What's not to like?
The most interesting poll out this week is not about or ; it is a national survey conducted by Yahoo and the Associated Press. The offers a look at an important question: is 2008 a post-likeability election in which Americans make their choice irrespective of the "best guy to have a beer with" test?
The poll does throw up some wonderfully odd images, including a self-described die-hard Republican named Donald Stokes, who backs for president but, if he had to take a candidate on a family vacation, would take ! Eh? Has Mr Stokes not been listening to his party's message on Mr Edwards's trustworthiness?
Other choices are equally interesting, though more explicable. There's a Democrat, Charolette Thompson, who supports but when asked to choose a bowling partner opts for . I guess I can follow her thinking - he would be guaranteed to stay sober (Mormons don't drink) and play to win.
On the real issue: would you choose a candidate BECAUSE of their suitability for bowling or family fun, the answer is a resounding, and reassuring, no.
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There are few people who move in circles of power, whether by societal prestige, or financial wealth, who are nice enough people for me to want to associate with.
On the other hand, I don't have to like the President to respect their abilities, if clearly demonstrated.
Perhaps the last really good President in this country, was Teddy Roosevelt, but that was before my time, so I guess I haven't been too impressed with anyone since I got old enough to notice.
Until the last line, I thought this post was am ironic joke. If there are any more than the 20%ers that approve of gwb and would use this criterion to choose a president, then we're seriously off the rails. Sure let's choose someone to compete with bush as the worst president in American history. That would do bush's legacy some good.
You should also check out the Lifetime TV poll they're doing as part of their "Every Woman Counts" campaign where they asked which candidate would be a more thoughtful gift giver and who you'd feel safer leaving your children with for an evening!!
Questioning whether a particular candidate would be fun to hang out with is an odd emanation of American culture, isn't it?
Maybe that's an indication of a particular problem we have electing people to office, namely that we believe the individual's public persona somehow compensates for serious problems elsewhere.
How many of those wonderfully likeable (at first blush) politicians of recent decades have turned out to be near-complete disasters? The list is long.
I think Americans are so ignorant how they cast their vote that the more informative question would be, WHO IS THE MOST QUALIFIED PERSON TO BECOME PRESIDENT? NOW WHO WOULD YOU VOTE FOR? I assure you that 90% of the time their choice won't have anything to do with the MOST QUALIFIED.
Just because you like someone doesn't necessarily mean you agree with their politics and vice versa.
Look at former Presidents George H W Bush and Bill Clinton. They ripped each other to pieces politically. But their both buds now and even play golf with each other.
i would like to have beer with the candidate who doesnt have sex at office hours with his intern and who doesnt dream about WMDs.
If the whole idea of "being a guy you could have a beer with" etc is an odd question to ask...why is that everytime a polictican speaks their words are calculated and measured to "reach out" to everyone...yup, those guys in the bar drinking and playing pool!
Being able to sit down at a bar and say "oh..hello Mr President" and chat about 'the price of eggs' is more for Hollywood than reality. You all love the idea of being able to do it and praise the ability of the president for doing it...yet in the real world, those bars and bowling halls are also frequented by those 'off the scale of social ability'. Is that the kind of person and qualities you want in a president??..or course not.
Would you want a teacher to be stupid, or doctor to be incompetent? No you want them to do their job as their training and intellect dicates.
So why is it an issue if the president is above the man in the street...a doctor is,but shouldnt feel the need to apologies for being so.
If you go through the issues one by one most people will tell you they think Bush has messed up big time in all areas. Yet those same people will tell you if he ran again in 2008 they would vote for him. I suppose the devil you know is safer and more comfortable than the devil you don't know.
The "likability" factor amongst Americans choosing a candidate has more to do with trust than anything else.
Politicians today---both Democrat and Republican---are inspiring little trust in anyone. Our Congress is accomplishing no work at all except endless investigations into the affairs of each party, completely ignoring the work that needs to be done FOR the people who elected them. The presidential candidates themselves are more about who can say the most about themselves, and against the others, saying ANYTHING to get elected for themselves---not the people.
These current polls are simply creative ways of asking "Whom do you trust?" "Who is telling the truth?" "Who is going to do the work for the people of the US, rather than feeding ego and corrupt ambition?" A poll asking who you would trust with your child for an evening is actually wanting to know in whom do you trust your child's future.
I'd have to agree with the comments ragrding trust. There are very few candidates who I could stand to be in the same room with, let alone drink with. Honesty, integrity and intelligence are what I look for in a president, and a drinking buddy. We need someone untainted by lobbyists and religious extremists (of any faith). For me its Mike Gravel (yes, the guy even less people have heard of than Kucinich or Paul).
Outside of the USA and Iran, the rest of the world are praying for Bush, again, yet again. If he can steal it twice, don't rule out a third term. He can't afford to go to war anymore, and he is too stupid to spell conscription. On the economy side, he'd have troubles adding up the change in his pocket. The world's number one is leaderless and the rest are catching up. All things will equal.