Giving Respect Where Due

My colleague PSoTD has posted a challenge to his fellow UPC members and to our readers. Who (and why) are "three living politicians that we appreciate and respect from an opposing political party from our own." As he puts it -

if we can find some of the people that generate respect and bond from both political parties, then maybe we can break down what it takes to have politicians that can rally support without requiring a crisis. Plus, it gets you review what it is that works and doesn't work for you, politically.

Now this challenge is a wee bit more problematic for me than for my fellow UPCers because I am still a British citizen and my own political party is still the Scottish National Party. To be honest, neither of the major US political parties has impressed me enough to earn my coin even if I was a US citizen. I need to set a precedent here because we don't want the UPC to be limited to just US bloggers so I am going to be creative and name three politicians who I respect but make it one Brit and one from each of the main US parties.

Let's start with the easy one - Gordon Brown, UK Labour party Chancellor of the Exchequer. Regular readers of Newshog will know why I respect the man. He is a thinking socialist's thinking socialist and fiercly proud of his country, even if he and I differ on whether Scotland should be part of the UK. To be honest, that probably is our only point of departure. He is fiscally responsible, believing in a mixed and pragmatic economic system, and has brought the UK out of the pit of depression that "ownership society" monetarism left it in. He pursues rich corporations for tax avoidance. He works to reduce the suffering caused by world poverty and debt. He is cautiously pro-Europe. He likes rugby. Even if the current SNP leader has attacked his patriotism, on this one I disagree with Alex Salmond (who can be a bit of a hothead). I wish he were UK Prime Minister or would change his heart and join the SNP where he would instantly be made leader.

I'm not sure if he still qualifies as a politician, but I do have a great deal of respect for Colin Powell. Sure, he has had a couple of iffy moments, particularly a possible attempt at a coverup of the MyLai Massacre and his involvement in the Iran-Contra nastiness (noticed how many of those guys are running the US nowadays?). However, the sheer fact that he, as the only one of Bush's cabinet to have ever seen war first hand (and be decorated for bravery), was the least hawkish of them all gets him a place on my shortlist. That and he has a Scottish connection - his mother's family is from Aberdeenshire. He is also a moderate Republican by today's standards. He is pro-choice, pro-gun control - although his antipathy to gays is a serious mark against him.

Even after his "for" vote on the recent Bankruptcy Bill, I will confess to having a soft spot for Joe Biden. In my opinion the vote proves he is in the back pocket of a corporate paymaster and should be thumped hard by Democrats for his complicity. Then again, from what I can see, what US Senator isn't in the back pocket of some corporate interest or other? It's the biggest thing wrong with your political system, folks. His other negatives include the occasional bit of plaigerism and is certainly a self-publicist.

On the plus side, Biden is a fairly straight-talking guy. Like Bush you "may not agree with him but you know where he stands." He is highly knowledgeable about foreign affairs where his opinions command respect, has been a staunch supporter of college aid and loan programs and his work for woman's rights in the US has been excellent. Lastly, I just like the way the rightwing talking heads on Fox News Sunday cannot ignore him but are obviously scared stiff of him.

Well, that's my three. Not perfect by any means but it's the three that most demanded attention. What do you think?