As a miserable 2008 comes to a close, it is a time when many
Americans will make New Year’s resolutions.
I have given up making such declarations. For nearly 35 years I
have resolved to undertake many self-improvement projects for the
New Year: lose weight, learn French, quit swearing, write a book.
So far I am batting .000 relative to these good, but, so far,
unattainable intentions.
This year I am turning over a new leaf. I am going to suggest
some useful resolutions for other people who might
benefit from some serious thinking on how to improve
their lives in the coming year.
Sarah Palin. Governor, only you can
evaluate the relative priorities between remaining in public life
versus managing your vibrant, lively family and household. But if
you want to progress in politics, I would suggest finding common,
non-ideological ground to occupy which would allow you to
re-introduce yourself to independents and moderate Democrats (I
have no doubt you are golden with the rank-and-file GOP). You
should make support for special needs children your paramount,
non-political cause. As a spokeswoman, a fundraiser, and
advocate, drawing upon your personal experience, you can
highlight the worth of these kids, the love they bring to parents
and families, strike a blow for the culture of life and build
trust and appreciation among many reasonable Americans who may
not have quite gotten into the Zen of your vice-presidential
candidacy.
Oh yes, if you stay in politics, a stint in the U.S. Senate would
probably set you up nicely for national leadership after you
immerse yourself in the intricacies of foreign policy and
national security. You would improve, markedly, the image of the
Alaska delegation, which has not distinguished itself in terms
either of ethics or policy.
Mitch McConnell. I do not agree with
David Frum on many things, but he was absolutely right about your
role as Senate Republican Leader: you now lead the single most
important political institution from the perspective of
right-of-center governance, the Senate Republican Caucus. You and
your small band are like the 300 Spartans at Thermopylae except
with only a fraction of the troops. House Republicans are
hopelessly outnumbered. You are all that stands in the way of a
completely Europeanized America besotted with high taxes,
corporate bailouts as far as the eye can see, and anemic economic
growth. My advice: focus on only the really big issues and call
upon your fellow Republicans to find their inner conservative,
eschewing scandal, pork and small matters. You are The Man. Run
with it. Your standing tall behind and with your stalwart
colleague, Senator Bob Corker (R-TN), on the Detroit bailout was
spot on. Leadership has to come from the front.
Senate and House Republicans. Forget the earmarks. Think really
hard about entitlement reform. Better yet, start hammering out a
solid proposal for deflecting this killer meteor coming at us
within our lifetime. I assume it will have to incorporate some
kind of base-closing mechanism that delegates the actual work to
an unelected body that would come back to Congress with
legislation for an up or down vote on the entire package sans
amendments. You will probably have to give up worrying about the
next Farm Bill or that new federal building in your district for
the time being. As bad as the current spending situation is, and
the inevitable tax increases to follow, the $40-50
trillion liability now facing us dwarfs every other
domestic and foreign threat except loose nukes and other WMDs.
President-Elect Obama. You are an
impressive human being and, now, a historic figure. But your
statement that deciding when human rights attach to unborn
children was “above my pay grade” was pretty lame. I doubt that
even your own supporters believed it. I sincerely hope you would
eventually abandon this feigned agnosticism and embrace a more
robust view of the rights of the unborn, but I am a realist.
So let me offer some hard-boiled political advice. Don’t alienate
the many independent and moderate-to-conservative Democrats who
voted for you on economic grounds by actively supporting the
Freedom of Choice Act. Many of us will be doing everything within
our power to derail this monstrosity of a bill in Congress. Let
it be. As your SNL impersonator might say, be “cool.” Keep
Senator Casey of Pennsylvania and those many new Democratic House
members, from formerly Republican districts, happy or at least
semi-contented. You have enough to worry about with the economy
Chernobyl-ing right now.
United Auto Workers. Consider how a
lower-paying job beats no job at all.
Chris Matthews. Please run for that
open Senate seat in the Keystone State for which you pine. I
think I would enjoy supporting the GOP in Pennsylvania. Senator
Arlen Specter (R-PA) is a bit more liberal than I am, but next to
you he is Barry Goldwater re-incarnated. I will enjoy all the
attack adds replaying many of your past television shows for the
benefit of the voters up there.
Wall Street Operators and those formerly known as Masters
of the Universe. Give all you have to the poor, after
setting aside a modest amount for your wives and children, and
join a Trappist monastery.
Happy New Year!
