To avoid another "close election" the Democrats need a candidate that will stand out and bring real credibility to the table. I'm seriously considering New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson for President in 2008.
Gov. Richardson recently gave the Democratic Radio address, and also blogged on Daily Kos about it. When I heard the address I thought to myself, "What if this man where President today?" What if instead of a radical foreign policy that seems to create more enemies and alienate our allies, we had a sensible foreign policy based on diplomacy AND strength? What if our President supported real soultions to America's energy crisis instead of misleading rhetoric and counter-productive actions?
...military power and diplomacy are not alternatives to one another, but rather are complementary sources of strength. What the Bush Administration has failed to understand is that while diplomacy without power is weak, power without diplomacy is blind.
Democrats offer real solutions that provide a new direction for America. We need a new realism in our foreign policy, which includes the following elements:
One, achieve national security through energy independence. We need a man on the moon effort to reduce our dependency on foreign oil -- go from 65-percent to 20-percent by 2015; increase fuel efficiency; invest in green buildings and fuel cells; and become the leader of the future economic engine of the world -- renewable energy, such as ethanol, solar and wind.
Two, re-build alliances and reinvigorate our allies. A far- sighted policy would have built a coalition to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. Most immediately, we need an international coalition for peacekeeping in the Middle East.
Three, focus on the real dangers. Prioritize resources to fight Al Qaeda and Jihadist terrorists and the most urgent dangers, such as nuclear terrorism. That means a new strategy for success in Iraq that allows us to redeploy our troops.
Four, don't outsource our diplomacy. We need direct, face to face talks with North Korea. We should also talk directly with Iran.
Five, we need to pay attention to Latin America, our own back yard. The key is passing a comprehensive immigration plan now that includes enhanced border security, a path to legalization for the 11 million immigrants already here, and sanctions against employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants. The House should stop holding these silly hearings. Mr. President, your good words on immigration should be followed by deeds to pass a comprehensive plan.
Six, face up to global environmental threats. The first thing this Administration did was reject the Kyoto Treaty. America should be the world's leader, and that means owning up to grave environmental dangers, such as global warming.
Finally, respect human rights and American values. Prisoner abuse, torture, secret prisons and evasion of the Geneva Accords should have no place in our foreign policy.
Every American wants safety and security. We can continue to wait for Republicans in Washington to lead. Or we can make a change.
We are Democrats and we stand for diplomacy NOT threats; bridges NOT walls; alliances NOT isolation.
Some Democrats will probably consider Bill Richardson too centrist, but I see him as a Howard Dean-style centrist. He is looking for policies that will actually work, regardless of ideology. Like Howard Dean, he has a record of being a sensible Governor and unlike Dean he has an unassailable Foreign policy resume. While not being quite as anti-Iraq war as Dean early on, he has come to the conclusion that even Hillary Clinton recently came to: it is time to begin troop redeployment out of Iraq.
His connection to the DLC (Democratic Leadership Council) does put me off a bit, but as long as he is willing to work with the populist progressives that will be in control of the Democratic Party after 2006 I think he will do fine. The real power we need to push a social progressive and economic progressive reform agenda is the Congress, and fiscal responsibility isn't really a bad thing either. We need to reign in our out of control deficit spending.
Besides, the current darling of the populist progressives (myself included) is Al Gore - also a member of the DLC. I have accepted the fact Al isn't running in '08, and perhaps it is best we field a new candidate anyway.
It is way too early to make a firm choice yet, and I'm much more concerned about what we can do this year. Still, in the back of my mind a list is forming for who I could support in the 2007-2008 Presidential primary season, and right now Bill Richardson is at the top.
