In the aftermath of a political season, the first act of which just ended, I am galled by a sense of unfulfilled promise and lost opportunities. So, in an attempt to lift me out of that state of regret and frustration, I will attempt to focus on what might go right, from my perspective, in the coming weeks and months.
First, my fondest hope: I have come to the conclusion that those of us who long for a legitimate, credible, and viable independent movement in this country, hopefully spearheaded by a legitimate, credible, and viable independent presidential candidate, cannot afford to wait until someone indicates his or her willingness or eagerness to jump into the fray. Politicians these days are a notoriously cautious lot, and are more ready to answer a call than to create one. So my first pipedream is that a group of (again!) legitimate, credible, and viable leaders will come together to form a draft movement in support of an independent candidate with gravitas and the nation's respect and trust, who will forthrightly call for fiscal sanity on the part of our govenment and sweeping reform and democratization in our political process. One by one, all those who have called for such change in the past few years have self-destructed politically. Paul Tsongas foundered on the nation's need for a slick smooth-talking dude who would look good on television. Jerry Brown crashed because of his lack of focus, discipline, and simple common sense. Ross Perot destroyed his credibility as a direct result of his autocratic and undemocratic instincts. For a time many thought that Colin Powell might be the natural heir to this national hunger for a legitimate, credible, and viable leader who would confront our problems honestly and forthrightly. Whether or not he ever was such a person, he has made clear he has no interest in playing such a role. And for a brief moment, it appeared likely that the feisty, opinionated, and highly principled former governor of Connecticut, Independent Lowell Weicker, might be preparing to pick up the gauntlet himself. But that hope too was killed some weeks ago.
As I see it, that leaves us with three options: the first I saw while attending the recent national convention of the Patriot Party in New York. While attending that event, I met someone from Minnesota who was attempting to lead a drive to draft former Representative Tim Penny for Ross Perot's Reform Party nomination. While I yield to no one in the level of my admiration for Tim Penny as a fighter for fiscal sanity and political reform, I remain firmly convinced that the Reform Party is nothing more or less than an expensive smoke screen for the inevitable nomination for president of Ross Perot. Anybody who believes that there will be anything democratic or open about the Reform Party nomination process is smoking something, or should be. Consequently, I am convinced that any attempt on the party of ANYBODY to get someone other than Perot nominated by the Reform Party is completely hopeless. I made this point to the Draft Penny leader, but she seemed convinced that there was a chance that the Reform Party nominating process might be open and democratic. I, on the other hand, believe that while an independent movement to draft a qualified leader like Tim Penny (who, interestingly, neither encouraged nor discouraged this woman's efforts during her conversations with him) is entirely laudable, it would be much more worthwhile if it were conducted outside of the venue of the Reform Party, in direct competition with it, rather than inside the lion's den, as it were. Even if the latter condition was met, however, I doubt whether a figure like Penny, primarily enjoying a strong reputation only among those deeply interested in politics, has the requisite name recognition needed for an independent presidential candidacy starting this late, -- a candidacy which, among other things, would have to write off the state of Texas completely, since that state's deadline for appearing as an independent presidential candidate on its ballot passes in three days.
In the past week, there have also been some stories about the possibility of former Democratic Governor Richard Lamm of Colorado taking the independent plunge. Once again though these reports have described such a possibility within the context of the Reform Party's presidential nomination, unfortunately. Richard Lamm, to his credit, has now made it clear, however, that he has no interest in depending on Ross Perot's money, or being beholden to him in any way. Another factor which gives me pause where Lamm is concerned is his tendency to shoot from the lip. Yes, he does speak for fiscal sanity, but he is also the sensitive and thoughtful leader who, some years ago, said that old, sick people had a "duty to die." Yukh! No, Lamm has some problems where common sense is concerned.
Which leaves, as I see it, only one possibility: Democratic Senator from New Jersey, Bill Bradley. Here is a leader who has advanced a strong, articulate program of political reform, included in which are such significant items as a constitutional amendment setting limits on the amount a candidate can contribute to his or her own campaign, and a call for all political candidacies to be funded through voluntary contributions on the part of the voting citizens to one central fund, which would be distributed equally among all qualified candidates. Bradley is also a person who enjoys considerable respect and trust among the American people as a whole, and who also enjoys the sort of name recognition that could function as an effective counterweight to Perot's heavy-handed and lavishly financed attempt to hijack the independent movement in this country.
Well, there's one of my pipedreams. In the coming days, I will burden you (or delight you, depending on your point of view) with my other three rosy scenarios, each one, hopefully, more realistic than the one previous. Obviously, the preceding is a representation of less realistic hopes on my part. Or perhaps, you don't think it so unrealistic. Whatever your feelings, however, on those hopes, don't hesitate to let me know by writing me at