Quite a few candidates in recent years have attempted to link themselves to John Kennedy in some way or to claim that they have the same vision.  All have failed to match up to that claim.

We are getting close to wanting someone who will spell it out and concentrate on what should be done. Too many are bought and paid for and the better people end up not running since its such a circus. I think the national scene to broken and its got to spend within the limits. Better to concentrate on the local and state where a difference can be made. Its much easier in a small state. JFK was not perfect but he did inspire people and was interested in making things work. The media was not a circus then either.

The respect of other countries will take a long time. They can't trust us and we can not trust our leadership. I wonder if Bush would have felt so strongly about sending troops to fight if he knew one of his daughters would have to go? I think as our leader if it is so important why is he not there? If he wants to be the commander and chief then go command don't set in your comfy office and send our troops to fight for a war he can not justify except in his own mind.  We have a lot to be thankful for but our leadership is not one of them. Have a great Thanksgiving and remember to vote for leaders we can be proud of.

This is such a different time.  For quite some time now, I've wanted to have, on all ballots, a choice of "None of the above."  And if None of the Above wins, well, then, they have to bring us better candidates.  

My theory is that it would only take None of the Above winning once or twice for them to start bringing us better candidates in the first place.  

What JFK did that was different from now is, he engaged us all - he never forgot that we were the ones he was representing or that it was our country and we (he and the populace) had a mutual responsibility to it (responsibility, now there's an outmoded word!).  I don't really see that in our "leaders" now, sadly. 

Thank you so much for reading and taking time to consider the words...not mine JFK's.

The country is in need of another person to step up and make the hard decisions. There was a time when politics was treated as an honoured profession, but that time seems to have passed. Someone needs to get people interested in contributing to their community, neighborhood, and immediate circle of trust and support. We need a person who can unite America and get people to take a bit of time and care about one another....it might be the best way forward for a better society IMHO. Sound so simple.

It's time for leadership today and changing our political situation so we have presidential candidates that are leaders not ones that are exceptional special interest group panhandlers. The first step toward Change is Awareness. The second is Acceptance. I understand what Americans feel about substandard leaders and not wanting to vote, the desolation of the feeling that things can't change for the better, and yet still having hope that positive change can happen....I'd like to keep HOPE alive!

Thanks again and your list contains many important issues that I pray the next person honored with becoming the next President takes to heart!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Paige

Here's another image from that day that reminds me of how not even for a moment when you're in that role do you get to stop-not even for death...My pastor said something about how people in political office don't get to grieve. They have to keep on for the good of others they are responsible for. Hard to look at this photo and not recall how serious he was with that statement.

 Lyndon Johnson Takes the Inaugural Oath Aboard Air Force One on November 22, 1963.

Hi Eric Kodner, Unfortunate but true--but we still need to hope that someone can soon.

Hi Eric Bouler, It is too bad that money has to play such an important part along with the "cronies."  Kennedy wasn't perfect, I agree, but he could be inspirational and we certainly need some now!

Hi Terry, I want to vote for leaders we can be proud of--it does tick me off when many of them become like the others once they get in office.  I would like to see the "fleecing of America stop," and I really think it can if we start emailing, calling and complaining the minute we see it going on.  The public needs to decide "enough is enough and we won't take it any more" (to steel someone else's quote).  Politicians need to not sneak stuff into bills that makes the expense go way up and start thinking of the country as a whole.

Hi Tricia, What a concept "none of the above," I would definitely support that!

Hi Paige, Thank you for the inspiration.  I am not cranky--just want serious change.  What does IMHO stand for?

History tends to be distorted by the media. We couldn't wait to get rid of Clinton, but now most people will admit that he did a pretty good job. So did, Nixon, by the way, but the stigma of Watergate will overshadow the good he did. I think Kennedy was a decent president, but perhaps not the one who should be on the pedestal.

Hi Chad,

I focused on President Kennedy because he was able to get a lot of the country behind him--which is what I feel is sorely needed now.  Thank you for the comment.

Yeah, Bush isn't getting much support lately, even from the misguided folks who voted for him the second time. Obama seems good at mobilizing the country. That, and his age are perhaps where the similarities w/ Kennedy end. I'll always be a Reagan man myself. He had more charisma in his little toe than Clinton ever had.

Hi Chad,

I was pretty fond of Reagan myself except wasn't he the guy that fired all of the air traffic controllers?  Thanks again for the note.