Would You Run?

By DAVID BROOKS
NYT

Mark Kirk has had a brilliant career. He graduated from Cornell, obtained a master’s degree from the London School of Economics and a law degree from Georgetown. He worked at the State Department, the World Bank and the law firm of Baker & McKenzie before becoming counsel to the House committee on foreign affairs. He has served for the past decade as a congressman from the northern suburbs of Chicago.

In 1989, Kirk was commissioned as an intelligence officer in the Naval Reserve and now holds the rank of commander. The internal fitness reports on his performance are eye-popping. “Head and shoulders above any other Intelligence Officer I have ever met,” wrote one of his superiors. “A true team leader ... Definite command potential. A natural and charismatic leader. A superlative speaker and briefer.”

“Outstanding Naval Officer,” gushed another. “Outstanding mentor ... Unmatched managerial and planning skills ... Set the standard for tactical intelligence."

In Congress, according to a Chicago Tribune editorial, “Kirk has been an extraordinarily effective representative of the independent-minded 10th Congressional District.” He has become the House’s leading moderate Republican — fiscally conservative and socially centrist. He has a 55 rating out of 100 from Americans for Democratic Action, a liberal group, and a 72 rating from the American Conservative Union.

(More here.)