# Who would you pick to be President? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [March 22, 2023, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-pick-to-be-president/981502 "2023-03-22T15:54:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BeepKillBeep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9e8a1a/32.png) [@BeepKillBeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeepKillBeep)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2023, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-pick-to-be-president/981502/1 "2023-03-22T15:54:35Z")
A recent thread, now closed, asked people to specify for whom they would vote. The problem is that, especially on this board, it is pretty much “Any Democrat”. So I’ve decided to modify it slightly: Who would you pick to be President of the USA? In other words, only your vote will count. Feel free to ignore the actual requirements for president, e.g., you could pick Ahnold if you wish, although ideally choices should be at least eligible, and non-fictional. “Don’t blame me I voted for Kodos” For people who could be eligible, and are currently a politician, I would pick Bernie Sanders. He most closely embodies my politics in America. For anybody… hmmm… not sure, I’ll need to think about it. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2023, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-pick-to-be-president/981502/2 "2023-03-22T15:59:59Z")
Elizabeth Warren. I think she has a lot of the same ideas as Bernie but more conservative (but not actually Conservative). Of course, I would want a less misogynistic electorate too. I would definitely tire of the negative comments by, say, week 3. ---
**Author:** ![Win\_Place\_Show](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/win_place_show/32/13469_2.png) [@Win\_Place\_Show](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Win_Place_Show)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2023, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-pick-to-be-president/981502/3 "2023-03-22T16:03:01Z")
Of course this is going to turn into yet another discussion of “they’re not ready yet, here’s why 2024 wont be their year, Beto’s damaged goods, etc”. But in a perfect world my choices would be : Gretchen Whitmer Josh Shapiro Beto O’Rourke Katie Porter ---
**Author:** ![BeepKillBeep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9e8a1a/32.png) [@BeepKillBeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeepKillBeep)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2023, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-pick-to-be-president/981502/4 "2023-03-22T16:03:56Z")
It doesn’t matter if they’re ready. Only your vote will count. Ahh, the glories of tyrannical power! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2023, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-pick-to-be-president/981502/5 "2023-03-22T16:05:06Z")
What the heck, I’ll vote for myself! ---
**Author:** ![BeepKillBeep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9e8a1a/32.png) [@BeepKillBeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeepKillBeep)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2023, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-pick-to-be-president/981502/6 "2023-03-22T16:09:29Z")
I’m not eligible since I’m a stinking rotten commie Canadian, but honestly, I cannot imagine being president (or PM of Canada). There may have been a time in my life when I would have thought it would be cool, but now I realize it is mainly just an awful job where no matter what half of the country (at least) disapproves of (at least and likely hates) everything you do, no matter what you want to do. Even with a friendly House/Senate there’s a good chance you won’t be able to get the things you want because it is like herding cats riding other less herdable cats. At least if you’re PM in Canada with a majority, you could push through some things you really believe in (and be hated). ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2023, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-pick-to-be-president/981502/7 "2023-03-22T16:10:54Z")
Tina Kotek, current Governor of Oregon. Sane, honest, and not so old that mental capacity questions will arise. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2023, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-pick-to-be-president/981502/8 "2023-03-22T16:12:17Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > Elizabeth Warren. I think she has a lot of the same ideas as Bernie but more conservative (but not actually Conservative). From a practical standpoint I’d pick Warren, despite her advanced age. She’s tough, smart, takes no crap, understands the machinations of Washington power, and wants the job. In a fantasy world I’d pick Dolly Parton because she’s tough, smart, takes no crap, and is the only person in America who appeals to both the most diehard religious conservatives and the most flamboyant drag queens, and so would attract the least criticism. But she wouldn’t want the job. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2023, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-pick-to-be-president/981502/9 "2023-03-22T16:13:11Z")
Which one would you vote for if the election was today? ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2023, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-pick-to-be-president/981502/10 "2023-03-22T16:14:06Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > From a practical standpoint I’d pick Warren, despite her advanced age. She’s tough, smart, takes no crap, understands the machinations of Washington power, and wants the job. My thoughts, exactly. Warren for me. She’s 73, but she doesn’t seem, at least to me, like she’s “old.” ---
**Author:** ![BeepKillBeep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9e8a1a/32.png) [@BeepKillBeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeepKillBeep)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2023, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-pick-to-be-president/981502/11 "2023-03-22T16:14:07Z")
Dolly Parton is an interesting choice. She does seem like a legitimately nice person, and she is definitely smart and tough. Dolly 4 Prez! (although I would want to know about her stance on a handful of issues first before going all-in) ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2023, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-pick-to-be-president/981502/12 "2023-03-22T16:18:25Z")
If I was going Celeb, I would draft Tom Hanks. But I wouldn’t going Celeb. I would prefer a President under 63 years old so that eliminates a great many of the better known candidates. So not being well informed enough of the Dems between age 35-62 I could support @Czarcasm’s choice of Tina Kotek. She is 56 and a solid pick. I like **Gretchen Whitmer** also. I could support her. **Stacey Abrams** of Georgia is one my heroes though and she is only 50. OK, until someone nominates someone better, I’ll pick **Stacey Abrams** * * * **Warren** is old and I would think we were hoping our choice would serve 8 years. 81 is far to old to be President. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2023, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-pick-to-be-president/981502/13 "2023-03-22T16:18:44Z")
Dolly doesn’t seem to have a mean bone in her body, she knows what it’s like to be literally dirt-poor and to work your way up to be extremely wealthy, she gladly helps others but does so in a way that encourages them to help themselves, she values reading and education, she is pro-vaccine, she is self-deprecating but isn’t a pushover, and pretty much everyone likes her. ---
**Author:** ![Win\_Place\_Show](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/win_place_show/32/13469_2.png) [@Win\_Place\_Show](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Win_Place_Show)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2023, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-pick-to-be-president/981502/14 "2023-03-22T16:21:03Z")
Gretchen Whitmer ---
**Author:** ![BeepKillBeep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9e8a1a/32.png) [@BeepKillBeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeepKillBeep)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2023, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-pick-to-be-president/981502/15 "2023-03-22T16:21:05Z")
I was thinking more about climate change, and I looked it up. She’s very much pro-action. She said likened not acting as “being ugly to your mama.” Like seriously Dolly 4 Prez! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2023, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-pick-to-be-president/981502/16 "2023-03-22T16:21:24Z")
Tammy Duckworth, assuming she could get past the Birthers. Gretchen Whitmer is a solid second choice. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2023, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-pick-to-be-president/981502/17 "2023-03-22T16:22:38Z")
Dolly is a wonderful person, even if I can’t stand her music. But she is 77 for Og’s sake. Might as well reelect Biden. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2023, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-pick-to-be-president/981502/18 "2023-03-22T16:23:41Z")
You have my vote but would you really want the job? ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2023, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-pick-to-be-president/981502/19 "2023-03-22T16:24:40Z")
Also, Dolly is [a longtime queer ally.](https://countryqueer.com/stories/article/dolly-partons-all-embracing-country-vision/) She’s a national treasure, and I adore her, but yeah, her 79th birthday is the day before Inauguration Day in 2025. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2023, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-pick-to-be-president/981502/20 "2023-03-22T16:26:31Z")
David French. He’s a somewhat-conservative political commentator but has very fair/accurate/harsh-when-necessary critiques of both the right and left alike. If not that, then the most Ukraine-hawkish politician that there is in all of Congress, whomever he or she may be - that person for POTUS. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-pick-to-be-president/981502.md?page=2)