THE GREAT RACE XLIV (Part II)

The Heart


BOAC recently outlined the list of people who want to be elected, and whose campaigns define them by their skin deep qualifications. These include, for example, being a woman; a black man; a religious zealot, a governor (preferably of a Western state); a war veteran, a charismatic bachelor, a senator, a 9/11 Hero. We are all, clearly, desperate for leaders who will place their country above their party. We want to propose some capable leaders who meet those packaging needs but who also have enough ethical, philosophical or ideological humility that 49% of the population won’t wish them dead as soon as they take the oath of office.

Here are four names that Americans would see on the ballot if we were half as American as our bumper stickers say we are. These are people who are far, far more honorable and competent than any of the current slate.

1) The Reluctant Warrior.

Four Star General, (youngest ever) Chairman of the JCS, Secretary of Sate, Moderate Republican. Black Man.

In an era that has tested military loyalty more than any time since the civil war, the most loyal soldier in America stands bloody, but unbowed on a pillar above the rest.Colin Powell is a moderate but confirmed Republican who opposed both of our military interventions into Iraq. Make no mistake; when he testified at the U.N. on February 5th 2003, Secretary Powell was impaling himself on his own sword, in loyal support of a foreign policy he detested.

Only a black soldier could have risen from Mai-Lai (that was in Vietnam kids), through Panama, Grenada, Libya and Beirut to preside over the largest combined arms combat operation in American history in the first Gulf War. His career milestones mark a path, not so much of a soldier gifted at leading warriors into combat, but as a warrior destined to lead politicians out of it. They broke it and Colin can fix it.

On his first day Powell would be the most accomplished foreign policy practitioner to ever sit in the White House. He would be one of the only Presidents to have previously served in more than one un-elected position in the chain of command. But that’s not even close to the main reason he should be at the top of every wish list to be the next Republican candidate for President of the United States.

America is long overdue for a President who is not a white male. Colin Powell would ensure that the first African American President would both merit and win an undeniable electoral majority. Unless he were to run against Barack Obama, in which case he would probably win the largest landslide in history.

2) Southern Man

Almost everyone finally understands that runaway industrial pollution can, and is causing Global Climate Change (for the worse). However, if you are still a global warming denier try this home test: Sit in your Chevy Suburban or F-250 truck, in the garage with the windows down and your thumped-up bible in your lap. Turn on the car, close the garage doors and then pray for the souls of us fools who think cars can pollute enough to damage our quality of life. In the morning you can ask God for His opinion. Directly.

In 50 years it will be history’s pronouncement that George Bush destroyed America’s respect in the world, and Al Gore won it back and saved much, but not all, of the planet for human habitation. The downside to Al running would be that he will only win by a few percent more votes than he won last time. The upside is that he would embarrass the Democrat's field by raising more money on the day he announced than Hillary has raised in her past ten years of pre-campaigning.

The Blog only has one question about Al: Since he has already won a presidential election could he run for a second term?


3) The Woman is Smarter

Without question the very best way to get elected to the Presidency, in our generation, is to be a conservative two-term, western, red state governor. The best Republican man for the job may be a female Democrat. Arizona is a staunchly Republican, heavily Mormon state. Republicans have always taken the state for granite. They have an overwhelming conservative majority, a significant (to say the least) population of Mormon voters, very few non-white voters and carefully gerrymandered pro Republican districting.

Arizona also made history in each of the last two gubernatorial elections. They became the first state in history to elect a woman governor to replace a sitting woman governor. Then without bating an eye, Arizona voters re-elected her in a landslide against an established Mormon Republican. A former attorney general, she is at the head of the class for intelligence, competence and honesty. She is one of the only governors in America who is uniformly respected by her opposing party.

Governor Napolitano is everything Hillary is not. Including electable.

4) The Ethical Conservative

We go straight to the source to find an honest, open Conservative.

In our hearts, we know the Republicans are going to steal the next election, somehow. The BOAC thought long and hard about this problem and tried to come up with one respectable Republican who can save American Conservatism (and America) from the bizzaro-world party of Godless Christianity that the Republican side has become.

Behind door number 4 we have the chairman for the 2006-07 year of the Pulitzer Prize Board. He is also the chairman of the Committee to Protect Journalists, a New York-based nonprofit organization founded in 1981 to promote press freedom by working for the rights of journalists’ worldwide. He was honored with the "Decade of Excellence" award from the World Leadership Forum in 2005. The John E. Anderson Graduate School of Management at UCLA honored him with the 2002 Gerald Loeb Award for lifetime achievement. Also in 2002, he was awarded the highest honor awarded by the Columbia University School of Journalism. He was named a 2001-2002 Poynter Fellow by Yale University. The National Press Foundation awarded him the 2001 George Beveridge Editor of the Year Award for qualities that produce excellence in media. In March 1999, he was elected to the Pulitzer Prize Board. He personally won three Gerald Loeb Awards and two John Hancock awards for his economics and business coverage.

Please give a warm “49% and a prayer” welcome to managing editor of The Wall Street Journal, vice president of Dow Jones & Company and the next President of the United States of America: Paul E. Steiger.