What Profession Best Prepares a Person to be President

[lawrocket 3]

Or, what professions should preclude a person from being a President?

For example, Mitt Romney was a partner at Bain Capital. This is apparently a job that disqualifies him from the Presidency in many eyes. Much like "community organizer" is a job that disqualifies a person from being president.

Governor of Massachusetts is also a disqualifier - any state governor should be disqualified (like Palin was) because of the lack of foreign policy experience it provides. (Clinton and Carter are exceptions to this rule, of course).

I am wondering - what profession would somebody think would make the best POTUS?

My opinion? General Officer in the military, I think, would be the one that would most certainly be applicable. First, the General would be in charge of a very large bureaucracy. The General must deal with budgetary issues and long-range planning and short-term issues.

Additionally, nobody makes general without knowing how to politic. They spend time with Congress, with the executive branch. All domestic issues.

They also would be best suited for being Commander-in-Chief. And, quite frankly, they've got to have foreign policy experience and a knowledge of risk and benefit.

It doesn't mean they'll be a good POTUS. However, they will certainly have the background, as well as easy access to any and all records necessary to vet the individual.

My wife is hotter than your wife.

[livendive 8]

I don't know about best, but backgrounds in law, military, or state/federal government seem to me to be the top tier.

Second tier, I'd say business management, government agency, history.

Third tier - social services, healthcare, science/engineering fields, law enforcement, financial services, emergency response/preparedness, defense (non-military)

Non-factor or detrimental: sports, music, acting, religion, etc.

Blues,
Dave

"I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!"
(drink Mountain Dew)

[quade 4]

Diplomatic Corps.

While a General might sound good to some, to me its the opposite of what the country should be about.

The problem is we have a single person position that serves multiple purposes, only one of which is national defense. A military background will only get a person so far in dealing with the other issues and in fact might give the person the completely wrong set of tools in dealing with certain issues. In the military, there is a chain of command and orders issued are to be obeyed, but that is specifically not what works when we're talking about a free country and free individuals.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[billvon 2,998]

>I am wondering - what profession would somebody think would make the best POTUS?

I don't think it's any one profession. You need a wide base of experience to be president IMO. Legal, business, leadership, scientific - all play into the sort of experience you need. Experience working/living in both many places in the US and in foreign countries (doctors without borders, peace corps etc) is a big plus. Military leadership would be another good one, as would a position as a scientific researcher.

[fossg 0]

Good question. Looking at the current crop of idiots in Congress I would have to go with a pimp and or madam.... They take your hard earned money and screw you. On a serious note I would go with a General officer. Eisenhower was one of the best Presidents this country ever had. He had respect on both sides of the aisle....

[Southern_Man 0]

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On a serious note I would go with a General officer. Eisenhower was one of the best Presidents this country ever had. He had respect on both sides of the aisle....

On the other hand Grant was one of the worst Presidents the country has ever had.

I would think that there is a skill set that Presidents need that perhaps can be developed and evaluated in several diferent fields, not just one.

"What if there were no hypothetical questions?"

[nanook 1]

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Diplomatic Corps.

While a General might sound good to some, to me its the opposite of what the country should be about.

The problem is we have a single person position that serves multiple purposes, only one of which is national defense. A military background will only get a person so far in dealing with the other issues and in fact might give the person the completely wrong set of tools in dealing with certain issues. In the military, there is a chain of command and orders issued are to be obeyed, but that is specifically not what works when we're talking about a free country and free individuals.

I agree with Diplomatic Corps but I disagree with the military experience as being limited as a tool. . .

"Defense" is the mission of the Armed Service, not the process. Many skills are required. Diplomatic experience comes out of serving as senior leadership has to deal with foreign govts and their differences in laws and culture. Diplomatic Corps is heavily intertwined with all branches. There is also political requirements as part of the job deals with the legislative branch as well as executive. The brass is always in the center of various laws directly and indirectly involved with Service. The Chain of Command does not always come into play as with many civilian organizations and non-military govt organizations partnerships come into play, most of which don't take orders from the senior officer. Leaders also have to deal with local, state and foreign congresses and assemblies and other lawmakers. On the whole, it all leads up to defense, but non-traditional military skills are generally the rule not a rare exception when talking about skills earned. The Service Member starts life as a civillian and retires to a civilian. He or She has learned to change leadership/followership style on the fly and is used to constant change in mission, theory, process, style of leadership, amount of control, type of governance, when to follow. ect. In short, he is conditioned to quit the Military mindset immediately and also pick it back up.

_____________________________

"The trouble with quotes on the internet is that you can never know if they are genuine" - Abraham Lincoln

[grimmie 186]

An Agnostic successful small business owner husband or wife with a background in world travel with good common sense and military age children.

[quade 4]

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...but I disagree with the military experience as being limited as a tool.

snip

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In short, he is conditioned to quit the Military mindset immediately and also pick it back up.

While I believe it's possible, based on my life experiences, I have a difficult time believing that is normally the case. While I've known ex-military who can flip back and forth, I've also been exposed and had to deal with people who have become so institutionalized by their military experience it appears as if that's the only way they can frame things.

I'd say the same is true of some business people as well in that some of them appear to only be able to look at a problem in terms of how they'd deal with it as a business.

What this thread is about is really an idealistic and perhaps utopian view of how it "should" be done. The reality is it's always going to be an imperfect mix. I believe we need more people who recognize that.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[faulknerwn 38]

I agree with grimmie!

[grimmie 186]

This could be a first.
Do I buy the beer or do you

[jclalor 12]

Being a first term Senator from Illinois

[skydiver30960 0]

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An Agnostic successful small business owner husband or wife with a background in world travel with good common sense and military age children.

Best post I've read in this forum in a LONG time.

Elvisio "kudos to you, sir" Rodriguez

[loumeinhart 0]

Quote

We should just forget the whole election thing and just hire a good Jew to run the country.

+1
A Cleveland Jew would put shiny spin on even the worst situations

"10% unemployment? That's Fantastic! Nine out of ten people have jobs right now"

[Gravitymaster 0]

I'd say a successful criminal background. Special consideration for running confidence games, beating lie detectors and pick-pocket skills.

[janz 0]

Non-factor or detrimental: sports, music, acting, religion, etc.
Blues,
Dave

[rwieder 0]

Quote

My opinion? General Officer in the military, I think, would be the one that would most certainly be applicable. First, the General would be in charge of a very large bureaucracy. The General must deal with budgetary issues and long-range planning and short-term issues.

+1

-Richard-
"You're Holding The Rope And I'm Taking The Fall"

[SpeedRacer 1]

Cleaning up stables.

Speed Racer
--------------------------------------------------

[quade 4]

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Cleaning up stables.

So then, Mike Rowe?

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[brenthutch 444]

I don’t think that one’s profession is as much as a qualifier/disqualifier as ones broader life experience. I think that having experienced failure and or extreme hardship and learning and growing from that, is perhaps the most important experience one could have. Unfortunately for the country Romney doesn’t fit the bill and Obama is having to learn about failure a bit too late and while on the job.

[rushmc 23]

Actor

"America will never be destroyed from the outside,
if we falter and lose our freedoms,
it will be because we destroyed ourselves."
Abraham Lincoln

[airtwardo 7]

Quote

An Agnostic successful small business owner husband or wife with a background in world travel with good common sense and military age children.

Well...that would be ME!


“The First Thing We Do ~ Let's Kill All the Lawyers”


...the 2nd is tutor the house & senate with economics 101, don't write any checks with no money in the bank!

Give ME four years - and I'll zero out the deficit, create jobs, strengthen border security, revamp social security AND get the Cubs into the World Series!!!

Perfect choice, I have a closet FULL of skeletons and the bail receipts to prove it...
so fuckin' what, no prison record.
It just shows I'm as adept at getting out of trouble as fast as I can get in it.

Hell yeah I inhaled, I found it provides a calming effect counteracting all the blow I snorted off strippers titties 'back then'.

Mothball the Presidential limo, my Z-4 just got a tune up and new skins.

No need for some big secret service detail followin' me around...
just gonna give some shooting buddies from here in Texas free ammo, some ray-bans &

Assassinate ME?? ...PACK A LUNCH!

Hell I've already been shot twice & stabbed once, I jump out of airplanes at night & light myself on fire for FUN!
Bring it puss-nuts, with this jukebox tuned up MY way ... we can dance ALL NIGHT.


Best yet, the first lady would be a hot redhead that's type rated for Air Force One!



Oh and BTW~
My last name is rather hard to spell, please do it correctly when ya write me in!

~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~

[quade 4]

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Actor

Only if the person is going to be a puppet for multinational corporations.

Does explain Reagan, although he wasn't that great of an actor.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[Gravitymaster 0]

Quote

Quote

An Agnostic successful small business owner husband or wife with a background in world travel with good common sense and military age children.

Well...that would be ME!


“The First Thing We Do ~ Let's Kill All the Lawyers”


...the 2nd is tutor the house & senate with economics 101, don't write any checks with no money in the bank!

Give ME four years - and I'll zero out the deficit, create jobs, strengthen border security, revamp social security AND get the Cubs into the World Series!!!

Perfect choice, I have a closet FULL of skeletons and the bail receipts to prove it...
so fuckin' what, no prison record.
It just shows I'm as adept at getting out of trouble as fast as I can get in it.

Hell yeah I inhaled, I found it provides a calming effect counteracting all the blow I snorted off strippers titties back them.

Mothball the Presidential limo, my Z-4 just got a tune up and new skins.

No need for some big secret service detail followin' me around...
just gonna give some shooting buddies from here in Texas free ammo, some ray-bans &

Assassinate ME?? ...PACK A LUNCH!

Hell I've already been shot twice & stabbed once, I jump out of airplanes at night & light myself on fire for FUN!
Bring it puss-nuts, with this jukebox tuned up MY way ... we can dance ALL NIGHT.


Best yet, the first lady would be a hot redhead that's type rated for Air Force One!



Oh and BTW~
My last name is rather hard to spell, please do it correctly when ya write me in!

F*king A bro. You got my vote.

[shah269 0]

Petrologist!
Need i say more?

Life through good thoughts, good words, and good deeds is necessary to ensure happiness and to keep chaos at bay.

The only thing that falls from the sky is birdshit and fools!