Yeah, I know it's a generalization. Work with me here...
It seems we usually choose the latter over the former. Are we doing something wrong? Is presidential politics more than mere popularity contests? (Please: Exclude the current president from this picture -- not sure which of these two types he is closer to. It's not a stab at Bush, though. I am just thinking of Jerry Ford and Reagan, for example. We're a long way from Lincoln or Jefferson with these 2 choices, aren't we?)
2007-03-22 07:16:45 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Politics
Chess is an apt metaphor for the global situation and various strategic issues all countries and powers have always faced. The ability to act like the host of Wheel of Fortune 24/7 is really overrated, and has probably gotten us into our current situation. You do the math.
2007-03-22 07:37:53 · answer #1 · answered by Winston Smith 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
God bless TV if Lincoln were running he'd never stand a chance. Even his wife was chubby. Not to mention nuts.
Jerry Ford, least dislikable of the bunch, that was his label when he became VP when Agnew left under a cloud. Who knew he would become President, not even Nixon at that juncture. Reagan, now there was a man, never mind that my taxes went up and deductions on interest were no longer for the common people, ignore the shadow government illegally put together or the arms sales to Saddam that would come back to bite us years later, so many worship this man that I wonder at their sanity, let alone their memory. Lets not forget how cute we though his rambling were, or how folksy hes memory gaps were, only six years after leaving office he was found to have Alzheimer's, and we are left to wonder about those last years in the White House.
We get what we want, and we want a photogenic, folksy seeming rich guy. Style over substance, stupidity over suspicion of being 'too smart'.
A long way from Lincoln and Jefferson? Hell we are a long way from Garfield or Harrison.
2007-03-22 07:30:28 · answer #2 · answered by justa 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think people are generally drawn to those who have Charisma. It does not always seem like people vote necessarily for the one who has made the wisest decisions, but the one who is more attractive, charismatic, and has the ability to draw people to their side. Bill Clinton is a good example of this. While it doesn't happen 100% of the time, I think that the quest for Presidency usually ends up being more of a Popularity contest than a true decision making process to pick the best person for the job. Of course, there is always the chance that the good-looking popular candidate could also be the one with the best leadership and decision making abilities as well, but that's not what people usually pay attention to.
You're right though, I am not sure what category our present leader would fit under. He doesn't seem to have the charisma of Clinton, but at the same time he's not mind-numbingly dull to listen to like Al Gore (at least in my opinion, Gore seems to have no real dynamic when he speaks).
2007-03-22 07:29:14 · answer #3 · answered by Souris 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Politics is a joke nowadays. We have a movie star/body-builder as governor in California. There was a former WWF star as governor in Minnesota. Reagan was a movie star. When was the last time we had a REAL strategist in the presidency? Dwight D. Eisenhower. We're talking over 40 years since we had a real military genius as a leader of our country.
2007-03-22 07:24:52 · answer #4 · answered by Maverick 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It depends. (And working with your stereotypes for the moment)
If the jock has the nerds to provide good advice, and listens to the advice, then the jock can use charisma to sell it.
If the nerd has jocks to do the PR, and uses them to put a good face on things, then the nerd can make good decisions directly.
Either one works, because both charisma and intelligence are both necessary for the job. It's all about how to split those functions when someone does not have both.
2007-03-22 07:21:57 · answer #5 · answered by coragryph 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Chess team/Debate team nerd..It's already clear nerds run the world. Look at every Billionaire. They all were nerds and have high IQ's
2007-03-22 07:26:47 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I vote Doctor Phill he seems smart and played football in college . He was not a cheer leader .
2007-03-22 07:21:52 · answer #7 · answered by trouble maker 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
it doesn't matter what a person's background is, as long as he or she is doing what I think is best for the country, I'll vote for that person.
2007-03-22 11:51:27 · answer #8 · answered by georgewallace78 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋