Public Comment

Two women, who are elected office holders, have shown outstanding integrity, superior intelligence, deep compassion for the less fortunate, and sincere dedication to good governance. They could deliver a restorative redemption team for our torn and tattered democracy, if elected to the White House in 2024. And, they both have the same first name, Elizabeth! While they differ markedly on many policy issues, Elizabeth Warren and Liz Cheney both have shown the capacity and ability to find common objectives and join forces with adversaries to accomplish effective policies. If Elizabeth and Liz were a governing team, their presence would bridge the political divide that is tearing our country asunder. 

While Liz Cheney advocates for private solutions to public problems and Elizabeth Warren favors government intervention where the market fails, both realize the severity and need to respond to impending problems like the climate crisis. Together, they could create public-private policy solutions. Together, they could agree on letting private enterprises earn reasonable profits while also fulfilling their public responsibilities, including paying their fair share to maintain essential government services. 

If their respective teams were to sit down and examine problems of national defense, global stability, social justice, economic security, health care and education for the next generation of Americans, their shared goals would reveal policy pathways that honor their respective tactical predispositions. Hybrid solutions would emerge because both leaders value effective governance over petty partisan politicking. What is good for the country supersedes what may be tactically cunning for their political parties. 

How could such a bipartisan team get elected? Suppose, for a moment, that each candidate wins her party's Presidential nomination with the promise to select the other as Vice-Presidential nominee. The winning vote-getter would become President and the other candidate, Vice President. Imagine that as a team, they would select Cabinet officials willing and able to fulfill their hybrid vision for effective policy. Judges would be chosen by mutual consensus rather than partisan loyalty. Congressional parties would work for their mutual success rather than simply trying to tear down the others' proposals. 

Leadership from The Two Lizes' example, would encourage voters to return to a civilized Middle instead of arming themselves for civil strife.