All humans love to create stories about the future, so let's harness that talent in this Reader's Puzzle. In your mind's story, how does the presidential campaign evolve over the next year, who become the nominees, and who gets elected in 2024? Have your narrative explain why the events unfold the way you describe them.
Full Citation for this Article: Editorial Board, SquareTwo Journal (2023) "Reader's Puzzle for Summer 2023," SquareTwo, Vol. 16 No. 2 (Summer 2023), http://squaretwo.org/Sq2ArticleReadersPuzzleSummer2023.html, accessed <give access date>.
Would you like to comment on this article? Thoughtful, faithful comments of at least 100 words are welcome.
I. Ashley Alley
Honestly, I find myself so depressed by the current political climate and the frustrating lack of candidates I consider even remotely trustworthy that I am not sure I have the strength to fantasize about future developments đ If I could write the story, we would see the unexpected rise of a truly moderate candidate who has the ability to truly operate in a bi-partisan manner and get things done. As it stands, I am not sure we will even have ânew choicesâ in the next electionâŚI think we may be looking at another Biden vs Trump face-off⌠*deep, dramatic sigh*
_______________________________________________________________________II. Savannah Eccles Johnston
The unsatisfying narrative is that Biden and Trump compete in the general election. Biden probably wins, or maybe Trump surprises again by winning. Either way, half the country is very angry. A good chunk on the losing side refuse to accept the results of the election. Maybe the peaceful transfer of power gives way to political violence, etc etc. But since Iâm in charge of this story, Iâm going to ignore all that and pretend that something throws the election into chaos. Letâs pretend that Trump is found guilty and a third party candidate (Larry Hogan? Anyone?) manages to prevent any candidate from winning the electoral college. The House of Representatives select a third party candidate to be president. Joe Biden bows out semi-gracefully and finally goes into retirement. The Democrat party spends four years trying to reunite their base or split. Trump claims corruption, but heâs in prison and many of his supporters have abandoned him. The Republican also enters a period of soul searching or splits up. We have four boring, policy intense years working to reduce the national debt, reform entitlements, pass 12 fiscally responsible appropriations bills every year, and keep the world from tripping into a third world war.
_______________________________________________________________________III. Ralph C. Hancock
There are a hundred scenarios that could well disrupt the present election scenario dominated by two major party candidates, Biden & Trump, who are unwilling (for obvious reasons) to debate. Two wars (Ukraine and middle east) could grow and unfold in ways that would disrupt, or blow up, the fragile coalitions that form each party. Another virus outbreak would likewise present an imponderable scenario that would not unfold like the last. Pres. Biden's decline in health may become too pronounced to deny. Trump's legal problems have helped him so far, it seems, where is base is concerned, but his facade of confidence has shown signs of vulnerability, and he might well crack. Any substantial decline in one or both of these candidacies could open the door to something like a reasoned discussion between, say ... DeSantis and RFK. And what if the American people -- I mean, some critical mass of the American people -- actually discovered a taste for something approaching actual deliberation?
_______________________________________________________________________IV. Ted Richards
The New York Times, ever the opponent of any and all things Republican and particularly things having to do with Donald Trump, recently released a poll on the front page of its website stating that in a contest between Joe Biden and Donald Trump, Joe Biden is likely to lose. This comports well with the polling across the board at various outlets, but this particular outletâs pronouncement on the issue leads me to the following prediction: simply as a matter of polling and energy, Donald Trump remains the presumptive nominee for the Republicans, in spite of everything. Unless the various lawsuits and criminal cases brought against the former president have him literally behind bars when the announcements of official party nominees are made (and perhaps even then), Trump will be the GOP pick.
The Timesâ revelation of this polling data is probably not a cry of hopeless mourning, but a tactic. If the âpaper of record,â which seems primarily interested in recording their support of the DNC and its various candidates, if even that paper is predicting a Biden loss this early in the game, it is probably because they do not see Biden's presumptive nomination as set in stone. This poll result, among other similar portents, suggests that the media and other party vanguards of the DNC want Biden out in favor of someone new. Frequently bandied-about names include Gavin Newsom (a handsome California Governor of middling popularity, seemingly bred for the position) and Michelle Obama (someone who might very well wipe the floor with Trump given the chance, based merely on her favorability rating and success as a public figure since leaving the White House). I incline to think Newsom the likelier of the two.
My prediction is: Donald Trump Vs. someone other than Joe Biden, perhaps Gavin Newsom
_______________________________________________________________________V. V. M. Hudson
I have a recurring dream that both Joe Biden and Donald Trump announce that theyâve each had a message from God, and both withdraw from the presidential race. The United States electorate needs a break from both of them. I donât believe there is one single American voter that wants another Biden-Trump rematch. And yet here we are.
One of the big mega-trends in American domestic politics is the huge growth in independent voters, as people flee the extremism of the two parties. At the same time, an independent candidate, such as Kennedy or Manchin, can only be a spoiler, not a winner. What we need, then, are not independent candidates but blocs of independent voters that coalesce around important issues and are prepared to announce whom their bloc will vote for. This is the only way I see that the parties can be bludgeoned by voters into moving towards the center, where hopefully greater sanity reigns.
On the Democrat side, I donât see any natural leaders waiting in the wings to take over for Biden. Kamala Harrisâ polling numbers are worse than Joe Bidenâs. And the only attack ad youâd need to sink a Gavin Newsom campaign is drone footage from his own state, and interviews with all the Californians that have fled to Texas and Florida. No one wants their country to go the way of California.
On the Republican side, I see a stronger field. I wish it were possible for Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis to become running mates, but itâs possible they are too far apart on foreign policy (she is a hawk and he is more of an isolationist) and on key issues such as abortion (she is a pragmatist and he is not) to make that partnership work. On the other hand, a spirited representation of both of those strategic dialogues within one administration might actually be a good thing.
At any rate, hereâs hoping my daydream comes true . . .