Whom could the Left put up as a POTUS candidate who is that side’s equivalent of Donald Trump? As in, their “qualifications” for the job consist mostly of bombast and self-promotion, and an appeal to the less-savory elements within their base?
One name that comes to my mind is Al Sharpton. He talks a big game, and has credibility as a TV star, but when push comes to shove he’s mostly a figurehead. He oft inserts himself into issues that aren’t his to be inserted into, generally making a mockery of things in the process - witness the Tawana Brawley debacle.
The problem is that even if they had someone equal to Trump in those ways they would consider those attributes to be bugs, not features, and look for someone else.
Well, not really, but I’d sure enjoy the campaign. I guess that’s analogous to the reasons some people supported Trump. Unlike Sharpton, I think Barkley would actually get some votes.
ETA: somewhat complicated by the fact that he’s back to being a Republican now, but he switches enough that I’m sure the Dems could convince him. And it’s another parallel to Trump’s political affiliations.
Perhaps Harvey Weinstein? Controversial businessman, internationally known celebrity in the entertainment industry, outspoken advocate for various liberal causes, abusive jerk and (possibly criminal) asshole.
However, Weinstein’s financial success appears to be genuinely self-made from humble origins, as opposed to inheriting several million dollars from his father. He is also not actually involved in politics as a candidate for anything.
While I think several other examples could probably be found of left-wing approximate counterparts to Trump as celebrities, I can’t think of anyone remotely comparable to him who’s seriously involved in liberal politics.
How about Michael Moore? Big mouth, self-important, reality has no hold on him. I think he would work. Maybe as his running mate Maxine Waters? I’m sure they would draw a ton of votes together.
Weinstein is famous and horrible, but he’s a different kind of person. There’s a reason he chose a career in movies that did not involve being in FRONT of the camera.
The OP took my pick of Al Sharpton. Unlike the other figures mentioned, he’s actually tried to run for President. Most incompetent people are somewhat aware of their limitations.
I’ll go with Jessie Jackson. He seems to have mellowed down in recent years, but once his goal in life was to never rest as long as there was a TV screen not showing Jessie Jackson.
Moore is neither demented nor senile. Big mouth and self-important are simply not enough. Also, if you examine the evidence, you’ll find that he may exaggerate and cherry pick in an annoying way, he doesn’t actually lie every single time he says anything whatsoever, and there have been no scandals in his personal life nor in his economic activities that I’m aware of. . So, no, not Moore. Dig deeper.
Looking at Trump’s record of political stances, I nominate Donald Trump.
Honestly, I cannot think of anybody on the left who is quite as odious as the Donald though I can think of plenty of people who I don’t like. But really, why not the Donald. He is two faced enough that I think he could sell it.
From The New York Times today, “Mr. [Mark] Cuban said that he was ‘considering’ a presidential run, repeating an assertion he’s made before while also offering insight into how he might approach business and tax regulation.” He might qualify as a left-wing Trump equivalent.
I don’t know too much about Cuban, but I believe he can speak in actual sentences and is a legitimate billionaire. So, he’s not quite down to Trump’s level.
I was thinking of Oprah, she has the money, fame and lack of experience, but she lacks the brash obnoxiousness that typifies Trump. Rosie O’Donnell on the other hand…
She also has the advantage of being Trump’s Nemesis. The yang to his yin.