Doonesbury Say What?

[thewayne]

"The threshold question: It's not usually asked, but it's in everyone's mind in a presidential election. 'Should we give this person nuclear weapons?' ...Answers itself."
— George Will on Sarah Palin

"Alrighty then! I can see the glow of Russia from my house!

I read the response when Palin announced she wanted to meet Margaret Thatcher. Loved it! Of course, Lady Thatcher is in her mid-80's and not in good health, but I don't think she'd want to meet Palin anyway.

Comments

[thewayne.livejournal.com]

LOL! It's that big tree-ey place between Alaska and Washington, isn't it?

Yeah, she was a total deal-breaker for the McCain ticket and probably was one of the single biggest factors that cost him the election.

I think you're right that the stress of the presidency probably would have killed him, just look at how much Obama has greyed during his term in office thus far! There's a lot about McCain that I don't like, particularly his Maverick/I'm Not A Maverick flip-flopping. But he did serve in combat and he certainly suffered for it.

There's an interesting statistic that I don't have time to look up right now that showed the difference in Congressional party affiliation and military service. At that time, which was probably late 90's/early 2000's, the overwhelming affiliation of people who actually served were Democratic. Most of the Republicans had either gotten exemptions or served in the Guard and not overseas; Dole, McCain, and George Bush Sr. being notable exceptions.

[moiraj.livejournal.com]

Heh. Your first president was a general - wasn't he? - and our first prime minister was a lawyer. That must have created one hell of a precedent for both of us, because I'm aware how significant to many Americans a military background is, whereas all the prime ministers I can think of - like you, not looking it up - were lawyers.

[thewayne.livejournal.com]

Yup, George was one of the major leaders of the revolutionary army. We also had US (Ulysses S.) Grant, a big general during the Civil War (he was sometimes called Unconditional Surrender Grant), and Dwight Eisenhower who was a big figure in WW 2. William Henry Harrison's slogan of "Tippecanoe and Tyler Too" was from a battle related to the War of 1812, and my wife pointed out Teddy Roosevelt. I also thought of JFK, who served well in WW 2, but wasn't a prominent general like Eisenhower.

It would seem to appear that we Americans have a strong penchant for military figures, which I really think is indicative of how much a popularity contest the presidential race has become. Fortunately some degree of competency is still a requirement.

I am constantly reminded of the Douglas Adams line, the purpose of the presidency is not to wield power, but to divert attention away from those that actually wield power. A bit of a misquote, but close enough.