How would a former general fare in the 2020 Democratic Primary?

[foxh8er]

I think the most overlooked class of candidates come from the military.

If the economy does not regress by 2020, or even begins growing faster, the Democrat's primary argument is going to be about competence and character, two attributes all branches of the military emphasize. Generals are by definition outsiders to the political system but are intimately involved in government - hell, the military is one of the few public institutions that is actually somewhat trusted today.

Possible candidates:

• William McRaven - Current Chancellor of UT System, former Navy Admiral/SEAL involved in Operation Neptune Spear
• Stan McChrystal - Former JSOC Commander - fired by Obama
• James Mattis - If he somehow becomes sick of Trump's sh**t in 2018

I'm of the opinion that both could form broad coalitions of liberals, moderates and some conservatives - both McChrystal and McRaven have have made minor politically relevant statements before - McRaven publicly opposed CCW on UT Austin campus and Trump's rhetoric on the media while supporting in-state tuition for illegal immigrants, while McChrystal openly endorsed Seth Moulton for congress (AFAIK, his only political endorsement ever). At the same time, neither have well known political ideologies (read - malleable) political ideologies - in the age of Berniecrats and Trump's victory, I think this could be a positive overall. The question becomes their viability in a Democratic primary - who could their base be?


Thoughts?

[Tancred]

This is a really good question. I have thought about this myself. I think a Democratic general or admiral would be tough to beat in the general election and could win a primary especially as a kind of compromise candidate to bring peace to the Bernie and Clinton factions of the party. The only problem might be if they are perceived as too hawkish for the Bernie faction.

The only Democratic military figure I can think of is Wesley Clark. Clark is 72 now so maybe some would see him as too old in 2020, plus he already ran for the nomination in 2004 and lost so that might be a mark against him.

[Kamala]

This is a really good question. I have thought about this myself. I think a Democratic general or admiral would be tough to beat in the general election and could win a primary especially as a kind of compromise candidate to bring peace to the Bernie and Clinton factions of the party. The only problem might be if they are perceived as too hawkish for the Bernie faction.

The only Democratic military figure I can think of is Wesley Clark. Clark is 72 now so maybe some would see him as too old in 2020, plus he already ran for the nomination in 2004 and lost so that might be a mark against him.

How about Admiral James Stavridis?

[Mister Mets]

It's an interesting question.

Democrats will always like someone with impressive credentials who can attack Trump. It is a different skillset than appealing to electorates, so there might be a learning curve.

It would be hilarious to see the reaction to a general as socialist as Sanders.

[Kingpoleon]

I was about to suggest Stavridis, who is imminently qualified and a great speaker.

[Amenhotep Bakari-Sellers]

They would be a better Veep candidate for Booker or Harris than a presidential contender, just like Wesley Clark could have been Howard Dean's Veep.

[McGovernForPrez]

It's an interesting question.

Democrats will always like someone with impressive credentials who can attack Trump. It is a different skillset than appealing to electorates, so there might be a learning curve.

It would be hilarious to see the reaction to a general as socialist as Sanders.

If only we had a modern day Smedley Butler.