Many friends have asked for my opinion about Biden versus Sanders for the Democratic nominee. Here is my assessment, as I reported and published in my book and subsequent articles.
Let me begin by declaring that any Democratic opponent of Donald Trump is better than the Trump incumbency. The reasons for that are several:
- Trump and his disciples pose a continuous threat to the Constitution and the rule of law, evidenced by the President's words and deeds.
- Trump's history as a businessman and private citizen demonstrate unacceptable behavior, including constant lying, cheating, and misogynist.
- Trump's policies are inconsistent with essential economic, social, and environmental responsibility and a threat to a sustainable economy.
- Trump's staffing history is turbulent, chaotic, and resulted in deficient executive appointments.
In my book, How to Select an American President by James A. George and James A. Rodger (c) 2017 Archway Publishing, I rated Joe Biden as having the best resume and strongest credentials among all candidates in 2016. He was a better choice than Hillary Clinton.
I rated Bernie Sanders as a deficient and weakly qualified candidate for President because his executive management experience as a small city mayor is insufficient. He represents a small state and constituency. He is unlikely to staff the government and to lead and organize effectively. His extreme views as a "democratic socialist" make him unelectable.
Subsequently, Joe Biden is subject to attacks by Trump and Republicans for alleged conflicts of interest regarding Ukraine. I think Joe Biden's accepting Hunter Biden's position
However, Trump's behavior as President regarding Ukraine and his lack of transparency regarding his business dealings are equally troubling and worse.
The Democratic Party failed to deliver knockout punches against Trump, and that is something Biden must do to win.
Given Trump's political support, he and Joe Biden are tied in the category of resumes. There is much more to the story as I will report in the next blog.
Given Trump's political support, he and Joe Biden are tied in the category of resumes. There is much more to the story as I will report in the next blog.
Scoring Donald Trump in 2020
Evaluation Criterion
|
Score Value
|
Voter Variation
|
Subtotal
|
Required by Federal Law
|
1 (It is yes or no)
Born a Citizen of the US, |
None
|
1
|
Required by State Law*
|
Some states now require
Financial
IRS filings.
-1 for as many states for which requirements
|
None
|
-1
|
Home State Residence
|
Large, Medium, Small (3-2-1)
|
Voters may adjust
|
3
|
No College
|
0
|
None
|
0
|
College Graduate
|
BS/BA 1
|
1
| |
GPA
|
4 point scale – 4 = 3,
3 = 2
2 = 1
|
2
| |
Academic Honors
|
1-2 points
|
0
| |
Post Grad Masters
|
3 points
|
3
| |
PhD
|
4 points
|
0
| |
Professional Certifications
|
(Lawyer, CPA, MD, Engineer, Accountant) 3
|
0
| |
Occupation/Vocation
|
Formal occupations and vocations
|
1
| |
CEO
|
Fortune 500, Medium, Small
3,2,1 |
2
| |
Other
|
1 variable
|
1 variable
|
0
|
Health
|
Excellent, Good, Poor
3,2,0 (proven by a board-certified
Physician)
|
2
| |
Affected Class
|
Yes or no 1 point
Included Minority and Women |
None
|
0
|
Character
|
3,2,1
|
Variable by 1 point
|
0
|
Leadership
|
3,2,1 with evidence
|
2
| |
Continuing Ed & Training
|
2
|
None
|
2
|
Knowledge
|
3,2,1 Knowledgeable about US Government, Executive Management, and the President’s Job Model.
Knowledge of Constitutional Law |
Variable by 1-3
|
2
|
Skill
|
Relevant management and professional
Skills 3,2,1
|
Variable by 1-3
|
2
|
Life History
|
Evidence of having achieved success
Exceptional accomplishment impacting
|
None
|
0
|
Platform/Agenda/Manifesto
|
Explicit alignment of candidate’s agenda or manifesto with that of the party
|
Variable by 1-2 points
|
1
|
Relationships
|
Evidence of ability and capacity to staff
The government and to collaborate
And reach consensus is a pluralistic democracy. 3,2,1
|
Variable by 1-2 points
|
2
|
Political Party
|
Alignment with a political party platform
1-3
|
None
|
1
|
Values
|
1-3 Aligned with the democratic republic,
|
None
|
1
|
Military Experience
|
1-3
|
Combat Experience bonus points 1-2
|
0
|
Public Office Vice President
|
5
|
None
|
0
|
Judge
|
3
|
0
| |
Department Secretary
|
3
|
0
| |
Governor
|
4
|
0
| |
US Senator
|
3
|
0
| |
US Representative
|
3
|
0
| |
Mayor
|
1-3 Small, Medium, Large City
|
None
|
0
|
State Legislator
|
1-3 Small, Medium, Large State
|
None
|
0
|
Other Public Office
|
Officer in the US Military 1-3
|
None
|
0
|
Private Sector CFO
|
3,2,1 Large, Medium, Small Corp.
|
None
|
0
|
Director
|
1-3 Small, Medium, Large Organization
|
None
|
3
|
Manager
|
1-3 Small, Medium, Large Organization
|
3
| |
Entrepreneur
|
1-3 (Created jobs)
|
None
|
2
|
Inventor
|
1-3 (Patents, Intellectual property)
|
None
|
1
|
Memberships
|
1
|
None
|
1
|
Religion
|
1
|
Variable 1
|
1
|
Total Score – available points: It is unlikely that anyone would earn all of the available points.
|
38/118*
48 with max. | ||
Based on the number of lies Trump made by the Office of President that is Misprision of Fraud, and based on his misogynist history, I would deduct all 10 points from his incumbency and I would deduct the one remaining point allotted to his character. That would leave Trump with a score of 37 , one of the lowest among all recent candidates, lower that Sarah Palin, for instance.
Republicans will point to the strong economy as evidence that Trump's policies are working. That is too soon to say because the debt and deficit are extraordinarily high. The question is what will be the consequence of those policies during the next four years and more?
Republicans will point to the strong economy as evidence that Trump's policies are working. That is too soon to say because the debt and deficit are extraordinarily high. The question is what will be the consequence of those policies during the next four years and more?
Scoring Joe Biden in 2020
Evaluation Criterion
|
Score Value
|
Voter Variation
|
Subtotal
|
Required by Federal Law
|
1 (It is yes or no)
Born a Citizen of the US, |
None
|
1
|
Required by State Law*
|
Some states now require
Financial
IRS filings.
-1 for as many states for which requirements
|
None
|
1
|
Home State Residence
|
Large, Medium, Small (3-2-1)
|
Voters may adjust
|
3
|
No College
|
0
|
None
|
0
|
College Graduate
|
BS/BA 1
|
1
| |
GPA
|
4 point scale – 4 = 3,
3 = 2
2 = 1
|
3
| |
Academic Honors
|
1-2 points
|
1
| |
Post Grad Masters
|
3 points
|
3
| |
PhD
|
4 points
|
0
| |
Professional Certifications
|
(Lawyer, CPA, MD, Engineer, Accountant) 3
|
1
| |
Occupation/Vocation
|
Formal occupations and vocations
|
1
| |
CEO
|
Fortune 500, Medium, Small
3,2,1 |
2
| |
Other
|
1 variable
|
1 variable
|
1
|
Health
|
Excellent, Good, Poor
3,2,0 (proven by a board-certified
Physician)
|
2
| |
Affected Class
|
Yes or no 1 point
Included Minority and Women |
None
|
0
|
Character
|
3,2,1
|
Variable by 1 point
|
0
|
Leadership
|
3,2,1 with evidence
|
2
| |
Continuing Ed & Training
|
2
|
None
|
2
|
Knowledge
|
3,2,1 Knowledgeable about US Government, Executive Management, and the President’s Job Model.
Knowledge of Constitutional Law |
Variable by 1-3
|
3
|
Skill
|
Relevant management and professional
Skills 3,2,1
|
Variable by 1-3
|
3
|
Life History
|
Evidence of having achieved success
Exceptional accomplishment impacting
|
None
|
1
|
Platform/Agenda/Manifesto
|
Explicit alignment of candidate’s agenda or manifesto with that of the party
|
Variable by 1-2 points
|
2
|
Relationships
|
Evidence of ability and capacity to staff
The government and to collaborate
And reach consensus is a pluralistic democracy. 3,2,1
|
Variable by 1-2 points
|
3
|
Political Party
|
Alignment with a political party platform
1-3
|
None
|
1
|
Values
|
1-3 Aligned with the democratic republic,
|
None
|
3
|
Military Experience
|
1-3
|
Combat Experience bonus points 1-2
|
0
|
Public Office Vice President
|
5
|
None
|
5
|
Judge
|
3
|
0
| |
Department Secretary
|
3
|
0
| |
Governor
|
4
|
0
| |
US Senator
|
3
|
3
| |
US Representative
|
3
|
0
| |
Mayor
|
1-3 Small, Medium, Large City
|
None
|
0
|
State Legislator
|
1-3 Small, Medium, Large State
|
None
|
0
|
Other Public Office
|
Officer in the US Military 1-3
|
None
|
0
|
Private Sector CFO
|
3,2,1 Large, Medium, Small Corp.
|
None
|
0
|
Director
|
1-3 Small, Medium, Large Organization
|
None
|
0
|
Manager
|
1-3 Small, Medium, Large Organization
|
0
| |
Entrepreneur
|
1-3 (Created jobs)
|
None
|
0
|
Inventor
|
1-3 (Patents, Intellectual property)
|
None
|
0
|
Memberships
|
1
|
None
|
1
|
Religion
|
1
|
Variable 1
|
1
|
Total Score – available points: It is unlikely that anyone would earn all of the available points.
|
48
| ||
Scoring Bernie Sanders 2020
Evaluation Criterion
|
Score Value
|
Voter Variation
|
Subtotal
|
Required by Federal Law
|
1 (It is yes or no)
Born a Citizen of the US, |
None
|
1
|
Required by State Law*
|
Some states now require
Financial
IRS filings.
-1 for as many states for which requirements
|
None
|
1
|
Home State Residence
|
Large, Medium, Small (3-2-1)
|
Voters may adjust
|
1
|
No College
|
0
|
None
|
0
|
College Graduate
|
BS/BA 1
|
1
| |
GPA
|
4 point scale – 4 = 3,
3 = 2
2 = 1
|
3
| |
Academic Honors
|
1-2 points
|
0
| |
Post Grad Masters
|
3 points
|
0
| |
PhD
|
4 points
|
0
| |
Professional Certifications
|
(Lawyer, CPA, MD, Engineer, Accountant) 3
|
0
| |
Occupation/Vocation
|
Formal occupations and vocations
|
1
| |
CEO
|
Fortune 500, Medium, Small
3,2,1 |
0
| |
Other
|
1 variable
|
1 variable
|
1
|
Health
|
Excellent, Good, Poor
3,2,0 (proven by a board-certified
Physician)
|
2
| |
Affected Class
|
Yes or no 1 point
Included Minority and Women |
None
|
0
|
Character
|
3,2,1
|
Variable by 1 point
|
3
|
Leadership
|
3,2,1 with evidence
|
3
| |
Continuing Ed & Training
|
2
|
None
|
2
|
Knowledge
|
3,2,1 Knowledgeable about US Government, Executive Management, and the President’s Job Model.
Knowledge of Constitutional Law |
Variable by 1-3
|
3
|
Skill
|
Relevant management and professional
Skills 3,2,1
|
Variable by 1-3
|
3
|
Life History
|
Evidence of having achieved success
Exceptional accomplishment impacting
|
None
|
0
|
Platform/Agenda/Manifesto
|
Explicit alignment of candidate’s agenda or manifesto with that of the party
|
Variable by 1-2 points
|
2
|
Relationships
|
Evidence of ability and capacity to staff
The government and to collaborate
And reach consensus is a pluralistic democracy. 3,2,1
|
Variable by 1-2 points
|
2
|
Political Party
|
Alignment with a political party platform
1-3
|
None
|
1
|
Values
|
1-3 Aligned with the democratic republic,
|
None
|
3
|
Military Experience
|
1-3
|
Combat Experience bonus points 1-2
|
0
|
Public Office Vice President
|
5
|
None
|
0
|
Judge
|
3
|
0
| |
Department Secretary
|
3
|
0
| |
Governor
|
4
|
0
| |
US Senator
|
3
|
3
| |
US Representative
|
3
|
0
| |
Mayor
|
1-3 Small, Medium, Large City
|
None
|
2
|
State Legislator
|
1-3 Small, Medium, Large State
|
None
|
0
|
Other Public Office
|
Officer in the US Military 1-3
|
None
|
0
|
Private Sector CFO
|
3,2,1 Large, Medium, Small Corp.
|
None
|
0
|
Director
|
1-3 Small, Medium, Large Organization
|
None
|
0
|
Manager
|
1-3 Small, Medium, Large Organization
|
0
| |
Entrepreneur
|
1-3 (Created jobs)
|
None
|
0
|
Inventor
|
1-3 (Patents, Intellectual property)
|
None
|
0
|
Memberships
|
1
|
None
|
0
|
Religion
|
1
|
Variable 1
|
1
|
Total Score – available points: It is unlikely that anyone would earn all of the available points.
|
39/118
| ||
