Posted on 12/31/2007 9:52:11 PM PST by Osage Orange
Mon December 31, 2007
Will a new candidate emerge at OU?
By John Greiner
Capitol Bureau
NORMAN — University of Oklahoma President David L. Boren and former U.S. Sen. Sam Nunn of Georgia are convening a bipartisan group of nationally prominent political figures next Sunday and Monday to challenge presidential candidates to focus on serious issues.
Those planning to attend include:
•New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, a possible independent candidate for president.
•Former Democrat U.S. Sen. Charles S. Robb of Virginia.
•Bill Brock, former Republican Party chairman and former Tennessee U.S. Senator.
•Jim Leach, a former Republican congressman from Iowa.
•Former Democratic presidential candidate Gary Hart, who also served in the U.S. Senate.
Those invited will arrive Sunday evening in Norman and will first meet informally.
They will meet again Jan. 7, and then go to Holmberg Hall on the OU campus for a public panel discussion — open to students and the media — and conclude with a press conference on the OU campus, Boren said.
"This is not a Bloomberg for president meeting,” said Boren, a former U.S. Senator.
But, if those running for president don't begin talking about bringing the country together, it could create an opening for an independent candidacy, Boren said.
"We used to work together across party lines and we used to cooperate with each other,” Boren told the Associated Press of his relationships with current and former senators who plan to attend.
"It is a message to the two parties: Please rise to the occasion. If you don't, there is always a possibility out there of an independent.
"We need statesmanship, not politics. The meeting in itself implies there could be other possibilities,” than a two-party contest.
However, Boren told The Oklahoman, "This does not signal my re-entry into politics. I will stay where I am. I don't intend to run for anything.”
Some attending the meeting intend to support their party's nominee for president, Boren said.
What's the purpose?
The meeting's purpose probably is best described in the letter Boren and Nunn sent to those who are coming to Norman.
"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,” they wrote.
The issues Boren and Nunn believe should be discussed in the presidential campaign include:
•A national strategy to deal with the nation's fiscal challenges.
•Educational, energy and environmental challenges.
•The "dangerous turbulence triggered by the current financial crisis.”
•In national security, America must rebuild and reconfigure its military forces, develop a viable and sustainable approach to nuclear proliferation and terrorism and greatly strengthen its intelligence and diplomatic capabilities, their letter said.
"Most importantly, we must begin to restore our standing, influence and credibility in the world,” they said.
Boren said America's approval rating in the world is at its lowest level in history.
"Cooperating with the rest of the world is important to our economy and national security,” he said
Boren and Nunn were friends while serving in the U.S. Senate.
Boren, a Democrat, was chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, and Nunn, also a Democrat, was chairman of the Armed Services Committee.
Boren, former Oklahoma governor, resigned from the U.S. Senate in 1994 to become OU's president.
Boren and Nunn said the nation's political system is at the least, badly bent, and many think it is broken at a time when America must lead "boldly at home and abroad.”
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.....................
No
Gary Hart?
BWHAHAHAHA!
Hot air!
>>>"We used to work together across party lines and we used to cooperate with each other,....” <<<
Hummm? I wonder if this is intended as a message to Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi and the rest of the Democrat obstructionists with an 11% approval rating?
Naaah....former Democrat Senators are never that perceptive...except for Zell Miller and Joe Lieberman.
Personally I think.....it’s an Okie trial balloon for a Bloomberg POTUS run....
We may be seeing the start of the “Balkanization” of the “Good Ole USofA”. A third or even a fourth party my run a candidate that could pull some electoral votes. This is not likely this year, however, if California votes to share its electoral votes, then maybe!!!
He’s a Dim
I wouldn’t be surprised at anything...........
Both parties are stuck with a failing nomination process, and may be forced, against the judgement of their senior elected officials, to nominate flawed candidates.
That, plus CFR, plus the increasingly entrepreneurial nature of politics, opens the door for a serious "unity" ticket which would be well-funded, nationally competitive, and possibly victorious.
I would NEVER have picked this bunch to hold anything together, let alone a future POTUS.
Could be just that Oklahoma wind whistling.
I will not work with traitors and America haters such as the San Fransicko crowd.
This is an audition for the “Ross Perot 2008” candidate in order to improve Hillary’s prospects by siphoning off moderate and conservative votes with a “pragmatic, centrist”. The MSM will pretend that they didn’t see this coming, but the fix is in. They’ll give Candidate “X” enough free ink and air time to get him up to 10% in the polls, invite him to the debates (at which time he and Hillary will gang up on the GOP candidate). Of course if this mystery candidate appears to be pulling votes from Her Heinous, they’ll drop him like a hot rock.
The only candidate that will benefit from a third party is Hillary. In fact, she need’s her Ross Perot to get elected, just like her husband.
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