Searching For A President 'Just Like Us'

[shawmutt]

Searching For A President 'Just Like Us' : NPR

Interesting article from NPR today, I thought I'd share:

Somewhere along the way, a lot of Americans began wanting to see a leader who is perceived as being not too stuck-up, eloquent, polished. That is, a leader who is "just like us." The phrase pops up again and again in this presidential election. A reporter at Salon.com was writing recently about John McCain's appearance on a TV cooking show. When the Republican presidential candidate revealed that he buys his food at Costco, the reporter pointed out, "Just like us!" Speaking at the Democratic National Convention, Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill said Democrat Barack Obama is "just like us." Even US Weekly proclaimed it so. Earlier this year the gossipy magazine ran a photo spread of Obama shopping at a grocery, riding a roller coaster, adding hot sauce to a bowl of gumbo. He is, the magazine asserted, "Just like us!"

I, for one, can do without the pandering and risking our nation's safety in order to escape the "evil elitism".

[Sonart]

.

The next person that says something like that, ask them, if they were going in for heart surgery, would they prefer a Joe-6-pack working on them...

...or an elite, top-notch heart surgeon with an elite, high quality medical education?

.

[lsbskins1]

I blame Richard Nixon for this silly crap.

[Thanatos]

Quote by: Sonart . The next person that says something like that, ask them, if they were going in for heart surgery, would they prefer a Joe-6-pack working on them... ...or an elite, top-notch heart surgeon with an elite, high quality medical education? .

Sarah Palin's elite. Haven't you seen her shoot a M4?

I see nothing wrong with candidates that are humble. Joe Biden takes the train to work. However whenever a politician of any party tried to be...unhumble about their humbleness I feel disgusted. No, I don't care how many coal miners were in your family. No, I don't care if you know the price of gas because you asked some random guy and you personally haven't filled up your own limo in years. Cindy McCain I like in some ways because she's done a lot of honest volunteer work in some miserable places.

We need politicians who do not sound like a cross between a bad job interview and a used car salesman trying to sell me a lemon. Or at least I do.

[Hurt]

Quote by: Sonart . The next person that says something like that, ask them, if they were going in for heart surgery, would they prefer a Joe-6-pack working on them... ...or an elite, top-notch heart surgeon with an elite, high quality medical education? .

QFT. I am so tired of this line.

[ShadowFox]

Quote by: Thanatos Sarah Palin's elite. Haven't you seen her shoot a M4? I see nothing wrong with candidates that are humble. Joe Biden takes the train to work. However whenever a politician of any party tried to be...unhumble about their humbleness I feel disgusted. No, I don't care how many coal miners were in your family. No, I don't care if you know the price of gas because you asked some random guy and you personally haven't filled up your own limo in years. Cindy McCain I like in some ways because she's done a lot of honest volunteer work in some miserable places. We need politicians who do not sound like a cross between a bad job interview and a used car salesman trying to sell me a lemon. Or at least I do.

If people come from humble backgrounds, that's ok, if they live a relatively humble life, ok, but in order to become President of Vice President, you probably should be well educated and be highly skilled.

[tinybear]

Oh don't be silly. We can't have a president who is just like us. We're not smart enough to be President.

[thebuescherman]

Quote by: ShadowFox If people come from humble backgrounds, that's ok, if they live a relatively humble life, ok, but in order to become President of Vice President, you probably should be well educated and be highly skilled.

There's no reason a highly skilled and well educated man can't be selfless and humble at the same time.

[Okieslims]

I think the immortal star of Gigli said it best back in 2000
"Al Gore is like the nerdy kid that gets the best grades and GWB is like the average joe.. This is one position where you want the nerdy guy!"


I actually don't think being like everyone else is such a bad thing.. as long as you have something that sets you apart that doesn't include family connections. I.E> Barry Goldwater.. he was down to earth and just a normal guy in many ways..he didnt advertise it.. but thats how he was. He also had a deep resivior of wisdom and a fearless approach though and thats what set him apart .

[Sonart]

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Quote by: Hurt QFT. I am so tired of this line.

The ridiculous thing is, this isn't even as straightforward as an elite surgeon. It's not about where they came from anymore... all the candidates had humble roots. It's about anyone with the audacity -- even if done with humility and without arrogance -- to simply speak as if they're well educated and can discuss policy and ideas as if they'd actually thought about it.

Are you a charismatic public speaker? Ooooo, an elite! Work hard enough to get into a top notch university, WITHOUT the benefit of a family legacy? Just another dang elite!!

Bill Clinton was the ultimate "Wonk", the windy Rhodes scholar. Of course, he could also charm with that Southern drawl.

Declaring someone as an elite is simply conceding that they're probably more qualified and knowledgeable. So you make a virtue out of NOT being qualified and knowledgeable.... I'm more normal, more like all of you. I may not know all that insider stuff, but that's a GOOD thing, since I'm relying more on my good 'ol American common sense,

Quote by: tinybear Oh don't be silly. We can't have a president who is just like us. We're not smart enough to be President.

Quote by: thebuescherman There's no reason a highly skilled and well educated man can't be selfless and humble at the same time.

Not and be a politician. There's lots of smart people, but it takes a whole lot more to make it to the top rungs of the political world.

These people are highly driven, supremely self-confident, massive egos, ambitious, ruthless, and usually willing to lie whenever necessary... what else is 'spin' but simply straightout lying in order to make 2 + 3 = 7.

Add to this that politicians are usually highly competent -- most have made successful lives and fortunes before getting into politics -- they're adapt at organizing, getting things done, leading and delegating, and motivating people into doing their bidding.

So no, tinybear, it's not that we're not smart enough, we just don't have the drive, ambition, ruthlesness and ego. Anyone here think they could go though the non-stop campaigning these people are currently doing? Would even want to??? They not only want to, they LOVE doing it....

...that's not a thing like us Joe 6-packs.

.

[gallo]

Quote by: Sonart The ridiculous thing is, this isn't even as straightforward as an elite surgeon. It's not about where they came from anymore... all the candidates had humble roots.

Actually not true. There is nothing humble about Navy Admirals. They are elite.

It's about anyone with the audacity -- even if done with humility and without arrogance -- to simply speak as if they're well educated and can discuss policy and ideas as if they'd actually thought about it.

So, please explain why Dubya was elected twice. Unless he can read it, he can't speak as if he were well educated. And he is obviously regurgitating pat phrases when he talks about policy.

Are you a charismatic public speaker? Ooooo, an elite!

Nope. I'm not. My public speaking was done from knowledge in front of my classes. Most of my students liked me and enjoyed my classes.

Work hard enough to get into a top notch university, WITHOUT the benefit of a family legacy? Just another dang elite!!

I didn't attend top notch universities, and yet, my test scores were above those of Dubya. Yet, I suspect that I would not have been accepted at Yale or Harvard. since I would have been evaluated on merit.

Bill Clinton was the ultimate "Wonk", the windy Rhodes scholar. Of course, he could also charm with that Southern drawl.

If you had ever met the man you would realize that it wasn't the drawl. The man has presence. He commands a room by entering it.

Declaring someone as an elite is simply conceding that they're probably more qualified and knowledgeable. So you make a virtue out of NOT being qualified and knowledgeable....

Right. Joe Six-pack is the guy we want to be our President. The guy who goes back to the Lincoln bedroom every night and chugs a six pack before flopping on the Lincoln bed for a solid 10 hours of sleep, only disturbed by occasional vomiting.

I'm more normal, more like all of you. I may not know all that insider stuff, but that's a GOOD thing, since I'm relying more on my good 'ol American common sense,

Right. It's a good thing to elect someone who might be a drinking buddy as President. I'm with you here.

Not and be a politician. There's lots of smart people, but it takes a whole lot more to make it to the top rungs of the political world.

True.

These people are highly driven, supremely self-confident, massive egos, ambitious, ruthless, and usually willing to lie whenever necessary... what else is 'spin' but simply straightout lying in order to make 2 + 3 = 7.

That is a "right on" description of our President. Our problem is all of that coupled with a marginally adequate intelligence, probably coupled with dyslexia and ADHD. Thus, we have been lead into two mismanaged foreign wars coupled with policies that have destroyed the economy. History will, no doubt, judge G.W. Bush as the worst President in our history. And "middle America" was so stupid as to vote against their own best interests and elect this dimwit a second time.

Add to this that politicians are usually highly competent -- most have made successful lives and fortunes before getting into politics -- they're adapt at organizing, getting things done, leading and delegating, and motivating people into doing their bidding.

That may be true, for the most part. However, Lincoln failed in business. So did G.W. Bush, more than once. Bush only appeared successful when he bought into the Texas Rangers baseball team. Thus, we idiots in Texas elected another idiot to be our Governor (I didn't vote for the idiot).

So no, tinybear, it's not that we're not smart enough, we just don't have the drive, ambition, ruthlesness and ego.

Probably true. But in the current campaign, I think that both candidates are smarter than me (in spite of McCain's rank in his class from the USNA). In the previous two campaigns, I feel that only the Democratic candidates were more intelligent that me.

Anyone here think they could go though the non-stop campaigning these people are currently doing? Would even want to??? They not only want to, they LOVE doing it....

Probably true.

...that's not a thing like us Joe 6-packs.

But do you really want to elect someone who identifies with a Joe 6-pack mentality as Vice-President? Get a grip, people. McCain is 72 years old. Do you really want a fundamentalist christian waiting in the wings? Especially after 8 years of the anti-education, anti-science administration of Dubya?

[Sonart]

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Quote by: gallo Actually not true. There is nothing humble about Navy Admirals. They are elite.

Ummm... yeah.... okay.... so, how is my statement not true? Not all Admirals come from elite, wealthy military families, do they?

Quote by: gallo So, please explain why Dubya was elected twice. Unless he can read it, he can't speak as if he were well educated. And he is obviously regurgitating pat phrases when he talks about policy.

And he certainly didn't pass himself off as an elite, did he?? Not against Al Gore.

Boy George may very well actually be the son of a wealthy New England Yale family, but except for Ann Richards, I don't think too many people thought of Shrubya as part of the "elite". Certainly not according to his campaign handlers. No, that epithet seems to be reserved strictly for "liberal elites".

Quote by: gallo Nope. I'm not. My public speaking was done from knowledge in front of my classes. Most of my students liked me and enjoyed my classes.

Umm..... okay....

soooo.... ??

Are you running for President?

Gallo, I know you to be a insightful and clever debater on this board, but your point here seems sorta lost. Are you sure you read my post in the right context? I'm talking about the constant conservative mantra against "liberal elites" and how they're running against it.

Quote by: Gallo I didn't attend top notch universities, and yet, my test scores were above those of Dubya. Yet, I suspect that I would not have been accepted at Yale or Harvard. since I would have been evaluated on merit.

Like I said... the statement you're responding to was written with more than a touch of sarcasm, mocking conservative accusations made against other 'Liberal elites', despite the fact of humble origins and hard work.

Quote by: Gallo If you had ever met the man you would realize that it wasn't the drawl. The man has presence. He commands a room by entering it.

I'm Bill Clinton's biggest fan, Gallo. Probably more so than you, I suspect, and I have met him.

Boy, you definitely got my post wrong.

Try rereading from the top, then try again.

Quote by: Gallo Right. It's a good thing to elect someone who might be a drinking buddy as President. I'm with you here.

Really??? Why would you think that??? Sure, someone who likes people always makes a grand President, but it's certainly not the first thing I look for.

Quote by: Gallo So did G.W. Bush, more than once.

George Bush is an exception pretty much all the way around. Indeed, today I refer to him as an arrogant, mule-headed, intellectually shallow Peter Principle case study who got where he is through charm, his father's name and other people's money.

But in 2000, although I would have preferred Al Gore, I assumed that young Bush, having grown up at the feet of a former Congressman, ambassador to the UN, DCI, Vice-President and President of the United States, had to have learned something along the way, and that we were probably in reasonably good hands.

Right??!!

Little did I know that he hadn't learned a damn thing and that he was exactly what I would come to perceive later.

Quote by: Gallo That may be true, for the most part.

You can find exceptions to everything, but... for the most part, I think successful politicians know how to be successful. Some, like Bill Clinton, never do anything BUT politics, and as a result, he and Hillary never made a fortune until he left politics. Which is why the constant accusations of his "most corrupt administration ever" always mystified me. For someone as corrupt as folks like to paint him, he had amazingly little to show for it... as did his administration which suffered a grand total of one --- count 'em, one -- member convicted of a crime. Henry Cisneros for, you guessed it, lying under oath about a casual affair. Compare that to, say, the administration of Saint Ronald of Reagan.

Quote by: Gallo But do you really want to elect someone who identifies with a Joe 6-pack mentality as Vice-President?

Ummm, no, Gallo. I absolutely don't. Give me an "elite" like Clinton or Gore any day.

Which is why methinks you misread my post.

.

[Diogenes]

What you need is a Ross Perot and Ralph Nader ticket Perot will fix the economy...Nader will ensure that consumer rights will be protected...the troops will come home and everyone can have a BBQ

[nerdvincent]

- "Good morning Mr President! So what are we going to do for the fincancial crisis?"
- "What about me budweizz'u?"

[Diogenes]

Good morning Mr President!

...............................

The only problem with a Perot-Nader ticket would be that Perot looks too much like Mr. McGoo and Nader usually looks like he just climbed out of bed...but aside from that Perot is an economic genius and Nader is one of the smartest and defiantly noble men in America.

It would be a great combo...but it'd never get elected.

[shawmutt]

Quote by: Diogenes What you need is a Ross Perot and Ralph Nader ticket Perot will fix the economy...Nader will ensure that consumer rights will be protected...the troops will come home and everyone can have a BBQ

Yep, vote BBQ

YouTube - Bill Maher - Vote Barbeque

[Sweet Katie]

Quote by: shawmutt Searching For A President 'Just Like Us' : NPR Interesting article from NPR today, I thought I'd share: I, for one, can do without the pandering and risking our nation's safety in order to escape the "evil elitism".

This argument reminds me of a script on The Daily Show, where Jon Stewart was discussing Obama being an elitist. His argument was, "Don't we want someone better than us running the country?"

"Better than you, you liberal nutjob," I muttered, turning the channel.

*************

I theorize that understanding the fine points of politics and being such astute sociopaths requires higher-than-average smarts. Obama, for one, showed his gifted intelligence by how quickly he was able to pick up an understanding of foreign affairs, although his opinions are still weighted down by the newly developed knowledge and the obvious Big Brother in the Battery (United Nations) talking points.

People look for those that represent themselves because they theorize that candidate will vote in a manner favorable to them. Why wouldn't a hunter vote for McCain/Palin? Why wouldn't a Pro-Choice vote for Obama? Why wouldn't a black American vote for Obama? Why wouldn't a Pro-Life vote for McCain/Palin?

[shawmutt]

Why wouldn't a hunter vote for McCain/Palin?

Because they aren't the best people for the job I have my NRA membership working for me to protect my rights.