Must it always be ‘us’ versus ‘them’ in national politics? Is there no room for a unifying candidate leader with sufficient confidence to select a qualified cabinet member, agency head or ambassador with a different party affiliation? Has no one in the outgoing administration done a commendable job of representation that warrants renomination? Wouldn’t that send a healthy signal to a thoroughly “brand washed” electorate that demeans the notion of United States? At a time when America is being challenged and threatened by hostile regimes, their perception of internal division, unrest and vulnerability invites actions not conducive to maintaining world order. It becomes imperative - politically and commercially - to maintain geographic alliances among popularly elected governments in a global context that historically includes dominant and disparate religious influences. To retain leadership in world affairs, the United States needs bipartisan effort to restore order with its current array of challenges to government stability while also engaging with reliable allies. In a context of spreading concern about essential energy sources and potential atomic power capability for civilian and military purposes, the advanced nations should take the lead in demonstrating the publicly beneficial side of this game-changing technology as an internationally appealing theme. Phil Osifer