It’s really up to the Democrats for me,” Hardwick says.
No it isn't Mr. Hardwick. It's up to you.
422
"Let Trump be Trump". He will self-dislodge. He has self impeached with Ukraine and self-convicted with his witness intimidating twee undercutting his GOP supporters plan to be civil. Continuing on he lost even more of the women's vote insuring a 2020 defeat if he escapes the proceeding now underway.
31
If your subject was an independent voter this piece would make sense. But trying to satisfy Republican pharma executives with MAGA hats on display in their mansions??......inane
270
Leave it to the NYT to publish a “what do average Americans think of Trump” column about...a former pharma executive.
189
Let’s see, you knew the guy was an egomaniac and now pretty sure he is rash, incompetent and out of control. So now that you’ve got the big tax cut and the fun deregulation, your depending on the democrats to do the right thing and nominate your kind of guy or you might have to vote for the incompetent again.
Do you ever listen to yourself Mr Hardwick? Maybe it’s time you took one for the good USofA and vote this guy out office. I doubt it, but maybe you could at least be open to the idea.
306
Good piece.
8
William Weld must be a very happy man right now.
3
You know something? Roger Cohen has been my fave NYT columnist for many years. But......'Think Hardwick?' Sorry Roger, but no.
Hardwick is clearly a lifelong Republican - look at his 'library' LOL and the photo w/ Reagan on the tarmac. Individuals like Hardwick will *never* vote for a Democratic nominee for president - did Cohen ask him if he ever had? highly doubtful.
Democrats need to attract *persuadable* centrist independents. Nothing about this profile of Hardwick suggests he in among that group of voters.
155
Superb..Superb
2
"good traits"?
21
THINK HARDWICK should be the New Democratic mantra!
4
yeh ! that is a problem. And that is your problem because you put him there . How are you going to get rid of him ?
And that is a problem for the whole world not just the USA.
44
A HISTORY LESSON:
[Republican Senator Robert] Taft explained that the great issue in this campaign is “creeping socialism.” Now that is the patented trademark of the special interest lobbies. Socialism is a scare word they have hurled at every advance the people have made in the last 20 years.
Socialism is what they called public power.
Socialism is what they called social security.
Socialism is what they called farm price supports.
Socialism is what they called bank deposit insurance.
Socialism is what they called the growth of free and independent labor organizations.
Socialism is their name for almost anything that helps all the people.
When the Republican candidate inscribes the slogan “Down With Socialism” on the banner of his “great crusade,” that is really not what he means at all.
What he really means is, “Down with Progress — down with Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal,” and “down with Harry Truman’s fair Deal.” That is what he means.
-- President Harry Truman
https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/truman-socialism-scare-word/
171
Obviously, a coup is the best way to dislodge the duly elected president - those darn voters keep electing Republican presidents.
9
And not a word about climate change.
45
Frankly, I'm bored with all the hand wringing and moaning coming from individuals who are afraid they'll have to vote for Trump (again) if the Dems do not bring forth an acceptable candidate.
Spare me. These individuals are going to vote for Trump regardless.
This is nothing more than an attempt at gaslighting the Dems.
Any of the Dems running would be a vast improvement over the childish, ignorant, thuggish, anti-democratic and perhaps criminal behavior currently exhibited in the oval office.
But if people like Mr. Cohen and Mr. Hardwick relish that and embrace it, the fault is with them, not with whom the Dems nominate.
190
Public opinion could only get this way in a world where Democrats get only a quarter of the media pie. Here's the formula as I see it.
We know that one half goes strictly to the dogmatic "conservative media" of Fox and talk radio. Then, traditional media splits down the middle in order to "tell both sides" giving each side a quarter share of coverage. So in the end the fairy tales of the right wing get an equal hearing as the actual truth. That's how Swift Boats get started, Benghazi gets reported and how on the eve of the 2016 election, the main story was Hillary Clinton's emails.
You at the Times should all be ashamed of yourself for not taking more aggressive action against right-wing disinformation.
112
Seems to me that Hardwick is far from being Sane still having doubts after all that Trump has put the Nation through.
73
Trump’s “energy?” My God, how far we have fallen!
99
Ahhhh. Right.
A bad manager obstructing justice, a bold faced liar and accused sexual predator, Extortion, Lying, Threatening, Conspiring with the Russians to get elected in 2016 ( enthusiastically and not accidentally ), Jumping the military chain of command to pardon Fox News favourites, blowing up the National debt to pass out goodies for billionaires, repealing common sense regulations and doing the square root of Zero to make health care affordable and accessible ... All that and yet impeachment is a distraction.
Gimme a break. These people need a lesson in citizenship and civic responsibility, along with some soul searching about fairness, honesty and the common good of mankind.
158
Great article but I wonder how many Americans read the kind of material that I see in the New York Times every day?
6
Forgive me, but no I will not think Harwick and focus on appeasing wealthy old white men who might still be so foolish as to vote for Trump again. They are a part of the problem.
139
I’m sorry but rank-and-file Democrats are the most gullible people on the planet. If only Democrats abandoned their souls to please Trump admirers, we’d win. In other words, be like Obama and bend over backward to work with the racists who are trying to destroy you. How many times have we heard this? If after all this time, after all we’ve heard so far during the impeachment process, Hardwick is a fence-sitter, then he’s a lost cause. Stop trying to convince these people. I don’t want the Democratic nominee to be Republican lite to please the oligarchs and their media enablers. Let’s be who we are—the champions of human rights, civil rights, women’s rights, universal health care, stewards of the environment—and work hard to turn out the vote—the Democratic vote. Have faith and we’ll win.
109
America was born through genocide, robbery and enslavement. I'd say our identity needs to be negotiable.
34
But the real problem is the Republican Party
36
So one rich guy gets to tell all the Democrats how to vote? Why? Sorry, but we need more than another rich guy in our most sacred office. Warren's clear leadership and reasonable approach are what are needed. This guy seems to think Biden is ok? Biden whose sentences trail off into lala land and who has zero original thinking? We need a serious problem solver, and Warren is still it. She is also a pragmatist. Not a fool, she will listen to experts. Universal healthcare is not just in Europe. A good idea is a good idea regardless of where it originated. The Republicans have earned our pure scorn with their support for Putin's agenda in Ukraine. Why would anyone advocate supporting the Russian mole now in the White House? Think that is harsh? Prove he isn't a tool for Russia. All of his actions shout the facts! Anyone who votes for this mobster oligarch is voting for Putin and the death of our democracy. Prove me wrong.
70
Your "sane, moderate" Republican is just another amoral dupe.
In a sane world Trump never would have gotten within sniffing distance of the White House. A serial philandering, woman denigrating and molesting, "reality" show host whose primary initial political position was that Obama was born in Africa? An egomaniacal blowhard who can't put three words together without misusing one and misspelling two?;
heck his syntax alone should have been enough to disqualify him. And Trump as architect of an economy rebounding from the worst recession in 80 years? Please.
That's before we even got to revelations that he's a criminal at best and a traitorous asset of Russia at worst.
But at the end of the day, virtually all of those sane, moderate Republicans will vote for him again. Some may hold their noses but vote for him they will.
And he very likely will win again. That's how deeply into the abyss we've sunk.
99
America is churning, Europe is a place where nothing can be undertaken, notwithstanding France where everything is impossible ; Africa is... (well, Mr Cohen comes from South Africa and must have some depreciating comment for it, too) ; China is... (whatever).
We get your idea, Mr Cohen, well enough to see that you are in contradistinction to smart people from anywhere in the world.
Your prose plays right in the hand of the GOP. After all, why aren’t you enthusiastic about Trump ?
14
once again we hear that trump has a base of 35 to 40 % .. despite republican efforts to destroy public education since the reagan administration, that leaves 60 to 65 % .. there will be no excuses next november, none, nada, zero, zilch, for not voting this .. expletive deleted .. out of office
44
Trump has already won! He has moved the way we think to a Pre-Enlightenment mindset. Facts no longer matter! I try and watch Fox News to hear the other side of the story and I don't last 5 minutes. So I run back to the NYT or MSNBC to find what I call reason. I plead guilty! When you can only see one side of an argument, you're in trouble. Psychologist tell us that's the default mode of the brain when it is overloaded with information. Pelosi knows that fact. That's why she is trying to keep this impeachment thing simple. Republicans know that. That's why they are trying to make this impeachment thing confusing. This is why we have a Constitution. The founders were people just like us. They knew the default mode of the mind when overloaded. They wrote a Constitution to protect us fools from ourselves. James Madison knew man's weakness because he was a man! And then there was the great American philosopher who once wrote: "Phases & stages, circles and cycles, things that we've all seen before...let me tell you some more." ~Willie Nelson. Funny where we go looking for answers in desperate times. Joseph Campbell said the poet's would write our new myth, our new story. I suppose Willie is one of those poet's.
19
Hustle and unrelenting churn?
where have you been the last 20 years?
More like complacency and unrelenting appetite .
Time to move on from last century's memes.
9
We don't need a revolution. We need a return to mutual respect. We need a politics where we can disagree vehemently on policies but agree that the opposite side is patriotic and cares about what's best for the country too.
The Trumpist Party and its media enablers and flame throwers, are actively seeking to destroy the Democratic Party as a legitimate institution. Taking their rhetoric at face value, they seem to believe that Democrats should be stripped of their rights as citizens. There's no way to compromise with that kind of thinking.
But there are many people who used to identify as Republicans who do not hold such beliefs. Those people are repelled by Trump and would like to see him ejected from office. They simply need a moderate candidate who promises to restore civility and respect.
Those people will not vote for someone who promises to eliminate private health insurance or someone who advocates for a policy that could be characterized as "open borders."
We know that Trump will fight to stay in office if he loses the election. That's why it's critical that he lose in a landslide. Defeating Trump overwhelmingly will break the fever of his supporters and break the chains of fear that hold Republican Senators and Representatives in thrall to him.
The only way to get that landslide is to offer up a candidate that guys like Hardwick or David Brooks or Ross Douthat or the "human scum" Never Trumpers could vote for too.
10
Not all Americans agree that there is a 'Brute in the White House' who needs to be dislodged. Few Americans care or know about Ukraine.
Donald John Trump, Sr. ran against Arabs, blacks, Mexicans, Muslims, Bush, McCain, Obama, Romney and smart women.
Trump didn't run a covert stealthy subtle campaign. Every American knew who Trump was and was not and voted accordingly. And the same thing was true of Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Among the 63 million Americans who voted for Trump was 58% of the white voting majority including 62% of white men and 54% of white women.
Among the 66 million Americans who voted for Hillary Clinton was 92% of the black voting minority including 88% of black men and 95% of black women.
Because black lives and livelihoods depend upon knowing what white people really think and feel we don't pay any attention to what white people write or say. All we care about and notice is white action and inaction.
And the evidence supports the lingering historical reality that a majority of white people believe in enduring innate white supremacy and black inferiority. While a significant minority of white people are outright unabashed racist prejudiced bigots.
Listen to Black Lives Matter!
29
No, we don't need to appeal to rich millionaires, that's part of the problems that for us here. We need to excite our base in Michigan and Arizona and elect a reformer who will BLEACH the White House. Warren2020
30
I'm usually with you Roger, but not on this one.
Even given the antics of the dangerous criminal in the White House, Mr. Hardwick, would and is actively considering a vote for him in 2020. That his is held up as a legitimate mindset for Democrats to appease is just outrageous.
By now, it should be abundantly clear to anyone who cares, even a little bit, about honor, decency, objective truth, freedom of the press, the rule of law, and moreover, adults behaving like adults working together on solutions for the many real problems we face as a nation and a world, Trump is not your guy. He never was. Trump is for Trump by any means necessary. A terrible mistake was made and it is the obligation of voters like Hardwick (thoughtful in his privileged way, (China "stealing its way to prosperity" is a bit simplistic, yes?) not a rally hound) to insure that it is corrected.
Of course, Elizabeth Warren is dismissed. Of course, not one word about climate and Trump's doing worse than nothing as he actively overturns desperately needed changes and snickers while California burns. Of course not one word about the health care millions now rely on and that Trump seems more than willing to gut if given another chance.
We are arriving at the time when every tweet, every ugly revelation, every lie, every self deal becomes another stitch in Trump's blanket of corruption. Any American not completed besotted by this bloated liar should find it intolerable.
The party is near to over.
60
I think it would be foolish and a disservice to the country for the Democratic Party to nominate a candidate whose platform reflected the wishes of this retired corporate millionaire in Palm Beach. Mr. Cohen, please.
Medicare for All, $15 minimum wage, free tuition at public colleges and universities, racial and ethnic inclusion, and cutting carbon emissions are what the country needs. More money in the pockets of millionaires and billionaires is not what the country needs, or even what the millionaires and billionaires need.
Will we fight for what the country needs, or for what nobody needs, but 607 billionaires want?
44
You can't get rid of crazy. It defies the simplest reasonable arguments; it is tenacious; you can't control it with "adults in the room." The country, including Mr. Hardwick, could clearly see crazy yet voted for it anyway--with a vote that clearly put the Constitution and the very substance of this country at peril. I have no patience with handwringing about the future of policy and of "political" choices. In the end, those are comparatively minor concerns. People like Mr. Hardwick entrusted a crazy man with the Constitution. They wanted to do it in 2016. Now they "might" feel some pangs of regret, but see that for what it is, which is just feeble parsing of a moral and obvious choice. Once you give a foothold to crazy, there is no going back.
27
What all of these analyses omit is who are those moderate Republicans or Democrats going to vote FOR? Who has a vision for the future that aligns with theirs and has the charisma and talent to face off against the Petulant Adolescent President?
If it's only a choice against Trump, and the economy is still good, it'll be Trump as the default.
2
"how Trump ... operates in every area of government: wheeling and dealing, threatening, malicious, disregarding the law, dismissive of the national interest, trampling on professionalism and integrity, small-minded, misogynistic, Russia-besotted, valueless, manipulative, untruthful, gross and contemptuous of his oath of office."
Oh, come on, Roger. If you have an opinion about Trump, let's hear it...
We spend too much time nit-picking among the vast stable of Democratic candidates, trying to decide which one is better at this policy than the others, or that policy, or who is more vibrant or charismatic, or who is young enough to handle the strain of office. But at the end of the day, when the One among the Democrats is chosen, all that chittering will stop. Then, it will come down to a very stark choice: which Democrat can beat Trump.
Frankly, any of the Democrats would be a better choice for America than having a second Trump term. So there is a built-in advantage for Democrats, which is that the majority of Americans think of Trump as a vile, incompetent narcissist, who is so damaging to our country that he begs to be evicted from office. The problem is that this advantage is offset by the bias of the Electoral College toward small states, which are Republican holdouts. That is a deficiency in our Constitution borne of good intentions by the Founders, but one which will cause our demise if we aren't strong.
But it's clear that, whatever it takes, Trump must not win.
18
This was eye opening and depressing. Obviously Hardwick is intelligent and yet willing to overlook the total upending of our democracy because he likes how his investment portfolio has performed under Trump. Republicans in power, and supporters like this guy, care only about their money. It’s a sad time for our country.
40
"you always run the risk of destroying what makes America unique: its hustle and unrelenting creative churn."
This romantic notion of America is a played out cliche.
Its undelivered Promise is what got Trump elected last time.
The idea that it has a "nonnegotiable identity" is an exceptionalist argument , it's no longer true or relevant.
18
"You get all the government you deserve with Democracy" is a sadly true axiom. Joseph de Maistre wrote something slightly different in French but his meaning is clear. He lived from the Royal days of rule through the numerous governments brought to power under the Revolution and Napoleon before finally the restored Bourbons.
Not sure that America deserves to be rescued from its numerous follies--wildly exaggerating media platforms, extreme partisan behavior, foolish tax policies, overt contempt for the principles of fair voting, dismissal of just and honest employees for clearly political ends. Yet the streets are empty of protests and most have a 'so what' attitude to Trump's antics before his followers' rallies. No one believes what he says is true.
It is a strange day, indeed, when one has to hope for a severe economic disaster to bring about reforms and a return to a dignified citizenry. It's either that or continued demagoguery.
12
Republicans like Mr. Hardwick are inexplicable. He is so fundamentally wrong about Trump and what his his party represents that there Is no point In taking his point of view into consideration. He is among the comfortable and self-satisfied who lack any comprehension of what has happened in this country and how the damage will be long-lasting. America needs radical political change if we are to have any hope of saving the country, and Republicans like Mr. Hardwick are in the way.
33
It's Hardwick who confounds me. It's not Trump's constant lies, misogyny, narcissism, utter lack of integrity, or hatred for the rule of law, it's that he can't manage people. This was all brightly spotlit during the campaign. It's amazing to me that folks like Hardwick were--or made themselves--blind to Trump's stultifying unworthiness for the presidency.
30
Almost everyday I experience a brief head-shaking shock that my fellow countrymen elected and may very well re elect Trump. We’re a brutish uninformed people.
26
Oh, please . . . you think there's anything the Democratic Party could do to get the vote of a person that proudly displays a photo of himself with Ronny Ray-gun?
I'm 67 and and I am so sad that my generation's principle accomplishment in politics is to enthrone the guiding principle of "vote for the least bad candidate." It is completely clear that what you get is nothing but bad candidates under this logic.
Against all precedence --and the furious resistance of the Democratic Party establishment-- it appears that Liz Warren will be our nominee. Finally! Somebody who actually fights for policies designed to benefit the average democratic voter . . .
As for getting Trump out of office, I'm honestly not sure what the odds are. Incumbency is a potent advantage, and Trump knows how to stir up his mob of deplorables. But, if --against all odds-- we beat the Republican Party in the 2020 election cycle, I want the payoff of a vigorous left-wing policy agenda.
13
Mr. Hardwick’s dilemma is unrealistic and the same excuse many undecided voters gave last election.
Their excuses are laughable and always remind me of the SNL chippendales sketch in which Chris Farley competes with Patrick Swayze for thé chippendale dancing job.
The President is the CEO of the United States and needs to be qualified for the position. Character, values and patriotism are a must. How could voters hesitate to choose between a con man,
uneducated, divisive, vindictive, racist, rude, liar, unintelligent candidate and an experienced, well educated, professional candidate? How could that be difficult?
If you don’t want Trump in your boardroom, why would you trust him to run the country? Why does one think that a woman is less competent in the 21 st century?
Sadly, we want to see ourselves in our leaders. We should expect our leaders to be smarter than us, more tolerant than us because they have to represent the many and diverse “us”.
26
He is playing you, Mr, Cohen. His little Trump shrine says it all, and clearly denotes his vote. And nothing will change it.
29
I'm not impressed with Hardwick at all. The fact that he could not foresee this implosion of leadership in someone who used multiple bankruptcies and marriages as a way to avoid his responsibilities to others, who claimed the "avoiding STDs" was his personal Vietnam and went so far as to denigrate the service of some of our national heroes, calls those who disagree with him s'cum," and well, just so much more brings Mrr. Hardwick's judgement to question. His little alter to Trump would be laughable if it weren't for the fact that our country currently faces a complete lack of leadership. So much for a Pfizer executive knowing better.
22
It's funny how these articles (you see them almost daily in the NYT of late) never seem to reflect on the full horror of the situation they describe: that, if what Cohen says is true, the fate of the entire country hinges on utter narcissists like Hardwick.
If your serious moral qualms about voting fo Trump are outweighed by the prospect of a Warren presidency hurting your 401K then they aren't really serious. Morality isn't morality if its up for sale.
Besides, does anyone really believe a guy who owns a MAGA hat is going to change his vote in 2020? Seriously?
29
Is Roger asking here what would it take to get people like Hardwick to vote against Trump or what would it take for him to approve of dislodging Trump from the White House if he loses the election and attempts to stay?
2
No, Democrats do not need to win over Republicans like Chuck Hardwick to win the Presidency next November. They need to fire up Democrats and especially African Americans plus win over a reasonable percentage of Independents who voted for Trump simply because they wanted someone new. Well, now they've seen the "someone he's and he's disgusting and crooked. Most will not make that mistake again.
9
I've said all along that Trump would be a tough out unless the economy sours. Case in point is the photo here of the little nook displaying the MAGA hat.
3
Retired Phizer execs are a pretty narrow demo. Maybe he should interview some Suburban moms who went Trump 3 years ago...
11
So you are joining your nyt conservative colleagues in telling us that "sane" Republicans get to select our Democratic nominee? That as long as we do not properly address the income inequality that Trump's policies makes worse we can earn this sad old guy's vote? We can harvest elsewhere. This man should definitely vote for the man in whom he sees many fine qualities.
14
A secret ballet in the Senate on impeachment could help.
According to Jeff Flake a large number of Senate Repubs would vote "yes" on impeachment if the ballot were secret.
This would give them and Mitch Mc Connell cover.
It would also give more weight to arguments against Trump's Pres.
8
Sorry, but you lost me by paragraph three. Anyone that says "trump has good qualities" does not deserve a platform. Any decent person not consumed by white rage and greed realizes that trump is a common criminal.
27
A former Pfizer executive? I haven't noticed Pfizer and other pharmaceutical executives high on the list of corporate angels.
16
Please don't fall for Chuck Hardwick's line. He's a corporatist conservative and will vote Republican time and again because for him it's all about the money. He's playing you Roger. He's embarrassed to admit his bias and beliefs. We don't need the Hardwicks; we need to get the Dems who stayed home last time to get out and vote this time ... millennials would be nice, too, but they are unreliable voters.
19
The Bernie Sanders /Jill Stein voters would rather lose than think Hardwick. The problem is, they will take the country down with them
2
We’re not going to get it done just by appealing to the Hartwickes in the electorate.
7
In this age of misogynistic republican men attempting to, and often succeeding, controlling women's bodies and disrupting women's social lives, the key to defeating the evil of the republican party is organizing women.
Empowered women voting in 2020 is the key to changing our society from one of cruelty, cowardice, and male driven vengeance toward a more stable, equal and free society.
So, the path toward success for Democrats in 2020 is to listen to the women, support social programs, equality of opportunity and reject the testosterone driven violence, lying, and gambling insanity that is the modern republican cult.
8
And what do the Hardwick's of America have to say about the climate crisis? That the Chinese sure know how to pull a fast one? The only way to save our present civilization is to vote for a Democrat. Republicans are the party of coal and oil, polluted air and water, as industries lobby them for looser rules in their pursuit of profit.
11
Where is your profile of the pink hats who have turned out their electorate for the last three election cycles? The first time candidates, the Stacy Abrams, the MI Prop 2&3 voting/registration amendments that withstood the SCOTUS, the fiery ACLU attorneys at the border and everywhere? Why the media fetish of the Trump voter? Not only are we trapped for at least four years by the Republican Senate, we are trapped by the media’s perennial shrine to voters with shrines. Enough.
13
First of all, please stop referring to what trump does as "shennanigans". The correct term would be "crimes".
23
At the end of the day, the imperative behind voting for Trump was essentially "for entertainment value". There was really no rhyme or reason. The talking points that have been shoved down our throats for the past 3 years - lower taxes, deregulation, immigration reform, ending Obamacare - were really just added extras. If these goals happened, well that's great. If they didn't happen, well they can continue to be used as ammunition for garnering votes for the next election.
For the past 3 years, we've made the mistake of attributing the blame for Trump on "the deplorables". The white, uneducated, middle-aged simpletons from "The Heartland". In reality, an equal proportion of the blame needs to be leveled against people like Mr. Hardwick: educated suburbanites from the East Coast. In 2016, Trump vs Clinton, Mr. Hardwick really had nothing to lose either way. If Clinton was president, it wouldn't have made that much of a difference to his own personal life. At the end of the day, he was still going to be a wealthy white man in America. So with that mindset, "oh well, who cares". Might as well vote for the bloviating con artist with zero political experience, just for entertainment value. I mean, the NYT just pointed this out by including pictures of Hardwick's little autographed trinkets. Why bother with the minutiae of policy proposals? An autographed hat from a reality TV host was more important.
People like Hardwick will be the death knell of our future political system.
14
Object to the facile characterization of Warren’s “unamerican” aspirations. That may be how rich republicans like Hardwick feel, but it doesn’t have to be fed to the majority in those terms.
13
I am really tired of being told that as a Democrat I should try to understand why Republicans put this inept and corrupt man in the WH. I hold them responsible for this state of affairs. Watching them squirm in their seat yesterday to defend the indefensible, put Ambassador Yovanovitch in a corner and pull the " hoax and with hunt" card gave a lot of people another reason to get rid of this president. Unfortunately for the country several factors will make it impossible to remove this man from office: the length of the impeachment proceedings, inquiry, trial etc... the field of Democratic candidates which is too large, the pouring of money into our politics and the 24/7 media loops, tweets and distractions that rule the day. When in other countries people take the bull by the horn and go down in the streets to protest, the US is the laughing stock of the world stage: we have an immoral leader whom we cannot get rid of because of length of process, voters who are sitting on the fence, electoral campaigns that should last 6 weeks and not 4 years. We also have a stock market and an economy that won't make many voters change their mind about this president. What did Bill Clinton say in the 1990's: " It's the economy stupid..." When voters like Mr. Hardwick start losing in the stock exchange, they may change their mind about whom they put in office in 2016.
8
How to root out the brute in the White House? Root out the Electoral College?! Or is this too simplistic?
8
I can not believe any Democrat, especially those in Congress, thought impeachment was a way to get Donnie out of office. The Ukraine Affair was simply the straw that broke the camel's back, enough was enough! The public and Congress had sat around demure while Donnie became more emboldened every day!
I agree with Hardwick, Bloomberg is the missing link to getting Independents to jump ship!
2
“But if I was on a board that had hired Trump as C.E.O.,” Hardwick tells me, “I’d have to say to him: ‘You’ve got good traits but you can’t manage people. You’re fired.’”
Add to this the fact that Trump is incapable of managing himself appropriately for the job he was hired to do. Throw in a propensity toward graft, corruption, self-dealing, nepotism and some good old-fashioned greed and you’ve got the perfect recipe for a dictator. We don’t do dictators here. He’s got the wrong skill set for the job. He’s got to go.
12
I hope Roger Cohen follows this up next November and tells us how this guy votes. I mean, he's going to vote for Trump. Obviously.
7
"Scheming"
Let me translate that: it means that he will vote for the corrupt, mobbed up man, because the smart woman is too female.
We aren't going to convince the Hardwick's of the world. We can only hope to out number them.
Vote. Vote blue. Vote progressive. Vote for a real America that supports all, not just the old white rich men.
12
Dear Mr. Cohen, I'm quite surprise by the shortsight of your analysis through Hardwick perspective.
4
A member of the Trump cult, Hardwick doesn't know that Trump did not write "The Art of the Deal?" Tony Schwartz wrote the whole book.
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/07/25/donald-trumps-ghostwriter-tells-all
That means he doesn't know much about the semi-literate Trump. His own narcissism allows him to admire the president's [manic] energy. I hope Hardwick is not being held up as a model American.
9
I own over 1000 shares of PFE. Based upon this interview I should sell them. How anyone can still support Trump is unbelievable. Trump is not full of energy, he is lazy. He does not read the necessary papers as commander in chief. He is misinformed and does not even attempt to master various issues. Trump is an angry, mean spirited old man who lacks compassion. He is a blowhard.
19
The NY Times will apparently never EVER give up its belief that the only voters who matter are Trump voters - either this guy (obviously a well-off, presumably educated one), or all those folks in diners in the South and Mid-West. How about some editorializing and columns about getting out the youth vote and those who were influenced (maybe by the NY Times?) in 2016 to sit out the election because "both sides" were equally bad? Mr. Cohen ignores the fact that the impression that the Clintons are "shifty" is care of the Republican party's demonizing of them for 20 plus years. Does he not think that whoever the Democratic candidate is will not be equally demonized? (See, e.g., Joe Biden...)
9
Thank you Mr. Hardwick. There's nothing left to say.
1
Every election I read articles like this advising that people vote Republican Lite so that the fascist candidate doesn't win. There is NO WAY I am going to vote for another neoliberal privatizer whose love of Wall Street and hatred of organized labour got Trump elected in the first place. Bernie Sanders 2020.
5
A dude with a MAGA hat on his desk is not the type of person Democrats need- or can- win over. Our base is plenty big to defeat Trump.
10
The better approach is to ask what Independents want, because if Mr. Hardwick is a "moderate" but still thinks he might vote for Trump after seeing him in action for three years, knowing he has never read the memo on our foreign policy on Ukraine, watching him behave impulsively and ignorantly in Syria and everywhere else, witnessing him suck up to the worst of the worst among world leaders and abandon our allies, and hearing him say global warming is a hoax, he and every other Republican like him is a lost cause.
12
I think there are "tells". A red MAGA cap and a shrined copy of Art of the Deal (written for Trump by Schwartz) is a tell. Ain't no way this guy does not vote for Trump.
10
Like many readers have pointed out, Mr. Hardwick is neither sane nor moderate.
Let's see. Elizabeth Warrren with her crazy idea that people should be able to afford healthcare, or the hateful, racist criminal?
Such a tough choice for a sane, moderate man to make!
13
Me. Hardwick is a smart man. I wonder how many ordinary people he cheated, manipulated and stabbed in the back and firednot even thinking about their families and society at large. But he is rich and a Trumpster. I wonder whether he has daughters!!! Just saying!
3
It's sad there are those who think Trump has a chance at reelection.
We've seen what can happen when we don't vote. The Blacks that didn't come out in the numbers helped Obama will stampede to the polls. The Millenials and especially Hispanics too will be there to deny him a second term. I'm positive there are votes of all stripes who cannot wait to vote against Trump.
Yes, he will try every nasty trick he and shyster lawyers can dream up to cling to power. But I have faith that there are enough people still grounded in reality, still bound to the laws of our land that he won't get away with not leaving.
Geez, have more faith in ourselves, please. These misleading columns that promise How to Get Rid of Trump, that then tell us "He might win, you know!" do not help, do not edify, do advance the resistance.
4
As usual, Mr. Cohen is right on.
I am getting sick and tired of articles suggesting Democrats need to run a candidate who is basically a Republican. This is an article about a man who is confused between what he sees as his personal financial interests vs the greater public good.
He did not like the ''scheming'' Clintons, so he votes for the candidate who was the product of Russian scheming and that of such illustrious Republican hatchet men like Manafort and Stone.
And between you and me when are we going to confront the obvious sexism that precluded men of his age from giving women of his age the respect they deserve.
Democrats don't need to cater to this guy, they need to shame him into smartening up.
14
Voting for Trump after all that has happened?
For the party that has made Justice political? That destroys our environment?
How about staying home if the Democrat is unpalatable... Or is this really about hating liberals?
10
In response to Cohen's admonition, "Think Hardwick." No. The logic is simple. It's Cohen's own. He uses lazy logic. Hardwick admires Warren, but she's too far left for the country to accept. So, what is he saying? People like Hardwick deem Ms. Warren too far left. Of course, that creates and reinforces the impression that she is too far left. No explanation is given why she is too far left, but since he's a retired Pfizer executive and health care reform is Sen. Warren's signature issue we'll take a guess about the nature of his objections. Anyway, Hardwick's impression of Ms. Warren's electability is now a fact without a trace of policy discussion. I expect better of Cohen than promoting beauty contest politics.
7
One reason people don't view Trump's actions with respect to Ukraine as sufficiently problematic to merit the attention they are receiving is that the damage inflicted does not immediately affect Americans' lives. We are a country built on instant gratification, and too many lack the imagination to appreciate harm down the road.
Trump is a reflection of the attitude of many Americans when he says, "I can do anything I want" and "I have a First Amendment right to say whatever I want," no matter whom it hurts. He is voicing what his supporters want for themselves. In addition, he promotes the idea, "I will take care of you and keep you safe." This combined with affluent individuals' embrace of his policies that make them even wealthier, and a general lack of interest in voting, will, in my opinion, make him difficult to beat in 2020.
4
“Sane, moderate Republicans” voted for a clearly unqualified person with little or no knowledge of government and policy. Their judgement saw an open bigot as a good leader for the world’s most diverse nation. Their “shrewd business sense” told them to support a con man with a history of serial fraud and bankruptcy a mile long. They considered the Clintons to be “scheming” but they’re not sure that conspiring with foreign oligarchs to smear their own citizens is “impeachable”. Their “sanity” and “moderation” lead them to support tax cuts for billionaires and to oppose food assistance for the needy.
These people are “sane” and “moderate” in country gone mad.
17
Mr. Hardwick says that because Trump can't manage people, he would fire him. That's fine if that is all you're looking for in a C.E.O. But, having spent nearly 30 years in the corporate world, I can say that there are other reasons for Trump's dismissal too.
He doesn't stick to a budget; constantly overspending and re-allocating funds to pet projects. There are no clear objectives with supporting strategies. Only tactics. He shares trade secrets with competitors. Longstanding business relationships are teetering. His predisposition to fire people has made it difficult to attract new and qualified talent. How well do you believe that Trump, who has never reported to a Board of Directors, has fit in to an organization that has three separate but equal branches of power and authority? And, by the way, nepotism has never been conducive to building and maintaining team loyalty.
So, Mr. Hardwick, you and all your pals should take a further step back and evaluate Trump based on far more than managing people.
10
Money and power are at the root of Mr.Hardwick's blindness. Money and power will vote for Trump every time. Money and power assume that the republic will somehow endure another 4 years of his assault on the nation's every founding principle. Capitalism cares nothing about the republic. It never has. That's the genius of the United States. The founders joined two mutually exclusive value systems together to forge our nation. Together, Colonial Capitalism and Enlightenment Liberalism create an unrelenting struggle that powers American exceptionalism. Both are essential. Candidates like Warren fail to see the genius of the uneasy melding. Republicans fail to see the essential contribution of Enlightenment Liberalism. E pluribus unum. Without both value sets, we fail as a nation.
3
No, I won't "think Hardwick." He's rich, entitled and unwilling to come to grips with the dismantling of our institutions that Trump is implementing. His reasons for staying with Trump are the same reasons that the well-off vote Republican - because they believe it benefits their bottom line. If it hurts the rest of us, not his problem. The majority of the 'white working class' voters who voted for Trump don't really care about the stock market since they have little stock. They are still in denial about Trump, failing to understand that he will never deliver on his promises to them, and their lot will ultimately get worse with him.
13
Sorry Mr. Hardwick, but if you "admire" trump's corporate tax cut (not to mention massive personal tax cuts at the high end), you are part of the problem. The Dems have already followed the GOP to the right, even if a few steps behind, and acquiesced in a grotesquely skewed economic distribution. It's time to restore some balance.
So how about it, Mr. H: vote to pay enough taxes to support a neglected public sector and a well-functioning society, which you will benefit from because you are part of it.
10:00 EST, 11/16
7
As usual progressive commenters dismiss people like Me. Hardwick both philosophically and also because they see him is representing a small sliver of the voting public. These progressives are intent on getting their way and having someone like Warren or Sanders as the democratic candidate. They are stubborn and refuse to let the head-to-head polls and other data tell them that their candidates cannot win swing states like Michigan Pennsylvania Wisconsin North Carolina in Arizona. I'm a lifelong Democrat and older white man, and my anecdotal evidence supports Mr hardwick's assertion that older white men and women who are independents or moderate Republicans in swing states will desert Trump for a moderate Democrat but never for Warren or Sanders or their ilk. And remember that older white people come out and vote and also work for and contribute to candidates. Don't underestimate our numbers or ability to contribute just because we are not as noisy as millennials or generation z.
5
Mr Hardwick found the Clintons scheming but Trump not scheming. He found the Chinese cheated their way to prosperity but the conquest by Europeans of the new world was perpetrated with the most delicate consideration of ethical standards.No matter how high the rank, personal bias,personal yardsticks run deeper than moral assessment. In Hartwicks case the yardstick is
business superiority.
5
When we make our decisions based purely on self interest, we weaken our country.
When we make lifestyle choices based only on our desire for comfort and personal betterment, we weaken our country and betray our environment and our future.
When we denigrate dedicated public servants, we weaken our country and undermine our own people who need services.
When we excuse military offenders, we weaken our country and invite attacks.
Our retirement accounts, 401Ks, equity investments, real estate investments, business investments are not our country.
There is more to life, and more to human existence on this earth, than our little piles of gold.
11
As usual Roger Cohen’s column is spot on. His incisive and insightful comments reinforce what damage Trumplethinskin has done to our country. How long will it take for our country to recover?
3
@Wendy Kulick: It all depends on the public conception of "soul". If that can be updated, there is hope.
2
Mr. Cohen, you say that Democrats need to reach out to people like Hardwick but at the same time you cite as one of Trump's failings that he "legislates for the rich." Well, legislating for the rich is one of the reasons that Hardwick voted for him and is still considering a vote for him in 2020. Hardwick is definitely not the kind of voter Democrats need to convince. I would hate to see a Democratic national platform that urges more tax cuts for wealthy Americans and cuts to social programs to fix the skewed budget deficit.
No, we need a Democratic platform that reaches out to those of the 99% who voted for Trump in 2016 believing he would shake things up for them. That is, Democrats need to convince ordinary voters that they need to return to the party that truly represents them, not to the head of a party that couldn't care less.
12
@EMiller: The US Federal Government is the people's corporation. Bashing corporations is not going to be a winning strategy.
3
Want it or not, Trump should not be removed by impeachment. We need the collective will to vote him out of office, decisively. Only by using the democratic process can the country -- qua social unit -- defeat Trumpism along with Trump. To win Congress as well as the White House? But what if Trump is re-elected and at least the Senate remains (obstructionist) Republican? Rome had its way to decline, Weimar Germany its, and the USA will, then, have its. All the more reason to mobilize and vote Trump and Trumpism out of office.
3
My mother-in-law is 95 and was a lifelong Republican. Until Trump. She has registered as a Democrat and states that she will never, ever vote for a Republican again. If this woman can alter the habit of a very long lifetime, then any fundamentally decent person can. At long last, it's decency that matters, and those who don't have it probably can't be taught it now. I'm putting my energy into getting out the votes of those who love their country more than their wallets.
22
Independent here with a firm sense of right from wrong. The Radical Right under trump is just plain Wrong. Not going to bother with a Republican who equivocates and whose values rest solely on their checkbook, either. The truth regarding the economy is that trump hasn't managed to tank the Democrat-led recovery ... yet.
12
You write: The most devastating thing about the impeachment proceedings this week has been the knowledge that this is not just how Trump treats Ukraine but how he operates in every area of government . . . .
Anyone paying attention could see this from day done. There is unfortunately nothing devastating about this week. It is simply a continuation of all that has gone before. It's just that a few brave souls have finally called him on it.
5
No, Hardwick is not the key, it is the 54% of young eligible voters who didn't vote in 2016, compared to less than 30% of those over age 65.
In the record turnout in 2018 mid terms, younger generations nearly doubled their turnout and flipped 40 seats in the House. They are likely to dominate the 2020 election.
Mr. Pharma made no mention of the future. That is what 2020 will be about.
16
The subtext is correct. The current crop of neo-liberal corporatists currently running the Democratic party are not up to the task of defeating trump. Moscow Mitch stalls any and all legislation yet nary a peep of protest from the dems.
And predictably no mention of Bernie, who handily defeats trump in polling.
1
"America was born in contradistinction to Europe not as an extension of it. That identity is nonnegotiable."
Very true. The majority of voters do not want to replicate France, high income taxes, high national sales tax (VAT), high gasoline tax, ultra-high employment taxes, etc. Yes, a thin slice of voters do want this (dare I say NYT pundits?), but most voters must be tricked to accept this outcome. The trick is to pretend that billionaires will be stuck with the bill, not the middle class. The fact is that several hundred billionaires cannot possibly pay the enormous cost, only the large middle class can, as Europe aptly demonstrates.
Our Progressive friends would like middle class Americans to suspend reality, and indulge in social justice warrior fantasies: open borders, free healthcare and college for all including "undocumented" (how's that for a euphemism?) immigrants, free childcare, etc. with the illusion that the man behind the tree will pay the huge taxes to fund these programs.
Mr. Hardwick understands economic reality, and the majority of voters understand too.
3
I don’t understand why commentators always feel the need to say the Senate will not convict. While that may be the current conventional assessment, where is the effort to challenge this convention to make it more difficult for republicans to put party before country and our constitution. It is time to speak,with strong conviction about the importance of standing up for our country and the constitution. Republicans are hiding behind the skirts of partisan politics to avoid their responsibilities to our democracy protecting a rascal of the highest order.
9
@Martha Gerkey
Agreed! I have made similar comments. We need to pressure them. I would be doing that if I had representation.
4
Republican card carrying voters should remember they are voting for democracy and not for their Republican party in 2020. They should go back to their partisan voting in 2024. In 2020 it is democracy that is on the ticket. Nothing else matters.
10
hmmm...dems...ignore Republican advice.
9
Until Democrat’s learn that the majority of the country is not “woke” nor do they want to be and independent of social status will never vote for a far left candidate, they will continue losing presidential elections. To cancel entire swats of the population because they do not believe in Medicare for all or bc they are really more worried about crumbling infrastructure than transgender bathrooms is why you lose elections. I want to hear about how are the bridges, roads, rail will be fixed - honestly money will be better spent on that than canceling the debt of someone who had the poor judgement to go to top school for $80k/year to do women’s studies or Golf management. If you want to cancel/reduce someone’s debts why don’t we do it to doctors, teachers or nurses in exchange for periodic public service throughout their careers? Those serve many opposed to careers that serve few. Same goes for the talk of reparations - can we fix the VA first please, a “gleaming” example of government run healthcare.
Kentucky was a middle of the road guy, Doug Jones in Alabama, the same. The bulk of America resides in the middle, they like the stock market gains even though they don’t realize it is the result of Obama’s policies, they find by trumps behavior abhorrent, however would never vote for a Warren much less Sanders. Bloomberg, Mayor Pete, Duvall Patrick, Amy, Biden get that there’s an entire country to govern, not just the angry 20yo tweeterary. Or evangelicals in the case of Trump.
7
When I vote, every election but 2 since I was 18, I have always voted Republican. My 2 no shows were when I moved into different states in November. There were Democrats I liked, but congress, and the senate vote as a block usually, so it’s platform over candidate. I like the 2nd Amendment, and all the others. I want abortions limited based on term and physical health of the mother. I want boarder security, and the end of chain migration. I want higher taxes to support existing programs and lower debt, not to buy more things we can’t afford. I can’t find a single Democrat that wants anything close. How can I even consider voting for a candidate that has nothing in common with what I believe in? I’m not voting for Trump because he is the most honest, trustworthy, or intelligent person running for president, I’m voting for him because I don’t agree with any of the extreme changes Democrats are demanding in this next election. I’m not willing to risk Democrats succeeding in what they are promising, if elected.
6
@Jay
But you are voting for someone who is increasing our debt while not delivering on any of the things you value. trump has had only one legislative success: the so-called "tax reform" that has ballooned the deficit.
10
So shredding the Constitution and loosing democracy to a kleptocracy, and an unrestrained corporate culture running roughshod over the middle class doesn’t bother you?
11
You write Think Hardwick. How about: Hardwick, think.
25
So 1-percenter Hardwick doesn't think much of Trump but would vote for him anyway. Despicable ! Loves the tax cuts. Don't those old rich guys already have much more than enough to tide them over through the short time left before they are shoveled under. And I am an old geeser myself. Greed can also be absurd. If we want change or at least less of the same in '20, I see no alternative to Sanders or Warren.
11
Republicans - we can ask ourselves:
If an employee, associate or client portrayed the lying, bullying, self-serving, corrupt, malicious, untrustworthy behavior - would we keep that person in the organization?
Yes or no?
No, they are fired.
And so should Trump be fired.
Remove Trump - as you would with anyone else with the same behavior.
Really, (actually) think about it.
12
Thank you Roger Cohen for writing this article. Absolutely he is about "threat, malice and contempt". I dislike him so much at times to the point of feeling nauseous. Yes I agree with you he is a brute. I feel strongly that everyone in the world who dislikes him see him as Antisocial. One does not need to be a licensed clinician to use the word ANTISOCIAL. The DSM V book uses the following criteria.( I or we do not know why he was sent away to Military School.)A. Disregard for and violation of others rights since age 15, as indicated by one of the seven sub features: Failure to obey laws and norms by engaging in behavior which results in criminal arrest, or would warrant criminal arrest.
Lying, deception, and manipulation, for profit or self amusement,Impulsive behavior,Irritability and aggression, manifested as frequently assaults others, or engages in fighting Blatantly disregards safety of self and others,
A pattern of irresponsibility and Lack of remorse for actions (American Psychiatric Association, 2013)
The other diagnostic Criterion are: B. The person is at least age 18, C. Conduct disorder was present by history before age 15. D. and the antisocial behavior does not occur in the context of schizophrenia or bipolar disorder (American Psychiatric Association, 2013)
I like ANTISOCAIL best; 1 word covers him.
AND for sure he is a BRUTE. thanks again.
5
So the only hope for the younger generation is to wait for the great Republican Dinosaur Die-Off, when this guy and the rest of Trump's base finally loosen their grip on our elections? It's obvious that they don't care about the damage Trump's done to our country, as long as they can hold their wealth close. I would say it's disgusting, but hate to use one of Trump's favorite adjectives.
20
@Anne
and damage to the planet at large.
4
Let's hope that they push Trump more over the edge and he stumbles.
He will say and do stupid things .And all the people around him will help him do that .
At one time or another.
3
"When you want to make the United States more like Europe, you always run the risk of destroying what makes America unique: its hustle and unrelenting creative churn. America was born in contradistinction to Europe not as an extension of it. That identity is nonnegotiable."
Mr. Cohen, you are among my favorite writers in all the newspaper world; I read your every column and relish your thoughtful and elegant prose. These are your first words at which my mind boggles. I cannot think that the USA is inherently and eternally so stupid as to reject intelligent choices just because Europe arrived at them first. Surely we will mature and finally come around. We must do so to survive.
13
I find Trump to be very lacking in many of the characteristics needed for a president to be successful. He is thin skinned. He ahs little ability to listen to the opinion of others. He cannot negotiate successfully. He is often rude and insulting. He is a bully. In my 85 years, Trump is the worst president I have seen.
11
I guess it all comes down to money. How shameful. "Revitalizing American ambition?" Just how is Trump doing that? Revitalizing racism, pollution, fraud, and corruption is more on point.
14
"The most devastating thing about the impeachment proceedings this week has been the knowledge that this is not just how Trump treats Ukraine but how he operates in every area of government: wheeling and dealing, threatening, malicious, disregarding the law, dismissive of the national interest, trampling on professionalism and integrity, small-minded, misogynistic, Russia-besotted, valueless, manipulative, untruthful, gross and contemptuous of his oath of office."
What more do the majority of US Senators need to vote for removal from office? Power and greed seem to trump reason and patriotism.
Finally, and this is especially to the senior Senator from Kentucky: does it really matter that every judge is conservative when the system allows, nay, embraces, some people who flaunt the law and who gleefully extend their middle finger to the rest of us?
4
what would help is an electorate with a collective IQ of more than 50.
americans are a country of sheep that brags about their independent, rugged individualism.
trump is proof.
so was bush2.
9
So, where do you come down when you believe all of it? That Trump’s disposition is hardly appropriate for the powerful position he holds, and the Dem’s frenzy to unseat him is a big waste of time. That Trump’s values hierarchy is misaligned with Presidential responsibilities, but unlike a break-in or Oval Office sexual abuse, Trump’s is more of an unseemly morass of quasi-autocratic behavior coming to us by well-meaning officials who interpret his intentions and report in “how it made me feel.” When one constituency stands behind him like a border wall, and another places a gavel in Schiff’s hand so he can bring him down any way he can, and while supporters (including those in the senate) require nothing less than a “smoking gun” to unseat a president, opponents think that everything they hear is smoke and fire.
Where does it go? Probably to an election.
2
@Alberto Abrizzi
Thank you for this comment. I think you have it exactly right.
2
If Warren is the nominee, we all know what the "Hardwicks" of America will do - and it won't be stay home on election day. It will be pulling the lever for Trump for another four years of this fetid nightmare.
This is one reason I greatly fear a "soak-the-rich-and-Medicare-for-all" Warren nomination.
6
Tell me Mr. Hardwicke, what are Donald Trump’s good traits, not knowing how to “manage” people is the least of his flaws in my opinion?
As a person, I don’t want to be managed by the president, I want someone who knows how to manage the job who is not a liar, a crook and a traitor. That doesn’t seem too much to ask.
6
It is terribly dismaying to read that a person of some education, wealth, and power finds little wrong with Trump other than "style." If compulsive lying, bullying, self-dealing, and fiscal irresponsibility don't matter to "voters like Hardwick," We are doomed.
15
It is completely absurd to imagine that anyone could refuse to leave office after being defeated. That just isn't how the office works.
Playing at that fear is pumping up propaganda to manipulate Democrats with fears, absurd fears.
6
Trump is a person of low character. It seems now that the republican party is devoid of persons of character and that remaining in power and achieving your objectives are all that matters. As far as I can see the main objective is to remain in power. I am a life long conservative. But I will never vote for the Republican brand again. I would rather have a moral person of good character who is more liberal that I in office than a petulant child and his enablers. A moral person can be reasoned with in good faith and our great democracy can find good solutions to all our problems. If our discourse has degraded to the point that an insecure , lawless, wanna be dictator can remain in power by lying , lying and attacking our institutions we will get the dictator we deserve one day.
9
Unfortunately, you can’t remove elected officials because you don’t like their character. If something emerges that can stand-up in an objective court, GOPs might drop their defenses to a largely political assault to remove him. We don’t hire our leaders, we elect them. Therefore, the bar for removal is high. Very high.
3
Roger Cohen, I don't think many retired big pharma executives who enjoy being extremely rich are going to switch parties. Focussing on this small group of individuals is not going to dislodge the "Brute in the White House." But you've got the key word, which is "brute."
Remember what Clinton used to remind himself: it's the economy, stupid. Well, this time around, I hope whatever Dem it is keeps reminding themselves, it's the women, stupid. Women do not appreciate brutal behavior, or the brutish Trumpian view that the law is a nuisance and an obstacle to overcome.
7
Persons like Hardwick baffle me. I gasp with incomprehension at his acceptance of Trump's legitimacy. This person, the president, is unhinged. He's without morality, restraint, decency, clarity, empathy; the list goes on. I despair of the fact that I need to convince the Hardwicks of this world that Trump must go. If a citizen like him needs persuading, the chances of the US emerging from the Trump nightmare are dim.
9
You're not going to like the "scheming" (insert Democratic nominee), either Chuck.
"no-nonsense, stable, clear-thinking, data-driven" - that describes Hillary Clinton, too, but we can't have a woman running the show, can we?
Hypocrites. All of them. They're going to throw the country under the bus because American voters have proven to be shallow and superficial - look at who they elected as a representative 3 years ago.
7
This spoiled retired corporate fat cat who can't see past his wallet says Trump may be unable to evaluate people? Trump doesn't even see other people. I am bone tired of equivocators. Trump put Ukraine right back on the road to re-corruption in a mere 3 months, just as he corrupts anyone in his orbit not strong enough to resist. He is a mile wide and an inch deep.
Corruption personified, intellectually challenged, cannot accomplish anything without cheating, and utterly unfit to lead this country. But the great (juiced) economy, the tax cuts..... Give us a break. Your Floridian is lost. We will look to people with a moral center, a sense of patriotism, and the common sense to know that Trump's behavior is beyond despicable and dangerous to our democracy.
10
My takeaway from this opinion piece is that all that really matters to people like Mr. Hardwick is the state of the economy, and by extension, the state of his personal finances.
I wonder how he felt about policies of George W. Bush, which threw us into the worst recession since the Great Depression?
Just another example of Republican hypocrisy.
8
What I fail to understand is how a clearly bright guy like Hardwick could consider voting for Trump again. The Trump presidency has been a disaster. Trump is a disgrace. Surely there is more to consider than a Dow Jones breaking thirty thousand.Trump thinks he can buy support with a buoyant market. Prove him wrong.
5
Nobody believes this guy would EVER vote for more taxes EVER. The people with money believe no matter what that the little people , the dirty masses don't deserve any of their wealth no matter what.
That is what it comes down to. If you lost a son or daughter in war you still don't deserve healthcare.If you are a first responder and fight offer your life to protect their home or property and still you should not have a good retirement.
What sacrifice is big enough for these 1%ers to think the little people deserve a slice of the pie?
3
The idea that this behavior is Trump alone misses the point. He’s vile, corrupt and disgusting but he’s just what the Republicans want. They love him; some even worship him. Trump and each and everyone of his GOP enablers must go!
4
The pressure must continue. The lack of any interest in foreign policy unless it supports this megalomaniac President (by Trump) shows just how horribly incompetent and incapable of leading America Trump is.
If Republicans would like to choose the Democratic candidate I suggest they change their party affiliation. Why is it only the Democrats who are told to broaden their appeal? This gentleman should be ashamed of his stunning lack of judgment in voting for Trump. He is not an oracle.
2
"Trump will have to be dislodged the conventional way. Think Hardwick."
No, Roger. Think TOMORROW. No one --- not you, not I, not anyone else --- could have fully anticipated the degradation which Donald Trump has brought to our national social and political life. Every day has brought new atrocities. And each new day will bring even more.
Today's tidbit was blatant, public witness intimidation.
What's on tap for tomorrow? Something worse. Guaranteed.
Congressional Democrats and our Judiciary are our only defense against the catastrophes which lie betwixt now and January 20, 2021.
President Trump does not hesitate to invoke national emergencies when normal political processes do not yield to his latest fantasy. Care to predict what he might do next?
President Trump is Command-in-Chief of our military. Care to predict what he might do next?
Godspeed to the Congressional Democrats. And may my (sometimes feeble) faith in the Supreme Court be rewarded.
3
Really? Please. Is this the mad man theory of why US needs to keep going down the path of greater and greater inequality and environmental destruction? Starting with Reagan, in my life I've watched these Republican jerks destroying the great society and rejecting any sensible response to the growing environmental crisis. The modern Republican party is the real beast to defeat and we don't get there running up the white flag. Since Clinton dems have been tacking right, it has all been a disaster for millions. Time to fight, not fawn over the preferences of old Republicans.
5
"He was mad at the media for first mocking Trump during the primaries and then turning on him as nominee." So, now three years hence, was that sentiment of Dump wrong?
3
Just wondering how it is we can brand Mr. Hardwick here 'a sane, moderate' anything when his problems with Trump only seem to have arisen recently, and Trump's history--well known before his win--as a serial sexual harasser and accused rapist didn't seem to register at all. This seems part of the way the Trump presidency has not just disoriented Americans, but exposed what it is many are willing not only to tolerate but to ignore.
2
His supporters cheer him on like a vicious mob cheers for a bully.
But he, and they, are cowards, and the moment the bullied gets the upper hand, the mob will turn on the bully, sensing his weakness.
That moment is coming, perhaps very soon...
4
I won’t invest a moment of my precious time trying to persuade someone who displays a MAGA hat in their home. It’s a symbol of hatred, intolerance and ignorance.
8
Need to get a guy like Chuck to regret voting for Trump. Hopefully we can get rid of DJT and make America great again.
1
If enough people cast their vote for Trump in 2020 to re-elect him, we deserve the destruction of our nation that will surely come. If we have to convince the Hardwicks of the country not to vote for Trump, our situation is graver than I thought. I would happily trade a chunk of my 401K to see him go down in flames.
3
You rightfully describe Trump as; wheeling and dealing, threatening, malicious, disregarding the law, dismissive of the national interest, trampling on professionalism and integrity, small-minded, misogynistic, Russia-besotted, valueless, manipulative, untruthful, gross and contemptuous of his oath of office. Yet Mr. Hardwick needs more to decide NOT to vote for Trump! If this is the case, the nation is truly at risk.
4
So very true. Rupert Murdoch, an Australian, is deciding what happens in the United States government. The Murdoch’s lust for money has led to a right wing bubble and truly “ alternative facts”. Trump supporters in the bubble are a) truly ignorant or b)willfully ignorant. Either way, the Murdoch’s could care less and are laughing all the way to the bank and back.
4
It is extremely disheartening to read the comments of people like Mr. Hardwick. The massive evidence for Trump’s narcissism, dishonesty, racism, corruption, and ignorance were on display for decades prior to the 2016 election. Yet, Mr. Hardwick felt him preferable to a “scheming” Clinton. Watching Trump milk the whole “birther” nonsense should have been enough to repel any decent person.
We may have a choice in 2020 between this amoral clown and a sane left of center Democrat. It boggles the mind that retired millionaire CEOs will stroke their chins and struggle with the choice.
4
Um? So it's better to keep a sadistic, malignant narcissist, pathological liar and cheat in office as long as corporations and the wealthy are benefiting?
If having a malicious dictator is our only choice then perhaps the media and talking heads should start featuring stories about how well this has worked out in other countries.
3
Sane? No, bad judgement. Sadist Trump is energetically destroying the country is not even remotely admirable. Drug money is not always in back alleys it appears.
1
"Wheeling and dealing, threatening, malicious, disregarding the law, dismissive of the national interest, trampling on professionalism and integrity, small-minded, misogynistic, Russia-besotted, valueless, manipulative, untruthful, gross and contemptuous of his oath of office." Were you describing Trump or the GOP? Never mind, same thing.
4
Hardwick is neither sane nor moderate. A sane person would judge someone’s character as deeply flawed and say no. A moderate person would see how a trump has no moderation. Selfish. Morally blind. Lacking in empathy. No moral compass. Ethically without principle. No thank you.
5
Yet another column/article about the fake reluctant Trump voter. He gave himself away with his false ‘Crooked Hillary’ equivalence and his dismissal of Trump’s actions regarding Ukraine. If using public funds to extort an ally into rigging an election isn’t impeachable to this person, he’s hopeless. He’d fire Trump, but let him continue to run a crime ring out of the WH.
This man is a selfish rationalizer.
Democrats best bet is to get millennials to the voting booths. Moving guys like these is impossible.
3
Do Pfizer make Adderell..
The fact that serious people in high level corporate management don't see Trump as a poisonous psychopath to be quarantined is more proof that there are no adults in charge here.
4
History lesson for Hardwick: America was not formed by pushing against the democratic Europe of today, which provides public education and health care for citizens, the young United States fought a monarchy, a King with little regard for the masses beyond what could be gleaned from them by taxation and servitude.
2
"...he disliked the “scheming” Clintons." I almost spit out my morning coffee. This rich, life-long Republican is still wondering if he should vote for trump? I know others have mentioned this but I too am tired of having to convince anyone at this point...what else does this president have to do to make the point that he is a sham and a crook? This guy is not suffering in any way under this administration.
4
I'm not a Republican, but my views align closely with Hardwick's. But I'm going to vote for the Democrat no matter what, because Trump is . . . I won't use the word in a family newspaper. Another four years of Trump would spell finis d'Amerique. If a Democrat gets in, she or he won't have enough support in Congress or among the public to do really stupid things like throwing open the border or abolishing private health insurance.
1
Jon- thank you. And please start talking to your Republican friends.
3
“disregarding the law, dismissive of the national interest” — this was pretty clear from day one of his Trumpency. The past week just nails down a specific and blatant example.
I wouldn't mind breaking it up into 3 parts, Pacifica, Americana, and New England. Be true to your soul. This is disgusting. I am so glad I live in California.
2
How about getting the left-leaning portion of the 93 million Americans eligible to vote in 2016 who either stayed home or voted for a 3rd candidate to get off the sofa and VOTE?
Instead of, yet again, trying to be "Republican-Lite" which has NEVER worked nationally. Mr. Hardwick has put his bank account ahead of the Constitution, like so many do and did, and ignored the critical fact: That Donald Trump wants to be and intends to be an absolute dictator like Erdogan and Putin and will stop at NOTHING to achieve it.
Yet like so many "Oh, but I can't STAND Hillary" voters who claim to have held their noses in 2016, Mr. Hardwick pretends that Trump isn't a danger to our national security, who has openly ceded BOTH the Middle East AND Eastern Europe to Putin. Because after Ukraine falls, so will Belarus, Poland, Hungary and the other states he has disrupted that used to be part of either the USSR or the Warsaw Pact.
So Mr. Hardwick likes how Trump has "handled" China? China DOES need to handled, but it takes encyclopedic knowledge, and the diplomatic skills akin to a brain surgeon. Trump has neither, obviously. Xi is a far better player than Trump. Even Kim Jong Un is. Both played Trump for a sucker, as did Erdogan, because Trump, like so many low-class con men forgot (or never knew) that if you don't know who the "mark" at the table is, it's because the "mark" is YOU!
4
A viable alternative . . . a viable alternaitve must be offered and supported. Otherwise, four more years.
"When you want to make the United States more like Europe, you always run the risk of destroying what makes America unique: its hustle and unrelenting creative churn."
What makes America unique is vicious capitalism from which everything else in the Evil Empire flows: the kleptocracy and corporate oligarchy (corporatism), extolling greed, a fraudulent democracy that is nothing but a façade, right-wing Christian fascism, astronomically-high incidence of mass shootings, violence, gun worship, drug addiction and substance abuse, war mongering, the obscenely-massive military and military industrial complex, the gross inadequacy of our healthcare and educational system (ranking way below many European and other nations), crumbling infrastructure and income and wealth inequality that are grossly immoral.
In short, under Trump, America is seen clearly for exactly what it has become: the Great Satan, the Evil Empire and the icon of corruption and greed.
2
I fear this essay is frighteningly accurate. Voters must Dump Trump at all costs, no matter who the Democrat candidate is.
VOTE DEMOCRAT November 2020. DUMP Trump.
Hardwick is going to vote for Trump. Not Biden, or Bloomberg. It's a waste of time courting folks like him. Accept it and move on.
2
[Chuck] Hardwick views the impeachment inquiry as a “damaging distraction.” Trump’s reduction of a large European state, Ukraine, to a potential source of dirt on leading Democratic candidate, Vice President Joe Biden, was “not good but not worthy of impeachment.”
What I read here is the quintessential Republican who still cannot let go of Donald Trump. "Never-Trumpers" aside, what about the "mainstream" or "moderate" Republicans who once thought conservativism was a good idea but shied away from the extremes that Barry Goldwater advocated.
Mr. Hardwick seems willing to give this president a long benefit of the doubt even though the jury has been back in for a long time. When someone decries ta president's use of Ukraine for "dirt" on a political opponent "not worthy of impeachment," one wonders what can persuade him that the president is over the line in so many ways?
The retired Mr. Hardwick sees Elizabeth Warren as, essentially, a "Socialist" who wants to move Europe into the heartland. He will accept another rich man, Michael Bloomberg, as a serious candidate and he even damns Joe Biden ("I would not rule out voting for [him]") with faint praise.
It seems that Republicans recognize the danger to the Republic in keeping Donald Trump in office but, at the last moment, blanch at being "forced" to consider voting for a Democrat. And, in the end, I don't think Republicans will turn the president out of office. They will find excuses to keep him around.
Think Hardwick.
5
As the impeachment hearings unfold the damning evidence of Trump's abuse of power and obstruction of justice become more evident, views will change quickly among "swayable" voters. I am concerned that Warren, despite her many gifts, is too liberal to attract moderates and independents. Democrats need a more balanced approach, exemplified in my opinion by Buttigieg, Klobuchar, or Biden. The billionaire Democrats of the moment like Bloomberg and Styer will have little appeal to voters outside the coasts. I know this upsets farther left-leaning contributors to these forums but American is not Europe--we are larger and more diverse. We have to do this right. Humanity and the environment cannot endure four more years of this vulgar, incompetent "genius."
1
No, I won’t think Hardwick. I’ll think the survival of our democracy.
3
Yes, I am enjoying the rising stock market, but not at any price. From your brief description of Hardwick, he would not be the type of person I would want on my side. I think I would prefer canvassing my fellow Democrats to get their butts out to vote against Trump and his party of plutocrats.
3
If Mr. Hardwick remains uncertain whether he will vote for Trump in 2020 after the Access Hollywood tape remarks about grabbing women by their genitals, the repeated toadying to Putin, the migrant children being put in cages, the "there are some fine people on both sides" comment about white supremacists marching in Charlottesville, the attempt to extort a phoney investigation of Biden by Ukraine through withholding security funds approved by Congress, the recent pardons of military personnel, including one convicted of murder (and I could go on), then Mr. Hardwick and other so-called moderate Republicans deserve the moral bankruptcy that Trump has caused and will continue to cause to the United States. Have they sold their souls for tax cuts and a healthy 401K?
3
Is this column for real? You think Democrats should pursue the votes of somewhat skirmish Republican oligarchs who financed the election of an obvious fascist? No, Mr. Cohen. We need to get out OUR vote. Hillary won the popular vote and if we can get the young and minority voters to the polls this time, we can win. .
I really, really hope we are not going to see the media once again promote recidivist Democrats who just won't let go of their fantasy of aisle crossing while singing Kumbaya. And, sorry, we are way behind Europe in all the ways that matter because of our greed and its requirement of ever-shrinking empathy. It's not 1776, Mr. Cohen.
3
If hardwick isn’t sure whether or not he would vote for Drumpf he’s a lost cause.
4
So we know Trump is a racist, and a criminal. But the economy is good, so this guy might vote for him anyway.
Forget him! We just need people to vote instead of staying home, and these awful “conservatives” will be swamped. Let’s figure out how to do that.
4
To all those posters here throwing labels like "billionaire" and "moderate" around like wrecking balls; to all those complaining about "Republican Lite" ogres - listen to the man - he dislikes Trump for the same reasons you do and there are many not-rich people who think the same way. All they're asking for is a decent, moderate Democrat alternative.
He names Bloomberg and Biden; pair one of them with Klobuchar and Trump should lose.
2
I hope Hardwick has read Tony Schwartz's piece in the New Yorker about how he, not trump wrote "Art of the Deal" (trump has too short an attention span to even sit down for an interview). Schwartz deeply regrets helping trump promote himself, and says if he was to title the book today, he'd call it "The Sociopath." A reasonably intelligent guy like Hardwick calling impeachment "a distraction" makes me feel America is doomed to fail.
While it may be realistic that we need a centrist candidate (and I'm not against that) in order to win over people like Hardwick, the longer tougher road is to re-educate America to not orient around such selfish thinking. Americans think way too much about ME and way too little about WE.
5
Well, to this south Louisianan, the only thing I’ve learned in politics in my 73 years is that people will inevitably vote their wallets, so barring anything majorly upsetting in the economy, trump will most probably be re-elected. The gentleman in the story’s shrine to trump and money speaks volumes. I hope that I am wrong.
4
Mr Cohen,
When I think "Hardwick" (as you asked us to), I see the essence of the crisis we are in.
I see Americans confronted with the binary and over simplified choices that our broken political system presents to us each and every day.
You can have "great" 401ks or financial calamity.
You can have a deregulated economy without the slightest worry that we are despoiling the earth.
You can pay lower taxes and expect more services from the government.
You can't have a more inclusive distribution of the fruits of America's creativity without turning America into a socialist Orwellian state.
Mr Cohen, wittingly or unwittingly, you have re-presented this binary thinking as if its sufficient to address the issues that we face.
I reject that idea and I am hopeful that more and more Americans so the same.
7
@John Jamotta: In mathematical terms, politics is really a Hilbert Space with as many superposed dimensions as there are issues.
1
My twenty three year old daughter will not vote for Biden or
Bloomberg, and, among her generation, she is scarcely alone:
young female voters have had it with even the odor of male
privilege. This essay underestimates the difficulty of the path Democrats face in 2020: finding someone to unite the
spuriously divided generations.
5
I think you had better sit down your daughter and explain to her the REAL difference between another 4 years of Trump and the election of ANY Democrat. If we have the millennials sitting out AGAIN because of their so-called principles and letting Trump win we are doomed. Please explain to her the phrase “ cutting off your nose to spite your face”.
4
Here's a novel idea...how about the Republicans like Hardwick TAKE BACK their own party that has become radicalized and weaponized against its own countrymen and the world instead of seeking and finding shelter, refuge under the Democratic tent diminishing progressive liberal Democratic voices in the process... elephant herds making conservative hay in their opponent's own house under the guise of centrism.
935
@Ambrosia Hardwick exemplifies why Trump won the election in the first place. It is all about me, me, and me. He would not vote to keep Trump as a company's CEO, but voted for him as the country's CEO; enough said about his judgment. Trump will fast track the degradation of our country, Biden and Bloomberg will continue with the slower descend. Many 'moderates' recognize our democracy is broken and advocating for systemic changes, but wishing for nostalgia to get us there.
99
@Ambrosia: Money donated to the Republican Party is spent to undermine the Democrats. Roger Stone has been a prominent Trump prankster living off it, but there are plenty more out there.
33
@Ambrosia
And how would they do that? By convincing all the pro-guns, anti abortion folks to kick Trump out and vote for a moderate Republican? Really?
27
Thank you, Roger , for your solid and very valuable , clear-sighted journalism . Very thought-provoking .
Marianne Williamson -- she approaches income inequality from the perspective of wanting to help people thrive, not from grand plans to socialize all health care. She can unite some of the religious factions that are lukewarm to more secular democratic candidates. The media didn't give her a chance. But she is still going to be on the ballot in the primaries.
1
Hardwick is the weather vane to the 'swing' voter? A billionaire lifetime republican? Huh?
So, we all bend our beliefs to accommodate the fears of the very wealthy, so they are comfortable they'll still be crazy rich, and have their usual power. Great.
Columns like this reflect the author's anxiety more than any pulse of the electorate. I say: Vote for who you WANT; who you believe in. Don't let 2020 devolve into another vote of the less of the worst.
9
I agree with the author. I really like Warren but she is too far left. Same with Bernie but he's too grouchy in addition to being too far left.
Joe had his chance and it's time to pass the torch. Besides Trump and the GOP will devestate him with their conspiracy theories.
Bloomberg? No. Just no.
I like Amy Klobuchar. She is about where many/most Americans are with respect to policy. And she tells good mom jokes.
7
Type should see “distrust in Democracy”
I kept looking for Mr. Hardwick to mention and express some empathy and consternation for the millions of Americans living and dying without affordable healthcare and also for this administration’s wholesale destruction of environmental regulations. If this affluent Florida retiree votes only in relation to his 401k and ignores the rest, he is as little concerned with the “common good” as Donald Trump and his corporate sponsors. I’m not convinced that Mr. Hardwick is as “conflicted” about who to vote for in 2020 as Roger Cohen seems to think.
13
Don't trust anyone who keeps a maga hat and a copy of Art of the Deal on their desk.
Dems will not win these people over next year. Better to work hard on energizing their base.
11
With individuals reasoning like mr. Hardwick it will be impossible to dislodge the “ brute “ from the White House .
We need to get involved with younger generations, that have been shortchanged from education, healthcare, environment, public debt etc , and encourage them to vote together with all minorities.
The “ brute “ is causing long-standing challenges and damages to our democracy and must be stopped by men of good will.
6
"...Democrats have to shift sane, moderate Republicans like him their way to get over the line next November."
Actually, no. They just have to get some of the 100 million eligible voters who didn't bother to vote in 2016 to exercise their duty in 2020. Hardwick and his ilk will vote for Trump whatever his flaws.
12
We have to get the "never voter." I'm amazed at how many people don't vote. I live in Queens and their answer is it won't matter because Trump won't win here. Not good enough and we have to keep the popular vote up.
7
New York Times: Enough with the handwringing columns about the Democratic party’s responsibility to woo Trump voters. It’s an empty proposition.
Older, wealthy white men like the one described in this column are a thin slice of the US demographic. It’s too bad he’s suffering confusion about Trump’s immorality and incompetence, but I don’t see any reason for the Democratic Party to cater to his narrow worldview.
The most effective way to defeat Trump is to register young voters and to ensure that no voter in this country is disenfranchised or purged.
1806
@Louise LeBourgeois
It is hard for me to believe Trump has won over any Clinton voter 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 2016. If that is the case the real strategy for the Dems is how do you increase voter turnout in the swing states. Registering voters who don’t show up on Election Day won’t cut it. How can you reach the voters in Philadelphia, Detroit and Milwaukee to vote in 2020 instead of sitting it out as they did in 2016? While a robust effort to register new voters is good, how do you close the deal by getting them to actually vote?
65
@Louise LeBourgeois
So, you’re counting on registering all the young people to get out and vote in order to get rid of Trump? If that’s what you’re counting on it’s a very risky strategy, I would say.
12
@Cynthia That's how democracy works, Cynthia. And I hate to break it to you, but whoever the candidate is, they are going to need to get a whole new generation of non-voters interested in becoming voters to support the candidate. Which is why Bloomberg or Biden would be absolute, absolute disasters for the Democrats. Neither one excites anyone outside of the AARP / Baby Boomer crowd. The way to get these new voters to "actually vote," Louise, is to have a candidate who inspires them to do so. There are, to my mind, three of them, potentially, in the pool. Sanders, Warren, and Buttigieg, in that order.
But the Democrats would rather lose with a Republican-lite candidate than win with a candidate that the DNC, which is to say, Wall Street, does not own.
62
"Sane, moderate Republicans" like Hardwick?Anyone who voted for Trump against the so called "scheming Clintons" can not be described by those words. And yes America is unique in that in this country you can die or go bankrupt because medical care is so expensive and students can burdened with huge student debt.
8
For me, this analysis seems out of touch, distracted and irrelevant specifically in that it exasperatingly reaffirms what we already know about deleterious privilege, greed and immorality. What or how Hardwick thinks is less relevant for the 2020 election. Women of color, young people and leaders like Stacey Abrams, Rashida Tlaib, AOC, Bryan Stevenson and Elizabeth Warren will, and already have, helped to educate, promote and secure policies the US needs for us to thrive at home, and importantly, for us to be the world partner we should be for economic and social justice.
What used to be considered radical is no longer. People are hemorrhaging; we have reaped what the Hardwicks sold/sowed and a majority of Americans no longer believe it’s “radical” for women to control their own bodies, for POC to be murdered or incarcerated at more than twice the rate as whites or for all of us to have equal access to safe, affordable healthcare. The majority of Americans, and, if you’re paying attention, the majority of folks on the planet have spoken, demonstrated and some are dying because we stand up for and firmly believe in science and fair elections. Would it help if hardwick woke up, listened to his “radical” grandkid who refuses to take their grandfather’s dirty money and works alongside the peer whose brother died in a school terrorist shooting, and voted for someone who has a record of policies protecting social and economic justice? Sure. But not required.
1
What I do not understand is why the Republicans do not take the impeachment option as Pence will end up as President.
What does Trump bring to the role that Pence would not? Do the Republican senators really like the disruption, chaos and totally incompetency of the Trump administration?
4
After 40 years of supply side, trickle down, flim flam it's time for a Progressive. For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. It's going to take years to undo the damage that these predatory vultures have inflicted on the poor, the middle class, and particularly the environment. Go bold Democrats and stop listening to advice from people who actually want you to fail.
4
Mr. Hardwick is just another ex-corner office and stock options creature, and the last person the Democrats need to be catering to. Trying to appeal to the right is not only a fool's errand, but will cause democratic voters to stay home.
Just as with Bill Gates' complaints about how "radical" Elizabeth Warren is, their bellyaching indicates that her approach is *exactly* what the oligarchs fear - and what the rest of us need to embrace, or we can kiss Democracy goodbye.
And Mr. Cohen: We can either learn something from the European Social Democracies, or we can continue to simply go down the tubes with our ridiculous delusions of "exceptionalism" and rugged individualism.
8
“Moderate republicans” who all voted for Trump in 2016 wish there could be a democratic candidate that is a fiscal conservative (think no taxes), a bit racist, a bit on the misogynistic side, but not as obviously crass as the autocrat in the White House. Why should democrats abandon their ideas, and embrasse conservative ideology in an attempt to please a few voters who will likely vote for Trump again in 2020. No roger, here you are making a mistake. There is such a large number of people who did not vote in 2016. Only a clear departure from the morally bankrupt conservative dogmas will convince people who have been disappointed by politics to go vote.
5
How could call this guy a "sane, moderate Republican?" In 2016, he voted for someone who bragged that he assaults women. He voted for someone who claimed that he could shoot someone and gt away with it. He voted for someone who drove his own companies bankrupt. He voted for someone who used frivolous lawsuits to beat down people who he had cheated money from. He voted for someone who lied numerous times, who attacked a Cold Star family, who denigrated a reporter who has disabilities, and spewed hatred for people of color.
He knew about these things, and yet he still voted for him. That's not what we should consider "sane." A sane person wouldn't ignore those things, or think that his behaviors would suddenly change once he was in the White House.
And a sane person wouldn't find those actions less egregious than mere "scheming" by the Clintons.
And a sane person wouldn't be "mad at the media for turning on [Trump]" simply because the media report truthful info about what Trump was doing.
Hardwick was a corporate exec, and he was a powerful Republican politician. In no way does he represent the type of "average" voters in the suburbs or in the heartland that Dems need to win over. It's clear that he values his stock portfolio more than civility and cohesion in our society, and more than the standing of our country among our Allies. He doesn't care that Trump is destroying the values that our country stands for.
That's not "sane." We don't need to try to get his vote.
9
There is only one proper way to "dislodge the brute" and that is with the ballot box.
But in order to win an election, you have to be selling a product that the public wants to buy.
Given the current clown car that is the 2020 Democratic presidential candidate pool, I look forward to another four years of Trump as president, and another four years of wasted whimpering, scheming, and carping by the Democrats.
1
Ok - the Republic is doomed. If people like Hardwick cannot see that the US is in dire straits right now, then nothing will move them. It's not up to the Democrats to nominate who Republican Mr. Hardwick likes. He is a REPUBLICAN - the very people who allowed trump to take the helm of their party and steer our country off a cliff. It is up to Democrats to wrest our country away from people like Hardwick.
7
Hartwick has one vote like all the rest of us. At the same time, he has the money to invest in a candidate of his choice, so that freights his influence beyond his one vote. Hartwick's self-satisfed self-interest and lack of concern for the larger community and the preservation of the structure of our Constitutional government are plain for all to see.
7
Thank you sir for your honest and absolutely correct description of Obama and his government:
"...wheeling and dealing, threatening, malicious, disregarding the law, dismissive of the national interest, trampling on professionalism and integrity, small-minded, misogynistic, Russia-besotted, valueless, manipulative, untruthful, gross and contemptuous of his oath of office."
And now you know why Trump won and will win again.
As the Shampeachment shows we have a lot more work to do in order to prize our nation out the the hands of the corrupt and mendacious, unelected and self-important Deep Staters and Obama holdovers.
As for Biden you do realize that both Joe and Hunter will be called to testify in any Senate trial, yes?
Let THAT sink in for a moment.
Assume Mr Hardwick is won over. He's surely not typical of the Trump base and seems fair to ask is he typical of the re-thinkers. And if he is, are there enough of Hardwick re-thinkers to warrant being made the focus of Democrats?
1
As Pelosi says, with Trump all roads lead to Russia.
If there's anyone who still can't see it, or who still thinks that Trump has real plans to make ANYthing (but Putin) great, they're either weak-minded or willfully blind.
Selling us out to the Russians, without any real plan for anything other than a big tax break—that's worth a repeat?
What is wrong with 35% of our country?
4
We, the people, need to make sure that good old boys, like Chuck, are not price gouging on our life-saving drugs, and buying politicians to legislate in his company's favor. What is the point of this story, other than to legitimize oligarchy? Who cares how this guy votes? We need to make sure that his vote isn't worth more than YOUR vote.
6
Former Pfizer exec? Really?
3
The Republicans espouse a cartoon version of America of privilege and entitlement and boundless prosperity. It’s fiction that ignores a bloated military culture, plutocracy, and gross inequality. Their message is low hanging, processed fruit for the masses. Unless enough Americans mature and learn that we are not fundamentally individuals in a vacuum competing against one another in the free market so we can back our SUVs up to the mall to fill with junk, the Republicans will keep producing Trumps.
3
Hardwick is a single issue voter and that issue is: his own financial well being. I don’t want my political party nominating someone who prioritizes -to the point of exclusivity - the Dow Jones average.
He thinks the Clintons were just “schemers”? What a shallow thinker this Hardwick is, if he has no more of a sophisticated opinion of them. Particularly when compared to Trump.
My message to Hardwick would be: If you find Trump has been a “disappointing” moral leper so far, just imagine what he will be like if re-elected.
5
If Trump is voted another 4 year term, then the inmates have definitely taken over the asylum.
Woe be to the good ol' U.S. of A.
2
Are we supposed to sympathize with a millionaire who worked for Big Pharma? And, how many sane Republicans are still out there, versus Trump's cult?
3
So threatening our national security for his personal gain is OK with this guy? Or does he pretend, like so many Repubs, that he just doesn't see it?
If that's what he thinks, he is neither sane nor moderate. God help us if we cater to voters with no soul and no care for what our country is supposed to be.
3
I still hope Kamala Harris catches on. Smart, tough, accomplished. Warren and Sanders are too far left in their rhetoric. Amy Klobuchar is another good candidate. They could both handle trump and make him look foolish. Biden and Sanders are too old. The job demands too much. Trump spends most of his time playing golf and riding around on Air Force One. I think the “high energy” Mr. Hardwick admires is “fake energy”.
“ The most devastating thing about the impeachment proceedings this week has been the knowledge that this is not just how Trump treats Ukraine but how he operates in every area of government: wheeling and dealing, threatening, malicious, disregarding the law, dismissive of the national interest, trampling on professionalism and integrity, small-minded, misogynistic, Russia-besotted, valueless, manipulative, untruthful, gross and contemptuous of his oath of office.
I think the Senate has grounds to convict the president. It won’t.”
This is what we have become. If trump’s crimes, betrayals, racism and misogyny aren’t enough maybe we don’t deserve our democratic republic. The man is sick. He uses his power to rob us and fill his own coffers.
Here’s a succinct characterization of the person who currently occupies (and disfigures) the U.S. presidency. It comes from an interview with Judea Pearl in The Atlantic, in which the topic was artificial intelligence and machine consciousness.
Interviewer (Kevin Hartnett): What is evil?
Pearl: It’s the belief that your greed or grievance supersedes all standard norms of society.
3
The subtext to the Yovanovitch testimony--maybe the text itself--is that the USA is quickly becoming a country where Ukraine-style corruption at the highest level is accepted. "Get over it." People like the guy in Cohen's column don't care. So much for "American values." Have we been kidding ourselves all along?
5
I am wondering why so many folks like Mr H do not use facts themselves.
I’m cynical at this point but I am imagining that this fine gentleman probably supported impeachment back in the day for Clinton’s lie about his girlfriend. He now sees the impeachment process that is addressing the stone cold facts about Trump’s abuses of power as a “distraction” and waits for other people to act like American citizens who will protect democratic principles instead of thinking a fat portfolio is an OK quid pro quo for a sociopathic liar tearing down everything the founders built in to assure checks and balances - can he not require something of himself too?
5
Your theory lacks hope. If young people vote and Bill Barr, Steven Miller, Wilbur Ross, Vladimir Putin, Mitch McConnell, Lindsey Graham, Steve King, Jim Jordan, Brett Kavanaugh, Ergdgon and others who are in bed with voter suppression and intimidation tactics toward women and minorities are unsuccessful, there is a slight chance another human being with some scruples could win.
2
"Sane, moderate Republicans"? If Mr. Hardwick is still making up his mind about the disaster that is Donald Trump, he does not fall into the category of sane and moderate.
His love of his 401 k's would seem to take precedence over his sense of decency.... not unlike a president who mentioned doing business with Saudi Arabia after a "Washington Post" reporter was killed an mutilated.
No wonder Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren see the dangers of rampant capitalism which breeds rampant greed.
4
No, think all the young African Americans who didn't turn out for Hillary. Her finger wagging at BLM representatives cost her the Electoral College. Democrats who are "Republican lite" will lose to those seen as real Republicans.
We must right the ship before we can begin a major overhaul. Getting rid of Trump is essential--or we all sink. A Biden or Klobuchar--even a Patrick or Bloomberg at the helm allows us to do that.
Once Democrats prove we can regain and maintain a stable course, then we can start the essential job of fixing all that's been broken.
This is not a time for egos and utopian dreams.
2
My thirty year friendship with a woman I love very much has been put to the test over these past three years because I couldn't find a way back to her after she voted for Trump. While we have tried hard to set aside our differences over the man in the White House, I know in my heart it will never be the same. I blame myself--not her-- for whatever it is I lack internally to reconnect the powerful ties that bind us. As a 60 year old white women living a better-than-just comfortable life, my world is full of Chuck Hardwicks who care more about their pocketbooks than the damage this corrupt president has done to our country, its institutions and its people. I've been afraid for these 1000 plus days Trump has been in office to talk about his appalling behavior to anyone I suspect voted for him. Afraid because I know it will fundamentally change the way I feel about them--these people I have loved for so many years. But how long can one look away? How long is it possible not to confront the truth about who Trump is at his core? My fearfulness, having watched the public testimonies of the three career, non partisan states people, has evolved into anger at people like Hardwick who set up shrines to Trump and care only about their own bottom line. I'm never going to change Hardwick and people like him--and I must stop being afraid and redirect my anger into helping people of good will fight for the common good and the rule of law. Simple to say but exceedingly hard to implement.
6
So the Democrats need a candidate that's acceptable to conservative Republicans? I guess I don't understand what political parties are for.
1538
@Richard Tomasulo
No. Democrats need to offer a candidate who is acceptable to the most voters. To win. Because that is what elections are for.
61
@Richard Tomasulo Exactly so. Hardwick reads like a Tea Party Republican who convinces himself he's somehow 'above' the deplorables. He is not - and Demcorats need the votes of Dems and persuadable independent voters, not somehow who thinks the Clintons 'schemers', but Trump virtuous. Please.
120
@Richard Tomasulo This would be screamingly funny if it weren't so right on!
31
I cannot understand a thought process that allows you to vote for a presidential candidate that you would not hire as a CEO. Sounds like you are more concerned with the fate of a company than the fate of the country. I cannot "Think Hardwick" because my logical and moral brain will not allow it. That said, I also cannot see Warren or Sanders getting elected. I think they can do the job. I don't think they can get the job. I am an unaffiliated voter and would vote for a centrist ticket from either party simply to right the ship of state.
495
@Frank
When hiring a CEO, you have more choices. When it's Clinton vs. Trump you have to decide between two corrupt individuals. Not a fun choice.
11
Face it, Trump wouldn’t pass his first interview. Unfortunately, neither would Warren who’s going to defy all business principles of moving the government into a business consumers largely value and where the systems are already in place. And she’ll take trillions of dollars of to do it!
Not sure the country, today, places much value on CEOs. We’re more interested in punishing and spiting the productive part of our economy that employs and improves quality of life through competition and profit motive. Does the government have a role to ensure fair play and ensure the well-being of those less fortunate? Sure! But that’s a far cry from arrogantly thinking it can do better.
7
@J. Waddell Still not hard. If they are both corrupt, there are other questions to ask to delineate choice not the least of which is who can do the least damage for four years til you get another chance? Who has foreign policy experience? Who has government experience? Who has law experience? Who is intelligent? Who's actually independently accomplished anything in their life? Who's willing to release their taxes to show lack of corruption? I'm sure there are more but these are just a few to think about. Vote person not party.
67
Roger's piece is almost as unconvincing as Trump's defense that the aid was given and Zelensky didn't make a public announcement about an investigation of the Bidens. Democrats should choose their candidate to try to appease a moderate Republican who is at the top of the income distribution while slapping the faces of a large proportion of their base that shows preference for real progressive change? You want to alienate a significant portion of the progressive Democratic base, then go ahead and nominate Bloomberg, Patrick, or some other advocate for the squishy and more-of-the-same center.
The goal should be not to win republicans over, but just not give them a reason to vote against a Democrat by voting for Trump. They would vote for Trump just to prevent a Warren Presidency for example. They have a natural malevolence towards Democrats, especially progressives. Sitting out the election is better then a vote for Trump. Find a Democratic candidate who doesn't stoke fear in Republican hearts yet doesn't appear like a "republican lite" to the democratic base.
1
What I don't understand, and have not heard anyone explain, is why people like Chuck Hardwick think Trump's coercion of a foreign leader to influence our elections for his own political gain is "not worthy of impeachment." This is precisely the example Benjamin Franklin gave when arguing for an impeachment option in the Constitution!
1314
@Deborah S. Perhaps you missed in the article, "I think the Senate has grounds to convict the president. It won’t.". It's clearly an impeachable crime, but the Senate is controlled by the "party-above-all" GOP.
17
To the assertion: “America was born in contradistinction to Europe not as an extension of it. That identity is nonnegotiable.” In 1787 France was ruled by a King, Germany and Italy existed as regions but were not nations and the future queen of Spain married an 18 year old when she was just 11. Today those differences are extinct; their governments have absorbed much of what is America. A major distinction? Those nations have better healthcare outcomes than we do, with less expense, and zero medical induced bankruptcies. America can always learn from others.
1
I'm a former conservative democrat and now an independent, and have never voted Republican in my life and will never do so. But I am now retired, am rebuilding my life after a divorce and am trying to help my adult kids navigate through life, my youngest still in college. There are many things I like about Mr. Trump, but like Mr. Hardwick, I also have many reservations. I am not wealthy, so my personal focus now is on my financial situation and remaining independent for as long as possible.
There is no one on the Democratic side, other than Mayor Pete and possibly Michael Bloomberg, that have even the slightest appeal to me.
Unless something changes, I would at this moment rather tolerate Mr. Trump's excesses -- which, as repulsive as they can be, I regard as merely stylistic, ultimately reversible and NOT a threat to the "fabric of our democracy" as so many people here seem to believe -- than cast a vote for a democrat a take a chance that (a) our resolve will weaken in the economic battle against China and (b) that my hard earned money will be taken from me.
42
@David H Thus speaks an older man, most likely white. Ask more people around you, including your own kids, how they see the stakes. Their view of the future, as well as their expectations of you, may not be what you imagine them to be.
For example, if you've got a young adult daughter, she may prefer reproductive rights to a fancy wedding.
241
@Maria
Thank you for your concern, but my kids, fortunately, inherited my intellect, and see things quite clearly without my tutoring.
For once I agree with Mr. Cohen: The democratic party needs to put forward a candidate who speaks to people like me (I do not know who my kids vote for but I can only imagine they too are not lulled into complacency by false promises of free money for everybody.) Otherwise they will have lost a vote.
13
@David H. Please explain what is a conservative Democrat.
51
Affluent lifelong, politically active Republicans are not the people who have to be persuaded. The economic policies of Trump and the Republicans are increasing inequality and harming the great majority of the population. Independents, who are more numerous than either Democrats or Republicans but who often do not vote, are where Democrats must look for a working majority in Congress and perhaps an electoral college victory for President as well. Although many have given up on politics, some are still looking for politicians who will support them on issues that are directly relevant to their lives.
3
The argument that the Democratic nominee will need to win over someone like Hardwick, a former corporate executive and long-time Republican leader who has given $60k+ in political donations, 92% to Republican candidates or PACs, is sheer insanity.
4
Fits my thinking to a tee. The question always comes back to -- what's the alternative to Trump? The Dems seem intent on putting forth a losing ticket. Bloomberg would be acceptable.
69
The alternative to Trump is ANYONE who doesn’t lie every time he opens his mouth.
The alternative to Trump is ANYONE who doesn’t bully and slander someone every time he send out a borderline illiterate tweet.
The alternative to Trump is ANYONE who can show an ounce of care and respect to anyone who doesn’t share his last name.
The alternative to Trump is ANYONE who understands the concept of serving something other than his own massive ego and bank account.
67
@ecuda5
I would vote for my dog over Trump.
48
Chuck Hardwick from Westfield? Like he's not an obscure pharma executive, he was an in-house lobbyist for Pfizer for years while he was also a prominent Republican politician in New Jersey. He was the Republican nominee for governor against Jim Florio in 1989, lost in a landslide. He was never CEO of anything. Now he's down in Florida collecting a couple of pensions, one of which is paid for by NJ taxpayers.
He's never voter for a Democrat, and he will vote for Trump.
9
Hardwick seems like a reasonable guy, but he's not. He's selfish. The Democrats have to prove to him they can field a sensible candidate, but Trump is still a possibility for him despite that DJT cannot not find the truth with both hands, and has nothing but contempt for laws, order, civility, or fiscal prudence. Hardwick is going to vote his checkbook. The sad truth is most people are. They ignore the fact that the 'Trump economy' is a debt fueled binge ultimately destined to falter, just like his real estate deals.
1116
@Ask Better Questions I would guess I'min the top 10% in terms of wealth. I'd take a 50% cut in my 401K to see the orange one in jail.
122
What Mr. Cohen unfortunately clearly does not understand or, perhaps, cannot accept is that the concept and reality of "moderate Republicans" no longer exists and has not existed for some time.
If a person can see what Trump did vis-a-vis the Ukraine and not consider it a crime, then there is simply no point in trying to reach out to them. And if they think Trump's tax cuts benefitted the country they are even less coupled to reality.
This country does not need just "a little" change if it is to recover from Trump and prosper in the years to come. Radical, wide ranging, deep change in almost every area is vital to address the existing and coming challenges.
Unfortunately, a bland, middle of the road milquetoast is not going to take us anywhere we need to go. And that is the only Democrat who could possibly appeal to these so-called "reachable" Republicans.
3
Sure, I was interested in the prospect of what it would take for this man to vote for a democrat in the fall, until he said he liked Trump's corporate tax cuts.
I had a 300 dollar return this year, last year I had a 3000 return.
The voters who will turn against Trump are the workers like me, not this yahoo.
8
With regard to the overall health of our society, it's beyond discouraging to see the someone who had the ability to lead a large corporation evincing the cognitive dissonance needed to overlook extreme ignorance, vulgarity, and egoism in a candidate. That the subsequent events like re-appropriation of military funds for a quixotic border wall, toddler rants on Twitter, and clear subversion of constitutional principles (the list has to be limited for purposes of space) don't result in a recanting and acknowledgement of a distastrous choice--tax cuts notwithstanding--is just a horribly clear demonstration that the darkest of Trump's traits are shared by a number of ostensibly sane and accomplished people. God help us.
6
Thank you for writing about an objective way to remove Trump without the hysteria that usually accompanies the opinion writers.
Moderation in most issues brings better solutions
2
@JTM
That’s what the establishment said in 2016, and look where that got us. Somewhere in a parallel universe Bernie got the nomination and won in a landslide, lifting down ballot democrats to office.
1
@JTM: "Hysteria" is a sexist word.
Dems dreaming progressive fantasies better wise up and heed this simple logic: eight years of heaving social policy leftward under Obama induced the reactive pendulum shift that gave us Trumpism. It’s always been like this, it’s how we Americans correct perceived “aberrations” in the great social fabric whose ripples we can feel—by using the blunt tiller we call elections to turn the ship of state away from the shoals and shallows that might portend its grounding. However, many still feel there hasn’t been enough correction. Though there is plenty of Trump fatigue there simply isnt the collective will for a leftward lurch; hence moderate is the course the Dems must choose for success. And if Joe cannot carry the torch (who isn’t placing odds on the next big gaff? Who can’t see that maybe the fire in him is gone or was perhaps never there?) than Bloomberg—and his timing—make eminent sense.
1
@Steve Lauryn: Get real: Obama was induced to run before he was ready by false Republican support, and then hung out to dry. He was far too naive to be president.
I feel sorry for Hardwick in that he has chosen Trump over others that while are maybe not his "cup of tea". He must have no moral balance. I'm sure that if Trump was hist brother-in-law he would have more to say against him. It is funny how someone can be good and likeable until they are in your family or company.
I think that it is beating your head against a wall if we Democrats think we can move folks like Hardwick to our side. It is not going to happen as they put all the bad things about Trump off in a box while they evaluate others. They do not have the moral standings to judge fairly.
I do not want a Republican-like (or lite) Democrat to be elected.
3
I have a great deal of respect for Roger Cohen, but his labeling Hardwick as a "moderate" Republican is to distort the meaning of words, as Trump has done so repeatedly. The fact that Hardwick is still considering voting for Trump in 2020 indicates in itself an utter lack of moderation on his part. A true moderate would be so disgusted by Trump's utter disregard for the Constitutional principles of our country that the thought of voting for Trump's reelection would be abhorrent.
17
"America was born in contradistinction to Europe not as an extension of it. That identity is nonnegotiable."
The United States of America had a bone to pick with England, not all of Europe. We, like Switzerland and Iceland before us, had developed the idea of a monarchy-less government. By no means was the president supposed to replace a king, in any way.
To accept ideas from Europe is not to be an extension of it. Clever and successful cultures take ideas from other countries all the time, adapt them to their needs and often times these modified copied become better than the original. (I'd prefer that some one gave a Mercedes or a Cadillac any day.)
And if you really think about it, the ideas of American democracy are the thoughts of people like Jefferson and Franklin, etc. who were not only familiar with the ideas of freedom through reading in French but also after they had visited France and even lived there. We took a French idea and made it into reality.
So if we really are so "exceptional" (I do not believe we are) then why not admittedly study the foreign things we like and "Americanize" them - create our own version but not ignore them. (Anyone here get their meds from Canada? I do, eh!)
12
@Robb Kvasnak: The US broke away from England because it constrained westward expansion by the colonies and inching towards abolition of slavery. The revolutionaries were a coalition of frontier land pirates and speculators, slavers, and New England merchants engaged in the "triangle trade" between the Americas, Europe, and Africa.
1
"Three years later, Hardwick, 78, whose political career included a stint as speaker of the New Jersey General Assembly, is unsure how he will vote in November 2020. Trump confounds him. " Unsure? Confounds him? Hardwick has a lot of soul-searching to do if he can't see the enormous damage Trump has done to the United States...domestically as well as internationally. To me, people who identify with Trump...that 35%...share his values, such as they are. They are not my values. Hardwick says Trump "has some good traits". Pray tell us what they are because up until now he has hidden them quite effectively. What is it with these people?
19
The first paragraph of this column gave me such hope, which went downhill from there. But to Mr. Hardwick and other Trump voters of, I assume, good sense and good will, please note that Trump has neither good sense or good will. You’ve seen him in action. You know this. Please do not vote for him again no matter who the democratic candidate. Policy differences can be negotiated, but character is destiny, and if we put this person with the “consuming ego” back in office, he will consume us.
18
A couple things stand out to me with this piece: the first is this statement about the birth of the USA: For Hardwick, Elizabeth Warren is not a choice. He likes her American story, her humble beginnings, her quick mind, but thinks she’s too far left on economic policy for the country to accept...America was born in contradistinction to Europe not as an extension of it. That identity is nonnegotiable." The Revolutionary war and the founding of our country had nothing to do with the social safety net. Was Sam Adams enraged by Britains national health service?
The second very illogical thing that struck me is that Hardwick didn't vote for Hillary out of his dislike of her "scheming". Really? As compared to Trump? All of the credible information out in the public sphere showed his corruption was far worse than any Clinton shenanigans. I don't know that Dems can reach voters who are not being honest with themselves.
23
@Molly B.: The US has always been a refuge for people considered radical in their nations of origin. The Pilgrims were laughed at in Amsterdam for their religious extremism.
When you think the former Republican speaker of the New Jersey General Assembly is the swing voter Democrats need to convince to beat Trump ... Well ... That's truly Cluelessness.
I served in the Illinois General Assembly, as a progressive Democrat representing a rural Republican downstate legislative district. I didn't win over independents and thinking Republicans by taking advice from elected Republican politicos.
Former NY Mayor Bloomberg, another billionaire running for president on the 2020 Democratic ticket, would be the kiss of death for Democrats in the mid-west.
16
@Bill Edley: I've been all over the US, and found that empathy, practical engineering and clearing up chronic problems is welcome almost everywhere.
3
@steve bolger
Trump is certainly a chronic problem!
1
I can't think Hardwick or help him iI he doesn't know enough about Trump by now to make the determination that he can't possibly vote for him again. Does Mr. Hardwick not comprehend the catastrophic damage that Trump has already done? Does he not realize that the Russians have Trump in their pockets? Can he not imagine the devestation that would be caused by a second term? Does he think that in any way shape or form that Trump is fit to be President of the United States of America? Words fail me.
25
I'm surprised that Hardwick isn't even the least interested in Trump's assault on the rule of law, on norms, on the collective idea of America. Maybe it's all nuts and bolts to him; he appears one-dimensionally mired in the economic realm. America is an ideal built by others before us. Our governing documents (written by enlightened Founding Fathers) are the blueprints. Our governing institutions are the scaffolding on which We the Peoples' aspirations have been built. Don't EVER expect a president who firebombs our commonly held ethos and institutions to ultimately survive this - unless we become dispirited and forgetful. That is the true mission of all of us who wish to hold our country up and hold it together. The arsonist must go.
13
It doesn’t take too deep of reading here to recognize that a functional democracy, civil society, and an even entry-level regard for truth and the rule of law are not especially important to Hardwick. And he’s apparently completely fine with Trump’s appeal to white nationalism, his inflammatory racism and misogyny, because either Hardwick fundamentally concurs and/or because he regards these — the denigration and exploitation of other people—as part of (perhaps unpleasant) the “transaction” that will help fatten his wallet.
Why should Democrats be have the slightest interest in courting him —when bringing out the vote, energizing their own base, is both more practical and fundamentally decent?
Sorry, but I’m in the camp that regards *any* trump supporter — even he wears nice clothes, speaks well and has money— as ultimately hostile to democracy, truth and decency , and as either racist and sexist, or racism-and-sexism enabling.
19
The big quid pro quo is between Trump and his Republican supporters. “Will do what you want but let me help myself to whatever I need however I want.” This is why he will continue to have a good chance in 2020 despite the impeachment drama. For the Democrats to win, they need to show the voters on the right and center-right why Trump is not as good for them as they have been led to believe. Claiming he is immoral, unethical and insensitive will not make any difference to them. Focus on health care. Focus on infrastructure. Focus on farmers. Good luck.
8
We have a president who is vigorously pursuing a plan of environmental destruction to line his own and his donors' pockets. That alone should be enough to persuade Hardwick and his like that Mr. Trump has to go. That there is any equivocation at all is testament to how selfish and short-sighted he is.
Think what you like about Ms. Warren, but to suggest that providing healthcare for all is somehow going to make the US less creative is a laughable assertion.
Regarding getting tough on China, TPP was arguable a viable approach that didn't risk disrupting the US and global economies. But that was Obama's plan, so of course we need to dismiss it. Bluster and tariffs are a much better approach. Yeah, right.
9
2020 is about our expectations and standards for how our government should act, not about policy.
Do we want a President to have absolute power and absolute immunity, believing himself to be above the law?
Do we want a President who seeks to divide and coarsens our civil discourse with insults, smears, and attacks?
Do we want a President whose close advisors and staff have been going to jail in record numbers?
Nope. 2020 isn’t simply about policy. Policy can be the debate in 2024 when we are back to normal.
- Proudly Never Trump
12
Sorry, but I can’t take seriously a man who *claims* he rejected Clinton because she was ‘conniving’, but then proceeds to vote for a man who had to pay a multi-millionaire-dollar fine just two months before the election for creating a FAKE university which he used to July thousands of Americans out of their life savings.
6
Mr Hardwick needs to look at the Republican party which is stumbling block to democracy. It is clear Trump is a petty criminal, but the Republicans do not care. Trump is product of Neoliberalism and its policies that people voted for in the last election and the rejection of the status quo in Hillary Clinton. The people want justice and the american dream. The middle of the road politicians will not work for these ideals and thus are doomed to fail.
I'm an old man who has lived a long, interesting and happy life.
I would be glad to spend my last days on this planet in jail for helping to drag Trump out of the White House if he won't leave.
Sign me up!
16
It's not so much Trump that I'm worried about as I am about my fellow citizens who continue to support him. They seem to have no understanding of republican government or the values of honesty, modesty, and service that form its foundation. Yes, Trump has the ability to destroy our government and our country, but what do his supporters do when he is gone? They remain, like a cancer, waiting on the next strongman to come along and continue the sorting of America into opposing camps.
5
a perfect example of I've got mine, don't care about you. No wonder he's moved to Florida. Republican policies will make it unlivable, but he'll be gone by then. Leave it to others to clean up.
5
Poor Times columnists despite their best efforts to make sure our chains will only be loosened never removed will be accused of wanting medicare for all. open borders and whatever other profound and decent positions they fear most to be associated with. Even Chuck Hardwick will be called that for even voicing these minor reservations.
2
I submit that "...hustle and relentless churn..." takes on a completely different meaning for people who can't afford their insulin. I care about these voters.
I care about those voters who work two jobs and can't afford to send their kids to college, as my father did at CCNY (for free) allowing the son of Italian immigrants to raise future teachers, nurses, doctors, librarians and accountants. That was the "hustle and churn" created by the 'socialism" of the New Deal, now denied to far too many. It is that identity that has been negotiated away in favor of for-profit schemes in education, health, energy and consumer-finance.
As for old white ex-big pharma executive men who in 2016 chose to have this as their President before they could accept a rather moderate, female -- they've disqualified themselves as either too prejudiced, and/or too incompetent to judge who our next President should be.
We will dislodge the brute in the White House by ignoring voters like this guy. He doesn't get it --I have nothing but pity for a guy who makes voting decisions so poorly. We don't need to pander to him out of fear of being condescending or "elitist". What 2020 is about is Democratic turnout--period.
6
I notice Trump is using the current impeachment smokescreen to get in a visit with Ergodon of Turkey and to pardon war crime soldiers. He is one of the types that has no shame and uses every opportunity to get what he wants. I for one think his taxes should be what everyone should be after, there are crimes that will get him in the end, nobody escapes the IRS.
5
@Missy Yep-- He is terrified those returns will reveal two things..First, he is in debt up to his eyeballs and second who owns that debt.
I never bought the successful business genius scam. Men like Bloomberg, Bezos, Bill Gates are real self made economic giants. He does not have that kind of innovative intelligence or inspiration......More greed than brains.
Six bankruptcies tell a very different story...One he is terrified we will see.
2
The only way this guy is not voting for Trump in the next election is if he dies before next November. Get out the vote and get people registered and to the polls and Trump will lose in a close election and we will look backwards to this nightmare and forge a real future instead of living in a fantasy past.
5
I must agree that the DEM candidates that are now at the top are too far to the left for me, I am a DEM, and middle America. That said I also believe the DEMs suffer from very bad BR. All I see all day long is trump, trump, trump and GOP congress people shouting lies and insults. In response you see a very professional and polite DEM speaking the truth now and then. The DEMs really need to step up their game.
2
"...Trump confounds him." Then you can't see the forest for the trees.
"He admires the president’s energy..." He may be the laziest person ever to occupy the Oval Office. His daily schedule involves a great deal of tweeting, often snarky, cruel, and untrue. He spends way too much time watching TV, mainly FOX. He either cannot or will not read anything of any length or complexity. He surrounds himself with people who are less accomplished than loyal to him personally, who do not offer counterpoint or correction. He spends more time on a golf course than in deep study and reflection--because his "gut" tells him what's what.
You have been backing a horse that won't run.
8
A lifelong Republican and wealthy ex Pfizer person whose IRA presumably benefitted from the corporate tax cut is willing to -once again- vote for Mr Trump is not surprising.
Party loyalty and money are addictive opiates.
8
Sorry, Mr. Hardwick. Dismantling the EPA and letting environment go down the tubes is to me a single issue that would get me to vote for any Democratic candidate, and that is much more important to me than my 401k-incidentally, historically the market has thrived better with Democrats in the White House than a Republican. That, along with woman's rights, non-racists in the White House, sensible gun control, and a host of other issues, I can't see why there is any indecision. Or, you can vote for the swamp monster who currently reigns and we go down the tubes morally and ethically and watch as the earth burns.
8
I realize that NYTimes is desperate to keep Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren out of power. I don't really understand this desperation, but I can see that it is real.
Truly, it is the NYTimes itself that seems to prefer Trump to any progressive. Is it possible to convince NYTimes to support a progressive to avoid a second Trump administration? Right now it seems unlikely; so if we cannot even convince a nominally "liberal" newspaper that any Democrat would be preferable, how can we possibly convince a Trump voter?
We can't. We win by out-voting these people. Unfortunately we have to win without help from the NYTimes. So be it.
Vote!
4
@Glassyeyed Wish I could "recommend" your comment a thousand times.
1
Why should I "think Hardwick"? He has, enshrined, a copy of a book Trump did not write and a hat, with a slogan insulting to our country, that was probably made in China.
Scheming Clintons? Take a look at the guy you voted for. And his schemes, inept as they may be, involve persecution of those he dislikes and disagrees with and abuse of power to entice a foreign government to help him denigrate a viable political opponent.
If the latter is just "bad" but not grounds for impeachment, then what would be? Apparently nothing, or at least nothing this guy or any Republican would do.
We owe Bill Clinton an apology, seeing that this man has so many apologists for infinitely worse acts. Looking at you, Ken Starr.
5
Roger ... I agree with your hypothesis but how many Americans does this MAN represent ?
"How to dislodge the brute in the white house" shows that Cohen may even prefer a coup to remove Trump. It is a sad commentary.
2
It can’t be Democrats responsibility to convince disappointed voters not to vote for Trump. He is a real detriment to our country. That is plain to see except for the most myopic. So the stock market has risen. What else did you expect from such a tax cut for the already wealthy? What else are they going to do with their (excess) money? His supposed concern over Trump’s financial and tax policies reminds me of “crocodile tears”, every one benefits him more. He sounds like a typical Republican misogynist. He’s all talk and won’t change his mind or vote. Bloomberg, a DINO, a more competent Trump!
1
While I admire all the points of Mr. Cohen's article and essentially agree with his premise - the other chief obstacle for the Democrat nominee will be to convince wary voters that the President should be MORE accountable for his compulsive, destructive, malicious behavior, not (as he seems to believe) free to do as he wishes with no consequence whatsoever.
1
There could have been better ways to confront the economic strategies of China. Just like everything else, Trump throws something at the wall and when it doesn't stick, backs off and the status quo remains. Then he claims some stupendous achievement.
Mr. Hardwick admires Trump's energy. Like an atomic bomb?
1
“It’s really up to the Democrats for me,” Hardwick says. Echoing in his head are Trump’s words in New Hampshire three months ago: “You have no choice but to vote for me” because otherwise everything, including those 401(k)s, is going to be “down the tubes.”
Republicans who think this way are ignoring reality. Trump’s trade war has weakened manufacturing, and job growth has slowed. Republicans forget that their 401(k)s were also doing well under the last years of the Obama administration. Are Republicans ready for the recession that Trump will cause if he is reelected? The 2008 Great Recession wiped out fully half of my nest egg, and it took around 5 years after the recession ended just to get back to parity. I was working then and could continue saving, but as a retiree I can no longer afford for half, or more, of my savings to be wiped out. Trump has already started talking about another tax cut, and while he says it’s for the middle class we all know that once again the majority of benefits will go to corporations and the too 10%. That’s what Republicans do.
2
"Think Hardwick" and hand the government of this country to the oligarchs. Back in the 1930's, the country was desperate enough to take a chance on FDR. Today, like then, resources have shifted into the pockets of the one percent. Are we desperate enough to turn that around?
3
The writer cites the possible candidate Bloomberg as an opportunity to unseat Trump because of the remorse of previous Trump voters like the gentleman cited in the article , but I fear that Bloomberg will not resonate with either young voters or voters of color so where does that leave us ?
I would argue that we don’t know what will happen in 2020 . Don’t forget , that the much of the handful of votes that Clinton lost in many of those swing states were attributed to a splintering of the voters from Jill Green . Let’s hope she has the common sense to stay home in 2020. Don’t give up before the fight has even started !!
1
The middle-of-the-roaders have been on a tear lately, telling us how the Democrats are sure to lose if the Democrats nominate a candidate who actually wants to make billionaires pay their fair share of taxes again, proposes a fairer and better health insurance system, and focuses on middle class and working class issues rather than there needs of investment bankers. I 'm not convinced by this argument. Although I would probably vote for Joe Biden against Trump, I'm not sure I'd do the same for Bloomberg. Also, Mr. Cohen's math is a bit fuzzy about all of those Republicans who supposedly need to vote for a Republican-lite candidate in Democratic clothing. I've seen polls that look quite good for Warren and Bernie. So no thanks, Roger. I'll stick to candidates I know will focus on the issues I hold dear.
1
Homo Sapiens ( Man, the wise) have been around for about 300,000 years. Wisdom was the organizing principle of our Declaration of Independence and Constitution even with all its blind spots. When a fragile experiment like our Democratic Republic is so easily thrown aside for the sake of money, it should give us all pause. Most of us profess to have some sort of spiritual or religious grounding that we claim guides our lives. Wisdom has nothing to do with money but if our country decides that money instead of wisdom is now our organizing principle then it will not matter who is in the White House.
4
@My Country Tis of Thee: There is no wisdom in conceit. We are not all chips off a divine creator who watches us like a TV show.
The premise here is ridiculous and part of a conservative effort to push for a corporate democrat for the democratic nomination. Democrats need to mobilize our voters who sat out in 2016. We need to address the concerns of people, low wages, health care insecurity, housing costs, education and most importantly climate justice.
3
@SKeller: The US Federal Government IS a corporation. Better find a CEO who can restructure wisely.
1
@Steve Bolger Ahhh, yes, electing "businessmen" to the presidency has worked so well - Hoover, Coolidge, Trump ....
This man is 78 years old.
As a retired Pfizer executive, I am suggesting that he has more money than he can possibly need or spend for the rest of his life.
Yet, that is still not enough!
Time to pay it forward, a concept unknown to
individuals who vote for Trump.
What has happened to our country?
18
Roger, Chuck is not going to vote against his own interests. His appearance, the landscaping around his home, and the items on his desk indicate he will stick with the GOP. DEMS ought not to court this voter as his own interests match up well with the right. Democratic Resources need to get out to those white all over towns and rural communities where either the Boss or the Church tell these people directly or indirectly how to vote on one or two issues that protect the Boss Church interests. The good people in these parts need to see that their daily lives and long term prospects would be better with a party that has better advocated for their causes than those of the GOP. This would even be easy if that Party was less interested in the extreme changes that some in the Democratic Party now pursue.
4
The Democrats should focus their energy not on this type of wishy washy voter who is status quo and interested only in protecting his portfolio in Palm Beach Gardens, but on the many apathetic and disenfranchised voters , especially the young. I'm tired of money dictating everything in my country! I question Hardwick's thought process as he voted for Trump. Had he been as astute a voter as he is an astute executive, he would have found plenty of scheming in Trump's background prior to casting his vote.
13
“When you want to make the United States more like Europe, you always run the risk of destroying what makes America unique: its hustle and unrelenting creative churn.”
Let’s be specific. We are primarily talking about health care, pollution, and high-bracket taxes. None of these are at odds with the dynamism that makes America great. The question is how we can get that message to moderate Republicans?? How can we get them to care about facts?
Any Republicans, if you are listening:
- Not having to worry about employer-subsidized health insurance creates more people willing to take a risk and be entrepreneurs.
- Rolling back environmental regulation will surely result in a lot of “churn” in the future than we bargained for.
- During America’s golden age of productivity growth and dominance (think, 1950s and 1960s), high bracket tax rates were significantly larger than today.
7
But are this fellow's reasons for possibly supporting Trump really that unreasonable? And aren't they a legitimate part of the process?
1
@Michael Livingston’s
That's part of the point. His reasoning (while way off base to my mind) is at least understandable, and we have to take this as a legitimate part of the process, and RESPOND to him, and people like him. That's what Cohen means by "Think Hardwick." Think Hardwick, and work with Hardwick, and don't just mock him as a know-nothing. He does know SOMETHING, and he's going to vote, him and many others.
I cannot support trump not can I support warren. So I pray the democrats nominate a more moderate candidate. But my question to trump supporters is twofold.
Do you truly think climate change is a Chinese fraud.
Do you believe people have some right to health care. And I don’t mean Medicare for all.
Yes the markets will go up greater under trump but if we take no climate change action, and again I am not suggesting the green new deal in its entirety, our children and grandkids face a bad future.
So what is the solution?
5
@Vincentjpapa People ascribe too much credit, or blame, to Presidents or their parties for stock market returns. History shows no significant correlation. However, business leaders and financial leaders will continue to tout the benefits of a Republican administration and ignore the data.
https://is.gd/ikSCZi
I find opinions pieces like Roger Cohen's and many of the comments here rather depressing. So few seemed to be concerned about the future of our children and and grandchildren. The most critical issue should be the environment and climate change. If for no other reason, Trump and the Republicans in the House and Senate should be thrown out of office. Unfortunately not enough people care about our future and will vote for their selfish short term interests whether republican, democrat or independent.
14
The increased environmental damage caused by the policies enacted by trumps administration needs an radical counter measure if our grandchildren are to have a fighting chance to survive the future,4 more years of trump or a moderate democrat will not change the the prospects of a unhealthy and overheated planet. The current vibrant stock market is not going to help our future offspring breathe in fresh air or find clean food and water. If you care about your children and grandkids’ future,It should be crystal clear where your vote should not go.
I would like Mr. Hardwick and others who are excited about tax cuts and international financial hardball to grasp the concept that the United States of America is more than an economy. How will all that money spend after our democratic institutions have crumbled and fallen? Who will we be in the world? What beacon of light will be left to shine? Everything is at stake here.
9
Conventional wisdom of 20 years ago does not apply now. 20 years ago we did not have Breitbart, Russian hackers, Twitter or the various right wing news outlets that tell blatantly lie. There are some that will never break away, but there must be more Hardwicks around. How to reach them and how to convince them?
As Trump's behavior unravels , I pray thoughtful Americans will look at his incoherent performances at his rallies and ask themselves if we can take four more years of jingoism and corruption. IF only McMaster, Kelly, Mattis , would step forward and explain how ill suited this man is for office.
2
If Mr. Hardwick considers nothing from either the Mueller report or the current hearings to be worthy of impeachment, I can't help but wonder what behavior would cross that threshold for him. How debased must a president be, in his mind, for removal to be necessary and mandated under the Constitution?
That, of course, is also the question the House and Senate must and will answer. When the answer comes, either way, we will live in even more interesting times.
The rest of Mr. Cohen's piece is apt. Unfortunately, I suspect that most "progressives" will think carefully about the information they might glean here to about the same degree that House Republicans and Mr. Hardwick are thinking about what they're learning from the impeachment hearings.
3
I don't think a guy with a Make America Great Again hat in his house is going to vote for the Democratic nominee no matter what he tells a reporter. Anybody who can see merit in Trump's presidency at this point is putting self above country and I'm not sure we should be giving him the platform to pretend he can be persuaded otherwise.
20
“America was born in contradistinction to Europe not as an extension of it. That identity is nonnegotiable.”
Really? Europe is nothing like what it was when America was born and neither is America. At this moment I’d say we are suffering a serious identity crisis because half our population wants to return to being the white, rootin’ tootin’ country they think we once were while the other half sees that identity as the source of many of our social and political ills. I’d say our problem is that we are spending altogether too much time worrying about who we were and too little time working to become something better. If that means being more like Europe where, say, health care is concerned, I’m all for it.
I generally enjoy Roger’s analysis, but this piece is the oligrach’s dream of a compliant status quo. Bottom line? Hardwick voted for Trump, and he might do it again. His judgement stands in contradistinction to mine.
19
The independents outnumber either party. 46% of them voted for Trump in 2016 (42% voted for Clinton; the others went for Stein, etc). This group will, once again, determine the 2020 winner. It is hard to believe that, given the 2018 results and the 2019 suburban results, that Trump will get 46% again.
4
What is the Democratic electorate, particularly in the swing states, that will end the Trump nightmare? Some, like Mr. Hardwick, claim that this electorate will follow a moderate candidate like Joe Biden. But such a candidate could fail to turn out new voters or intermittant voters, and motivate true, blue liberal to vote for a third party candidate. Similarly, a very progressive candidate like Elizabeth Warren, may expand the electorate of young voters and those who have given up on a rigged system but could also scare off some moderate voters, particularly in the critical suburban areas. Who knows? Actually, no one and certainly not Democratic primary voters who may be more focused on who they prefer than who would be the strongest general election candidate.
3
“America was born in contradistinction to Europe not as an extension of it.”
The Europe of the 18th Century was fresh from endless religious wars, struggles to curb monarchies, and attacks on newborn Enlightenment ideals.
Today’s Europe? Not the same animal and yes, that would be a noble exemplar for a sane, sedate America. Instead, we have our violent mess.
8
Mr. Cohen, you write: “America was born in contradistinction to Europe not as an extension of it. That identity is nonnegotiable.”
Say what? The populace of the United States of America has every right to re-craft the identity of their country as they chose. That is one of the fundamental principles of democracy.
There can be no progress without change. And while the US and the rest of the world have made a lot of progress since the birth of the US, there is still plenty of room for improvement.
10
"When you want to make the United States more like Europe, you always run the risk of destroying what makes America unique: its hustle and unrelenting creative churn. America was born in contradistinction to Europe not as an extension of it. That identity is nonnegotiable.'
This picture of the United States is how the very rich continue to remain in power by selling us an illusion while they loot our resources, people and country. There is little 'creative churn' if you are having to work 3 jobs to make a living; if you are having to stay in a job because of health insurance; if you worry everyday that if you or a family member gets sick has a bad accident, you will go bankrupt; if you are laid off or the company moves to another state, you have no health insurance; if you graduate from a public college with huge debt that will take you 20 years to pay off; if you've not had a true raise in 20 years; if all of the results of your increased productivity goes to the top and you get little if no reward for it; if you have a job that only pay enough to pay for your child's care; if you work for a company that makes billions but pays you so little that you have to seek public assistance to live; if you can be fired for who you love and on and on.
No one is trying to make the United States more like Europe but folks are trying to help the US become the illusion Hardwick and others seem to think we have now.
18
Nice try. But one former voter for Trump, I assume member of the 1%, doesn’t come near the level of persuasion needed to bring new and refreshing blood into the White House. We shouldn’t ignore their views—they know some useful things—but in this country all us human beans are created equal.
Nor is there likely to be a problem getting Trump out of the Oval Office should he lose the election by even one vote. I’m quite sure the US military would be happy to provide the escorts. You see, they, too, take an oath to uphold the Constitution and they actually mean it.
8
@rjon Our media are our hope as to discovering whether the Trump faction has bought the military. Let us hope that our reporters, journalists and correspondents research this possibility!!
If Mr. Hardwick is indeed sane, he will listen to Warren as she explains the economic reality in our country--beyond the vague and wrong-headed bromides of "we'll turn into Europe" and join the rest of us in voting for equity, sustainability and the common good. Warren 2020
10
If Trump's lawless disregard of the Constitution and his personal immorality have no bearing on the 40% who follow him, then it may be best to damn the USA and walk away because civilization is doomed.
17
Trumps will vigorously fight departure, when and how it inevitably transpires, a presumptive spectacle directed by Trump himself to hide a bleak future, filled with uncertainties as he leaves the stage.
What are his options? Not returning to the Trump Group to displace his children, to restart a failing career. Who will fund him? Who would underwrite Trump TV?
No grand tours, no book deals, no goodwill overseas.
There is golf but only with his (relatively) few closest remaining friends. Plus, he will be non grata in Scotland, Ireland and most domestic cities where he owns courses. And, they are unprofitable, except Doral, whose numbers (we know) have dropped precipitously.
Mar-a-Lagos offers seclusion but little solace; its number of visitors are dwindling, already recording financial losses. Who will want to club with the lamest of ducks? A blowhard bully with no pulpit.
He's already marketing properties, before the fire sale. That can mean only one eventuality. And, there will be the ever-present reality his secrets are no longer secret. Past debts must be repaid. No wonder he won't leave easily.
6
Hmm ... Clinton got 68.9 m votes, trump 62.9 m. How many people did not vote?
Ah, that’s right: over 90 million!
Give these people reason to vote. Forget about the republicans. They chose trumpism and will stick to it.
14
A brute? Mr. Cohen shouldn't be engaging in a name-calling contest with the President, who is the domestic league leader in that category, and makes him sound like the garden-variety Trump-hater whose invective has become so easy to ignore after these last three years. The best argument against the President's reelection is simply that he is an incompetent office-holder, running a chaotic administration that cannot be expected to maintain a consistent policy agenda, reform itself, or unite the country. The President's solid political base have heard all the names and the jokes, but those will not sway their votes. A simple plea for basic good management of the executive branch from his opponent in the general election, however, would be novel, correct, and not bring them down to competing on the President's level.
4
@David Godinez "Brute" is one of the milder terms one could apply to Trump. It's a description, not an ad hominem.
1
Trump may have the advantage because he is an incumbent. But he also has the advantage because of the the top three democrats we have to pick from. I do not want to waste my vote. If i have to chose from the top three democrats I am wasting my vote. I no longer consider myself a democrat. I am an independent. No question in my mInd: FOUR MORE YEARS OF TRUMP.
2
I usually like Roger’s piece. But this is a terrible elitist take. I too believe that the Democrats have to appeal to moderate voters. But the Trump voters to woo aren’t retired executives. They are the midwest union or former union members who voted for Obama in 2008 and 2012 but mistrusted Hillary enough to give Trump a shot in 2016.
8
@CPA I completely agree. The lesson isn't to ignore all 2016 Trump voters as hopeless bigots and cult members. They aren't, and you need some of those votes, just like Andy Beshear needed (and *got*) them in Kentucky. Nor is the lesson to assume it'll be *easy* to turn out millions of people who've never voted, and convince many millions more to chuck out their current healthcare system lock, stock, and barrel. Maybe you can do that but it'll be awfully hard.
But I think we Democrats can safely ignore Mr. Hardwick.
2
It is now an unexamined prejudice to assume that what makes America “unique” is good. Exceptionalism is a busted flush. America is unique today in many ways that are manifestly not good for a so called democracy... and to assume also that America’s “contradistinction” to European values is non-negotiable is a fatuous sign of fragility, not energy. Right now, European values are looking a lot less shaky than the “every man for himself” species of freedom that pervades the US. Without fraternity and a collective, communal, sense of freedom (fraternity) American freedom is no better than the freedom afforded to those on a sinking ship...
12
While the US idea to contrast Europe is understandable from history, there must also be mentioned the fact that there is no European style of government. The exsistance of EU is ofcourse a force of unification but still we have countries all from faschist variants to well functioning democracies. You can choose any of them but expect a different outcome.
3
Roger, this is so timely! I've been re-reading 'The Unconscious Civilization' by John Ralston Saul, a Canadian with provocative ideas about the corporatist state and democracy. Apropos, the current hearings, he cites how the GOP and Trump have adopted the tobacco industry's: distraction while admitting nothing. Hardwick represents the elite class that has stopped listening to the people. On a popular German TV panel, a philosopher posed the question: the people are out in the streets in over a dozen cities with myriad grievances, yet the reaction from the state is law and order options. As was in ancient Rome... 'the fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars (Trump, Jordan, Moscow Mitch) but in ourselves (Americans), that we are underlings'. Hardwick and the politically awakened billionaires don't care about the corrosive corruption, assaults on environmental policies, fraudulent elections and constitutional breakdown. A president is defying and breaking laws each and every day, so in a sense America is becoming the Ukraine. Et tu Herr Hardwick!
1
I fail to see the sanity and moderation in anyone that could have voted for Trump.
17
When anything goes, everything goes. And what this country has lost in the past three years in terms of leadership, competitiveness and morality far exceeds what it has gained. Especially since those gains have been led by tax cuts for the rich, a greater spread of wealth inequality and a ballooning
deficit larger than the larger than life hot air balloons of a completely corrupt, narcissistic failure of a human being who has conspired against his country with its most formidable sworn enemies in order to advance his own personal gain and that of his immediate family.
The fact that CEOs such as this one would fire the CEO of this nation speaks volumes about the complicity and complacency of those who put themselves and their party above their democracy.
5
Personally I believe former Corporate executives who are life long Republicans like Hardwick are not worth the effort in trying to vote against their financial interests. I believe that women are the key: black women, Hispanic women, white women, Asian women, Pacific Islander women, suburban women, rural women, urban women & particularly young women of all ethnicities. Why? Because women are more concerned about fairness, ethics, rule of law & are particularly sensitive to brutish men who use their power & privilege to bully & intimidate those with lesser means & power. So, the best strategy is to canvass the important swing states & target particularly women who voted for Trump but are open to persuasion and forget about former Corporate executives who have red MAGA hats & framed photos of themselves with Ronald Reagan, George W. Bush or especially w/ Trump himself.
12
This is the best description of Trump’s malicious incompetence that I’ve read in a while. The scariest part of it is the “prediction” that Trump will never leave office voluntarily...an eventuality that the author suggests lawyers should be working on now. Michael Cohen had a similar warning before he went to jail.
We are in the midst of a slow motion coup.
We should think about Trump’s degradation of American democracy the same way as we have been urged to think about global warming and the degradation of the environment...Act like your house is on fire, because IT IS.
5
Yet another piece calling Elizabeth Warren "too far left"? I guess if people hear "too far left" or "Hunter Biden" or "the black ledger" often enough, they'll come to believe there must be something to it. The truth is, though, that her proposed policies would be a boon for most folks, and people for the most part like them, even if they make billionaires weep.
8
If he can't see that the cost of the Trump presidency is too high, he is already beyond redemption.
8
As an admirer of your columns, I'm disappointed in you this time, Roger. The 2016 and 2020 elections have nothing to do with 401Ks or one's position on tax or immigration policies. It has to do with whether we will continue to entrust the stewardship of our society to a sociopath. That someone with the education and experience of Mr. Hardwick is still blind to this fact is the core problem we face. Hopefully he, and others like him, wake up in time to see that if Trump is reelected, 401Ks or taxes will be least of their (and our) worries. He may detest unlikeable and overbearing liberals like Clinton and Warren, but they will at least govern and have coherent (albeit disagreeable) policies. The only sane thing for voters like Mr. Hardwick to do is vote straight Democrat in 2020 and hope Trump and his enablers leave office peaceably, and then vote their conservative principles in 2024.
2
"As impeachment proceedings unfurled, the market soared. The message: Who cares? That gets Trump within range of the 46.09 percent of the vote that was enough in 2016. If a voter like Hardwick won’t reconsider, a second Trump term grows likely."
I agree with Roger Cohen that Trump will not go quietly. In his mind, the cheers of thousands at those ugly rallies are signs of intense popularity and gratitude for his "many accomplishments."
Like a spoiled child told to go to his room, he will kick, scream, and break even more laws than he already has to maintain power. Power is all he things about: how to wield it, how to get more of it, how to keep it, not to do good for the country, but to indulge his malign goals and needs.
Trump doesn't just admire dictators, he wants to be one. So far, Republicans are letting him. Are we voters going to let him too?
5
Sorry Roger, another lackluster centrist is not who beats Trump. A motivated, angry and enthusiastic Democratic base defeats Trump. That base will not be enthusiastic about Biden (who may not last thru the first primaries) or Bloomberg. They want a fighter, a champion, someone who cares more about them than Wall Street or some retired pharma exec who still proudly displays a MAGA hat and the book Trump didn't write and has never read.
3
At the risk of being somewhat simplistic I offer there are two types of Trump supporters - the 2nd Amendment gun toting folks who want those bad immigrants not able to come here and who eschew a woman to have a say about what happens to their body. They wear MAGA hats, feel their hero has been maligned by dark forces, and an evil unfair press and who don't think too much about anything like climate control, real tax reform and Trump's egregious lies and criminal, amoral background. Then there are those at the other end - the well-heeled, accomplished, myopic folks like Mr. Hardwick who, like the former supporters, gives short shrift to issues like real tax reform, foreign policy, climate change, Trump's duplicitous path etc. Sure, he'll sit in his pictured Trump mancave and watch the Dow and receive his generous financial rewards because this is what will make him and the well-off pull the lever once again for Trump. Follow the money Mr. Hardwick but forget about all those other issues Trump has either forgotten, lied about or simply doesn't care - like the book in your Trump shrine, its all about the deal.
4
I'll say one thing about the wealthy. They vote their interests. Now, if the Dems can only get middle Americans to do the same...
5
Mr Hardwick is part of the problem, not the solution. Donald Trump is an existential threat to our democratic republic, the rule of law, and public decency itself. Each day his criminality becomes increasingly more evident. I am sorry that Mr Hardwick is having such a hard time recognizing that attempts to extort foreign leaders by withholding from them duly appropriated assistance to further one's own electoral possibilities is not impeachable behavior. Virtually any Democratic candidate will begin to return our country to the traditions and values and laws that has made us the envy of the world. Mr Hardwick does us a great disservice by falling to see the unique peril that Trump represents.
5
Time for Hardwick to contribute to society by becoming soylent green.
If we concern ourselves with reactionaries like this let them have Trump.
Look closely at the increasingly frequentinterviews of voters In battleground states by roving reporters. Watch what happens when people in the street are asked questions about Trump. The men who are Trump supporters (and it’s mostly the men) often answer the questions with their arms folded across their chest and unsmiling faces. I’ve never seen this type of defensive/aggressive posturing in support of any candidate in any previous election going way back. Republicans and Democrats were mostly respectful of each other. Even strong gun supporters of years past never seemed that aggressive. Trump encourages this type of aggressive posturing in all his rallies like other authoritarian dictatorsthat he so admires. This is so bad for our country. It almost feels like a Civil War.
2
Per another NYT article Trump has issued 6,000 Tweets which denigrate people who disagree with his ideas. This is “presidential?” Not in my book!
Besides that his destructive and totally self serving behavior his policies on issues like trade, tax policy, climate change and the environment, and immigration are harmful to the country. His foreign policy, as epitomized by the recent decision about Syria, is equally problematic. I agree that the Senate won’t convict him if/when the House impeached him. The Dems need to nominate a candidate who can appeal to the kinds of Repubs described by Cohen.
A 2020 Trump defeat "is something the Trump ego will not abide." This is a dangerous misreading of Trump's motives. Everything Trump has done since his election has served one goal: staying out of jail. He simply can't afford to lose his only protection against imprisonment--the Oval Office. This explains the whole Ukraine affair. It's not so much that Trump WANTS to remain president--he HAS TO remain in the White House. Or else it's the BIG House for him.
And I find this notion that Trump must be defeated by a wide margin or he might resort to "shenanigans" to be rather quaint. If Trump loses by 10 million votes next year he'll say: "See? I told you voter fraud was rampant." Then AG Barr will say: "I'll have to look into that." Then Trump will proceed to sue every state he lost while he rallies his base to oppose the "coup." It's not that Trump WON'T concede defeat--he CAN'T. I just don't see a path that doesn't lead to massive bloodshed.
1
I have to admit that I don't understand the thinking of Mr. Hardwick and many other people like him.
Their line of argument is:
1) we have in the White House a proven con man with the temperament and understanding of a five year old and someone who routinely lies about everything. He routinely
undermines and tries to destroy not only diplomats but all areas and functions of government. He is working on the military justice system just now.
2) if the democrats will nominate a sound, moderate responsible person of integrity who proposes policies we like, then we might vote for him/her.
In my view any democrat or republican would probably be better than The Donald.
There are many people (about 35%) of the population who love The Donald -- to put it simply -- because he hates the people they hate. They hate the dark-skinned, immigrants, LGBT, "liberals," people who read the NYT, etc. I don't agree with them but I know why they support The Donald.
But Mr. Hardwick doesn't seem like a hater. Apparently he is willing to see the government destroyed just so he can get a big tax cut. Of course, I feel that the economy would have been fine without the big tax cut and we would not be racking up a huge deficit.
Is there any other explanation?
4
I never disagree with Mr. Cohen, except for now. There aren’t any sane moderate Republicans who could possibly even consider voting for DJT again.
2
Does anyone care about Mr. Hardwick's political dilemma, because there really is not one when it comes to the persona of Trump. Trump has a lifelong history of being a despicable person, both on a personal level and a business level. That is the foundation of the man, the starting point of any decision to have anything to do with the man, whether it be talking about him or voting for him. Disregarding the man's essence is fraught with peril.
5
Cohen is like a religious convert blinded by the love of his adopted faith, although he's right in the broken clock sense. Unique? You bet! America is the only "advanced nation" with a pay or die healthcare system, declining life expectancy and the highest rate of infant mortality. Funding for public schools is based on property taxes, state lotteries, 7% federal funding, and the whims of 50 states which naturally results in inequality. What greater proof of inequality is there than U.S. economic disparity compared with Europe? Cohen nailed it with "hustle" alright, but not in the positive way he means it. Hustling is an organizing principle in the U.S., and now it has a Hustler-in-Chief. The rejection of European influence in the 18th century was predicated on political factors that are no longer extant. Europe has delivered on America's promise of democracy whereas "American Exceptionalism" and hustle has rendered it an oligarchy.
A life-long Republican like Hardwick wants another Republican in the White House. His ambivalence about Trump is shallow and contradictory. He disdains Trump's odious personality, likes the tax cut though, but thinks his fiscal policies are utterly irresponsible. I concur; starting with that tax cut. Cohen, like his Republican-lite Op-Ed page colleagues delivers another center-right sermon to ensure America's place near the bottom of the list of 1st world nations. But this is not Citizen United Hardwick's concern.
4
@John Bacher
A very insightful and well written comment. I thought about writing something about "the American economy being unique." But you said it better than I would have.
I would just add:
Down through history the American economy has been unique. Several items that I can think of are 1) cotton economy based on exploitation of slaves and sharecroppers; 2) theft of land and natural resources from native Americans.
Our new ideas: Amazon and online commerce as well as Uber are based on people working with few or no benefits with slave labor wages.
Actually I lived in London for six months some years ago. I like Europe and being more like Europe would be a good thing.
Best wishes and stay positive.
4
@Aubrey
Dear Aubrey,
Many thanks for your very generous reply and for adding perspective to America's continuation of its "peculiar institution" by other means.
Please accept my best wishes and the hope that you remain strong during this dark night of the American soul. I'm an expat who departed for a distant shore after living in a state of internal exile in Manhattan for over 50 years. There is nothing new here, just the inevitable destruction that all empires risk.
John
1
"When you want to make the United States more like Europe, you always run the risk of destroying what makes America unique: its hustle and unrelenting creative churn."
That's right, Roger. God forbid Americans become more European with luxuries like health care. We have to keep them endlessly running like hamsters on a treadmill.
4
When the Republicans seemed to be destroyed for good by losing with Barry Goldwater, they did not regroup and try to be more accommodating to Democrats to gain votes. They simply rededicated themselves to their deplorable right-wing beliefs and aimed for long-term success. It took them years, but it worked. As long as establishment Democrats kowtow to people with shrines on their shelves to Donald Trump, the Democratic party will be nothing more than Republican lite.
3
Mr Hardeick would fire him if he were CEO yet voted for him to be presidential the United States. How does one justify this? It’s ok that Trump isn’t qualified to head a corporation but as long as he gives tax cuts to the wealthy, ruins our democracy and reputation around the world Hardwick will cast a vote for him. People like Hardwick will be responsible for the end of our democracy as we know it, for pillaging our natural resources, for destroying our planet because money in his pocket is more important than living in a fair democracy. Well, money won’t save you or others like you when the air is polluted beyond safety standards, when clean water isn’t available to drink, when children continue to be slaughtered in schools because the NRA has a strangle hold on our politicians. When you or your family members are directly affected by tragedy maybe then you will care.
1
I don't think we want to win over someone like Chuck Hardwick.
Mr. Hardwick was savvy enough to recognize early on what is at the heart of Trump - ego - but he still voted for him of Hillary Clinton. He may not have liked Ms. Clinton, but even if he thought the Clinton's "scheming," there was plenty of factual information about Trump's life of lies, his dodgy and corrupt past and his conning of people, available before the election yet he chose the worse of two options. That says to me that Hardwick is only in it for himself just like Donald Trump. His only gripe with Trump is that he "can't manage people," so Mr. Hardwick is just fine with Trump's corruption, lack of decorum, lack of morals, lack of ethics and love of despotic authoritarians. No, he is not the kind of person Democrats want.
3
Am I hallucinating the fact that we have the biggest deficit ever, yet these men are jabbering away about 401k's? What good are increased portfolios when trump reverses environmental policies and withdraws from international climate change partnerships? I guess it's true that the rich figure earth is doomed, so the plan is to dance at the billionaire's ball as we go up in flames.
Ever since Trump's election pundits have identified week after week the smoking gun marking his demise. The gun has never gone off. It has happened again this week with gusto: he is finished. Well, I will believe it when I see it, hopefully on election day next November. What is the last straw for decent people with brains and integrity and morality is not the last straw for the 35% of fools in this country who love Trump. Just as you cannot argue with someone at the bar on Friday nite, you cannot get anywhere discussing the latest smoking gun. Either the American voters will next year finally see the light, or they will send this nation down the drain. Our pundits from Roger Cohen on down mean well but they are usually wrong. But they pick up their pay checks and go on and on and on. I am trying to ignore them.
It's not surprising that a 78 year old, white, former executive of a pharmaceutical company now retired to Palm Beach Florida voted for Donald Trump: the stupidity, greed and hubris of people like Chuck Hardwick would be difficult to overstate. Do I wish he had the sense to understand that his civic responsibilities lie deeper than his investment portfolio, yes. But what Mr. Hardwick's rumination over how to cast his vote in 2020 tells me is that the financial success of people like him is not tied to intelligence. The corruption of the Trump administration is unambiguous to those who wish to see it and the policies the administration advances within government agencies from the EPA, FDA, USDA, HUD to the Department of Education and judicial appointments the Senate is expediting will have long lasting and costly effects on this country beyond whatever term of office the current occupant of the White House achieves. Climate change, Food safety, drug safety, clean air & water, on and on, are not concerns that Mr. Hardwick cited. He does acknowledges that a second Trump term would do "great damage to the Republic" but the possibility of a Warren presidency is beyond him, even if the market has proven historically stronger under a Democratic administration. It occurs to me that this op-ed could be edited down to three words which also seem to reflect Mr. Chadwicks world view - I got mine.
5
Anyone, who at this point, says that Trump has "good traits", is not sane and moderate. Someone with as sophisticated a background as Mr. Hardwick did not vote for him because of the "scheming Clintons" - he did so out of greed and self interest. He, more than most, was capable of seeing the venality and outright horror of candidate Trump and he voted for him anyway.
And now, after everything, he's hemming and hawing. There is no reaching this guy and people like him because there is no reconciling their selfishness with what most Democrats stand for.
1
Trump may be untouchable Teflon. However perhaps writers should start linking all his defenders to him. Say things like Lindsey Graham is no more honest than Trump. Nikki Haley is no more honest than Trump. Perhaps there are public figures out there who actually care about their reputations.
It’s utterly ridiculous to hold up a former executive of a pharmaceutical company, no less, as the kind of voter to whom we must pay attention and give court in order to get rid of Trump. If that’s the choice, more corporate oligarchy or throwing in my lot with the un-401K-ed, I’ll go with the latter. Playing it safe to appeal to the suburban and coastal soccer mom types has gotten us into the worst situation since the lead up to WWII.
2
Unlike Erdogan Trump is term limited. Even if he wins a second term in 2020 Trump can only serve as president until January, 2025.
I sympathize with Chuck Hardwick. He did what so many of us do when we're faced with candidates for office we're dubious about--he held his nose, voted for Trump anyway, and hoped it would all work out somehow.
I have no interest in hearing the opinions of someone who is STILL “confounded” as to how they will vote in 2020. I understand that to beat our adversaries we must first understand them BUT the tone of this piece, attempting to portray someone as “thoughtful” when in fact they are THOUGHTLESS (as all Trump supporters are, by definition), offends me.
1
A few weeks ago, in a park in Queens, there were about 25,000 New Yorkers chanting "Tax the Rich!" who'd come out there to see Bernie Sanders speak. How many billionaires are there again? Sorry Mr. Hardwick, but you and your opinions are in the minority and you need to pay more taxes.
If that man is undecided after everything trump has done he is neither sane nor moderate.
2
Mr. Cohen,
When you say,
"The president uses words not for their literal meaning but for their disorienting emotional impact",
you (as do many other observers) make it sound as if it were a conscious strategy.
What Trump discovered on the campaign trail is “a lot of anger out there”. He also discovered that his natural and instinctive blustering, foul-mouthed, denigrating, childish, etc. etc. behaviour resonated with an astoundingly high percentage of the electorate.
There is no strategy per se. There has been no redirection of resources or emphasis in order to obtain what he wants. Simply a realisation that the way he is works. Like a cat rubbing against a leg. It’s how he gets fed by an astoundingly high percentage of the electorate who -if I correctly understand their comments regarding impeachment - really don’t mind if the litter is way outside of the box.
THIS comment is exactly how i feel. This realization is not comforting.
People - let's not overcomplicate this. If your campaign's main feature is "I'm going to eliminate the private health insurance that over 100 million people currently use," you CAN'T WIN THE ELECTION. Even against a monster like Trump.
I like Senator Warren, but her platform is a house of cards built on an unconstitutional foundation and featuring a toxic centerpiece. I won't vote for Senator Sanders because I don't trust a man running for the Democratic nomination who won't join the Democratic Party. Joe Biden has shown he's lost more than a step and is not up to the job. So, by process of elimination, I guess I'm left with Mayor Pete.
GO MAYOR PETE!
1
This guy sounds neither “sane nor moderate”. I interpret the “scheming Clintons” remark to mean, I don’t like take-charge women. I will be very disappointed if as Democrats we concentrate on winning the hearts and minds of people like this. Any so-called CEO who cannot look at two job applicants such as Hillary and Trump and determine who is the better qualified should not be a CEO.
1
So the bottom line is that the moneyed people have to be pleased, even if they want a president who has terrible judgment, is as crooked as they come, who violates law and is ready to throw out the Constitution and install himself as dictator (which he takes every opportunity to act like anyway). They have to be pleased and as long as their $$ is okay, they are pleased. I wonder how pleased they will be when the corrupt GOP has all the courts, including the SC, so cowed that Trump can do anything, including refusing to accept the results of elections or just canceling them outright. I suppose as long as they have their $$$, they will be fine with it. If that's what we've dissolved into, there's not a lot the rank and file of us can do - except stop buying things. Stop going to Walmart and shopping Amazon, and see what happens.
Roger Cohen speaks the truth...we must think hardwick. Appealing to people like him is the only way to vote trump out. Just hold your nose if you must and let’s do what it takes.
If we don’t rid ourselves of trumps malignancy by putting forth a candidate with broad appeal, our democracy will die. There will be no floor left to even debate health care or economic inequality.
1
Maybe we shouldn't be paying attention to an old guy who voted for Trump, who, even at that time, was clearly inept and power-hungry. I consider those who voted for Trump lost causes. I would rather the Democrats focus on voters who didn't scare enough to vote last election. The young are increasingly energized. If Warren can bring out the youth vote, that could turn the tide. Trump voters are a lost cause. It pains me to say that about fellow citizens, but if they cannot see Trump's flaws they are entirely out of touch with reality. We shouldn't pander to the delusional.
Hardwick is part of the problem, not the solution... If he doesn’t get it 100% by now he never will. No new facts can make the difference now.. so it all comes down to desire. This is America today and Trump win or lose, it’s a deep mess.
1
Please stop speculating about what it will take to get Trump out of the White House in 2020. It will never happen, because too many democrats can’t be bothered to turn up to vote.
With this Mr. Cohen engages in the current sad debacle of playing "Profiles in Courage" for people with none. Hardwick keeps a MAGA hat on a pedestal in his library to this day. This is the "reasonable swing voter" the Democrats should court? If three years of Donald Trump can get nary a shrug from this guy, it says more about him than the Democratic field.
How do you find these people? Do they advertise themselves in elite circles as having something less than full-throated support from Trump? Do they have agents selling them to perspective Opinion Columnists? It certainly makes for a nice vanity project. I can only hope Mr. Cohen will follow up with Hardwick after 2020 and feign shock that he voted for Trump again.
1
"That’s why I’m interested in people like Hardwick. Democrats have to shift sane, moderate Republicans like him their way to get over the line next November."
Wait a minute. Hardwick is a presumably educated guy and a former executive at a Fortune 500 company and he couldn't see through Trump's blowhardism, lack of self control, and basic ignorance and greed? Hopefully, he wasn't Pfizer's head of HR.
Sure, Trump picked some of the right targets (China's intellectual property theft, military under-investment by NATO allies, illegal immigration, etc.) but The Donald is like a surgeon who wings it using a chainsaw instead of a scalpel. The damage may be worse than the disease.
And it remains to be seen how much damage he'll ultimately do to rational governance and our social fabric.
At least Hardwick had the guts to admit that he would fire Trump. Almost any competent manager at a publicly traded company would have fired him long ago for creating an unsafe and toxic workplace. His tweets alone would have had him bounced. The shame is that Walmart would fire a cashier who behaved like him, but almost all Republicans will support such behavior from the highest official in the country -- the President.
The emotional, angry, gut-level part of me reads the majority Comments and agrees that Hardwick and Cohen's defense of him is frustrating and maddening.
Yet, the brain says there's logic and the potential that such thinking could also put the most foul man in presidential history in office once again in 2020. As a far left Democrat for fifty years I can't help believe that outrage at Republicans, no matter how understandable, is going to cause us to lose this election for four more years.
I watch the impeachment hearings and can't believe anyone could stomach Trump and the Republicans. But no one could believe it in '16 either. Are we so angry that we're willing to give up the country again?
The statement in this article that Mr. Hardwick is unsure how he will vote in November 2020 confounds me. Mr. Hardwick acknowledges Trump's severely flawed character but apparently feels these horrendous shortcomings are offset by policy tactics. Let's face it, Trump is reckless, above the law, a bully and corrupt. He is unfit for the office of the presidency and he is an unfit human being. Mr. Hardwick's uncertainty about how to vote in 2020 seems to reveal a genuine desire to give a pass to the poor excuse for a president we are currently burdened by.
Of course people should care about their bank accounts. Why shouldn’t they? It’s the economy, stupid, that decides every presidential election. If you don’t understand that, you’ve been living in a cave.
If voters fear losing the value of their 401(k)’s, or their job-related private health insurance, they will not vote for the candidate who threatens either, or both.
You want Medicare-for-All? So do I. But I know the best way to get there is through a public option because it is the only way that can gain majority support of the American people.
Realism about Democratic prospects in 2020 is our only hope to save the republic. The idea that Democrats can win by turning sharply left and thereby turning their backs on a majority of the voters is a fantasy that will lead once again to the political wilderness.
The Democrats flipped 40 Republican districts to gain control of the House in 2018. They did so by focusing on kitchen table issues and avoiding pie-in-the-sky, at a time when voters are desperate for pie-on-the-table. That same moderation is needed to win the Electoral College in 2020.
A polarized country will not support big, new initiatives in social policy. Even if the Democrats win the White House in 2020, a period of healing will be needed to restore confidence in our system of government before big, new initiatives can once again be considered.
1
Anyone who voted for Trump and who still admires him and thinks he has "good" traits is neither "sane" nor "moderate" in any reasonable sense of those words. This is a surprising and disappointing column.
“I’d have to say to him: ‘You’ve got good traits but you can’t manage people. You’re fired.’”
How about, "You cannot get along with people, the best of people, the best of advisers, the best of government has to offer. You can't get along with anyone. You're fired."
How sad. Not only is this guy Hardwick a shallow, selfish thinker like his hero Trump, but Cohen has lowered his sights, giving up on hard-hitting truth telling and demands for moral integrity. Hardwick sees only his own interests, and Cohen dismisses Warren and puts the future of America in Hardwick's hands without reason. Truly a sad day for us all.
Cohen says about Hardwick that, "He admires the president’s energy, his courage in taking on difficult issues like China “stealing its way to prosperity,” his corporate tax cuts, and what he sees as a revitalizing impact on American ambition."
Trump's energy = a child's rant
Trump's courage = bullying and tantrums
The China issue = China is playing capitalist hardball with those who have done it harm in the past in the name of capitalism, and in the name of raising millions out of poverty.
Corporate tax cut = a selfish move that undermines the future of America.
American ambition = Trump's weaponizing the worst of our history of genocide, racism, and greed.
No, we should not cater to this sort of voter. Instead motivate the rest of America to vote for whichever Democrat runs for office.
1
The “ Creative Churn” of America Roger refers to is the greed based capitalism that chews up and spits out the necessary health care services that many Americans need.
The point that Roger is gingerly dancing around is that America has a hide bound stubborn sense of stodgy boot strap Puritanism that prevents voters from voting for progressive candidates.
Yes, America is not like Europe but that is nothing to be proud of.
People like Hardwick see it as a one time choice of Trump vs some Democratic alternative who may have different policy priorities than them. In actuality, a vote for Trump affirms the electorate accepts a lying, unethical, unthinking, reckless, divisive, and fear-mongering politician.
Voters complain that politicians are corrupt. Then vote for indicted candidates like Duncan Hunter and Chris Collins. A vote for Trump reinforces to every politician that his behavior is OK and encourages more of the same. Like begets like and the Republican Party will continue its descent.
2
As I middle class American, I really don’t care that an ex-executive of Pfizer would presumably vote for Trump over Warren. What’s this guy worried about? A tax burden on the dizzying wealth of our oligarchy - of which he’s no doubt a ranking or at least an aspiring member? Hasn’t he noticed the blanket assault on our governance by the corrupt occupant of the WH? What exactly does he care about?
1
Here is your big mistake Roger: “When you want to make the United States more like Europe, you always run the risk of destroying what makes America unique: its hustle and unrelenting creative churn.”
Trump was elected because too many folks felt the US was broken. The system stopped working. The “hustle and creative churn” deteriorated into an opiate epidemic in the heartland.
Pray tell, how would healthcare for all prevent hustle and churn? Also please accept the reality that the massive growth in the US economy came in decades long ago when the wealth gap was nowhere near where it is today, and when taxes on the super rich were far higher. Roger, I’m frankly stunned to read you advocating that the Democrats just continue to preside over the crumbling of the US.
1
"The most devastating thing about the impeachment proceedings this week has been the knowledge that this is not just how Trump treats Ukraine but how he operates in every area of government: wheeling and dealing, threatening, malicious, disregarding the law, dismissive of the national interest, trampling on professionalism and integrity, small-minded, misogynistic, Russia-besotted, valueless, manipulative, untruthful, gross and contemptuous of his oath of office."
I don't think we needed the impeachment proceedings to learn this. Didn't we know all this already? I know I sure did!
There's a bumper sticker now that says "If you still support Trump, stay back 500 feet -- I don't trust your judgement." That sums it up.
This guy is a reprobate. He and others who voted as he did aren't going to change. Trying to "convince" them won't work -- they have been mesmerized by the lies and nuttiness, and for most of them it's too late. The way to end this new orange national nightmare is to turn out those who haven't voted in the past, particularly the young, who can grasp that otherwise they are the ones who will be left to live out their lives in a dystopia. Climate change is the key to waking them up.
Voting is about numbers. And tgere aren't that many CEOs, retired or acting. So that's not the target group to determine your presidential candidate. Just saying.
The elephant in the room is that there are a lot of voters who don’t have a party affiliation, who are turned off by liberal condescension more than they are by Trump’s shenanigans.
In particular left wing’s anti-Semetism, support for jihadists in Palestine and Kashmir and war on free speech by anyone who they disagree with!
Hmmm.....
"....what makes America unique: its hustle and unrelenting creative churn. America was born in contradistinction to Europe not as an extension of it. That identity is nonnegotiable."
True enough.
You can distill this down to America being a very creative artist in the sense of the larger established world. Full of vim and vigor, a refreshing cauldron of ideas every bubbling away, more than willing to violate all established norms in order to follow its own sensibilities. This is what has lead us to such heights as world leader, etc..
But such artists are invariably high/tightly strung, and as a consequence always careen from extreme to extreme in bi-polar fashion. At those extremes they tend to break down.
And right now? This country is nuts.
John~
American Net'Zen
Hardwick admires the president’s energy, his courage in taking on difficult issues like China “stealing its way to prosperity,” his corporate tax cuts, and what he sees as a revitalizing impact on American ambition. Hardwick and all like him make me ill!
1
It strikes me that with Trump voters, it's either about lovin' them some bully boy or it's all about selfishness and economic self-interest.
Decency, humanity, kindness, and concern for our common values just don't figure into the calculation.
“Yet the president’s hand is strong. Trump has an unshakable base of perhaps 35 percent of the country.”
Fortunately these people will have no say in Trump’s impeachment. The Congress will be responsible for disposing of our autocratic toady to dictators around the World. They will vote him out.
Hardwick is not a sane, moderate Republican. He "thinks" he's rich and he has no idea the impact Trumps policies have on regular people.
I know plenty of sane, moderate Republicans and Mr. Hardwick is off his hobby horse if he still sees Donald Trump as anything but a Cat 5 hurricane. He has no moral compass and the reason he saw an ego problem in Trump is because he has one himself.
2
Here is a thought: let the Hardwicks of this country re-elect Trump and let us see what happens to this country with another four years of a mad man at the helm. I bet we will not have to make peace with the Hardwicks of the country in 2024.
1
"That’s why I’m interested in people like Hardwick. Democrats have to shift sane, moderate Republicans like him their way to get over the line next November."
Your article, Mr. Cohen, precisely illuminates the almost unsolvable conundrum we find ourselves in. You refer to your subject, Chuck Hardwick, as a "sane, moderate Republican." And yet -- Mr. Hardwick voted for Donald Trump -- a man he probably knew was a serial abuser of women, a liar, a cheat, a shady businessman and a vulgar, reality TV showman. All these attributes of Donald Trump were well known BEFORE he was elected. And those disfiguring quallities still didn't disqualify him from receiving the supposedly "rational" vote of Mr. Hardwick and millions more like him.
If Hardwick is the definition of a "sane, moderate, Republican," what is the definition of an insane, immoderate Republican? Mr. Hardwick doesn't need persuasion, Mr. Cohen; Mr. Hardwick needs psychiatric intervention. And election shock therapy.
"Falsehood flies, and truth comes limping after it, so that when men come to be undeceived, it is too late." Jonathan Swift, 1710
Fox and company won the campaign of lies against Clinton, giving us Trump. Dislodging that brute seems like a distant dream, given people like this man with his MAGA hat and copy of Trump's fake bio. Knowing what Trump has done to disable our government, I continually stifle the fear it is too late to turn the country around.
1
I guess people mostly choose their leaders by how well candidates project a partial image that lets voters unconsciously fill in the missing details to match what they want to see.
As long as people like Hardwick envision a romanticized ideal of a Master Businessman/President of the Galaxy rather than seeing what's in front of them, they'll conveniently ignore Trump's bankruptcies, shallowness, incompetence, gross ignorance and malignancy, and fill in the glossed-over details with nonexistent admirable qualities. Having Fox News beam out its alternate reality like The Riddler's mind-wave device turns this lack of mental clarity into an existential threat to our country. Thanks, Rupert.
We can hope some of these public feelings extended to enough congressional Republicans by the end of the impeachment and subsequent trial process: https://www.newsweek.com/least-two-dozen-republicans-house-deeply-concerned-trump-ukraine-congressman-1463427 (6 Oct 2019).
They already know Trump is a wretched individual but that may not be enough. We are so partisan, so in love with public conflict (no matter the fatigue so many feel), that the meter's needle has more to shift before those Republicans will throw up their arms and willingly cede the power of Trump's office--such is the enormity of the power he wields, no matter current ethical/moral admonitions.
I find it profoundly depressing that anyone like Hardwick, apparently neither brain dead or a monster can have lived through recent reports of US (and our) politics, and is not appalled, and determined to get it changed as soon as possible, if not sooner. I am also of an age and comfortably off to be able to ride out what is coming down the line, but would never dream of voting with head and heart other than to dispatch these criminals pronto. Shame on them!
Dear Mr. Cohen,
The fact that you think people like Chuck Hardwick is sane and moderate is deeply disturbing. Clearly, you understand tRump as the monstrous criminal that he has always been. However, people like Hardwick are the reason we have a throng of unqualified politicians driving our society into the gutter.
I agree that there are plenty of potential swing voters that will be needed to remove our mobster-in-chief from office. But please don’t pretend that people like Chuck Hardwick are anything less than what they truly are; self-centered and deeply misguided supporters of the maligned Republican Party.
1
Did Hardwick read anything in 2016? Was he marginally aware? Or did he vote on the grounds of nothing but vague suppositions? And now Trump confounds him? How can a discriminating consumer of information be confounded by this mentally ill president, given all that’s out there? He’s part of the problem, and people like him - ostensibly intelligent, likable-looking, probably rich enough to not really care - will abet the downfall of democracy as we know it. (Not to be overly dramatic about it.)
With all due respect to Roger Cohen, it is not privileged Republican white men that Dems need to seek to win 2020. The focus must be on getting out the vote of young people and people of color. It’s hard to imagine that someone like Cohen’s friend values his financial status and economic issues such as trade more than the human suffering and inequalities in our own backyards - issues that all Democrats whether Warren, Sanders, Buttigieg or even Biden, will address. The default of Trump because you don’t like progressive idealogy?!! Really?!!
1
I agree with every word. Columnists daily give it their best shot: tirelessly itemizing egregious behavior of #45. How to dislodge this president from the White House is our country's biggest challenge.
And you get the government you deserve. Now, you want to elect a billionaire, because we can’t seem to teach the people they are worthy of healthcare, childcare, and protections from errant firearms? We understand the human right and need in treating enemy combatants, but not the little old lady down the street? Our kids fall further and further behind, and soon there won’t be a soul left to get them out of the playpen so their little minds can develop? Who cares, right, they’ll probably just get shot at high school, maybe grade school, right? Can you dream big for our little ones, Roger? I think you are a little better than this? Can we have a society where parents don’t die because they can’t afford insulin? What in the heaven is wrong with a progressive candidate like Bernie or Elizabeth?
Like Trump, Mr. Hardwick is only interested in the "big issues"-- like his bank account. The rest of the country and everyone in it don't matter a whit!
1
Now we know why Pharma is as corrupt as it is. Mirrors the corruption in the WH. If Hardwick can’t see the blatant incompetence and corruption enveloping our nation’s capital, there’s a lot wrong with HIM, not the Democrats who may not be putting up a candidate he thinks will nourish his 401-k in the fashion to which he is accustomed.
1
Bloomberg would leave the democratic party with a Republican Lite as the head of the Party. Not a good idea!
Nobody would hire Trump be be their CEO, due to his history of failed businesses, lawsuits and horrible people management skills.
Nobody would want him as their boyfriend or husband, due to his history of cheating and disrespect of women.
Nobody would want him as their father, due to his (by all accounts) lack of interest in child rearing and lack of desire to spend with his children when they were growing up.
Nobody would want him as a friend, due to his disloyalty, vanity, insecurity and disinterest in anyone but himself.
Nobody would want him as their teacher, since he admittedly has no interest in learning (he boasts about never reading), purposely ignores science and views expertise with suspicion.
And nobody would want him as their spiritual leader, as he rarely attends church, knows nothing about biblical teachings, and has not lived a remotely moral or ethical life.
The problem is not with Donald Trump, whose flaws are apparent. It is with his supporters who ignore facts shown to them and, inexplicably, have aggregated the sum of his broken parts and see some kind of populist hero and savior worthy of their devotion. I simply cannot understand it.
"That identity is nonnegotiable." Mr. Cohen is right, Elizabeth. As corrupt as Donald Trump proves to be every breathing, waking moment of his life, I am sure he feels more American to many people -- Trumpers and Never-Trumpers -- than the militant power-wielding do-goodism of Warren does. The American spirit has never been pure.
Forget Hardwick. It's harder to convince someone he's been conned than to con them.
Trump won in 2016, IMO, because of non-voters and third party alternatives, and a terrible campaign by Clinton. Getting out voters is the path to victory for the Democrats, both to oust Trump and take the Senate and House. Trying to convince a voter like Hardwick, who is too blind to see the damage Trump and the Republicans are doing to this nation is a waste of time and effort.
1
A man who voted for Trump in 2016, and openly admits he voted with his wallet is neither sane nor moderate. I'm with cherrylog754. Deplorable.
Why is it only Republicans who must shift to ‘sane’ leaders? The cabal of candidates running for the Democrat nomination are some of the least stable & sane ever advanced by the DNC. Several Democratic leaders in Congress are unhinged. People in glass houses....
Of course the economy does better under Democrats than Republicans - stock market higher, deficits lower, unemployment lower...
Remember that Obama had to clean up Bush's disaster of an economy, Clinton had to bring Reagan's deficits under control, Carter inherited Nixon's mess, FDR dealt with Hoover's Great Depression....
Unfortunately, Democrat administrations are followed by Republican ones, so the latter always claim the credit.
Do your research, Mr. Hardwick.
Perhaps, once upon a time, you could have created an argument that allowed “sane, moderate Republicans” to vote for Trump. That was then. Now, no sane moderate Republican confronted by Trump’s grotesque incompetence and corruption can construct any rational argument to support him if they care about our democracy. None. Not now.
We don’t want to become like Europe. Give up are access to Assault Rifles
God forbid if we have to pay higher taxes. We would rather see are infrastructure
decay than raise the Gasoline Tax I too have seen my Stocks increase in value.
I would give up those gains rather than have an immoral tyrant in the White House.
I just don't get the " you've got good traits" that Mr Hardwick sees.
I never will. Because they just don't exist. "Revitalizing impact on American ambition?" Baloney.
These are rationalizations for people voting for him.To make themselves feel better about the disaster they laid upon us.
1
I'm not sure why what rich, white guys like Hardwick think actually matters. If the man can't see the indecency that Trump represents, then Hardwick is much more interesting and symptomatic of the profound problems of the US. But what I find annoying is Roger's insistence on denigrating Europe. Europe, by its living standards and social programs, is a much, much better place to live than the US. It is absolutely clear that the "American Dream" is a bizarre fantasy that has no basis in reality. It is equally clear that American capitalism has failed, dismally and spectacularly. Ironically, Elizabeth Warren is the only Democrat who can save American capitalism from the dysfunctional monster it has become. Bloomberg is a plutocrat who will do nothing about inequality. Biden is incompetent. Of course, anyone is better than Trump, but that is not saying much.
1
This is bottomlessly sad. If a guy like Hardwick with intelligence and world-experience considers CurrentOccupant still a viable option, then the very bedrock principles of democracy are defunct.
Is this the "poster child" for a "sane, moderate Republican"? Someone who may still vote for Trump after all the calamities he brought on this country and the world? Someone who voted in 2016 for a self-avowed molester? Someone who thinks that Trump, who insulted even a national hero, was treated unfairly by the media? This man is as misguided as the candidate he voted for. The support of such people is neither desirable nor necessary for defeating Trump.
"I voted for trump in 2016..."
That says it all, the lure of tax cuts overcame any sense of patriotism.
It looks like Mr. Hardwick was smart enough to know he was voting for a crook.
The article states: "Three years later, Hardwick, 78, whose political career included a stint as speaker of the New Jersey General Assembly, is unsure how he will vote in November 2020. "
Seriously?
This guy, who says he would fire Trump as CEO of his company, thinks he might STILL consider Trump for president in 2020. Clearly, he thinks his company is MORE important that the USA. Does that not tell you all you need to know?
1
“It’s really up to the Democrats for me,” Hardwick says. Echoing in his head are Trump’s words in New Hampshire three months ago: “You have no choice but to vote for me” because otherwise everything, including those 401(k)s, is going to be “down the tubes.”
The stock market has been on a 10 year run that cannot last much longer. Regardless of who is President it will quite possibly correct at some point in the near future and this has little to do with who is in the oval office and more to do with the ebb and flow of the market. Of course if a Democrat is President, everyone will look back on what Trump said and assume he was right. If Trump is reelected he will no doubt spin it that it is due to all the witch hunts by the Democrats, and of course his base will believe that.
In any event, I am not going to make a Faustian deal and vote for Trump, whatever the effect is on my IRA.
As pointed out here by others, just how many 'Chucks' are there? Does his vote count for more because he's rich? I find this article insulting in other ways, but the Chuck Hardwicks need to understand the rest of us are tired of people like him and his party. He's never shown my party or ideals any empathy, why should I show him and his now? Trump won because of voter apathy, a flawed democratic party candidate, and the electoral college. Please stop with the 'Winning Over Conservatives' narrative, denigrating perfectly reasonable policy as 'too far left', and pushing the likes of Joe Biden. My vote is not going to a candidate to placate the rich, who knowingly voted for a madman and now feel kinda bad about it. You should know better Roger Cohen.
I think it's up to people like Mr. Hardwick to stop thinking about the economy and start thinking about the morality of voting for someone who would prefer our democracy become a dictatorship.
It's time to remember Germany 1938.
1
Could you not have found a more appealing swing voter to hang your message on? You pick a retired (old) corporate (wealthy) white male executive to make a point, who, of course might consider another old white male (preferably rich) if he is the candidate. The Democratic Party is diverse and raucous, much like the group that conceived our country, and will shake up what needs to be shaken up if we make room for the younger (and lots of women) members to take control.
Remember Trump was supposed to do that? Anyone with an ounce of brain knew he wasn't going to. Any voter who wants to see another four years of the complete destruction of our country, then vote for Trump and good luck the next time recession comes for you. If not, vote the Democratic candidate, no matter who it is. That's right, Never Trump!
1
Don't listen to Hardwick, but do listen to Obama and other smart Dems. A strategy of radical change is a sure loser in the electoral college in 2020.
1
“Trump’s revitalizing impact on American ambition” say what? Who’s got room left over for ambition when we’re all consumed in his anxiety vortex? Love him or loathe him, our own energies are being drained in relentless focus on him. Trump could care less about anyone’s ambition. In fact, it’s an existential threat to a sociopathic narcissist. They don’t inspire it, they must crush it.
I can’t believe that anyone who would vote for Trump in 2020 against anyone, particularly the eminently humane Elizabeth Warren, is either sane or moderate. Anyone not sickened to their core by the disgusting spectacle of Trump demeaning and threatening a witness as she testified is simply lacking in human decency.
There is a double standard in American politics in that the left is expected to adapt itself to the right lest the right drift too far right. We may have to reconcile ourselves to the reality that America is actually shallow enough and heartless enough to re-elect this disgrace to humanity. If so, the America will be forever diminished.
Cohen and his straw man, Hardwick, lost me in the first paragraph with the comment of "scheming" Clintons. Hardwick was never a moderate.
He is a tried and true pol. Not only was he speaker of the NJ General Assembly, he ran for Governor of NJ, and was clobbered. He was a Giuliani appointee when Giuliani was mayor. He thought Gov. Thom Kean was too liberal. He backs right to life and the NRA. Given his background, there will always be an excuse to vote for the scourge of Mar-a-Lago.
If Mr Cohen wants to find a real moderate Republican, maybe he should look farther than a bona fide, dyed in the wool political hack who will always see some good things in the man who is destroying his party.
1
I like Roger Cohen, but as I read this piece I became more and more angry. Apparently, Mr. Cohen thinks the only way to win against Trump is to court "sane" and "semi sane" Republicans like his Mr Hardwick. These are the same very rich folks who, to preserve their own tax cuts and other advantages, led the GOP to give us Mr. Donald J. Trump. Mr. Trump is the end product of a Republican transformation beginning with Reagan. The party of Stupid has, thanks to folks like Mr. Hardwick, morphed into the party of the Insane. Now Cohen tells us that the Democrats need to bite the bullet and pick a moderate Democratic nominee, another limousine liberal type, to appease the likes of Mr. Hardwick. Maybe Mr. Cohen is right...I fear he may be right. But it sickens me. Frankly, Mr. Hardwick is likely to vote for Trump in any case.
What I don’t understand in all of this, what isn’t being spoken about nearly enough: Russian aggression. What the three state dept officials all spoke about at the hearings: Russia is a THREAT. Republicans turn a blind eye to all the openings Trump keeps making for Russia. It’s clear to me he’s working for Putin, or at least bumbling enough to make it appear he works for Putin. Syria, Venezuela, Ukraine. What the heck folks? Why didn’t you, Mr. Cohen, ask Mr. Hardwick about Russia? Doesn’t it give him pause that the US held back funding to our ally who is right now fighting a war against Russia??
While we’re spinning around, Trump stands by as Putin gains power by leaps. And Trump’s staunch base actually thinks they’d be better of under Putin than Warren or Biden or and Democrat. How do we ever return from that?
It is time to forget the old-guard Republicans like Hardwick and put all of our efforts into cultivating the "7 million young people" that Melanye Price (NYT Opinion Nov 1) claims can vote a Democrat into the White House in 2020. It is their future, not the preservation of wealth (which is what this boils down to) that counts.
Progressives don’t want to hear the message: nominate Elizabeth Warren or Bernie Sanders and Democrats will lose the election.
The NYT is as partisan and left as any major news source in the US, but the thrust of recent articles is clear. Swing states will vote Trump if the Democrats nominate someone from the far left of the party.
1
I think I know who Mr. Hardwick will vote for. And, I think Trump will be re-elected because of the reasons Mr. Hardwick mentions in the second paragraph of this article. Oh, well.
Precisely what reaction would you expect from a member of the 1%.
Mr. Hardwick votes with and for his wallet. Little else matters for voters like him.
I have no interest whatsoever in what Mr. Hardwick thinks about anything and I wouldn't waste a minute trying to convince him or others like him to reject Trump. Mr. Hardwick is motivated by personal financial considerations. He likes Bloomberg. Ever hear of "stop and frisk" Mr. Hardwick? I'm sure you don't care. Democrats need to get their supporters out. They need to register new voters. Forget people like Mr. Hardwick. He's a lost cause.
You did a pretty nice job of summarizing Trump yourself: "threatening, malicious, disregarding the law, dismissive of the national interest, trampling on professionalism and integrity, small-minded, misogynistic... valueless, manipulative, untruthful, gross and contemptuous of his oath of office."
Hardwick sees and knows every bit of that. And yet when push coms to shove he'll probably convince himself to vote for Trump. I do think some Trump voters are movable: they're not all a lost cause. And I do think Warren isn't electable. But asking Democrats to choose a candidate to the specifications of this former Republican speaker of the legislature is asking a lot.
I'm not supposed to think less of the values and judgment of some rich former executive in Palm Beach who can watch how Trump has betrayed everybody and everything, trampled all the rules of a democratic republic and a civilized society, and spread bigotry, racism, and lies everyone he goes... and still consider voting for him to keep his taxes low and his investments high. But, Mr. Hardwick, in your case, I just can't help it.
This article sent shivers down my back.
This is the type of person who, in the end, will vote for Trump.
His shrine and the cult-like red hat tells us so.
Hardwick's intellect is poor, closed, unwilling to look at facts, stuck in his beliefs. Probably got some racism swimming in there, some misogyny, some tough-guy masculinity, some anti-women and anti-minority thoughts, and Trump appeals to that part of him.
That ANYONE could vote for Trump - after all we know about him and his astounding lies and the depravity of his narcissitic behavior - is appalling to me. Like my sister says, intellect is on a bell curve. There are some people above average, some people are average, some are below average.
And in the latter, we have the Trump voters.
We're in a world of hurt, people.
I like Elizabeth Warren. I like Bernie.
It doesn't matter.
We need to put a democratic in the oval house who can sway a sliver of Republicans into thinking. That may be Biden.
Hopefully he will bring with him a strong VP.
But the person up on that blue stage MUST be a person that at least some Republicans, who still allow themselves to think, who allow themselves to hear truth, will vote for.
I cannot stand another four years of Trump.
Can you immigrate to Canada if you're over 50?
1
This is a disappointing perspective from a writer I have always respected. Like many others, I do not want to live in a society that trades a momentary flush in IRA accounts for long term damage to both their value and the fabric of our nation. Mr. Cohen may be right that 35 to 40% of our country is already suckered in by State TV (Fox) and its daily adulation of Trump. Some, paying even less attention, may simply be entertained by his pretend tv plot of good (Donald) vs. evil (anyone with the integrity to call him out for corruption, etc.) Ignore them.
No, let the denizens of Palm Beach cry crocodile tears about Mr. Trump's vulgarity while pleading for some Republican-light Democrat to rescue them from having to vote for him. I will be spending my money and energy to flush this nasty episode of humanity's worst from our shared history.
Mr. Cohen should look in the mirror and ask where is the man who wrote about the horrors of Srebenica. This must not stand. The idea that a progressive would destroy our society more than this amoral creep ignores the fact that even Bernie (I'm no fan) would work to get his policies passed through our messy democracy. Who can say for certain that that democracy will still matter after another four years of this malignant narcissist & his gerrymandered and cowed enablers?
Trump is more then a brute sitting in the WH, he poses as a threat to the very Constitution that so many died defending. Denouncing any law and any person that stands in his way toward fulfilling his self interests. Early inclinations was to wait the year out and cast my vote to remove this narcissistic monster. Now time has come to reconsider. Press forward Mr. Schiff and Speaker Pelosi, press forward. One way or another removing trump from office either impeachment or by vote will highlight the division in the country. trump will provoke his base to retaliate against the forces that removed their president. trump will depart but not before shooting someone on 5th Ave, New York.
This article is so revealing in it's simplicity. It's the money! The money more important than our country.
I too believe that saving the country (the Republic) from this administration is most important. I do think that the Democrats will ultimately understand that nominating a candidate that will appeal to the majority of Democrats, Independents and moderate Republicans will be the way to accomplish the goal of winning in 2020 and ousting Trump.
Guaranteed healthcare for all citizens and those that are here legally is a must, and at an affordable cost. There are many ways to get there without scaring those that are afraid of change. (See the Swiss scheme for healthcare).
I have always said that the appeal of Trump is that he represents the last gasp of the white person's vision of America. The rich that voted for him may not see him in the same vein as the working Joe & Jane (they see tax cuts etc), but it is the same result.
The young people need to come out and vote! Climate change is a pressing issue, along with health care for all and affordable higher education. However, we will not get there until it is too late unless we first get rid of this administration.
So please vote! You will not be disappointed in the result if enough people do so that find the current situation untenable. You may have to compromise your ideals but it will be worth it!
@ David H. The very idea that you would even consider voting for As I call him The Fraudulent Not Commander in Chief says quite a bit about who you are. You only care about money. If you care about your children and the future of our democracy you would know that the majority of the Democratic candidates have more morality and understanding of the constitution than trump. Actually trump has demonstrated he has none of these qualities. I find it hard to believe that you were ever a conservative democrat. Every thing you have stated seems to come from the republican book. If you think he will save your money, I can put you in touch with three personal family friends whose businesses he bankrupted as he did not pay them for their services or supplies to the AC Trump casino. And yes he alone managed to bankrupt a casino and put many out of work.
3
@Sadly Sickened
As I said quite clearly in my comment, I have no intention of voting for Mr. Trump as he is running on a Republican ticket. And yes, at the moment, my financial situation is at the top of my list because my children need me and will need me for some time to come.
@David H
I too always put the needs of my children and grandchildren first. Sorry if I misunderstood that you did not intend to vote for Trump. Your initial comment seemed to imply that you would if you did not like the nominee on the democratic ticket. Trump is only in all of this for himself and what the 1% can do for him. I lost count of all the law suits against him. He knew that the people he did not pay for their services could not afford to sue him for their hard earned services. As I stated before. I personally know three people who he bankrupted. They are now diseased, so I can't say what their reaction would be to the fraud in the White House. Since I remember they were people of exemplary character, I believe and assume they would warn all they could about their experience, with this fraud and narcissist. I hope you are able to continue helping your children and also take care of yourself.
As I read this excellent piece I was thinking of the 3 Patriots, long-serving dedicated government diplomats, who have already testified, who place the needs of the nation over partisanship. These people, now revered by so many of us, have much to teach us. To me, they should be role models of how to act and speak and even vote.
I think of the needs of the nation. I hope more of us will think of the needs of the nation. Over our own retirement savings. Over our own personal needs, desires or wishes.
Our nation needs to care for ALL of us. Not just some. Our nation needs huge infrastructure renewal. (I say that having just returned from 3 months in Europe, where roads and railroads and bridges and social programs far outstrip our own crumbling infrastructure and social programs.)
If we follow the values and actions of these patriotic Americans, placing them ahead of selfish interests: Let’s vote and think in view of what our entire nation needs, what future generations need. We need a healthy, well-educated population. We need to care for our most vulnerable citizens and residents. We need clean air, clean water, sane social policies, sane economic policies. We need to come together, caring one for another, despite our political differences.
Think of these Patriots! Think of the sacrifices they have made on our behalf. Selfless, ethical, principled persons.
Do the same.
We can do better. If we just follow their lead!
3
Hardwick is in no sense of the word representative of common Americans. So setting aim to address concerns of the likes of him is to all intents and purposes pointless.
However, time is running out for the Democrats to choose a nominee and to work out a set of coherent policies to present to the electorate. It doesn't matter actually whether these are centrist or not, provided they can be explained succinctly and framed in such a manner that many can find a "win" in them for their own personal selves. And provided that they are robust enough to withstand the onslaught of the GOP and its bot-and-troll army.
That the candidate field is getting bigger, rather than smaller is not a good thing in this respect. You really should stop these games and get to work. I fear the US can't take four more years of Trump, and neither can the world.
2
I am incensed that the Hardwicks are handed such significance. Recently I read how it is the failure of the center right to contain the looniest rightists is what has given us Trump. It is reminiscent of Republicans in the era of Joseph McCarthy, although worse when the figure is President. For a while the more educated, thoughtful center rightists, such as Times writer Bret Stephens, contained their worst compatriots, as they did in the immediate aftermath of McCarthy. But they have lost the battle today, in no small part due to Rush Limbaugh and Fox News. Now that they have lost and became ineffective, they want the Democratic Party to remake itself to please them. As other commentators have explained, we have far more to gain among the many disadvantaged persons in our country than among these few hundred extremely wealthy complainers. They got us here--raise their taxes and tell them where to go!
2
Being a citizen of The Netherlands, I was triggered by Roger’s comment about removing a Dutch prime minister.
This being a parliamentary democracy, all it takes for a Dutch prime minister to be removed from office is a simple majority for a vote of “no-confidence” by parliament. Ultimately, here parliament is the most powerful institution.
But I guess I have to admit that The Netherlands is an actually functioning democracy. And the USA under Trump is sliding towards some kind of pseudo democracy.
6
@Ton van Lierop
A Parliamentary form of government provides for several things our Constitution does not. Parties choose their leaders from among their own elected Members of Parliament. So no one will ascend to to the top who has not participated in the party or been elected or been tested as Parliamentary or Ministerial leader. And, as you say, the Prime Minister can be easily voted out of his or her job, simply by means of a vote of no-confidence. Plus, such a form of government also allows for multiple parties, which better represent the needs of citizen voters.
We can learn from this!
2
Have people who think progressive policies will somehow destroy the economy totally forgotten the state of the economy bequeathed to us in 2008? As I recall it was on the verge of depression and resulted in millions of Americans losing homes and retirement savings, hundreds of billions in bank bailouts, and calamities too numerous to cite. Eight years under the “socialist” Obama turned the economy around and growth at about the same rates have continued under Trump. Still millions have yet too recover. Have we forgotten that tax rates far higher than anything Dems are now proposing used to be the norm, when growth rates were far higher than now? Do we not understand that the boom and bust cycles of the economy are a feature and will likely continue no matter who is in the White House? Given the length of the current recovery, which of course is related to the depths of the last recession, it is highly likely that we will enter recession again soon, no matter who wins in November. Putting our democracy at greater risk by giving a man such as Trump another term will not be good for anyone’s 401k. And it certainly won’t help the millions who don’t even have one. Most importantly, it would empower a wannabe autocrat who has demonstrated contempt for the Constitution and other norms that hold our society together. That is a far greater threat to our prosperity than medicare for all or a wealth tax on billionaires.
6
"When you want to make the United States more like Europe, you always run the risk of destroying what makes America unique: its hustle and unrelenting creative churn. America was born in contradistinction to Europe not as an extension of it. That identity is nonnegotiable"
I have spent a lot of time thinking over the past three years about just who and what America is. I've learned more about US History and politics in that same time frame than I did in 22 years of formal education.
I have come away believing that there isn't anything special about the United States. We continually crow that we are the best, but we most certainly are not. What type of country supports a man like trump? What does our current situation say about the intellect, integrity and compassion of the American peoples? I see nothing particularly admirable about Mr. Hardwick. He's just a fancier version of the mob hanging out at a rally.
I've got 2.5 years to retirement. I never thought I'd come to this point, but retirement for me might be not just a transition to another career/livelihood (or none) but a geographical transition as well. I'm not interested in living in the squalor this country has become.
5
My vote will depend on who is the nominee.
You will not scare me with games.
You come and offer me policies I want. I weight it against the opponent and make a decision on who's are better.
The Corporate Democrats that think I will leave my house to vote because blue is good red is bad are sorely mistaken.
You win votes not just expect them.
1
"That’s probably right. When you want to make the United States more like Europe, you always run the risk of destroying what makes America unique"
Why is giving health care to the people or not giving huge breaks to the rich making the US like Europe? If there is something unique about the US is to make sure that there is justice and equality in society. No, people like Hardwick may like their windfall, but they have to be responsible for the cheapening of the presidency, the autocratic behavior of Trump, the degradation of immigrants, the conflicts with allies, the cozying up to autocrats, the unraveling of the two major departments of the country: Justice and State, the use of power for personal benefit.
8
Thinking Hardwick is exactly what created the obscene gap between the wealthy and self-satisfied and everyone else in our country. We don't have to become Europe (what does Europe mean anyway - every country is different) to move in the direction of a more just, fair, and, yes, equal society. Bloomberg and Biden will bring us more of the same, albeit with more grace.
I'll take my chances with Warren and hope for real change.
7
Hardwick is more puzzle to me than Trump. Trump is damaged goods pure and simple. Hardwick is smart and "moral" and yet would throw Ukraine under the bus, not to mention our diplomatic corps etc. I'd have to say that while Trump scares me, Hardwick disgusts me in a way that I think it would be impossible for Trump to do. I do agree with Roger that Trump will not leave peacefully.
16
Our Trump supporting friends are not dislodged by the hearings, but they certainly help me understand the charges. The best point yesterday: police may have the 'right' to stop anyone, but they can't stop their ex-spouse just to harass him / her. A president may have the 'right' to change ambassadors, but not to use US resources to bribe an ally to intervene in our elections.
7
The people you talk about pulling in are people that the Securities and Exchange org had to scramble to control because of the infestation of accounting regularities to improve corporate bottom lines. These are execs that were more interested in checking boxes off on their performance reviews, and meeting stockholder goals for growth. They cooked books, did a little bullying here and there, winked their eyes, shook hands, "made things happen". At any cost. These people were groomed for years to make money for stockholders - behaviors became habit. To many of them, "keeping the economy moving" means they are able to hold the country club memberships, have a couple of homes, cars, etc. Keeping the economy moving does not mean ensuring middle and lower class people make a livable income. I'm not saying these are bad people, but their view is very different. There are the Trump supporters that hold signs at his rallies and love his criminality, and the supporters who know he is destroying our democracy but are used to ignoring ethics because they are reaping the rewards of bad behavior. Neither one is going to find Jesus in the voting booth.
6
I find it odd that a supposedly well-educated man dislikes Trump in part because of his fiscal irresponsibility, yet he likes the tax cuts because it benefited him. Doesn’t he understand that those very tax cuts caused the skyrocketing deficit/debt? Also, I have money in the market for retirement. (Not a lot compared to the rich, but a lot for me.) I also have a pension, but it needs to be supplemented. Anyway, I am willing to lose some money for the sake of my country. I actually care about my fellow citizens. Besides, the market always goes back up.
17
It's more likely the market (and people's 401(k)s) are on the upswing NOT because Trump is in office, but because the market is betting Trump's remaining days in office are numbered.
7
What is up with this line of thinking? The biggest block of voters are Millennials, not the fellow amplified by this column.
Ask him about the climate crisis. That’s more likely to sink his 401k than Elizabeth Warren.
10
@Mike Smith
Sorry to be cynical, but many of us will be dead before there is any crisis.
The other side of this coin is that the Democratic candidate needs to motivate and mobilize young and non-white voters. Satisfying Mr Hardwick with say, Michael Bloomberg, will disenfranchise a lot of progressives.
The Dems need to do the arithmetic and nominate a candidate who can motivate the largest factions without alienating the smaller yet important factions. That is a difficult task when there are real problems to be solved that will take a lot of resources and take time to show results.
Kicking the can down the road is a much easier sale.
1
Frankly I am not particularly concerned about the opinions of a wealthy retired Pharmaceutical executive. I suspect the past three years have been very good for him.
18
After yesterday's Impeachment Inquiry hearings, if I were Ms. Yanovitch, I would take out a restraining order against Trump. Not even the President of the United States should get away with threatening her, thereby putting not only Ms. Yanovitch in jeopardy but also her family.
That said, Mr. Hardwick should not care who in the Democratic Party to vote for.
None of them would be disregarding the Laws, the rules of decency, putting our Government in a precarious financial situation do to the the Tax Reform bill, or destroying our World standing.
His his 401K more important than the safety of our Country?
For if Trump continues in office there maybe no longer the freedom to invest in 401K's. Everyday we move closer to Putin's way of ruling thanks to the GOP and Trump.
It is ironic that he was concerned about the "scheming Clintons" yet disregards the "scheming Trumps.
At his apparent age, Hardwick needs to look at all of the complications and problems in this country, as being myopic is what has put this county where it is right now.
19
I have a 401k. It did fine under Clinton. Fine under Obama. The only time I’ve lost big money was under Bush.
13
With all respect, but no one who voted for Trump in 2916 and considers doing so again can be described as ‘sane’.
13
Why have people like Hardwick bought the pap that what Trump did in Ukraine was “bad, but not impeachable?” Hamilton wrote in the Federalist Papers that bribery was a prime example of an impeachable act. Trump’s offended was arms for dirt on his opponent, a bribe pure and simple. Making it even worst, it undermined one of our most strategic allies at a time when they are at war with our primary rival. This is far more serious, and has far worse international ramifications, than Watergate or the Clinton impeachment. If selling out our country’s national interest for private gain isn’t impeachable, this country is finished.
9
Why do Mr. Cohen, Mr. Hardwick, and many legislators feign ignorance of the well-settled definition of abuse of authority? They should consider the following:
"Abuse of authority and position is an arbitrary or capricious exercise of power by a military member, federal official or employee that injures or adversely affects the rights of a subordinate by tyrannical, careless or capricious conduct or continuous and/or severe abusive language."
Unfortunately, presidents are not subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice. But, any military officer or non-commissioned officer tried and found guilty of the abuse described can be dishonorably discharged, fined, or imprisoned. Yet, Lindsay Graham, an experienced military attorney, finds nothing impeachable in Trump's conduct.
4
I find it amusing that so many are afraid of Warren's policies. Obamacare was a fluke because of the recession. There won't be a significant majority in congress for either side. Trump wants unilateral control and after three years of trying to break the balance of power, despite some success, is a weak as any US president in recent memory. Only Jimmy Carter's moderation in the face of the liberal wing of his own party compares in ineffectiveness. If she is smart, Warren will tack just enough to center after the primaries to reassure people and remind them that no one would be worse than Trump.
6
I don't know anyone who is on the "fence" about the next election, but I do know that it will be close and Trump, if defeated at the ballot box, will disavow the results. Voting him out of office will not be enough to remove him from office. Should this come to pass, we will have witnessed the end of a great experiment.
3
Especially by NJ standards, Chuck was an up front, honest, middle of the road Republican when he was in the legislature. He would have made a good governor. At 78 and well off in FL, having escaped from the mess that is blue NJ, he has the luxury of contemplating voting for a democrat. The thing is, from a straight economic standpoint, most middle class Republicans don't have that option. The risks to the economy and their jobs, as well as their retirement savings from a democratic party that is now at times openly socialist is too much to ask. They will stick with Trump and hope the GOP Senate keeps him in line.
3
@Chris "The risks to the economy and their jobs, as well as their retirement savings from a democratic party that is now at times openly socialist is too much to ask."
Spoken like a member of the top 10% income earners who are brain washed by Fox News and disingenuous GOPers. You think tariffs were good for the economy? Ask farmers and manufacturers. You think tax cuts to corporations and the top 1% were good for the economy? Ask the middle class and working class whose wages have remained stagnant.
And "hope the GOP Senate keeps him in line"? How's that working out so far? We are doomed if Trump is re-elected.
That is what they hoped before and what good did it do? He has usurped the power of all branches of govt. Given Another term he will finish the job. Learn to speak Russian.
Every single thing he has done, in terms of foreign policy, has benefitted Russia. The Iran deal he abandoned? Russia and Iran are strong allies. Ukraine and Syria were both to benefit both Vlad and Erdogan who Vlad has been working on as a NATO asset. Every step has been to help Russia and diminish American power in the world. Those tariffs have done serious harm to our economy that is out there waiting to explode our markets and global economic power.
Just remember that 401 K's are worthless if you have use the cash to take Russian language class.......
9
What Mr. Hardwick, Liz Warren, President Trump and ALL Americans should be talking about is why giant corporations now own and control the majority of America instead of the majority of Americans owning and controlling corporations.
That is how capitalism was intended to work, and that is how capitalism could still work for everyone.
The problem is the majority of Americans are woefully ignorant about the very economic system they live under--and are exploited by. American schoolchildren barely learn math and science, let alone economics.
If our schools and political leaders showed the will and the caring to do something about this, then we'd have a real chance to start leveling the economic playing field in this country.
Let's start taking back our country by demanding that corporations work fairly for all of us. Every American should become a shareholder and investor from an early age--I am talking high school.
Most Americans don't even understand the basics--like the time value of money, buy low sell high, and that the American stock market gives you the best return on your investment over the long term than anything else.
Why is that?
3
@Jan The thing is, we do own the corporations. That's what our 401(k) plans are about. The trouble is that we don't have any kind of vote at the corporate governance level, just the ultimate result.
So we say, yay, my 401(k) went up! But the cost of that is all the workers who can't live on their pay, all the pollution of our air and water, and staggering corruption. If you're voting your 401(k) and nothing else, you're basically saying you agree with all that.
Fortunately, we do have a vote where it counts, even if that's not the company board meeting.
2
@Maria I have a 403(b) as I work for a non-profit. I get it. But what I'm talking about is massive, systemic change, wherein millions of people learn, become engaged, informed, interested, and personally invest in individual stocks in companies whose products they use. And then pay attention to what those companies are doing and demand change if they see corruption, pollution, abuse, and so on.
Then and only then will the American people actually own corporate America. It really could be done, if the American people want it to happen.
Would obscene profits for the few go down? Most likely. Would the quality of life for most Americans go up? Most likely.
Maybe I'm just dreaming.
Cohen is correct to worry that Trump will not leave office, even in defeat. I've come to believe that the only thing that will keep us from five more years of Trump is if he circulatory system fails during one of his daily rages.
9
Comparing the Europe of today with the Europe of 1776 makes about as much sense as comparing today's Republican Party with the Party of Lincoln.
15
Donald Trump is President BECAUSE the Clinton campaign focused from Convention forward on trying to get affluent Republicans like Mr. Hardwick to vote their aesthetics rather than their wallet, and in the process ignored working class voters. Another round of elite focused politics by Democrats and we may lose our republic.
11
"the risk of destroying what makes America unique: its hustle and unrelenting creative churn. America was born in contradistinction to Europe not as an extension of it. That identity is nonnegotiable."
The nonnegotiable American Way of living large, enabling the pursuit of unlimited growth and unlimited individual wealth, at the expense of millions left behind along with a ravaged planet is exactly what candidates for the presidency need to be questioning.
It is churn with increasingly diminishing returns for the commons and the commonwealth that requires addressing. Planning to ease us away from the edge of the cliff that the nonnegotiable way has brought us is required. It is time to face up to the tragic end that our ongoing churn by fossil burn has brought us. Our juvenile phase, symbolized by juvenile Trump, needs to recede. It would not hurt Americans to look to some of the maturity of Europe for some guidance lest we need to look for refuge there should another four years of Trump befall us.
10
Modern Europe is nothing to be scoffed at. Their citizens have far better lives and opportunity and drive is rewarded there too.
18
My wife and my 401ks have benefited greatly this year. Last year was a net loss even after steady contributions and dividends. The year before that was a typical growth in line with the recovery since 2009.
Having said the above, I would sacrifice a good part of my 401k if it meant ensuring trump and Republicans lose in 2020.
20
Keep your eyes on the prize which is removal from office. The next election will take care of itself. The next candidates will rise or fall based on their ability to accurately define the country’s problems and their plans to do something about them. The GOP is on a knife edge. More weeks of testimony like we just had will make it very hard for 22 senators up for reelection and could send the party to the wilderness for decades, just like Herbert Hoover managed to do.
1
Instead of all these opinion pieces by and about Trump supporters, I’d like to read more factual articles in the Times about the damage Trump is doing, about the people who will NOT vote for Trump again, about the economies of the swing states and how they’ve been affected by Republican policies, about all the corporate money being used to influence the election, about voting rights being taken away in select areas, etc.
More in depth reporting about the dark forces controlling our country and less giving them a platform to make it seem like a reasonable debate. Oligarchy is not a reasonable debate in a democracy.
21
For the nothing that is worth, I agree with those who point out that Mr Bloomberg can and should single-handledly fund his campaign as a moderate, sane, value-holding Republican.
Again, it would be intellectually honest to do so.
4
Republicans are the party of Trump. How can ANYONE call themselves Republican and not want to hide in shame?
I have no illusions about the Senate ultimately rejecting impeachment but the impeachment of Trump is more than about elections. The impeachment is about taking a stand on corruption, deceit, and assaults on the US Constitution by public officials including the President. It's about taking a stand on cronyism and fighting for our public servants and democratic institutions.
If we stand back and do nothing, we've already lost.
13
"I think the Senate has grounds to convict the president. It won’t." I'm getting really tired of hearing this. Instead of stating this, why wouldn't you ask how the Senate cannot impeach? We cannot say we are a nation of laws yet at the same time believe this man should stay in power. Why wouldn't you put the Senate on the line and ask how they could possibly allow this man to stay? Words matter.
20
Very interesting article. A few comments: while the USA is not seeking to be like Europe, it did best when it endeavored to favor the middle class. This is where the action is: not the poor nor the ultra-rich. This is where fortunes are made and innovation strives. These days it seems that life in the USA is fine if you are part of the 1% or better, but not so much below that. By definition this concerns a tiny minority, and I'm not sure why their interest is given so much voice.
14
Even Warren knows she won't get her wish list. If it comes down to her (or Sanders) versus Trump, pick the Democrat and count on swing-district Democrats in Congress to contain anything you perceive as excessive or poorly thought out. That's what they're for.
And the difference between a Warren who's too extreme on the left and a Trump who's too extreme on the right is that Warren will follow the rules. She'll try to pass legislation, rather than implementing huge new policies by way of executive orders and yelling at people. In other words, she'll behave like an accountable elected official in a democratic system, and not like a cartoon supervillain.
26
Wrong. We don't need yet another businessman to save us. The whole of the Trump administration is about what happens when business people invade government. Keep business people in the market, where their type can do the most good.
13
Mr. Cohen's op-ed has crystallized a nagging question that has perplexed me - Why does Trump have such an endearing admiration of dictators? Could it be their iron-handed, unquestioned rule (his version - punching back); allegedly adored by their people (a.k.a. a Trump rally); they are in their positions for a very long time, if not life. Q.E.D.
As to dislodging Trump from 1600 Pennsylvania, let's just call that the 2020 hit drama series playing endlessly on cable news channels in your local viewing area. Don't like the plot line, just change channels.
2
"When you want to make the United States more like Europe, you always run the risk of destroying what makes America unique: its hustle and unrelenting creative churn. America was born in contradistinction to Europe not as an extension of it. That identity is nonnegotiable."
I strongly disagree with this statement. Cohen disregards the history of socialism in this country - think Eugene Debs and the many men and women who fought against the anti-democratic hegemony of corporations and the relentless exploitation of workers. The altruism of the far left is as Apple Pie American as McCarthy on the right.
And how does the author square his idealization of America's "hustle and unrelenting churn" to the revelations in the NYT's recent landmark series on the legacy of slavery in creating the private fortunes that have commandeered our nation from its founding hour?
The idea of Trump's "revitalizing impact on American ambition" is also symptomatic of the single-minded equation of America with unregulated fortune building. Ambition - like the United States - is not the sole domain of business.
And Cohen's claim that America's business-first "identity is nonnegotiable" seems like an incredible thing to say. There was a time, not so very long ago, when institutionalized racism and sexism were similarly considered "nonnegotiable". In an equitable, modern democracy facing a global environmental crisis, our identity MUST be negotiable if we are to survive, let alone prosper.
13
@riddley walker There are plenty of Americans who feel no connection whatsoever to either Europe or the hustling pioneer spirit white people like to hold up as an ideal. A lot of those people vote.
I think we need some more inclusive national myths. Hustle can be a component, of course, but making it the whole thing is a distortion of reality. And it doesn't seem to make people particularly happy.
13
I agree with previous reader comments about Hardwick that, Fox watcher he clearly is, he's not a good barometer. I'll only add that if much of Trump's remaining support is based in sky-high stock prices it's headed for a bust. Exhibit A is the Shiller PE ratio, which has been higher than it currently is exactly twice since the 1880s - on Black Tuesday at the beginning of the Great Depression, and in 2007 just prior to the Great Recession.
7
Even if he should lose by a large margin he won't leave office; and the GOP will ensure that he stays, despite any laws. But he won't lose - Americans care more about income than about anything else.
2
If anyone votes on their 401K alone or mostly, they should be afraid of a Trump second term. We are overdue for another downturn. Do you want Trump at the helm?
17
@HR I think that's a dude thing. Female voters are more concerned with health care and education. Which I suppose makes sense, because looking out for everyone's medical appointments and school issues tends to be part of the traditional female role in families.
3
So it's the Democrats fault that he voted for Trump because Clinton was compromised? Even if you have misgivings about The Clinton's history, no rational person could say that Trump's history was more virtuous.
Throughout the 2016 campaign day after day Trump proved he should never be allowed within spitting distance of the White House. Mr. Hardwick now suggests that he would fire him as CEO. But the reality is that even though he was willing to vote for him as President, he would never have allowed to be the CEO of Pfizer in the first place.
29
One thing comes through loud and clear from this latest anti-Trump broadside, namely that the impeachment inquisition is not about anything Trump did wrong. Rather, it is about "firing" the President. And that this attempt to "fire" the President is purely based on hatred of Trump, not about his policy achievements while in office, which are both obvious and legion according the the interviewee, and by extension, Mr. Cohen. Now this effort to dump President Trump did not begin with Ukraine. It did not begin with Russia, both of which are simply excuses to gun for his blood. It begin with his victory in 2016 and was triggered by one thing and one thing only, Democrat sour grapes. Trump has been living under this shower of invective , inuendo,hatred and attempts to undermine him at every turn since day 1 of his presidency. One can only easily understand that the manifestations of his personality that Chuck Hardwick and the writer find so objectionable are the effect rather than the cause of this carefully and relentless sabotage of his presidency.
3
@JJ Gross First of all its the job of the Democratic party of get rid of a Republican first term president running for re-election. Trump is an absolutely awful President. I'd even say its their duty. You write as if the Democrats should not be doing what they are doing to get rid of Trump, but your don't say why not. Very shallow argument.
“Obvious and legion”. Mind sharing any? As all I see are minor (if at all) accomplishments (is that “easy to win” trade war GE started still going on?), but do see (very obvious and very legion) trail of destruction in our country’s standing and our institutions, never mind the obvious and legion self dealing and corruption of this incompetent nincompoop.
He’s running the country into the ground like he has his many businesses, yet people like you are, for reasons passing understanding, blinded in some kind of freakish loyalty to this individual who is not doing anything for anyone but himself.
I’d love to see him get drummed out of office in an election, but he’s clearly abused his office and needs to go. Now.
"Democrats have to shift sane, moderate Republicans like him their way to get over the line next November. Recent election results in Kentucky and Virginia suggest they can."
No, no, no. In KY Bevin lost the governor's race because he infuriated public school teachers (I know since I'm one), while the rest of the state predictably went red.
4
@Dawn Yes and Virginia has been gradually shifting blue for DECADES.
"Democrats have to shift sane, moderate Republicans like him their way to get over the line next November." Really? In normal times, no sane, moderate voter would dream of voting for Trump. And now convincing them to be rational is a heavy lift? How much further can we fall?
24
@Scott Barnes I know. And it is tiresome to read that Democrats must MAKE him want to vote for them. A man who says he wouldn't have him on a board of directors, but WOULD vote for him? I don't know why any Democrat would cater to him. Because he isn't voting for them. He just isn't.
7
The elite again having their opinions elevated by the compliant media, which earns $100s billions from political ads—an income stream that would be jeopardized if progressives ascended to power. Our problems are so great today that it would be a higher risk of further decline to elect a careful candidate. The status quo won’t cut it and will lead to another Trump type of leader in 4 or 8 years.
10
@Lauren Where do you get the figure that the media earns $100s of billions from political ads? That seems wildly exaggerated. Also, why would the ascendancy of progressives to power jeopardize the ad revenues of the media? There will still be campaigns.
3
Mr Hardwick, as here portrayed, reasons poorly.
Eg Warren risks "destroying what makes America unique"?
That used to a freedom based on a rule of law--fairness--combined with vast resources (incl. a mix of people from a variety of cultures). Corruption is always present, but when it takes over government, what becomes of this American 'creative churn'?
10
It bears repeating that Tony Schwartz wrote the Art of the Deal. He now regrets mightily his contribution to promoting the sham that is tRump. Let's also not forget that when it was published, the stable genius was in the process of losing more money than any other individual U.S. taxpayer.
21
Democrats will likely loose regardless because our system places power in the hands of voters living in states which happen to be heavily in the Trump camp. No democrat will win Wisconsin. So we should be true to ourselves and nominate the candidate we genuinely prefer. Playing to the center will force a demoralizing loss that could destroy the progressive movement in America.
3
@Eric Anderson Wisconsin has a progressive tradition, has one Democratic senator and a Democratic governor.
I'm sorry for Mr. Hardwick. And I'm sorry that you spent so much time on the views of one voter among 300+ million citizens ... not all of whom can vote yet. How about encouraging the perspective that older voters - who turn out in great numbers - are mostly going to die of old age and with Medicare coverage. While young voters, a smaller % of whom turn out, are increasingly likely to die of the consequences of climate change. That may would include wild fires, more frequent / intense storms or just the health effects of pollution. Math and psychology suggests that paying attention to notably increasing the registration and voting by young, minority, female components of our citizens will have a much better impact on Job 1 --- removing Trump -- than hoping that Mr. Hardwick will change his dogma.
15
"Democrats have to shift sane, moderate Republicans like him their way to get over the line next November."
I have no intention, nor should any Democrat, have to work to get Mr. Hardwick over the line next November. He needs to do that all by his lonesome.
But some advice from another oldtimer, pay attention to the impeachment proceedings and think not so much about the outlandish tomfoolery by Trump, Giuliani and company. Watch and listen tour diplomatic core and the havoc rained on them, in particular Marie Yavonovitch. This Administration is a despicable group, and are destroying not only our diplomatic core, but our countries reputation as a leader of Democracy.
It's not for we Democrats to help you decide, I'll be helping Stacy Abrams here in Georgia to register new voters, that will be way more productive.
2006
@cherrylog754 Totally agree with you about the responsibility of the Democrats to save the country from Trump. We will do what we need to do, but we did not cause this travesty. Decades of republican dirty tricks and southern strategy tactics brought us here. IMO, it is those republicans who have come to their senses (and they do exist) who owe it to the rest of us to swallow their pride and work diligently to convert those that are not too far gone.
42
@cherrylog754
Concur. It's infuriating to speak to self proclaimed independents and "moderate republicans" who are frustrated with their party, so they want the democrats to shift right. How about finding a challenger to trump rather than trying to transform the democrats into the republican party of 20 years ago?
If people like Hardwick claim they'd vote for trump again - knowing all that we have seen up to now - over a democrat because taxes on corporations would go up, then I for one do not feel like the dems should bend to Hardwick's threats.
Continue to hitch your wagon to trump and sink with that ship. If in a race between any democrat and trump people choose trump, then they are not "sane, moderate" people. Let's also remember: not voting is an option if you're so fed up you don't feel like any candidate is viable.
64
@cherrylog754
Spot on!
If Hardwick isn't convinced that Trump must go after these impeachment hearings -
The most devastating thing about the impeachment proceedings this week has been the knowledge that this is not just how Trump treats Ukraine but how he operates in every area of government:
"wheeling and dealing, threatening, malicious, disregarding the law, dismissive of the national interest, trampling on professionalism and integrity, small-minded, misogynistic, Russia-besotted, valueless, manipulative, untruthful, gross and contemptuous of his oath of office"
then there is no reason for Dems to lift a finger. Hardwick will be as guilty as Trump for destroying our Constitutional democracy. So be it.
22
Well stated argument. Democrats often like to cast all Republicans as non-thinking oafs. But, this profile of Hardwick describes a sizable portion of Trump voters. They are tired of being lectured by Democrats as though they are small school children who can't think for themselves. There is no way that a progressive candidate like Elizabeth Warren will EVER win their votes. Politics is not about idealism, it is about hard cold reality. Democrats need to nominate a candidate who can win the day in 2020.
2
I concur with Roger today, and envy his cogent description of political reality.
I wish Rogerzwere widely syndicated, because the column is short but not exactly sweet, and is the hard reality/truth to me too.
Ttwitter and Facebook really are better than narrow syndicating , but older Americans seemingly do not like social media as much as younger.
So, let more see it as a free sample perhaps.
I'm not a Democrat - in fact, I'm registered as Republican. At this point I figure it's because I just haven't bothered to change my registration to Independent. I didn't like Clinton, but I voted for her in 2016 because I saw Trump as completely incompetent, completely unacceptable. Today my feelings are even stronger - add "completely corrupt" to the litany. I don't like either Warren or Sanders, but if either is the Democratic nominee I'll vote for him/her. I figure there are enough moderating (if not moderate) people in Congress to rein in some parts of their agendas.
2096
@Kay Bee - thank god some people can see sense. I'm far to the left by the standards of most commenters (and not an American either, but still someone who has to share a planet with the US government), and it's obvious to me that the Democrats are a fairly broad coalition, and people suffering anxiety about the idea of a left-wing president seem to be ignoring the fact that the president doesn't make the laws.
179
@Kay Bee
Finally, an opinion with common sense, no histrionics, and an understanding of how equilibrium works in a democracy.
109
I will never understand the fear people have of Warren and Sanders. What part of billionaires paying their fair share do you fear?
161
The fact that a former leader of a Fortune 500 company is even considering re-electing a man whom he would fire as a CEO is illustrative of what is so tragically broken about America today - corporations are more highly valued than our country; self-interest and personal financial success more important than our shared community and potential for broader prosperity. It makes me absolutely sick that we should be tying ourselves in pretzels trying to secure the votes of a handful of vultures who are motivated solely by the bottom line.
2886
@Louise Yes. Agree.. Cohen didn't talk to the person that cuts hair at a Great Clips or a sales clerk at Macy's. Because they have the same vote as Mr. Former CEO. And they have more at stake this election.
124
@Louise Thank you Louise. You rescued me from the frustrating job of trying to gain control over my emotions which, sadly, run high whenever I hear anyone, in this case Mr. Hardwick, say anything in support of the President. You see, something in Trump's mannerisms, reveal all I need to know about his character. "Smarmy" is the word that comes to mind. The moment I see him, I start emotionally stepping away. He's just that revolting. I'm surprised more people don't share my reaction. You added the reason I need to hear. Thank you.
212
@Louise
I suppose a vulture is a deplorable with money. Especially bad are the ones we can identify as motivated solely by the bottom line.
Execrable one issue types.
53
If we were more like Europe we’d be concerned about everyone. Our Overrated Individualism is taking us down by not concentrating on all of us. But of course this driving force has been the mantra since the 80’s. I for one as an elder want it changed. My 401 K is enough and time for all to have time to be with their families.
8
Why are we always told that the Democrats have to vote for someone the moderate Republicans will like and never told that the moderate Republicans should vote for someone the Democrats like?
2689
@Em
Lets not over - generalize.
In 2020 we are hugely dependent on a relatively small number of independents and reasonable republicans to rescue us from Trump. The trick is, can we attract them with candidates who have enough charisma to get a big Democratic turnout?
52
@Em The main problem is that Democrats are being asked to cover a huge range of political viewpoints - all because they are the party of reasonableness vs the irrational extreme crazy Republicans. So anyone who is reasonable these has to look to the Democratic party, and that will also include some reasonable conservatives.
101
@Em
Because many armchair pundits think kow-towing is being diplomatic and cooperative. They are ready to cave.
45
Fortunately, the voting population is not made up entirely of wealthy retired Pharma executives. And setting up a Presidential candidate, or a government, to please wealthy retired Pharma executives is not the way to create an America that works for anything like the majority of hardworking middle class folks.
I despair every time I read a piece like this. I should probably just stop doing so.
3333
@Victor
Thank you for this. I agree.
Mr. Cohen is always so brilliant when it comes to foreign relations, but this piece on domestic concerns reveals a blind spot.
253
@Victor
The point isn't that he's a Pharma executive. The point is that he's a Republican voter who would rather not see another term of Trump, but voted for him rather than Hilary, and will vote for him rather than Warren or Bernie. A lot of Democrats seem to think that there are these hidden troves of left-wing voters just waiting to be found who, with a little encouragement, will produce a Democratic majority for decades. That is a fantasy that could well result in a Trump re-election. The question remains: Are you willing to gamble that the country is ready for a big shift left, when losing that gamble means a Trump re-election?
162
@Tom Meadowcroft
No Tom, the point is that many people pretend they care about the country but they only care about their bank account and as long as the stock market is up they are happy. Yes they make noises about "civility " but its just for show. Ms Yovanovich is a real patriot and DOES care about America.
588
As Speaker of the Jersey Assembly Hardwick pushed "trickle down" until the State's economics are in tatters. Great job Brownie.
Pfizer, despite having a license to steal, continues to underperform the market by 40%.
Meantime Motley Fool offered this little note on the stock market bubble. Corporate debt is at an all time high. Stock multiples are at an all time high. Investors are piling into defensive stocks. The purchasing managers index is at an all time low. Party like it's 1928.
9
My GOP friends are much like Hardwick and I think about them all the time. The problem is the equation doesn't work. You can't love your tax cuts and shrink the gap between rich and poor. To live on tax cuts, you need to decimate our safety net which is already among the worst in the developed world.
To bring my friends and the people like Hardwick onboard, you have to jettison what is needed yesterday - strong labor, progressive taxation on both individuals and corporations, and a reduction of the influence of money in politics.
If those are off the table, I'm not sure what would be the point in voting.
13
@WJL Tax policy is not the main driver of income inequality. We have great and growing inequality in PRETAX incomes. There is much that can be done to improve the fortunes of the many whose incomes are stagnant or growing very slowly (tackling the cost of healthcare, improving our schools, restoring the rights of labor unions, etc.). There is much to be done to break up the oligopolies in our government. Personally, I think we need to focus on corporate laws that allow rampant self dealing among corporate managers, such that managers capture a far higher share of the gains from productivity than in the past. But I would not lead with tax policy as the cause of income inequality.
3
Anyone serious about dislodging Trump from the White House should consider this not-so-trivial fact: Medical plans administered by the United Autoworkers union are the largest purchasers of Viagra in the USA. Those union members and retirees are voters in Great Lakes states whose every vote is needed to beat Trump there and win the electoral college. They won't vote for a candidate who will take away the generous medical benefits that over the years they have won from their factory bosses. Medicare for all gives Trump a second term.
6
@george those medical plans ain’t what they used to be.
2
If Democrats want to defeat Donald Trump in the 2020 election, they should select a nominee:
With an unmistakably American success story (not success from Trumpian bailouts by an indulgent father),
With a good mind (not Trump’s cluttered attic of quickly shifting impulses and sloppy thinking),
With a basic decency (not Trump’s cauldron of vehement bigotry and callous disregard for the poor),
With a respect for women (not the misogyny and philandering of Trump and his readiness cave in to male fundamentalists who demand the right to make all decisions about women’s bodies),
With financial acumen and responsibility (not the reckless, budget-busting gifts of billions in tax savings to billionaires),
With a sense of history (not Trump’s stunning ignorance of things people learn in 5th grade),
With a respect for diplomacy as the first option in any international dispute (not the mindless sabre rattling of Donald Trump), and
With a love for democracy (not Trump’s attraction to autocrats and authoritarianism).
25
Is the electorate that clever?
@sdw You just described Michael Bloomberg...
"When you want to make the United States more like Europe, you always run the risk of destroying what makes America unique: its hustle and unrelenting creative churn."
Yes, why give working class people affordable healthcare?Why regulate firearms when the manufacturers will pay you not to? And who needs to take on climate change? What, me worry? I'm rich!
117
I hope Mr. Hardwick knows that if something isn't done quickly to slow down and then reverse the course of climate change, a good deal of Florida will be underwater in the not too distant future. What will his continuing support for Trump do to deal with that? Perhaps the scientists in his old firm can find a cure for his kind of shortsightedness.
32
"When you want to make the United States more like Europe, you always run the risk of destroying what makes America unique: its hustle and unrelenting creative churn. "
This is a myopic and misleading analysis of Europe, based more on American mythology than fact. I have many, many colleagues and friends in Europe and the U.K. There is a great deal of creative churn in Europe and ample opportunities for individuals to pursue it, often in direct contradiction to the U.S. where the primary churn is driven by big business. The effect of big business here often is to dominate any given field, wiping away smaller creative efforts and enforcing uniformity of product. The additional effect of big business is to drive accumulation of wealth into fewer and fewer hands.
We could do with a lot more of the creative churn in smaller, less wealthy societies and less of what arises in our society. Moreover, there is nothing wrong with the U.S. joining all of the other major countries and finally solving our out-of-control medical system, rather than feeding more and more money to the top.
27
@Robbi. I don't know what you mean by "many, many colleagues and friends", but it is no accident that Europe is a distant third in technological innovation. One can argue whether the creative churn is worth it, but in general, there is little productive that comes out of whatever creative churn there is in Europe.
Germany's economic strengths, for example, are pretty much the same they were a century ago; chemicals, and engineering.
2
@Danny Not the case at all, it depends on what fields you are familiar with. I've lived in Germany and am professionally active in very internationalized technical areas. High quality creative work and academic research in the fields I've worked in is coming from the U.K. and Scandinavia [for example].
8
In the motion picture world, the area I am most acquainted with, German company Arriflex has emerged from the celluloid-digital leap the undisputed heavyweight champion thanks to its brilliant innovations in camera and lighting technology. It’s not even a debate.
2
How telling that an ex-CEO doesn't care enough about climate change, air pollution, the destruction of our institutions, health care, or American dignity that he still sits on the fence about Trump.
I wonder what trump would have to do to lose these guys?
56
Do NOT think Chuck Hardwick. Think non-establishment.
That 35% you say belongs to Trump actually belongs to the candidate who will actually DO something for that 35%. They care more about health care costs than immigration or abortion! They voted for Trump to get out from under the establishment.
What we need is someone who will not only appeal to them - as Trump did in 2016 - but who will also DO something for them. This 35% does not unshakably belong to Trump. Trump lied to them, saying he'd do something, then did nothing for them. He just changed the names of those stealing from them - and they know this. Likewise, there's a huge contingent of democrats ready to get out from under the establishment. That's what the "hoards" want, both right and left.
THE LAST THING AMERICAN NEEDS OR WANTS IS BLOOMBERG OR ANY OTHER "MODERATE" ESTABLISHMENT STOOGE TO MAINTAIN THE STATUS QUO. IT IS TIME FOR AMERICA TO STAND UP AND REARRANGE THE POWER STRUCTURE IN AMERICA SO THAT IT WORKS BETTER FOR MANY, MANY MORE AMERICANS.
AMERICAN IS DEMANDING MORE!
24
In another article, President Obama offers similar advice. Sorry guys, the emergencies are plural, and one of them is worse than Trump. That emergency is the lack of any political party to represent the interests of ordinary Americans, who are America's natural political majority.
Plainly, creating that kind of new political force will be neither easy nor quick. But 2024 is already setting up as an epic wave election, to usher in a new crop of leaders to replace the host of boomer antique-a-genarians who will be aging out. That suggests that if voters act with purpose now, the transition can be accomplished in a mere two election cycles.
Step 1 requires that the Democrats must lose, which is unfortunate, because of Trump. But as long as the moribund Republican-centrist-trending Democrats hang on, they preclude meaningful change. Our political system punishes three-party politics with capricious outcomes.
So not only must Democrats lose, they must be made to understand that they will keep losing, until they regain a non-feckless political purpose—as a progressive party built on the economic well-being of the non-rich, of whatever other political tendencies.
So forget predicted outcomes for now, and vote for Sanders or Warren. Accept a possible defeat as the key to making a progressive beginning.
Fixing American politics is too big a job to accomplish in one election cycle. Make this the first of two, and get the job done, before the plutocrats further consolidate.
13
@S.P. If Trump wins in 2020, there won't be an election in 2024. I think it's iffy about 2020.
1
"When you want to make the United States more like Europe, you always run the risk of destroying what makes America unique: its hustle and unrelenting creative churn. America was born in contradistinction to Europe not as an extension of it. That identity is nonnegotiable." As an American having lived in Europe (France) for over thirty years, I absolutely would like to see the U.S. be more like Europe - to have a health care system for all, not families bankrupted by cancer treatment; to have better social safety nets that protect the fragile, to have preschool available to all children (from age 3 in France); to create, support and maintain ecologically sound public transportation infrastructure .. none of this represents a menace to American "identity" - which is, quite the contrary, intrinsically negotiable, as it develops over time. As Alistair Cooke said in his series "America", quoting what James Madison, the father of the Constitution, hoped would be the three guiding principles of the new American Republic: Compromise, compromise, compromise, except in matters of conscience. Compromise - but WITHOUT that other sense of "compromise" : to endanger morally ... THAT we can leave to the bully in the White House.
33
Mr. Cohen, do you really think targeting the social group of ex-C.E.Os of S&P 500 companies could effect a significant election victory for a candidate in a country of 232 million eligible voters, even if such campaign is focussed on the group of lower-ranking (ex- )C.x.Os of these specific companies also?
Really?
18
It is defeatist (a cardinal trait of the Democratic Party establishment for decades now) to assume unequivocally that an impeachment trial in the Senate will for certain acquit.
Based on what is publicly known right now, that outcome indeed looks quite probable. So far, there is no smoking gun tape, such as Nixon speaking about covering up Watergate just days after the break-in, or Trump's remarks about molesting women. But Trump and his lieutenants have been massively covering up in all directions. Is what they are covering up completely damage-free? Highly doubtful. The outcome of the Senate trial is going to depend heavily on what is yet to be revealed. Impeachment hearings are certainly a powerful tool for possibly cracking open new revelations of significant impact.
Congressional Democrats have so far indeed been favoring the 2020 election over impeachment, as Mr. Cohen advocates. A more solid and serious impeachment would focus more on evidence gathering and less on posturing. But who can say what might be disclosed by or leaked from Trump administration staff and ex-staff in weeks ahead, despite the missteps of Democrats in the House?
Mr. Cohen is nonetheless on target with his main point here. Swing Republicans are key to the fate of this disgraceful and dangerous presidency.
That holds and will likely continue to hold for impeachment and the 2020 elections (presidential and Congressional) alike.
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@Sage
There are delusional and very fragile Republicans who will vote for Trump again. They are NOT spiffy and clean, white and new like Trump's Rally actors. They are disabled, under or non-employed, white, mostly, some of Mexican descent, and equally men and women, who think that Trump is misunderstood for his "style" but is getting things done. "more than Obama" These voters are poor, and delusional. They identify with Trump because they believe wrongly, that his wealth is a wealth they can share. None of them read economic analysis, certainly not of those produced in 2010 that predicted the turnaround of the economy by 2017.
This group is not going to change at all.
@Sage
There are delusional and very fragile Republicans who will vote for Trump again. They are spiffy and clean and white and new. They are disabled, white, mostly, some of Mexican descent, and equally men and women, who think that he is misunderstood for his "style" but is getting things done. These voters are poor, and delusional. They identify with Trump because they believe wrongly, that his wealth is a wealth they can share.
This group is not going to change at all.
Dear Roger Cohen, Yes the upper 1% are having a grand time. They always have had a grand time. Out in the hinterland things are not so great. The upper 1% have gotten way, way to greedy. They think they should own everything, and they should control everyone's life.
It should be noted the USA thrived under the Franklin Roosevelt administration. FDR's New Deal, plus the banking reforms, actually worked for nearly everyone who wanted it had a piece of the American Dream. Even the upper 1% prospered to, but the idea of sharing is abhorrent to them. Thus the upper 1% never forgave Franklin Roosevelt.
What the upper 1% are reportedly saying about Warren or Bernie, you would think the super wealthy were trucked away to interment camps by FDR instead of the American Japanese.
You are trying to make us feel sorry for the wealthy and make us fearful of a 2nd Trump administration.
Donald Trump is a retched person who became president because the GOP base became retched by the never ending brainwashing by organizations like Fox-News.
The sugar high that wall street is on will not last.
We have had it where the government only cares the big money donors. The pendulum been pushed so far to the right by the forces controlled by wealthy conservatives, that today's moderate is really a conservative. The pendulum needs go back to the old left of center, with a new deal & banking reform, or there will be many crashes in many areas.
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@DogRancher Your opinion is worth reading. However, oe word that you use often is misspelled (unless the preferred spelling has changed, which is possible). That word is wretched. The letter w precedes the letter r.
@DogRancher ,
There's always a comment like yours, and it shows either ignorance or youth.
In those wonderful years people attribute to FDR, 75% of the population...women and minorities...were de jure and de facto second-class citizens, and we were fouling the earth.
The Republicans have exploited the advances we made in civil rights and gender equality and environmental protections because those changes threatened a privileged class- not the one percent, but still privileged.
All the fine Union guys voted for Ronald Reagan, the union-buster. Care to explain that? It didn't take Fox brainwashing; the underlying reasons were always there.
So please, we all know that excessive wealth concentration is a problem. But we don't have a simple instant-gratification path to solving that particular issue, because, as the author points out, there is a large part of the population that just doesn't care about it, compared to their tribal identity.
The Right gained power through a well-funded, orchestrated, ground-up campaign (yes, including Fox). Where's the equivalent effort on the Left? Twitter? Every four years?
Is a vote for Trump in 2020 effectively a vote for the road toward a divided (literally) U.S. - a path to a coastal secession? I think that is possible. It would certainly be interesting, and it is something I could live with.
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I would so much like to see how well what Trump and Trumpsters refer to as “real America” fare without the “coastal elites” and the wealth they currently inject in the US economy. Unfortunately, many people would suffer, and that it is not something I can wish for.
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Chuck Hardwick is symbolic of all that is wrong in the USA: a rich, educated and successful businessman who would not employ Trump as CEO but is fine with him possibly remaining president for an additional 4 years because he likes the “corporate tax cuts“.
The problem is not the Democrats and their policies; the problem is deep seated greed and a total lack of adherence to the social contract upon which any state should be based.
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@Rebecca Isn't there also a disconnect in Australia on the issues referred in your comment. A nation that is heavily dependent on the security protection of America, but continually operates (economically) in another zone. China is Australia's major trading partner. The extent of the dependency will continue to grow. (Australia has avoided a recession for over 27 years.) Isn't greed also a factor in that relationship? And, assuming the withdrawal of American security, has not Australia violated some degree of adherence to the social contract with its citizenry?
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@Rebecca Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. You nailed it.
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One word: Mobilization. Motivating people to see the importance of their vote, getting them to the polls, and unleashing the dynamic power of a diverse New America can and should save our country and, if we're very lucky, the planet.
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For nearly three years Bill Maher has been saying that Trump will have to be carried out, kicking and screaming, from the White House when the time comes for him to leave office. And it won’t matter if he is impeached, the 25th Amendment is invoked, or the American electorate shows him the door; there will still be his refusal to go. Just tonight on his show, he again talked about this as an eventuality. I hope Mr Maher is wrong.
This president has damaged the presidency and the US reputation to the point I don’t know if they can be easily repaired.
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@High Desert Sharon
I think we all can (I was going to say rest assured) be certain that what we assumed three years ago is (and was) true: a phalanx of Republican operatives have been working on numerous schemes, fake narratives, false accusations, planted evidence, payments, promises of pardons, and bending if not breaking of laws with and without loopholes over the course of these past three years, all directed towards the recapture of the Presidency no matter the will of the majority of people in the country.
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