What would you think about Robert Reich running for prez?

[MADem]

47. If he wants to do it, he should do it.

Not sure how much traction or "deep pockets" he would get. He has never held elective office, but he's worked for both GOP and Dem Presidents so he does have system familiarity. He did run (unsucessfully--tanked in the primary) for MA GOV so he has a little campaign experience as a candidate, but not a lot. He'd need to start finding a team.

Some of his messaging sounds a little defeatist, to my mind (college isn't for everyone, it's not a gateway to the middle class; it's affirmative action for the rich; etc--but he wasn't saying that when HE was going to university, e.g.), and that could be leveraged against him. I'm more of the "make college affordable to anyone who WANTS it, and that should include "vocational college" as well, if that's what people want..." school of thought. He likely feels the same way but his message could be cherry-picked in a GOTCHA way if people wanted to twist his words....and it's not like anyone would EVER do that, would they?

I think he burned a few bridges here and there, too. Not sure how good he'd be at the fundraising game. He could try doing the public financing, that would get him on the podium but he may be seen as a scold/spoiler/useful GOP tool, depending on what tack he takes. Or, he could serve as a blocker and deflect a lot of snark and garbage. It would be highly unlikely that he'd "run for VP" as some do. It's impossible to know unless and until he takes the plunge.

If he won, he'd be the shortest President ever, besting James Madison by a full five inches!