It came to me while shoveling snow today that one reason I am not taken by John Kerry is that I am tired of having an action hero president. I want someone who genuinely enjoys the idea of governance. Of looking at our country, looking at our issues and problems, and then trying to craft solutions that make sure that everyone has a chance to succeed economically, to have equal rights under the law, and to make sure that we leave our country a better place for our children. That is why I support Dean ahead of everyone else. Dean gets governance. And he obviously loves both the wonkish aspects of developing policies and programs and the political aspects of getting them passed into law, funded, and in place.
So far as I can see, GWB ran for President for the presence, the perks and the power of the office. I don't think he gives more than a fig or two about actual governance and the creation of policies and programs. That is why he lets so many other folks actually craft his positions. I think we can do better as a country than this.
Kerry, though I cannot in good conscience say he is at all like Bush, also seems to me to enjoy the spotlight, the campaign rhetoric, and the perks and power of office (in this case the Senate) much much more over the actual nitty gritty business of governance. A year ago I was seriously considering Kerry, but reviewing his record and watching and reading his speeches left me cold. While his campaigning has improved dramatically over the past month or so, I am still left with the fact that he has been in the Senate for 16 years and seems to have spent much more time enjoying sitting on investigative/oversight committees and making speeches than actually sitting down and putting together legislation that would improve our nation. That bugs the heck out of me since he can talk the talk, it seems, but I just haven't seen the walk. And please, if you are more familiar with Kerry's record, and I am misrepresenting it here, please feel free to correct me. I want, no I need some reasons to get more excited about this guy if he actually does go on to win the nomination.
Anyway, this all came home to me while watching a Kerry NH campaign event where he wheeled out the "Bring it on" line. I am tired of this silly macho posturing. I am tired of having an action hero president. I want someone as president who is really interested in the nitty gritty of thinking through issues and finding ways to fix problems.
I realize I am totally out of touch with a lot of the public, but is it so much to ask for?