Imperfect Candidates for Imperfect Times

We live in broken times. Our economy is fast forwarding into recession. Our currency is no longer the "mighty" dollar. Our enemies have moved from not trusting us to attacking us and our allies are the ones that simply tolerate us. Partisan bickering is at an all time high and Presidential and Congressional approvals are at an all time low. More and more jobs are moving off shore while more and more uncertainty is coming on shore. Indeed, we live in uncertain times.

Uncertain of our future, America is playing not to lose and no longer playing to win. We are more cautious. We're losing our creative edge. Ingenuity is down and our boldness is balding. In short, we are a nation in desperate need of visionary, optimistic and effective leadership.
If only we had someone like that running for President.

The three leading contenders for the Democratic nomination are imperfect. Obama has a vision, if only he knew how to implement it. Clinton knows how to get things done, if only she had a vision. And Edwards has a vision and gets things done, if only he knew how to communicate it in a sound bite. If we could nominate all three candidates - John Oclinton - Democrats would have the perfect candidate. But alas, we have three imperfect parts.

As nations squabble, Clinton and Obama stand at podiums on national television and squabble. Do you think America inspires the Palestinians and Israelis to come together when the Democratic candidates - people supposed to be on the same team - debate petty details in an effort to prove their worthiness for the world's most powerful office. In preparation to take on the Republicans (whose "visionary" leadership, fortunately, looks no better), each candidate is doing enough muckraking it would effectively save the Republicans millions in researching mud to sling later.

But I am not writing to complain. There is hope. There is leadership among us that is actually inspiring. If Michael Bloomberg and Arnold Schwarzenegger decide to run, they will win. Unlike the spoiler campaigns of Ross Perot and Ralph Nader, a Bloomberg/Schwarzenegger ticket would lay easy claim to all the independents and steal votes from both parties. They represent populist ideals. They are self-funded thus completely unaffected by the political money game. But most compellingly, they are inspiring. Bloomberg is a self-made billionaire whose company is a poster child for good old-fashioned American ingenuity. Schwarzenegger is an immigrant who, upon his arrival in the US, was told over and over that he would not make it here. But this is America - and he most certainly did make it here.

Bloomberg and Schwarzenegger are the living embodiment of the American Dream. They are living proof that America is the only place in the world where anyone can achieve great things. Shouldn't we have a President who has already lived the American Dream instead of electing someone who is using the office to realize the Dream? I would love to see a Democrat elected the next President of the United States, but every time I watch a debate, see an ad, watch an interview or hear a stump speech, all I see are more reminders of the imperfection and uncertainty we need to get away from.

Clinton, Edwards and Obama - I beg you to address your imperfections. Try talking about the future more often instead of each other. Otherwise, no matter who wins the nomination, victory will still go to a new party...The American Dream Party of Bloomberg and Schwarzenegger.

Follow Simon Sinek on Twitter: www.twitter.com/simonsinek

Comments

[Openmindedgal]

Simon you hit the nail right on the head!

Even though Arnold cannot run (as good as that would be), Mike would still make a great Pres. It is very refreshing to see so many political and non-political journalists talking about how positive a Bloomberg ticket would be. Just look anywhere on the web for that one.

It is upsetting, though, to see that so many people are brainwashed and stuck in their partisan ways that they refuse to acknowledge that a third party candidate like this actually has a chance.

When I say brainwashed I'm referring to web users, as 9 out of 10 times I see positive articles written by real journalists who actually know what they are talking about (like the author of this article).
Web commentators mostly dismiss the idea and then plug their favorite D/R candidate saying he/she is the real agents of change. Check out the record of successful change conducted by Bloomberg before making any judgments on him.

Hopefully people will look beyond political party for a REAL sense of CHANGE in 2008, rather than just someone who touts change but doesn't know where to start.

[Lis]

Don't you mean a Bloomberg/HAGEL ticket? Last I heard, Arnold can't run for POTUS or Veep.

[LeftRight]

How about we look at the fact that the constitution says point blank that the Vice President must meet the qualifications of the President, and that the president MUST be a natural born US Citizen. Therefore there's no way that Schwarzenegger could ever run for either one of those offices.

Second, Bloomberg is almost the worst possible candidate for President. bushco(tm) at least was not a successful businessman. Therefore when he screwed up the tax structure and economy it made sense. Bloomberg will make the bushco(tm) corporate tax cuts look like sound fiscal policy.

[desmirl]

A Bloomberg and Schwarzenegger ticket has ONE MAJOR FLAW. Should anything happen to Bloomberg (death or incapacition) der Gropenfuhrer COULD NOT be President. He is not a natural-born American. He may be a good governor (actually a better gropenator) but there are laws prohibiting his occupying the oval office.

[RabidRightRebel]

I heard similar remarks about Fred Thompson. He was the one true leader that would not only save the Republican Party, but the whole country from some sort of cataclysmic crisis. Just as that dream turn into an empty illusion, who’s to say the same wouldn’t happen to a Bloomberg/­Swartzenag­er run. While all three Democratic candidates do have their flaws, each individual is far superior to both; this current incompetent administration and the Republican candidates who fight with themselves as to who could best duplicate this incompetent administration. So the question is; do you accept the reality of flawed candidates or do you go on a futile search for the illusionary perfect candidate.

PS: Even the greatest Presidents had flaws!!

[Countess]

The candidates though imperfect could have developed interesting lines of debate on substance were it not for the descent into the gutter by the Clintons. They decided they had to use race in order to bring their main challenger down and it has worked as witness the latest poll in South Carolina showing only 10 percent of whites support Obama.

[LizM]

Americans don't care about leadership, inspiring or otherwise. You just gotta give me a break on that!

If Americans and the national media/blogosphere cared about vision, competence, or the ability to get things done, then Senator Biden wouldn't have been forced from the race in Iowa.

You will soon rue the day that you igored and dismissed his candidacy as Senator Biden will surely be regarded by those who know better as the best President America never had.

When exactly did y'all become so content to settle for so much less than the very best? The American Dream party!? Whatever gives you hope, my friend.