A Nice Problem

Some years ago, an event coordinator I knew was surprised when the number of those planning to attend her function increased dramatically as the date approached, forcing her to scramble at the last minute to accommodate them. “A nice problem to have,” she said, a little breathlessly.

So it is with the two dozen Democratic candidates for President. Why do so many want to run? First, of course, there is the desire to keep the current occupant from serving another four years. But what might some other motives be? Personal publicity? Partly, but I think there’s more to it. I’m sure at least some of these folks realize full well that the sun will rise in the west before they actually win the nomination. But if nothing else, candidacy is a chance to ensure that their key issues become part of the agenda.


Democratic voters do have a nice problem. The problem part is that the choice is not an easy one; they will have to sit through many more town halls and debates before next year’s primaries, when they make that choice. The nice part, though, is that every one of these candidates seems qualified to serve as President, at least so far.


The second dose of nice is that whoever wins the nomination will have some great options, not only for a running mate, but for potential Cabinet members in the event of a November 2020 victory. I ask you to let me do some “what iffing” here. To start with, if she doesn’t win the nomination or get chosen for No. 2, who would make a better attorney general than Kamala Harris? Or Elizabeth Warren for Secretary of the Treasury? Beto O’Rourke could do a nice job at Homeland Security or Health and Human Services. Pete Buttigieg could do well at Commerce or Veterans Affairs. Jay Insley, outspoken on climate change, could be perfect for the Department of Energy. And Joe Biden would make a fine Secretary of State, not only because of his foreign policy experience, but because those in other countries don’t share the American penchant for dismissing older people. Whether any of these individuals would accept Cabinet positions if offered is another question. But none would be bent on destroying or minimizing the department he or she is heading.


I have left some important names out here, of course, and likely you will be doing some what-iffing of your own. But continuing with the niceties of this” problem,”  there are no losers among that crowded field. And it could all be a win-win for the country, too.