Madam, – Despite the appalling turmoil and unprecedented disappointments our society has faced in recent years and the devastating impact this has had directly on so many people, a source of genuine pride, inspiration and stability has been our President.
President McAleese has given the nation outstanding and most distinguished service. She successfully reaches out to all in her own unique and personal style and it will be a very hard act to follow.
But political parties face a more daunting task than they might realise in selecting presidential candidates. The electorate will be looking for a choice of candidates of real substance and unimpeachable character, admired at home with the potential to be respected abroad, who have the capacity to capture the zeitgeist of the people, but yet are humble enough to be typical of all of us. While only one candidate can prevail when the votes are counted, the political parties will be punished if they flunk the candidate viability test because it will brutally expose their own impotence and detachment from the electorate in their quest for a leader that offers hope, confidence and imagination.
Choosing a presidential candidate involves looking deeply into the heart of the nation and discerning the options for the next chapter of nationhood. The nature of each presidential term varies but it is characterised by the times we live in as well as the capacity of the incumbent to develop the office within the bounds of the Constitution and his, or her, stamina and character.
One of the early milestones during the term of the next president will be the celebration of a century of us as a free nation. President Kennedy reminded us in June 1963 that the achievement of nationhood was not an end, but a beginning and “history moves with the tramp of earthquake feet”. Our next president will symbolise our destiny in the world, the standards we live by, the example we set and our capacity to influence our own wellbeing and that of others.
The choice the people make in selecting the next president will provide rich insights into our collective aspirations and diverse priorities but the first major hurdle is for the electorate to be provided with attractive, interesting candidates to choose from. – Yours, etc,