WHO DO YOU LIKE FOR PRESIDENT? by Larry Stout
WHO DO YOU LIKE FOR PRESIDENT? by Larry Stout 12/2/07
One of the disadvantages of writing about leadership is that everyone expects a profound answer to the question, “So what do you think about so and so for president?” I have several problems in answering the question, profoundly or otherwise. First, as much as I read about those currently running for President of the United States, it is hard to come up with anything substantial. The person I am most familiar with, along with many others, is Hillary Clinton. Unfortunately, what I actually know about Senator Clinton is so highly slanted from her detractors (which are legion), or sanitized by her supporters (represented by much of the major media outlets). What kind of Chief Executive would she make? It is extremely hard to say, because she has never been in any executive position. I seriously doubt she herself knows how she would lead when the chips are on the table for real.
Rudy Guiliani, on the other hand, was successful in arguably one of the most difficult managing jobs in the world – mayor of New York City. However, whether the reduction in crime rates, development of social services, budget constraint improvements, etc. were directly attributible to his initiative or other factors (see Freakonomics by Steven Levitt, for example), is openly debatable.
The second problem with accessing presidential caliber is the whole hubris problem of wanting the position in the first place. It is a little bit like Grocho Marx’s comment about not wanting to join a club that would have him as a member. Since the only Constitutional qualifications for running for president is that an individual be born in the United States and be over 35 years of age, it is no wonder that each party offers such characters as a one-term senator with no legislative initiatives (Barack Obama) or a Libertarian congressman mascarading as a Republican (Ron Paul). By no stretch of the imagination do Senators Clinton, Obama, Biden and Edwards on the Democratic side or Senator McCain, Thompson, Mayor Guiliana or Governor Huckabee on Republican side represent the best and brightest the United States has to offer for its highest elected office – but these are the ones that want the job! A very good case could be made against every single one of these people, but one of them will end up in the Oval Office in January of 2009.
This brings me to the conclusion of how I could answer the question – who do you like? The truth is, I have not “liked” anyone running for President since Robert Kennedy in 1968, and I was not allowed to vote then. In the nine presidential elections that I have voted, I can honestly say that my vote was more against an opponent than for the candidate himself.
I weep for my nation because I wish I saw more leadership emerging from those aspiring to lead this great country. Those who walk in the shoes of Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, Roosevelt and Reagan should be men or women of the highest caliber of character, integrity, wisdom, and courage. None of the present cast begins to approach that level, and the United States of America is poorer for it.
One of the disadvantages of writing about leadership is that everyone expects a profound answer to the question, “So what do you think about so and so for president?” I have several problems in answering the question, profoundly or otherwise. First, as much as I read about those currently running for President of the United States, it is hard to come up with anything substantial. The person I am most familiar with, along with many others, is Hillary Clinton. Unfortunately, what I actually know about Senator Clinton is so highly slanted from her detractors (which are legion), or sanitized by her supporters (represented by much of the major media outlets). What kind of Chief Executive would she make? It is extremely hard to say, because she has never been in any executive position. I seriously doubt she herself knows how she would lead when the chips are on the table for real.
Rudy Guiliani, on the other hand, was successful in arguably one of the most difficult managing jobs in the world – mayor of New York City. However, whether the reduction in crime rates, development of social services, budget constraint improvements, etc. were directly attributible to his initiative or other factors (see Freakonomics by Steven Levitt, for example), is openly debatable.
The second problem with accessing presidential caliber is the whole hubris problem of wanting the position in the first place. It is a little bit like Grocho Marx’s comment about not wanting to join a club that would have him as a member. Since the only Constitutional qualifications for running for president is that an individual be born in the United States and be over 35 years of age, it is no wonder that each party offers such characters as a one-term senator with no legislative initiatives (Barack Obama) or a Libertarian congressman mascarading as a Republican (Ron Paul). By no stretch of the imagination do Senators Clinton, Obama, Biden and Edwards on the Democratic side or Senator McCain, Thompson, Mayor Guiliana or Governor Huckabee on Republican side represent the best and brightest the United States has to offer for its highest elected office – but these are the ones that want the job! A very good case could be made against every single one of these people, but one of them will end up in the Oval Office in January of 2009.
This brings me to the conclusion of how I could answer the question – who do you like? The truth is, I have not “liked” anyone running for President since Robert Kennedy in 1968, and I was not allowed to vote then. In the nine presidential elections that I have voted, I can honestly say that my vote was more against an opponent than for the candidate himself.
I weep for my nation because I wish I saw more leadership emerging from those aspiring to lead this great country. Those who walk in the shoes of Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, Roosevelt and Reagan should be men or women of the highest caliber of character, integrity, wisdom, and courage. None of the present cast begins to approach that level, and the United States of America is poorer for it.
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