Thomas Friedman suggests that Biden announce in advance of the election his intent to create a cabinet of all of the talents, including Republicans. Would that be a good idea?
No, because:
1. It would be difficult to find a better way to keep the Bernie Bros away from the polls in November;
2. Based on Obama’s experience in 2009, the GOP will view a Biden government as illegitimate, and will refuse to cooperate with it in any way; and
3. To make matters worse, Trump will be screaming about voter fraud and crying for vengeance from the sidelines. The GOP establishment will want to move on without him, but the faithful base will make that impossible.
Biden would be wise to make it clear to the nation, including the far right, that he has more pressing concerns than fighting the culture wars. That should win him some space to work on his real agenda. Realistically, however, feeding the alligators on culture is as far as he can go to create a unity government.