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Bondi just entered the 2028 presidential sweepstakes

Bondi just entered the 2028 presidential sweepstakes

It may be far too early to start speculating on the 2028 presidential election.  However … as I watched former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi handle herself at her confirmation hearings for U.S. Attorney General, I saw presidential timbre.

Before dealing with her performance before the Senate Judiciary Committee, let us first consider her biography … her resume … and her personal narrative.

Bondi was born in Temple Terrace, Florida where her father was a one-time mayor.  She got her law degree from Stetson University in 1990 – and was admitted to the Florida bar the following year. 

She was assistant State’s Attorney in Hillsborough County.  Her two most notable cases were the prosecutions of major league baseball play Dwight Gooden for drug abuse and violation of probation and the prosecution of boot camp offices for the death of a 14-year-old inmate who died after harassment.  The latter case caused the state legislature to close all sheriff-run boot camps. 

In 2010, Bondi won a three-way race for Florida Attorney General, where she gained a reputation for adherence to the law.  She defended Amendment 2, which banned same sex marriage, noting that it did not represent her personal beliefs.

Bondi returned to private practice after two terms as Attorney General.  She became a regular on FOX News and was a member of the defense team for Trump’s Senate impeachment trial.

Apart from her legal career, Bondi as proven herself to be an extremely intelligent and articular politician.  She is fast on her feet and able to proffer convincing arguments on the most controversial topics.  To say she has stage presence is an understatement.  She is the whole package – good looking and likeable.

All of that was on stage during her confirmation hearings.  She got a lot  of tough – and even rather nasty – questions.  She never lost her composure.

Democrat Senator Mazie Hirono wanted to get Bondi on the record as to whether she believed Biden won the 2020 election.  Bondi responded, “He is the President.”  The frustrated Senator pursued the same line of questioning.  Did Bondi believe that Biden was the legitimate President?  “Yes.”  But did he win the election?  Bondi refused to bite on the loaded question.  At the end of the questioning, it was Hirono who looked petty and defeated.  Strike one.

Bondi showed a bit of spunk when Senator Richard Blumenthal’s question about who her client is.  Bondi responded that she sees her “client” as the people of America.  He flipped off the answer with “I know you had to say that.”  An indignant Bondi shot back, “Senator, I did NOT have to say that.   I am telling the truth.  I will not say things just to get confirmed.”  Strike two — and one to go.

Senator Sheldon Whitehouse is arguably the most strident and partisan member of the upper chamber.  He tried to suggest that the Trump administration –including Bondi – would weaponize the Department of Justice.   He contrasted finding the crime and looking for the person with finding the person and looking for a crime.  

Bondi did not just say “no” to the pointed question, but shot back that she would NOT do the kind of weaponization of the Department of Justice that was evident during the Biden Administration.  Three strikes and the donkey team was out – no hits, no runs but lots of errors.

(Bondi also took the air out of a couple of other senators – especially the ever-obnoxious Adam Schiff – but I ran out of strikes with the baseball analogy.)

Bondi’s performance before the Senate Judiciary Committee was pitch perfect.  There was something Reagan-esque about her performance. She made her points effectively – and without acrimony.  She was firm in her responses, but never lost her temper.

For sure the folks at MSNBC are going to wallow in out-of-context snippets to report as if Bondi had revealed herself as a crazed cultist for an incoming Trump fascist government.  I am quite confident, however, that most Americans will not buy it — just as they did not buy the Russian conspiracy allegations … the “ain’t my laptop” lies … the insurrection bs … the weaponization of prosecutorial offices … and the end of democracy crap.

2028 is a long way off – and as they say, anything can happen.  But I will be surprised if Bondi is not among the presidential contenders the next time around.  I am putting this one in the tickler file for future reference.

So, there ‘tis.

About The Author

Larry Horist

So, there ‘tis… The opinions, perspectives and analyses of businessman, conservative writer and political strategist Larry Horist. Larry has an extensive background in economics and public policy. For more than 40 years, he ran his own Chicago based consulting firm. His clients included such conservative icons as Steve Forbes and Milton Friedman. He has served as a consultant to the Nixon White House and travelled the country as a spokesman for President Reagan’s economic reforms. Larry professional emphasis has been on civil rights and education. He was consultant to both the Chicago and the Detroit boards of education, the Educational Choice Foundation, the Chicago Teachers Academy and the Chicago Academy for the Performing Arts. Larry has testified as an expert witness before numerous legislative bodies, including the U. S. Congress, and has lectured at colleges and universities, including Harvard, Northwestern and DePaul. He served as Executive Director of the City Club of Chicago, where he led a successful two-year campaign to save the historic Chicago Theatre from the wrecking ball. Larry has been a guest on hundreds of public affairs talk shows, and hosted his own program, “Chicago In Sight,” on WIND radio. An award-winning debater, his insightful and sometimes controversial commentaries have appeared on the editorial pages of newspapers across the nation. He is praised by audiences for his style, substance and sense of humor. Larry retired from his consulting business to devote his time to writing. His books include a humorous look at collecting, “The Acrapulators’ Guide”, and a more serious history of the Democratic Party’s role in de facto institutional racism, “Who Put Blacks in That PLACE? -- The Long Sad History of the Democratic Party’s Oppression of Black Americans ... to This Day”. Larry currently lives in Boca Raton, Florida.

6 Comments

  1. FRANK DANGER

    Actually, Bondi just entered the national stage. It’s a long was to the Presidency and many rivers to cross.

    How come JD Vance is not up first?

    Reply
    • Larry Horist

      Frank Danger … your first sentence merely rephrases what I said in my first sentence. And I certainly did not say that Bondi would be THE GOP candidate in 2028. I entered her in the sweepstakes. And as far a Vance is concerned, vice presidents do not fare well moving up immediately following their service as VP.

      Reply
      • Frank danger

        Yes, I agree we both know what you said. And no, you did not say what you did not say. Neither did I.

        Glad we agree. Thanks for the confirmation.

        God chat.

        Reply
  2. Darren

    I would have to say it all depends how things go the next 4 years.
    Most democrats would probably be against her.
    Lets say what she is not.
    NOT gay, Transsexual, Black, or Democrat. ( not that the ability to govern ever came up )
    Lets say what we know so far.
    She is, Articulate, Smart, Educated, and Republican.
    I would have to say almost the complete opposite of Kamala.
    As the country rejected Kamala, maybe she has a chance.
    I see it as hers to loose.

    Reply
  3. Andrew Gutterman

    It all depends on what the economy does this time around. If Trump can avoid a depression then the Republicans stand a chance of keeping the office in 2028. But if the economy is as bad as his supporters believe it s then what Trump does in the next few weeks could kill it altogether, and kill any chance of a Republican winning again in 2028. Think Hoover/FDR.

    Reply
    • Jim wampler

      That was then. This is now. We have learned a lot since Hoover. And Hoover wasn’t the cause of the depression. It was a combination of things that included foreign countries. He just happened to be the lucky guy in the White House. But you can bet your ass the democrats will do anything possible to derail the economy and bring hardship on us. They only care about power and Marxism. And poor stupid people like Andrew and Frank will be cheerleading for it. MAGA!!!!! Let’s keep it forever!!

      Reply

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  1. Frank Danger .... Lots of opinion and not a scintilla of evidence. Where is your proof, old man? Funny how…