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Edited by Mrph1 on Nov 30th 2023 at 11:03:59 AM

Bense Since: Aug, 2010
#110726: Feb 2nd 2016 at 10:03:17 AM

Yeah, myopic might be a good description. Still makes me wonder though. A second George H. Bush term would have been a very different world.

Washington probably set the pattern for "soldier turned president".

edited 2nd Feb '16 10:06:02 AM by Bense

Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#110727: Feb 2nd 2016 at 10:04:43 AM

It is hard to believe that there is anyone out there who seriously thinks that GHWB was a good President.

Isn't that Mr. "Read my lips: No new taxes" who proceeded to raise taxes?

edited 2nd Feb '16 10:05:58 AM by Fighteer

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
Aszur A nice butterfly from Pagliacci's Since: Apr, 2014 Relationship Status: Don't hug me; I'm scared
A nice butterfly
#110728: Feb 2nd 2016 at 10:06:02 AM

You guys elected him thrice, basically :P

It has always been the prerogative of children and half-wits to point out that the emperor has no clothes
NativeJovian Jupiterian Local from Orlando, FL Since: Mar, 2014 Relationship Status: Maxing my social links
Jupiterian Local
#110729: Feb 2nd 2016 at 10:06:39 AM

The idea being military service being a positive for a president is that it (supposedly) shows that the candidate is willing to put their life on the line in service of their country. In some cases this is true (say whatever you like about his personality or his politics, John McCain was a legitimate goddamn war hero), in other cases, not so much (George W.'s grand total of military service was with... the Air National Guard, served entirely in the continental US, during the height of the Vietnam War).

Really from Jupiter, but not an alien.
Silasw A procrastination in of itself from A handcart to hell (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: And they all lived happily ever after <3
A procrastination in of itself
#110730: Feb 2nd 2016 at 10:06:40 AM

From an outside perspective he doesn't seem that bad, but that's mainly because he's remember for protecting Kuwait and no invading Iraq because doing so would be stupid, his son being an idiot shouldn't be a park against him as a president (as a father sure).

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
Bense Since: Aug, 2010
#110731: Feb 2nd 2016 at 10:08:44 AM

I'm not sure about "good", but I wonder about whether GHB would not have done better than Clinton in some things. Particularly in preventing Russia from sliding back into autocracy.

AngelusNox Warder of the damned from The guard of the gates of oblivion Since: Dec, 2014 Relationship Status: Married to the job
Warder of the damned
#110732: Feb 2nd 2016 at 10:20:45 AM

http://theoatmeal.com/blog/net_neutrality

Damn you Ted Cruz.

Inter arma enim silent leges
Aszur A nice butterfly from Pagliacci's Since: Apr, 2014 Relationship Status: Don't hug me; I'm scared
A nice butterfly
#110733: Feb 2nd 2016 at 10:37:19 AM

Huh. funny thing I have been looking at recently, Obama likes to give out these medals a lot it seems

Can I have one

It has always been the prerogative of children and half-wits to point out that the emperor has no clothes
Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#110734: Feb 2nd 2016 at 10:37:49 AM

The Democratic Party of Iowa has declared Clinton the winner.

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
Kayeka (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#110735: Feb 2nd 2016 at 10:38:41 AM

[up]How many coin flips did she win in the end?

FFShinra Since: Jan, 2001
#110736: Feb 2nd 2016 at 10:44:04 AM

I wonder if the heavy organized labor in Nevada can be helpful to Sanders.

Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#110737: Feb 2nd 2016 at 10:44:55 AM

http://www.cnn.com/2016/02/02/politics/new-hampshire-primary-2016/index.html

Looks like she won by .2%.

[up]Maybe, but I'm not sure it would help him with the Latino vote. And organized labor hasn't really taken a side yet.

edited 2nd Feb '16 10:45:39 AM by Rationalinsanity

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
FieldMarshalFry Field Marshal of Cracked from World Internet War 1 Since: Oct, 2015 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
Field Marshal of Cracked
#110738: Feb 2nd 2016 at 10:54:41 AM

on going from military service to positions of political power... all I have to say is The Duke of Wellington, amazing General, terrible, terrible Prime Minister

advancing the front into TV Tropes
Julep Since: Jul, 2010
#110739: Feb 2nd 2016 at 11:21:16 AM

I am going to be absolutely sincere for this post, which is guaranteed 0% snark or irony: the democratic party caucus in Iowa is one of the best things I have ever seen.

Demonic_Braeburn Yankee Doodle Dandy from Defective California Since: Jan, 2016
Yankee Doodle Dandy
#110740: Feb 2nd 2016 at 12:02:20 PM

Ted Cruz apologized for his campaign’s statements made on the day of the Iowa caucus strongly implying that Ben Carson was dropping out of the race.

Any group who acts like morons ironically will eventually find itself swamped by morons who think themselves to be in good company.
JackOLantern1337 Shameful Display from The Most Miserable Province in the Russian Empir Since: Aug, 2014 Relationship Status: 700 wives and 300 concubines
Shameful Display
#110741: Feb 2nd 2016 at 12:27:44 PM

About George HW. To his admirers, breaking the no new taxes pledge is probably one of the things they like most about him. They see it as him sacrificing his political future to do what would benefit the nation, as opposed to his party. This usually leads to a scolding glance somewhere in the general direction of current politicians, who are seen to value party loyalty above all else. .

As to why people think soldiers can make good Presidents. Soldiers are trained to think of themselves as servants to the nation, as opposed to politicians who are seen as ambitious and only looking out for themselves. Soldiers, it is argued, are more likely to take office to serve he nation, as opposed to wanting glory like politicians. Of course these assumptions don't always ring to, in fact in many nations the army is by far the greatest threat to liberty, but their you have it.

I Bring Doom,and a bit of gloom, but mostly gloom.
PotatoesRock Since: Oct, 2012
#110742: Feb 2nd 2016 at 12:31:28 PM

As to why people think soldiers can make good Presidents. Soldiers are trained to think of themselves as servants to the nation, as opposed to politicians who are seen as ambitious and only looking out for themselves. Soldiers, it is argued, are more likely to take office to serve he nation, as opposed to wanting glory like politicians. Of course these assumptions don't always ring to, in fact in many nations the army is by far the greatest threat to liberty, but their you have it.
i.e. Starship Troopers logic. (The book, not the farcical movie.)

edited 2nd Feb '16 12:31:51 PM by PotatoesRock

Greenmantle V from Greater Wessex, Britannia Since: Feb, 2010 Relationship Status: Hiding
V
#110743: Feb 2nd 2016 at 12:35:35 PM

[up] Robert A. Heinlein did serve in the US Navy...

Keep Rolling On
AdricDePsycho Rock on, Gold Dust Woman from Never Going Back Again Since: Oct, 2014 Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
Rock on, Gold Dust Woman
#110744: Feb 2nd 2016 at 12:37:29 PM

At least part of the reasoning that soldiers would make good Presidents is name recognition. Grant and Eisenhower were both war heroes who won partly on their reputation (aside from other factors of course).

Heck, the Whig party had a history of nominating old war heroes that ended up dying in office because they were old as shit.

Have you any dreams you'd like to sell?
FFShinra Since: Jan, 2001
#110745: Feb 2nd 2016 at 12:39:49 PM

and its not like its never true. Of course, while the intentions might be better, their skills tend not to match (outside of military affairs). A lot of the problems in US foreign policy back in the 50s (like overthrowing Mossadegh or backing Batista to the hilt) probably could have been avoided if not for Eisenhower being tone deaf on international affairs beyond Europe.

Skycobra51 A suitable case for treatment from The US of A Since: Nov, 2013 Relationship Status: Only knew I loved her when I let her go
A suitable case for treatment
#110746: Feb 2nd 2016 at 12:42:18 PM

Andrew Jackson and JFK did a pretty good job, and they were former military men.

Look upon my privilege ye mighty and despair.
AdricDePsycho Rock on, Gold Dust Woman from Never Going Back Again Since: Oct, 2014 Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
Rock on, Gold Dust Woman
#110747: Feb 2nd 2016 at 12:47:19 PM

Andrew Jackson fucked up the economy by shutting down the Bank, and people blamed it on his successor, Martin Van Buren.

Have you any dreams you'd like to sell?
JackOLantern1337 Shameful Display from The Most Miserable Province in the Russian Empir Since: Aug, 2014 Relationship Status: 700 wives and 300 concubines
Shameful Display
#110748: Feb 2nd 2016 at 12:47:36 PM

[up][up][up] As I recall, the US actually cut off supplies to Batista for human rights abuses or something like that while he was in the middle of fighting Castro.

edited 2nd Feb '16 12:47:45 PM by JackOLantern1337

I Bring Doom,and a bit of gloom, but mostly gloom.
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#110749: Feb 2nd 2016 at 12:48:33 PM

It is a common mistake to assert that the society of Starship Troopers only recognizes military service as a condition for earning the franchise. Any form of public service counts, as I recall. Also, the culture in which it is set is one where the human race is involved in a perpetual war against an external foe, so its mores must be considered in light of that fact.

It has been said by many that a good world war would help the United States clean up its political and economic act, at least superficially. In foxholes, we are all Keynesians.

edited 2nd Feb '16 12:49:27 PM by Fighteer

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
DrDougsh Since: Jan, 2001
#110750: Feb 2nd 2016 at 12:50:17 PM

To be clear, I don't have anything against military men turning to politics. What I don't approve of is viewing it as a requirement, criticising politicians for not having a war record; or trying to use your war record in to distract away from a lack of ideas.


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