I was having an email conversation with a respected colleague this morning, a fortysomething guy with a wife and kids and a nice house out on Long Island.

He considers himself a Republican, despite admitting that the party has come to stand for all the things that he detests - fiscal irresponsibility, big government, and a disregard for personal privacy (a la wiretapping and Terry Schiavo).

"I could not agree with you more about this, Isaac," he said to me. "But where's the next Reagan to take us to a new American morning?"

I responded, "It sounds like you think of yourself as a Republican because Reagan - a great leader for his first term - came around when you were really forming opinions about such things."

"It's really all about strong leadership and inspiring Americans to strive for the best in themselves. Reagan did that. Kennedy did that. FDR did that. Wilson and Teddy R. did that. Bush Jr/Sr, Carter, Nixon, Coolidge, Hoover and Taft did not. Ike was what the country needed in the 1950s, and LBJ did some really good things and really bad things in the 1960s, but neither were strong, inspirational leaders."

"Today, there are no strong, national leaders that can inspire Americans in the way that we need to be inspired. Chalk it up to 21st century cynicism where process, pragmatism and politics trumps idealism. In the face of that reality, I think the best thing we can hope for is someone who can get good shit done, someone who can master those three "P's" in a way that's a net positive for the nation. Clinton, I think was that sort of President. Maybe, that's McCain (though he freaks me out personally). Maybe, that's Mark Warner."