Did we find an answer?
For want of something to blog about, as well as something to help me avoid programming:
Last week, I posted a serious, important question that frankly needs answering in the next two years: who should succeed George W. Bush as the next president of the United States? Who can restore dignity to what should be the most esteemed of offices? Who is fit to lead this nation to times of peace and prosperity?
To that question, I received a decent amount of feedback. So let's run through the suggested possibilities to see if we've found an answer...
Jeff began the debate by suggesting himself as a possible candidate. Sadly, he's about ten years too young to be constitutionally eligible, but otherwise he is the best option we came up with. In light of that, he further suggested Senator Barack Obama of Illinois. My mother and I came up with this possibility initially, but we concluded that his time in government has been too brief for me to get a sense of his leadership ability. Ben, wisely, pointed out that other untested congressmen from Illinois (Abraham Lincoln anyone?) "did ok" when elected. So Obama remains a possibility.
Jeff also threw out Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack. I'm not sure if it was just to work in the "nutsack" comment, but I'll respond anyway. First off, while it's impressive to get elected as a Democrat in Iowa, on the national stage Iowa brings little to the table - but granted, I said ignore election-specific issues. Vilsack's administration seems to have made strides in health care in Iowa, which I like. At the same time, other moves by his administration suggest that he is likely a throw-money-at-the-problem Democrat, which would worry me.
Ben subsequently tossed the name Senator Russ Feingold (Wisc.-D) into the ring. The name has immediate recognition for most because of the McCain-Feingold bill, which also suggests that he is willing and able to work with members of the Republican party, a positive sign. Overall, I don't know enough about Feingold to cast judgment.
From the slightly more conservative end, Bradley* suggested Senator Bill Frist of Tennessee. For me personally, Frist is out at the moment for his politically-charged "diagnosis" of Terri Schiavo and for his support of the Federal Marriage Amendment. Unfortunately, there are certain things I feel very strongly about for a variety of reasons, and two of those happen to be right-to-die and gay rights, so Frist signed two death warrants on his presidential hopes as far as I'm concerned. In a later comment, Jeff concurred, citing Frist's "worthless gay-bashing and quasi-religious posturing."
Jeff further suggested soon-to-be-former Virginia governor Mark Warner, a centrist Democrat who, as Jeff pointed out, is a good leader without any kind of agenda who has proven ability to compromise and get stuff done. An interesting proposal, considering I heard him mentioned as early as last year as a potential candidate for '08. When you think about it, the last few Democratic presidents (Bill Clinton, Jimmy Carter) have been southern governors. As I believe most Americans actually are pretty moderate, Warner would be a solid choice, and besides, a move to the center is a move away from the right, which is where we currently stand.
So what have we learned? Honestly, Obama and Warner had both occurred to me. Of the two, I would be most enthused about Obama, though I was thinking 2016 for him. Still, I would not be upset with his nomination. He's probably my top choice at the moment, just for his apparent sense of the big picture (apparent, that is, from his magnificent speech at the Democratic National Convention last year - the one that didn't make me cringe).
Ultimately, I guess we'll have to wait and see. But it's fun to speculate now.
(Incidentally, though for some reason he IMed me rather than post a comment, Aaron stands by his desire for Ahnuld. Fortunately, Aaron doesn't vote.)
Song lyric of the day:
"Try to answer questions forced
Forced inside of me
You were forced across the line
You're not providing me"
- Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Break So Easily
* Link provided with his comment.
Last week, I posted a serious, important question that frankly needs answering in the next two years: who should succeed George W. Bush as the next president of the United States? Who can restore dignity to what should be the most esteemed of offices? Who is fit to lead this nation to times of peace and prosperity?
To that question, I received a decent amount of feedback. So let's run through the suggested possibilities to see if we've found an answer...
Jeff began the debate by suggesting himself as a possible candidate. Sadly, he's about ten years too young to be constitutionally eligible, but otherwise he is the best option we came up with. In light of that, he further suggested Senator Barack Obama of Illinois. My mother and I came up with this possibility initially, but we concluded that his time in government has been too brief for me to get a sense of his leadership ability. Ben, wisely, pointed out that other untested congressmen from Illinois (Abraham Lincoln anyone?) "did ok" when elected. So Obama remains a possibility.
Jeff also threw out Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack. I'm not sure if it was just to work in the "nutsack" comment, but I'll respond anyway. First off, while it's impressive to get elected as a Democrat in Iowa, on the national stage Iowa brings little to the table - but granted, I said ignore election-specific issues. Vilsack's administration seems to have made strides in health care in Iowa, which I like. At the same time, other moves by his administration suggest that he is likely a throw-money-at-the-problem Democrat, which would worry me.
Ben subsequently tossed the name Senator Russ Feingold (Wisc.-D) into the ring. The name has immediate recognition for most because of the McCain-Feingold bill, which also suggests that he is willing and able to work with members of the Republican party, a positive sign. Overall, I don't know enough about Feingold to cast judgment.
From the slightly more conservative end, Bradley* suggested Senator Bill Frist of Tennessee. For me personally, Frist is out at the moment for his politically-charged "diagnosis" of Terri Schiavo and for his support of the Federal Marriage Amendment. Unfortunately, there are certain things I feel very strongly about for a variety of reasons, and two of those happen to be right-to-die and gay rights, so Frist signed two death warrants on his presidential hopes as far as I'm concerned. In a later comment, Jeff concurred, citing Frist's "worthless gay-bashing and quasi-religious posturing."
Jeff further suggested soon-to-be-former Virginia governor Mark Warner, a centrist Democrat who, as Jeff pointed out, is a good leader without any kind of agenda who has proven ability to compromise and get stuff done. An interesting proposal, considering I heard him mentioned as early as last year as a potential candidate for '08. When you think about it, the last few Democratic presidents (Bill Clinton, Jimmy Carter) have been southern governors. As I believe most Americans actually are pretty moderate, Warner would be a solid choice, and besides, a move to the center is a move away from the right, which is where we currently stand.
So what have we learned? Honestly, Obama and Warner had both occurred to me. Of the two, I would be most enthused about Obama, though I was thinking 2016 for him. Still, I would not be upset with his nomination. He's probably my top choice at the moment, just for his apparent sense of the big picture (apparent, that is, from his magnificent speech at the Democratic National Convention last year - the one that didn't make me cringe).
Ultimately, I guess we'll have to wait and see. But it's fun to speculate now.
(Incidentally, though for some reason he IMed me rather than post a comment, Aaron stands by his desire for Ahnuld. Fortunately, Aaron doesn't vote.)
Song lyric of the day:
"Try to answer questions forced
Forced inside of me
You were forced across the line
You're not providing me"
- Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Break So Easily
* Link provided with his comment.
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