Big smile, even bigger delusional dreams, and with bionic woman self-restraint, the coquettish Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) managed to keep those lips zipped when asked on The Late Show with Steven Colbert whether she’d run in the 2024 presidential election. Of course, dodging questions while flirting can only mean she’s seriously considering a tryout for the biggest show on earth: Well, now that Barnum and Bailey hit the skids. AOC for president – seriously?
The host broached the subject with a nod to questions about a Biden second term: “You know, there’s some speculation as to whether President Biden is going to run in 2024. There’s some reports he’s a little frustrated that people keep asking because he keeps on saying ‘yes,’ and people go, ‘Are you sure? Are you sure?’”
Colbert is a pushy fellow when in search of confirmation of his thoughts and poked the lass, “You know, I know somebody who is going to turn 35 about a month before the election in 2024, and they represent New York’s 14th. Is that job appealing to you at all?” Crafty talking head, that one.
It’s Still the Constitutional Republic
AOC, as she is called due to an unwieldy and long name, acted silly (sillier) and looked around, under and behind the couch, in search of that newly 35-year-old potential candidate. Progressives across the big cities squealed in unison for the popular girl as she dodged the question. It was eerily reminiscent of Bill Clinton whipping out his saxophone on the Arsenio Hall Show in 1992 before winning the presidential election the following November. Yet she demurely shook her head no – or one thinks. And then pulled a card from her own tried and true Rolodex of sticky-situation talking points:
“Listen, I think that we need to focus on keeping a democracy for anybody to be president in the next couple of years. And that’s my central focus is helping the people of this country right now.”
So close, but these United States are still in the throes of the great experiment: The Constitutional Republic, of and by the people. Unless the nation elects AOC for president in 2024 – then all bets are off.
AOC for President
All this nonsense began when a New York Times report hinted that the president was angered by repeated questions about whether he would seek a second term, as Colbert alluded. Activist media immediately circled like vultures. Every primetime, morning show, and network segment flocked to any Democrat willing to speak on the age of Mr. Biden and the likelihood of another non-basement, grueling campaign. And since there are more and more progressive types influencing the Party, talking heads are asking the tough questions. The Good Morning America crew even floated the idea of a Hillary rerun, but the traction was never achieved.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)
And where does AOC stand regarding the Biden-Harris ticket in 2024: “We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it.” So, not an endorsement of the current administration. And that’s why that wily Colbert circled back like Jen Psaki, insisting that “it’s possible, it’s possible.”
Peer Pressure?
AOC is obviously the most sought-after progressive darling. But the old guard of Democrats still holds the magic dust. Perhaps the young congresswoman is not confident enough to step up and run for president. But, on the other hand, she may want a quiet life, married, with children, living in the suburbs, and driving her electric car to soccer practice. She shared with CNN’s Dana Bash a year ago on pursuing loftier political positions: “I struggle with it because I don’t want little girls watching or anything like that to, like, to lower their sights or anything in that direction. But for me, I feel that if that were in the scope of my ambition it would chip away at my courage today.”
But she didn’t say “no” then, and she’s not up to endorsing her boss today. So, AOC might actually believe she has a shot at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Lord, have mercy, the circus is back in town.
