Davos Newbies Home
July 23rd, 2004
From Dave Winer today: “If a substantial number of Americans had a vision for this country, we would have a Roosevelt, a Truman or even an Eisenhower or Johnson to choose from. Could Kerry be that? I really don’t think so. I got the idea when I saw him at Davos in Y2K, standing around schmoozing. Everything he says is so World Economic Forum. We’re voting for Klaus Schwab when we vote for Kerry.”
Would that be so bad? I agree with Dave that there doesn’t seem to be a Roosevelt, Truman or Johnson around (I wouldn’t place Eisenhower in that kind of company). But what my observations of Kerry in the unusual milieu of Davos indicate is that he is a man with his heart in the right place (like Klaus Schwab). There are issues I could argue with him, he doesn’t make my heart leap, but I think both America and the world would be far better for having a Davos man in the White House.
What does that imply? First, an understanding of the complexity of the world. Second, an intellectual engagement with the difficult issues that confront leaders. Third, an interest in listening to other viewpoints. Three qualifications that president Bush lacks, and three qualifications that Kerry has.