PLAT(ner)ITUDES

Is oyster farmer Graham Platner the future of the Democratic Party?

Can he defeat the long-serving but duplicitous Grand Dame Republican Sen. Susan Collins? Chat GPT currently describes the race between them as “a toss-up that may lean slightly toward Platner, largely because current polling shows him ahead, but not by enough to overcome Collins' incumbency advantage and long record of winning statewide elections.”

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There is other mixed news for the Dems.

On the downside, Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer is a good man who has passed his sell-by date; yes, he is an instinctive  politician who can scent microphones and cameras at great distances. House minority leader Hakim Jeffries is well  intentioned, respected and about as inspiring  as canned asparagus. This is our leadership.

On the upside let us thank Trump for helping the Democrats day by day as he metaphorically trips over his shoelaces; politically speaking he now looks much like the family schlimazel everyone is too embarrassed to mention but cannot avoid. Every GOP Congressperson and a third of the Senate are on the ballot. Rebellion is nascent but the realization is sinking in among Republicans that sticking with Trump’s war on Iran, inflation, the elimination of popular programs and his mercurial and tempestuous behavior will cost them their comfortable lives in Congress. He does not care.

The Democrats have a strong bench. At least two people stand out —  Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona and Governor Andy  Beshear of Kentucky. Both are top-rung and constructed of presidential timber.

There are also others like governors JB Pritzker and Josh Shapiro; Sen. Jon Ossoff’s name has also been floating around of late. But might any one of them find themselves impaled on the horns of the Israeli genocide in Gaza, or Bibi’s refusal to rein in the excesses of West Bank settlers? Set aside those concerns: is a Jew electable? Has the time come? Not likely. Antisemitism has increased. Blaming Jews has a long and lethal history.

Cory Booker harbors presidential aspirations. He is a terrific senator, very smart, a distinctive voice and right where he’s needed most — in the Senate. To have so many good people at hand, and to have someone young like Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a popular, outspoken woman who — as a vice presidential candidate — could make for a formidable ticket. AOC has matured in office and tilted toward the center.

But first the midterms.