TODD: President Obama, in his first year, wanted to address both healthcare and climate and he could only get one signature issue accomplished. It was, obviously, healthcare. He didn’t get to do climate change. You may only get one shot and your first issue that you’re going to push–you get one shot that it may be the only thing you get passed, what is that first issue for your presidency?

ERIC SWALWELL: For Parkland, for Orlando, for every community effected by gun violence, ending gun violence.

MICHAEL BENNET: Climate change and the lack of economic mobility Bernie talks about.

KIRSTEN GILLIBRAND: Passing a family bill of rights that includes a national paid leave plan, universal Pre-K, affordable daycare and making sure that women and families can thrive in the workplace no matter who they are.

KAMALA HARRIS: Passing a middle class and working families tax cut.

JOE BIDEN: I think you’ve so underestimated what Barack Obama did. He’s the first man to bring together the entire world, 196 nations to commit to deal with climate change immediately. I don’t–I don’t buy that. The first–the first thing I would do is make sure that we defeat Donald Trump.

PETE BUTTIGIEG: We’ve got to fix our democracy before it’s too late. Get that right and climate, immigration, taxes and every other issue gets better.

JOHN HICKENLOOPER: I would do a collaborative approach to climate change and I would pronounce it well before the election to make sure we don’t reelect the worst president in American history.

MARIANNE WILLIAMSON: My first call is to Prime Minister of New Zealand who said that her role is to make New Zealand the place where it’s the best place in the world for a child to grow up. And I would tell her, girlfriend, you are so wrong because the United States of America is going to be the best place–

TODD: Thank you.

Only Sanders, before giving his answer, questioned the premise “that there’s only one or two issues out there.”  But even he failed to see the answer that lay right in front of him.  How do you built the capacity so you can walk and chew gum at the same time?

Donald Trump’s policies in response to pressing issues are, in most cases, appalling, but his belief “he alone can fix it” says more about his misunderstanding of the job he holds than anything else.  Any candidate for president who wishes to differentiate himself or herself from the incumbent had only one right answer to Todd’s query.

My first and only priority is to fill every position in my cabinet and subject to presidential appointments with the most competent and knowledgeable people I can find.  Then we do not have to trade off one priority for another.  As president, I can then establish direction in each area that requires immediate attention and rely on my team to recommend a specific course of action, work with Congress to obtain the necessary legislative authority and funding and oversee administration of the solution.  That’s how the successful CEO of a major enterprise governs, and the federal government is exactly that, a large and complex enterprise, not a family business.

Yesterday marked the 243rd anniversary of the beginning of one of the great experiments in disruptive government.  Disruption is the central theme associated with every major business success story in the last 30 years from Southwest Airlines to Apple to Amazon. At a time when many corporate CEOs talk with their shareholders and employees about “returning to our entrepreneurial roots,” America needs to do the same.  And its leadership needs to follow Reich’s model of “the team as hero,” not the myth of the “lone wolf” who does it all.

POSTSCRIPT:  Today’s entry is dedicated to a friend and colleague who is celebrating his 81st birthday as I write this.  He is also a mentor who introduced me to Reich’s article, quoted above.

For all it’s worth.
Dr. ESP