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January 8, 1999/ 20 Tevet 5759, Vol. 51, No. 15
Center holdEditorialWith an Arizona presidential primary a near certainty and with one - and very likely two - candidates hailing from our home state, anyone with even a mild interest in politics will be watching as the Y2K race gains momentum.Arizona's U.S. Sen. John McCain announced last week the formation of an exploratory committee in preparation for his candidacy in the Republican primary race; former Vice President Dan Quayle, a current Scottsdale resident (who also attended school here at one time), is expected to announce any day now his intention to run for the Republican presidential nomination. Other party hopefuls include publisher Steve Forbes and Elizabeth Dole, who resigned this week as executive director of the American Red Cross citing, cryptically, "exciting possibilities." Word is that Dole has expectations of raising more than $20 million to try to succeed where her husband, Bob, failed. It is heartening to see a multitude of candidates surfacing so early in the electoral cycle, particularly in light of the ongoing problems plaguing the current White House occupant, William Jefferson Clinton. Fallout from the Clinton mess could chill aspirations for higher office among some potential candidates uncomfortable about exposing their private lives to intense public scrutiny. While a legion of candidates promises to revitalize the political process, it could also exaggerate difference, provoke divisiveness and inhibit the ability to compromise. The recent House of Representatives impeachment proceedings were an example of what can happen when partisan politics and narrow interests dominate. Bipartisan initiatives in the Senate, such as those spearheaded by Sens. Joe Lieberman (D-Conn.) and Slade Gorton (R-Wash.) reflect how reasoned joint efforts can lead to efficacious solutions. As we look beyond the Clinton years toward the new millennium, we must seek elected officials who are independent, who have high professional standards and personal values, and who demonstrate an abiding capacity to forge critical partnerships - and the force of leadership to make the center hold. |
