Did you vote in 2004? A lot of exciting names have crawled out of the woodwork since then, especially with the upcoming congressional election dominating the news.
If you're not happy with the result you got, here's my top 10 list of names to get you thinking about 2008.
Margaret Spellings, Secretary of Education
Weapon of choice: The No Child Left Behind Act
Replacing Roderick Paige during the re-election reorganization of the Bush cabinet, Spellings brings to the staff a surname that fits her position. With this champion of name/career association at the head of our executive branch, the country can look forward to a cabinet full of Secretaries with appropriate last names. Maybe Rip Torn can be brought on as the Secretary of Document Destruction (the modern Ministry of Truth).
Hillary Clinton, senator (D-NY)
Relationship with public: tumultuous
Love her or hate her: according to the Aug. '06 cover of TIME magazine, those are the only two options. The number of responses that the publication received, many of which included drawn-in third options, suggests there's more depth to the candidate than some are willing to admit. Hey, at least Bill would get to be First Man for four years.
Arnold Schwarzenegger, Governor of California
2012 re-election campaign slogan: "I'll be back."
Okay, so the guy would have to get a few more laws passed before becoming eligible for the presidency. It's not like he hasn't been trying. And I personally wouldn't put anything past the guy who cocked a shotgun with one hand while riding on a motorcycle to save the world, again. And then became governor.
Condoleezza Rice, Secretary of State
Best served with: Beans (the indie-rap star)
Rice has drawn notice for achieving many of her political positions through personal responsibility and genuine effort, where many of her peers found themselves in office for being friends with the right people. Against the backdrop of the Bush administration, she stands out as a decent choice for a revolutionary new kind of president-elect.
Jeb Bush, Governor of Florida
Role in dynasty: the only one left
Jeb was defeated in 2004 when the Florida Supreme Court ruled Terri's Law unconstitutional. If he'll back down in the face of a woman in a helpless vegetative state, maybe he'll know when to quit in international politics, too.
Barack Obama, senator (D-Ill.)
Weapon of choice: disarming smile
Author of several successful books, senator by a landslide and object of extreme media scrutiny. This guy would be a real contender if he actually committed to running. His position on whether or not he'll go through with it seems to flip flop, however, making him seem more like a nervous prom date than the guy pretty much every Democrat wants to see in office. If he does run, he promised Oprah he'd announce it on her show. No, seriously.
John Kerry, senator (D-Mass.)
Sign: Sagittarius
When asked whether he'll run again, he's quoted as saying, "I'm keeping all of my options open." It's good to know running the country is a worthwhile possibility for him.
Rudy Giuliani, chairman, Giuliani Partners LLC
Experience: two terms as New York City Mayor, bulletproof
If Giuliani can do to the nation what he did to his city in his first term as mayor, we'll be in good shape. He leveled the crime graphs in the late 1990s and made notable contributions to the 9/11 cleanup and organization efforts after the attacks. He's proven his aptitude in management and leadership, and a strong leader is what many people are in the mood for this election.
Gargamel, Smurf-hunter
Chief of staff: Azrael the cat
The force of capitalism in a communist state ruled by a red hat and a wily beard, Gargamel has shown nothing but ambition and financial responsibility since we first became familiarized with his efforts to catch the Smurfs and either eat them or turn them into gold. An easy pick, especially set against Hillary.
John Stewart, host, The Daily Show
Cinematography: minor role in "Half Baked"
If only, right? Stewart brought fans and readers "America (The Book)," hosts the show many college students cite as their primary news source, and was a candidate to replace Letterman on The Late Show. Achievements aside, he's gained popularity for his charisma, debate skill and awareness of political issues. He even made the list for the 2005 TIME top 100 most influential people.
The recent film "Man of the Year" may or may not have been based on the idea of John Stewart running in the 2008 presidential election- an idea that, when explored, made a surprising amount of sense. Either way, he's a man willing to rock the boat a little and a valuable resource for our country.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
