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Mirsky’s List-Strongest Candidates-President 2020: Brexit Edition

In the wake of the UK's Brexit from the European Union, Attorney David Mirsky reveals his latest snapshot of the candidates for President.

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Mirsky's List of the Strongest Candidates for President in 2020, as of February 1, 2020
Mirsky's List of the Strongest Candidates for President in 2020, as of February 1, 2020 (Photo by David H. Mirsky)

EXETER, NH — February 1, 2020. This is Attorney David Mirsky reporting, on one person's view of the Strongest Candidates for President in 2020, only days before the 2020 Iowa Caucuses (where the presidential race begins), and one day after the United Kingdom (UK) has exited its economic and political arrangement with the European Union, an event that has come to be known as "Brexit". Brexit is important, because it reflects a desire by many people to insist upon their rights to be a separate nation. Brexit is also important because the United Kingdom cannot function in the future as a completely separate nation, and so adjustments will need to be made. As is often the case with emotionally-driven political movements, Brexit is a political movement that expresses anger but offers no solution.

But let's get back to the matter at hand for New Hampshire and Iowa Voters, this matter of the relative strengths of those running for President of the United States in 2020. And so, at this late hour (from the Iowa perspective), here is my list:

Democrats

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1. Elizabeth Warren, U.S. Senator from Massachusetts, Harvard Law Professor, noted pro-Middle Class activist.

Elizabeth Warren tops my list because she is strong-willed, passionate in seeking economic fairness, quality and affordable heath care for all, and most importantly, relief for people currently suffering the immense economic burden of owing money for the repayment of college loans. No other candidate has placed as much emphasis on the need to provide assistance to all concerned for the repayment of college loans. Education benefits everyone. Economic ruin hurts all of us. Let's pay attention to this problem, people! In terms of the political assessment, I see Elizabeth Warren as a politically moderate candidate, even though she is passionate in her support of the Middle Class, because Elizabeth Warren's policies are capable of being implemented without creating a revolution that hurts people in America. Elizabeth Warren is not pushing a personal agenda of revolution, rather, she is seeking to allow the real people of America to take back the reins of government from the super powerful among us. She can do this.

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2. Bernie Sanders, U.S. Senator from Vermont.

Bernie Sanders is in a strong position right now. Many of the younger people who came to adore him while they were in high school back in 2016 are now old enough to vote, and they want to support a political movement that would institute revolution. Bernie Sanders has been consistent in his efforts to promote "socialist" ideas of economic equality and universal access to health care. In assessing Bernie Sanders as a possible candidate against Donald Trump, you should take note of the following: 1) Bernie Sanders suffered a heart attack this year onstage during a political event, and so we don't know whether he has any physical difficulties that might make it hard to compete against The Devil; 2) Bernie Sanders is not a Democrat and actually caused great political harm to the Democratic Nominee in 2016 (Hillary Clinton), which gave enormous assistance to the Republican Nominee in 2016, Donald Trump, and so there are many actual Democrats who may not want to assist Bernie Sanders in promoting his view of things; and 3) Bernie Sanders does not believe in his own economic and social policy ideas enough to be supporting the one person who could really accomplish the job better: Elizabeth Warren.

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3. Amy Klobuchar, U.S. Senator from Minnesota, former prosecutor in Minnesota.

Amy is the candidate behind those "Amy" signs you are seeing everywhere around New Hampshire. Amy Klobuchar is a strong candidate in my estimation because she is tough, smart, speaks directly to the voters in their own voice, and you know she will do good things for you if she gets elected. I would place Amy Klobuchar higher on this list but she just has not been in New Hampshire enough, although we have been visited at our front door here in Exeter by a highly placed New Hampshire State Representative who spoke on her behalf. Since Amy Klobuchar is placing her emphasis on Iowa, we will have to see how she does in the Iowa Caucuses. Your vote matters out there in Iowa! As it does here in New Hampshire and everywhere else.

4. Pete Buttigieg, Mayor of South Bend, Indiana. Pete Buttigieg, or "Mayor Pete" as he calls himself, has run an effective campaign thus far. He has raised a lot of campaign finance money that has allowed him to purchase a lot of campaign lawn signs and a limited number of TV commercials. Mayor Pete is very young to be running for President, he is 38 years old, and he is the mayor of a relatively tiny town in Indiana that has been suffering a certain degree of racial division as of late, with little sign that Mayor Pete has actually solved those problems. But he is a new face, is clearly a brilliant speaker, with a confident persona. Some very important local political people here in Exeter are supporting him. Others are confused by his policy positions, which appear to be deliberately vague. There is one reason to require the nominee for President to have won an election in a relatively larger jurisdiction than South Bend (population approximately 102, 245), and that is, you don't know how this tiny town mayor will handle the national pressures at the time the election is being decided, and you don't know how many different types of people would actually choose him over his opponent.

5. Mike Bloomberg, former Mayor of New York City, current media mogul, billionaire, not on the ballot in Iowa or New Hampshire. Mike Bloomberg is a 2020 candidate for President of the United States, but he is not an official candidate in either Iowa or New Hampshire. He makes it to this list because he is spending a large amount of his 52 billion dollar personal fortune on campaign TV advertising, he is doing this all over the country, and he has a strong message of competence and moderation that is apparently gaining him support in national political polls. But you just don't know where this going until Mr. Bloomberg subjects himself to the actual choice of actual voters on a ballot. I have wondered to myself why Mr. Bloomberg has not started a write-in candidacy here in New Hampshire. Maybe he will do that.

6. Joe Biden, form Vice President of the United States, former U.S. Senator from Delaware, a fixture on the political scene for decades.

Look, Joe Biden could clearly win the U.S. Presidency this year. Joe Biden is a symbol of the kindness and generosity of the American Spirit. He has the support of Democratic Party leaders and faithful, moderate Democrats. Joe Biden also has the support of many moderate Republicans (if there are any remaining). A lot of people would be reassured about the future of our country if Joe Biden becomes our President. To win, Joe Biden needs to translate his personal battle with Donald Trump into something greater.

7. Andrew Yang, entrepreneur and futurist, successful businessman and creator of jobs. Andrew Yang was at a high point when he topped "Mirsky's List" on December 31, 2019, but he failed to qualify for the Democratic Presidential Debate in January, and, in light of his relative lack of previous political experience, it seems that not reaching the debate stage really harmed his candidacy. Yang's idea of providing $1000 a month to everyone seems to be a good idea. There is a question about how a Value Added Tax, which he proposes as a way of paying for the guaranteed monthly income, would affect individuals on a real basis.

8. Deval Patrick, form Governor of Massachusetts. Although a late entry to the 2020 Presidential Campaign, Deval Patrick presents a strong image of a pro-economic growth, pro-Civil Rights Democrat. There were some important members of the Barack Obama political team that likely would have supported Deval Patrick's candidacy if he had chosen to run at an earlier point in time. But New Hampshire voters still have a chance to propel Deval Patrick into contention. You know, most New Hampshire Democrats would like Deval Patrick if they knew him, because he has that honest, tough-minded edge, and he has experienced and survived significant political conflict.

9. Tom Steyer, billionaire. Tom Steyer is a significant candidate because he is a billionaire who has been able to fund many many campaign TV commercials and a lot of mailed literature, all in support of his basically liberal positions of addressing Climate Change, instituting Term Limits for politicians, and being able to make economic arguments against Donald Trump in the campaign, because he has been a successful businessman. The political advertising has worked to the extent that Mr. Steyer has been able to qualify for televised Democratic Presidential Debates. I thought I saw Tom Steyer walking up Front Street in Exeter a couple of weeks ago. I'm not sure if it was him? . . . .

10. Tulsi Gabbard, U.S. Representative from Hawaii. Although I am not sure about some of her foreign policy positions, I appreciate Tulsi Gabbard's message on maintaining your exercise routine. Tulsi Gabbard has stated on Twitter: "Those days when you don't feel like exercising and tell yourself you're too tired or don't have time - just do it. You'll be glad you did." And so, as I am equally unsure about everyone's foreign policy ideas, I believe that Tulsi Gabbard is a strong and good candidate for President in 2020, her conflicts with Hillary Clinton notwithstanding.

11. Michael Bennet, U.S. Senator from Colorado. Michael Bennet is still out there campaigning for President even though his has not recently qualified for the televised Democratic Presidential Debates. I have included Michael Bennet as remaining in contention because he has a strong campaign TV commercial (which I saw only once) and because one of his supporters came to my front door and gave a compelling demonstration of genuine support for his candidacy.

And so, that's it for now. Iowans, go to it!

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