Cabinet to Run with Prez?

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I have been following the presidential campaigns as closely as I can, given my chain of responsibilities, and one thing I notice is how tired Hillary looks and that Barack has a head cold and blew his nose in public. Hillary had a coughing fit during one campaign stop.

     The list of places each goes is astounding, superhuman, especially if you are John McCain’s age, even older than Reagan when he campaigned. I suppose there is caffeine and speed, and perhaps steroids, and I wonder if the last of the three is legal . . .

     And consider also that Bill and Chelsea are on the campaign path as is Michelle, doing some surrogate stumping.

     I have an idea that will add years to the lives and health of those would-be most powerful of all leaders, thus far anyway. Why not have them campaign with their would-be vice presidents, staff, and cabinets, so that we can really know what we’re getting, assuming that the balance of powers is somewhat restored after King George II and Dictator Cheney are replaced?

     The presidential candidates would not have to pretend they know everything about every issue and instead would campaign with experts in each field. The people would be clearer on policies and Hillary, for example, would have less motivation to prevaricate and skirt issues. Barack could continue his baritone arias about change and hand over the specifics to those who know something about them.

     And the pressure would be off those seeking the presidency. The prospective secretaries of state would anticipate what they would do, the head of the EPA would specialize in the energy crisis and be able to answer detailed questions from the press, who would have lots more homework as a result; network news and CNN, MSNBC, et al. would be less like gossip shows and get to the real mechanisms that will run this county. 

     We will elect the executive branch of the government as clearly as the legislative. I don’t know what to do about the judicial branch except to say that the presidential candidates could announce whom they would appoint to which vacancies during their campaigns.

     I don’t pretend to be an expert in U.S. history and whether this has been tried before, but instead of vapid generalizations like “Read my lips . . . ,” a promise not carried out, and the son’s promise to bring the country together, another lie from a decidedly uncompassionate conservative that backfired to the detriment of so many, voters would be provided with specifics.

     Politics might become altered; a higher percentage of the truth would seep in, and we’d have a better idea of what we’re getting.

     Can you imagine what it would be like for individual members of the executive branch to campaign on their own? The executive might become bipartisan. Ralph Nader would become head of the EPA instead of the perennial spoiler.

      I’m aware that at the beginning of U.S. history the vice president was the executive who received the second-highest number of votes after the president. That makes infinite sense to me.

     The voters would have far more choices; all three branches of the government would be elected by the people.

     Perhaps our government would become multipartisan or less partisan. The voters would have to do lots more homework and hence the government would become far more of, by, and for the people.

     Wishful thinking? Less sneezing, coughing, and red eye among those few aiming for the highest office in the land. We do want a healthy president.