Democrats keep trying to appeal to a higher sense of being which doesn't exist in most people, or if it does it comes and goes. They have a Trump within their ranks but refuse to acknowledge her. AOC. Her outré approach to politics, efficacy towards the press and social media coupled with her petulant attitude to those who deny her and her aplomb is errily reminiscent of the Donald. There are no apologies, no shame, just an election to be won and bodies to count.
3
@Kurt Pickard: Trump's victory is such an improbable event, it is proof of divine intervention to those who project ineffable wisdom into Trump's erratic gibberish.
AOC won a primary with 12% turnout of eligible voters in a safe Democratic district. It's a good thing she's too young to run for president, or the press might decree her the front-running Democrat for the presidential nomination.
1
@Steve Bolger
The point still remains that DJT is the President of the United States and AOC's got more free airtime than the rest of the Democratic Presidential candidates combined.
1
@Kurt Pickard
Trump is as "authentic" as a third-rate carny barker. What his loyalists see is far different from what he really is: a fraud and a felon.
And why not appeal to reason and a higher sense of being. A higher sense of being is in the popular vote - not an electoral college.
If this were a democracy, Trump would be sitting in a jail cell for committing fraud with his Trump "University" scam - which was worse than what Ponzi did to his duped wealthy investors. Trump swindled the middle class and retirees out of THEIR savings.
Don't people vote for who appears to be real to them? Hillery, for example seemed manufactured, not from the heart, while Trump appeared as himself. Bernie also seemed real. To me Warren,along with sen. Brown seem real. You know what their principles are and that they live their principles. Warren should be herself and, as you point out, not try so hard to please. Beto O'Rourke is interesting, but...?
1
@stephen petty
I'd like to see just one time when Trump isn't hiding behind a half-dozen bodyguards whenever he's acting tough and threatening to punch someone in the face.
The lead photo if Booker is spot on.
The Republicans area zoo feral predators: rarely big cats, more bears, mainly sharks, crocs, snakes. The Democrats are basically a domesticated spaniel: will do anything for love and cuddles, if the Master kicks it, will quiver, look up with adoring big eyes, and obey.
1
@J111111
What planet do you live on? Perhaps you should get out more often. In reality, there are innumerable instances of liberals striking at anyone (and everyone) daring to question any of their beliefs (or "feelings").
Can you give me just one example where Republicans have prevented a liberal from speaking?
There are several examples of vicious liberals acting like attack dogs and preventing conservative speakers from merely speaking. Would you like some?
1
Democrats, when you are the party that cares enough to care, how do you demonstrate that you care...enough?
Yes, try not to act like your are acting [that is be a person], not a performer/politician. Know who you are and project that persona. It seems that Obama was comfortable with himself, and the "orange suprematist" seems to know his mean, desperate, and needy self all too well, and has no intention of changing.
Candidate genuinely know thyself.
Yes. They should all be watching Nancy Pelosi closely.
6
@Beth Cioffoletti
100% . Watch her closely as she steers her party to another defeat in 2020.
2
@Beth Cioffoletti The islamophobic response to Ilhan Omar is not at all a good look for Pelosi (nor the Democratic leadership) whether or not she was wearing a stunning jacket.
1
I am very happy to see that Frank Bruni appreciates the best Democratic politician of them all - Nancy Pelosi. He is right that the obsessions with social media by some of the Democratic candidates come off as narcissistic and pathetic and they should cut out the phoney nonsense immediately.
2
As a proud American (and Canadian), I suggest they stop acting like Canadians.............
That dog won't hunt in a US election.
2
They need Abbey Bartlet to cut their ties off
1
Oh my god, now they're TOO "likable". Give it a rest.
1
Don’t think anyone would accuse dems of being too likeable. Ha!
Please the base
Young, color and gender
Not white old people in the Midwest
Those are tag alongs or local elections
2
Old white people in the Midwest are the ones who show up for primaries.
Or, maybe the media in general and pundits in particular could stop obsessing about stupid details like how a candidate ate her chicken, and whether she changed it. Jon Stewart famously pilloried Donald Trump for the way he ate pizza (i.e,. with a fork and knife); remember how much that mattered?Though perhaps this point is lost on the editorial page that features Mr. Bruni and Ms. Dowd, who have made a career out spinning these sorts of nothingburgers into extended analyses of candidates' 'character.'
3
A Democrat who is genuine: ERIC SWALWELL.
1
Always, always, watch Nancy Pelosi.
3
Swiss? As far as I know, there is no such language. Shades of Palin!
3
If you can't be yourself, why would you be running for president.
And why would you even want to be president if you could not be yourself.
After all, the current president won by just being himself. If he could win by just being the same person he was for the last 50 years, why would you run trying to be somebody else other than who you are. And those who voted for him likely thought he was "genuine." which he was. But heaven help us if all those people haven't recognized by now what his
"genuiness" was. And if they don't care that his genuiness is not very kind and he gets re-elected it will tell us even more about them that it will about him. We already know what he is.
3
What the working class will take from Kirsten Gillibrand's table manners is that fried chicken is a completely alien food to her.
2
Can you please tell me, Frank, just what is wrong with Elizabeth Warren cooing when her husband walks into the room? Sharing a beer together with her husband is vastly superior to swapping drinks with vagrants from bottles in paper bags outside a liquor store in a slum.
The object is to foster a vastly larger middle class & what better way to portray that goal than illustrating a loving relationship.
Votes & transformation, not pity. Kudos to Elizabeth Warren.
1
@Apple Jack
Elizabeth Warren is about as "middle class" as our President is. (her net worth is between $4M - $11M - if thats' "middle class", sign me up)
But yes, let her "pose" as if she is...
Voters don't want to see her "cooing" or anything else with her husband. That is exactly what Bruni is saying in this piece.
1
@DB Whatever. Still beats Beto not being able to self finance a campaign due to the limitations of his allowance from the wife or Cory "cooing" up to every groupie with a camera between calls from his pharmaceutical backers. Shall we continue?
JFK: "Let's go to the moon by the end of the decade."
Pelosi/Bruni: "That's kind of far. What about going to the 7-11?"
Pathetic.
5
Oh that first paragraph just nails Gillibrand. A weathervane is a rock of stability compared to her.
3
Has Kirsten Gillibrand really never eaten fried chicken? In terms of conveying how out of touch she is with the world, that's worse than George H.W. Bush being amazed by a supermarket scanner.
1
@John B
Is that really the issue?
What are her chops for selecting and managing a Cabinet? For being a strong presence in the international arena?
Is she honest?
Do I care how she eats fried chicken, or pizza?
2
Thank you for providing this extremely informative article on chicken eating.
The Con Man in Chief will run this fabricated border stunt all the way through his impeachment . Anything to divert attention away from his incompetency and Mueller investigation.
CNN do you have Donald Jr's address because he or Ivanka are next ?
@libel
The Mueller witch hunt will yield nothing on our President nor will it affect members of the First family
Our nation's President will not be impeached
Our President will win another term in 2020
@DB
Schiff, who told Chuck Todd on Meet the Press this Sunday that “corrupt coordination” between Russia and the the Trump campaign has already been proven:
You know, we are trying to work collaboratively with the Senate. But, look, I think when the president says there’s no collusion, what he means is, “Bob Mueller has not yet proven beyond a reasonable doubt that I am guilty of the crime of conspiracy.” Well, that’s a pretty high bar. But when people say there’s no collusion, they must have a different word for the kind of corrupt coordination of effort between the Trump campaign and the Russians because when Mike Flynn was secretly talking to the Russian ambassador, and trying to undermine bipartisan sanctions on Russia and lying about it, that was a form of collusion. When the Trump family and campaign manager were meeting in Trump Tower to get dirt on Hillary Clinton as part of what was offered as the Russian government effort to help the campaign, that was a form of collusion. When the president himself and his business are trying to make money from the Russians and get Russian help during the campaign, and promising — or — a new relationship with Russia, and talking about doing away with sanctions, that’s a form of collusion. It’s certainly a form of corrupt combination. But ultimately, it’ll be up to Mueller to determine if that’s a crime.
So the governor of Maryland equates Nancy Pelosi with Trump and gets away with it. Where are the Democrats? Where is the Democratic response to such tripe? Why are they afraid to confront stupidity... and bald face lies?
The phony card of "they're all alike" is the last ditch effort of the former Party of Lincoln to escape reality. If the Democrats fall for it they don't deserve to win elections.
1
It is all about authenticity. Trump won because he was authentic. He acted like himself, however grotesque that may be. That’s also why Hillary lost. Right or wrong, many people thought she was a Davos elitist who liked to hobnob with her rich global friends, while only masquerading as a liberal.
Some of the Dems are making the same mistake. You want Spanish? I can speak it. In a black community? OK, let’s go to church. You want me to act Southern? Get me my boots and let’s go line-dancing. Iowa? Let me hold a pig.
I totally get the need to connect with voters. But one thing about Trump—he has remained exactly the same as he always was—self-absorbed, insulting and uninterested in anything but money and being loved. He has run the country like he said he would. You won’t see him riding in a pick up truck at a ranch—he likes limos. He does not dress down for the occasion—always has the power suit and red tie. He said he was going to employ his family, and he did. He lied a lot before the campaign through his whole life and during the campaign—and kept it right up as president.
He is the vile vulgarian he always was and has never changed. His supporters, weirdly, like that about him. In the most perverse way, Dems need to take a lesson from his authenticity.
6
All of the presidential contenders need to, as they say, “run it up the flag pole and see who salutes” . Otherwise we’ve got a bunch of sycophants, and who needs more of that since the present administration is filled with them.
What a bunch of stuff. Let's talk about Hillary's emails, while Trump is trading away America for money from Russia. Let's talk policy.
2
The fault is less the candidates than the Press. Reporters can't get enough of the stupid and meaningless. If candidates don't pay attention of how to eat and what to eat then the press says they are out of touch. Someone not named Trump should tell reporters to "drop dead."
3
Good luck finding a Swiss-English dictionary, Senator!
2
I wish the NYT columnists would pledge to write at least one article a month on actual policies being proposed, or the candidates' actual opinions about various public issues. I am not looking forward to another election season of articles about fluff, gossip, pop psychology analysis, and personality critiques.
6
I learned a couple things on the way to the senior citizens center. 1-think about what you feel; say what you think; mean what you say. 2-talk less and listen more. 3-engage your brain before putting your mouth in gear. 4-i'm not as smart as I think I am, but neither are you.
as for this coming election, it's the racist neo-confederacy (that the Russians activated with facebook) that put trump in office despite his stupidity and criminality. they will re-elect him unless the democrats rise up, wake up, and give up on trying to win over the trumpkins.
4
The only groveling I've seen democrats do, is to the open borders/illegal alien lobby. Perhaps a little pandering to the American blue collar worker and disappearing middle class is in order? They used to be their natural constituents but they seem to have surrendered them to the republicans.
2
just make sure you have the bottle of hot sauce handy..
I think the Democrats have drunk their own Kool Aid—the notion that Trump is weak and unpopular and anyone can beat him—and as a result risk a repeat of 2016. Or worse.
1
Yes, for goodness sake, just be real.
Politicians are rarely genuine but few come off as so overtly artificial as Gillibrand. She's putting on an act and we're there for the dress rehearsal. Trump is going to eat her alive. The fact that many dems resent the way she conveniently three Al Franken under the bus doesn't help either.
3
Bruni missed the worse kind of grovelling Democrats do: groveling for Republicans.
Stop worrying about being called socialists. Republicans called John McCain a socialist. They have called every Democrat since WWII a socialist or a communist. If Democrats built the wall with their own hands, replaced the Bill of Rights with the Ten Commandments, made abortion punishable by death, brutally exported everyone darker than a Klu Klux Klan hood, and cut taxes on billionaires to -100%, Republicans would yell socialist louder than ever. Democrats are "socialists" because they are opponents, not because of their policies. More young people identify as socialists than capitalists. If Republicans want to alienate future voters, let them, don't join them.
Stop trying to "understand the Trump base." You only need three words (hate, greed, and violence). The Trump base would rather be taken over by Russia than vote for a Democrat. Why do you care what they think about your policies?
Stop groveling to Reagan Democrats, who fully embraced the Nixon's racist Southern Strategy (which is now the Republican Rural Strategy). They would rather be debt slaves to global banks than vote for someone that thinks minorities are full citizens of the USA.
Republicans openly and proudly proclaim, "compromise is evil and a sign of weakness," and every time you try to compromise with them they move the goal posts.
STOP GROVELING FOR COMPROMISE
Build your base. Win Elections. Make Republicans Compromise.
8
@McGloin: Senate malapportionment has already culminated in a religiously motivated federal judiciary.
@McGloin
Good point, I would add that many aspects of our government & society are partly 'socialist' - We have worked best as a mixture of capitalism & socialism.
Trump & the repubs get away with this partly because so many voters are unaware of the facts. The subtext: capitalism = democracy & individualism
socialism = dreary group think, 1984 ...
Another way to respond to this name calling: do one better. Describe our present form of 'capitalism' driven by big donors as what it most resembles:
Oligarchy. You wouldn't be far off.
@CD: Yes, mixed economies have a capitalistic private sector, and a socialistic public sector, and most of those fall between 30% to 60% public (socialist) sector.
W was considered authentic and real guy. Gore was considered inauthentic and an "intellectual". Maureen Dowd and others loved to point that out in these very pages. Look where that choice got us.
2
@gostrytertweets: Neither Gore nor Bush were particularly eloquent or accurate with words, but Gore was more vulnerable to distortions of his legislative role in the transfer of internet technology to the private sector into a claim that he invented the internet.
Authenticty and the willingness to be a goof/human, cannot be taught.
This two-party system isn't working for me. Democrats edge left, Republicans keep moving right. No one can deliver good legislation.
#Thesystemisbroken
2
Frank:
You speak Frank-ly on all issues. Good for you.
I disagreed with your column "The Super Bowl That Trump’s America Deserves" but did agree w/ your Tony Romo column.
Nancy Pelosi would make a good President. I see her running on a platform consisting of just four words:
Tear down the Wall.
It's been done before:
The Berlin Wall --
“On November 9, 1989, as the Cold War began to thaw across Eastern Europe, the spokesman for East Berlin’s Communist Party announced a change in his city’s relations with the West. Starting at midnight that day, he said, citizens of the GDR were free to cross the country’s borders. East and West Berliners flocked to the wall, drinking beer and champagne and chanting “Tor auf!” (“Open the gate!”). At midnight, they flooded through the checkpoints.
More than 2 million people from East Berlin visited West Berlin that weekend to participate in a celebration that was, one journalist wrote, “the greatest street party in the history of the world.” People used hammers and picks to knock away chunks of the wall–they became known as “mauerspechte,” or “wall woodpeckers”—while cranes and bulldozers pulled down section after section. Soon the wall was gone and Berlin was united for the first time since 1945. “Only today,” one Berliner spray-painted on a piece of the wall, “is the war really over.”
https://www.history.com/topics/cold-war/berlin-wall
2
Even young children are great at spotting phoniness--don't do it.
To his minions #45 is not phony; he is honestly lying (full of digested fodder). This is why his base is loyal, they cannot tell the difference between dishonesty, phoniness, and lying.
You're not insinuating Pelosi for POTUS? We'd lose a lot in the House.
C'mon candidates, find your spines before it's too late.
pretty nauseating isn't it Frank. One of the goodies that has come out of the trump presidency: reevaluation of our naïve view of this patriarchic office...most of them are very flawed.
I'm sick of the Democratic candidates already. Isn't there someone who doesn't come off as pandering? Oh, what an awful slog it's going to be and we are just getting started.
5
No, Frank, you stop it. Had Gillibrand not eaten the chicken with her fingers, you and the rest of the media would be criticizing her for being overly prissy and polite and not down-home. Same with Booker and Warren and all the rest. Your job is to find something that's an alleged telltale sign...and pick at it and pick at it until you've branded the candidate accordingly. Own up to your own part in this dirty business, and I'll take your words here more seriously. Oh, and Trump workshopped his slurs and gaffes at every rally he attended. Still does. His fans like him precisely because of his rudeness and racism, not despite it. That's their standard. He reflects them, and he reflects what the media lets him get away with.
14
@Amelia, on what planet is one living to perceive that the media right now is "letting Trump get away" with anything? Quite the opposite actually.
1
Listening to the the democrat candidates make me almost go republican.
2
Right on. Example: Gillibrand threw out one of our most vocal and effective senators for horsing around with a fellow performer - a man who clearly lived his life as a decent man - and erred on the side of slapstick! Me and a lot of other people would never trust her judgement again. I am sure Jeff Sessions was very happy, but not I- nor many others. It was just too stupid! Lets get our foot on the pedal and find a winner who will stop wasting a lot of headlines as apologists instead of riveting minds on important policy issues and the critical state our county is in! Move along, folks, move along!
6
An entire column detailing petty obsessions (table manners! woman drinks beer in kitchen, gets labeled inauthentic!) amplified and agonized over by the press — and the columnist then tells the candidates they are craven for paying any attention to the obsessions of the press. Get real. People beg for issues coverage and what they are served every day is forking tabloid fodder..
6
This column is rich coming from a NY Times columnist.
Why not write a "mea culpa" column explaining WHY everything in politics has become homogenized? It is precisely because mainstream media insist on focusing and beating to death peripheral issues and, whether writers admit it or not, these minor issues and so-called transgressions can bring candidates down. Matt Taibbi is one of the few who has acknowledged this destructive power.
I have some years on me and I have seen it repeatedly. Even the Paper of Record many times refuses to cover the nuts and bolts of a candidate's agenda, instead focusing on items such as the Pocahontas controversy.
Elizabeth Warren is my Senator. She is fierce, sincere and a fighter for the common people. She is consistent, can explain intricate issues in a clear manner and actually cares about how the system has been rigged against us.
What has the Times and other media chosen to do? Beat us over the head with likability issues and the so-called Native American "outrage."
All of us know that we derive our information about our antecedents from our fathers and mothers. She was told by her mom that she had Native American in her background. She was cudgeled by Trump and you and the media, and the outraged Native Americans beat her up. She was forced to apologize. For what? How does Bruni know he's Italian-American, pray tell? A DNA test? Give me a break!
Frank, do some soul-searching. Have YOU and your paper contributed to the situation?
21
"They recast his obnoxiousness as authenticity'.
To be fair Trump was and has continued to be authentically obnoxious.
2
RE: Consider Nancy Pelosi. She’s having a moment in part because she’s speaking bluntly and not afraid to ruffle feathers. (“The green dream, or whatever they call it,” she said when asked about the resolution.)
Whose feathers is she ruffling? The Left's.
RE: She helped lead the party to triumph last year.
This is not true. She followed Sanders and the DSA, which set the agenda—incl the New Green New Deal—that is much more popular than her corpodem protect Wall St and expand the Oil Crusades agenda. She clapped at the SOTU when Trump said he was engineering the coup in Venezuela. She exists to keep the GOP in power—that is why she is #2 behind MCConnell in receiving corporate bribes, while Sanders and AOC, and now Booker and Harris refuse them.
Good grief, Frank. Could you pick a more superficial take on today's politics than this? I doubt it.
6
Democrat candidates need to fire the professional political handlers. That's who turns promising candidates into toadies.
1
The sentiments expressed here are typical of old white men. I am 73, went through my pains at Berkeley in the 60's, in the army from '68-70, and the rise of political correctness in academia from 1970 through 2011. Yeah, I feel your pain, Bruni, but unless you're a total insensitive slob, you don't feel that of others. So let ladies be ladies, and gentlemen be gentlemen, and accept the fact that you are an artifact of a patriarchy that has seen its last hurrah with Donald Trump. As for the Green New Deal, you can have that or natural disaster.
3
At this moment, the strongest Democrat is Nancy Pelosi. If Robert Mueller comes through and brings down Maxwell's Silver Hammer on every member of Trump's mob, Speaker Nancy Pelosi will be sworn in as America's first female president.
3
I love it.
Was just a matter of time before these freshman democrats put their foot in their mouth. We also have senior dems in Virginia that seem bent on Trumo in 2020 as well. What a circus.
With Dems acting like this, the Republicans just need to sit back and watch them self destruct.
1
I love this.
And Dem voters need to stop with the purity tests that drive this groveling.
5
No, don’t “just eat chicken how you normally would.” We New Yorkers will never forgive Trump or DeBlasio for eating pizza with a fork. Not knowing Swiss? Perfectly fine. Eating fried chicken - or pizza for that matter - with a fork and knife shows yourself as being insanely out of touch with the hoi paloi. One doesn’t need to please everyone all the time, but one should never come across as an egalitarian twit.
How sad that trying to appear human is labeled "groveling."
1
Frank Bruni writes w insight, wit and intelligence -- a rarity among NYT opine writers. This article is a gem.
The author wants the Democrats to be more authentic and stop groveling, like Donald Trump, except the author states that he "prostrated himself" and presenting an "illusion" of not caring...
So does the author suggests Democrats to be authentic in a fake kind of way?
Or maybe the author just hates Trump so much, that he cannot accept that Trump (a 70 year old billionaire who has everything) simply does not care about Political Correctness, and must be groveling under the surface...
Very true.
Most people have finely tuned antennas and can sniff inauthenticity a mile away. For every vote you might get for
being all things to all people, there’s a good chance you’ll lose three others.
And for God’s sake, STOP APOLOGIZING for what you believe in!!
2
This column would be much more convincing were it not for the fact of the media's perpetuation of the idiotic "would you have a beer with 'em" trope that helped to elect W Bush and the Dumpster Fire currently in the White House. Bruni should write a column advising his colleagues to abandon such silly criteria and focus on candidates' substance. But I'm not holding my breath on that one.
3
Get on board! Soak the rich! They've got it coming. We've got it coming. The majority are in favor, even among Republicans!
Do it Democrats! I've been waiting a lifetime. I'm now an old man.
Raise our taxes and Save us money. Raise taxes and M.A.G.A.!
Up with Government - the friend of the people.
3
@Tracy Rupp
With a friend like that, who needs enemies?
The PC agenda will kill the Democrats. They seem weak and spineless, and filled with anxiety that they might say or post the 'wrong thing.' All this attitude projects is that, "all I'm interested in is getting elected."
5
This also goes to the huge overreaction in Virginia coupled with the crackdown on a Muslim rep when she dared to tell the truth that AIPAC, as essentially an arm of the Israeli government, dictates US Mideast foreign policy. Further, until the Democrats withdraw their support of the military industrial complex and the mandatory patriotism exemplified by the NFL fiasco, they will have little credibility among those looking for real change in this country.
2
I’m a senior citizen born and raised in NYC parents demanded that their children have manners and respect their elders
In my work life I never gave up my use of proper written or spoken English as a result people sought me out for writing or communication
Be yourself at All times it soothes your soul and keeps the on a higher plain
B. Tyus
NYC
JFK was a deeply flawed person, but not a groveler. I'm reminded that during the 1960 campaign he was handed an Indian headdress and refused to put it on.
"I do not speak Swiss." Oy, Cory! It is either French, Italian, (Swiss) German, or Romansh. Nobody speaks "Swiss."
1
I suggest the Democratic candidates take a page from Harry Truman and "give 'em hell".
3
Gee, political candidates suck up to the voters by kissing babies. Who knew?
Please, Mr. Bruni, help your readers understand the ins and outs of the various issues instead of focusing on the campaigns. Look at these comments, so many of them crying "I don't care about this stuff, I care about healthcare, global warming, and democracy!"
I don't think readers are nearly as fascinated by campaign minutiae as much of the press seems to be.
5
Like it or not, show business is a big part of politics. Kennedy, Reagan and Bill Clinton were all pretty good at it and reviled by the other side for that.
Franken would have been a superb President I think, because of his genuine love of country and understanding of its needs. Most importantly he would have been effective because the show business part for him is as natural as breathing. No doubt Republican strategists breathed a sigh of relief when he went down.
Pandering is a different story. Agree that accusation fits for Gillibrand and Booker. Not so Warren, in my opinion. A corny ad with a beer from the frig? Yeah, corn. So what?
2
I feel like this article ignores three important factors that contribute to the author's perception of Democratic "self-flagellation and genuflection":
1) First, the majorities of the Democratic candidates to date are either women or people of color (or both). Our society currently affords neither women, nor people of color the same benefit of the doubt that we do white men. When Trump melts down like a toddler, he is "just being genuine" and "telling it like it is". If say Kamala Harris did the same she'd be instantly smeared as the stereotypical, "angry black women."
2) Second, Democratic voters, unlike Republican voters, are not a monolith of largely older white people. The Democratic Party is a coalition of multiple constituencies with frequently competing interests - e.g. lower income people of color in the "inner city" and upper income urban tech workers and other professionals. A Democratic politician has a much finer line to walk that his/her Republican counterpart in order to maintain his/her significantly more diverse coalition of voters.
3) Gerrymandering and voter suppression have made it so that Democrats simply need to win more votes that Republicans to achieve the same electoral outcomes. As you need to win more voters, you necessarily need to appeal to a larger number of viewpoints on any given issue.
The above is not to say that Democratic candidates are not making missteps, only to be clear that they have a much harder task at hand than Trump.
5
@Gator Gerrymandering has absolutely nothing to do with Presidential elections and the Electoral College. Bruni's article is solely about Democrats running for President.
1
100% on point. Be authentic. If there's anything the orange monster has taught us it's that people appreciate authenticity. Dems generally suck at this. We should learn and read the room. It's 2019. People don't have time for the old-school playbooks of kissing babies at rallies. It's time to step up. Learn from Ocasio Cortez please. She's the future.
Democrats are damned if they do and damned if they don't. No group is more obsessed with being non-offensive to any and all. So, we get all these egg shell walkers. Then they're critiqued for being too anodyne.
The Republicans have it so much easier. They don't care whom they offend, as clearly evidenced by Trump's monikers like "Pocahontas." If a Democrat used that term for anyone, there would be hell to pay.
Where, oh where, is the happy medium? What might be a refreshing frankness to me would probably send another Democrat up the wall. It's no wonder we're seeing so many actors getting into politics. Maybe Meryl Streep should run? She could portray anything with conviction.
you are absolutely right. Do not forget about Beto's performance at the Dentist's office. That was absolutely sickening. Trying so hard to be authentic that it exposed him for audacious inauthenticity. Almost all the candidates in the Democratic field share this, unfortunately. Only Bernie Sanders and to be fair Joe Biden is truly unapologetically consistent, and himself. Everyone else is kind of a poser.
As Trump and Beto both showed, it is extremely helpful for perceptions of your authenticity, to be in a race with a candidate who has a penchant for inauthenticity. Ted Cruz is the archetypal inauthentic politician. Everything from how he speaks, the rhythm, tone, and content of what he says seems contrived, and in that regard, going up against someone that inauthentic is helpful in a primary, because it shows you to be authentic by mere association. Beto's not very authentic, but he seemed authentic as hell against Ted Cruz.
Having all these inauthentic candidates will be a coup for Biden and Sanders, because its not difficult to come across as real, when everyone around you is so obviously fake--and as you say--groveling.
It's very hard to trust someone who doesn't embrace who they are. And one who wants to be president so they can be king/queen. Its very easy to pick them out, nowadays. These candidates have a hard time answering the question--y do u want to be president, and all of them come across as disingenuous, which bodes well for those who do not.
I've said I would vote for Donald Duck before I would vote for Donald Trump. Most of my life I've been a Democrat, but a few years ago I switched to Independent. I'm a liberal and believe in liberal philosophy. I will never vote for Trump, but I'm beginning to think Mr. Duck would be a viable candidate for the Democrats in 2020. Please, Democrats, stop shooting yourselves in the foot.
2
No, Mr. Bruni - I don't want MY elected leaders to follow Trump's lead, in any way, shape, or form. I don't want ANYONE to follow his lead. He has led us into a time where Americans attack each other on a daily basis by what they say and what they post on social media.
Trump's constant lying fan the flames of hatred, his cruel derision of all Democrats and many in his own party who don't adore him cheapen his message (whatever that is). His nationalism and contempt for nations that he considers inferior, his stubborn and foolish disbelief in science and in the information he receives by the intelligence community because he believes himself to be more expert in these things than those who have devoted their entire careers to research and to serious information gathering - these are not qualities to admire, let alone emulate. I am a Democrat BECAUSE our leaders do not indulge in such claptrap, and because we actually DO care about people here in America and around the world.
"I’m not suggesting that he’s some shining model and sagacious tutor..." Well, that's good, because if you WERE suggesting that, we would know for sure that you have lost your way in the age of Trump.
2
If you don't know how to eat fried chicken, a slice of N.Y. pizza or ever put ketchup on a hot dog you'd never get my vote. And if my wife pops into the kitchen when I'm cooking I ask her to leave, politely. We have a small kitchen.
Alexis de Tocqueville, writing his still-classic analysis of American democracy, noted that the time leading up to an election is, by definition, a time of national crisis when things tend to go to hell all by themselves.
Other nations wisely addressed this by limiting the time and the amount of money that may be devoted to campaigning.
Given the many crises our President has generated it seems like a good idea that we do the same, freeing up resources to deal with things that matter.
1
All true, -ish.
And meaningless.
Democrats need to cast aside their Clinton/Obama, 'govern from the center" hoo-hah and raise some rabble.
Big, loud rabble.
They need to get over their elder-statesman selves and listen to the AOC generation.
Not make them their candidate, please, but take them up on the notion this nation needs, is ready for, and will vote for some creative destruction of the governing norms that brought us to this sad place.
Make radical suggestions, work it out in public, call others on obvious lies, and call them lies and liars and offer solutions.
Pay attention to people who need attention: the middle class, the working class, those sadly below that. Make America good for them in meaningful and sufficient ways.
Honor those identity groups and then respond to their needs, but insist they grow up and recognize they all want the same damn things: respect, opportunity, health, education, food, security, a chance to contribute.
If any of them resist, if they pull "me first" or "what aboutism", invite them out until they get it. They can't win unless they win together. Special pleading sends them back to the political stone age.
Relax. R-E-L-A-X. Have fun, make mistakes, do rooftop dancing, but for God's sake mean it. If your version of a carefree explosion of joy is a toast at a polo match then, by God, toast, toast well, show your ecstasy and your need to share it.
Stop playing it safe. Stop. Playing. It. Safe.
And don't lose. Again.
@oogada The Democrats did all of this in 1972. The Democratic candidate George McGovern lost 49 of 50 states to Richard Nixon.
@Richard
Your not serious...
The world is different. Everybody knows McGovern was right about a lot of stuff now.
Politics is different.
America is different.
We understand Republicans are not the loyal opposition, they are a dangerous unAmerican force willing to do and say anything to keep power.
People are beginning to understand the perfidy of Trump, the corrupt bias of our economic system, the looming prospect of massive automation and massive job loss.
Just because you used the same words in McGovern's day doesn't mean you'll be doing the same thing now. Or talking to the same people.
Your argument is why we haven't seen a bona fide liberal in America for fifty years. Its past time.
Eugene Debs was a good model, as long as you don't end up in jail! He was no sycophant, and he would do better today, possibly, since Woodrow Wilson is no longer around to clap him in the hoosegow... but, then again, it is hard to say how he might fair against the hordes of tea partiers. It's probably best to campaign as who you really are, and damn the torpedoes.
I actually find it comforting that some of these politicians are still acutely aware of the little things and how they are perceived.
I'd rather my politician pander and attempt to make people happy at every turn... it's much easier to find a consensus and bipartisanship with that character, rather this current bull-in-a-china-shop who doesn't care what 70% of the world thinks.
Terrific points, worth remembering. The US President represents the people of America. And the American people, whatever their political preferences, do not want to have a President who apologizes for them.
Brash, outspoken, of good cheer and strong heart, not tentative, not excessively afraid of making mistakes, willing to be assertive and firm, but never shrill or whining -- that's reassuring to the public, no matter what her or his policies are.
In any executive management role, indecisiveness can be fatal. Making a decision, right or wrong, is often far preferable to delay or hand-wringing -- not always, not in every case, but in general, and in most situations.
An indecisive leader can very quickly lose public and employee trust. A candidate who is seen to flatter and bow and scrape to a special interest or to voters can very easily generate a backlash -- is this how the candidate, if elected, would deal with monopoly corporations or with Chinese or Russian attempts at intimidation?
A person with a firm sense of self and common sense, even if frequently at odds with public opinion, can win a lot more votes than a person who constantly shifts to accommodate the latest breeze moving through the air..
While I generally agree with the premise, trying to please is wired into democrats DNA. And since much of politics is performance art, the kind of insipid "groveling" you cite is going to be for the most part unavoidable.
It's just who most of us are, with the notable exception of Nancy Pelosi, who has a very admirable and entertaining straight shooting old school bluntness about her.
Maybe we're missing the boat here, somebody ought to convince her to run.
Now that would be fun.
@JayK
Nancy ("I call her Nancy") has already been elected to a position which she has demonstrated is as powerful in many ways as the Presidency.
Why would she want to change?
It could be that only political women of a certain age attain the level of authenticity that Nancy Pelosi has achieved.
I suggest that all women contenders for the U.S. Presidency binge watch Game of Thrones to study the attributes of women who get the power to lead nations.
1
The negative tone of this piece worries me. If NY Times columnists are going to spend this election season scolding the Democratic candidates for their chicken-eating choices, their senses of humor, and minor gaffes, and also scolding them for aiming too high on medical care and climate change, we may just end up with another four years of Trump.
2
Yes, no party is better at going high when the others go low and then grabbing defeat from the mouth of success better than the Democrats.
3
Every journalist, commentator, pundit and blogger has advice for how the democrats should run. Grab the center! Move to the left! Speak to the working class! Be practical! Be Idealistic! Focus on Policy! Be likable! Smile, but not too much. Try to be authentic, and For God's sake, don't use a fork to eat your chicken and don't care what people think.
Strange advice coming from a journalist to a politician.
2
Elizabeth Warren can't do ANYTHING without someone in the media, or Republican online trolls calling her out for it. She is a former Harvard professor who is largely responsible for the creation of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. She is an intelligent, thoughtful, competent, and forceful representative of her Commonwealth. She is clearly better equipped than Trump to lead our country, but will probably be eliminated by this relentless criticism. Clearly the media and Republicans would rather have a bigoted, ignorant, destructive, incompetent in the White House.
5
Well said, Mr. Bruni. As usual, you are correct and make so much sense.
The ultimate cause of all the grovelling by Democratic candidates are voters who actually will base their vote on how their candidate eats fried chicken. And media that even report on it, thereby heightening its importance to voters. Kind of despicable, actually.
1
The new Democrat party motto: "We never met a special interest group or minority faction we could not pander to".
“I’m not suggesting that he’s some shining model and sagacious tutor, but he did go farther in politics than he had any right to, and a few of the reasons are worth noting and maybe even emulating, if only out of pragmatism.” I hope Bruni doesn’t include Trump’s speechifying in his call for Dems to emulate. Hitlerian in its lies, fairground barking and false religiosity, Trumps speeches will go down in history as a case study in creating mass delusion.
Not only does it smack of fakery, it begs the question "what DO they actually believe in?" or put an other way, what will I as a voter get when (if?) I pull the lever for X, Y or Z? Personally, I'd rather vote for someone I don't fully agree with, even on some major issues, if I had the feeling that she or he at least had some conviction and some fight in her / him.
It's the same with all this apologizing for things they said or did 30 years ago. So yes, your younger self who lacked the experience you've had since then had different opinions about stuff and lived in an environment and among people who held particular beliefs that you shared. Since then you have learned and matured and if you were in the same situation you would (re)act differently...
There's no need to rend your clothes or put ashes in your hair. (Unless of course you were photographed playing a camp guard in Auschwitz..., but then it would probably be best to get out of politics (or switch parties)).
Winning is positive messaging positive poliicies
The country is sick and tired of the constant stream of offensive behavior and campaigning
It’s time to govern
Unfortunately, Citizens United has ensured that the vast majority of our “leaders” are obsequious to their core. They’ve sent years groveling at the feet of their donors. They snivel and shape shift to become whatever the check writer wants. It’s their primary talent. It’s how they got where they are. Politics has always attracted that kind of person CU hardwired it. You sense a core of belief with Obama that Hillary, rightfully or not, just couldn’t make people believe. People are aching for authenticity and leadership.
Today I firmly believe if Democrats could mimic the "Nance Dance" from Speaker Pelosi and do the absolute opposite of what that "dump truck" does and says every single day, we have a better than good chance of winning in 2020. Just a thought.
1
Thank you for writing this Mr. Bruni!
This manufactured behavior is, in my opinion, one of the things that lost the last presidential election. In the debates, Clinton kept coming across as artificial. And every answer was as if she was tiptoeing through a minefield of her election campaign's own making. It's weak. It's disingenuous. And it reinforces a distrust of politicians.
Honestly, if you came to my house and behaved that way I would ask you to leave for being so insulting and disrespectful. And I'd conclude that you were probably a crook.
So STOP IT!!
1
Frank maybe you should stop putting these candidates under the microscope. So what if Gillibrand eats fried chicken with her toes. So what if Cory mistook a swiss accent for a Mexican one. You and correspondents like you, are just giving Trump fodder to attack Dems by being so petty. With the result that a total jerk is looked upon as one who sticks to his principals (whatever they are?) and someone who is being more considerate towards others is thought about as fickle. Stop with the minute nitpicking and move on to more substantial topics, like how our so called huge tax cuts are turning out to be tax increases for the middle class.
1
Here’s the problem - Trump ate his KFC with a fork and a knife and it didn’t ruin his chances at being President. Yes, all candidates could learn to be who they are in a post-Trump era, like Beto or AOC (next gen Dems for authenticity and message -oddly missing from your piece). But if I am a Dem candidate, every meal is fraught, vulnerable for media framing as an SNL skit - every single meal could be my last. Trump is under multiple investigations and has 37 associates indicted. Kids are in cages, a colleague of yours was chopped into pieces and the media absolutely cows to this man and roughs up the competition on his behalf. You are a bigger part of the problem than the utensils.
2
Indeed, you cannot be everything to everyone. People cringe when they hear Democrats do double speak, trying to please everybody.
Let's make it simple. There is a choice between more giveaways to the rich, more paeons to the racists, more cuts in social programs, and more foreign policy for the king of Saudi Arabia and against allies, and then the Democratic platform. Fact is, many more people in this country believe that rich should be taxed more, racism should not be tolerated, access to healthcare should be guaranteed, and pre-Trump foreign policy should be restored than the opposite. Yes, even in the South.
But these people are not going to go to the pols unless they have a good reason to do so. They will need to see that the Democrats are actually standing for these ideals.
So go ahead. Confront Trump. And don't fear to be called socialist. Explain that this is not what socialism is. Describe what other flourishing capitalistic economies do for their citizens. Stand your ground and knock that Clown-in-chief out of the White House!
Columnists such as Mr. Bruni are so frightened of 45 getting re-lected that they are trying to micromanage the opposition even under the guise of rejecting micromanagement.
The election of 2020 will be a referendum on Trumpism and everything that entails. Please stop fretting, Dems don't have to be perfect to win and wanting voters to like them is hardly the worst of sins.
The Senate decided to release their report, that finds no direct evidence of conspiracy, and at the same time telling us they don't have all the funding that Mueller report may have...
So my question is...why bother and confuse american citizens even more.
As of now, we have his whole entourage going to prison, some for a long time...countless Russian GRU (GRU is in the military intelligence service of the Russian Federation, (formerly the Red Army of the Soviet Union) got indicted, stick inside Russia people, otherwise you will definitely end up in prison.
Waiting for Mueller, is not the same as waiting for Godot!
But we can still think, that life has no meaning and is full of suffering...especially now.
1
Never underestimate the visuals of one's eating style among the locals. When Bill de Blasio ate pizza with a knife and fork on Staten Island, it almost derailed his political career - and rightly so. It probably said more about him than a hundred profiles in the Times.
Does the management of this newspaper believe that a 21st Century public needs to be bamboozled with fear of post-mortal punishments to remain barely civilized? One suspects so, given how it treats this topic.
Bruni is on to something important for 2020. If anyone is going to beat Trump it wont be the way this group is going about it. So far, and I hate to say this, just a bunch of wimps who will be mauled by Trump. Is there anyone in the Democratic party who can meet Trump toe-to-toe? Maybe Nancy should run. Otherwise plan for four more wonderful years.
Heyyyy, there, Frank Bruni, way to lay the foundations for a negative depiction of the entire field of Democratic candidates to date! I know columnists aren't necessarily in control of their headlines, but... "groveling?" Really?
1
Thanks for posting this great article. Trump won because he was seen as "authentic". The Dems need to STOP falling all over themselves and shooting in circles, for every little presumed politically incorrect statement. One party and their leader has NO principles and the other one is trying to be saintly.. in politics!
Pandering often pays off, until it doesn't. It's also bipartisan. Just look at how Trump bows at the feet of his base: Hannity, Limbaugh, Coulter, Putin and the Saudis (to name just a few).
1
One problem with the Democrat candidates ‘being themselves ‘ is, as a group, there’s not much to like about them. Gillibrand is a lightweight, Cory Booker has no record to stand on, Biden suffers from a chronic case of sticking his foot in his mouth, Warren is a Ivy League liberal, Sanders will be pushing 80 next time around, and the others are similarly weak and flawed. Just look at all the comments encouraging Beto to run. The Dems have more than a dozen in the race and the greatest excitement is for an obscure congressman. Harris is stronger than the others but she has that affair with a married man she’ll have to account for.
1
This is the difference between Trump Republicans and the current crop of Democrats: The Republicans TELL their supporters what they are feeling (you're fearful, you're angry, you're ignored, you're being discriminated against because you're white.) Democrats ASK their supporters to tell them how they should feel (should I be pro-immigration? should I be for or against Medicare-for-all? should I be a democratic socialist? how should I eat this fried chicken?) Those are 2 very different approaches to populism, aimed at the same result --- getting your base to like you because you understand them and you're relatable.
In both cases, politicians have lost sight of the fundamental purpose of representation, namely that you spend time formulating thoughtful, coherent, practical solutions to problems, which you then present as your "position on the issues". Voters then decide whether or not your position agrees with theirs and whether or not they want you to represent them.
Ridiculously idealistic, I know, but the alternative is what Trump did --- lie through his teeth about anything and everything --- or what Mr Bruni describes in this column. Neither is an honest approach to true representation and, consequently and inevitably, leads to the dishonesty we brand our political leaders with.
Leadership is about knowing and leading the way, not asking which way everybody thinks you should go, and then taking them there. This is why it is so rare, and so powerful.
I don’t care how a candidate eats their chicken but I do care if they are inspiring, have great ideas that aren’t Far Left and can beat Trump
143
@Peggysmom The author's point was not "how" they eat their chicken. The point was that the candidates need to grow a spine and be confident about who they are, and stop trying to appease.
15
What is Far Left? We have tried Far Right, at the state level if nothing else, and found it to be disastrous. We have never tried Far Left so how do we know it would be bad? Moderate Left has worked out pretty good in the past so why not give Far Left a chance, however you define it? Maybe it is great.
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@Peggysmom
I'm tired of the "far left" reference there aren't really any extremists in the Democratic party - just soundness of reason and great debates.
Stop asking for the Democrats to change their ideals.
Change your rhetoric instead.
19
Mr. Bruni hit the nail on the head with this one. Any candidate must recognize that Trump won the last election because he came off as an authentic, if deeply flawed, human. That was refreshing to many because of the pandering of stereotypical politicians and the break down of our two party system.
Liberals have an image problem, due largely to the influence of social media and the twenty four hour news cycle, where they are categorized by their opponents as pedantic, condescending, easily offended, and intolerant of other views. Any candidate must realize conservatives will use those types of attacks relentlessly, and should be wary of providing easy ammunition.
A recent NYT article had a headline to the effect of "The candidates are very, very sorry". Does anyone recall how Obama's trip to Egypt was derided as an "apology tour" to frame him as weak?
Americans wanted a "strong" leader in 2016, and since then we have seen a trend of elected right wing governments across the world. Whoever the Democratic candidate may be, they must project a strong, confident persona while simultaneously managing to admit their flaws. As John Kerry proved in 2004, "not the President" is not enough to carry an election.
Americans will not elect a Commander in Chief who will apologize and question themselves every potential decision.
It is unlikely that any of these Democratic candidates will win the candidacy for the presidential nomination. There are others who will decide to run who may have a better chance of winning the candidacy than any of these now in the race. They may be better qualified and prepared to handle the stress that goes along with running.
This was some sharp observation and another lens I hadn't considered. But let's give them a break it is February 2019 and we are at the far outset of the race. The field is diverse, smart and showing some nerve. Maybe they are a bit too eager to over-correct what HRC and her campaign did, and didn't do, that turned so many off. That is to be expected as they are only human.
There is a Swiss language and it's called [tswitsertootsch] - correct my attempt to phonetisize this on the NYT with my keyboard. It's called Swiss German in English and it is spoken in the German-speaking parts of Switzerland, Bern, Basel, etc.
Yes, though, Frank, your point about people-pleasing politicians is well taken.
Agreed, Mr. Bruni. Pandering is a sign that the panderer is focused on how she or he is being seen. Such self-consciousness wavers from the focus of the job at hand, which is reclaiming our democracy. I did not see that in Marianne Williamson's announcement speech, and I hope there are other candidates who don't fawn over voters. In addition, we, the public, must curb our nit-picking critiques of public figures which drives this obsessive search for "correctness."
@JR80304: At best, the US has been an uneasy forbearance of abuse of unfairly apportioned powers. It falls far short of one person one vote and equal protection of law and process for all.
1
@JR80304 - With all due respect, Marianne Williamson is fake nice/spiritual. A friend reported that she berated an waitperson at a speaker's event, completely unprovoked. She is completely unelectable and would do well to go back and re-study A Course in Miracles.
1
But Frank, by focusing on these petty faux pas, aren't you just contributing to the problem? Many will come away from this read remembering Kirsten's chicken and Cory's language mishaps. Can we find no way to focus on the actual issues?
5
@DRSNYC Nope. Basic (if utterly unfair) rule of political existence, especially at the Presidential level, is that you have to have a perceived level of authenticity BEFORE voters care to have YOU advance the actual issues. Bill Clinton and Obama had that authenticity; Hillary and Booker and Warren do not. The actual issues resolve themselves - they have validity and resonance regardless of whomever advances them. That is why the messenger, not the message, is key - the key. As we saw in 2016, all the competence, experience and familiarity with the issues mean nothing if people do not like you. It is terribly unfair but it is human nature and no amount of wishing will change it.
2
I won't forgive K.G. for Al Franken - the ONE PERSON who could absolutely beat Trump easily. D.A,, NYC
10
Agree. It was self serving and cynical. She is trying to brand herself as the women’s candidate but it is nothing more than marketing. While I doubt she will not last much past Iowa, I will never vote for her.
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@David Anderson
And the 6 women who came forward with credible allegations of being groped by him over the course of a decade?
Democrats are increasingly ruled by two groups of people - their corporate masters, and their radicalized left fringe.
And they've spent decades weaponizing identity politics, and the "victim totem pole" that results from this despicable tactic.
Until these two things change, they will continue claiming ignorant things like "walls don't work" and "national sovereignty is immoral" on behalf of the corporate owners. And they will continue making fools of themselves trying not to offend the many identity groups they've used for political gain for years - including the far left of their party that millions of Americans view as extremely disturbed individuals.
Nancy Pelosi was right to mock the dozens from her own party who came out in support of the "Green New Deal" before even having read it. Ironically, she admitted to doing the exact same thing with Obamacare ("we have to pass it to see what's in it").
Speaking of Obamacare, democrats promised "affordable health care" by ramming through an extremely unpopular bill in 2010 and are now seen as the party who can make healthcare affordable. I blame the relentless propaganda and lies we see and hear daily from democrats and the 97% dem media. If you tell the same lies enough, people believe them. And most are too apathetic to do their own research to arrive at the truth - that democrats failed miserably to lower the cost of healthcare b/c that wasn't the goal.
Hire the arsonist to put out the fire. Do as you're told!
1
What Democrats are really obsessed with is pleasing a small sliver of fickle voters in a handful of swing states. Remember, the Dems have won the popular vote in six of the past seven presidential elections, but in two of those elections the Republican wound up in the White House.
The Democrats are America's majority party but cannot act like it because of the electoral college. Some say this is good, it minimizes the influence of big blue states like California and New York, but I fail to see how awarding disproportionate political power to a relatively small group of low-conviction, low-information voters improves democracy. Even in the swing states, most well-informed voters are committed to one party or the other and are not switching based on superficial attributes of the candidates.
4
Be decisive, speak with authority and have the courage of your convictions.
2
"What's the hardest part of being a politician?" asked a reporter to a veteran politician whose name I don't recall.
"Faking sincerity," was his response.
Memo to Democrats: Unless you're really, really good at it, don't even try.
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Thank you Frank Bruni for raising this issue. Perhaps the Democratic candidates are having trouble being authentic is because they spend so much time pretending to be someone or something they are not. Constantly compromising their stands to earn votes or raise money takes a toll. In the end, that toll is loss of self.
As for Trump, he is many things but he is not authentic either. He is a fraud, who sadly has his base fooled
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The American People believe in those who believe in themselves. If you are constantly second guessing yourself, letting others tell you what to believe, and are triangulating to be all things to all people, you will lose 2/3 of elections.
Identify your values and principles.
Create policies that implement your values and principles.
Advocate strongly for your values and principles sniffs policies (while learning from your mistakes and listening to, but not groveling for, other people).
Build coalitions of people that share your values and principles, and like your politicies.
Motivate them to strongly advocate for these policies and values face to face with real humans.
That is how you win elections. That is how you force Republicans to compromise with good policy.
If you think you can sculpt the ideal candidate to beat Trump by not doing anything that offends anyone, especially Republicans, you have already lost. If you compromise with bad policy before the campaign even starts, you have already lost. What is the point of winning an election of you ran on bad policy?
Republicans pretend they have values and principles, never compromise, and win elections.
Centrist Democrats pretend they don't have values and principles, grovel for compromise, and lose elections.
How is it possible that just as many workers believe that Republicans will help them as think Democrats will help them? They vote against their own interests because you didn't give them an alternative.
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The whole bunch make me cringe. A group of high school kids running scared. Not a genuine note among them. Bah! I'm hoping Biden steps in as now is not the time to play cutsie. We must defeat trump and this group is not the group to do it. Maybe next time when they grow up and develop a strong sense of who they are and stick to it. It's there....some where.
Just for the record, my Swiss friends would beg to differ about there being no Swiss "tongue": here's a link: http://www.eldrid.ch/swgerman.htm
And to quote from the page: "In Switzerland they speak Swiss German, and that's something completely different. Swiss German has its own pronunciation, many different words, its own grammar, and most Germans have difficulty understanding this funny language. The German-speaking Swiss write standard German, that's true - there is no Swiss German official language (but still some literature, e-mails etc. using the dialect). The Swiss can also speak standard German very well, but to them it's a foreign language that they have to learn how to use when they start school. This is an ancient page from the year 2000, but it still seems to be useful for a few people ..."
This is a well written article and I sincerely hope that the Democrats take it to heart. For too long the Democrats have behaved timidly and have lost their way.
They should remember what Steve Jobs said "If you want to want to make everyone happy don't be a leader. Sell ice cream".
The country is looking for leaders, not ice cream sellers.
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@A A
Of course ice cream can be nice too.
Bruni is on point here. Voters can smell (and detest) political correctness, inauthenticity and pandering a mile away. It's a surefire way to get Trump reelected. The nominee will need to be very strong, tough, uncompromising in their positions, and capable of fighting and counterattacking without mercy. If the nominee can do this based on truth and conviction, they can beat Trump.
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@Robert kennedy
Really?
I am having a bit of a problem swallowing the fantastical notion that Mr. Trump is "authentic." Once a Democrat, somehow sliding past the violent divorce, "grab the [genitals]?, the sleazy behaviors and the constant lies? That's authentic?
Which voters were the ones who detected and detested inauthenticity? We lost, remember?
Trump's "authenticity" is that he's a liar, and he panders to an entire class of people that HE detests.
I agree that the Democrat nominee must propose bold programs that they believe in, and hammer the truth everywhere, and have a ruthless edge, which, should the nominee be female, must be concealed in velvet.
I do not agree that anyone should care, or more importantly, write in the newspaper about, their table manners on the rubber chicken circuit, or whether they "coo" at their spouse in the kitchen during filming, while drinking a prop beer.
Please Mr. Bruni, do your part to raise our conversation, and get over the cheap stuff. It's just a lazy way to get a column done.
Obsequious often rivals opportunist, the same for pedantic, when it comes to politics. Thanks for the ridiculous image of asking for permission to hand hold fried chicken, this from the person who adroitly used a political shiv to dispatch a contrite Al Franken.
Americans are hard-nosed practical people, especially country-folk. which is what makes Pelosi so attractive: she is really the only one who snookered (out-maneuvered) the president on the shut-down and state of the union speech.
In the end, hard-nose pragmatism with a healthy dose of gentility are the qualities that can capture the strength of American voters, not the 'groveling' that Bruni points out.
1
Here are my 3 questions for potential candidates:
1) Who is funding your campaign? (correct answer: the people who will vote for you, not the mega-bucks person or corporate person)
2) What will you do to change the direction of climate change? No answer IS an answer. it says that you don't care if the world becomes uninhabitable by humans.
3) Will you prosecute, not pardon, the law breakers in the previous executive branch (back as far as you can go)? Let bygones be bygones has sent the message that "high profile" office holders are above the laws that apply to the rest of us and can get away with anything.
Their answers to these questions are the defining characteristics of any candidate.
1
It's political correctness run amok, one result of exaggerated identity politics. And when you consider how fellow Democrats are cannibalizing their own, you'd probably be hyper-aware of behaving in a hyper-correct way. They look weak and insincere, though, and they're unlikely to inspire the number of voters needed to take back the Senate and the presidency. I'm still waiting for a candidate I can get excited about.
Couldn't agree more. Take a stand, decide who you are, and put yourself out there for better or worse. Positions may evolve and honest errors may be acknowledged, but for god sake stop groveling. Hillary tacked to every poll seemingly by the minute. See where it got her.
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"Social-media posts that are meant to convey accessibility, transparency and unvarnished charm can come across as stagy and needy."
You mean like during the 2012 election when a photo was taken of Paul Ryan cleaning pots and pans at a Wisconsin soup kitchen that had already been cleaned to make it look like he really cared about those folks who would suffer the most with his Ayn Rand economic philosophy?
Yeah, there was no attempt to appear staged and needy then, right Frank?
Hey Frank, glass houses and stones, dude.
Trump won the election the first time around because those on the fence disliked Hillary more than they disliked Trump.
So don't focus on being liked, focus on not being disliked. If you plan on changing positions about a 'popular' policy or talking point, just tell us why. We might end up agreeing with you.
Look, politicians have always kissed babies and will continue to do so. But I get your point, and it has validity. They should say “Here I am, this is what I stand for, and here’s how it will make things better.”
1
Not to bring up a sore point, but watching what the DNC did to Berne in the last election was shameful.
What some people call groveling, others call wise campaigning. After all, people vote emotively rather than cognitively. Which is to say, they vote for people 'like' themselves.
Democracy, even representative democracy, tends to reduce whatever it’s supposed fo decide to a popularity contest. It’s a serious, systemic weakness, more serious than ever in this era of intellectual and social decline—when almost nobody can think because so many powerful forces (people, technologies, information conduits) are busy hijacking our attention spans. So it’s really no good telling Dems or GOPers to be authentic, especially since so many people think authentic means loud, obscene, obscenely ostentatious, boastful, more than slightly off-color, and bigoted. Let’s reject all “acts.” Let’s also reject commentary suggesting we need a particular “act” (even or perhaps especially an authenticity act). Let’s insist on truth-telling—nothing more, nothing less. Let’s insust on reasoned assessment of national challenges and national priorities, and reasoned proposals for how move up, not down, and forward, not backward or around in circles. Let’s put more value on competent executive leadership than charisma. Our charisma-valuing politics are killing us.
America should take a look at Sen. Michael Bennet. I think he is the perfect antidote to counteract Trump.
There actually is a Swiss language. It’s called Romansh and has a small base of native speakers. The point is, however, that the obsequious p.c. behavior of candidates seeking entrance to the club is obnoxious and unnecessary. The example of Bobby Kennedy is worthy of emulation, even for non-Swiss speakers.
Tell you what, Frank, just as soon as your brothers and sisters in the newsroom stop covering elections as horse races, and stop making issues out of things like whether a candidate ate pizza or chicken in accordance with the local custom, politicians will stop bowing and scrapeing. I am certain farmers are less concerned with whether or not their President can milk a cow by hand than with whether their President understands that it is farmers that bear the losses of trade wars and US consumers who pay the tariffs we place on foreign goods.
1
Frank Bruni is really on to something. All Democratic presidential candidates should look in the mirror and ask, "if I were a voter listening, would I want to sit through all the calculated, staged, and cryptic statements and platitudes of a sycophant presidential aspirant?" The answer is, I'm certain, is NO! Every candidate should stop worrying if s(he) might be displeasing or offending to voters. Please, please be authentic; folks quickly see through the false rhetoric and sales pitches so widespread in today's political world. If a candidate has made past mistakes, lied, done something wrong, etc., don't hide from them. Fess up. Don't run from your past. Better the candidate who resembles the average voter than the candidate who believes s(he) is somehow above the rest of us. Don't grovel for votes!
Great article Mr. Bruni - I agree, the behavior is somewhat pathetic.
However, not to worry, those candidates mentioned in this article are not truly viable.
We need someone who has integrity, experience and is moderate.
Ms. Warren, Ms. Harris and Mr. Booker can gloat and promise all they want to - that's the only way they'll attract any voters - none have any substance or depth.
I still believe Joseph Biden is the best candidate to defeat President Trump. He should have run when he was Vice President under Obama.
I've seen no one else who even comes close to his character, experience and popularity.
Couldn't agree more with your assessment. The Democrats need to have a steel spine, and project their ideas for firm, but fair, presidential leadership
Remember what happened to John Kerry in 2004? He was the infinitely superior candidate, but tried to be too many things to too many people, and the whiff of insincerity cost him, and the nation, dearly. Please, not again!
How quickly we forget. We had a leader like that just a few years ago. Barack Obama. He was thoughtful , measured, brilliant, and trustworthy. Looking at Trump is pointless, look at Obama.
I am so clapping for this column, and not the Pelosi penguin kind, but all-out kind. The Democratic candidates need to stop simpering, stop apologizing. Some of the candidates have strong records of accomplishments and they need to focus on that. Take credit for what you have done. Brag about your successes. Swagger about how you went toe-to-toe with the largest bank and won. I am interested in what you are going to do for us for the next four, eight years, not what you did or wrote on some card, or whatever, eons ago.
Donald J. Trump is nominally our leader, the ‘most powerful person on earth’. He is neither. In reality his skill set is as a message brander, a huckster hawking his wares for the benefit of one—himself. Because he won’t go away of his own accord and we cannot define a clear path successfully to relieve him of his self-defined duties, he is slowly developing a reputation in our easily manipulated media image of him as an expert, a genius in the practice of his dark and nefarious arts.
It seems to me that opposing him with a small army of intelligent, well-meaning Progressive opponents each nesting on a small fraction of a larger, more coherent opposing message suiting their individual interests or skill sets, makes it too easy for the Manipulator-in-Chief and his minions to tease apart the force arrayed against him into feeble threads all too easy to break apart and discard as trash in front of the uncritical herd of lemmings that is the voting public as a whole. Only someone espousing a wholistic vision of a better way forward has even the slightest chance of defeating the evil genius now taking up our space and time from that house at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. One can only hope that a more well-rounded, effective type of Democratic candidate will emerge from the ever-enlarging list of seekers materializing before our eyes.
And eventually all of this cross-appeasing gets you into awkward spots that can come back to haunt you with the larger electorate. Here is Booker saying something that actually is true, but probably isn't the best way to get traction in Iowa...
“The tragic reality is this planet simply can’t sustain billions of people consuming industrially produced animal agriculture because of environmental impact. It’s just not possible.”
— Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ), in an interview with VegNews.
@Michael Richards: Population multiplies the whole human environmental impact, whatever the technology.
Frank, Frank, Frank.
Let ME be frank. You may be right with respect to some of the Democratic candidates, but you missed the larger, more important truth by a country mile (that's for the rural readers). It isn't just the Democrats.
It's Donald Trump and the Republicans in Congress who have done the the most obsequious groveling for the past few years, and continue to do so. They are the appeasers, groveling at the feet of the Christian right, ultra-conservatives and their extremist right-wing base. It's a wonder that they can manage to stand up.
Furthermore, there's nothing new here. Politicians grovel. That's how they roll. Yes, the Gillibrand fried chicken bit is amusing, but it's akin to John Kasich and Bill De Blasio eating pizza with a fork. And let's not forget George H. W. Bush's ostensible love affair with fried pork rinds. I wonder how many votes that got him, albeit not from the vegan or PETA crowd, to be sure.
So, get with the program, Frank. It's time for you to eat some crow. And no, you won't need your fingers, or a fork and knife, to eat it.
Trump, our pop culture vulgarian celebrity president, owns his base because they share with him similar deplorable cultural values. A presidential candidate, who decent Americans would support, cannot connect with Trump's base and shouldn't try. The nation could use a Cabot who only speaks to a Lodge.
The Democrats' problem which may very well cost them the 2020 election is not their groveling in general but instead their groveling to every identity - and often aggrieved - group that makes up today's Democrat coalition. Lord I would love to see another Barack Obama who did not obsessively fixate on - or primarily identify his potential supporters by - their race, gender, ethnicity, sexual identity etc. etc. Sure, he was hated by the extreme right but his impressive victories were fueled by a cross section of all Americans who felt his policies were not geared to any specific group but to everyone. His election also made a lie of the too common narrative among many Democrats that America is irredeemably racist. I also say "today's" Democrat coalition because there is nothing in the stars that says the current Democrat coalition is eternal. Someday (hopefully soon) Trump will be gone and if the Republicans nominate a (horror!) moderate like Nikki Halley and the Democrats nominate an extreme left identity panderer I suspect many of the women, Hispanics, Asians, African Americans and others who brought us today's Democrat House would easily switch to the other side. And if that brought us another Obama era of calm common sense this American would be delighted.
As they say in both theater and politics, "The main thing is honesty. Once you can fake that, you've got it made."
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Absolutely right! There is no self-respect in flattering as many as possible under the wrong assumption that this is the way to get votes. Have a spine! Fight for what you think is right! Don't shy away from confrontation when circumstances require it! Those who will respect you will vote for your you!
I find Bruni's piece a bit disingenuous. He is looking for the story to sell his readers using the story the press itself mostly designs themselves. Usually out of a candidate's weak moment that does not even begin to tell the whole story.
Here is Mark Twain's mantra for all Dem candidates: "When you tell the truth you do not have to remember anything."
As to Trump, Mark Twain said:
"One of the most striking differences between a cat and a lie is that a cat has only nine lives."
"I would rather tell seven lies than make one explanation."
About sums up Trump don't you think?
They're afraid to be truthful. Look what happened to Rep. Omar.
Gosh, the Green New Deal is "politically fantastical?"
Is it more fantastical than the idea of President Donald Trump was at this point 3 years ago?
Is its cost actually that much more than the $1.5 trillion dollar giveaway bill that the fantastical Prez created and sold, which adds a solid 10% to the national debt in one fell swoop?
"Politically fantastical" sounds to me like a cheap shot, from a lazy perspective.
Go back and do some serious analysis, and give us some facts, rather than an echo of the wounded whines of the obscenely wealthy Schultz's and (to my disappointment) Bloomberg's.
One can't be unabashedly and sincerely for EVERYTHING. Get a platform, Democrats. It shouldn't be too hard to find one that helps more people than the GOP does. Then STICK TO IT. And stick it to Trump and Mitch, the laziest President and the worst Majority Leader in history.
With a little careful investigation, and less Congressional grandstanding, the stench coming out of the White House by 2020 should be overpowering. Little people go to jail for criminal behaviour; they won't like it if the President seems to be getting away with it.
Positive measures for the middle class and sunlight brilliantly focused on Trump administration corruption is the answer, not obsequious vote hustling.
No, Frank. The Ds need to find another saccharine neolib with an uncanny ability to climb on every passing bandwagon and an impeccable background, education, and control of language. If not from the South, the candidate needs to offer a Carter or Clinton founding story from a rural town or farm that evokes the nostalgia of Plains and A Place Called Hope. Above all, the candidate must not scare Wall St.
Thinking that there is a "Swiss" language shows a level of ignorance that I would find it hard to forgive in someone running for any office that may have to interact with other countries.
Amen, Frank. Dem candidates are performing for the media (MSNBC and CNN) whose job it is to look for drama so they analyze ad nauseum every tiny thing. And the candidates dance to their tune. It's sickening. We want strength.
Meanwhile, the other media pundits are telling Dems that they need to find a candidate that appeals to everyone.
This column should be required reading for all Democratic - and Republican - political hopefuls in the next election cycle. Quit fawning and trying to please! Talk about your concrete plans for governing and stop trying to be all things to all people.
We need real leaders in this country, not toadies who are afraid to take a stand on issues.
All we need is a really angry democratic candidate. Angry about college tuition, angry about health care, angry about income inequality. You know the list.
1
Yes, it’s sad to watch. I once had high hopes for Booker until I read how much money he’d taken from pharmaceutical companies. However, mind your own store too NYT. Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown is a strong potential candidate who’s been consistent in his statements and policies, who’s announced interest in running and barely gets mentioned in the press. Has the media decided we have to have an identity politics candidate? A flamboyant personality? You are already acting as a herd without a herder, pushing not following.
It's frightening to see the professionally offended apply their litmus tests to every Democratic candidate. The circular firing squad is in full swing. When are we going to stop giving all our attention to the people who cry "Sinner!" the loudest?
There IS such a tongue as Swiss. It's called Romansh, and although only about 50,000 people speak and understand it, it is still on the currency etc.
1
This is why I'm going for Amy Klobochar instead of Beto O'Rourke if he runs, Beto and others will be eaten alive by Trump, I see Amy getting in Trump's face and calling him out. I want her to be a bulldozer, if she chooses Nancy Pelosi for VP, how cool would that be to see her debating Pence :-) Next step if the Mueller report comes out and it's obvious Trump needs to go, but the republicans won't lift a finger, then we need to have lots of protests along the lines of the airport sickouts. No more apologizing, no more being too nice, lets get the job done within the boundaries of the law, to include the media using the law and their lawyers to sue and prosecute anyone who threatens violence against them.
Nancy Pelosi is having a moment?! Her approval rating is 38%, up from 35 at the beginning of January. Some surge! That's lower than Trump's.
If this is a "moment," I'd hate to see what a non-moment looks like.
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Nope, sorry. Not buying it. What Frank is describing here is the type of sycophancy demonstrated by politicians of *all* stripes. When politicians on the right come out wielding guns at campaign rallies, I'd wager that most of them are pandering to their base the same way that Bruni is describing here. Don't conflate it with some vague, fluffy notion of political correctness just because someone in blackface didn't apologize for their actions from three decades ago.
Well, you had me until that last paragraph; Rep. Pelosi found her backbone via the progressive tide. I have an ongoing intrafamily bet that she will cave on the Wall. I think I’m winning.
"Eat chicken however you naturally would. Don’t invent languages"
Too late for that. You have to eat chicken the political correct way. Liberals spend their lives trying to find motes in their fellow citizens eyes, and have so super-sensitized life that they're constantly jumping over themselves jumping at their own shadows. Because statism is leftwing religion, its devotees are paralyzed by the guilt of the original sin of Columbus et, al. Every gesture has to be an act of atonement. But closure, short of vacating these shores, will never come.
Take the tormented soul of Warren. She seeks refuge in invisibility, self-identifying as a person of no color as in Mont of No-Color, or the No-Color House.
Bruni wants liberals to pick an agenda from their mountain of grievances. But identity politics is based on the premise of leaving no perceived slight behind. In fact the complexifier of 2020 is the exponential multiplier of candidates. It will soon become necessary to sort them into groups, maybe have them compete against each other as blocks. The unmentionable is not far off: candidate suppression.
Run on Trump's appalling record. Focus on the 17 investigations, the looting, the Emoluments violations, the convictions, and the sexism.
Remind women of his despicable, condescending, sexist comments. Focus on his massive failures including the tariffs, tax cuts which were supposed to trickle down, Kim who never disarmed, the health plan that wasn't, a shutdown that crippled the country, and the latest madness whereby he's threatening to restart nuclear proliferation.
Highlight the Trump children's cancer care non profit the court ordered him to shut down because of pilfering of funds.
Ask the public: "What kind of human being squanders money donated to kids with cancer?"
Don't debate Trump, expose Trump for the contemptuous sociopath he is.
Then close with a leadership example such as JFK, FDR, Patton or Churchill.
Win by contrast.
Thank you Frank Bruni for saying what is so true.
I was admiring of Kamala Harris until she said she was glad “pot” brought “joy” to people’s lives and went on to talk about her experience with it.
It appeared that she was trying to please certain voters.
There is no “joy” in the lives of parents who are dealing with kids who have addictions.
The science is not completely in on this drug.
Just ask the states where pot related automobile accidents have increased since pot became legal.
Politicians should refrain from trying to please everyone and certainly not jump to endorse
such questionable usage.
They would be wise to heed Mr Bruni’s advice here.
If it is authenticity you crave...
for the sake of the world
mention that Old White Male Democratic Socialist
Senator Bernie Sanders
or you really don't want authenticity...
or you are scared of Sanders
you don''t really want bold ideas...
Polling shows that the majority of citizens want health care for all, more affordable college, better education and infrastructure, and higher taxes on wealth and less use of the military.
But, generally, the best Congress money can buy ignores what their voters want because it is not where the money comes from...
Citizens want bold change,
and if only Trump checks the box...
Churchill was reviled in England after he was wrongly blamed for the WWI Dardanelles disaster, spending a decade as political pariah. Nevertheless, 25 years later, through raw perseverance and determination, he led England and the world back to the "broad sunlit uplands" of freedom from the depths of WWII.
Do you suppose his achievements were without the most vile opposition and withering criticism? He followed his principles, wherever they led, and was was utterly unafraid of attacks.
Candidates that offer apologies at this early stage do not understand what it takes to win. Fully half of the electorate will vote for the losing candidate--that's how it works. Politics, like college football, is fully tribal and the scorn from the other side will be brutal. So grow a very thick, iron skin. Get over trying to please everyone.
Show us what you stand for--and know that we will spot the phonies.
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Yes, absolutely. However. How is it possible that there is no mention here of the other candidate from last time who's success far exceeded initial expectations because he did not play the poseur? And Bernie Sanders, whether you like him or not, was not a misogynistic, racist, narcissistic, plutocrat-con man like Trump. And he arguably would have won the presidency if not for the profoundly corrupt DNC, which really did steel the nomination from him. (Certainly he was polling easily ahead of Trump, in large part because he appealed to many Trump voters, in addition to progressive Democrats.) And here we see again crucial media voices continuing to completely ignore all this. Something is very, very wrong here.
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"Social-media posts...can come across as stagy and needy."
They are stagy because the post and candidates posturing and photo-ops are staged by marketing advisors who, after donning the Cape of Expertise, micro-manage the words and actions of candidates.
Consider the pathetic shot of Michael Dukakis with his head sticking up out of a giant tank, or the bizarre scene of Hillary Clinton manning up by drinking a boilermaker.
Candidates get very bad advice, more so Democrats than Republicans, and pay big money for it. The fact that they act upon it is what hurts them in the end.
2
I'm sure (or at least I would very much like to think) that Cory Booker's "I don't speak Swiss" was a joke. That every single reader of this column got. Strictly speaking, I don't think it was necessary to insult the intelligence of your readers, and sen. Booker too, by explaining to us that "there's no such tongue as Swiss".
Side note on Corey Booker and the Spanish language:
I’ve seen Booker interviewed for many years on Spanish language television – in Spanish. While he is not fluent in the linguistic sense, he does speak more-than-passable Spanish and can “hold his own” without reverting to English.
I can also attest that speaking in a second language requires a “leap of faith” -- that you won’t embarrass yourself, you will be understood, that people will be patient with you, they won’t laugh at you, etc. So good for Booker for being willing and enthusiastic about doing this over the years. And actively looking for opportunities to do so.
Remember, the Latino community is a huge, perhaps outcome-determinative, voting block in 2020. And, in my experience, anyone who even attempts to speak in Spanish almost instantly achieves admiration of Latinos for showing respect and appreciation of the language of their ethnic culture.
This should be required reading for all Dem candidates. If you won't let us see who you are, why should we vote for you?
By the way, Booker's foreign policy credibility took a hit if he thinks the Swiss speak "Swiss." They are a trilingual population with a high degree of proficiency in English - as usual in Europe.
1
Compared to our present white house occupant, the level of fakery shown in these candidates is minor league.
1
There might be something to this, but seriously, he was joking about "Swiss". If you want them to kid around more, you have to recognize it when they do.
1
Politicians are not normal people.
What competent professional would quit their jobs, take a huge pay cut to run for a popularity contest, a glorified Survivor? Have their year book ripped apart, every person since they slighted since they were in high school can be weaponized. Elementary school/day care will be the new frontier!
Not many.
So you get the B-Team. People that started climbing the greasy poll from collage, or dynasty types who inherit a seat (think Kennedy/Bush).
Harris, Warren, Booker could have made 10x salary in the private sector, enjoyed their private life, been closer to their family. Instead they went to the lime light like moths. Their is something in their character that they would sacrifice family and fortune for the adulation.
And Trump is the epitome of this character trait. Other politicians just hide it better.
That's right, Frank. Democrats need only please Wall Street, the Neo-cons running the Military Industrial Complex, Big Pharma, the Media - who hasn't seen a US fomented coup they didn't like - the Elites and Billionaires who stack Davos and make the global financial and political decisions that affect our lives, but leave their wealth and power intact, and, anyone who donates large funds to their re-election campaigns.
Sound like Hillary 2020 Redux?
The Band of Losing Brothers and Sisters currently making their names show up in 76 point type on a NYTimes headline, should take a page from The Hillary Brand®.
Diss the Deplorables, embrace the Deluctables, Denigrate the Warren/Klobuchar/Gillibrand/Booker/ex-Sanders Progressive Game Plan until it suits your purpose to co-opt it, and shed no tears for the general populace. You'll never be able to enter politics with a pauper's 6 figure bank account and leave with a millionaire's 9 figure bank account if you don't play by the rules that are handed to you.
The rest of us can take a number. Or a piece of fried chicken.
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Memo to Democrats: Define yourselves or begone. Define yourselves or the GOP will do it for you. Be anything but ambiguous.
2
Frank, why don't you address instead the issues? One of the reasons that egos overwhelm positions is that talking heads recognize and favor egos over ideas. Sort of like looking in the mirror.
The real dilemna is that the Democratic party establishment, typified by Nancy Pelosi, is "progressive" only on Social Issues (Gay rights, Abortion rights, immigration, etc.) To truly restore our government to our Founders Ideals - "For the People, By the People" - we must break free from the chokehold of Wall Streeters and the corporate elites who truly govern us. The Democrats have offered symbolism - an African American president, a woman candidate - but not the true progressive agenda Bernie Sanders dared to offer.
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@Joanne M: Sanders offered a wish list. The real trick is how to finance it all.
14
@Joanne M, Elizabeth Warren has offered taxing assets of those over $50 mill and $1 bill. I am sure all of the Dems will, at some point, unveil other plans that address some of the issues you raise. Instead of complaining, why don't you give these candidates a chance to offer their plans. My God, the campaign just started and the first contest is still almost a year away.
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@Joanne M - Sanders dared a lot but the first rule of American politics is, if you hope to change anything you must first get elected and nebulous concepts like the New Green Deal will not get anyone in a General Election elected. Please don't remind anyone that HRC won more popular votes -- unless and until the Constitution is amended the Electoral College is how US Presidents are chosen. The goal of Progressives should be to 1st defeat Trumpism with a candidate that can win a national election - period, full stop.
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When will Democrats stop running scared? We want a candidate who plants their feet, straightens their spine and says, "This is what I stand for." In the time of Trump, nothing is more obvious or more powerful.
It's why Biden, whatever his faults has such a good chance. When the guy opens his mouth he says what he means and you know it. Gillibrand, Booker, Warren, et all, glued to their polling and insulated advisors already leave a bad taste in our mouths. We're all film critics now and that means you can't fake sincerity.
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@ijarvis As the list of hopeful Democratic candidates grows in 'leaps and bounds', I find myself increasingly anxious, for the very reasons and behaviors cited in this column, that the Democratic party in 2020 will snatch defeat from the 'jaws of victory'.
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@ijarvis
Biden is a great guy and I sincerely wish he had a chance to be president. Unfortunately too much time has passed and his best effort now should be to work enthusiastically to elect the chosen candidate.
7
@ijarvis
You are so right. Like it or not, we're all film critics - in this horror show.
2
Thank you Frank. I have grown tired of them trying to please every one and bending theirselves into a pretzel trying to appease certain groups. The Presidents base is going to stick with him no matter what he does so Dems should get over it. Just doing the math the Dems are in a superior position to unseat Trump. Trump promised the moon and has delivered nothing.Halfway through the great deal makers term he has nothing to show for his dealmakers prowess.All Trump has to run on is his disgusting style of racism. Liberalism is not a dirty world and The Left should stop getting in a sweat when they are called liberal. The next year before 2020 should be spent getting out the vote and tailoring a message. I believe The Left putting all of it bets on Republican Robert Mueller to be their White Knight is going to comeback and bite them. If anyone has driven,flew or traveled by rail they know that our infrastructure is on life support. It’s not rocket science to.know out of work coal miners and factory workers could be transitioned over to rebuilding our infrastructure. Ordinary people know the weather has changed and saving the environment is a winning message.Let Trump run on his message of division and overwhelm him the people who think otherwise.
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@Steven McCain
I'm a voter in my 30's (late) and think Northam should resign. So much "these people/groups," "PC," in this thread. At the time 25 year old Northam was putting these pictures on his page (memories of the civil rights movement were fresh), my 44 year old mother was supporting Jesse Jackson for POTUS. There is no excuse for his behavior, much less pathetic lies about it. The Klan stood for the rape, murder, torture of my countrymen. My countrymen. Blackface enabled that. I'm not African-American; regardless it's unconscionable, to me as a citizen and a human being.
But now it's a "Halloween costume."
The situational ethics of some of you are unbelievable. All for some status and a dollar. Wow.
1
@mlI I agree with you about Northam but don't get what this has to do with @ Steven McCain's comment.
This is why I went centrist. Centrists don't care about identity politics, they are far less sensitive to insults, and just want to manage the country so we can be happy & fed.
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@David Konerding
eh, or they just don't want to take a position on issues that are important. Mainstream democrats since Newt Gingrich have mostly been about negotiating the least painful terms of surrender to increasingly right-wing republicans. I'm sick of that . . . give me some progressive candidates with gumption. I'd rather go down battling than with a whimper.
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@David Konerding Over the last 40 years, centrist "Democrats" were complicit in allowing and then actively maintaining the Reagan Restoration. They talk the PC talk and then walk the banksters' walk. They are Rockefeller-Republicans-in-drag. It's no mere coincidence that Hillary was a Goldwaterite in her early life.
Time to be done with the Goldman Sachs wing of the Democratic Party.
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There has never been an "authentic" candidate who stands for what they believe in despite the consequences or the mutilation of public opinion. And in a society of "in the moment" intersectionality and "toothless" non substantive agendas that do not promote constructive homologous based incentives, there will never be one. So long as there are multiple policy preferences, dogmatic adherents who vote on "one" policy issues, multifaceted political strategies, the orthodoxy of liberal and conservative media, elitists and covert financiers, long winded pundits who say nothing meaningful extemporaneously or on purpose, emotional vacillations of a fragile minded public, unchecked anger, racial bias, misogyny, misandry, rampant economic inequality (which I might add started long before the Trump Era) and multi streams of money into political campaigns, you will never have any authentic candidates who aren't jumping through every burning hula hoop like a circus act to appeal to a salivating populace. This country needs leadership, NOT more candidates!! Our communities need more Leaders, NOT more political operatives polling the public for agendas. When the public is ready to swallow reality instead of imbibing on false narratives and anger inducing bias, maybe, AND I MEAN MAYBE, we will get a candidate that will not sell their soul for the Presidency, or any other office.
3
Dems are trapped in puritanical world of manners. Put one foot wrong and some identity group will hammer you. The press, which sells controversy, will happily facilitate. So, how do you appear "authentic" in this environment? Spout mindless 60s utopianism, like AOC. Good luck winning swing-vote middle Americans with that drivel.
3
I think this article points to irrelevant details when the President and everyone who supports him are in favor of detaining legal asylum-seeking migrants at the border, inciting political violence, and are known for "below-the-belt" attacks. Who cares if Booker wanted to make sure he could identify with someone asking him a question? "Political correctness" is criticized because the media tends to focus on these tiny details, when the point of the matter is to be sensitive to minority groups because *nobody ever has been.* Don't criticize Democrats because they actually want to connect with their voters rather than choosing to ignore them.
2
Agreed. In the 2016 campaign Donald Trump came off as authentic and real whereas Hillary Clinton appeared to be fake and dishonest. Go know!
2
After reading the article and some of the comments, I say this: It would appear that the real unsatisfied infants are the voters themselves. For the whiny democrats I say: You need to be yelled at so you get to the polls and vote instead of making a 'statement' and then whining for years on end. To those who 'don't like what is going on' vote for reasonable policies for goodness sake. Too boring? BooHoo, put in a little time to figure it out, not that difficult. Vote out all republicans for a great start.
4
I’ve been waiting for a title from the Times like this for 25 years. I hope when I read it it lives up to the title.
1
Bruni is concerned about the overreach of pc police harming the Dems in the next election cycle. He has a point. But some of his examples in this essay are inaccurate. They also suggest another type of overreach. First, Bruni criticizes Booker for mistaking a Swiss accent for a Spanish one in his eagerness to connect to the public. Bruni then goes on to state that there is no Swiss language. My wife's family is Swiss. Schweizer-Deutsch, which differs from German in grammar, phonology, and vocabulary, is used by the Swiss in everyday life at home, in the shops, and at the office, etc. And my wife had no problem with Booker stating that he doesn't speak "Swiss."
Bruni goes after Gillibrand for simply asking whether she should use fingers or a fork to eat her fried chicken at a restaurant in South Carolina. She is at a restaurant not someone's home, and that is a perfectly reasonable question. The ridiculous takedown of Gillibrand by male media types over her politeness is what Dems should be concerned about for the future, if they don't want a repeat of the 2016 election where the colluding Left and Right media took down Clinton at every turn, including her trying to power through the NYC 9/11 Memorial Service while she was ill. Bruni, himself, has given Dems examples of what NOT TO DO in the next election cycle.
5
Good gravy! Something from Frank Bruni I actually agree with. Could the end of the world be at hand?
2
The fact that you continue to read him though you may disagree with him in most cases is the kind of open mindedness we need more of here.
When a political party spends as many years dividing the country by race, gender, religion, class, etc. they have to manage to show each of their preferred constituents within each category that they are the chosen ones. The “others” are “toxic”, “racist”, “misogynist”, and countless other adjectives of immorality.
Hillary’s “deplorables” comment in 2016 is likely what motivated more people to vote for Trump than anything. People are sick and tired of the political AND media elites in America smugly denigrating large swaths of Americans simply because they hold different political views.
And democrats aren’t capable of disguising the palpable arrogance of their world view and disdain they hold for Americans who don’t live on either coast. It’s in their DNA.
1
Maybe Nancy Pelosi should run for President. She surely knows how to handle Trump.
3
Frank, I enjoy your columns and loved your book, "Born Round". Please do not suggest that anyone should behave in any way like the President. The very idea makes me nauseous.
3
I worry about the negativity of this article. Why don't you write an article about each of the candidates' good points, and reinforce them instead of critiquing? When Maureen Dowd continuously criticized Hillary Clinton I fear it helped her cost the election. Don't give Republicans ideas for them to use agains tthese candidates.
5
I would never vote for Christian Gildabrand because of what she did to Al Franklin, Franken was a much better Senator than she is.
3
Check out Tulsi Gabbard. She does not grovel.
She has courage, a heart for the American people, and her own ideas for moving forward. She is also being ignored by the media, except for occasional smears. No wonder. The media are the grovelers-in chief.
2
"In the context of Trump and the unprincipled Republicans who have enabled him, Democrats’ willingness to search their souls, admit error and think expansively and inclusively is beyond refreshing. But too much self-flagellation and genuflection can look foolish and smack of fakery."
So, which is it, Frank?
This piece seems like just more of the false equivalence we come to expect from the 4th Estate.
How about you do a piece on the treason of Mt McConnell, pointing out all the ways over the last decade that he has taken sides against the average American while bringing glee and self satisfaction to the koch bothers and the rest of the oligarchs and kleptokrats who fund the republican party.
That would be newsworthy.
4
These people are out there running, Frank, not you; let them run their campaigns as they see fit. Racing to the bottom to match Trump's infantile self-aggrandizement on the campaign trail isn't a recipe for rescuing the democracy either. Isn't this also the same columnist who promoted the 'talk Great Books with dopers' St. John's College as the greatest thing since sliced bread?
2
I disagree Mr. Bruni.
So when GOP tries to "please" it's fan base, then it's smart strategy? Let's review, DJT, life long Democrat, friend of the Clintons, pro-abortion, etc., all the sudden goes full blown jingoist, populist and drinks the GOP Kool-Aid, that's not groveling or trying to please? Give me a break.
1
YES and thank you!! Candidates who so try and follow the rules of others demonstrate that they are the perfect follower and not a leader in any sense of the word. Candidates that try and be 'human' and do and show themselves in lights that try and 'connect' like the Beto vids, are too much (of the wrong) information. Lead and others will follow which is exactly what the country needs. Follow those who would follow you and the blind lead the blind. Say what you believe, be who you are, speak firmly, and carry an air of intelligent, confident LEADERSHIP. You have it, are are it, or you are not.
3
Good point, Frank, there can be such a thing as too much schmoozing. As regards a Democrat exemplar of confident independence, Nancy Pelosi is good...but Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez may be the quintessential example. Too bad she’s too young to run for President in 2020.
2
Mr. Bruni makes a entertaining point about candidates needing to appear less obsequious, but the examples he offers address a different problem.
Kirsten Gillibrand came to South Carolina to eat fried chicken with a fork. Really? Then this is not about her being obsequious or pandering by asking others whether it was ok for her to use her fingers; rather, it is about a politician who has done a pathetic job in preparing herself for the road. Not to mention the other signal it sends back home that she must have never spent enough time at any soul-food restaurant in Harlem—or anywhere else in New York—to know how ridiculously pretentious using a fork on fried chicken would appear.
As for Cory Booker: "Swiss"—a language. Really? How did this man attended Stanford and Yale without acquiring a passing sense of European history enough to know that his exchange would have been more witty if he protested no fluency in French, German, Italian or Romansch? Let's hope he was joking--please. The man is on the Foreign Relations Committee, after all, and we can be sure he has never been told that a document was translated from Swiss or that the intelligence agencies were waiting on a Swiss interpreter.
It's not about sycophancy. Politicians have always had to play to the public and always will. It's about preparation and attention to details, great and small. Once that skill is mastered by politicians who also offer substantive policy options, then it's a win-win.
1
The problem here is that democrats have to be all things to all people or they would never get elected. They have to thread the needle with all the made up victim groups that they have created, if they lose one of those groups, they’re done. All the republicans have to do is appeal to rational, average Americans and they will win unless the dems create more victim groups. Simple as that.
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@Thomas Aquinas
Being all things to all people is not leadership. All people do not agree with each other and if you try you will be speaking out of both sides of your mouth and your disengenousness will be obvious. A strong leader believes in his or her own moral and ethical compass and speaks, acts and IS that genuine person. That will not please everyone, but that is true leadership and will win the day.
18
@Thomas Aquinas
Of course the problem for Republicans is that they have to keep everyone talking about how bad Democrats or "liberals" are, or they would never get elected. Republican policies (eliminating Medicare & Social Security, shifting the tax burden downward to the middle class, letting insurance companies decide who gets medical treatment, letting oil companies decide whether to destroy the environment, etc etc) are wildly unpopular, so the Democrats have to be demonized and baited into identity politics. Of course you are right that Democrats often take the bait; they are usually bribed by the same financial interests that own the GOP.
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@Thomas Aquinas You lost me at rational" If shouted chants of "build the wall" and "lock her up" represent rational thinking for your average American, we re in different worlds. Count me out, that isn't reason to me.
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The takeaway here is, even if you're a bankruptcy expert determined to end income inequality, you better watch the way you take a beer out of a fridge, because the NYT is watching, and if they don't like the way you do it, you're going to get called inauthentic. Thanks media, for helping us care about all the right things.
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@Zack
I don't think that's it. I believe Bruni is giving serious advice: don't try too hard to be liked and to fit in with Every. Single. Constituency. Otherwise it's seen as pandering and that is not something people like in a leader. It's embarrassing.
I remember during Hillary's first run she decided to "drop by" an upper PA blue collar bar after a long day on the campaign trail, to take a slug of rye and talk about the Eagles, relaxing with her fellow hard hatted coal miner buddies, as is her habit. It was comical. It was an SNL skit.
2
Speak bluntly ay? That worked for Trump ay? But when Hillary Clinton said 1/2 (not all) of Trump supporters were "deplorable", then all the PC police came crashing in on her.
2
Right: women are supposed to be likeable, but heaven help the one who tries to be likeable. Double bind on top of double standard.
@Joe Slott
Really?! It was the "PC" crowd who punished her for her assigning a huge portion of the American electorate to the dust bin? I don't think so.
One thing that made Bernie so appealing is that he clearly didn't care about making everyone happy, or even being particularly likeable. Whether you agreed with his criticisms and his solutions, you couldn't deny his sincerity. He wasn't in it for himself, but for his programs.
That characteristic, and what Mr. Bruni is describing here - the examples of fried chicken eating and Swiss cheese - may seem ridiculously superficial, but they are not.
Leadership is about doing hard things - and maybe admired for it - but not necessarily being liked. You simply can't stand for something AND try make everyone happy. It's one or the other. People sense that in their bones.
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@Livonian No, Bruni's examples are indeed ridiculously superficial, as is his "analysis." He is doing just what he criticizes the candidates for--acting as if the choice of how to eat chicken reveals anything about them. How about real examples? For example, Sherrod Brown won't use the Senate health care plan, never has, and gets his health care from the Obamacare exchange. Says he should have what his constituents have. There are ways to be and signal authentic beliefs.
Candidates should just be themselves. Acceptance is up to the persons being addressed. Authenticity is to be valued or at least respected regardless of whether one decides to vote for a certain candidate.
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Mr. Bruni uses very poor examples and deductions to make a good point. He seems to be, at best, a poor judge of humor regarding Booker's obvious "speak Swiss" comment, or does he truly believe an Ivy League individual such as Cory doesn't know the languages spoken in that country?
Democratic candidates do face a real problem: they have so many splinter groups to appease that they risk alienating, if not enraging, white voters who might feel, somewhat justly, that they're needs get no traction--- or that they're ignored out of antipathy.
There is a sub-class of poor white folks in this country who are identified easily by their accents, cultural preferences, and neighborhoods: these can be as limiting as challenges facing people of color. And ignoring white middle-class needs has proven to be a recipe for defeat: most folks in that demographic are a paycheck or two not from homelessness, necessarily, but certainly to a tumble into the lower-income pit.
Wake up, Democratic leaders, and become the party of all!
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While I recognize Mr. Bruni’s Observations are spot on, I must caution that the electorate doesn’t want nuance, they want what they believe is authentic and likable. Remember we got George W. Bush in part because more voters thought they would like to have a beer with him as opposed to Gore. Even though our President is a teatotaler if there were any reason to get hammered this is the time.
1
Well, the GOP is composed of three constituencies that are very pragmatic. Each gets some of their pet policy--immigration, taxes and abortion e.g. Dems, on the other hand, have embraced the identity politics (I am not against it) and have to create a very complex set of coalitions that are quite fragile. So, I do not know if such a muscular GOP-like strategy would work with the Dems complex coalition.
You've gotta feel sorry for them. If they are too progressive, like Bernie Sanders, they will be undermined by the DNC and attacked by neoliberal media including the New York Times. If they aren't progressive enough, they will suffer the fate of Hillary Clinton. The Democratic Party needs to make up its mind as to whether it wants to be the neoliberal, corporate stooge party, or the party of the people it pretends to be, because the people have caught on.
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the entirety of their platforms is sound bytes, mass appeal, surface populist stuff.
It worked for Hugo Chavez. I hope this leftist stuff is laughed out of the race, as it should be.
Good advice. American voters can spot inauthenticity and awkwardness a mile away. Watching John Kerry these days I wonder where was this tough unabashed guy in 2004? At this point very few are looking for exact policy positions; they are looking for people with natural passion and power and comfort in their own skin.
2
I also see this as Mitt Romney’s fatal flaw. He always came off to me as stiff with an artificial smile and willing to say whatever he thought people wanted to hear.
I remember seeing him in an informal interview sitting in an airplane seat as a journalist asked a few questions. He looked focused and serious and not playing to a crowd - probably what people who have done business with him see. I am not a Mitt Romney fan, but the difference between that Mitt Romney and the one you saw at campaign stops was marked.
Hillary was the same in some ways. Always better in small groups where she could respond to people on an individual level but had trouble doing that from a stage.
Performing on stage doesn’t come naturally for a lot of people.
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@Sherry IMO one of the defining images of Kerry in 2004 was him windsurfing off of Nantucket during the campaign. He was indeed being "comfortable in his own skin" there, but it reeked of privilege and, no matter how "authentic," it was used effectively by Republicans to attack him as "elitist" during his presidential campaign.
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Trump spoke and acted with utter fearlessness. He is rude and insulting, his actions despicable - yet he never seemed to care about reactions from the left and he rarely ever backed down or walked back his uncivilized tactics. His base loves him for this.
Democratic candidates are too fearful. Afraid to misspeak, afraid to mis-eat, afraid to offend everyone. The demand of their base that every breath they take reek of almost absurd political correctness comes across as phony nd self-serving.
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Trump came from a reality TV background where you know who your audience is and you play to them. If your fan base is 20% of the viewing population and you can get enough of them to tune in, you have a hit show.
Trump’s base seems to be about 30% of voters. He plays only to them hoping to get enough enthusiasm that they show up to the polls. At this point he is never going to appeal to a much wider audience and trying to have broad appeal would only disappoint his base - thus his willingness to shut down the government for a wall.
Democrats should have a spectrum of candidates to choose from. Looking forward to seeing who floats to the top.
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@DKSF Good comments. The Con Con is fearless when he is duping on the weak -- that is immigrants (particularly women and children) and the dark-skinned. I don't recall that he has been fearless in confronting the powerful.
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You can't blame it all on the candidates. The liberal Twittersphere goes nuts anytime someone says anything remotely practical because it tends to offend one of the dozens of interest groups with their requisite PC terms.
The Democratic party is literally becoming the party of words: It is so important to use the correct words that you can't ever just get past the language and worrying if it is going to offend someone.
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The Democrats are fighting for a message. To this day no one can actually say what Mrs. Clinton's campaign message was other than "It's my turn." It's great for the left to hear their candidates say that they hate Trump but what do they stand for? Illegal immigration? Sanctuary cities?, post birth abortions?, 70 % taxes? Socialism? This is how crazy the party has gotten. The Dem moderate candidates will be eaten alive by the further left media and Hollywood.
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There will never be any change. Republicans stand united no matter what actual crimes they may commit, while democrats are attacking each other for the most minute nonsense.
Al Franken anyone? Ralph Northam?
Please stop apologizing!!! It is not appreciated by the populous, and seen as a sign of weakness.
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It's happening again.
The Democrats will be outraged and correct and vegan and all the rest of it, and then Donald Trump will pick up a 2x4 called immigration and beat them down.
We can do this as many times as you please.
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Immigration won’t be the issue for Trump in 2020. Most are starting to see through his empty rhetoric. (i.e a wall to protect against crime and drugs. A humanitarian crisis that his policies only exacerbate).
The 2x4 that the right will use in 2020 is socialism. Rhetoric may be just as empty but if you spend anytime on Facebook, you know the Right is primed to swallow it up. We may not be overrun by illegal immigrants, but we may be on the path to becoming another Venezuela. That will be the message. It won’t be because of the corruption and mismanagement of the current administration, but from universal health care and higher taxes on the rich.
@DKSF
Your analysis makes sense. But making sense is clearly no longer running the show.
Now it's fear and hate and vanishingly short attention spans.
The Democrats are afraid to be anything but nice on immigration, and Donald Trump smells that fear. And, just like the bully he is and has always been, he will attack it. He couldn't stop himself if he tried.
And of course the white-hot lights, cameras, and breathless reporters will all go along for the ride.
None of this would be an issue if the media (you included) didn't write about trivial issues like eating chicken with a knife and fork. There should be substantive writing about real issues on the front page of the Times every day, and less breathless celebrity-lite candidate coverage.
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Well said Frank and GO NANCY!
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I wouldn't mind if the Democrats groveled for American voters and interests, but many Democrats today grovel for the interests of illegal immigrants who have no business being in the United States in the first place just to secure future demographic bonanzas. That's shameful.
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Mark Twain comes to mind: You can fool some of the people some of the time, but not all of the people all of the time.
Stop groveling, and learn to work together so that the people you pledged to serve get some of the benefits some of the time. It's called politicking and includes finding a way to pay for it, too!
More debt and dummies we do not need.
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Good advice. Part of being authentic is not listening to consultants and image makers. In her biography, Michelle Obama talks about her campaign relocatable appearances that were true to herself. One more thing that should be avoided is "socialism." Advocate few selected socialist policies but don't go naming them. Average voter don't know and don't care about difference in Venezuelan and Denmark socialism.
I like myself, but I don't want our president to be like me.
Eating fried chicken is serious business in the South. But so are humor and courtesy. If the senator comes to Texas and tries to eat ribs with a spoon, we'd all have a good laugh. Then we'd say "Don't worry about it, ma'am. Here, let me show you how to do this." And life would go on.
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The only thing that matters, like the only thing that should have mattered in 2016, is to defeat, no crush, the Republican Party in 2020. Erase the stain of this presidency and throw out of the congress the cowardly and treasonous enablers that support it. I will support anyone that can do that.
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IMO, Frank, the tragedy in all this. is that the American people, with Democratic candidates of such quality, force them to act like dancing monkeys to the superficial qualities of their minds.
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Democrats seem unaware that rules of winning have changed. Trump can lie all the time, people believe him, and cheer at his every cruel turn. Democrats, who secretly think of themselves as descendants of saints, and kid themselves that good triumphs over evil, and are crying that old rules (whatever they were) are no longer preventing Trump from winning. They are looking for some referee to come from the sky, blow the whistle, and call Trump out.
But they cannot stay on message and portray Trump for what he is: a dictator of a white christian state in the making. All they do is point to his daily infractions, as if they matter in the larger scheme of things where he is taking a sledge hammer to every fragile institution of democracy. These changes are occurring in much of the world that matters: Austria, Italy, Hungary, and to some extent in all European countries. They have - if not fully embraced by all - then tolerated the rise of super far right. Democrats don't seem to know this danger.
What do you mean stop groveling? No spine, no brain, no wit, no wisdom, no foresight, no clarity, no nothing going on here - what else other than groveling have they got? Each day, he appoints one robber baron after another the executive of this and that, and is giving the store away to lobbyists, big business, and other thuggish constituencies. The democrat response is the worst kind possible: unrelenting whining followed by talks of socialist programs.
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Groveling goes hand in hand with proposing the "what and why." Until the Democrats clearly articulate the "when, where" and most importantly, "how", groveling will have to do.
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Generally I like Frank Bruni's articles -- and this is a good one. Except for the part where he conflates the overly ambitious Green New Deal with candidate sycophancy. Maybe some parts of the proposed deal need to be revised. But AOC and the Green New Deal are the kind of backbone that Bruni wishes the other candidates had. I've been an Elizabeth Warren backer since 2012. The act of her grabbing the beer out of the fridge was pathetic, sycophantic, everything Bruni said it was. Even if she drinks beer! Don't do this. The optics of trying to appeal to the "regular Joe" smacks of effort. Be you. Fight -- and win or lose -- as you. At least there's dignity in that. She needs a new campaign manager.
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Finally. Lets stop groveling to viewers of Fox "news." In about 5 years all their jobs will be automated away and they will live in cardboard boxes. Lets focus on the future of the Liberal States of America.
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Yes, so true, just like John Kerry, when he cravenly went out and literally shot a duck to assuage the extremist gun lobby. Democrats have a lot of weasel within them and among them. Just watch them scurry for cover when Republicans deem them the sole reason for any recidivism among felons that are being released under the recent laudable criminal justice reform bill. And no one should be surprised anymore, by the insatiable, pandering capacity of 'Cory Spartacus'.
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The politics of apology is a fatal political flaw. The recent plague of political correctness has spawned a pathology of false equivalency, where simply appearing in a racially insensitive picture is equated with virulent racism, criticising AIPAC's financial support for pro Israel candidates is equated with the "Protocols of Zion", and a relatively inocuous act is equated with sexual assault. The lack of nuance is insidious, and validates Ralph Waldo Emerson's timeless lament that " a foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds ".
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This is why Bernie is so terrific. He is the real deal. He does not play these games. But Frank Bruni and the rest of the establishment Dems could not support that when it mattered. So please, no crocodile tears for authenticity now.
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