What's more important than electability?
Adam Graham discusses the one thing that's more important for a Presidential candidate than being electable. Being able to govern. While the column deals with the current White House incumbent, it is equally applicable to any leader anywhere. In fact, it's why Prime Minister Netanyahu is far more popular and successful right now than his American counterpart.Congressman John Conyers (D-Michigan) is expressing his frustration, saying he’s tired of “covering Obama’s can,” and has some pointed advice: “The president could take a few pages from Lyndon Johnson’s book … and start knocking heads together.”Obama fails on all counts.
Conyers is wrong — the president can’t. During his four years in the U.S. Senate (which he spent running for president), Obama didn’t acquire the legislative “skills” Lyndon Johnson did during ten years as a member of the Senate leadership. If the Democrats had wanted someone who would be effective moving legislation, they picked the wrong guy. They picked a solid candidate who could excite crowds and raise money. They didn’t choose someone who could make good decisions and move bills.
What’s the lesson for Republicans in 2012? Simply put, the goal of the nominating process is not to pick a good candidate; it’s to pick a good president. The problem with political folks is we tend to imagine the presidential campaign as the Super Bowl of politics, when it isn’t even opening day.
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There are three basic questions conservatives should ask themselves:
Does the candidate have a coherent agenda that will make the country better?
Does the candidate have the necessary skills to get his agenda passed?
Does the candidate have the ability to make executive decisions?
Read the whole thing.
posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 1:51 PM
2 Comments:
Al Gore, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama go to heaven.
God addresses Gore first. “Al, what do you believe in?”
Gore replies: “Well, I believe that I won that election, but that it was your will that I did not serve. And I’ve come to understand that now.”
God thinks for a second and says: “Very good. Come and sit at my left.”
God then addresses Clinton. “Bill, what do you believe in?”
Clinton replies: “I believe in forgiveness. I’ve sinned, but I’ve never held a grudge against my fellow man, and I hope no grudges are held against me.”
God thinks for a second and says: “You are forgiven, my son. Come and sit at my right.”
Then God addresses Obama. “Barack, what do you believe in?”
Obama replies...
“I believe you’re in my chair.”
That's why Debbie Schlussel thinks Palin is the Republican Obama. Popularity is not enough to make a good President. Obama didn't even have one legislative accomplishment to his name yet the American people voted for him any way. Electability is rather a superficial consideration. A person's values should count for more than his looks or his appeal to the crowd.
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