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Presidentiality
North Miami Beach, Florida September 27, 2000 Aaron H. Schectman
THINKING ALLOWED
Essays on issues, ideas and reflections on the times. Published now and
then. Opinions pro or con are welcome.
PRESIDENTIALITY
We have had some very ordinary people elected by the people of this
country. They don't do things the way we do in other countries and there
are some extraordinary people who have become presidents there. Some of
these showed clinical madness. Every four years we go through the exercise
of either keeping the incumbent or changing to another breath of fresh air.
What makes a president presidential is not some "greater than thou" kind of
thing. Most of our presidents have been ordinary men. It would probably
have to be an extraordinary woman to be elected president since we know that
women and Blacks and Immigrants and etc. have to work twice as hard as
ordinary men to succeed.
Have you heard the rumor about the current electoral circus? It concerns
the un-electability of Dick Cheney. Because the Republican managers think
he is a liability, so the rumor goes, he will be dropped at a propitious
moment at the end and either Colin Powell or John McCain will be
substituted. This is to save a weak "W". Presidentiality also includes wild
thoughts and dumb moves.
Does anyone remember when Gracie Allen was put up as an alternative
presidential candidate? This was a joke and it played well for she was well
beloved by the American radio listening core. Another comedian whose
hound-dog expression was immediately recognized and responded to was put up
as presidential material time and again.
Some candidates had expressive monikers. Remember who was the "Happy
Warrior"? At one time a "Log Splitter" brought up fond images as well as
the "Log Cabin" candidates. Rich men would like to become elected as well
as actors. Some manufacturers who had amassed fortunes and were quite mad
wanted that presidential cap to their careers. Some wags even put up a pig
and ran him for president. Which, if any of the above had presidentiality?
Carol's Evaluation: 10 out of 10.
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