What qualifications does a legislator (Clinton, Obama, Thompson, etc.) have to be president?

Question

If you support a presidential candidate who has only legislative branch experience (Biden, Clinton, Dodd, Edwards, Gravel, Hunter, Obama, Paul, Tancredo, and Thompson), what is it about their experience that attracts you?

I've been struggling with why they get support when the limits of their experience is voting up or down, being part of endless and fruitless discussions in committees that has no real power and poor attendance anyway, and sometimes proposing bills. I don't see what this has to do with executing the law, including managing a budget, enforcing national security, heading a military, planning emergency relief, etc.

Some responses, I've heard: "well, an executive wouldn't do the job perfect either." Yes, but the odds go down with people who don't know how to do the job. "Well, Clinton was married to a pres." Yes, but being married to someone and hearing them talk about a job is a long way from actually doing the job. Anything else?

erinyes: Thompson was never a governor. Check his record.

spock: see my second typical response. The odds go down of good performance with a legislator.

As it turns out not one president in our history has ever just been a legislator. All of them have had positions int he executive branch (considering that the military is part of the executive branch). That includes Lincoln (Illinois state militia officer), Harding (Lt. Governor of Ohio), and Kennedy (naval officer in WWII).

Answer 1

I think most people see them all as politicians, but don't differentiate between legislators and executives. However, personally, I think being a governor, general, or CEO is the best means to gain the experience needed to be president.

Answer 2

The Constiution is clear on a presidents' qualification for office. You must be a natural born citizen, 35 years of age and have lived in the United States for 17 years before election. No religious test required. The Founders were certain that the right person at the right time would step forward and accept the responsibility of leading the federal government if, in the judgement of the people, that person was the right person. Sometimes the people are right, sometimes they regret their decision, but overall, the system works. Sometimes presidents rise above their personal limitations....like Harry Truman and sometimes they fail...like George Bush. Either Sen. Clinton or Sen. Obama would be a good Chief Executive in a way the none of the GOP hopefuls can...as tied as they are to the reactionary movers and shakers of the party. 'Experiance' has it's place, but there's no other job like being the President of the United States so what real experiance can their be anyway?

Answer 3

They meet the minimum requirements, over the age of 35 and an american citizen.

Governors often have ' more ' experience running a state , balancing budgets, dealing with business and regular people than someone who has been in politics all his/her life.

OBama has had experience in community development, teaching constitutional law and working for the law review. So he has both the legal and people knowledge.

Too many before they entered politics were rich men's sons and daughters and had failed at just about everything they'd done before ( can we say George W Bush)so they got into politics to keep out of trouble and because their parents had backers who could finance and lead them .

Other than being a b movie actor what qualifications did Ronald Reagan have to be first a governor then president?

You don't have to be rich or in the legislature or an academic to have common sense , frankly it's the regular folks who seem to possess that moreso than most elected leaders.

The old maxim is true absolute power corrupts and power corrupts absolutely, no matter how good or bad a candidate seems before they are elected most go downhill once they are.

Answer 4

So basically what you're saying is that executive experience is helpful. Sure, fine, agreed. If that was the only thing to look at, then the choices are easier. But we're not looking for someone to just be efficient and capable. The more important thing is to find someone who has a good agenda and will lead us in a positive direction. I don't see a lot of that among the current candidates, and I'm willing to give up a little bit of efficiency to get a president who moves us toward stability.

Answer 5

Legislative experience is not inconsiderable. A legislator is currently grappling with the same issues that the President has the final word on, that a President is expected to develop a comprehensive policy program to deal with. I don't get this idea tha only a governor is qualified to run. They have NO national experience, and NO foreign policy experience, requiring a longer on-the-job training program.

By the way, person below me, Thompson was NOT Governor. Only Senator for 8 years, and a lazy one.

Answer 6

To date only two [2] sitting Senators have been elected President.
1920-Warren Harding [D-OH]
1960-John F. Kennedy [D-MA]
Not a very good percentage. The problem is they have a public record for their stance on some third rail topics. Just because they may be Senators doesn't necessarily mean that they have the
temperament or where with all to be President.
I believe than none of this crop process that ability or experience,as brought out in the debates,and their public comments.
The one major factor is their total disregard of what the majority of Americans want on DOMESTIC policies. Their is no denying that they are tone deaf when it comes to that.
As it stands right now I'm considering a write in candidate.....Alfred E. Newman!!

Answer 7

Your interpretation of qualifications is severely undermined by the fact that we have had a president in office for the past few years with so-called executive experience. It has been a disaster.

Voters are looking for someone with ideas on major issues, intelligence, as well as experience in government.

Lincoln had one term in Congress and was one of our greatest presidents. Governors don’t necessarily make good presidents and legislators can be very good presidents. Look at the candidate and what the candidate has to say about the issues and not necessarily at what kind of dubious classification you can use to discount the person’s experience.

Answer 8

A President needs to be able to work with others to get things passed. Senator Barack Obama has proven that time and time again by working with Republicans as well as Law Enforcement officials to get fair legeslation passed.

The President of the United States is not a Dictator, he needs to be able to work with people from both parties.

Eventhough George W. Bush was a Governor, he has proven time and time again that he is unqualified to be President, mostly because of his inability to listen to the Congress and the American People.

Being a Governor does not mean a person will be a good President, however the willingness to listen is essential to being an effective President.

Answer 9

Now you raise the foreign policy question?. Now that it is a shambles, and you question what someone else might do? Could it get any worse? As Dr. Phil would say... "is this working for you" Anyone whose ideas seem to go in the opposite direction should spark your interest. We can not be the worlds policeman. It is bankrupting us both morally and financially. Our enemy's are succeeding by showing our flaws. Foriegn policy experience of the type we have seen in the last 7 years is something we want to steer away from. We can't be oblivious to the world, but we certainly can't force feed them democracy either.

Answer 10

My ideal candidate has the following experience:
1. Several years military service. High ranking NCO preferably.
2. Civilian experience running a successful business.
3. Political experience starting at city commission or state Representative for a couple terms, then a couple terms as governor or federal congressman providing they spend the bulk of their time on doing their job and not fund raising.
4. NO LAWYERS!!!!
Hopefully we can have a candidate like this someday.