Trying times demand strong leaders

Tom Harper, Henderson

Sunday, May 9, 2010 | 2:04 a.m.

In Michael J. Mishak’s Political Memo in last Sunday’s Las Vegas Sun, “Debate devoid of substance,” he discussed the level of discourse at the Republican Senate debate of April 30, involving, among others, Sue Lowden, Danny Tarkanian and Sharron Angle. Mishak described the debate as “... short on substance and big on rhetoric and gimmicks.” Go figure, and this from members of the Party of No.

I need not remind readers of what Tom Raum of the Associated Press referred to in his article that carried the headline “Obama wrestles with growing stack of crises.” In a terribly complex and troubled world, do we really want candidates who are short on substance and big on rhetoric and gimmickry? I hardly think so.

This all sounds too similar to President George W. Bush, who was criticized for being intellectually lazy and/or lacking in intellectual curiosity by not even reading the morning newspaper, and Sarah Palin, who, after being chosen as the Republican vice presidential nominee, couldn’t identify one magazine or newspaper when challenged by Katie Couric.

No, I want someone with the legislative knowledge, experience and work ethic of U.S. Sen. Harry Reid, who fought the good fight and exhibited the strong political will and moral courage to accomplish the unthinkable in health care reform legislation and who is now working tirelessly for necessary financial reform legislation.

Yes, these are extremely challenging times, and we need people of substance and political and moral courage to fight back against the naysayers and to proclaim “Yes we can.”