If he is elected President, Senator Barack Obama should seek to govern effectively by combining the strengths of Theodore Roosevelt, a Progressive Republican, with those of his cousin, Franklin Roosevelt, a liberal Democrat.
Like Theodore Roosevelt, Obama should seek to become "the man in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood," who fights with the certainty that, even if he fails, "his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory, nor defeat." In other words, TR said, "Get in the fight for what you believe in, don't be afraid to challenge the status quo thinking, and seek to make a difference without fear of failure!" Added to this should be a good dose of FDR, who as a successfull New York governor and President was a man who was not afraid of being labeled a politician. Franklin Roosevelt never shied away from his outspoken love of his political party, and he eventually redefined the meaning of partisan governance with his New Deal. While Obama talks of transforming our politics, he must also be willing to master the art of transactional politics, i.e. the ability to actually negotiate proposals and policy ideas with the Congress, which could very well have large Democratic majorities in both the House and the Senate after tonight's election results.
If he is elected President of the United States tonight, Barack Obama should combine the political savvy and strategy of Franklin Roosevelt with the political courage and rhetoric of Theodore Roosevelt. By uniting the best of Progressivism and Liberalism, a President Obama could fundamentally strengthen this country against its enemies, and fundamentally reform this country's priorities right here at home.
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