COMMENTARY | According to Politico, senators John Kerry and John McCain have joined forces to put an end to partisan bickering over Libya and move forward with a plan that would allow the president to continue U.S. involvement for one year with the proviso that ground forces stay out of the conflict. This is a departure from recent congressional rhetoric that threatened political retribution and may result in changing the tone in Washington in regard to U.S. involvement in Libya. The debate will likely continue ad nauseam in the coming days as we get into specifics about eliminating Gadhafi and whether it is wise to give a year's worth of authorization for action in such a tiny country or limit a commander-in-chief from utilizing ground troops to complete a mission.
The real story, though, is that while some congressmen (including some who have campaigned or are campaigning to become president) played politics, two men of the strong caliber required to gain the nomination of their parties for the presidency stood up (in the face of overwhelming support for theatrics) and decided to lead.
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said to Piers Morgan, in a recent interview, that he had not yet seen anything special from any of the G.O.P candidates that told him who should win the nomination. More than likely, he's looking for something like that. In fact, it is likely what we are all waiting for in the midst of the theatrical but shallow field of Republican candidates for president.
While Republican presidential hopeful Ron Paul was teaming up with former presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich to sue the President over Libya, playing politics without deference to the very real situation on the ground or the status of the troops whose funding Kucinich threatened to cut off, it took two men who many consider "has-beens" to show the difference between men who think themselves ready to lead and men who simply lead.
Two men stood together Tuesday and showed up an entire field of presidential hopefuls. Two men of class and accomplishment put politics aside to lead on Libya, not by way of looking for a job, but by way of doing the one they already have. The Republican candidates could learn a thing or two from two men who have been there... whether they won the presidency or not.
