Open Letter to Senator Clinton

Senator Clinton,

I write today not as a political adversary, but rather a Democrat concerned for the well being of the party.

For sometime now, at least since your entry into the United States Senate, your name has appeared atop many opinion polls and pundit's lists regarding the 2008 Presidential race. You have been seen as a juggernaut; both in name recognition and fund raising ability. You have also been labeled a pioneer; for you have been the most accomplished woman to be touted as Presidential material in this Republic's history. But I ask you today, during the last hours of 2006, to not run for the Office of President.

I believe that there is a post far better suited for you and what your legacy ought to be defined by; Majority Leader of the United States Senate. Though the Presidency may be the most glamorous of elected offices, the Majority Leader of the Senate would allow you the opportunity to run the Legislative Branch. You would have the power to move the Senate how you saw fit, enact legislation you deemed most beneficial to the Union, and craft a legacy outside the shadow of your husband's. There have been many a Majority Leader to have far greater and longer lasting influences on the shaping of the United States, than that of Presidents.

Then there is the real chance that you may not be nominated by the Democratic National Committee for President. As we have seen in recent weeks, your poll numbers in key primary states such as Iowa and New Hampshire do not reflect overwhelming support for your candidacy. I believe it is due to the high negatives you would bring to a national campaign. You would galvanize GOTV efforts for both the Democrats and Republicans; which is not what you want. To me it appears that the Republicans would welcome your candidacy more than any other current Presidential aspirant; bar Dennis Kucinich of course. There appear to be too many downsides which would come with your candidacy, but to come out and declare your intentions not to seek the Presidency would be extremely beneficial to our party.

This nation must look to the future and not the past come 2008. You Senator Clinton, I am sorry to say, are the past. If you ran the nation would be subject to punditry concerning White Water, HillaryCare, Paula Jones, Monica, and the Impeachment. You may have genuine ideas regarding the path at which to take this nation, but it is your presence in the race which will be the central issue. So I ask to you pave a path for those like John Edwards, Barak Obama, Tom Vilsack, and others (Bar Dennis Kucunich) to seek the Presidency. They will bring hope and optimism to the Presidential race, not rumor and innuendo regarding the past.

So I ask you to please take a long hard look at your chances, your legacy, and what is right for the Democratic Party when making your decision to seek the Presidency.

Sincerely,

San Soucri

The United States Senate: Part I

It is in my opinion that the greatest body of government ever conceived by man is that of the Senate.

It is also in my opinion that in this day and age the United States Senate is at an all time low; with regards to effectiveness, membership, and prestige. . .

There was once a conversation between Thomas Jefferson and George Washington concerning the purpose of the Senate. Mr. Jefferson, in a rather Socratic manner, asked the Republic's first executive what role the Senate should play. Mr. Washington used an analogy to answer his colleagues question; stating that the Senate was much like a saucer as which to cool liquid prior to serving. This speaks volumes as to what role the Senate ought to be playing.

No longer is the Senate likened to a cooling saucer where issues are allowed to simmer in debate, but rather the Senate has begun to covet the House of Representatives. . .

The House of Representatives, formely the only branch of government directly elected by the people of the Republic. It was designed so that the citizens of the Republic would have direct influence on the matters of government and public policy. A member of the House would be elected to the body and would bring with him the concerns and issues that directly effected his consituents. With a voice in the government, under the guise of the a Representative, the people had influence over what matters were of most concern to them. If their elected Representative did not effectively advocate their needs and demands they had the opportunity to select a better person to represent them every two years.

The idea behind the formation of a lower house within the Legislative Branch of government was to allow the citizenry adequate representation in government. All issues would be discussed, debated, and voted upon in a timely fashion. The requirments for filling the office of Congressional Representative is that you are a citizen and past the age of 25 years. As mentioned above, every two years the entire body of the House of Representatives would stand for re-election. At the time of founding the House of Representatives, and to a large extent today, it was/is relatively easy to run for and win a seat in the lower house.

All a candidate must do to achieve a seat in the House of Representative is pander to the needs and fears of your consituency. This means if your district is heavily agricultural and the cost of producing cattle meat and milk is going up, while the selling price of both is going down, you must stake a claim to reverse such a trend. Currently candidates for the House use issues such as Abortion, Gay Marriage, and need for Higher/Lower Taxes to win a seat in the House. It is certainly not that difficult to work your base or consitutency into a frenzy over a particular issue in order to win a seat in the House. With such frequent elections mixed with low required qualifications almost any man, woman, and child could be elected to the House of Represenatives.

Now I have nothing against the system by which the framers chose the House of Representatives to follow. It is a system which allows the common citizen generalist a voice and some semblance of influence over the legislative branch. Coming out of the pre-revolutionary era, where representation was a luxury, the framers invisioned a clever system by which to give the American people a voice. What I do take issue with is the United States Senate's ever increasing move toward mirroring itself with the lower house. . .

John Edwards in 2008

Well it is official; Senator John Edwards is in the race. On Wednesday Mr. Edwards, who was in New Orleans’ lower 9th Ward, made it clear that he was going to actively pursue the nomination for President from the Democratic National Committee. Does the former Vice-Presidential candidate have what it takes to claim the top of the ticket in 2008?

Having been on the previous ticket during the last round of Presidential elections certainly helps with Mr. Edward’s efforts to gain the nomination. He is currently the only contender in the race with the experience of running a national campaign as a candidate, being a wife does not count. He will be able to tap into the system and networks that were behind John Kerry’s failed run for the White House and possible tap into the donor lists as well. He has the experience of going toe to toe with Vice-President Cheney in the debates; there is certainly no one on either side of the aisle running for President more wonkish or scary than that of Dick Cheney. He also has the benefit of being out of office for the past two years.

During his time out of political office Senator Edwards has been able to develop a reputation as a populist and champion of the lower class. Following his defeat in 2004 he was named Director of the University of North Carolina’s Center on Poverty, Work, and Opportunity. He has also toured the nation touting reforms aimed at lifting the economic and social burdens placed on this country’s working-poor and middle class. Using his time out of office he has been able to formulate opinions regarding a wide range of issues without the weight of Washington politicos bearing down upon him. He will use his stances on poverty, healthcare, and the environment as a way to appeal to the middle of America leading into the 2008 primary season.

Currently Mr. Edwards runs side by side with Senator Barak Obama in several primary state straw polls, which includes being ahead of presumed frontrunner Hillary Clinton. This does not surprise me in the least bit. Senator Edwards has a very warm and folksy demeanor which allowed him to place well in the Iowa and South Carolina primaries in 04’. He is in sharp contrast to that of Senator Clinton who tends to come off with an air of arrogance, as well as one who draws extremely high negatives both within her party and from outside. If you are likeable and non-threatening there is a great chance more will support you, or even better not vote against you.

The one issue that might arise is his experience. Having served only 1 term in the United States Senate, he may be confronted with the claim that he has not paid his dues, as well as lacks the needed experience in office to effectively execute the duties of President. If he has done his homework in the last 2 years he can avoid that pitfall by appearing well read and well informed on some of the major issues facing the nation both home and abroad. He will need to surround himself with hardened policy analysts who can steer him in the right direction and keep him from making Kerryian gaffes.

If he can stay under the radar and away from the bright lights which will be cast down upon Senators Obama and Clinton, Mr. Edwards may have the best shot to receive the party’s endorsement for President. Furthermore I believe that an Edwards-Obama ticket would be a very formidable pairing. Both men are well educated, youthful, hopeful, optimistic, as well as oozing with charisma. It would be a nice contrast to the doom & gloom era of politics we are currently in. I believe right now, a little under two years away from the election, that John Edwards has the best shot at securing the top slot for the Democrats. There is the 800 pound gorilla that is Al Gore, but I don't believe that he will enter the race; though it he does decide to do so he will get the nomination hands down.

Edwards 08'

President Gerald R. Ford

Gerald R. Ford

1913-2006

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He may not have been a great President, nor even a good President, but what Gerald Ford lacked in executive skill he more than made up for in honor and accountability.

President Ford rose to power slowly; through hard work and passion for the positions he held and the people he represented. Prior to assuming the Presidency Mr. Ford spent 13 terms in the United States House of Representatives, representing the Grand Rapids, Michigan districts. During his time in the lower House of Congress Mr. Ford was a champion of conservative-Republican ideals of the time; very much a product of the Eisenhower era in American history. He would frequently chip away at and criticize Lyndon Johnson’s policies for a “Great Society”. He was loyal Republican and stood by his ideals. Though he had political disagreements with Democrats he was well-respected and most of all trusted. President Johnson would appoint him to the Warren Commission to aid in the investigation of the assassination of President Kennedy.

Though not as ambitious as his contemporaries (Nixon, Kennedy, Johnson, Rockefeller), he did have the hopes and goal of someday attaining the Speakership of the United States House of Representatives. As he gained seniority in the House and with the Republican Caucus Mr. Ford would make the case for himself to be in a position of leadership. His hard work would pay off when he was selected by his peers to be the Republican Minority Leader. He held the position for 4 terms prior to his selection by President Nixon to succeed the disgraced Spiro Agnew.

It has been said that Gerald Ford was selected by President Nixon as the safest choice, not the most capable choice. With Spiro Agnew leaving the Vice-Presidency under the cloud of bribery and tax evasion charges Mr. Nixon needed a man who would pass through both the House and Senate confirmation hearings. Gerald Ford had the respect of his peers, as well as that of his political adversaries, and this was qualification enough for the Vice-Presidency. Mr. Ford would pass through the newly created 25th Amendment process by which both houses of Congress would review a nomination for the Office of Vice-President and assume his position in October of 1973.

The Watergate scandal quickly consumed and completely engulfed the Presidency of Richard Nixon between 1973 and 1974. On August 9th 1974 Gerald Ford assumed the Presidency; following Richard Nixon’ resignation. He would hold office for 895 days. During his time in office he issued over 60 vetoes, fought to understand Cold War politics, withdrew the American military from Vietnam, and worked to unify a fractured nation. In what was a most selfless act of political courage President Ford issued a full pardon for Richard Nixon concerning any involvement he may have had with the Watergate break in. It was an act which would cost him the Presidency in his own right; having not been elected to the Vice-Presidency or Presidency.

There are few times when men make self sacrifices of power for the benefit of the people they have sworn to represent and the Constitution for which they are suppose to defend. The idea to pardon Richard Nixon was not the popular opinion of the day, but it was the right choice. It was right for two reasons. One; it brought the abrupt end to the Watergate Scandal, which had consumed the power and efforts of so many. Two; it spared the United States the humility of putting a former President on trial, where he most certainly would have been found guilty and sent to prison. Without an end, along with a lengthy legal battle, the nation would have devolved even farther into malaise and division. President Ford understand that though a crime had been committed the consequences of that crime would be a far greater a burden on the nation than the crime itself.

If President Nixon had gone to court for the crimes he may or may not have committed, a trial almost certain to reach the Supreme Court, the process would have left the nation battered. On one side there was the political dynamic of Republican versus Democrat. On another side there was the Constitutional battle of the Judicial Branch versus the Executive Branch. And thirdly there was the certainty that a President of the United States would be sent to prison. Lest we forget there was a war to be fought and economic recession to fend off. It was neither the time nor the place for the United States to fall further into disarray.

With his televised appearance before the whole of the Republic, Gerald Ford pardoned Richard M. Nixon of any crimes and with that put to rest the Watergate era. This move would haunt him the rest of his short Presidency and he would lose to Georgia Governor James Carter in the 1976 Presidential race. Following his defeat President Ford briefly retired from the political spotlight. In 1980 there was an idea that Ronald Reagan should take on President Ford as his running mate leading up to the Republican National Convention. Though cooler heads prevailed and avoided what would have been an awkward and most likely confrontational co-Presidency.

After the brief resurfacing in 1980 Gerald Ford entered the twilight of his life in peace, having saved the Republic from itself. He was a man who did not want the Presidency, but once there used its power to heal a nation, despite popular opinion. He stood up for what was right and allowed the nation to move out of a darkness that had consumed politics for nearly 3 years. There are few politicians like Gerald Ford anymore and with his passing maybe all politicians should compare themselves to our nation’s 38th Commander-in-Chief, they might learn a few things about humility and self-sacrifice.

Keith Ellison and the Koran

In recent weeks much has been made about United States Representative Keith Ellison’s decision to take his oath of office on the Koran. What critics of Mr. Ellison have charged is that the United States, being a predominantly Christian nation, is insulted by his flagrant display of his religious views in taking the oath upon the book he worships. It has even gone so far as to have U.S. Rep. Virgil Goode (Republican, of course) lay claim that if immigration is not halted more Muslims may be elected to office. Wasn’t one of the founding principles of this great Republic the idea of a place where man may practice his religion free and openly without persecution?

Now I have issues with the election of Keith Ellison which stem outside of the sphere of the man’s chosen religion, but feel as though the criticism he is currently drawing is unfair and extremely un-American. Mr. Ellison has a very large responsibility as the nation’s first and only Muslim elected at the Federal level and to criticize him for taking his oath on the Koran is only going to fuel the fires that already burn towards Islam in this country. Furthermore to say that an elected official must not take his oath on any other book besides that of the Holy Bible is utterly wrong. No where in the United States Constitution does it claim that elected representatives must swear their allegiance to uphold the duties of their office upon the Bible. If we are to cross that line we might as well create a state sponsored religion, church, and set of laws based on those religious teachings; much like Iran.

We are a free Republic and our elected officials are free from their government to practice their religious views. Mr. Goode, trying to capitalize on wedge issues and insecurities, might want to read the Constitution from time to time. For all I care Keith Ellison could take the oath upon a Playboy magazine, as long as he upholds and defends the Constitution of the United States of America.

Dennis Kucinich in 2008

(Apparently Forbes and Kucinich were thrown a tough question)

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Why is Dennis Kucinich at it again in 2008? He needs to bow out gracefully and resume his career in the United States House of Representatives. Being the Anti-War candidate did not work 4 years ago and it will not work now. He lacks what Eugene McCarthy had in 1968: Intelligence, Global Understanding, Statesmenship, and most of all Respect.

Tim Pawlenty in 2008

Since his election to the office of Governor of Minnesota in 2002 Tim Pawlenty has skirted rumors regarding his Presidential aspirations. Following his close re-election in 2006 against fire brand Attorney General Mike Hatch, Mr. Pawlenty’s name has surfaced once again as a possible candidate for national office. It appears as though certain members of the media feel as though Mr. Pawlenty’s relationship with a certain Republican frontrunner is a bit cozy.

During this past year’s gubernatorial campaign, Mr. Pawlenty fell all but a few breaths away from a public endorsement of G.O.P. Presidential frontrunner Senator John McCain as the senator joined him on the stump. More recently, Mr. McCain crashed the Republican Governor’s Association meeting in Florida. Who was there to hand out praise and glowing remarks to the senior senator from Arizona? None other than Mr. Tim Pawlenty. In response to the glowing remarks from a man nearly thirty-years his junior Mr. McCain states “I know of no one who will make a greater contribution to the future of America than this great leader”. Could this be a budding love affair?

The idea of a McCain-Pawlenty ticket is intriguing, as well as a very practical move by the elder statesman. If elected, Mr. McCain would wrangle the title of oldest elected President from the late Ron Reagan. The current spokesman for Senate Republicans will need to balance out his senior citizen status, as well as “Washington insider” persona with a running mate who has mass appeal. A youthful Governor Pawlenty provides Mr. McCain, and to a larger extent the Republican National Committee, with a clean slate and hope for future White House retention. But are all motives in this situation created by an old war hero looking to vindicate his 2000 Presidential primary loss?

Since taking office in 2003 Mr. Pawlenty has been able to work through a Democratic Farmer-Labor (DFL) controlled State Senate, while fending off attacks from an Attorney General who likened himself to a pit-bull. In 2003 Mr. Pawlenty also occupied the Governor’s mansion with a State budget deficit. Currently Mr. Pawlenty will welcome a two billion dollar State surplus when he takes his oath of office for the second time. On top of his duties as Minnesota’s Chief Executive Mr. Pawlenty has also played the role of Minnesota’s Special Envoy to Iraq; having been to the Middle Eastern nation several times during his four years in office. Though in 2007 Mr. Pawlenty will find himself Minnesota’s sole Republican in high office, due to the watershed year for Democrats, he must now truly prove his abilities in across the aisle diplomacy. But what does this all mean?

It appears as though Mr. Pawlenty has been playing his cards quite close to his vest and keenly aware of the tracks he is leaving. In the next two years, if Mr. Pawlenty does not drown in a sea of a DFL controlled State Legislature he may position himself as a safe and moderate choice to head up the second slot for a Republican Presidential candidate. With St. Paul, Minnesota recently being chosen as the host for the 2008 Republican National Convention Mr. Pawlenty may be able to accept his party’s nomination for Vice-President in his boyhood hometown.

United States Representative Michelle Bachmann

As the One-hundred and Tenth Congress convenes next month I believe it is a perfect time to reflect on how thankful the citizens of Minnesota’s 6th Congressional District should be for electing Michelle Bachmann their Representative in the United Sates House. Here is a woman who will champion important ideals such as…

In all seriousness I believe that Minnesota is far better off with Michelle Bachmann in Washington D.C. than in St. Paul. While in the Minnesota State Senate Mrs. Bachmann was able to garner media attention for herself and her off the cuff ideals concerning a wide range of issue: Homosexual marriage – she did run an entire campaign on a moot point, abortion – when last did an elected Republican actually save an at risk fetus?, childhood education – was she planning on home schooling all special needs children in Minnesota? As long as Mrs. Bachmann was in St. Paul, people were subject to her voice and opinion; in Washington D.C. it will be quite the opposite.

It is laughable to believe that Mrs. Bachmann will bring anything back in the form of legislative accomplishment to the 6th Congressional to tout. Mrs. Bachmann finds herself a freshman lawmaker in the political wilderness that is minority status. This means that the likelihood her name will appear on any legislation is slim to none. Very few freshmen lawmakers ever get legislation of significance passed, let alone freshmen in the minority. In two years, when Mrs. Bachmann returns to central Minnesota, it will be interesting to watch her showcase her legislative record. Hopefully her opposition will be ready this time.

Even though Mrs. Bachmann handily defeated Patty Wetterling in the 2006 election, I take solace in the reality that with 435 other members of the House of Representatives, Mrs. Bachmann’s voice will be drown out.

This piece can be seen in the St. Cloud Time Editorial Pages from December 2006.

Newt Gingrich in 2008

The last scion of the conservative movement bore during the age of Reagan is currently being shopped around Washington D.C. as a possible Presidential contender in 2008. If this rumor bares fruition, Mr. Gingrich should decline any nomination by the Republican Party for President based on his upstanding principles regarding American conservatism. The Republican Party of the 21st Century is the party of George W. Bush, not that of Ronald W. Reagan. If Mr. Gingrich accepts any such nomination it will mean that he publicly endorses the failed political policies of a pseudo-conservative agenda brought forth by the current administration and Republican National Committee.

The Republican Party today is that of enormous government expansion and even larger government spending. Is Mr. Gingrich willing to throw away his principles and ideologies for a shot at returning to elected political power? Let us hope not.

What Mr. Gingrich should do as the election season heats up is continue his work with “Winning the Future”, his idea for a 21st Century Contract with America. By doing so, Mr. Gingrich will position himself as the voice of Reaganesque conservativism. As the leading voice of a “silent majority “within the Republican Party, Mr. Gingrich will have the ability to play kingmaker leading up to the Republican Party’s nominating convention. By commanding the conservative wing of the party Mr. Gingrich guarantees himself a say in who leads the Republicans in a post Bush/Neo-Conservative era. If he can steer the Republican Party from the hinterlands of political miscalculation he will garner more power than any Presidential aspirant.

Barak Obama in 2008

Barak Obama, the junior Senator from Illinois has been captivating audiences since his keynote speech at the 2004 Democratic National Convention; he now holds the media captive with his movement toward the Presidency. But is the Presidency truly what Mr. Obama is seeking in 2008 or is he looking to preside over the Senate until 2016?

Concerning the qualities that Mr. Obama brings to the fledgling Presidential race it is said the he gives people hope, has charm and charisma, yet lacks the experience needed to be President in the age of global terrorism. I believe all of these adjectives to be true. Having read both Dreams of my Father and The Audacity of Hope I found his writings to be inspiring and introspective, but lacking of depth that some might hope a future President would have regarding many of the major issues this country is currently facing.

Regarding the ever increasing field of Democratic candidates for President, Mr. Obama seems to be playing second fiddle to the leviathan that is Sen. Hillary Clinton. As 2008 draws nearer it may become apparent that Mr. Obama sees the Vice-Presidency as an office more attainable than that of the Presidency. Knowing that there are candidates with vastly greater experience than he (Gore, Clinton, Richardson, Bayh), Mr. Obama may position himself heading into primary season as a President in-waiting. Assuming he knows that four years of service in the Senate is not enough to convince the American electorate to send him to the White House; he will work towards securing the nomination for Vice-President.

Any scenario with Mr. Obama as the Vice-Presidential nominee works in his favor. If the ticket happens to win he has four to eight years to prep for a run in 2016, gaining critical experience needed to be Commander-in-Chief. If the ticket happens to lose, Mr. Obama is the perfect candidate for 2012, having had the knowledge of a full scale Presidential run as well as four more years sitting in the United States Senate. I believe that Mr. Obama is political astute enough to realize his chances of getting the top of the ticket in 2008 are unlikely, but a nod for the Vice-Presidency will be his best hope at attaining the office he truly wants.

This piece can be seen in the Washington Times Editorial Pages from December 2006.