Presidential Baggage Check

Rudy Giuliani was mayor of New York City. He led a successful economic turnaround, returned some fiscal sanity to city government, fought crime and inspired civic pride. He is best known for his impressive leadership during the 9/11 attacks. John McCain is a patriotic war hero, has served in the Senate a long time and knows how it works. Unfortunately, he also knows how to obstruct and increase government’s scope. Mitt Romney was governor of Massachusetts, where he attempted to balance the state’s budget and keep taxes in check. But he also signed into law a socialized health care system, which is already on intensive care.

Most of the presidential candidates have questionable leadership credentials, and less-than-inspiring prospects for addressing public policy with common sense solutions. The eventual president will also be elected by, at best, 50 percent of the registered voters. Probably only half of those will vote for a candidate based on substance. The other half will instead choose the candidate whose baggage they dislike the least.

In the short time we have left before the nomination process ends in early February, let’s look more closely at those candidates who are not afraid to talk about the programs that most challenge our nation’s future. More importantly, consider the candidates who are not afraid to offer real solutions. Presidential leadership requires identifying and working on the right problems, instead of best imitating a Southern accent.

Let’s take a close look at candidates who are able to inspire people to focus on the pursuit of happiness, instead of happiness as defined by the next government program. Individual responsibility is not a foreign concept to those who are already achieving their American dream.

Don’t be deceived into thinking that members of Congress necessarily have the ability to fill Washington, D.C.’s vast leadership void. Congress was not designed to be a leadership body. The legislative branch has consistently demonstrated that fact by oftentimes ignoring even the simplest solutions for the sake of power and re-election.

We need a leader in the White House who is not afraid to hijack the Washington bureaucracy, and courageous enough to smartly challenge politics as usual in Congress.

The American people want a president who will truly lead this nation with the people’s hopes and trust in a new suitcase, and who will leave his or her baggage at home.