Thank you Dr. Sanity!! Thank you, Dr. Sowell!!! TEMPERAMENT is KEY.
Both Hillary and McCain have demonstrated a pattern of hot temper,
vicious words, and [sometimes] thrown
objects. I'm surprised that talk radio hasn't picked up on this character trait
and magnified it, because the office of
president is an endless parade of problems and crises.
The assessment hits it pretty much on the head: in dealing with problems, you want a Romney or Giuliani. No one else is really even in the same league.
DC
Anonymous | Email | Homepage | 01.08.08 - 10:00 am | #

seems to me that there is a candidate who has a proven track record, functions well under pressure, and is missed by his constituents after leaving office. Why has Guliani suddenly fallen so far down on the list? So what if he doesn't support legislation that would force women to get abortions in illegal clinics? Most of the country is with him in that regard. How come the only candidate that has was a sucess during his office term is not the front runner?
vinny | Email | Homepage | 01.08.08 - 10:20 am | #

"There's got to be a better way..."

I know watching sausage being made isn't pretty, but I really don't think the process is better elsewhere. I rather like the fact that the folks from Iowa and New Hampshire can put candidates through their paces. The 47 remaining states will have their say, and we will choose an imperfect person to do an impossible job.
expat | Email | Homepage | 01.08.08 - 10:39 am | #

Your blasphemous, man-made governmental system is crumbling before your eyes, yet you refuse to acknowledge reality. Both at home and around the world, Allah (swt) is bringing defeat and humiliation upon your heads. Everywhere you look, the forces of Islam are on the march and those of the West are in disarray and retreat.

Soon enough, all the people of the world will demand the implementation of Allah's (swt) law (Sharia) and your "democracy" and "Western civilization" will disappear forever.

Cease your futile warring against Allah (swt). Embrace Islam now and live in peace in submission to the will of Almighty Allah (swt).

Your grandchildren will be Muslim.

Allahu akbar!
American Muslim | Email | Homepage | 01.08.08 - 10:58 am | #

AM-Are you trying to break into show business? Is this a comedy routine? Sounds like a Tokyo Rose broadcast with Allah substituted for Japan. Don't you have any original material? This is like Islamist top 40.
debass | Email | Homepage | 01.08.08 - 11:13 am | #

Muslim,

What about all those Chinese communists to the east? What are you and your goat-fucking, boy-humping, woman-fearing eunuchs going to do about them? think they'll 'submit' to Allah [piss be upon him]?
They'll open up a few cans of Bottled Sunshine Wu Da™ on your filthy, bugered ass and the rest of the world will build synagogues, churches and Buddhist shrines from the rubble of Medina and Mecca.
I laugh in your direction.
Emma Goldman | Email | Homepage | 01.08.08 - 11:32 am | #

Oh, my grand children are already killing Muslim creeps. How does that make you feel?
Vito Corleone | Email | Homepage | 01.08.08 - 11:33 am | #

AM is good for a little comic relief. Just when you start thinking about how silly and banal the American electioneering process is you get a glimpse at real stupidity - Islam.
Peter Boston | Email | Homepage | 01.08.08 - 11:47 am | #

Every time I read Thomas Sowell I realize how much I still need to grow as a writer. I think part of the likability factor is the knowledge that we are going to be seeing a lot of the person we elect for the next four years. A pleasant and friendly demeanor has merit, at least a little bit.
John Eyler | Email | Homepage | 01.08.08 - 12:08 pm | #

Just witnessing the swooning over a left wing socialist nutjob like Barak Obama is revealing more about my fellow countrymen than im ready to accept.

I've never in my life seen a candidate so blatantly avoid discussing his actual policy positions at all cost...Yet morons in this image obssessed culture just eat it up. Hell its almost like they appreciate and admire his avoidance of any substantive discussion.

I'm not sure it even matters who gets elected at this point. A democracy is going nowhere fast as long as half the citizenry votes the treasury behave like a sugar daddy and our security be of concern to the next generation.
SteveH | Email | Homepage | 01.08.08 - 12:17 pm | #

SteveH

What you said.

How did a nothing like Obama get so far so fast? It's as if the media doesn't really understand that the presidency is an important job, and there are consequences for choosing the wrong President.
Promethea | Email | Homepage | 01.08.08 - 12:22 pm | #

How did a nothing like Obama get so far so fast?

Because the other contenders are known psychotics, that's how.

The Unknown Psychotic(tm)
The Machine | Email | Homepage | 01.08.08 - 12:35 pm | #

I am re-reading "Atlas Shrugged" and even though the novel is 50 years old, the descriptions of some of the "looter" behavior is shockingly similar to what is going on right now. The MSM in particular seem almost a caricature right out of the novel.
I read the damn thing as a freshman in college in 1960 and it had an impact then, but "Stranger in a Strange Land"sort of pushed it aside in the 60's - now I'm a recovering hippie and Rand's thinking seems to fit current reality to a shocking degree.
Hunt Johnsen | Email | Homepage | 01.08.08 - 12:40 pm | #

Promethea: It's as if the media doesn't really understand that the presidency is an important job, and there are consequences for choosing the wrong President.

Oh but they do understand. That's why they love Clinton (Bill that is - they support Hillery because they think it will really be Bill) and Obama. They are both perfect mirrors without content. They can be anything for anyone and nothing for everyone. MSM knows their kind.
A. Rational Human | Email | Homepage | 01.08.08 - 12:58 pm | #

Hunt Johnsen: Rand's thinking seems to fit current reality to a shocking degree.

Rand said that part of her reason for writing AS was to prevent it from becoming a prophesy. Unfortunately, its not a prophesy, its a script.
A. Rational Human | Email | Homepage | 01.08.08 - 1:00 pm | #

Speaking of excellent reading, I recently finished Eco's Name of the Rose, and I see so much of our times in those times. The looming sense of impending doom, foolish populism, short-sighted egotism, and poisonous hatred.

How little seems to change.
R S | Email | Homepage | 01.08.08 - 1:11 pm | #

Sowell is right on about the necessary Presidential temperament. But I would take it a step further. Not only does the President have to be even tempered and able to think rationally under pressure, but he must be able to make the life and death decisions about war and peace; life and death. His primary job, after all, is as Commander-in-Chief of the military. And we are, whether we like it or not, at war. That requires a quality that I call having a stainless steel backbone.

I believe both Duncan Hunter and Rudy qualify in this regard. Romney may qualifiy but he hasn't demonstrated it to me. McCain is tough and courageous but there is his temperament problem. Thompson plays a tough guy on TV and maybe he has that quality, but he seems less than fully engaged. Huckabee is a very nice man, but nothing in his background or campaign shows the kind of inner toughness required to deal with a barbaric enemy.

Since Hunter has failed to capture voters attention, that leaves us with Rudy. A lot of conservatives don't find him socially conservative enough and they point to his messy domestic life as being disqualifying.

If conservatives want to change the laws on abortion and stop gay marriage the best thing to do is elect Senators and Representatives who will pass the necessary laws. The President can propose such things, but it takes Congress to move the ball.

As to Rudy's personal life. Many Presidents had messy personal lives. Roosevelt, Kennedy, Clinton, and even Reagan to name a few off the top of my head. I am like Lincoln in this regard. He knew that Grant's personal life was a mess, but he knew Grant was willing to lead and to make the hard decisions of life and death. That's the way I feel about Rudy.
Jimmy J. | Email | Homepage | 01.08.08 - 1:15 pm | #

Unfortunately, its not a prophesy, its a script.

SteveH: "...Yet morons in this image obssessed culture just eat it up...." (Re: Obama)

A closer look at the people Obama attracts, mostly young, impressionable, first timers. More obsessed at “piling on”, to be seen as the “in” crowd, than any serious thoughts about the real stands a candidate takes. I am not saying energizing young voters won’t get you elected. But that should answer your question about a super feather weight can come this far.

The “Uniter” image and “Hope and Change” message can only go so far. Soon he will have to spell out more specifics on his policy (domestic and foreign), and people (majority voters, i.e. retirement age) will take a second look at him. That is when the Clinton machine is going to spin the “Comeback Kid-ess” later this year.
always right | Email | Homepage | 01.08.08 - 1:54 pm | #

Ignorance is the most expensive commodity produced by mankind.


BarakO is like Bill Clinton as he is an empty vessel. Especially beneficial is that he has no history to hold him down. (In the senate he voted 'present' alot) He too can stand for what ever you want. Depends on what the definition of 'is' is.
Seems all these years of 'indoctrination' to the utopian fantasies have paid off here. As perhaps other liberal countries have found their 'programs' are failing and they become more capitalistic.
We are going the opposite direction.
xqqme | Email | Homepage | 01.08.08 - 1:54 pm | #

What's the old line?

Any person who runs for President should be immediately disqualified from the job.
N. O'Brain | Email | Homepage | 01.08.08 - 2:50 pm | #

xqqme: Ignorance is the most expensive commodity produced by mankind.

But its so easy to produce in mass quantities. In fact, it can be done without effort. All you have to do to get it is nothing. Its only the consequences that are expensive. If only we could make them go away by wearing red shoes, clicking our heels three times, closing our eyes, and wishing real hard. We must be on the wrong side of the rainbow.
A. Rational Human | Email | Homepage | 01.08.08 - 2:58 pm | #

I was heading toward Rudy (I live in NYC) however, when he immediately raised his hand in support of the populist Al Gore's Greenie fad I knew then and there he really doesn't have quite the spine I thought he would. NYC was easy for Rudy to clean-up because so many NYers were fed-up with the crime and dirt; when Rudy took office he had a high Misery Index which gave him an opportuntiy to play tough. Plus, I must remind myself that all throughout his two terms Rudy fought the INS with regard to illegal immigration...after the WTC was bombed in 1993, when he assumed office he did absolutely nothing about Mohammed Atta's cell in Brooklyn.

America is not at the moment experiencing a high Misery Index, which is reason why so many people today have resorted to making stuff up (ie man-made global warming, everyone's suffering because the govt doesn't prevent death and disease) just to feel miserable.

I was heading towards Rudy but now I am for Fred: we're not electing a changer or a hand-raiser, we're electing a leader.

The one who is actually leading is the one not pandering to populism; whose stupid idea was it to begin the campaign almost two years before the national election!

If Romney is nominated because of his money and looks, the Democrats will crush him with a 'he's a flip-flopper' campaign and they will win.

Huckabee can get the social conservatives but not the national defense hawks/fiscal conservatives.

McCain can get the national defense hawks but not the social conservatives/fiscal conservatives.

Rudy can get national defense hawks/fiscal conservatives but not the social conservatives.

Thompson is the only one who can get the national defense hawks/social conservatives/fiscal conservatives (otherwise known as the Republican Party's Big Tent Reagan coalition). Further, the Democrats don't what Thompsaon to win since they cannot attack his record and all the investigators they have will not be able to dig up enough dirt to kill his chances.
syn | Email | Homepage | 01.08.08 - 3:40 pm | #

ARH, how do you propose we 'educate' the masses?
I'm just saying they're spoiled enough to be ignorant of how good they have it.
Populism is gaining steam with the electorate and I'm worried. The 'it doesn't work' mantra is getting old to them.
xqqme | Email | Homepage | 01.08.08 - 3:43 pm | #

Politicians do nothing but say what their speech writers and advisor's tell them people want to hear. I don't believe there is one politician that gives a damn about the people or the job they are truly supposed to do. Money and power is their goal.
Mike | Email | Homepage | 01.08.08 - 4:03 pm | #

Ever consider that perhaps The People command the politician pander to their every demand?

Currently The People are demanding that the government prevent death and disease: the people are expecting to hear the politican say 'if you elect me I will cure you of death and disease by proving The People with free halth care'.

What about the moronic '1 billion new-aged light bulb' campaign that The People waged, ever consider that the government responded to The People's demand by banning regular lightbulbs?

The People are the Problem; they demand that the politican pander to The People.
syn | Email | Homepage | 01.08.08 - 4:35 pm | #

Dr. Sanity,

You need to do a posting explaining in technical terms how much of the support for Obama is an attempt by -- I suppose well-intentioned -- whites to absolve themselves from the guilt drummed into them over slavery and Jim Crow.

Ah, a vote for the "Magic Negro" makes these saps feel refreshed and free.
Kenny | Email | Homepage | 01.08.08 - 6:10 pm | #

xqqme: ARH, how do you propose we 'educate' the masses?

The only way I know that has ever worked is to arrange things so they meet reality up close and personal. We need to stop saving the day and pulling their fat out of the fire. Let the Darwin Effect work on the details.

The only challenge I see is surviving the resultant collapse of civilization. The last dark ages will be a piffle by comparison to the next one. This is because all the cheap energy sources are exhausted. Now all we have are high cost high tech sources. I expect such things to be the first things to go and the most difficult to recover.
A. Rational Human | Email | Homepage | 01.08.08 - 9:21 pm | #

""You need to do a posting explaining in technical terms how much of the support for Obama is an attempt by -- I suppose well-intentioned -- whites to absolve themselves from the guilt drummed into them over slavery and Jim Crow. Kenny""

Yahoo has like 500 photos of the latest Obama rally. Almost every picture includes swooning white women who appear to be in awe if not in tears for this man.

WTF?

I'll go ahead and say it. Oprahtised women convinced that good feelings and words can solve our nations problems may well bring about the demise of all of us.

No need to apologise to all the decent grownup women....They already know what i'm saying to be damn close to hitting the nail square on the head.
SteveH | Email | Homepage | 01.08.08 - 10:05 pm | #

SteveH has a good point.
The Machine | Email | Homepage | 01.09.08 - 12:32 pm | #

ARH, I thought about that too. But I'm afraid those wackos would be happy as long as EVERYONE is miserable. We'd all be equal at least!
xqqme | Email | Homepage | 01.09.08 - 3:11 pm | #

SteveH said: "I'll go ahead and say it. Oprahtised women convinced that good feelings and words can solve our nations problems may well bring about the demise of all of us."

Should be men and women. The last 40 years have stripped the US of the righteous roles for men and women. We ARE different and are supposed to be. My generation did a lot of harm. My older relatives railed at my peers and I and all we could do is laugh at them through the confidence of youth. We have damn near ruined this great nation from the piss-poor choices we made. We raised a generation of narcistic, spoiled brats who followed our leads and chose style over substance. Hence the phenomenoms of Oprah and Martha and Britney and Paris - shadows of real women and humans. Caricatures of the real.

The politics of identity have rendered us neutered and powerless. It is our own fault. Everything that American Muslim says is true BUT NOT FOR THE REASONS HE THINKS. He is a caricature of a real Muslim. A puppet that reflects the vacuousness that we have created.

Now, at this point, most would expect me to jump in the 'Jesus saved me rant'. And admonish the reader, which I will not do because it is not valid here. What is valid is that we need to rediscover that which makes us Americans. And the idea of America is different for each of us. But we must summon that ideal and fight back against the forces of darkness gathered at our doors. The fake politicians - the Obamas, the Hillary's, the Edwards', the MaCains, the Hucksterbees, the Kennedys.... Reject them outright.

The ONLY one that I can see who has SOME substance is Thompson. Yeah, Fred. He is the best of the poor lot that has been offered to us.

The Hobo
Robohobo | Email | Homepage | 01.09.08 - 11:45 pm | #

As a firm believer in the "John Galt" solution for our woes, I have been a firm supporter of Hillary Clinton. I felt confident that she had the self-importance, arrogance, and political power to push through all the socialist fantasies, bringing about their natural results. I am now thinking that Obama may be the best choice – Hillary only wrote a term-paper on Saul Alinsky. Obama, while working in the former realm of Alinsky – Chicago, has mastered the tactics and makes it clear he not only believes in the religion of Altruism, but also has the ability to institute them. It’s time need to step aside and let the socialists institute their ideas. Reality is the Final Court of Appeal and the results will bring about the enema this Nation has needed for fifty years. We need to let it happen while we still have enough coal and oil left over to reconstitute. It’ll be painful but I’m tired of being called stupid by liberals. I say let them have their way – vote for Obama - and then wait for the smoke to clear.
Atomic Lawyer | Email | Homepage | 01.10.08 - 2:41 pm | #

Atomic Lawyer..LOL.
We could all just rally behind Dennis Kucinich and speed the process up little bit.
SteveH | Email | Homepage | 01.10.08 - 4:40 pm | #

B. Hussein O. needs to be asked a few sharp questions about his acceptance (tacit or otherwise) of endorsement by Farrakand. Who explicitly approves of the tactic of concealing anti-Western and triumphalist black and Muslim plans and priorities until power is secured.
Brian H | Email | Homepage | 01.13.08 - 12:53 pm | #