NationStates Jolt Archive

After hearing Obama refer to the President of Canada

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/07/307866.aspx

and hearing so many of you complain that Bush (even when first elected) didn't know country names and locations...

should there be a basic competency test in order to qualify to run for President?

I think that the State Department Foreign Service exam would be a good starting point...

I'm beginning to wonder if the primary qualification for US President is idiocy and ignorance (with good sound bites and a stunning photo op). Is it more important to have great hair and a great hairstyle? A nice suit? Look the part? Be a "good ol boy"?

Or should there be a test?

Dude, you've never seen Rick Mercer's Talking to Americans, in the run up to the 2000 election, he got Bush to thank Jean Poutine, the prime minister of Canada for his endorsement and he got Gore to say that should he win he'd go to Canada's capital, Toronto, to celebrate.

American politicians generally know jack shit about Canada.

Dude, you've never seen Rick Mercer's Talking to Americans, in the run up to the 2000 election, he got Bush to thank Jean Poutine, the prime minister of Canada for his endorsement and he got Gore to say that should he win he'd go to Canada's capital, Toronto, to celebrate.

American politicians generally know jack shit about Canada.

My point is, they should at a minimum know something.

I believe there should be a fairly intensive test, or set of tests.

My point is, they should at a minimum know something.

I believe there should be a fairly intensive test, or set of tests.

The average American doesn't want an intellectual politician, they want an idiot, even if they don't say so.

Yeah. True. Even I'm pretty sure I know who Canada's PM is. (Did Paul Martin leave/resign?)

My point is, they should at a minimum know something.

I believe there should be a fairly intensive test, or set of tests.
Yeah, and it should also rain gumdrops and we should all hold hands and sing kumbaya.

It won't happen, espeically with the sort of anti-intellectualism crap going on in the US now.

Yeah. True. Even I'm pretty sure I know who Canada's PM is. (Did Paul Martin leave/resign?)

Paul Martin resigned his position as Liberal leader after losing the last election. Dion is the Liberal leader and the PM is dickwad supremo Harper (also known as Bush's bitch)

Yeah, and it should also rain gumdrops and we should all hold hands and sing kumbaya.

It won't happen, espeically with the sort of anti-intellectualism crap going on in the US now.

Oh, like we were all about electing Adlai Stevenson back in the day...

Yeah. True. Even I'm pretty sure I know who Canada's PM is. (Did Paul Martin leave/resign?)
He got voted out.

At the time of the 2000 US elections, Jean Crétien was PM, then Martin took over, now Harper's in charge *shudders*.

The average American doesn't want an intellectual politician, they want an idiot, even if they don't say so.

While that may be true, the question is why is it true? What is the benefit to having an idiot in office, whether that idiot is Republican or Democrat?

The average American doesn't want an intellectual politician, they want an idiot, even if they don't say so.

As unfortunate as it is, you're right.

He got voted out.

At the time of the 2000 US elections, Jean Crétien was PM, then Martin took over, now Harper's in charge *shudders*.

Stephen Harper, right?

After hearing Obama refer to the President of Canada

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/07/307866.aspx

and hearing so many of you complain that Bush (even when first elected) didn't know country names and locations...

should there be a basic competency test in order to qualify to run for President?

I think that the State Department Foreign Service exam would be a good starting point...

I'm beginning to wonder if the primary qualification for US President is idiocy and ignorance (with good sound bites and a stunning photo op). Is it more important to have great hair and a great hairstyle? A nice suit? Look the part? Be a "good ol boy"?

Or should there be a test?

Oh no, Obama made a mistake...

KILL HIM!

Seriously, Does this mean hes stupid as a doorknob? Its just one mistake, and you guys hound anyone for it.

While that may be true, the question is why is it true? What is the benefit to having an idiot in office, whether that idiot is Republican or Democrat?

So they can be manipulated, and if something goes wrong, take the blame?

Ah, Patsy for President!

If the US President knew that we had Prime Ministers, he would be overqualified for the position of President of the United States of America.

EDIT: Up yours, Dakini. :p

Oh no, Obama made a mistake...

KILL HIM!

Seriously, Does this mean hes stupid as a doorknob? Its just one mistake, and you guys hound anyone for it.

Actually, it's pretty stupid.

It's almost as stupid as saying he would NEVER use nuclear weapons - there - let's dump our nuclear deterrent in one sentence.

Stephen Harper, right?
Unfortunately, yes.

EDIT: Up yours, Dakini. :p
You say that like it should be a bad thing? ;)

You say that like it should be a bad thing? ;)Kinky.

Unfortunately, yes.

Wow, I got it right. Somehow that makes me smarter than the president.

Wow, I got it right. Somehow that makes me smarter than the president.
My pet goldfish was smarter than the current US president... so you're not alone there.

My pet goldfish was smarter than the current US president... so you're not alone there.

I think we're electing mindless zombie patsies.

Mindless, soulless bodies that do what they're told.

That way, if something goes wrong, we blame the "man". And the people who actually made the decisions are never known or blamed.

of course a competancy exam for president would be very arguably unconstitutional

You say that like it should be a bad thing? ;)

that's hot.

of course a competancy exam for president would be very arguably unconstitutional

We could amend it, in order to change the qualifications for President.

Actually, it's pretty stupid.

It's almost as stupid as saying he would NEVER use nuclear weapons - there - let's dump our nuclear deterrent in one sentence.

http://www.ktiv.com/News/index.php?ID=15627

http://www.ktiv.com/News/index.php?ID=15627

That wasn't the original quote.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/03/us/politics/03elect.html

“I think it would be a profound mistake for us to use nuclear weapons in any circumstance,” he said, pausing before he added, “involving civilians.”

But then he quickly said: “Let me scratch that. There’s been no discussion of nuclear weapons. That’s not on the table.”

He knew he had stepped on his dick.

After hearing Obama refer to the President of Canada

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/07/307866.aspx

and hearing so many of you complain that Bush (even when first elected) didn't know country names and locations...

should there be a basic competency test in order to qualify to run for President?

I think that the State Department Foreign Service exam would be a good starting point...

I'm beginning to wonder if the primary qualification for US President is idiocy and ignorance (with good sound bites and a stunning photo op). Is it more important to have great hair and a great hairstyle? A nice suit? Look the part? Be a "good ol boy"?

Or should there be a test?

No, there can't be a test. Everyone has to have to right to run for office, no matter how thick he is.

The answer is simple. Ask your candidates lots of questions and don't vote for the ones, who don't know the right answers. If none of the candidates knows the right answers, change the system or move to another country.

The ignorance and parochialism of most Americans raise an important question. [What percentage of American Citizens have valid passports? I rest my case.] If they know damn-all about the rest of the World, why are they so keen to interfere in the affairs of other countries? They should either start doing their homework or keep their noses out.

That wasn't the original quote.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/03/us/politics/03elect.html



He knew he had stepped on his dick.

Aight. So he's a pussy protecting civilians. Shoot him.

If they know damn-all about the rest of the World, why are they so keen to interfere in the affairs of other countries? They should either start doing their homework or keep their noses out.

You don't have to know anything about the rest of the world to start interfering - just the ability to do so.

We're one of the nations on the planet that has a global ability to project both economic and military power. Our force projection is stronger than the home militaries of most nations. Same with our economy.

The former British Empire didn't know much about the rest of the world - they just sailed out and took it.

The Romans didn't know much about Judea - they just marched over and took it.

It's ability, not knowledge, that makes it possible.

Which is why I think it's important that a President actually be qualified.

Paul Martin resigned his position as Liberal leader after losing the last election. Dion is the Liberal leader and the PM is dickwad supremo Harper (also known as Bush's bitch)

I thought Australia's John Howard was Bush's bitch (at least, since Blair left office).

I thought Australia's John Howard was Bush's bitch (at least, since Blair left office).I don't think there's a limit to the amount of bitches you can have.

As for minimum qualifications, knowledge of the outside world are detrimental to the position of the president, as it hampers his ability to wage war on the world without regret.

I don't think there's a limit to the amount of bitches you can have.

We need to consult Flava Flav on this.

Oh teh noes! Obama misspoke. Let's not pay attention to policy, let's pick on fucking words. The man has a degree in international relations, I'm fairly certain that he just misspoke.

It's sad that the RW trolls already know that none of their boring, far right candidates can win, and have to resort to attacking Democrats so early. Shouldn't Drudge be more worried about Multiple Choice Mitt and defending Rudy from his own corruption?

My point is, they should at a minimum know something.

I believe there should be a fairly intensive test, or set of tests.

Especially if you're going to start a war in Iraq. You should know your shi'it if you're going to do that.

My pet goldfish was smarter than the current US president... so you're not alone there.

Damn. :p

The average American doesn't want an intellectual politician, they want an idiot, even if they don't say so.

I hope you're being sarcastic.

I hope you're being sarcastic.
I think he's right... there seems to be a fair bit of an anti-intellectual sentiment in the US lately.

See, I told everyone that Obama is stupid.

I guarantee something his big mouth says will put him well out the race long before the polling starts.

I think he's right... there seems to be a fair bit of an anti-intellectual sentiment in the US lately.

I blame the ebil mus1umz

I blame the ebil mus1umz
I blame the rednecks and bible thumpers.

I blame the rednecks and bible thumpers.But on 9/11 all eleven kajillion intelligence points in the world trade centres was killed.

I remember when I was at a Reagan speech when he was running for President and he asked us all to vote for him for governor.

A slip of the tongue is one thing. Ignorance is another.

I remember when I was at a Reagan speech when he was running for President and he asked us all to vote for him for governor.

A slip of the tongue is one thing. Ignorance is another.

He didn't spell it did he? :p

After hearing Obama refer to the President of Canada…
<snip>

He was making an obsure in-joke, about when Mark Critch said that he thought that "President Bush and Vice-President Harper were doing a great job".