Chuck Schumer For President

Since 2001, I've grown quite fond of viewing United States Senate proceedings on C-Span-2, as well as some of their committee hearings from time to time. My favorite type of hearing is the confirmation hearing, which is held by the Judiciary Committee. This committee has on it some of my favorite senators from each party. Very conservative Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions and Texas Senator John Corbin, a Bush apologist, are both effective and persuasive speakers for their positions. The ranking Republican member, Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter, is, to me, the most fair-minded individual in the entire Senate body. There is no way that his party would get behind him on a Presidential run, but if they did, and he was up for the task (he has recently recovered from treatment for cancer), I would have a hard time not supporting him. On the Democratic side, Illinois Senator Richard Durbin is probably their most effective speaker. I'm also impressed with Russ Feingold (from Wisconsin), who tends to make many votes on principle, even if it involves going against his party. But my favorite of all of them is New York Senator Charles Schumer, whose opinions I not only value (while not always agreeing with them), but who also comes across to me as a compelling, likable sort of guy that people naturally take to. His recent decision to support President Bush's Attorney General nominee Michael Mukasey when many of his colleagues demurred is an example of how he sees a broader view of issues than others. Although Mukasey gave an inconclusive answer to the "is water-boarding torture" question (causing most Democrats to vote against him), Mr. Schumer saw the sanctity of the Justice Department as an independent part of the Executive Branch to be a bigger issue. And being able to determine the big issue in a situation is an important qualifying trait for anyone who would serve in the office of United States President. Mr. Schumer has also been a very vocal advocate of making domestic national security a top priority, usually taking much more aggressive positions on this issue than the current Republican administration.

The fact that the front runners for 2008 in each party are New York politicians even accentuates further the comparatively higher level of competence, intelligence, understanding, and compassion for ordinary people that Mr. Schumer possesses and demonstrates while doing such a good job as Senator! Too bad they can't just draft him at the convention! Now that I've praised Senator Schumer so much, I sincerely hope that he doesn't turn around and say or do something really bone-headed!