* “Mathematical gymnastics.” How Joe Biden characterized Elizabeth Warren’s plan to pay for “Medicare for All.” All’s fair in a primary scrum, but you know a line like this will be at the ready for Trump if he’s opposed by a hard-core progressive.
* “You can be committed to the U.S.-Israeli alliance without being supportive of any individual choice by a right-wing government over there. It shouldn’t be hard to be against bad policies and to be against anti-Semitism.”–That was Mayor Pete Buttigieg weighing in on U.S. policy on Israel–and underscoring the growing criticism of Israel by the political left, once thought an untenable position for liberals. An awkward bromance between Trump and Bibi Netanyahu–in the context of land annexation and JerUSAlem as the Israeli capital–has altered the equation.
* Speaking of Mayor Pete, his eloquence, military service, generational status and gayety have been well noted. On the generational front, it’s easy to forget that at 37, Buttigieg is but two years past the constitutional minimum of 35. We tend to want more real life experience–not just generational perspective–from our candidates. We haven’t seen someone making a serious presidential run this young since Jerry Brown. He was also 37 when he declared his candidacy for the 1976 Democratic presidential nomination. But he was already governor of California. Buttigieg is mayor of South Bend, Ind.
But there is not a better speaker–or galvanizing presence–among the candidates. If he doesn’t get the nomination, here’s hoping that Buttigieg’s compelling, inspiring rhetoric on the 2020 hustings can help rally the Democratic demographic–from age, gender and sexual persuasion to nationality, race and progressive bona fides. And if the nominee happens to be a septuagenarian, look for Buttigieg to be positioned as an even higher-profile, de facto candidate for upcoming election cycles. Sooner than later.
* “My service to the country will not be as a candidate or as the nominee.” That was Beto O’Rourke as he formally ended his presidential campaign. “This campaign does not have the means to move forward successfully.” That was O’Rourke’s more candid take.