# Could a famous musician become President? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [October 20, 2012, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-famous-musician-become-president/638365 "2012-10-20T22:13:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2012, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-famous-musician-become-president/638365/21 "2012-10-22T03:20:22Z")
> [@drastic\_quench](#): > > Yes, by comparison to other musicians. It’s honestly refreshing to listen to him being interviewed just for the sheer spectacle of a professional musician possessing and articulating insights. Add onto that his freakshow stage persona, and he seems even more surprising. > > Basically, I’d rate him on par with a solid tenured professor at a good state university. Kinda like Obama, before he got into politics? ---
**Author:** ![MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MPB_in_Salt_Lake)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2012, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-famous-musician-become-president/638365/22 "2012-10-22T03:24:49Z")
> [@drastic\_quench](#): > > Basically, I’d rate him on par with a solid tenured professor at a good state university. I’m sure you would. ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2012, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-famous-musician-become-president/638365/23 "2012-10-22T03:35:12Z")
> [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](#): > > I’m sure you would. What’s that supposed to mean? I don’t speak cryptic. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2012, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-famous-musician-become-president/638365/24 "2012-10-22T04:14:30Z")
I’d vote for President Zappa. (ETA: Okay, _zombie_ President Zappa) ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2012, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-famous-musician-become-president/638365/25 "2012-10-22T04:37:18Z")
> [@Mr.Greenjeans](#): > > The real Joe Walsh would be an entertaining congressman. “You lie!” ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2012, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-famous-musician-become-president/638365/26 "2012-10-22T07:07:44Z")
> [@Lamar\_Mundane](#): > > Didn’t the guy from Midnight Oil become a politician in Australia? Peter Garrett - he’s currently Minister for School Education, Early Childhood and Youth ---
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2012, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-famous-musician-become-president/638365/27 "2012-10-22T07:23:26Z")
There is this guy > [@](#): > > 1. Screaming Lord Sutch > > One time low-rent Brit Rocker, Screaming Lord Sutch first got into politics when he stood for parliament after the resignation of John Profumo in 1963. Sutch went on to form the Monster Raving Loony Party and, over a period of 30 years, contested more than 40 seats without being successful. He did campaign for 24 hour drinking - whether that is good or bad is up to you. I don’t know much about his success, but I do like his platform. ---
**Author:** ![DrumBum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e79b87/32.png) [@DrumBum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrumBum)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2012, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-famous-musician-become-president/638365/28 "2012-11-01T12:48:21Z")
I would vote for Alice Cooper or Jimmy Buffett. I am pretty sure both of them willingly inhaled. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2012, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-famous-musician-become-president/638365/29 "2012-11-01T14:41:05Z")
> [@Lamar\_Mundane](#): > > Didn’t the guy from Midnight Oil become a politician in Australia? Anyone who can write an international hit song about reparations to Aborigines has obviously got some serious political talent. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2012, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-famous-musician-become-president/638365/30 "2012-11-01T19:41:45Z")
I might vote for Eddie Vedder. He seems to be pretty on-the-ball politically. ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2012, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-famous-musician-become-president/638365/31 "2012-11-01T20:19:07Z")
Kinky Friedman! He actually ran for something (governor of Texas?) but did not win. I would have to vote for Jimmy Buffett. ---
**Author:** ![gamerunknown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6bbea6/32.png) [@gamerunknown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gamerunknown)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2012, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-famous-musician-become-president/638365/32 "2012-11-04T21:57:29Z")
I remembered [Krist Novoselic](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krist_Novoselic) went into politics (though I did have to look up his name). After seeing an interview with Nirvana stoned off their face he seemed like a misanthrope/nihilist though. ---
**Author:** ![Enlightening\_Meditation](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecc23a/32.png) [@Enlightening\_Meditation](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enlightening_Meditation)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2012, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-famous-musician-become-president/638365/33 "2012-11-04T22:28:58Z")
Could a famous musician become President? Bruce Springsteen could possibly get elected if he really went for it and became a governor or senator first. [QUOTE=Mr. Greenjeans] The real Joe Walsh would be an entertaining congressman. [/QUOTE] The real Joe Walsh (the guitarist) did have a mock run for President in 1980. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2012, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-famous-musician-become-president/638365/34 "2012-11-04T23:36:27Z")
> [@drastic\_quench](#): > > Yes, by comparison to other musicians. It’s honestly refreshing to listen to him being interviewed just for the sheer spectacle of a professional musician possessing and articulating insights. Add onto that his freakshow stage persona, and he seems even more surprising. > > Basically, I’d rate him on par with a solid tenured professor at a good state university. Musicians aren’t necessarily stupid. Take Bruce Dickinson (fencer and pilot), Dr Brian May (PhD in Astrophysics), or you could go for the real deal, [Professor Brian Cox](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Cox_(physicist)). ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2012, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-famous-musician-become-president/638365/35 "2012-11-05T01:33:51Z")
I don’t know anything about his music, but I’d give JZ a thought. He is very successful and Beyonce would be a lovely first lady. ---
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2012, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-famous-musician-become-president/638365/36 "2012-11-06T15:16:34Z")
> [@Ponch8](#): > > Ten years from now, when she turns 35 and is eligible for office, it would be awesome to see President Kesha Sebert. Think of all the glitter there would be at the inaugural ball. Don’t you mean “Pre$ident Kesha Sebert”? ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2012, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-famous-musician-become-president/638365/37 "2012-11-06T15:28:38Z")
I would vote for Bob Dylan just to hear him address Congress. ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2012, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-famous-musician-become-president/638365/38 "2012-11-06T16:33:22Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > I would vote for Bob Dylan just to hear him address Congress. Idiot Wind, right? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-famous-musician-become-president/638365.md?page=1)