Who Is This?

He was born in Lebanon, Kansas which is known as the geographic center of the continental United States. He is 38 years old, stands six feet two inches tall, and weighs 185 pounds. At a quick glance he could pass for George Clooney. He graduated from the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. He served six years in the Navy as a carrier-based pilot aboard the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower. He is married with two children. His wife is a neonatal cardiologist while he works as an aviation consultant. He is a registered Democrat who plans to run for president in 2028. Who is he?

He is a dream candidate for the Democratic Party who doesn’t exist. He is a figment of my imagination. Get it out of your head that Democrats have anyone who could be a viable candidate with these or similar qualifications. I created this fictitious persona to set the bar as a goal not as an achievable reality. He is important for what he isn’t as much as for what he is. In a perfect world such a person would exist but in our imperfect reality we need to make a few compromises, but not at the expense of the election.

For example, Pete Buttigieg would make an excellent president, but he is not electable at the national level. We currently have around 20% of America that thinks A Handmaid’s Tale is a DIY self-help book.

There are any number of women who, like Mayor Pete, would make excellent choices if they were electable. Democrats have offered female candidates two time with the same result, Donald J. Trump as president. Breaking the glass or rainbow ceilings might be a worthy cause but would be an uphill battle the size of Mount Everest at a time when the Democratic Party would be lucky to survive a speed bump.

As horrible as it may sound, Democrats need to find a young white male centrist who is without excess baggage. As we know from current experience, the baggage allowance is much higher than it has ever been. As long as you haven't killed a nun, you are pretty safe. The next Democratic presidential candidate needs to be someone who can get the American Titanic off this iceberg after repairing the gaping hole on the starboard side.

Democrats need to enter the ring with a person who can go fifteen rounds without breaking a sweat. Presidential elections are no time to make social commentary and right wrongs. It is all about winning first. If you are not in office, you are just another person carrying a sign on Pennsylvania Avenue.