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DEL.ICIO.USSitting down with Sam Nunn: His attempt to shape the presidential debate
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Had a lengthy sit-down with Sam Nunn this afternoon on the topic of this effort to put together a kind of truth-telling squad that would force the current crop of presidential candidates, Republican and Democrats, to address some of the tougher issues of the day.
In a series of webcast seminars, not unlike what Newt Gingrich attempted in September, Nunn and former secretary of defense William Cohen, a Republican, would toss out ideas on thick topics like America’s flagging credibility in foreign policy, the unhealthy reliance on foreign counties to underwrite our debt, and so on.
Nunn still says his own candidacy for president as an independent remains unlikely, but he concedes what he’s doing could lead to someone — Michael Bloomberg, say — jumping into the contest. Also, in August, Nunn ruled out a vice presidential candidacy. He didn’t do that today.
Read the complete article here. But very quickly, here are some key Nunn quotes:
— On building a source of information for candidates in either party: “Anybody could pick it up. Either democratic candidates or republican candidates or both. Or let them debate it. Or it could lead to an independent candidacy. It’s entirely possible that it could.”
— On the barriers to running an independent presidential campaign: “The only one that can mount that kind of campaign without a whole lot of consensus building is Bloomberg, because he’s got the money. Anybody else, they’ve got to get out there and raise some money. That’s a huge job to raise the money and do the intellectual work at the same time.”
— On himself: “I’ve never been interested in running for president for the sake of running for president. Or being president for the sake of being president. Or being vice president for the sake of being vice president. Only if I’m intellectually stimulated and believe I can take four or five major things and try to get them accomplished for the country — that would stimulate me.”
— And yet: “This is the kind of thing I’d be doing if I were going to run. And everybody would tell you, it’s not the way to run for president. And I would not argue that that’s right. But it’s the only way I’d run…if I couldn’t build a consensus in the campaign, there’d be no reason in being elected.”
Comments
By Andrew MacRae
December 30, 2007 5:30 PM | Link to this
If we build it, Mike will run. Join the grassroots effort to Draft Mike Bloomberg for President!
By Andrew MacRae
December 30, 2007 5:43 PM | Link to this
Join the grassroots efforts to draft Mike Bloomberg!
By Fred
December 30, 2007 5:47 PM | Link to this
Senator Nunn left himself be silenced by Bill Clinton, what almost 16 years ago? He could have fought whatever dirt Clinton had but he decided to shut up and quit. Why should we listen to him now? He submitted to bullying once, he will do it again. Had he not knuckled under to the Clintonista’s he would STILL be a Senator fighting for Georgia if not a viable candidate fighting Hitlery for the nomination. What has changed that suddenly got him back his balls? Is he clearing his actions with Hitlery now for approval? Sorry, I don’t trust him anymore. Once bought, always for sale.
By Matlock
December 30, 2007 6:07 PM | Link to this
Bloomberg supporters must be the leftovers/dregs from the aPauled campaign.
Good luck, “Andrew MacRae”.
Your friend,
David Dinkins
By Churchill
December 30, 2007 6:34 PM | Link to this
Has Ru Paul dropped out of the race yet? If so, I will will miss his over zealous supporters. Bloomberg would be Clinton’s Perot. I love the idea.
By MO
December 30, 2007 9:26 PM | Link to this
I’ll certainly look at this closer. The Dems continue pointing at Bush’s low approval rating but none want to mention that it is almost twice the rating of Congress. — and we are considering some of those same people to lead our country??? I think it is time for a lot of new faces in Washington - Republican, Democrat or Independent.
By Kubla Con
December 31, 2007 10:47 AM | Link to this
Allah, please explain circular logic to Sam Nunn. “It’s good that it would be good if things were good.” Nunn’s plan is what we called in the Taliban Youth, “a goat who wont hunt”. The bipartisan xanadu is a xanadont story: already obsolete and forgotten, and an infidel’s wet dream.
Happy New Year.
By Jerry
December 31, 2007 11:01 AM | Link to this
I’ve been following “Unity 08” for months now as it flew under the press’ radar, and I’m delighted finally to see it in print. What a novel idea - candidates who serve the country instead of a political party! Why didn’t the founding Fathers think of that? (Oh, wait, poltical parties, those cancers in the gut of politics, weren’t around in the 1780s.)