The 2020 Presidential Election – Part I

But, first, the background.

It was 2000 when an incumbent Republican sheriff (in a Democratic county) was challenged in a primary. The challenger lost the primary (barely) and then endorsed the Democrat in the general election. The Democrat won, ending the political career of the incumbent Republican sheriff. Fast forward four years. The Democrat sheriff decides to not seek reelection, leaving an open sheriff’s seat. Our former Republican primary challenger jumps into the race against two hard charging Democrats. The new rules create “jungle” primaries; the top two vote getters move on to the November General Election. Guess what. The Republican finished third. Gone! Out! Political career ended. His comment: “All I needed to make the General election was for the Republicans to vote for me, one of their own, the only one of their own.” The chorus responded: “Next time, don’t screw your friends.” A political principle for the ages, Machiavelli couldn’t have said it better.

It’s 2015 and 2016 and Chris Christie, governor of New Jersey, is seeking the Republican nomination for the office of President of the United States, ultimately losing to Donald Trump. When The Wall Street Journal Online asked for my opinion, I offered the following analysis: Chris Christie may be singly responsible for the re-election of President Obama and the first term election of Senator Cory Booker. I was referring to Hurricane Sandy, when Governor Christie went out of his way to praise President Obama for his assistance, two weeks before Election Day in November 2012. And I was referring to Governor Christie not appointing a viable Republican to an open U.S. Senate seat, thereby clearing the way for a Senator Booker. I made it clear. The Republicans would never reward Governor Christie with the presidency. “Next time, don’t screw your friends.”

Now we’re up to date. The first Democrat we’re eliminating from serious presidential consideration is Elizabeth Warren, Senator from Massachusetts.

Why? Because once upon a time Elizabeth decided to jump the line and give herself a career that is not available to others she pretends to care about.

Elizabeth had an idea. She would jump the line, right over all those hard working upwardly mobile, play by the rules people who will never be Harvard Professors or presidential candidates. She became a Cherokee. Now, in the interest of fairness and balance I will add that some people, most notably the Boston Globe, claim that Elizabeth got hired without any reference to her minority status. But either way she certainly wrapped her brand around her Cherokee story and used it to fuel her presidential ambitions. And for those who want to argue she would have gotten the job anyway, know this: Harvard promoted her, in writing, as a POC, Person of Color. Take that, all you unimportant White Christians. All those people on the line that Elizabeth Warren jumped will have a message for her: “Next time, don’t screw your friends.”

The second Democrat we’re eliminating from serious presidential consideration is Kirsten Gillibrand, Senator from New York.

On November 16, 2017, Senator Gillibrand staged her own presidential candidate coming out party. Presumably, realizing that her name recognition was like my refrigerator, Sub-Zero, she went right for Page 1. She agreed with a New York Times podcast interviewer that Bill Clinton should have resigned the presidency during the Monica Lewinsky scandal.

The best response came from long time Hillary Clinton aide Philippe Reines, who tweeted: “Over 20 years you [Senator Gillibrand] took the Clintons’ endorsements, money and seat. Hypocrite. Interesting strategy for 2020 primaries. Best of luck.” Bill Clinton strategist Paul Begala retweeted the message. They could have said it better: “Next time, don’t screw your friends.” Especially the Clintons.

Two down, too many to go. But think of the fun we’ll have. And it’s not just Democrats who are politically clueless. Right, “candidates” Kasich, Romney, and Flake?

Sid Dinerstein is a former chairman of the Palm Beach County Republican Party. He founded JBS Associates, a 600-person financial service company, and currently combines politics and business with Niger Innis in Inclusive Elections LLC, a firm that brings urban electorate voters to the GOP. He is the author of "Adults Only: For Those Who Love Their Country More Than Their Party." For more of his reports, Go Here Now.