Search for a Good President

[Rajoo]

Originally Posted by merrylander

And 535 Members of Congress right close by to drive you insane?

Tou·ché.

[MrPots]

Originally Posted by donquixote99

Search for Next President:

Here's my list of criteria:

1. Successful experience as director of unit with over 100 team members, with strategic planning, management, and fiscal responsibility.
2. Experienced in building and managing effective teams.
3. Has track record as 'agent of change.' Wants to improve things, and has been successful at doing so.
4. Good person, adverse to harming others.
5. Strong empathy, cares about people in general.
6. Open-minded, does not automatically reject challenging ideas.
7. Emotionally resilient; resistant to intimidation and other manipulations.
8. High intelligence, excellent analytical skills, quick learner.
9. Wide and deep knowledge about lots and lots of things.
10. Not a hater; does not nurture anger, spite, or animosity as decisive motivations.
11. Personal vices are minor and under good control. Does not accept come-on's from interns, for example.

I think there are thousands and thousands of people in this country who meet all these criteria. My guess is that the people on the forum know of a few of them.

So how can we get one nominated?

Anyone with those kind of qualities is too smart to get involved in politics.

[mpholland]

NO!...I won't run for president.

In all seriousness, I know a couple people that could probably do it, but they wouldn't. I truly believe that is one of the more serious problems we find in candidates these days. Those who are uniquely qualified don't want any part of it, so we get those specifically groomed for campaigning instead.

[MrPots]

Seriously, what good and qualified person would do that to their families? With all the political assholes out there that would make your life hell just for partisan shits and grins.

[merrylander]

Having had some experience in this area I can tell you this much. Back home my Member of Parliament and I had extensive correspondence. He died suddenly and unexpectedly shortly after I moved down here. Well it seems the party (Conservative) found my letters in his files and called my ex-wife wondering if I would run for his seat. When my ex called and told me Florence said if I got into politics she would leave me. Frankly even in Canadian politics I would not blame her.

[bobabode]

For some reason Diogenes and his lamp keeps coming to mind.

[donquixote99]

Originally Posted by BeamOn

I would add this:

12. Must be averse to deficits and balance the budget every year.

Hint: Tax subsidies, loopholes, dividend income and so on to increase revenues.

That gets to policy specifics, which I was trying to avoid. My open-minded candidate may be for or against a deficit, depending.

[donquixote99]

Originally Posted by mpholland

NO!...I won't run for president.

In all seriousness, I know a couple people that could probably do it, but they wouldn't. I truly believe that is one of the more serious problems we find in candidates these days. Those who are uniquely qualified don't want any part of it, so we get those specifically groomed for campaigning instead.

This is indeed a problem, I think.

[ebacon]

The Republicans fielded what seemed like a few good candidates during the last presidential election. I forget their names at the moment and that reflects part of the issue, namely the media controls how much exposure the masses get to candidates. Campaign buses and speeches only go so far. A winning candidate in this era has to look good on TV. He can be smart as a whip and reasonable as can be, but if he comes across as stiff or dorky on TV then it is game over. The road to the White House is probably littered with candidates of that caliber.

That's my opinion at least.

[Rajoo]

Originally Posted by donquixote99

That gets to policy specifics, which I was trying to avoid. My open-minded candidate may be for or against a deficit, depending.

OK then, I will amend it to: 12. Fiscally responsible to the tax payers.