With the excitement of the Democratic National Convention quickly fading, Democrats must face the fact that Americans care deeply about only a few important issues. All the convention jubilation will not quench the political establishment's thirst for clear answers on issues of daily concern and national importance.
The success of the Harris-Waltz presidential campaign will depend on how they address three big issues that all begin with the letter “I”: inflation, immigration and Israel.
Inflation requires a plan, not just a promise. A source of worry The current administration is not A successful record of macroeconomic performanceAnd history shows that inflation is probably the only problem.Ruining the presidency.Just ask Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter, both one-term presidents. suffer from low inflation
While there are many different factors that contribute to rising inflation that are beyond the White House's control, Fed policy is certainly central to its control — and that is where Vice President Harris will be challenged.
if Bill Clinton is the ultimate “accountable person”Harris must then be the ultimate “chief enforcer” of the Federal Reserve's policies and interest rates. From the base cost of borrowing to the cost of goods, Harris must implement economic policies that do not involve fixing prices. Market Abuse happen.
The immigration issue requires action, not just denunciations. Both Harris and former President Trump Thorn and Bragging rightsSuccess must be measured by results, not who spends more time at the border.
In other words, the Democratic Party Bipartisan Border Bill We must rebuild immigration policy, which was thwarted by Trump, in a better way. The challenge for Harris is to build, in a very short space of time, the foundations of a comprehensive immigration policy that meets all the requirements: safety, asylum, enforcement.
Harris' plan must involve direct action that leaves affected border and battleground states with no choice but to agree. Bipartisan compromise It should be thought of as a floor, not a ceiling, with buy-in from law enforcement and the community on the ground.
Third, when it comes to American foreign policy, Israel needs a strategy, not just slogans.
For decades, U.S. policy toward Israel has been unwavering. Politicians from all walks of life, except for the most extremist, agree that Israel must be safe and that its right to self-defense is clear. Most also agree that Palestinians should have freedom and the right to self-determination.
After that, things become precarious even for the most ardent and well-intentioned supporters of peace and security in the Middle East.
The war in Gaza has further complicated an already complicated situation. October 7 Atrocities and, Mass civilian casualties Today, the Israeli-Palestinian problem will be difficult to resolve under any administration.
From President Reagan to President Biden, successive American presidents have tried hard for peace, but none of them have achieved glory.
President Bush Madrid Conference In 1991, Clinton Oslo Accords and Israel-Jordan Peace TreatyGeorge W. Bush Two-State SolutionBarack Obama appointed a special envoy for the Middle East Promoting bilateral discussions.
Trump said,The Abraham AccordsThe agreement did not address the Israeli-Palestinian issue, but sought to normalize Middle East relations with Arab countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco.
And despite continued efforts, the Biden administration has struggled to find its footing amid a shifting landscape of armed conflict and political turmoil in the region, many of which are Iran and its terrorist proxiesDomestic Pressure from the left It doesn't make things easier or less complicated.
Given this background and history, Harris will be faced with the challenge of charting a new course — one that balances America's competing interests: unwavering support for Israel on the one hand, and unwavering support for human rights on the other.
If she Acceptance speech Either way, Harris may be up to the task, but if elected she will have to move determinedly beyond the plays of the past and the slogans of today.
More importantly, Harris must set aside the “pleasure” of the moment and historical value and work hard to solve the problems of today – problems that all Americans care deeply about, and solutions that may define her future and the future of this country.
Adonis HoffmanHe writes about business, law, and policy, and previously served in senior positions in the U.S. House of Representatives and as an adjunct professor at Georgetown University.
