Reflections on Jon Ossoff

Jon Osssoff

Not that long ago, Republican politicians who were falling behind in the primary or losing popularity seemed to have an infallible method of recovery.  Just take a bribe or commit some other crime, and then cry persecution when anyone tries to hold you accountable.  Ken Paxton, impeached by the Texas House, was the classic example.  Conventional wisdom said that only Washington insiders cared about corruption; ordinary citizens applauded vices of all kinds as proof of "authenticity."  And some advisors were urging Democrats to do the same thing.  Stick to bread-and-butter issues.  Avoid moralizing, including talk about democracy.  Some left wing insurgents went further and urged Democrats to seek out someone who had done something obnoxious and offensive at best (say, having a Nazi tattoo, or being a total jerk to women), so as not to be a "smooth groin" or "grown in vats."

Well, things have changed.  Texans are recoiling at Paxton's corruption, possibly even enough for him to lose, certainly enough to make it harder than someone like John Cornyn.  And in Georgia Jon Ossoff is firing up crowds by vowing to expose Trump's corrupt activities and hold people accountable.  He is bridging the gap between the moderate and progressive wings of the Democratic Party.  Both of them want a "fighter," and Ossoff is giving that to them in spades. 

The phenomenon is really not that hard to understand.  It all goes back to the old adage that people fight more over a shrinking pie than an expanding one.  When times are prosperous, people smile indulgently on a little corruption in their leader.  After all, people say, he brought all this prosperity to us, it seems mean-spirited to grudge him a share of it.  But when people are feeling pinched, nothing sparks their resentment more than seeing someone party it up on their dime.  And Trump is doing that in spade.

Ossoff and Warnock

No one has paid much attention to Ossoff up till now.  When he ran for Senate in 2020, he was largely overshadowed by Raphael Warnock.  Warnock also got more of the spotlight because he had to run again in 2022 -- against Hershel Walker, no less.* But now people are even talking about Ossoff as a candidate for President.  Although I absolutely favor appointing him to the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, as Chair if Democrats win control of the Senate and Ranking Member if they do not.  But I have some misgivings about Ossoff as a candidate for President.  Why?

The answer is a bit hard to put my finger on.  His oratory has been compared to Obama's, but that is clearly not true.  While Obama campaigned (however implausibly) as someone who would bring us all together, Ossoff makes no such pretense.  He channels people's anger, not their hopes.  Under more normal circumstances, I might call him a demagogue.  In this case, the anger he stirs up is entirely justified and appropriate.  It still makes me uneasy.  Alternately, one could say the problem with Ossoff is that he limits himself to being against Trump and does not really stand for anything.  Except that I really do think that restoring the rule of law and implementing safeguards to prevent another such lawless President really is the most important issue we face.  And, again, I really do believe that the person at the top should be a generalist and appoint the best specialists as advisors, but it really does bother me that I just can't see what Cabinet or other executive office I would appoint Ossoff to.

And, again, just to be clear, I am not suggesting that Cabinet posts should be held be prominent politicians.  To the contrary, there are often many fine candidates who no one has ever heard of.  But imagine a hotly contested Democratic primary in 2028 and the front runner seeks to buy the others' support by offering them Cabinet posts.  What positions seem right for various Democratic hopefuls.

Mark Kelly: Secretary of Defense.  He has a strong military background and knows how actual militaries work, as opposed to how to show off for the cameras.  Task him with revamping our military to meet all the changes that have happened to warfare.

Bernie Sanders: Secretary of Health and Human Services.  Yes, I know, he is too old to run by now.  But whereas our best Secretary of Defense is probably some drone contractor CEO no one has ever heard of, I really do think Sanders should be Secretary of HHS.  He has served on the Committee of Health Education, Labor and Pensions for long enough to know the field.  As the foremost and most uncompromising champion of Medicare For All, he should be put in a position to put up or shut up.

Gavin Newsom: Secretary of Homeland Security.  Newsom was the first Governor to stand up to Trump during an ICE blitz, not knowing what the consequences would be.  I would very much like to see him head the department he so forcefully defied and cut it down to size.

Elizabeth Warren: Head of the Securities Exchange Commission or some other major financial regulatory agency.  Yes, I know, she is also too old to run and never seriously made the attempt. Also, financial regulation stops short of being Cabinet level.  But it is Warren's real specialty and besides, a less exalted office is suitable to a less serious candidate.

Adam Schiff: Director of National Intelligence.  He is also a fine candidate for Attorney General, but he is a bit old, and there are others (as we shall see).  Meanwhile, foreign intelligence is his specialty, so it seems to fit best.

Kamala Harris: Attorney General.  She was Attorney General of California, after all.

Jamie Raskin:  Attorney General.  Yes!!!!!

James Talarico:  Secretary of Education.  Appears to be his background.

Andy Beshear:  Has been recommended for Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).  Zohran Mamdani, though not eligible to be President, might prove to be a good candidate, too. 

Alexandria Ocasio Cortez:  Not sure.  Probably a good reason not to choose her, either.

But what Cabinet post would Joh Ossoff qualify for?  Attorney General might seem tempting, but he is not a lawyer, which disqualified him.  Ossoff's background is as a documentary film maker.  In countries with a Minister of Information, he could be Minister of Information.  But the US does not have such a post and considers the mere suggestion un-American.  I suppose that leaves White House Communications Director, but it seems beneath a Senator or candidate's dignity.  The most plausible spot I can find for Ossoff would be to head some sort of blue-ribbon commission to investigate the Trump Administration's crimes and recommend reforms, which seems like an honorable post.**  And maybe if Ossoff prove effective in exposing corruption and suggesting reforms, that might give him a strong enough policy hold to make him a good candidate for President.

But I don't think he is there just yet.

________________________________________

*Probably another example of why it is not such a good idea to pick the worst candidate around on the theory that they will be the most "authentic."

**Come to think of it, Ocasio Cortez's work has mostly in oversight, which makes her a good candidate for the role as well.