FROM OLD TO NEW BEGINNINGS

By Edwin Cooney

From Tuesday, March 5th, 1793, the beginning of President Washington's second term, through Sunday, March 5th, 1933, FDR's first term, March 5th was the first day of presidential terms of office. Today, March 5th marks the first day of an intense presidential contest practically everyone fears, but everyone realizes is inevitable.

President Biden brings a record of achievement into the campaign that most Democrats could run on, but he brings his age into the contest that too many would rather run from.

Donald Trump enters the contest running on his name which may well be tarnished by legal felony convictions before America votes in November.

In the meantime, former South Carolina Governor and American Ambassador to the United Nations (the latter courtesy of former President Trump), Nikki Haley appears on the verge of being politically swamped in GOP primaries by her former boss.

However, New York Times commentator Bret Stephens, a disaffected anti-Trumpian Republican, asserts that, so far, Ms. Haley is representing Ronald Reagan conservatism by maintaining her candidacy for the GOP nomination. Should she lose the nomination but support the ticket, she would avoid the tragedy of Liz Cheney who was recently run out of the party, and she would still be a viable presidential candidate in 2028. Situationally, I agree with Mr. Stephens political assessment. 

The puzzle for me in Mr. Stephen's logic is that so long as Ms. Haley supports President's Trump's candidacy as a Reagan devotee, she's a solid viable Republican. On the other hand, at least by implication, if she withholds her support on personal or moral grounds, she's through supposedly forever and ever.

Almost since the first day I became interested in politics back in the late 1950s or early 1960s, most people I knew insisted that they cared little about Republicans or Democrats but rather voted for "the best man" for president.

Therein lies the significance of "Trumpism." All a president has to represent is himself free of political or, especially, social dogma. As long as he matters to himself, average Americans will undoubtedly matter most to him, goes the reasoning.

Ah! But there's a catch according to Bret Stephens. According to exit polls during last week's South Carolina GOP primary, fully a third of voters said that should Mr. Trump be convicted of a felony, they wouldn't vote for him. Stephens asserts that the percentage not willing to vote for a convicted felon is even greater in the five or six big key states.

Stephens also asserts that Trump is aware of this and also realizes that he'll have to employ people and effective mechanisms to lead the party should he ultimately be re-elected.

Hence the question: isn't every beginning new? That's the very definition of beginning, is it not? I believe that both party existence and doctrine matter as a social and political mindset. Since events and circumstances affect every situation or condition, it's often necessary to vote despite one's favored political doctrine.

Ah, beginnings! Old or new, they're all up to me and you!

RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED,

EDWIN COONEY