27 MARCH, 2024

In the changing times, the leadership landscape of the United States of America has come under scrutiny. It was once lauded as the epitome of democratic governance, but now it is shrouded in the shadows of a leadership crisis.

For nearly two and half centuries, the United States has been a beacon of freedom, showing the path to progress where the idea of liberty and dreams flourished.

The leaders in the White House were celebrated as icons of democratic rights.

Grippingly, in the last 40 years, America has found itself in the disconcerting loop of recycling its presidents and vice presidents, disproving the theory of democracy at the White House.

An introspective question that arises with this American behaviour is about the capability of the American democracy and its voters.

Are Americans genuinely incapable of installing a competent leader from the general public who can run the White House?

Are the Americans driven by the cult of personality, which is a reflection of a mental trapping or intangible royalty negating the principles of true democracy, as enshrined in the American constitution?

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...in the last 40 years, America has found itself in the disconcerting loop of recycling its presidents and vice presidents...

Throughout the recent American political history, beginning with the Reagan era of the 1980s, the White House and, therefore, the presidential leadership has been no more than an asset of few.

The 1980 American politics was characterised by the rein of Ronald Reagan, who served two terms of 4 years each, the maximum allowed by the constitution of America. 

Even though there were controversial decisions and policies, both national and international, the American public elected Ronald Reagan and his running mate, George H W Bush (senior), without much opposition.

After completing eight years as vice president to Ronald Reagan, George H W Bush (senior) was elected to the White House, and the takeover was seamless. 

It would not be wrong to assume that George H W Bush (senior) continued with Ronald Reagan’s policies without significant modifications.

George H W Bush (senior) was in the White House for four years as full-term president, but then, by this time, he had been at the helm of affairs for 12 years.

If that was not enough for the Americans to be governed by a person from the Bush family, they elected George W Bush (junior) for two terms, from 2000 to 2008. 

It was a time when the USA went to the most controversial and era-defining wars in two different countries, Afghanistan and Iraq, respectively.

As a Bush family, between 1980 and 2008, the Americans have been governed for 20 years out of 28 years. 

Also, it would not be wrong to say that those 28 years were the most controversial years for American foreign policy, economy, and well-being.

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George H W Bush (senior) had been at the helm of affairs for 12 years

George H W Bush’s (senior) younger son, John Bush, also known as Jeb Bush, bid for the 2016 presidential elections but could not continue his race because of his poor performance.

Had he won the 2016 presidential elections, it would have been another Bush the Americans would have installed in the White House.

1992 onward was drawn into the Clinton era, a time marred by scandals and controversy. Bill Clinton, a charismatic figure known for political manoeuvring, was the president for a maximum of two terms. 

Unfortunately, the presidency was tarnished by critical allegations of impropriety and moral depravity.

During his time in his office, the First Lady, Hillary Clinton, played a role in spearheading healthcare reforms. 

She was the chair of the task force for National healthcare reforms, developing policies and plans to improve the country’s healthcare system.

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1992 onward was drawn into the Clinton era, a time marred by scandals and controversy

She was at the centre of the administration along with Bill Clinton for many years, occupying an office in the west wing of the White House. 

There were accusations of nepotism, as an unelected spouse of the president was wielding influence over the administration, which Bill Clinton confronted by the slogan of “two for the price of one”.

While at the White House, the political pundits had predicted the political ambitions of Hillary Clinton, who was emerging as a political powerhouse in her own right.

After the completion of two terms of George Bush junior, Hillary Clinton made a bid for the presidency in 2008. However, her aspirations were dashed by the extraordinary and stellar rise of Barack Obama.

Even though she did not make it to the White House, she assumed the role of Secretary of State for the Obama administration in his first term.

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There were accusations of nepotism, as an unelected spouse of the president was wielding influence over the administration...

For a political observer, that would be 12 years of Clintons in the White House. The Clintons’ bid for the White House did not end then. 

In 2016, Hillary Clinton won the nomination from the Democratic Party and contested opposite Donald Trump. Against all the predictions of psephologist, she lost as our favourite to the underdog like Donald Trump.

What is critical to understand here is that, even though Hillary Clinton did not win the presidency in 2016, Americans still found her the favourite candidate for the White House.

The inability of the American public to see beyond the Clinton family is remarkable.

The current president, Joseph Biden, was the two-term vice president of Barack Obama. It will be 12 years at the White House after the completion of Joe Biden’s first term.

As we know, Joe Biden is already contesting against Donald Trump to continue in his office for a second term. If he wins this election against Donald Trump, he will have been in office for 16 years out of the last 20 years in American politics.

Donald Trump was president from 2016 to 2020 when he lost to Joe Biden. Nevertheless, that did not deter him from his ambitions for a second-term presidency.

Fighting through multiple legal cases on the sidelines while on his Republican Party campaign trail, he has emerged as a powerful and significant contender for the presidency in 2024. 

There were no worthy challengers to Donald Trump’s celebrityhood in the Republican Party.

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The inability of the American public to see beyond the Clinton family is remarkable.

All this only signifies the dryness in the leadership pool of both the Republican and the Democratic Party of America.

In a surprise public poll results, the next best candidate of the Democratic Party after Joe Biden was Michelle Obama. 

As we know, she had already been in the White House as first lady for eight years. 

Again, the American public is blindsided by the celebrityhood of the presidents and their family members.

Thus, the observations from the last 44 years of American politics display a gloomy picture of political domination deep-seated in the political narrative of the American voters. 

Only a few have dominated it, sadly undermining the true spirit of a democracy.

Four and half decades later, the Bush family, the Clinton family, Biden and Trump have been in the driving seat of American presidential politics.

Given the opportunity, one should not be surprised to see Michelle Obama on the next presidential ticket, making Obama the newest entrant into the presidential royalty of America.

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Dynastic politics, celebrityhood, and Political elitism seem to foil the democratic landscape of America

The phenomenon of recycling leadership has not been seen in American politics since the birth of the United States of America some two and half centuries ago, though there have been political families. 

What we discussed seems like a modern American political phenomenon and is not a sign of a mature and independent democracy.

Dynastic politics, celebrityhood, and Political elitism seem to foil the democratic landscape of America.

Is it the political complacency of the American people or the vulnerability of American democracy that makes them unable to see eligible leaders?