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DEL.ICIO.USNunn, other centrists make a bid for building a bipartisan presidential consensus
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Former U.S. senator Sam Nunn of Georgia has put himself at the center of a bipartisan effort to force both Republican and Democratic presidential candidates to spell out plans for a “government of national unity” that would put an end to Washington gridlock.
He and former Senate colleague David Boren of Oklahoma have put their names to a letter summoning a dozen middle-of-the-road members of both parties to a Jan. 7 meeting at the University of Oklahoma.
More to come shortly, but here’s the sum of the Dec. 17 letter:
Thank you for agreeing to join us to exchange ideas about constructive ways in which we might help stimulate a meaningful debate during the current presidential campaign on the important challenges facing our nation.
Our political system is, at the least, badly bent and many are concluding that it is broken at a time where America must lead boldly at home and abroad. Partisan polarization is preventing us from uniting to meet the challenges that we must face if we are to prevent further erosion of America’s power of leadership and example.
The next president of the United States will be faced with what has been described as a “gathering storm” both at home and abroad. Serious near term challenges include the lack of a national strategy to deal with our fiscal challenges, our educational challenges, our energy challenges, our environmental challenges, as well as the dangerous turbulence triggered by the current financial crisis.
In the national security arena, our nation must rebuild and reconfigure our military forces. We must develop a viable and sustainable approach to nuclear proliferation and terrorism and greatly strengthen our intelligence and diplomatic capabilities. Most importantly, we must begin to restore our standing, influence, and credibility in the world. Today, we are a house divided. We believe that the next president must be able to call for a unity of effort by choosing the best talent available - without regard to political party - to help lead our nation.
To say the obvious, the presidential debates thus far have produced little national discussion of these and other fundamental issues and plans to address them. If this pattern continues through this important national election, it will produce neither a national consensus for governing nor a president who can successfully tackle these threats to our nation’s future. We understand the rough and tumble part of the political process, but without a modicum of civility and respect in our debates, forming a bipartisan consensus on the major issues after the election will be virtually impossible.
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Comments
By Grand Poobah
December 30, 2007 1:06 PM | Link to this
I think Mr. Nunn missed a couple of cliche’s in what’s just another cyclical refried manifesto-of-the-minority which could have been written at any point in our history and still be exact.
Of course they want to share power now that they dont possess it. Go soak your heads. It’s the democrats turn to undo the damage the repudlickans did. End the war. Balance the budget. Encourage justice.
By Duke
December 30, 2007 2:18 PM | Link to this
As Chairman of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, former Senator Sam Nunn is a major contributor to the domestic disarray of our national government, and to our strategic weakness abroad. He and his committee are working towards a North American Union. They vigorously deny that a complete North American Union is their goal, but similar false assurances were given about the European Union. In any event, their project by definition weakens U. S. sovereignty at each step of implementation, which weakens our ability to act internationally. They will not dispose of the U. S. Constitution without a major civil war, so domestic tranquility is impossible while men like Mr. Nunn are entertaining such ideas.
When he says, “environmental problems”, he no doubt refers to global warming, which is the biggest hoax ever perpetrated upon the human race. Global warming is merely the latest pretext to establish a strong international government to enact strict socialistic regulations, and that is what Mr. Nunn is working towards. If he succeeds, it will mean the end of the Age of Liberty under the U. S. Constitution.
The Bible tells us that this world government will be an evil oppressor worse than anything that has gone before. “Unless those days should be cut short (by Christ’s return), no flesh would be saved.” (Matthew 24:22) Reason and Experience tell us the same thing. The U. S. Constitution represents the culmination of 200 years of Puritan political thought. It is based on the biblical teaching of the utter depravity of man apart from God’s redeeming grace. Democracy will not work without Christianity; and nothing else will work, either. If we can keep America a Christian nation, we just might be able to make liberty work here. Other nations can follow our example if they choose; but Jesus could not save the world, and neither can we. The world will end at the Battle of Armageddon. To weaken national sovereignty is to hasten that terrible day. There will have to be an all-powerful world army to enforce “peace”. Do I need to draw you a picture from here?
By norman
December 30, 2007 2:38 PM | Link to this
The “left” and “right” positons have resulted in approval ratings for our President and Congress to be at unacceptable lows, which requires action by citizens who want and, rightfully, expect more from our leaders.
I support this action by former Senator Nunn, former Secretary William Cohen and others involved in an effort to bring more effective leadership back to America. I would love to be involved in this independent movement to bring about a new leadership in America.
By Grand Poobah
December 30, 2007 3:00 PM | Link to this
That’s correct, Duke. We mixed our democracy with religion and we got the Iraq War and record deficits, without which our economy couldn’t rally. That’s the american way. That’s what’s worked for 200 years.
More war! More War! MORE WAR!
More spending! More Spending! Bigger Government!!
More Saudi influence! More Saudi Influence! More Cheney-type puppets! More Cheney-type puppets!!
We want theocracy. We want theocracy!
and christ did save the world. Not from big brother, but from man himself. What’s at stake is not our nationalism, but our souls. Christ did it all by himself. He knew exactly what to say, exactly what to do. Exactly. He knew the spin of 2000 years would occur so he picked the isolated-and-despised jewish tribes for truth-integrity, and he picked the umbrella of the roman era to let his little idea incubate until it couldn’t be stopped, not by the likes of you and the repudlickans anyway. When Huckabee or Bush talk about God in a political arena, it weakens both our national spirituality and our democracy.
If you cant see that, then the terrorists win, sir.
have a nice day.
By Michael
December 30, 2007 8:15 PM | Link to this
I like the Sam Nunn Building.
By George Woodruff
December 31, 2007 11:31 AM | Link to this
Anyone with a lick of political sense realizes that despite his money Bloomberg carries so much baggage he is unelectable. His entrance into the presidential race as an independent candidate would leave us with nothing but a spoiler and would not change the status quo one iota! On the other hand, Sam Nunn is highly respected by the rank and file in both parties and has the know how and experience to help this country find its way out of the current political darkness. If Mayor Bloomberg really wants to put the interests of our nation first and foremost he could do so by taking on the tough job of Sam Nunn’s Finance Chair and raising the large sums of money necessary to for him to win the election. Real leadership may be our nation’s only chance to survive the turmoil ahead. Go for it Sam!!!
By George Woodruff
December 31, 2007 11:31 AM | Link to this
Anyone with a lick of political sense realizes that despite his money Bloomberg carries so much baggage he is unelectable. His entrance into the presidential race as an independent candidate would leave us with nothing but a spoiler and would not change the status quo one iota! On the other hand, Sam Nunn is highly respected by the rank and file in both parties and has the know how and experience to help this country find its way out of the current political darkness. If Mayor Bloomberg really wants to put the interests of our nation first and foremost he could do so by taking on the tough job of Sam Nunn’s Finance Chair and raising the large sums of money necessary to for him to win the election. Real leadership may be our nation’s only chance to survive the turmoil ahead. Go for it Sam!!!
By George Woodruff
December 31, 2007 11:31 AM | Link to this
Anyone with a lick of political sense realizes that despite his money Bloomberg carries so much baggage he is unelectable. His entrance into the presidential race as an independent candidate would leave us with nothing but a spoiler and would not change the status quo one iota! On the other hand, Sam Nunn is highly respected by the rank and file in both parties and has the know how and experience to help this country find its way out of the current political darkness. If Mayor Bloomberg really wants to put the interests of our nation first and foremost he could do so by taking on the tough job of Sam Nunn’s Finance Chair and raising the large sums of money necessary to for him to win the election. Real leadership may be our nation’s only chance to survive the turmoil ahead. Go for it Sam!!!
By NunnRightOnTrack
December 31, 2007 1:02 PM | Link to this
I followed Nunn’s work as co-chair of the nonpartisan Concord Coalition and was always impressed with his leadership on federal budget issues. If we had more elected officials like him we could be tackling our long term challenges instead of making them worse as our current crop of politicians is doing.
His strong national defense record coupled with his ability to work with people of diverse ideological backgrounds make him the perfect person to run for or be involved in the Presidency. His statesmanship is sorely missed in today’s Washington and very much needed for the future of our country.
By Duke
December 31, 2007 1:43 PM | Link to this
Sam Nunn is not the man we elected to Washington. He spent an entire career in Washington, and never got the slightest clue about what the national Democratic Party is up to. Our polity is so incredibly biased that a man of his opinions is considered a centrist and a moderate. He has no idea what is going on in this country.