Now that Trump has finished his precidency we have seen the results of what many would call an incompetent president. But still, he does have experience leading an organizaltion and socializing with important people. He also has quite a lot of drive and energy for his age, and he is good at telling a part of the population what they want to hear.
So imagine you became president. Maybe through some obscure law, so that you would sit at least four years, unless impeached or stepping down. Not some hypothetical scenario where you imagine yourself as more competent than you actually are, but your actual self.
How do you think you would do? Would you be alle to influence your party at all, and get stuff done? In which direction would you try to take the party (of your choosing), and would you be able to?
Easy!! I’d totally redirect the ‘economy’ away from the value of share-prices towards improving the actual standard of living of my constituents. I’d tax the top end at a greater rate, and send the proceeds towards improving health care, housing and education.
I’d totally alienate all the freeloaders who have gulped up their profits during the economic ‘downturns’, and fuck them off from my list to attend functions. Speaking of functions, I’d hire local unemployed kids, charitable orgs and the ilk to set them up. It’s really easy.
To get rid of the cancerous ruling-class, one needs to excise them.
And when the scumbags have gone, we’ll get peeps with decency onboard.
I would be awful. My only hope would be to adopt the cutest, friendliest kitten and bring it out for everyone to stop arguing and coo at whenever I failed. So basically constantly. To use a DnD term, my recognition factor is about a 1 out of 100; no one would ever remember I was there. I’d have to let my cabinet run everything.
I’m a great one for having all the right opinions and seeing where the current crop of Them In Charge could and should have done things differently. But I know I’d get fed up with things not happening just because I think they should, and I’d be very limited at persuading people to see things my way, or finding ways to compromise between competing interests to get results. Only a matter of time before I’d become a frothing stream-of-consciousness loon like… well, whoever might fit your bill.
I’m way too bad at networking. Wait, maybe I don’t need that in post-Covid world? I quite like giving a speech and I’m good at recruiting people to do certain roles that are better than me, so if I can pick a good cabinet, I’ll be great.
Actually, I think on reflection I’d be better at being Queen.
Actually, I already thought about this at length. I would follow the opinion polls very closely, and always make sure I gave the voters whatever they wanted, since our sovereignty lies mainly in the People.
Actually, I have also been liberal to varying degrees all my life (though in reality I am all over the political spectrum [I am rather *‘hawkish’* on defense FWIW]). And there are some moral issues I would insist upon, like gay rights and gay marriage.
But overall, I think I’d make a good president. IMHO at least.
Personally, I’m not much of an executive. But I like to think that I’d figure out how to surround myself with people who are really good in their fields, including some with differing opinions, and I’d weigh their inputs and end up with a pretty good path to follow.
Seems to me, that’s the logical approach for anyone, since, no matter how smart you may be, you can’t know it all. Even if you’re a stable genius…
In reality, tho, I’d probably be a mediocre president, but at least I wouldn’t be malicious.
I’d be pretty bad at the leader-in-chief stuff. I’m introverted and not good speaking to crowds.
But I’d at least hire competent people and listen to their advice. And I like to think I would learn from my mistakes at least to some small extent–at least I wouldn’t double-down on them and break out sharpies to show how right I actually am. And I wouldn’t deny the severity of a global pandemic because I was afraid the stock market falling would me make me look bad. And I wouldn’t make culture war issues about simple little public health measures like whether or not to wear a mask in public. And I wouldn’t make scapegoats out of huge swaths of people in order to secure the support and admiration of people with the worst instincts among us. I wouldn’t corruptly use the office as a huge cash machine. And finally, I wouldn’t fight the peaceful transition of power and foment an insurrection.
I’m getting too old and tired, but when I was younger and still working, I always got promoted at whatever job I had. I was always eager and willing and full of energy, so I was always one of the most productive people. I HATE to be idle, so I think I’d do pretty good. I would hire the best people I could to help.
But I can be sort of sensitive and get my feelings hurt so that could be a BIG problem in such a position. I would never be able to please everyone and that would bother me.
I’d be a great president. I can remember huge amounts of data from reading or hearing it once. I simplify problems down to solvable issues and delegate well to get them accomplished. I have an eye for talent and most of the people I’ve hired over my career have gone on to do great things even after I left an organization. I’m also personable and do well relating and negotiating with people. I’m photogenic and do well on camera and in interviews.
I’m actually thinking of starting my political journey once COVID is over.
I’m aware of my limitations. I’m a normal person and no normal person has the abilities to be a good President. The job takes extraordinary capabilities just to do it at an average level.
I also lack the background for the job. I don’t know the processes of how American politics work at anywhere near the level a President should. So even when I knew what I should be doing, I wouldn’t know how to get it done.
I would give it my best shot. I would try to find good advisors and try to keep up with everything they were telling me. I would try to make the right decisions in a timely fashion.
But I’d also have an exit strategy. I would want a good Vice President. I’d try to realistically assess how I was doing and if I felt I was failing at the job, I’d resign and let my Vice President take over.
I am a huge believer that simple = best. I’d do a minimalist presidency. Cut out all unnecessary events, such as speaking at university graduation ceremonies.
Having a bad spine, I’d also get a custom-made chair and bed mattress for the White House. Eat as healthy as possible.
I’d invite Pelosi, Schumer, McConnell, etc. into the Oval Office for regular meetings and discussions about getting stuff done.
I’d also hire a few spiritual advisors, Constitutional advisors, specific-topic experts.
I couldn’t run for reelection because I absolutely would despise and loathe campaigning with every fiber of my being. I already saw firsthand, as a political intern, how grueling and miserable the life of a candidate is like on the trail and I do NOT want that.
I’d be a great president, because I would do damn near nothing. I’m not proactive, not daring, not risk-taking, and damn near non-political (by the reckoning of non-US countries). I would let congress make the laws, eschewing the recent practice of making law via executive orders. I would consult with experts about everything, because even when I think I know something, I’m not certain enough to swear by it.
The places where I’d be weak are places where I’m actually supposed to do something - international relationships. I would be quiet and polite and not start any fights. I would be resistant to starting foreign wars and incursions. I would be woefully neglectful of my duty to praise dictators.
Admittedly I might not do nothing - If I immediately followed a Trump, I might ask a trusted (and sourced from a previous liberal administration) advisor to make me a list of ongoing atrocities from prior presidents and maybe see if I can stop them with a wave of a pen. That much I could do.
I pinky promise I wouldn’t start a coup to stay in office. I also wouldn’t campaign for a second term at all, but who knows, the mechanism got me in there the first time might do so again.
I’m a terrible administrator, but I think I could surround myself with competent people. I have strong policy views and I believe they would be popular and effective.
