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It is too bad that Rush didn't have more interest in college. If he had he might have studied, or at least thought about, Socrates, Plato and Aristotle and how their efforts underpinned some of our governmental approaches.

For example, in the Republic Plato lists what are good governing qualities of leaders. The answer is that rulers should be those persons who always keep before them the interests of the community as a whole, rather than their own self-interest.

This is why John Adams and others were hesitant about political parties and also why the President was given so many powers. In any case, it was ssumed that one would govern for everyone and not just for narrow, parochial party interests.

I recognize that even after almost 2500 years, this idea is foreign to the majority of voters. But it remains a great guide. And, remember, if and when, Senator McCain becomes President McCain, he is President of the United States and not a narrow "real conservative" constituency.

” The answer is that rulers should be those persons who always keep before them the interests of the community as a whole.”

I don’t agree at all with this. This is socialist, populist, bullshit. Society is advanced when people operate in their own self interest.

Since you posted this socialist viewpoint on the Rush thread, I suggest you go and see if you can find Rush’s annual reading of the real story of Thanksgiving. It is termendously uplifting. It completely gets your head on straight as to our real founding and why working for self interest is the only way to prosperity.

In any case, it was ssumed that one would govern for everyone and not just for narrow, parochial party interests.

You are definitely going to need to expand on your post. Conservative values, those values which John McCain has abandoned, have been proven to lead to greater freedoms, while those positions that Senator McCain is speaking about most certainly appeal to narrow party interests. Only problem is that his positions appeal to the wrong party.

With all due respect, the only clear point in your comment is that you think Rush has somehow failed to appreciate some value of good government that you think deserves more appreciation.

I have not though about it much, but in my opinion, Socrates has always seemed like the ultimate statist. He was unfairly and unjustly condemned to death for criticizing the State. When offered an escape from his sentence, he declined it. He voluntarily drank his hemlock because of his love and appreciation of the State.

Rush is not running for President. John McCain and Barack Obama are.

Neither of them, in my opinion, have the qualities I would like to see in a leader.

One quality of leadership I value is the courage to tell the truth even when the truth is unpopular. Honesty often precludes pandering to ignorant voters just to get elected.

Another human quality I appreciate is the humility to acknowledge and respect the integrity of honest, hard working individuals, regardless of their education or social status.