Mario Cuomo: a man who could have been President

The Democrats need more leaders like Mario Cuomo - and fewer hacks like the Democratic Leadership Council.

The former New York governor died today at the age of 82. For years, Cuomo was touted as a possible presidential candidate. Granted, the Democrats produced a competent nominee in 1988 in the form of Michael Dukakis, but just think what Cuomo would've done to poor ol' George Bush.

As late as 2000, Cuomo was being seriously thought of by some as a potential presidential standard-bearer. But by that time, the Democratic establishment - let alone The Media - would allow no such talk.

Leadership. That's what the Democrats need more of. If the party today had as many public figures with the leadership skills of Mario Cuomo, think what could be accomplished. Instead, half the Democrats are out there defending Steve Scalise just as stridently as the Republicans are.

One can hope that this will be the year that the Democrats regain their spine, but America has been let down too many times before. The good news is that the panacea - the knockout punch - against Republican obstructionism and hate is out there. I'm confident of that. But this year may be our last chance to unearth it.