Hakeem Jeffries: Powerful, Passionate, Presidential
It sounds irresponsible. After only a couple of weeks, a couple of good speeches, after rallying his caucus, what we thought of as a weak Democratic “bench” for the post-Biden period (whenever that may be), now has a strong candidate to whom we could hand the ball. Because even though Jeffries has only been front and center in our minds for a couple of weeks, he has certainly been front and center in the Democrats on Capitol Hill’s minds for some time.
Nancy Pelosi led the Democratic caucus for so long that it almost seemed like blasphemy to see her sitting - proudly - on the back bench. This handoff was planned for a reason, and it went over as smoothly as a party could have hoped. It could not be an accident. Occam would say that the ease by which all this happened is simple. The Democrats knew that Hakeem Jeffries was a leader, possessing talent that hadn’t fully leaked to the general public. This was the guy. They knew it a while ago but held it back. We never knew there was an heir apparent. But they did.
No placeholder. A man holding the Democrats’ future.
Only then, during a critical two-week period, did Jeffries unleash some of that talent, passion, and fearlessness in staring down the Republicans. His speech from the chair after McCarthy won the Speakership was Obama-esque. Such a compliment is never handed out lightly. Hakeem Jeffries is no figurehead. He is the head of the future of the Democratic party, either the literal head or a visionary. I leave it to the consideration of the reader as to which is more powerful.
From A-Z, he went through his vision spot on but, more importantly, delivered in a style that created its own power to burrow that much deeper into the nation’s conscience and history’s rearview mirror. He began by extending an olive branch on behalf of Americans, saying they’ll work with Republicans for the country’s best interests. Then he went bold on what Democrats won’t ever do, A to Z:
“House Democrats will always put American values over autocracy. Benevolence over bigotry. The Constitution over the cult. democracy over demagogues, economic opportunity over extremism, freedom over fascism. governing over gaslighting.
Hopefulness over hatred. Inclusion over isolation. Justice over judicial overreach. Knowledge over kangaroo courts. Liberty over limitation, maturity over Mara Lago. Normalcy over negativity. Opportunity over obstruction. People over politics.
Quality of life issues over Q Anon. Reason over racism. Substance over slander. Triumph over tyranny, understanding over ugliness, voting rights over voter suppression, working families over the well connected, xenial over xenophobia, yes we can over you can’t do it, and zealous representation.
He risked that it would sound “gimmicky,” indeed it was a big risk. And yet he delivered it with nuclear-infused sincerity, seriousness, and just the right degree of anger. Kevin McCarthy gave up all principles and the power of the Speakership just to become Speaker. McCarthy stood just off Jeffries side, seeming to shrink with every line.
LOOKING FORWARD:
Politics at this level, the various junctions where one might jump a level, especially to the presidency, is a lot like a craps table. Nothing is guaranteed. Hillary was going to win, remember? It wasn’t even in question. Still, you never know when “7” will crap out. But the craps table is the one game in the casino where situations can flip to the point where the odds are in the players’ favor. The key is recognizing those situations and maximizing them.
There are two things needed to get to the White House. First, obviously, you must have the talent, intellect, and ability to lead people and form a movement. Trump had some feral instinct enlighten him (in the most limited way) that the term after Obama - who the MAGAs hated to a shocking degree, called for someone with a talent for infuriating the Left, which is all that the Right required. “Owning the libs,” was the measuring stick in that primary.
Second, one could be the perfect candidate, but that candidate must pick the exact right time to leap.
Another example, in 2007, Obama had been in the Senate for two years. Everyone around Obama told him it was Hillary’s time and that Obama would surely get the nomination down the road. Everyone said it was Hillary’s time except David Plouffe and David Axelrod, who convinced Obama - Michelle Obama - the toughest analyst that this was Barack’s time. Michelle refused to get involved with a “big bullshit showoff campaign to increase his visibility.” They assured her that one could never assume that one’s power and popularity are guaranteed to rise. Ron DeSantis would do well to mull that thought over.
I am not saying Jeffries's time is now, and not just because there is no current opening. But House Democrats sprung unto us someone made to order for the list, whether he chooses to jump at the “first chance” or wait and let his skills percolate, he is on the list but must wait for the perfect time.
MAXIMIZING HIS CURRENT POSITION AND POWER
For the next two years, at minimum, he has a leadership position critical to the Democrats’ future, and the field is wide open. He can write and co-sponsor a Democratic vision for this country and then, more importantly, get out and talk about it.
He should look for opportunities to make speeches all over the country, speeches that emphasize the bills they’ve already introduced, only to have been blocked by Republicans, and bills they envision coming together. These bills and speeches are not merely to introduce himself as a leader but the direction he intends to lead.
All of this will be juxtaposed against the utter helplessness of any sense of “governance” by the GOP. Yes, the GOP will be a smooth-running machine when it comes to “Investigate, Terminate, Retaliate,” as I said in the last article. Absolutely. But they are also the majority in the House, expected to keep the lights on (Money) and ensure certain reconciliation bills get through. Not only is this fertile soil for presenting an alternative to the voters, but even the stuff that GOP does well, all those investigations… the GOP always over-plays its hand.
As but one example, I considered writing an article explaining the underlying issues with Hunter Biden’s laptop, and even after reading Wiki’s neutral description twice, I still didn’t understand. The only thing that I knew, walking away, was that there is no evidence of a crime or that Joe Biden is linked to any of it available to anyone right now. It also stems from a fundamental misunderstanding of the situation in Ukraine four years ago, when a pro-Russia, corrupt government was in control. That is the “scandal” the Republicans think will bury Biden? They will so overplay that.
*This column was roughly drafted before Biden’s classified files broke. That will cause Biden problems, and they will be real. How serious the facts of the problem might be is to be seen. We only hope the GOP overplays it. *
And investigating the investigators who came after Perry, MTG, Gaetz, Trump, Meadows? The only thing such an investigation will do is highlight the corrupt nature of all that they did.
He has a golden opportunity. He doesn’t have to start off as Speaker. He gets to start off doing what he’s shown he does best. He gets to demonstrate he can lead his caucus, and he can be the voice of reason, avoiding the fights on the other side of the aisle, the chess moves made in the Senate, or the pressure of the White House.
CONCLUSION
I am not saying that Hakeem Jeffries is headed straight to the White House. I believe that Pete Buttigieg will be president someday. It is close to inevitable. I don’t have that certainty with Jeffries. I can’t even tell you whether he wants to be president. If he had majorities as far as the eye can see, the Speaker of the House might be the second most powerful person in the American government, right under the president.
I am saying that the door is now open, already. No, it’s not just due to the last two weeks and one powerful speech. But that sure didn’t hurt. One speech at the 2004 Democratic convention propelled Obama into that “circle of possible candidates,” even though Obama was dead wrong, “There is no red America, no blue America…”
The door is open primarily because the Democrats knew what they were doing when making Jeffries their leader with very little dissent. That, alone, says a lot.
Make room on a thin bench for Hakeem Jeffries, one of the most promising Democrats in the last 10 years.
Thanks to all. Pledges have trickled to the point that they’re going to get some of the good stuff coming soon, hard-hitting or hilarious, two paragraphs every day, and proposed topics to cover that will get covered at some point soon after. Push any subscribe button. Changes will start Feb. 1st. Of those who have pledged, half have done one year. Promising.
Last night I put out a fast “pledge only” beta, a demonstration of what I mean.
Especially as I get closer to that date, I want to hear from anyone, jmiciak@yahoo.com, who has ideas as to what to cover or how to do it better. Criticism is good. It means someone cares enough to want to see you improve. After 6 years of professional writing, I’m immune to hurt feelings.
Let’s find a beach…
How about one just down the block (from me, 25 minutes)? Orange Beach/Destin: