Do I enjoy too much freedom? Perhaps. I could vote for either a Republican candidate in our March 12 primary or a Democratic candidate. In Washington, we do not have to declare a party when we register to vote. But this year, I don’t know what to do with this freedom!

This year, in our open primary, I could vote for either Donald Trump or Joe Biden. But I don’t want to vote for either. I think Joe Biden is showing his age, and I wouldn’t vote for Donald Trump because he seems intent on wrecking the federal government and wrecking alliances abroad. The good news is that I could vote for Dean Phillips or Marianne Williamson in the Democratic primary or Nikki Haley, Chris Christie, Ron DeSantis, or Vivek Ramaswamy in the Republican primary. But is there a strategic play here that I should consider?

Years ago, when Nikki Haley took down the confederate flag in South Carolina, I was impressed. She seems to value America’s role in the world, which I consider a plus (compared to Trump and increasing numbers of GOP elected officials). She can speak well, but increasingly I hear more of “whatever the audience wants to hear,” more politician evasiveness, and less clarity about what she would attempt to do as president. I could vote for her just as a vote against Trump, but then I couldn’t vote for Dean Phillips on the Democratic side of the ballot.

If you’re wondering why you’re not hearing more about Dean Phillips, take the time to listen to Bari Weiss interview him in January. Until I heard this, I had no idea how difficult it is this year to get on Democratic primary ballots around the country. Makes me mad! I have lots of issues with Biden regarding his general support of woke issues that I don’t support, and yes, I think he looks and talks like someone who’s actually older than 80. If he were a sharp 80 year old, and yes there are some, I would still wish he had agreed to step down after one term. I’m relieved we have him and not Trump in office for now, but, oh my, please not again. 

Dean Phillips thinks it’s time for some younger candidates and seems not too different from Biden on lots of policies. I crave a more independent thinker, but I’d vote for a “younger Biden” if Trump is on the ballot in November. Phillips has business credentials, an awareness of international concerns, and an openness to bipartisan deals (not that any could succeed in today’s mess of a Congress). 

I just cannot believe that America – America! – cannot come up with better options than a replay of Biden and Trump in 2024. I just can’t believe that we are in this situation. Is democracy not up to the challenge of the internet/social media age? How have we done this to ourselves? I’d love to blame Russia, but I think this is actually our own fault. 330+ million people and we get Trump and Biden again? Something is deeply, deeply wrong.

I’ve given up on making financial contributions to candidates that I favor since my choices lose almost every time, and if they win they’d likely have won without my money. But back to my primary dilemma: Haley or Phillips? I’d vote for either if I thought it would give us an option other than Biden vs. Trump in November. I’ll probably vote for Phillips, knowing it won’t do any good. But I change my mind daily. 

Grrr!