No Labels

A group of prominent political leaders and thinkers offers a pathway to cut through the gridlock and make our government work.   Every year the President stands before Congress and the American people to deliver a State of the Union Address. What was once an opportunity for honest reflection on accomplishments and goals has become more of a laundry list than a speech—a grab bag of policy ideas, partisan rhetoric, and a healthy dose of wishful thinking. Meanwhile, the gridlock in Washington means that virtually nothing in that speech will amount to anything but talk.    Governor Jon Huntsman and Senator Joe Manchin, two of the most respected and straightforward political leaders in America, have a simple solution for Washington's gridlock. It begins with getting our leaders together at the table to agree to goals not just for their party but for the whole country.   In this book, Huntsman and Manchin are joined by experts and politicians from both sides of the aisle, including thought leaders from business, economics, and academia. Contributors include two former White House Chiefs of Staff; former OMB Director Alice Rivlin; Glenn Hubbard, Dean of Columbia Business School; nine members of Congress committed to solving Washington's endemic problems; and more contributors from every walk of life. These contributors are all making a loud call for a new process of running the United States of America.   “Politics doesn’t have to be a zero-sum game—we are going to share the future, and so we need to find ways to work together…a timely book.” —President Bill Clinton   “President Clinton and I disagreed on many things, but we did agree on two very large goals—balanced budgets and welfare reform. These shared goals allowed us to focus energy on bridging the gap between the parties…By proposing four large goals around which to rally the country, No Labels: A Shared Vision for a Stronger America lays the groundwork for a return to meaningful bipartisan accomplishment in Washington.”—Newt Gingrich