John McCain said this morning, "the best and the brightest in the Republican Party are running for President".

I knew McCain was too honest to be a highly successful politician.

Seriously, where are the "Best and the Brightest" from either Party? Are the current crop of elected folks (Federal, State, Local) the best we can do?

If not, why not?

Nicely stated Chuck.

Great points, Chuck. Now...what do we do to entice that caliber of person to lead our nation? Or should America simply accept that industry deserves better leadership than that of the nation?

In other words, which is more important: industry or the nation?

Doesn't matter which is more important. The degree of transparency shed on a candidate means any skeletons in the closet will be exposed. And the best and the brightest all have skeletons they don't want exposed to the light of day or public scrutiny. If we want the best, we have to accept the tarnish. But the tarnish becomes the focal point of the campaign, and the candidate's leadership skills aren't even part of the debate, let alone the election.

It makes me want to cry...because I hate to admit that I actually agree with John McCain about something.

As much as it pains me to do so, I must agree with KK on this one...calling that crop of Republicans (and most other Republicans, too ) assholes does give assholes a bad name.

Fish on...

Todd

+1 you almost have me beat. :>)

Salmo has it right. Who would want to take a huge pay cut, be subjected to constant lies and rumors, be berated for almost anything they do and have their families under a spotlight? There are only three types I can think of the totally corrupt, megalomaniacs and true patriots. There are way too many of the former and not enough of the latter.

Term limits will never happen.

Typo fixed.

Word Chuck!

No... you can eliminate those too and have ONLY publicly funded elections... which I believe is what Chuck meant to say.

If I woulda put all that in there though... it wouldn't have looked like I was fixin' the typo.

SOB........There are WAY to many things in this thread that WE ALL hold in common! I'll be damned!

I personally oppose term limits for the House and Senate because, among other reasons, I think they would enhance the very problems they are intended to correct. But I'll save that argument for a more appropriate time.

As to the rest, the ONLY way to get money out of politics is to have public funded elections.

I have a really hard time believing that anyone would want the Supremes having a lifetime appointment. I think that whole idea is beyond absurd. From everything that I've seen, anyone who is at the same job for more than 20 years, needs to be gone.