Letter to a New President: Commonsense Lessons for Our Next Leader by Robert C. Byrd is one of many of the "letter" books (e.g., to a young lawyer, to my great-granddaughter, etc.) and it's a worthwhile little read. Faith and the Constitution (and his recently departed beloved wife) are his touchstones:
The Bible and the Constitution, which always played a central role in Byrd's own life, appear throughout his new book. A true faith in God, Byrd stresses, teaches humility, not arrogance and self-righteousness.
Faith is a core issue in his long introduction. Then, he provides ten steps to guide the next President:
1. Bring back the fireside chat.
2. Teach the people about the Constitution.
3. No life stands outside history.
4. A big lie is still a lie; tell the truth.
5. Build your presidency around accountability.
6. Let the press do its job, even when that might sting.
7. We can do better than photo-op diplomacy.
8. A new approach to the rest of the world: influence.
9. Less partisan warfare, more real debate.
10. Don't forget the basics: Have the patience to reflect.
The current President is repeatedly deemed as a sort of pure example of what not to do if one wants to be a good President:
The Bush administration, Byrd charges, "built much of its program around a basic commitment to lying." Yet lying has become so common, so culturally accepted, that no stigma is attached, according to Byrd.
"We cannot continue down this path, new president," Byrd writes. "We must rebuild a culture of intolerance to lying, and that must start close to home."
Overall, the book provides a good summary of what is wrong with the current guy and guidance on how to do it right next time. And, as his spokesman notes (the quotes in this entry can be found in the various links provided):
"Sen. Byrd doesn't believe Sen. McCain is going to be the next president," Jacobs adds. "But if Sen. McCain is interested in receiving a copy of the book, we'd be happy to get him a copy."
Given his campaign claims to think references to lipstick on a pig,* a common expression, is dis on Gov. Palin, McCain can do worse than to read this book that continues the Mr. Senate nature of Senator Byrd.
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* Obama rightly ridiculed the idea on David Letterman. Glenn Greenwald, Talking Points Memo and Andrew Sullivan (h/t TPM) are a few examples that riduculed the concern on this issue, the latter scorning McCain for suggesting it was an issue. But, the polls suggest the race is so close. More evidence we as a nation simply are not mature or something.