The rest of the summer I’d like to stay pretty much away from issues like immigration and the Iraq War.  Immigration is a dead issue, one that’s toxic to Republican candidates, and Iraq’s future will be determined in large part by General Petraeus’ report in late-September. 

There’s much going on behind the scenes in regard to Iraq.  You can see this in the early retirement of General Peter Pace, a superb military officer, and the downgrading of Stephen Hadley, Bush’s excellent director of national security. 

I think I know what’s going to happen in Iraq, but I’m not telling right now.  However, by a year from now, we will have a much-diminished presence there.  Otherwise, they might as well not hold an election in November, 2008. 

In terms of Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, I’m inclined to have to agree with the generally disgusting Donald Trump, who noted that she travels about a lot but doesn’t come close to closing any deals.

For a time, I thought about the possibility of her being a choice for vice-president.  Reasons?  First, she’s a woman; second, she’s Black.  Third, she is an extremely bright, if somewhat indecisive, woman.   Don’t ever accuse me of disregarding practical politics.

Why did Condi enter my thoughts?  I do believe the Democratic presidential candidate will be Hillary Clinton.  If she’s more daring than the Clintons generally are, her vice-presidential running mate probably will be Barack Obama.  (It won’t be Edwards; Mrs. Clinton knows he will forevermore be the hypocritical hair-cut man.)

I don’t think the Republicans could  beat such a ticket with the usual two older white guys in gray business suits and the mandatory red ties.  

One reason I’m leaning toward the little-known, but richly talented Sarah Palin (Governor of Alaska) is that the ticket will need vitality – and, frankly, a different “look.”  If Mrs. Clinton gets the Democratic nomination, we need to remind the electorate that we like women also. 

Much as I like George W. Bush, we cannot in any way make the Republican candidate look in any way like an extension of the Bush presidency.  The American people are bushed out.   This might be especially difficult for Giuliani, who genuinely likes and respects Bush. 

The next President can learn a lot from GWB’s mistakes.  The old idea that everything is “secret” for national security reasons doesn’t play anymore. 

The next President should keep few secrets from us.  That individual must tell us what he (or she) knows and, beyond that, what he or she doesn’t know.  The old PR theory that if you don’t say anything, you can keep your foot out of your mouth, doesn’t play anymore with the American people.

Presidents hate to give out bad news, but that tradition also has to end.  We need to know what’s happening that’s positive and, even more important, what’s happening that’s negative.

In fact, GWB should have talked to the nation every 3-4 weeks – at length – about how the war was going, what our strategy was, what hadn’t worked, and what was showing REAL promise.  Many people look at Iraq as a war that went well for two months – and has gone badly for four years.  Historically, that’s the way wars go, but that’s not acceptable in our own time.   This is not 1942.

The fact that five soldiers got blown up Friday and six more Saturday is not a message that inspires enthusiasm or hope.  Why is this happening?  What are we doing about it?  Who, pray tell, is falling short of what we had a right to expect?  In short, have you fired anybody lately Mr. President? 

“Stay the course” is not a message that will resonate with the American people now – if it ever did.   “Blow the blankety-blanks to smithereens” is a message that has a positive ring to it. 

What I’m saying is that we need a V-P who doesn’t look like all those other guys because she’s a woman – or, alternatively, because he’s a dynamic young Black (like Michael Steele of Maryland) or an Hispanic guy or woman.   We also need a President who talks to us under the assumption that we’re grown-ups – an assumption that may be questionable at times, but he should humor us.

I know people are going to tell me Sarah Palin doesn’t have enough “experience” to be a heartbeat away from the presidency.  Trust me: the kind of experience she doesn’t have is mostly the kind she doesn’t need or want.  Much as I love the Cheney family (including Mary), we don’t need another dour guy sequestered in an unknown location.  We need somebody full of fire and vinegar and highly visible.  Soon, I’ll tell you why that person is Sarah Palin of Alaska.

If Guiliani or McCain chooses Sarah, they’ll be saying more than that they want her to be vice-president.  They’ll be saying that they believe she should be America’s first female President.  If they say that, who am I to disagree.

Business as usual – the old white guys in suits – will not win us the White House in 2008.  It will lead us down the road to defeat.  We need to think new thoughts – and consider new people.

GWB had a good reason for wanting to privatize Social Security – and for wanting the Immigration Reform Bill.  However, he never adequately explained those reasons to us.  I think I know what they were, but we shouldn’t have to play guessing games with the President who represents us. 

The next President – be he Giuliani or McCain or be she Mrs. Clinton – has to be a model of candor.  That person also has to lead a nation that isn’t exactly loaded with good followers.  I wish him or her the best of luck. 

Stephen R. Maloney