And I don’t mean elect Mr Chin as your next prez, but I think Hillary will get on better with Germany’s head, as well as the heads of most of Africa and Asia. I think of Bush as the equivellent of the UK’s head of state (Prince Philip), calling the chinese ‘those slitty eyes’ years ago…
How wrong he was, the Chinese already hated the Brits because of the Opium Wars, I know, I lived there 9/06 - 05/07. He made a mess of the UK plc for some time, as a diplomatic problem in China speaks volumes.
They’re generally nice people (I know! shock!) but they’ve got too much invested in pride and history, in my opinion. They’d rather give an incorrect answer than admit they don’t know as it would lose face. It’s complicated.
Bredeson and Henry are Democratic Governors of Tennessee and Oklahoma. Two senators on the ticket almost never when. But a senator and a governor… That’s got traction.
Sam Nunn (not Sam Neil, Senator Nunn was never chased by dinosaurs) could be the exception that proves the rule. He used to be the chairman of the armed services committee. I don’t see him coming out of retirement, but damn, that guy should have been President. I think he could have, but he never ran. I can dream. though.
On a more personal note. MyglassISfull, I see that you’re registered as a guest here. Don’t go away. Please stick around. We always need people that are intelligent. can tell a joke, and know damn well what they don’t know.
You are welcome here. … But why the Hell did you put a GQ question in the Pit? you… you… ferret fondler!!!
That’s weak, but my heart ain’t in it. I like the new guy too much
Thank you. I didn’t see your post last night, last week I went to France to pick up the fruits of a vineyard I’d partially leased (jolly good too!).
I always assumed that the party leaders were the ‘face’ and it was serious, educated and shy, intellectual giants who decided the policies. After growing up (and voting for) Thatcher this seemed the logical conclusion.
Thank you, I will stick around as soon as (sharp intake of breath) employment is gained. Off work and due for an operation next month, a pretty regular mastoidectomy (my second and last, he he) but I can’t guarantee to any employer when I’ll be up and running. Enjoying all the debates here, it’s the most profound, stimulating site on the web.
Pity. It would be excellent experience for a presidential run.
If I recall correctly, this is how the phrase “running for president” was originally derived. In the old days, presidential candidates were chosen not by votes, but by running-of-the-bulls sort of thing with velociraptors, and the last one standing was named president.
That isn’t so true in the American system as it is (or may be) in parliamentary systems.
Sorry but I can’t get that idea into my thick skull. When I was growing, ‘Thatch’ won a war against the miners, and won a war against Argentina. She also defeated the Soviet Union* and did this all on 3 hours of sleep per night.
Either she has the intellect greater than any other human being on earth or there is some reporting license going on.
*There had been some right-wing, tabloid journos who said Maggie was the catalyst that led to the defeat of communism, just as there were some who stated she defeated the Unions in the UK and beat the Argies (sic) in the Fauklands. Sure she was a powerful ‘face’ and head, just as Reagan was but, if she’s as intelligent as a party leader has to be, she’d know she can’t take all those decisions over her staff, surely?
I don’t think GWB takes all the decisions either. In fact I think he’s against some of them. When he made that often quoted gaff (to paraphrase) ‘the US is doing everything to undermine it’s own safety’ I think he was speaking from his heart. That he looks so uncomfortable when questioned is telling me HE isn’t pulling the strings.
Sure he worries about Iraq, the Fed, the credit crunch, families losing their homes, his brother, his ‘rating’ in history, how often his ‘gaffs’ will be aired, but he’s a very rich man with a self-sufficient home so I’m not gonna shed any tears. I think also he’s clever enough to know when other people know about situations better than him but, maybe he’s not a good judge of character.
I think what amarinth was getting at is the difference between a President and a Prime Minister. A Prime Minister is the head of the party in power whereas as a President is… well, screw the Party! I’m President, bitches! He doesn’t have to listen to anybody.
Dubya showed that with his push for immigration reform. He’s a Republican, but the Republican party hated his idea. He pushed for it anyway. Bit of a loose canon, that guy, but he’s not a figurehead.
And as an addendum, Clinton did it too. The Democrats really didn’t want NAFTA, but Bill did. He also got the thing through Congress. To be honest, I think that’s why the 'pubs hated him so much. He stole all their damn thunder.
Hated him so much for it that they impeached him for letting an intern get his winkie wet.
You have just described hell on earth.
And the unnecessary hyperbolé machine comes in to screw the pooch
øæå
(Come on, you have to at least admit that sending Guilani to the arctic to fend for himself is a first-rate idea?)
Usually so, actually. You happened to pick two recent coutner examples, but historically, Presidential candidates often pick running mates that ran against them in primaries:
Kerry/Edwards, Gore/Lieberman, Dole/Kemp, Reagan/Bush, and Carter/Mondale were all primary foes before uniting on a ticket, just to name the ones in the past 30 years. It looks like, if you exclude incumbent Presidents running with their VPs, about half of tickets are made up this way.