By the day, it's looks increasingly likely that the next in line to the throne in the nation's competing political families – the Republican Bushes and Democratic Clintons – are eying runs for the nation's top office in 2016. Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush and former Secretary of State, U.S. Senator and First Lady Hillary Clinton are sending all the usual signals they intend to run, although neither has taken the formal steps of setting up an exploratory campaign committee or officially announcing their intentions.
It's discouraging that both parties seem so short of new ideas for emerging candidates that their only options are recycling the same elite families – who are personally friendly with each other – to serve as a rotating elected monarchy. Had current President Barack Obama not defeated Clinton in the 2008 Democratic primary process, the nation would have likely experienced a streak four consecutive Bush-Clinton-Bush-Clinton administrations. Can't we – as a nation – do better than this?
I think we can. I believe that the majority of Americans are both ready and excited by the prospect of electing our first female president, so long as she comes from their party of choice. So, here's an idea: Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) vs Gov. Susana Martinez (R-NM).
Both officeholders have strong bona fides among their own parties' respective bases – Martinez a reliable fiscal conservative and Klobuchar a champion of numerous causes important to liberals – but each also has the potential to appeal to a wider base of less extreme voters in the general election. Neither comes from an established political family, but rather their biographies tell versions of the American story to which many could relate. Neither will destroy the country, regardless of whatever line FOX News or MSNBC tries to sell you to the contrary.
I believe it would be a fair fight and both candidates would find open ground to espouse new ideas and new political mannerisms in an election season devoid of the Clinton or Bush legacy for the first time since 1976 (yes, the 2012 Obama/Biden vs Romney/Ryan contest did not include either, but Hillary Clinton was just exiting the Obama administration, which itself emerged following the primary race against Clinton). Think about that: 1976! As Josiah Bartlett might ask, "Leo, what the hell are we doing here?!"
Now, there are many supporters in both the Hillary and Jeb camps that claim that it's their candidate's turn to be President after stepping aside for others in their family while they were actually the most talented politicians. This argument goes that these folks are entitled to their time in the White House and sacrificed themselves for the good of the family/party many times already. This argument is particularly fervent among Clinton's supporters, who often tie her fall to Obama to misogyny. And, to be sure, that contest was not devoid of treatment of Clinton entirely related to her gender – some from the Obama campaign itself, which was terrible. How much worse was that than the treatment of Obama due to his race, likewise from the Clinton campaign on occasion? That's impossible to determine, and by all accounts, the two were ultimately able to bridge these allegations as Clinton joined Obama's administration.
Regardless, my response would be tough shit. No one is entitled to the presidency, particularly those whose families have already had ample opportunity to lead the nation. The Bush family has already enjoyed three terms in the executive mansion, although Jeb Bush never lived there himself. Meanwhile, Clinton lived there alongside her husband, Bill, for eight years – serving as the most active First Lady since Eleanor Roosevelt in matters of policy – then played a crucial role in Obama's administration for four years. To suggest either has had an unfair political career is absurd.
It's time for some new leaders and the ideas they would bring from both parties. If you have a particular gripe with Klobuchar or Martinez, here's some alternatives not mired in the Bush or Clinton dynasties who could also credibly win the general election (note the abundance of women from both parties):
Republicans: Condalezza Rice; Jack Dalrymple (N.D.); Mary Fallin (OK); Rick Snyder (MI); Kelly Ayotte (N.H.); Lisa Murkowski (AK); maybe John Thune (S.D.) or John Portman (OH) if they could overcome their milquetoastiness
Democrats: Claire McCaskell (MO); Steve Beshear (KY); Maggie Hassan (N.H.); Martin O'Malley (MD); Kirsten Gillibrand (N.Y.); maybe Tim Kaine (VA) if he's able to distance himself from his DNC tenure
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