The Best Bet for Democrats

by Lauren Hill ’22

For the past few months, several candidates have been on the campaign trail to become the 2020 democratic presidential nominee. On February 3, 2020 the first caucus will take place in Iowa, with the New Hampshire primary following on February 11.. Recent polls have shown former vice president, Joe Biden leading the democratic field with 27 percent of national support, followed by Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren according to the New York Times.

Biden is arguably the most widely known and experienced candidate in the field. He worked as a senator for 36 years, and served as Vice President under the Obama administration. Many Americans are familiar with Biden as a result of his association with Barack Obama, and are likely to be influenced to vote for a familiar face. The focus for most democratic voters this election is to ensure Donald Trump does not win another term. Biden is the democratic candidate with the best chance to win the 2020 election over Trump. Compared to the other candidates in the Democratic field Biden has moderate views. Candidates such as Sanders or Warren are seen as too liberal leaving many voters to have doubts about their ability to beat Trump. However, Biden’s centrist views will be supported by a larger group of Americans than any views that are too extreme.

 

Sanders Endorsement

by Drew Scott ’20

Are you fed up with the way that companies treat their workers? Are you angry that the richest man alive, Jeff Bezos, barely pays his workers minimum wage? Are you passionate about real change in America? Then look no further than 2020 Presidential Candidate, Bernie Sanders. Bernie’s left leaning policies promise to help the poor and the middle class of America. He’ll pass laws that help workers, the environment, the poor, and minorities. Unlike Trump, Sanders genuinely fights for the rights and the liberty of people of color and Dreamers. And unlike Biden, Sanders is clear and direct with his messages, leaving no room for bumbling anecdotes and mixed signals.

Along with all of that, Sanders has a decades long career in politics, with an established base of supporters from the 2016 elections. He is always willing to play nice with Democrats and other politicians So if you’re looking for a candidate, then I suggest you Feel The Bern in 2020.

 

The Best Bet

by Kara Thompson

 If you’re anything like me, you’re a little overwhelmed by all the candidates vying for the democratic nomination. And, when it comes down to it, all you want is someone who has the capacity to beat Trump. Michael Bloomberg just may be the best candidate for that job. Elected three times as mayor of New York, he considered himself a “liberal republican,” and won his third term running as an independent. Bloomberg is moderate enough to appeal to Independents who make up about 30 percent of the electorate, but still has enough liberal views to solidify himself as a democratic candidate.

One big issue he’s focusing on is climate change. He called out Trump for his withdrawl from the Paris Agreement, and Bloomberg Philanthropies has pledged millions of dollars to make up for the loss of U.S. resources. Bloomberg also hopes to launch “Beyond Carbon,” a plan to get rid of all coal-based power plants in the United States and move the country towards cleaner energy options.

Although he entered the race late, it is still financially feasible for Bloomberg to win the nomination. Bloomberg has been a long-time advocate and spender for gun control and climate change, two hot-button topics that he has liberal stances on. However, he could still appeal to moderate democrats, independents, and even some disaffected republicans. Fiscally, Bloomberg is more conservative; he believes in Wall Street, and he doesn’t support Medicare-for-all (although he did support Obamacare).

Bloomberg may not be anyone’s ideal candidate, but he has policies that appeal to a wide range of voters, as well as the money to fund a campaign, which means he may just be able to beat Trump in November’s election.

 

Mayor Ready for The Big Time

by Brenna Henderson ’21

Democrat candidate Pete Buttigieg currently polls close to the top in the Iowa caucus, which could be due to his long-shown belief in creating proposals instead of merely defining problems. For example, Buttigieg has a plan that aims to cut emissions down to zero by 2050; one to address systemic racism; and another for universal healthcare coverage. 

Many say that Buttigieg is too young and inexperienced to be president; however, in his life, Buttigieg has graduated from Harvard, became an Oxford Rhodes scholar, and was deployed to Afghanistan as a Lieutenant in the U.S Navy Reserve. Presidents also are expected to be able to sympathize with their public, which includes all ages. Older candidates might find it hard to relate to younger citizens. Buttigieg, being only 37 years old, would be able to understand and support the younger generations while still being able to appeal to older adults through his more moderate stances. 

Buttigieg, unlike Elizabeth Warren or Bernie Sanders, could appeal to voters who identify as Independent. Buttigieg’s belief in a less politically polarized country would help the government function less like a battleground and be more beneficial to the public. In all, Buttigieg is the problem-solver that America’s diverse public needs.

 

The Change America Needs

by Adina Brenner ‘20

Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren has numerous innovative ideas that will provide all citizens, especially those of the middle class, with an overall better quality of life. Ever since Trump entered office, the wealthy have thrived whereas middle and lower class families have been left in the dust. Warren wants to put the power back into the hands of workers and labor unions, giving workers, for example, the ability to elect some of their companies’ board members. She also vows to make sure extremely wealthy Americans pay their fair share of taxes. Warren believes it is vital that all Americans are treated equally and fairly under the law and hopes to achieve this by creating an Ultra-Millionaire Tax on America’s 75,000 richest families, a new economy can be built that works for everyone.

One of Warren’s main objectives for her presidency is to have universal free public college once and for all. Americans spend years paying off thousands of dollars of student loans and some cannot afford to go at all. With Warren’s free college plan all of these debts will cease to exist. She also plans to drastically change the amount of carbon emissions that Americans put into the atmosphere each day. Warren hopes to achieve domestic net-zero emissions by 2030 with the implication of the Green New Deal.

Warren believes in advocating for everyone no matter their race, ethnicity, or background. From her previous experience in politics to her extensive knowledge in America’s biggest issues, Warren has what it takes to beat Trump in the 2020 election.

 

Best Hope for Unity

by Julia Robins ‘20

Tulsi Gabbard, Hindu Hawaii congresswoman, is the best choice for president for one simple reason: her ability to compromise. She is the only candidate running for president who supports both Republican and Democratic positions, and is able to bridge the political gap in American politics. Most importantly, she is able to take voters away from Trump – what arguably should be Democrats’ focus for the 2020 election.

Gabbard is her own person who defies the labels of party affiliation by working towards compromising and promoting unity between the parties. Her positions on college tuition, banning assault weapons, citizenship for dreamers, and raising taxes on the rich are more liberal, while her isolationist foreign policy aligns more with Trump’s “America First” motto. She is skilled at the art of compromising on issues like abortion, impeachment, and green energy goals. She is willing to sit down with Fox News and adversaries. Gabbard is a candidate who could turn the country away  from the divisiveness and ugly nature of politics today.

 

Not Left, Not Right, Forward

by Kat Mahoney ’20

It is hard to choose between the list of candidates that have so many similar characteristics as their opponents or previous Presidents. That is why Andrew Yang, a candidate who has proven to stand apart from the others, is a perfect option to be president.

A corporate lawyer, healthcare startup entrepreneur, CEO of Manhattan Test Prep, Founder and CEO of Venture for America, Yang labels himself as the opposite of Trump, an Asian man who likes math. Yang hones in on “the freedom dividend” which is what he calls his universal basic income payment to give each adult American $1,000 per month to compensate for the loss of jobs due to the increase in automation. He, alongside Bernie Sanders, supports a single-payer “Medicare for All” health care plan which will provide health care to everyone in the country without out-of-pocket costs.

Yang has proven to be determined and successful thus far by making it in all five debates and being named the internet’s favorite candidate by the New York Times. As Trump appealed to traditional conservative Republicans, Yang appeals to dissatisfied Trump voters and technologically active Millenials. As a laid back yet a hardworking candidate, Yang is not only a prosperous person but would be an outstanding President.