2024 Presidential Power Ratings®
You know you can’t get news, analysis, and information like this anywhere else.
Please become a voluntary paying subscriber to support the independent journalism of Wide World of News today.
Or you can become a voluntary contributor to support my work by emailing me at markhalperintalk@gmail.com and arranging to give any amount of your choice.
Thank you for your generous support.
****
I don’t really have any great analysis to offer about the latest on vaccine mandates, booster shots, mask wars, Kabul evacuations, infrastructure showdowns, the Indiana shooting incident, the California recall, Larry David v. Alan Dershowitz, or the other news of the day.
So let’s go with what most Wide World of News readers actually care about: Who will be elected president in 2024?
A few weeks ago, I posited that the top tier consisted of Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, Ron DeSantis, and Donald Trump – and that the drop off after the Big Four was quite substantial.
Although I received reader quibbles about the order within the Big Four, I did not hear from anyone who made a compelling case that any other prospect belonged anywhere close to that quartet.
Remember the obvious:
* History shows incumbent presidents and vice presidents have a much stronger chance of winning their party’s nomination than anyone else.
* You can’t get elected president unless you win your party’s nomination first!
* It is quite rare for someone who has a strong or very strong chance to become her or his party’s presidential nominee to take a pass on the race.
So, without further ado, here is the latest edition of the Wide World of News 2024 Presidential Power Ratings®:
1. JOE BIDEN
Very tough week all around, with a media meta narrative that has become as brutal as it is corrosive.
Too many examples to fit here, with the Dominant Media’s turn against the incumbent probably the most significant development.
But an adjunct point is that the Dominant Media’s perspective is now rhyming with what right-leaning voices are saying.
For example, Peter Wehner:
On national-security matters, President Biden lacks some of the most important qualities needed in those who govern—discernment, wisdom, and prudence; the ability to anticipate unfolding events; the capacity to make the right decision based on incomplete information; and the willingness to adjust one’s analysis in light of changing circumstances.
To put it in simple terms, Joe Biden has bad judgment.
Even Rich Lowry’s more restrained take is very dangerous for Mr. Biden:
Afghanistan, unless it gets much worse, won’t kneecap Biden’s presidency. The public is ambivalent about the war, and other events will intervene. But the blow to Biden’s credibility will remain.
Oh, and despite this essential reading New York Times story about how the intel community leadership is rallying around its boss, Joe Biden is now at war with said community, repeating one of the biggest political mistakes Donald Trump made in office.
Pro tip to future presidents: Don’t go to war with the intel community. Those folks play for keeps.
2. KAMALA HARRIS
Despite a favorable Politico profile and a mixed Los Angeles Times thumb sucker, this New York Post drubbing is representative of what one hears from a lot of Democratic pols and grassrooters:
3. RON DESANTIS
Every flaw that DeSantis ’24 skeptics have been aggressively and knowingly touting for a long time has been on offer for the world to see lately.
4. DONALD TRUMP
Immigration, crime, American strength, the economy, the incompetence of career politicians, trade – get ready for another ride down the world’s most famous escalator.
****
Oh, just to be clear: At this point, I don’t thank any of these four will win the presidential election in 2024.
So stay tuned for the next edition.
****
For all the latest news all the time, check out our 24/7 website the Walking Duck.
