Discussion » Statements » Rosie's Corner » How much should someone who wants to be US prez know about world affairs and how things work? Why?
RosieG

How much should someone who wants to be US prez know about world affairs and how things work? Why?

When asked what books/magazines/newspapers she regularly read Sarah Palin couldn't name any and when pressed by Katy Couric she said "all of them".
Gary Johnson asked "what is Aleppo" and couldn't name a world leader whom he admired 
Trump said Russia would never go into the Ukraine. It already had when he said that.
Hillary didn't know that "C" meant Confidential  or that she shouldn't have a private server in her home or delete emails

Posted - October 7, 2016
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Responses


  • 5835
    When someone tried to nail LBJ by demanding "Just How many foreign policies do you have anyway?" he replied "There are 240 nations and I have 240 foreign policies." The average person has no idea how many nations there are in the world at any particular time.
      October 7, 2016 6:21 PM MDT
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  • 113301
    The average person isn't running for prez JV. So your example is not relevant to the question I asked which specifically ties it to a person who wants to be prez. Thank you for your reply and Happy Saturday.
      October 8, 2016 6:45 AM MDT
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  • 5835
    Well, excu-u-u-use me!
      October 8, 2016 7:17 AM MDT
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  • 85

    This picture is the best I can do to convey my feelings.

    How much that candidate ought to know about foreign and world affairs

    is a question that cannot be answered because it can never be too much,

    even though the president has an army of advisors around him!

    It's a bit like asking how intelligent the person should be.

     

    Pieter Bruegel here depicts the subject of the blind leading the blind literally.

    They all end up falling into the ditch.

    The painting is also a study of the different stages of falling and the expressions on the faces range from trust to surprise and shock.
      October 8, 2016 2:17 AM MDT
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  • 113301
    I think the president should definitely be  WAY ABOVE AVERAGE in intelligence. I want one who is smarter than me and I"m above average. Why would I want to be smarter than someone who is supposed to be leading me and my country through difficult times? I believe the prez should KNOW who the major world leaders are, what the crises are that confront the world and also READ books, magazines, newspapers regularly and be able to name a world leader whom he/she admires. I don't think that is asking too much. A prez wannabe who  asks "what is Aleppo"? or can't  name a world leader  he/she admires doesn't have the right stuff. Trump said when he is prez Russia will never go into Ukraine. At the time he said it Russia already had invaded Crimea.  He didn't know that. I don't expect a prez wannabe to know everything about everything Grasshopper. That is what the experts in different disciplines are for. But as the LEADER of the country he ought be conversant in some things don'tcha think? Thank you for your reply and the graphic. Thank you also for explaining it to me because I would not have had a clue what it represented. It will be the blind leading the blind if that ignorant vulgarian Trump becomes prez. If Hillary does become prez she is far more knowledgeable about the world than he and hopefully we won't be falling into a ditch! Happy Saturday m'dear! :)
      October 8, 2016 6:55 AM MDT
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  • 3907
    Hello Rosie:

    I think a president needs to be informed.  When he's NOT, he can be manipulated.  Cheney, Bush and the Iraq war are a prime example of that very thing.

    excon
      October 8, 2016 7:25 AM MDT
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