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dc_dux · 01-22-2007, 03:41 PM

I like Loquitor's leadership characteristics of charisma and competence; I would add character.

And, just for kicks, based on ace's references to Johnson and Carter, I would rate the past presidents:

Johnson - the highest "political" competence in working the political system, no character (nearly as crooked as Nixon), no charisma

Carter - character, with little competence or charisma

Reagan - highest charisma, respectable character (if you overlook Iran-Contra), but marginally competent (needed his note cards or he was lost on the isssues beyond his black-white view of the world)

George HW Bush - competent (with a broad and varied political background), charisma-challenged, questionable character (we are still paying for those ties to the Saudis)

Clinton - high "policy" competence (could talk in depth on any issue for hours), charisma (the best schmoozer in recent history), no character

George W - neither competent (too stubborn to admit policy failures, in part, because he rarely understood the short or long term impact of his policies) nor possessing much character (spoiled rich kid whose daddy always, and continues, to bail him out of his fuck-ups) and charisma-challenged like daddy. Certainly in contention for the wosrt president in history.

Hillary has as much competence as Bill (debatable who is the bigger policy wonk) but only slightly more charcter than Bill and lacking any charisma.

Obama - with more experience, he could be a three-fer or a dud (a new face on old liberal policies)....too soon to tell.

McCain - which one? the old or the new? The old had character (slightly tarred by his connections to the Keating/saving loans scandal that everyone forgets) and competance as an independent thinker who appeared to put principal above politics. The new, pandering to the religious right, lost his way. Never very charasmatic and is looking old and tired.

Pan identified the one sure three-fer in recent years - Mario Cuomo. Too bad he never got his chance.

So much for my simplistic analysis

Back to slogging through the next 20 months. (*groan* - is it just me, or is way to soon to be serious about '08 yet?)

01-22-2007, 03:41 PM	#37 (permalink)
dc_dux Location: Washington DC	I like Loquitor's leadership characteristics of charisma and competence; I would add character. And, just for kicks, based on ace's references to Johnson and Carter, I would rate the past presidents: Johnson - the highest "political" competence in working the political system, no character (nearly as crooked as Nixon), no charisma Carter - character, with little competence or charisma Reagan - highest charisma, respectable character (if you overlook Iran-Contra), but marginally competent (needed his note cards or he was lost on the isssues beyond his black-white view of the world) George HW Bush - competent (with a broad and varied political background), charisma-challenged, questionable character (we are still paying for those ties to the Saudis) Clinton - high "policy" competence (could talk in depth on any issue for hours), charisma (the best schmoozer in recent history), no character George W - neither competent (too stubborn to admit policy failures, in part, because he rarely understood the short or long term impact of his policies) nor possessing much character (spoiled rich kid whose daddy always, and continues, to bail him out of his fuck-ups) and charisma-challenged like daddy. Certainly in contention for the wosrt president in history. Hillary has as much competence as Bill (debatable who is the bigger policy wonk) but only slightly more charcter than Bill and lacking any charisma. Obama - with more experience, he could be a three-fer or a dud (a new face on old liberal policies)....too soon to tell. McCain - which one? the old or the new? The old had character (slightly tarred by his connections to the Keating/saving loans scandal that everyone forgets) and competance as an independent thinker who appeared to put principal above politics. The new, pandering to the religious right, lost his way. Never very charasmatic and is looking old and tired. Pan identified the one sure three-fer in recent years - Mario Cuomo. Too bad he never got his chance. So much for my simplistic analysis Back to slogging through the next 20 months. (groan - is it just me, or is way to soon to be serious about '08 yet?) __________________ "The perfect is the enemy of the good." ~ Voltaire Last edited by dc_dux; 01-22-2007 at 04:11 PM..