Searching for a leader

[Uben]

America is desperately searching for a leader in 2008. A man or woman who can step in and move us forward, re-establish us as the envy of the world, help solve our fiscal crisis, and return us to a united front.

Leaders lead. Unfortunately for some, there is not a republican available that fits this genre. They all fell in lock-step with the Bush administration, as followers, not leaders. Anyone who blindly follows cannot be a leader. Oh, there are some who have broken ranks of late, who would like to make the last seven years go away. Aint happenin!

So, America will choose from those who saw the incompetence and arrogance of the Bush administration, and chose to voice their opposition at the time, not now. That only leaves democrats, and maybe an independent, though none comes to mind right now.

The republican party will spend the next 12-16 years reflecting on what happened from 2001-2009. Will they learn from their blind loyalty that dropped them from grace? Some will, most won't, most likely. Their appetite for power was so great in 2000,
they were willing to follow a loser. G.W. Bush was most definitely a loser. He was a horrible governor in Texas (I am a Texan), a horrible businessman, and showed cowardice and arrogance as a part-time soldier. He continued his failures as president, though he was given a unique chance to be a great leader after 9/11. Bush and Cheney were corrupted by power. They sought to expand that power in every way they could, aided by the blind allegiance of a republican congress, who now controlled committees and subpoena powers. The phrase "Let's roll" comes to mind. They were "punch drunk" with it.

Now, a democrat, most likely, will be asked to take America in a new direction. Which candidate can unite Americans and dissolve this wall that separates us? A strong liberal will not win. There are too many republicans looking for a change and centrists who lean conservative to let that happen. That will eliminate some great candidates, who would probably make good leaders, like Dennis Kucinich and Al Gore. (this is just my opiinion, of course)

Most likely, our next leader will be someone who can be seen as being able to reach out to enough conservatives to make things happen. Hillary Clinton, Richardson, Biden and Wesley Clark come to mind. I truly believe one these five will be our next president (hey, I've been wrong before!)

Of course, any combination of these for prez and VP would be worlds above what we have substituted for leaders the last seven years. I could even see a more liberal candidate being chosen for VP, but I doubt it will happen.

I know a lot of you disagree with my speculation, but that's how I see it. Admittedly, I consider myself a fiscally conservative and socially liberal voter, but devout democrat none-the-less. I welcome your criticism, as I intend to keep an open mind going forward.

[Tom Rinaldo]

1. I somewhat agree with you

Though in the current political climate it is possible that some Democrats who some "centrist" Americans would not be thrilled with could still get elected given how badly Republicans have screwed things up. Hillary is a special case. She has a hate brand name for many Republicans who could be mobilized to vote against her, so I don't see her as the ideal Democrat to reach out to Conservatives, even if her positions on issues and temperment otherwise would qualify her for that role. Al Gore on the other hand, though he would carry a Liberal tag, has increasingly, somewhat grudingly at times from some, won acknowledgement for being a strong Leader, and I think we are incrasingly in a time when being viewed as a strong Leader has more upside than being viewed as a strong Liberal has downside.

Of the folks you mention, I think Clark and Richardson have the greatest ability to fit the bill you present. Biden is a little too shop worn to allow for excitement to build over him.