PERSPECTIVE FROM THE 19^TH HOLE: This is the title I chose for my personal blog, which is meant to give me an outlet for one of my favorite crafts – writing – plus use an image from my favorite sport, golf. Out of college, my first job was as a reporter for the Daily Astorian in Astoria, Oregon, and I went on from there to practice writing in all of my professional positions, including as a Congressional press secretary in Washington, D.C., an Oregon state government manager in Salem and Portland, press secretary for Oregon’s last Republican governor (Vic Atiyeh), and a private sector lobbyist. This blog also allows me to link another favorite pastime – politics and the art of developing public policy – to what I write.

Donald Trump and his allies have begun conversationally handicapping the president’s potential 2020 rivals.

Politico’s Annie Karni reports: “Former Vice President Joe Biden is seen as someone who could cut into Trump’s base.”

One former White House official outlined a theory of the case that has gained some traction: Trump’s policies will continue to be popular all the way through his re-election campaign, but his approval rating will never crack 45 per cent — creating an opening for Biden, or someone like him, to recapture the loyalty of white Rust Belt Democrats who helped elect Trump in 2016.”

“I hope CNN has Kirsten Gillibrand on every minute of every day. Love it. Bring it. She’s easy to destroy,” the former staffer said. “If you’re the president, or the RNC, you’re more worried about someone who looks like Biden — someone who has more mainstream appeal, who blue-collar workers could identity with.”

Well, of course, many political prognosticators say it’s way too early to begin talking about 2020 Democrat challengers, at least with any clarify.

But down here in La Quinta, California, where I am spending part of the winter, I had the good fortune to see a long-time Oregon Democrat leader who has substantial experience running Oregon and international businesses. In other words, he is not a typical Democrat.

Over drinks, he shared with me his aspiration. It is that (a) the Democrats will take over Congress in the mid-term elections, that (b) they will make political life difficult for Trump in the next two years, that (c) they will move to impeach Trump, but that (d) they will not convict him.

That would soften Trump up politically for a strong candidate to emerge out of the D field to take him on, relegating him to be a one-term president.

Of course, this individual, as smart as he/she may be, doesn’t call such political shots, especially over an eternity in politics, which is two-plus years away. No one does.

Further, at the moment, one year into the four-term Trump presidency, no one knows for sure whether Trump will run again.

So much for thinking too much about 2020. But it will be worth keeping eyes on the potential Demo field so see who emerges as the frontrunner – as well as to see if that person has an agenda for being in the nation’s highest political office…an agenda that is more than just anti-Trump.

On occasion, I find myself hoping for a quality third-party candidate to emerge, one who has solid ethical credentials, as well as the ability to see the benefit of middle-ground solutions to pressing public policy problems – plus the leadership to gain followers.

Fat chance, you say. Probably. But it doesn’t hurt to hold high aspirations.