Trump versus Cruz, Clinton versus Sanders, Democrats versus Republicans, pro-anything versus anti-the-same-thing. Americans focus too much on wounds and not enough on diseases. On some level, most people know that.

Regardless of political stance, the man/woman in office should have:

1. Intelligence. An IQ test should not be a presidential mandate, but he/she should have enough gray cells to balance a lot of moving pieces. Middle East problems, for example, are a game of chess. Make Move A and the U.S. loses four allies that could come in handy later. Shut off Nation X, even if the leader has some immoral qualities, and all hell could break loose. If all hell breaks loose, Nation Y might align with Russia and the U.S. could step a tad closer to nuclear war – again. And tomorrow, facts will change. A president – any president – must weigh 100 variables to make a decision.

2. Independence. Under the current system, money talks. At the very least, it gives big political donors a president’s ear, and they get a chance to make their case in a way the average American cannot. A president must have the independence to say “no” when “no” is the correct response.

3. Integrity. It’s not about reelection in two years. One move could be tactically correct but ruin any chance to serve a full eight years. A president should do what’s right anyway. Every issue has opponents and nothing will pass without dissention, but right is still right. Some issues may offer a little wiggle room; other issues do not.

4. Listening skills. A president should march smart people into his office and listen to every viewpoint, including opposing ones and even crazy ones because crazy suggestions sometimes cradle a grain of wisdom. If an all-wise, dead-on suggestion comes out, even if it directly opposes the president’s pre-existing viewpoint, a president should have the strength of character to softly say, “Shit. That might work. Wish I’d thought of it.”

5. Evolution. “Evolving” isn’t code for “breaking my promises.” Well, it might be. But a president should learn something new with each situation. If a president loves the United Kingdom during the election cycle and the U.K. suddenly starts to tax our tea again, he/she needs to evolve. And once the president gets a good look at all those top-secret documents and discovers things, tactics should change. Evolving is strength.

6. Realism. The American political system is a hulking, stinking mess. Some Senators and Representatives consider politics their career – not their constituents’ well being. However, they’re still Senators and Representatives. A president must work with them. Most times, the best deal isn’t a slam dunk, with “moving in the right direction”considered a success rather than “showing those rightwing (leftwing) idiots who’s boss.”

8. Logic. Some experts think Abraham Lincoln suffered from mild depression or, in Lincoln-era terms, melancholia. But they attribute that dampened ability to get instantly angry or happy as a driving force behind his ability to weigh decisions, see the long-term benefits of quickly bringing the South back into the fold and taking logical steps to free slaves. To quote the subhead of my blog: “Emotions provoke reactions. Logic shapes decisions.”

9. Empathy. Most decisions impact individual Americans. Young men and women must die in a war. The homeless population increases if welfare is cut off. While budgets, competing priorities and changing conditions may tinker with reality, a pragmatic decision should always consider the people who will be harmed as well as those who will be helped. It’s about the money – it has to be – but it’s not all about the money.

Unfortunately, the current U.S. political system does not reward a candidate for these traits. Part of it is our fault: We focus too much on eloquence, looks, traits and catch phrases. But part of it comes from the election cycle itself as Democrats and Republicans work together to embrace a system that dupes Americans, such as a first-primary focus on two tiny states they can manipulate – and then overplaying the importance of a win there.

But more on that later.

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