Letters to the Editor
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Please, Sir, I want all three.
The Clinton ad doesn't say what the midnight emergency is. If it's military then I want her to answer the phone. If it's diplomatic, I want President Obama to pick up the call. If it's the "big one" hitting Los Angeles, I want Arnold to be later quoted saying "thank God John McCain is president."
For the first time in my memory I am assured that there will be a President of the United States who has earned my respect and admiration. As a moderately liberal Democrat, I support Senator Obama. But Senators Clinton and McCain are extraordinary people also.
All three offer unique and very valuable skills which our country desparately needs. President Bush has left a mess of historic proportions for the next administration to clean up. Frankly it’s too big of a job for any one President - so I have a modest proposal.
In poker there is a term “chop the pot”. It’s especially popular in tournaments where last two or three players agree to split the total winnings equally, no matter who wins the tournament. So I would like the three top candidates to agree now, to “chop the pot”. Here’s how it could work:
Clinton and McCain both put Obama on their ticket as Vice-President. I don’t think this is prohibited by the law, and the deal would be he get’s to run as President in the next election, with the loser being Vice President. All three agree that no matter who wins, the other candidate will be appointed as “special advisor” and all decisions would be made by the three of them. There would be three desks in the Oval office. Two votes and the decision is made, no matter how passionate the loser feels. All three of these folks are honorable people and know how to argue for a consensus.
As the Bush Babies have demonstrated, this would not require any changes in the Constitution. If something Constitutionally suspect turns up, they’d just solve it with a signing statement or whatever. They would be the “deciders”. After eight years the system would go back to normal, and Barack Obama would be either be unelectable, or the hands down favorite for President.
Here’s what the country would get:
Hillary Clinton would focus on America’s number one problem, universal health care. This is a crisis which when solved will help alleviate the suffering of the poor, the aging baby boomers and US companies trying to cope with capital draining health care benefits.
John McCain would focus on Immigration and rebuilding an affordable and effective armed forces. He can also be the voice of reason when the three confront military decisions. He could focus on retreiving Afganastan from the Taliban. And he would restore moral authority to our Military and intelligence agencies.
Barack Obama would work on reinstating our influence and leadership in the rest of the world, especially the Mideast and Africa. He could focus on the number one foreign relations problem – developing Palestine into a country Palestinians would want to keep, and the Israeli’s would want as partners in peace. Much of the animus generated against us in the Muslim world stems from our support of Israel.
Would there be heated debate behind closed doors? You betcha. But ultimately the collective good and will of the people would inform each resolution.
Would Congress feel intimadated by a triumverant of such stature? You betcha. But gridlock would be eliminated, and we would finally get our house in order.
The list of benefits could go on and on. Increased competence during multiple crisis, an energized populace willing to pitch in and help, and a new model of how things could work. Hell, this is what we are trying to make the Iraqis do, so why not start “walking the walk”?
But the best reason of all is the image we’d have on videotape of Rush Limbaugh’s head exploding on the day the three of them take office.