New Jerseyans aren’t always civil, but it’s still possible for a liberal Democrat and a conservative Republican to have a rational and pleasant conversation about politics in the state. Dan Bryan is a former senior advisor to Gov. Phil Murphy and is now the owner of his own public affairs firm, and Alex Wilkes is an attorney and former executive director of America Rising PAC who advises Republican candidates in New Jersey and across the nation, including the New Jersey GOP. Dan and Alex are both experienced strategists who are currently in the room where high-level decisions are made. They will get together weekly with New Jersey Globe editor David Wildstein to discuss politics and issues.
Sound of Music Question: How do you solve a problem like Menendez?
Dan Bryan: I think this is simple: either he resigns, or he will be expelled. He can hold on for a few more months if he wants to, but I sincerely hope he steps aside and allows our state to move forward.
Alex Wilkes: It’s very similar to the Biden issue. With no real way to fully force them out, you basically have zombie candidates sucking up the oxygen in two important races. For Menendez, however, this is less about legacy and pride and more about survival. I have to think he’s holding out for a pardon.
If Menendez resigns, how should Governor Murphy handle the appointment process? How quickly will he need to move?
Alex: The most politically helpful thing he could do for his party would obviously be to appoint Andy Kim. But how good has Phil Murphy’s party been to him? After showering their county parties, elected officials with money, government jobs, and endless graft over the years, what did they do for him? They painted his wife as the corrupt beneficiary of an undemocratic system – one from which they had all previously benefited, of course. If I’m Phil, with zero presidential prospects ahead of me, I put in Tammy and tell those ingrates to get stuffed.
Dan: The Governor was faced with a similar situation after the tragic passing of Lt Governor Oliver. After a period of mourning, Governor Murphy embarked on a thorough, thoughtful process to fill the vacancy in a timely manner. I think we’ll see the same thing here: a serious, thoughtful process that moves quickly and gives New Jersey an interim Senator to be proud of.
It seems like so much has happened in just one week: the attempt to assassinate Donald Trump on Saturday, the selection of J.D. Vance as the Republican vice presidential nominee, and the GOP convention. I’m looking forward to hearing your take on Trump and the Republicans.
Dan: The assassination attempt last weekend was horrible, and for the sake of President Trump, his family, and our country, I am relieved that he wasn’t killed or more seriously hurt. My heart goes out to the family of Corey Comperatore, who was taken from his family far too soon.
JD Vance was a puzzling pick for Vice President. He’s unlikable, he gets Trump nothing geographically, and he’s a boring speaker. He’s young, but compared to Presidents Biden and Trump, many other candidates would look young. His RNC speech was boring and poorly crafted. Other than his total and complete supplication, he brings nothing to the table.
The RNC, which you could easily mistake for Wrestlemania if it weren’t for the lack of coherent storytelling, was a massive missed opportunity for Republicans. They are riding high with surging poll numbers and chaos across the aisle, and their convention could have built on that. Instead, it was a week long celebration of their Dear Leader, featuring all of his vanquished foes being humiliated with forced shows of fealty. Call me crazy, but I think featuring Hulk Hogan and Kid Rock on the final night of the RNC was patently insane.
President Trump is the favorite in this election, but by no means is this over.
Alex: What happened to President Trump was horrendous and a complete affront to the values we share as a country. I am still reeling from having listened to this unbelievable moment in our history with my young children in the car — so much so that political analysis of it feels painful, but inevitable all at once.
After conventions and assassination attempts, you usually see a polling bump for presidential candidates. I think even in our heavily polarized environment that will still be true here. What you wait for is the response from the opposing party that brings those numbers back to earth.
Here’s my view: in the moments following escaping death by less than an inch, the former President showed immediate strength and iconic American resilience. He went on to choose a running mate, who shares his vision, but most importantly, demonstrates youth and vigor. Regardless of what one thinks of JD Vance’s views, don’t discount the importance of voters seeing a man with a compelling life story and young family after one candidate was almost killed and the other has been revealed to be too ill to continue his duties. The Republican National Convention then proceeded in an organized, unified way with thoughtful execution of the speeches and official business.
By contrast, you have the Democrats still trying to move their own sitting president out of the way for an unknown alternative after a disastrous debate performance. Biden’s tepid response to the assassination attempt against Donald Trump neither comforted the country nor convinced anyone of his leadership capabilities. Now, I won’t prejudge the Democratic National Convention, especially with Hollywood on their side, but the last time their party was thrown into chaos (the Podesta email leak) right before their national convention, things didn’t go so well. The 2016 event in Philadelphia was poorly planned for and a disgrace to the City of Brotherly Love. They ousted their own Chairman! Now? They don’t even know with certainty who will be speaking on Thursday night. What a disaster.
As elections start earlier and earlier, I think you can see two distinct patterns emerge that could quickly cement into political reality. That being said, I would never underestimate the Democrats, who always play to win – however ruthless that might be.
Let’s end with another Sound of Music Question: How do you solve a problem like Joe Biden?
Alex: After taking some time to process the horrendous assassination attempt against President Trump we had just witnessed as a country, one thought that crossed my mind was that this might provide President Biden an opportunity to regain control as the Commander-in-Chief and Consoler-in-Chief, and in doing so, quell some of the rebellion from within his party. Unfortunately, he did not rise to the occasion. The delay in his initial statement and his lackluster televised remarks within the first 48 hours were completely underwhelming. This was a massive failure on the part of Secret Service leadership, and, yet, we were told that no one would lose their job over gross incompetence – or worse – that could’ve thrown our country into complete political upheaval at a critical point in our history.
The strength of President Trump’s immediate response and Joe Biden’s fumble have renewed these calls for Biden to step aside, but the continued chaos just weeks before some ballots are printed does not bode well for a Party that has buckled under the weight of its own hubris in trying to hide a sick man from the American people.
Recalling the Sound of Music, for BOTH Joe Biden and Bob Menendez: the nuns don’t just lament Maria’s quirks in the seclusion of Nonnberg Abbey; they also reprise the number (hilariously) as Maria processes down the aisle to the dashing Captain Georg von Trapp. The point? The Democrats may still be signing as both troubled politicians march on to November.
Dan: President Biden will soon step aside for the good of the Democratic Party and, I believe, the good of the country. Democrats will have the ability to reset the narrative as they chart their path forward with a new candidate. Whether that means Vice President Harris or a longer, open process, the party will enter the DNC in August in a stronger position than they’re in today.