Help Wanted, No Experience Required?

[Billy Britt]

There is an old quiz about, “Who do you think would make the best president?”It goes like this: Candidate one is a known womanizer, smokes and drinks at least five martinis a day. Candidate two is constantly in debt, drinks a pint of Brandy before he goes to bed at night and was expelled from school for cheating on exams. Oh yes, and he smokes cigars constantly. Candidate three is a military veteran, is very health conscious, does not smoke, exercises regularly, is very patriotic and is a one-woman man.Of the three who would be best suited to be president?In deciding on a president or any public servant character matters, personal responsibility matters, what one does in their private life does matter. When it comes to public service ability, experience and wisdom matter as well. I have heard it said that the American public wants a president that they would like to have a beer or dinner with. I find this laughable if not utterly absurd. I want a president who is too smart to have a beer or dinner with me, someone who, for lack of a better word, is better than me. Likeability is an overrated virtue. I don’t want to like the president, I want to respect their ability to think rationally, understand the situation of domestic and foreign affairs, execute the office with wisdom and to govern with all Americans in mind rather than one party or another.In other words, someone who is up for the job! We live in a time where learning on the job is a luxury we can ill afford!No one in their right mind goes to an auto mechanic for open heart surgery.No matter how affable, the mechanic’s ability with a torque wrench will not translate into a successful heart transplant.Presidents are people and as anyone who has a brain in their head knows, people are flawed. Any doubts look in the mirror. We tell our kids that anyone can grow up to be president. While that may be true in theory, out of the millions and millions who have lived and died in our republic only 43 of our citizens have held office of president. Of the 43 we have had good ones, bad ones, mean ones, lazy ones, imperialist, populist, crooks and more than a few liars, and all in all the country has survived.However, our nation’s current situation looks as dire as I can ever remember and yet there is always hope. Perhaps not in politicians but in the American people. It is said and perhaps true that all of us are smarter than any of us.In these turbulent times we need more than a drinking buddy or a dinner guest.So, when we hang out the help wanted sign at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave we need to focus on ability and not likeability, expertise and not single issues and pray we the people choose wisely.Oh, as for the three candidates above, the first was Franklin D. Roosevelt, the second was Winston Churchill and the third was Adolph Hitler. Who got your vote?

[Janis Lang Johnson]

To not vote is a dishonor to all those that have gone before me and fight, bled and died for my right to do so.

[John Richeson]

We are not kids, last time I checked.

You said Obama is "a kiss ass two faced Marxist and a running mate I don't know at all"
That's just sad and doesn't deserve reply. You should get to know Joe Biden so you can be more informed on the candidates running for office.

You said "If I didn't think Obama was a lyin sack of poop, he would be a decent president."

It does not matter what you think, he will be a decent president regardless of your thoughts or mine.

I would agree that to vote for some Libertarian candidate who doesn't have a chance is fruitless and takes away votes from others. Better if you did not vote at all.

[John Richeson]

A "slide into socialism"???
What about the hundreds of $billions in bailouts that the current administration is implementing? How is that not so called socialism?
It is intersting to see how fearful of Obama many people are. Here is an excerpt from an email that David Storck, chairman of the Republican Party here in Tampa forwarded to 400 party members. He said
"This e-mail was sent to me from one of our Volunteers in the Temple Terrace office. If you think it can help us win this election please pass it on. This election is now in our hands everyone can make a difference.
Thanks
Dave"

And yes, he read it in full before forwarding it. He has since apologized on the news here, Among other things the email he supported said:

THE THREAT: HERE IN TEMPLE TERRACE, FL OUR REPUBLICAN HQ IS ONE BLOCK AWAY FROM OUR LIBRARY, WHICH IS AN EARLY VOTING SITE.

"I SEE CARLOADS OF BLACK OBAMA SUPPORTERS COMING FROM THE INNER CITY TO CAST THEIR VOTES FOR OBAMA. THIS IS THEIR CHANCE TO GET A BLACK PRESIDENT AND THEY SEEM TO CARE LITTLE THAT HE IS AT MINIMUM, SOCIALIST, AND PROBABLY MARXIST IN HIS CORE BELIEFS. AFTER ALL, HE IS BLACK -- NO EXPERIENCE OR ACCOMPLISHMENTS -- BUT HE IS BLACK."

He is aaccused of being a terrorist, muslim, socialist, marxist, anti-american, will not wear a flag lapel pin, "pals around with terrorists" (quote Ms Palin), and a host of other accuasations.

I am definitely voting for this dude!

[Bob Martin]

Well, the establishment is going nuts...
The politicians, the media, everybody who has found themselves a nice comfy spot in life by accepting what each other thinks is reality...
And now the ones who have brought about this mess have the audacity to say that someone who doesn't think the way they do isn't fit to lead...
My, my...

2Chronicles 29:1-8

..."as ye see with your eyes..."

vs. 9 hits home...

Kinda reminds me of the 60's...

But ya gotta love vs.10

"Now it is within mine heart to make a covenant with the LORD God of Israel, that his fierce wrath may turn away from us..."

Just some random stuff...

:) Bob

[John Richeson]

I will truly be glad when this election is over.

[Bob Martin]

Well, to get back to the original post, where Billy calls for looking to ability above likeability,
almost leaves me at a loss...

I don't think any of the candidates have the ability...
Hell, I don't think anybody has the ability...

But I kinda have the inclination that Sara is the only one who knows that...

:) Bob

[Bob Martin]

Whoa!
George Will is not God...
Ya know Steve, I'd rather hear your opinion than his...

:) Bob

[Bob Martin]

God bless you, Billy!

You've done an admirable job of pointing out the frailties of voting according to our understanding...

So I'm gonna ask the Father who I should vote for...

Thanks!

:) Bob