Saturday, Sep 6, 2008
What's at stake is American prosperity, but I'm not sure whether the candidates themselves will do the alternatives justice, since all of them are enraptured with the idea that the surplus must be preserved at all cost. It's the latest bout of fiscal mysticism to cripple our politicians.
The next president might be faced with an unforeseen challenge -- for instance, a new international monetary crisis -- that calls for a major restructuring of the international system. But given our current lack of crises, I would opt for a major rehauling of the campaign finance system that would include banning soft money, public financing of House and Senate elections and strict regulation of independent contributions to require full disclosure of contributors. I would also close the loophole against billionaire candidates, if necessary through a Constitutional amendment.
We have to come to terms with the new global trading (and monetary/labor/environmental system) to prevent breakdowns (such as occurred in Asia the last decade), to encourage the spread of worker rights and environmental protection (including a global warming treaty that has some effect) and to devise an approach domestically that allows all Americans to benefit from this new global, information economy.
Electing George W. Bush (a mediocrity, though probably a benign one) and a Republican House and Senate would make me very sad, if not angry. Electing a Democratic president and Congress would make me the happiest. Over the last decade, the Democrats have edged toward becoming the national party that they were from 1932 to 1968. Let the trend continue.
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Dan Savage, nationally syndicated sex advice columnist and author of "The Kid: What Happened After My Boyfriend and I Decided to Get Pregnant"
Instead of a Republican revolution I'm hoping for a Republican evolution. Can the Republican Party in the 21st century still be known for what they're against? How long can they survive as the anti-fag party?
Republicans are losing the culture wars and they know it. When you lose a war you either lay down your arms or go on a spectacular suicide run. It remains to be seen what they'll choose.
The best thing the next president can do is legalize marijuana and end the war on drugs. The abuses of this so-called war are a threat to our civil liberties. How can we say we're a free people but you can't grow that weed in your back yard? Every time legalizing marijuana gets put to a vote it succeeds overwhelmingly. Politicians carp about listening to people, but they're stone deaf on this issue.
The headline I don't want to read the day after the elections is "Bauer Defeats Bradley!" Though I wouldn't mind seeing "Ventura Defeats Bush!" My model for the next presidency is Gore Vidal because he's brilliant. Just once in my life I'd like a president who's smarter than the average third grade teacher. We thought we had one in Clinton because, unlike his two predecessors, he spoke in full sentences.
Will America's sexual practices change when the president who couldn't keep his dick in his pants leaves? I doubt it. Clinton got America talking about oral sex but so will Bush if he gets elected. His "Jesus is my political philosopher, my wife is the greatest thing that's ever happened to me" shtick will drive people straight into their bedrooms and out of their trousers.
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Lucianne Goldberg, literary agent and founder of Lucianne.com
What's at stake is whether we continue eight years of corruption. The best thing the next president can do is get rid of everyone that had anything to do with the Clinton administration.
All the bad things trickle down from the health of the economy. As long as somebody doesn't ask Amazon.com for cash the economy will be fine. The richest company in the world doesn't have any cash. How did that happen? The next president's biggest challenge will be to keep the market going so everyone can be rich. Though if that happens, there'll be nothing left to complain about.
We need Ronald Reagan back, his patriotism, his honesty, his iron will, his uncompromising belief in what's right. The good news is that there isn't a Clinton in any of the top four candidates. Gore's getting the splatter effect but he's a decent guy. Of the four, I'd vote for Margaret Thatcher. She's the only one in the group who isn't a sissy. Bush is twinkling and fun, but I'm sorry he stopped drinking. I like a president who takes a belt now and then. McCain I like because he gets mad at the things that matter.
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Bill Press, co-host of CNN's Crossfire
More so than ever in our lifetime, whats at stake in this election is the future of the American republic. Our economic strength, our leadership position in the world, our goal of equal rights and opportunity for all Americans: It all hinges on what new direction we take on Nov. 7.
There is no one pressing problem looming in the next decade. There are many: reforming America's public schools, protecting the environment, protecting our right of privacy in the information age, campaign finance reform, shaping a post-Cold War foreign policy, reshaping and downsizing the military to fit the 21st century, maintaining America's leadership in global trade, providing economic and educational opportunity, equal rights and basic health care to all Americans.
The most important thing a president must do is to maintain our economic strength, because that is the key to accomplishing every one of the above goals. It means a steady hand, paying off the national debt, no deficit spending and no massive, inflationary tax cuts.
No doubt, what would make me most angry in November 2000 would be the election of Donald Trump. Not that Pat Buchanan would be much better. But Trump's trump would mean the ultimate disgrace of the presidency, the ruination of the republic and the best reason for cashing it all in and fleeing to Canada.
There are two men the next president should adopt as models and mentors: Teddy Roosevelt and Franklin Roosevelt. Teddy, for having the courage to challenge the special interests, defend the environment and defy his party leaders. FDR, for ignoring the naysayers, inspiring the American people and building the strong foundation that still shapes this nation.
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Mike McCurry, former Clinton press secretary
The first election of the 21st century holds the presidency, the control of Congress and the future direction of the Supreme Court at stake. It's hard to remember a recent election when all three branches of government were up for grabs. Whoever sets the most dynamic and energetic goals in the center of the political spectrum will have a huge advantage leading into the next century. Hopefully, one of the candidates will define a new dynamic centrism in this election that will be appealing and will capture the imagination of the American people. What's at stake is, quite literally, plotting our course as we enter the new century.
The biggest problem we face is adapting to the supernova changes to information technology. Every way in which we access people, institutions and information is undergoing fundamental change. A communications policy will be as important as a foreign policy. Technology will bring profound changes in taxation, privacy and the relationship of the world around us. The next president has to help the country adjust to the coming changes, especially the way government interacts electronically with people.
The election result that would upset me the most is an independent candidate like Pat Buchanan getting enough of a showing to distort the true victor between the two main parties, thus denying a true mandate.
What would make me happiest is to see the next president and Congress on the same wavelength so we can get something done. We haven't had that scenario since LBJ.
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The next administration needs to unify people more. We're dividing ourselves by race and identity too much. We're drifting apart from each other, polarizing ourselves. The next president has to do a better job of being a president to all the people. Toni Morrison said Clinton was the first black president, but he needed to be everyone's president, to represent all the people, so we all feel we have a stake in the presidency.
The biggest problem we have is the growing racial divide, which is second only to the rights of gay people. We'll solve the race problem long before we solve the gay rights problem, because at least we'll talk about race. We won't talk about gays. Any group of people whose rights are diminished by the majority is a concern. There are no asterisks in the Constitution that say "gay people exempted."
The only result that would really make me mad is the election of Al Gore. He's a mean-spirited man who doesn't lay out his cards honestly. My greatest electoral wish is for Ronald Reagan's Alzheimer's to be cured so he could take over again. In many ways he was a simple man, but he made you feel good and made you want to do more for the country. I saw a lot of JFK in Reagan.
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