If the Democrats ran on 'America is already great because America is good' in 2016, 2017 gave a deafening answer: No, it is not.
Americans, glued to screens where they read Twitter tantrums and nuclear war provocations from their president, see images of fire and mudslides that make California look postapocalyptic, and read news of yet another sexual misconduct scandal, are desperate for change.
It was impossible to watch the Golden Globes last Sunday and not feel the palpable desire for it. In dress and demeanour, lapel pins and speech, the message was clear: We are mad as hell, and time is up.
That was all before Oprah Winfrey took the stage. With a rousing display of oration not seen since before last November, she electrified the room and inspired a nation to all ask the same question: should Oprah be our next president?
She should not. Before elaborating why, however, it is necessary to agree on a few things: 1. It was a great speech. 2. If she runs, she will win. 3. If she wins, it will be a substantial improvement from our current situation. All of these statements are true. But they are not good enough reasons to cheer for an #Oprah2020 presidential run.
We would not be seriously considering it if the presidency were not currently occupied by Donald J. Trump. Winfrey's appeal will only grow with every tweet Trump makes, every off-the-cuff press conference he holds.
The imagination is reminded of those familiar and distant feelings of joy and pride when considering what a Winfrey administration would look like:
"If you need a good chat and hug, Winfrey is the person. If you need to repair a welfare state that's on life support after sabotage from the Trump administration, you need more than an inspiring message to 'live your best life'."
While Trump reportedly could not read memos longer than a single page, Winfrey will bring back the book club, sending the country back to their local libraries and independent bookstores.
If you thought President Obama's 'Cash for Clunkers' program got the economy going, just wait until 'You get a car! YOU get a car — EVERYBODY gets a car!'
Instead of a long, boring slog of hearings and investigations on C-SPAN, why not a heart-to-heart confessional interview with Winfrey on the couch of the Oval Office for scandal-ridden politicians?
As easy as it is to focus on Trump's personal problems and disqualifications — the