In just over one year, American’s will go to the polls to elect our leader for the next four or more years.
What are the attributes that we should be looking for in our next president? Should that person have been tried and tested in government matters over many decades? Must he or she be young, handsome, charismatic, and articulate? How about a successful business person or a veteran? Should he or she lean more left than right or more right than left? Should we rule out octogenarians? Isn’t it time that a woman had a turn, or maybe an American of a different ethnicity? Should he or she be a person of faith and a role model for our kids?
It would really be nice if one person could embody most of the above. Regrettably, we don’t see an American Nelson Mandela or a Mahatma Gandhi on the horizon. I do know that we need someone who has a positive vision for this country, someone who will be the leader of all of us, not just one faction, and someone who will unite this country, not polarize it more. I also strongly believe that our vote should not be based on one or two pet issues. A president will face a multitude of important and critical matters. We cannot make an intelligent and informed decision based on the position on one or two issues.
One thing is for sure. Without willingness to compromise, to show empathy for the other side and to forge a work-together-for-a-better-America mentality, the dominant role we have played in the world for the last 80 years and the shining example we have been for peoples the world over will be in serious jeopardy. If we do not exercise our right, our solemn duty, to vote in an informed and thoughtful way we will deserve whatever unacceptable outcome we get.
– – – – Just the view of a common man
Views of a Common Man 
I agree with your comments and am saddened that this great country does not present candidates who reflect our great values. No-one who is under indictment should run for the office until he or she is cleared, regardless of their qualifications otherwise. All conditions set forth by our constitution should be met. I can’t help but wonder if political offices have come under such scrutiny that some qualified candidates shy away from running for office, not wanting to subject themselves or their families to possible indignity.
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Ollie’s blog, “On the Presidency”, raises so many concerns we
should have regarding the person we choose as our next President.
The idea that a fresh, new charismatic candidate could sweep in,
break the political stalemate and unite the country — or even win by
a big majority — flies in the face of what we know about the
atmosphere of American politics today.
I agree with John Stossel’s comment that the next presidential
election may be between Biden and Trump. He asks, “Can’t we do
better?”. He isn’t the only one asking this question. A CNBC survey
shows that the majority of Americans don’t want either man to run
again.
Winston Churchill once observed that a democracy must never
expose its weakness. It is no secret that we have been weak in
allowing the external influences from power politics to create sharp
divides in our political parties. As a result Americans may believe
that they are stuck with elected officials who have created an era of
political polarization over many issues that seem to disregard important
societal factors.
The formal prescription of the President’s functions is inadequate to
describe the enormous power and prestige the Presidency has achieved.
The President has four important stated powers.
(1) He/She is Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces
(2) He/She conducts the entire foreign policy of the U.S.
(3) He/She appoints federal judges andd other executive officials
(4) He/She is charged with the faithful execution of the laws
It is depressing to think that there doesn’t seem to be anybody on the
horizon that is qualified to assume the responsibility of these powers.
While politics and power are closely related, power can come from
those who make decisions about elected officials.
Joseph de Maistre, French moralist and diplomat, uprooted
by the French Revolution said, “Every country has the government it
deserves”. Let us hope that America gets a governance framework in
2024 of accountability, transparency and openness, integrity, stewardship,
efficiency, and leadership.
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