Charles Sykes on How to Guarantee Trump's Re-election

According to Sykes, in Polico Magazine, there are eleven ways the Democrats could blow the 2020 election.

1. Hold firmly to the idea that Twitter is the beating heart of the real Democratic Party. — That’s not going to happen in any event. Candidates and the party have pollsters working behind the scenes. But Trump could provide some nuggets on twitter.

2. Embrace the weird. — Of course Sykes labels “weird” anything he doesn’t agree with. I haven’t heard anything “weird” yet. I’ve heard some things I don’t agree with but nothing weird.

3. Keep promising lots of free stuff and don’t sweat paying for it. — I haven’t heard any of this either. Every candidate has clearly shown that they understand things need to be paid for. The issue has usually been is the proposed approach going to raise enough revenue.

4. Go ahead and abolish private health insurance. — He’s actually right about this one. There are far too many people content with their current plans. Medicare for All should provide a public option but shouldn’t require everyone to be a part of it.

5. Spend time talking about reparations. — He’s right about this one as well. First win the election and then look at reparations. I wouldn’t make it a big issue even during the primaries.

6. Trump thinks that immigration and the crisis at the border are winning issues for him. They aren’t. But you can turn that around. — I could shoot myself in the foot too but it’s not going to happen and neither is this.

7. Lots more focus on Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. —  Yes AOC is extremely unpopular with some segments of the electorate. The focus should and will be on the candidates and not a freshman congress member anyway. I think it’s safe to say she’ll win her seat in 2020. I’m putting in a stock of popcorn in the hope we’ll have AOC and a Democratic president because that’s going to be entertaining as hell.

8. Socialism. — Socialism is a toxic term in this country. People hate Socialism but love Socialist programs. Focus on the programs and not the label.

9. Turn the abortion issue from a winner into a loser. — No Democrat with any reasonable chance of getting the nomination is this dumb.

10. You can also turn a winner into a loser on the issue of guns. — See answer to #9 above. Even someone as radical on guns as I am knows better than to push too hard on this one.

11. As you try to get Americans more alarmed about Trump’s attacks on democratic norms, make sure you talk as much as possible about your support for court-packing. — Is anyone with more than half a brain still talking about this? How about we consider impeaching Kavanaugh instead?