Do the Dems Have a Beast of Burden?
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e got divided feedback on our piece last week urging people to read GOP consultant Rick Wilson's new book, "Running Against the Devil."
Wilson's insistence is this: he'd lie, cheat, steal and stop just this side of breaking the law in order to defeat Trump in November. Because nothing less will stop him.
Some readers said no: "that makes us just as bad as him."
The counterpoint: "Right on. Anything goes. Only victory matters."
The roll-out of Trump's revenge tour this week may have changed some minds. But it seems obvious that the overwhelming issue of this campaign ultimately may be Trump himself. Which is exactly what Wilson prescribes
In thinking about this, for some reason an old Rolling Stones chorus from their song "Beast of Burden" came into my head. It repeats,
"Am I hard enough?
Am rough enough?
Am I rich enough?
I'm not too blind to see."
In looking at the remaining candidates for the Democratic nomination, this seems to me like the only purity test we need. Who fits the Stones' description? Who's got the inherent toughness and a big enough campaign bankroll to stand toe-to-toe with our pot-bellied Javert?
This may be an opinion I'll retain for just a day or two. But right now, the only one who passes that test in my mind is Bloomberg--and I don't even know him that well. He's got at least as much New York brass as Trump...more money...and undoubtedly knows Gotham secrets about Trump that no other contender could hope to uncover.
But is he willing to bring it? Well, even before appearing on a single ballot, Bloomberg has spent several Presidential yachts full of cash on spots like these:
https://www.ispot.tv/ad/Z_to/mike-bloomberg-2020-real-state-of-the-union
https://www.ispot.tv/ad/Z2dR/mike-bloomberg-2020-tough-fights
https://www.ispot.tv/ad/ZjoT/mike-bloomberg-2020-pre-existing-conditions
He's got the tough. But can he campaign?
We'll find out soon.
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