I just saw a never Trump republican strategist talking about this.  He made a suggestion that relates to what you said. (Chuck)

He said he is seen as too nice to go against Trump and offered a suggestion.  He said in the first debate he should punch Bernie in the face.  Rhetoricaly speaking.

Some one who simply by opening his mouth will make Trump look like the blathering idiot he is even with out a nickname.

Some one who, as he points out with a weary smile, has delt  with stupid bullies his whole life.  And won.

While this tact is understandable, and important, the fundamental issue for the 2020 presidential election is to deny Trump a second term.  His lawlessness and existential threat to the democracy needs to shouted from the roof tops. There can be no tip-toeing around about it, pretending that the real issue to motivate the voters is about bridges and roads.  

My concern for Mr. Buttigieg is not his tenure as mayor of a city of about 100,000 since the country seems to have decided that experience is not a determinative criterion (cf. former Senator and Secretary of State Clinton). And, everything good about Mayor Pete reported by many, including the Captain and ScottW,--his military record, academic achievements, intellect and articulation of views---are evident.

My worry is for the possible impact of homophobia on his prospects for election. While the nation has made great strides, we need to recognize that such bias is still alive and unwell in 2019.

Certainly, no concern need exist for losing Republicans, especially Trump's base, but such bias may affect other parts of the electorate necessary to victory.

Up until Trump, the country was, generally, unwilling to wildly experiment in the election of presidents, and the failed experiment of Trump may result, at this point, in no further veering than to, finally, elect a woman as president.

The intellect and war pilot experience of George McGovern was not enough to defeat the known at the time sleazy "Tricky Dick" Nixon, losing 49 of 50 states. And, going back further, the intellectual, and eloquent "egg head" Adlai Stevenson could not touch the WWII general, Dwight Eisenhower, who specialized in grammatical faux pas. While no historical analogies fit the present situation, intellect, intelligence and civility do not always win out. Certainly, Trump is the most recent case.

(f) Disclosure to Committees of Congress

(1) Committee on Ways and Means, Committee on Finance, and Joint Committee on Taxation
Upon written request from the chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives, the chairman of the Committee on Finance of the Senate, or the chairman of the Joint Committee on Taxation, the Secretary shall furnish such committee with any return or return information specified in such request, except that any return or return information which can be associated with, or otherwise identify, directly or indirectly, a particular taxpayer shall be furnished to such committee only when sitting in closed executive session unless such taxpayer otherwise consents in writing to such disclosure.

(2) Chief of Staff of Joint Committee on Taxation
Upon written request by the Chief of Staff of the Joint Committee on Taxation, the Secretary shall furnish him with any return or return information specified in such request. Such Chief of Staff may submit such return or return information to any committee described in paragraph (1), except that any return or return information which can be associated with, or otherwise identify, directly or indirectly, a particular taxpayer shall be furnished to such committee only when sitting in closed executive session unless such taxpayer otherwise consents in writing to such disclosure.

(3) Other committees
Pursuant to an action by, and upon written request by the chairman of, a committee of the Senate or the House of Representatives (other than a committee specified in paragraph (1)) specially authorized to inspect any return or return information by a resolution of the Senate or the House of Representatives or, in the case of a joint committee (other than the joint committee specified in paragraph (1)) by concurrent resolution, the Secretary shall furnish such committee, or a duly authorized and designated subcommittee thereof, sitting in closed executive session, with any return or return information which such resolution authorizes the committee or subcommittee to inspect. Any resolution described in this paragraph shall specify the purpose for which the return or return information is to be furnished and that such information cannot reasonably be obtained from any other source.

(4) Agents of committees and submission of information to Senate or House of Representatives
(A) Committees described in paragraph (1)
Any committee described in paragraph (1) or the Chief of Staff of the Joint Committee on Taxation shall have the authority, acting directly, or by or through such examiners or agents as the chairman of such committee or such chief of staff may designate or appoint, to inspect returns and return information at such time and in such manner as may be determined by such chairman or chief of staff. Any return or return information obtained by or on behalf of such committee pursuant to the provisions of this subsection may be submitted by the committee to the Senate or the House of Representatives, or to both. The Joint Committee on Taxation may also submit such return or return information to any other committee described in paragraph (1), except that any return or return information which can be associated with, or otherwise identify, directly or indirectly, a particular taxpayer shall be furnished to such committee only when sitting in closed executive session unless such taxpayer otherwise consents in writing to such disclosure.
(B) Other committees
Any committee or subcommittee described in paragraph (3) shall have the right, acting directly, or by or through no more than four examiners or agents, designated or appointed in writing in equal numbers by the chairman and ranking minority member of such committee or subcommittee, to inspect returns and return information at such time and in such manner as may be determined by such chairman and ranking minority member. Any return or return information obtained by or on behalf of such committee or subcommittee pursuant to the provisions of this subsection may be submitted by the committee to the Senate or the House of Representatives, or to both, except that any return or return information which can be associated with, or otherwise identify, directly or indirectly, a particular taxpayer, shall be furnished to the Senate or the House of Representatives only when sitting in closed executive session unless such taxpayer otherwise consents in writing to such disclosure.

(5) Disclosure by whistleblower
Any person who otherwise has or had access to any return or return information under this section may disclose such return or return information to a committee referred to in paragraph (1) or any individual authorized to receive or inspect information under paragraph (4)(A) if such person believes such return or return information may relate to possible misconduct, maladministration, or taxpayer abuse.

Rather, it would be based on the view that the intent of the demand for the tax returns and tax information was vaguely expressed or ill-defined and likely to be a fishing expedition to find politically embarrassing information.

While I believe that House Ways and Means Chair, Richard E. Neal, has been careful to anticipate this view by saying his demand is about policy (e.g., extent to which the IRS audits and enforces the tax laws in the case of a president), not politics, the fishing claim gives better cover.

Since the possibility of bringing impeachment charges is a part of oversight and investigatory responsibilities of the House, the strongest argument for seeking Trump's tax returns and other tax information, both personal and for his businesses, is the Constitutional one---to investigate public actions of the president that are suspected of treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors.

I realize that impeachment is "off the table", by most Democrats for political concern, but the seriousness is of such nature that tip-toeing around the obvious obstruction is irresponsible. The Democrats are gun-shy of even the hint of impeachment going back to what is viewed as the backlash against the Republicans for impeaching Bill Clinton--a different set of circumstances.

But it is going to be the only thing being talked about.  

He never understood and apparently still does not understand that there is no center.  Or if there is it mostly made up of people who are to vacant to have an opinion and believe the last thing they heard.

Obama won by motivating the progressive base.  And he never really governed for it but managed to get a second term mostly because of Romney.

Trump won by motivating the reactionary right and has done exactly the opposite.  Everything he does and says is for them.  Which it turns out is probably equally ill advised.  Or worse.

Who ever wins in 2020 will win by motivating their base.  It will be the ultimate base election.

Biden will not motivate the progressive base.

"If you open the borders, there's a lot of poverty in this world, and you're going to have people from all over the world. And I don't think that's something that we can do at this point. Can't do it."

... talks about the issue of immigration as though he were channeling a union agent from the UA Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 92 in Oskaloosa, IA circa 1973, rather than speaking as a serious candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020.

Stephen Miller sure is on a rip, firing the head of the Secret Service, Randolph (Tex) Alles. While the nickname of "Tex" might be reason enough for some, "reforming" the Secret Service, a part of DHS, may be necessary.

 The agency has responsibilities beyond protection of the president and other designated officers, conducting financial investigations of bank and financial institutions, wire fraud, illicit financial operations, counterfeiting, and major conspiracies.

Reveling in the performance of Barr, Trump may be buoyed enough to appoint another Roy Cohn wherever financial matters are investigated. And, too, stopping those Chinese spies at Mar-a-Lago, was probably seen as a little too aggressive--the woman, after all, only wanted to use the pool. And, geez, it is not as if it were emails.

But we started to early.   Got to high and decided to appreciate the 95% in my back yard.

I have no idea what is going on in California in terms of the primary polls but with all the possible candidates I wonder what level of support will be viewed as a win for Harris.