Sen. Rick Scott, A Plan, Finally
In politics as in war, if the opponent is destroying itself, stay out of its way. Former President Donald Trump was a good case study in this from the perspective of Democrats. As the Wall Street Journal’s Paul Gigot observed, Mr. Trump was often his own worst enemy.
President Biden might be dumb but he’s not stupid. He is a seasoned politician. More importantly, as much as Mr. Biden is a senile ignoramus, his handlers are smart and understand that a politician without political power is less than useless. Mr. Biden cannot be counted on to underestimate his opposition, as did Mr. Trump, during the 2020 presidential election cycle.
History is littered with the empty dreams of politicians and political movements that offered only criticism of their opponent without a path forward, i.e., a plan. A savvy politician must have the stick but must also offer the carrot. Thus Mr. Trump’s 2016 campaign was successful because he ran against corrupt politicians (“Lock her up!”) but also offered a plan to end illegal immigration (“Build the wall!”). Ultimately, he did neither during his four years in office a fact which was likely not lost on many of his voters.
It is refreshing that Senator Rick Scott (R - FL) published an eleven point plan ($$) in the Wall Street Journal today to rescue America from the Biden menace.
The current strategy of Republican leadership, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R - KY) and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R - CA), appears to be to allow Team Biden to continue to destroy itself and pray that it stays that way until November. This is potentially a recipe for political disaster. What currently ales the Biden Administration (inflation, crime, and Covid restriction fatigue primarily) could change quickly. Mr. Biden, a seasoned politician with a crackerjack political team, is already slithering to the right on crime, easing Covid restrictions, and has tasked Fed Chair Jerome Powell with getting inflation under control. Marginal success with these initiatives could possibly yield large dividends politically for Mr. Biden. This is particularly true because even small improvements would contrast brightly against the backdrop of what has hitherto been a dismal first year. Mr. Biden’s poll numbers are already improving post State of the Union address.
A smart, targeted plan by the Republicans will also put Mr. Biden into a box with the least popular members of his coalition, the socialists, and their destructive policies. The Republicans have not staked a claim to fiscal responsibility, law and order, and increased freedoms and so Mr. Biden is able to drift away from his most toxic political allies without much push back.
Politically, November is a lifetime away. The iron is hot with Mr. Biden still in negative territory with the American public. Republicans must seize the opportunity of presenting their vision of America to replace that of the Biden Administration. Team Biden cannot be counted on to destroy itself forever.