The net roots can be an impatient bunch. We tend to want what we want when we want it.
That said, for the past few months we have been witnessing the exception to the rule.
How often have we seen, "I’m leaning/supporting (fill in the blank) ‘unless Clark’ or ‘unless Gore’ jumps in."
What’s with that?
What is it about these two men that can cause so many to sit back and wait (albeit with many fidgets) for them?
Why?
My thoughts on the matter follow. What do you think?
Both men have shown qualities that we recognize and qualities that we want to see in our next president. Both men have shown the ability to lead, to take responsibility for their words and deeds—to not shun accountability.
Both men have been willing to stand up for what they believe in while others sat on their hands and waited for the popularity factor to guide their advocacy.
Al Gore was advocating for sane environmental policies and advances in technology before it was "cool". He was laughed at and ridiculed by many, but that never stopped him. He has since become a powerful voice for the environment.
Wes Clark was advocating for an end to ethnic cleansing in the world while our government was taking a "hey it’s not our problem" stance. His convictions did not always make him popular in military circles, or with some of the politicos who held the power to make or break his advancement in his chosen profession. He has since become a powerful voice for a sane foreign policy that would garner more friends than enemies.
I think we sense in these two men a power born of strongly held convictions--to our nation and the world community--a power of a commitment of decades that will not be set aside for political expediency.
Because of who they are, of what they have stood for over their lifetimes, we recognize a sense of a vision of a better tomorrow. A tomorrow based on true compassion for the planet and its inhabitants--a tomorrow in which words are no longer empty promises but are words of truth--words that lead to right action.
We believe their conviction—their dedication to our country, our world—to us, will lead them to actions that will, to the best of their abilities, give us a chance to regain so much that we have lost, both within our country and in our world--and possibly, even more importantly--within our weary souls.
We see, it seems, two competent, capable and caring men.
And so--we wait.