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Who Should Really Run for President?

Newsweek Europe

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January 05 - 12, 2024 (Double Issue)

There's widespread disagreement about who the country needs as our next leader. These candidates aren't the ones you'd expect

- MATT ROBISON

Who Should Really Run for President?

AT THIS POINT, THE ONLY THING THAT MATTERS IS DEFEATING TRUMP AND AVERTING TOTAL DYSTOPIAN DISASTER IN 2024.

WHEN NEWSWEEK ASKED ME "WHO DO I WISH was running for President," I thought the answer was pretty obvious. As in, "Do you like ice cream?" or "Is the Pope Catholic?" DUH-level obvious.

After all, if we've learned one thing from the past seven years, it's how much competence matters. Donald Trump's ineptitude led to cataclysm. Trump's own COVID-19 response leader said his incompetence killed more than 130,000 Americans, one of thousands of stupid decisions from someone who had no idea what he was doing and couldn't have cared less about government, other than as a reality show-esque ego trip, money grab and vehicle for personal revenge.

Once we returned leadership to someone who was experienced, knowledgeable and sane, America reaped incredible rewards, including the most successful vaccination program in American history, getting our kids back in schools, the greatest single year of U.S. job creation, and the lowest unemployment in 50 years.

So the answer to the question seems clear: We should wish for a serious political professional with decades of proven government experience, right?

Nope. I went with Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.

Before you dismiss me as crazy, unserious or both, hear me out.

Competence won't address our biggest problem. Joe Biden was one of the most seasoned and able government professionals ever elected, using his expertise to pass reams of legislation to rival the most productive periods of American government in history. He has accomplishments out the wazoo.

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