Leadership ..And we think Ron Paul is weird

[caroljane]

This seems to be a good CanAm day on OL, so I'll add this comment on the American electorate's demands that modern presidential candidates must demonstrate the nuclear family, hetero monogamous form of sexuality as a "character" qualification.

Formerly there were probably good reasons for this. The potential for blackmail of a Commander-in-Chief who had ever strayed from the straight and narrow would render him incapable of being trusted. Yet political leadership skills themselves have almost nothing to do with sexual fidelity, nor even with fidelity itself, except to ideals or objectives which are commendable and achievable.

The correlation between domestic family skills and national leadership skills in individual politicians seems to be pretty low. Lincoln was a good husband and father, who may have had gay episodes in his single years; JFK and LBJ were hypocritcal hounds, and so on. Jimmy Carter may have lusted in his heart but you know he never betrayed Rosalynn. One-term president.

Here in Canada we were led through the twentieth century by, among others, Trudeau, a bachelor gay (sometimes, so they say) and discriminating hedonist who became a Dirty Old Man on marrying a 22-year-old at age 50, helping to drive her crazy, then going on to father another child with a staffer after the divorce. He was one of the best PMs we had.

Then there is the one voted best, #1 by Canadian historians according to Wiki.the longest-serving (22 years). W.L. Mackenzie King, a lifelong bachelor rumoured to be in love with Lord Tweedsmuir whom he appointed Governor-General.

King got his political advice not from aides or polls but from his dead mother via seance.

If attack ads had existed in the 30s and 40s the way they do now, the voters would just not have believed them.

You probably don't believe it now.

[PDS]

I was not aware a 50 year old could be considered a Dirty Old Man in Canada. That's it: I'm staying here.

[Greybird]

{AncientJoke}

Who do you mean with that "we," Kemosabe?

{/AncientJoke}

[caroljane]

{AncientJoke}

Who do you mean with that "we," Kemosabe?

{/AncientJoke}

Gulp. WE- aggregate North Americans

Carol

ancient joker

[caroljane]

I was not aware a 50 year old could be considered a Dirty Old Man in Canada. That's it: I'm staying here.

In fairness to PET, he was mostly so considered by sour-grapes 20 year olds who were jealous of Margaret.

[Greybird]

Several million have dissented, or are dissenting, from your "aggregate." Try avoiding this casual collectivism, please.

[shifty]

If attack ads had existed in the 30s and 40s the way they do now, the voters would just not have believed them.

ReasonTv seems to suggest that negative attack adds existed much before television:

[caroljane]

Several million have dissented, or are dissenting, from your "aggregate." Try avoiding this casual collectivism, please.

Did you count the Mexicans?

[Brant Gaede]

Several million have dissented, or are dissenting, from your "aggregate." Try avoiding this casual collectivism, please.

If Steve died in early February, it must have been sudden and unexpected.

--Brant

edit: he had one more on OL

Edited April 7, 2012 by Brant Gaede