Why O'Malley NOW?

I sent my letter to former Maryland governor Martin O'Malley five days ago, right after Election Day, when it was already apparent that the Democrats would defy expectations and keep the Senate as well as win key state offices such as governorships and secretary of state offices.

President Biden now looks much stronger should he choose to run for another term.  Given all that, do I think I wasted time, paper and ink writing O'Malley (below) and urging him to run for President again if Biden doesn't?

  

No, I don't.

The midterms weren't a red wave, but they weren't exactly a vote of confidence in the blue team, either.  The Republicans are still likely to win the House.  A Republican House is certain to investigate Biden, his son, Anthony Fauci, Alejandro Mayorkas and others for various reasons.  Would-be Speaker Kevin McCarthy will not advance any legislation to help President Biden's agenda, and he will likely give more power to the MAGA wing of the House Republican caucus to preserve his own power.  Over 180 election deniers won public office last week.  Seven out of ten Americans - including this American - believe that the country is headed on the wrong track.  Christian nationalism is still on the rise.  We still haven't completely gotten COVID under control.  President Biden's approval rating has been in the dumps since the Delta strain of COVID hit in the summer of 2021.  And while we may yet lick COVID, there is still no cure for the common birthday; Biden will turn eighty years old this month and slipups like when he called Cambodia "Colombia" are bound to occur more often.  And if Trump isn't the Republican presidential nominee in 2024, the GOP will no doubt nominate a much younger candidate - Ron DeSantis, Glenn Youngkin - and be able to campaign on offering "new leadership."   

Though he will be 61 in 2024, OMalley is still a good deal younger than the two most recent Democratic presidential nominees.  he's proven he can get stuff done.  He's promoted policies like all-payer health insurance, the best idea you've never heard of (mainly because the moderators of those rigged 2016 Democratic presidential debates made sure he couldn't bring it up - especially CBS's John Dickerson).  And after nearly a decade out of office, he'll be rested and ready for 2024 . . . and he's still in good shape.

But what does O'Malley himself think?  I'll let you know if I hear back from him.