Forgot to address Patrick Moynihan.
Again, a certain degree of integrity, yes, but that's not what I deem statesmanship. A statesman, IMO, has to be able to gain the respect of people even who disagree with him or her, and has to be effective on top of it. What's Moynihan done?
Potentially the most statesmanlike person we have flotating around right now might be Jimmy Carter. Lousy president, exellent ex-president, but hasn't taken the role on the world state he could, IMO. Squandered opportunities.
We need a statesman who has the integrity and credibility to step into the Middle East mess and accomplish something positive. But I don't see anybody of that stature in this country. Pope Paul, if he were in good health, might be able to. The Dali Lama, if he were inclined to, might be able to. Archbishop Tutu? Possibly. Who else?
Interesting that, inadvertently, I came up only with religious leaders. Not intended. But I don't see any statespersons on the world stage who are active politicians.
Nada. Zip. Zero. |
