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What is 'Presidential'?

bradly1101

bradly1101

Diamond Member
I believe a lot of people saw Obama as presidential because of his speaking style and the way he seemed to make logical decisions about issues. Not to discount his positions on those issues, but that soaring tone he uses (not unlike JFK) I think got him a lot of attention and 'feels' presidential.

When it comes to Hillary there seem to be a few things about her that are less than presidential that I've mentioned before including blowing up at a Benghazi hearing and an earlier emotional moment during the 2008 campaign. The one thing that I think is shared by past presidents is the ability to stay cool under pressure, at least in public. Hillary doesn't seem to share that attribute. I also mentioned that some see her as a bit of a power hungry doormat for staying with a cheater (at least that one time). And her speaking style is less than soaring (IMO). She just doesn't feel presidential.

Then there's Rand Paul sniping with reporters along with Christie who just feels corrupt. There are the hypocrisies of Bush, the creepiness of Cruz...

In the whole field I don't see any truly presidential contenders. I would feel differently if Elizabeth Warren were running, but she's not. She has none of Hillary's negatives and she has a great empathetic speaking style. And I just saw Bill Maher offer her a cool million for her campaign if she runs. Too bad :'(

My fear is that Hillary will win the primary, then the Republicans will hit her on all her negatives, keeping her on the defensive resulting in a loss in the general election. President Bush?
 
bradly1101 said:
I believe a lot of people saw Obama as presidential because of his speaking style and the way he seemed to make logical decisions about issues. Not to discount his positions on those issues, but that soaring tone he uses (not unlike JFK) I think got him a lot of attention and 'feels' presidential.

When it comes to Hillary there seem to be a few things about her that are less than presidential that I've mentioned before including blowing up at a Benghazi hearing and an earlier emotional moment during the 2008 campaign. The one thing that I think is shared by past presidents is the ability to stay cool under pressure, at least in public. Hillary doesn't seem to share that attribute. I also mentioned that some see her as a bit of a power hungry doormat for staying with a cheater (at least that one time). And her speaking style is less than soaring (IMO). She just doesn't feel presidential.

Then there's Rand Paul sniping with reporters along with Christie who just feels corrupt. There are the hypocrisies of Bush, the creepiness of Cruz...

In the whole field I don't see any truly presidential contenders. I would feel differently if Elizabeth Warren were running, but she's not. She has none of Hillary's negatives and she has a great empathetic speaking style. And I just saw Bill Maher offer her a cool million for her campaign if she runs. Too bad :'(

My fear is that Hillary will win the primary, then the Republicans will hit her on all her negatives, keeping her on the defensive resulting in a loss in the general election. President Bush?
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Jeb(!) still has to win the nomination. There's virtually zero excitement about him. Sure, he'll get about 47-48% regardless in the General, but he has no chance against Clinton.

Hillary (!) has a lot more excitement behind her if for no other reason, first woman President, etc. Meh.

Hillary isn't in my top 10, but she isn't f-ing delusional, so she has that going for her over everyone else in the general she'd be running against.

My first two choices would be Bernie Sanders or Elizabeth Warren, but neither would have a chance in hell of winning.

I do like Sherrod Brown and Martin O'Malley.
 
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NM, you put that in there.

Yeah, Bill offered EW a million bucks to do it, but she doesn't want it.
 
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I know everybody is going to think this is my usual Obama bashing, but I don't find Obama to be Presidential in the slightest. Yes, he can deliver a canned speech, but when he wings it, he sounds less than bright. I can't stand his voice as well as his cadence and never could. He does not act Presidential in any fashion in fact he seems to go out of his way to do the opposite. Six years in and he still doesn't seem to have figured it out so it's obviously not going to happen. Too much chooming in his youth.

There are no candidates that I deem flat out Presidential on either side for this election. Hillary, IMO should be behind bars. We had one in Romney, but, that didn't work out. Bush is close. Rand Paul is not, Rubio is close, Cruz comes across as a weirdo and I think Walker could come as close as it gets with some grooming.
 
IDIOTBUSHRUBDOWN_zpspeivt7ym.jpg


If that ain't Presidential then I don't know what is.
 
MongGrel said:
You said Romney, so you lost me right there if that was the top of your list.
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If we are going on looks alone then Romney looked very "Presidential." I remember when I first saw Obama, it looked like he had his dad's suit on haha.
 
I think the last "presidential" President we've had was probably Ford. None since has been able to project gravitas.
 
UberNeuman said:
IDIOTBUSHRUBDOWN_zpspeivt7ym.jpg


If that ain't Presidential then I don't know what is.
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Creepy back rub for the win!

W could speak just fine in informal one-on-one conversation but couldn't read a TelePrompter to save his soul. Obama can read a TelePrompter like a mechanical repeater but stumbles and stutters without one. That suggests that "Presidential" means whatever quality we imagine is possesed by our guy or gal of the moment.
 
For a liberal "Presidential" means a level-headed demeanor and ability to make tough decisions based on what's best for the country instead of what's best for the self and party.

For a conservative "Presidential" means white.
 
thraashman said:
For a liberal "Presidential" means a level-headed demeanor and ability to make tough decisions based on what's best for the country instead of what's best for the self and party.

For a conservative "Presidential" means white.
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lol at the liberal deck. Fifty-two race cards and a couple jokers - in case you need another race card.

Gonna have to issue a new deck now, with some sexist cards.
 
thraashman said:
For a liberal "Presidential" means a level-headed demeanor and ability to make tough decisions based on what's best for the country instead of what's best for the self and party.

For a conservative "Presidential" means white.
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That is a pretty bold statement to make given until 08 every democrat president was a white male. And Ill take a guess that whoever runs against Hillary in the dem primaries will most likely be a white male.
 
werepossum said:
lol at the liberal deck. Fifty-two race cards and a couple jokers - in case you need another race card.

Gonna have to issue a new deck now, with some sexist cards.
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The comment was mainly a joke at how remarkably racist conservatives have felt it is acceptable to be since Obama was elected. Before Obama the inherent racism that is in every conservative was at least subtle or kept behind closed doors. But since his election y'all have been pretty straightforward about it. I'll stop bringing up race when conservatives stop being racist. I'd love to be able to say that conservatives weren't racist, but I don't lie (except to my boss about how much I post on P&N each day).
 
werepossum said:
Creepy back rub for the win!

W could speak just fine in informal one-on-one conversation but couldn't read a TelePrompter to save his soul. Obama can read a TelePrompter like a mechanical repeater but stumbles and stutters without one. That suggests that "Presidential" means whatever quality we imagine is possesed by our guy or gal of the moment.
Click to expand...

Really? Go pull the tape of the Q&A Obama had with Republicans. It was Obama vs entire Republican leadership. He owned them so badly Fox News cut away before it ended.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/01/29/obama-goes-to-the-gop-lio_n_442331.html
 
thraashman said:
For a liberal "Presidential" means a level-headed demeanor and ability to make tough decisions based on what's best for the country instead of what's best for the self and party.

For a conservative "Presidential" means white.
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Funny thing is, I'd vote for White any day, any time, anywhere. His awesomely keen and worldly grasp on foreign affairs/policy is astounding. 😉

*NSFW*

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZO5EFYY6P14
 
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thraashman said:
For a liberal "Presidential" means a level-headed demeanor and ability to make tough decisions based on what's best for the country instead of what's best for the self and party.

For a conservative "Presidential" means white.
Click to expand...

For both, rich. The price of entry is ridiculous.
 
werepossum said:
W could speak just fine in informal one-on-one conversation but couldn't read a TelePrompter to save his soul. Obama can read a TelePrompter like a mechanical repeater but stumbles and stutters without one.
Click to expand...

I've never seen him stumble and stutter more than anyone else when speaking off the cuff.
 
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