Last week the Gay Conservative Liberal asked his readers to come up with their fantasy Democratic presidential ticket and cabinet. GCL seemed to think that Sen. Joe Biden (Democrat-DE) would make an excellent chief executive. I agree and made the case for a Biden candidacy back on 24 August. He is among those I consider "first tier" candidates; and had he run in 2004 would be sitting in the White House today.
But my Dem dream team? My fellow progressives and Democratic primary voters part ways with me here but I am of the opinion that the party needs to nominate a JFK-FDR-Harry Truman-like hawk. Someone who is willing to go toe to toe against the Republicans on the issue of national security; who is willing to right what has gone so very wrong in Iraq. That means putting the issue of how we got there behind us. I really do think history will judge George W. Bush as the worst president ever for sending American men and women to their graves on the wing of a lie. And while I can never forgive him for that, the repuation of the United States would suffer far worse than it already has if we pulled out of Iraq and let things go to hell.
A solid Democratic nominee though would also lay out a bold plan for the future fight against terrorism; a fight that must also be FOR the moderates of the Middle Eastern region. For it is they who must be empowered in order to win this Cold War-like struggle against the radical fringe of their society.
And so, my dream Democratic administration:
President: THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN. The New York Times foreign policy columnist is the perfect candidate for the job at this point in our nation's history. He knows the Middle East like the back of his hand and has bold and brave ideas for how to start the process of empowering the Muslim middle. And his idea of a "geo-green" policy agenda would appeal to social liberals.
Vice-President: GOV. BILL RICHARDSON (former U.N. Ambassador), or REP. JANE HARMAN (her national security credentials are impeccable...if only John Kerry had put her on the 2004 ticket).
Secretary of State: RICHARD HOLBROOKE. Well respected around the globe - and right now that should be a huge consideration for any president looking to fill this job. It is going take a long time to repair the damage Mr. Bush has done.
Secretary of Defense: LEE HAMILTON, SAM NUNN, or WILLIAM COHEN. Cohen was Clinton's Defense Secretary and a Republican. He would bring some partisan balance to a Democratic administration. "President Friedman" could be the uniter that George Bush never was.
Special Envoy to Iraq: SENATOR JOE BIDEN. His five point plan for Iraq, while not perfect, is about the only one out there that is worth pursuing.
I would recommend GARY HART, CAROL MOSELEY-BRAUN, and TOM KEANE for the posts of Homeland Security Secretary, U.N. Ambassador, and Presidential Adviser - any three of them in any one of the posts.
As a matter of fact I would take any of the folks named above (save Nunn, Cohen, and Keane; and add Al Gore to the list) for president. Each would bring a gravitas to the White House that has been lacking since January 20, 2001.
