The only way any candidate who is committed to real fiscal discipline, social tolerance, and economic revitalization can be nominated for president is on a third-party ticket.

I advised President Clinton in the White House over the two years before the 1996 election, and I can say without fear of contradiction that it was Ross Perot who was singularly responsible for inspiring the balanced budget agreement of 1995 that resulted in the surplus when Clinton left office.

It is a tragedy that our system precludes eminently qualified people like Jon Huntsman, Bob Gates, Joe Lieberman, Kent Conrad, and other possible candidates from effectively competing for the nation’s highest office.

And unless the system changes and changes fundamentally, individuals with a central role to play in our political process—who can address even more important ideas and questions—will almost certainly be ignored.