IN SEARCH OF THE NEXT PRESIDENT


Believe it or not the 2008 presidential campaign is about to begin. Already there has been some unknown names begin to announce their desire for the highest office in the land. These people are so unknown that they have to announce now trying to get early press coverage. We will allow them to remain unknown for the sake of this article.

However, over the next few weeks there will be prearranged settings for the major players in both parties to announce their candidacy for president. Some will use the backdrop of the elementary school they attended as a child, some will use the unsightly scene of a river that they will clean up if elected, and there will be the popular setting in front of the family home with children and grand children standing along side. But be sure it’s coming sooner then we may be ready.

What names should we be looking for in the weeks ahead? Well, on the Republican side look for John McCain, Mitt Romney and Rudy Giuliani.

On the Democrat side look for John Edwards, Chris Dodd, Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton, and Barack Obama to stand before a crowd of prepared followers to proclaim, “I am running for President of the United States.”

By mid-summer the major television News channels such as CNN, Fox News, and MSNBC will introduce new “News Shows” with titles like “Campaign 2008”, The Road to 2008” and “The Campaign Map.” (If they use any of these, I will request royalties for the idea).

Then we will be bombarded with the Candidates fighting for a chance to appear on the evening talk shows, like Larry King and Jay Leno, to make their case to people. This will be an attempt to show themselves as everyday people who know what we as citizens deal with on a daily basis.

Of course they will stay at the Ritz Hotel and be driven over in a Limo, but they know what average people live with every day.

Then there will be the television political ad’s displaying the virtue of the candidate while unknown groups using “soft money” make sure we know that the opposing candidate hates his or her mother, hits babies, and was a spy for the old Soviet Union. Hmmmm I can’t wait!

Okay, I sound a little harsh in my view of the 2008 campaign season, but to be honest I am a bit exhausted by the current pattern of selecting a President by choosing the less damaged person after the campaign. I want the best person for the job and I want to know what they really plan to do.

I will be looking for as the candidates make the rounds over the next 20 months three basic qualities. These are not comprehensive, but this is where I begin.

One, I will look for “Character.” The person sitting in the White House needs to have the trust of the American people. Their character creates trust as they go into the Oval Office, and their actions from then on maintain that trust. Nevertheless, it begins with character.

Two, I will look for “Experience.” This is not the time for America to have a President who requires metaphorical “training wheels.” We need the person who understands the world we live in and the dangers that exist. We a need a President that understands domestic and foreign policy and can handle both.

Three, I will look for “Vision.” Simply put, I want the President to inspire people with what he or she sees as the future of America. The next President will have to be a true person of the people and not hidden behind walls.

After all that I said in this article you might think that I am not looking forward to the 2008 campaign, but actually I am. But, I am hoping and praying that we see the best in campaigning without the mud slinging and personal attacks. I hope we hear ideas that actually can work. Last, I am looking for the candidate that makes me feel like it’s great to be an American and that my grand kids “future” will be better then my “present.”

Greg Stokes