Thomas Friedman: Democrats, here's the sure-fire way to defeat Donald Trump

[mfcorey1]

If this election turns out to be just between a self-proclaimed socialist and an undiagnosed sociopath, we will be in a terrible, terrible place as a country. How do we prevent that?

That’s all I am thinking about right now. My short answer is that the Democrats have to do something extraordinary — forge a national unity ticket the likes of which they have never forged before. And that’s true even if Democrats nominate someone other than Bernie Sanders.

What would this super ticket look like? Well, I suggest Sanders — and Michael Bloomberg, who seems to be his most viable long-term challenger — lay it out this way:

“I want people to know that if I am the Democratic nominee these will be my Cabinet choices — my team of rivals. I want Amy Klobuchar as my vice president. Her decency, experience and moderation will be greatly appreciated across America and particularly in the Midwest. I want Mike Bloomberg (or Bernie Sanders) as my secretary of the Treasury. Our plans for addressing income inequality are actually not that far apart, and if we can blend them together it will be great for the country and reassure markets. I want Joe Biden as my secretary of state. No one in our party knows the world better or has more credibility with our allies than Joe. I will ask Elizabeth Warren to serve as health and human services secretary. No one could bring more energy and intellect to the task of expanding health care for more Americans than Senator Warren.

https://www.palmbeachpost.com/opinion/20200226/thomas-friedman-democrats-heres-sure-fire-way-to-defeat-donald-trump

[TwilightZone]

1. Nothing is sure-fire where Trump is concerned.

The idea is sound, but if Sanders is the nominee, I can't imagine him putting "moderate" Democrats in his cabinet. Maybe I'm wrong, but he doesn't even promote them electorally for down-ticket races so cabinet-level positions seem unlikely. He sticks almost exclusively to endorsing candidates who share his ideology and I would expect him to do the same thing with his cabinet.

Anyone else as the nominee, I think it's a solid idea, though I also think including some rising stars like Stacey Abrams would be even better. I'm also not sure Sanders would be interested in anything other than the top spot on the ticket.

[Sloumeau]

2. If Sanders is at the top,

then the Democrats are probably toast no matter who he picks for his VP or cabinet.

[Skya Rhen]

3. Biden at the top and Warren as VP - both Bernie and Bloomberg are too polarizing.

[brooklynite]

4. I would argue that Sanders would feel a "national unity" cabinet was antithetical to his principles.

...and would any sort of ticket balancing. If Sanders is the nominee, we're going all in on his philosophy, for better or worse.

[oasis]

8. +1,000,000

[W_HAMILTON]

5. I'm guessing this will all be hashed out in the event of a brokered convention anyway.

In that scenario, the leading candidate that is best able to incorporate the other candidates into their administration in a way that lets them endorse that candidate is the one that will win the nomination. The "unity candidate" will be the one that actually unites the majority of the party behind them.

[myohmy2]

6. I don't know...

...I think there would be constant undercutting, back-stabbing and war in the White House with opposites...

...but I do agree, Bernie's VP choice will be critical and must be well-considered...

...I trust Bernie...

[lapfog_1]

7. Warren would be better at Treasury

She knows tax law and revenue options better than anyone on the hill...

except for Katie Porter.