Match-o-matic - Page 3

Undertoad · 10-05-2008, 09:37 AM

Yeah,

I always look at these sort of pickers as not giving us the whole story. They only tell you where the candidate stands on issues, not whether they have the leadership to actually try to accomplish things, which items will on the agenda and which simply will never be, what they are actually able to do from the office, whether they are unflappable under pressure, whether they can convince the people of what to do, etc. etc. I think a gut-level feeling about the people is a better predictor than random policy statements they've made.

Similarly the quiz show failure of Ms. Palin. Of course she's underqualified. But does it even make a decent predictor of what sort of President she'd be if in office? Truman never went to college at all, ran a men's clothing store into the ground in three years as preparation for his station as Senator, which would lead to the VP selection after sessions of booze and poker played out of his office. He'd surely fail the quiz show format; and at the time they thought he was lousy as Pres; but history turned that around and now he's seen as one of the better ones.

richlevy · 10-05-2008, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Undertoad

He'd surely fail the quiz show format; and at the time they thought he was lousy as Pres; but history turned that around and now he's seen as one of the better ones.

And I'm sure that he was aware of current events even before going into office simply by reading some newspapers.

Since Palin has read 'all of them', she's going to be awesome.

Sundae · 10-05-2008, 09:47 AM

We weren't encouraged to think well of Truman in the 80s, when I was studying World Powers in the 20th Century. In fact we used to call him Truman the Bastard, as a nod to William the Conqueror who was known as William the Bastard (due to a slight embarrassment as to what side of the sheets he was born on).

This was of course because he was president when the atomic bombs were dropped, effectively started the Cold War and involved the US in Korea. We saw him as pretty bloodthirsty.

However teens don't necessarily have a firm grasp on "evil that good may come of it" and I'd be willing to readdress my original opinions of him.

Griff · 10-05-2008, 09:55 AM

Nah, your teenage gut was right. Truman was in over his head and circumstances got the best of him. America is still paying the bill.

xoxoxoBruce · 10-05-2008, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Griff

Nah, your teenage gut was right. Truman was in over his head and circumstances got the best of him. America is still paying the bill.

Nonsense, Harry did as well as anyone could have done, with the situation dropped in his lap, except he probably should have bombed the UN.

It was Ike that alienated Islam, which we're paying the bill for.

skysidhe · 10-05-2008, 09:58 AM

8-McCain / 5- Obama

TheMercenary · 10-05-2008, 12:53 PM

And if there is a tie?

http://www.reuters.com/article/topNe...rpc=22&sp=true

richlevy · 10-05-2008, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheMercenary

And if there is a tie?

Thunderdome!

10-05-2008, 09:47 AM	#3
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	We weren't encouraged to think well of Truman in the 80s, when I was studying World Powers in the 20th Century. In fact we used to call him Truman the Bastard, as a nod to William the Conqueror who was known as William the Bastard (due to a slight embarrassment as to what side of the sheets he was born on). This was of course because he was president when the atomic bombs were dropped, effectively started the Cold War and involved the US in Korea. We saw him as pretty bloodthirsty. However teens don't necessarily have a firm grasp on "evil that good may come of it" and I'd be willing to readdress my original opinions of him. __________________ Life's hard you know, so strike a pose on a Cadillac

10-05-2008, 09:55 AM	#4
Griff still says videotape Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 26,813	Nah, your teenage gut was right. Truman was in over his head and circumstances got the best of him. America is still paying the bill. __________________ If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you. - Louis D. Brandeis

10-05-2008, 12:53 PM	#7
TheMercenary “Hypocrisy: prejudice with a halo” Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Savannah, Georgia Posts: 21,393	And if there is a tie? http://www.reuters.com/article/topNe...rpc=22&sp=true __________________ Anyone but the this most fuked up President in History in 2012!

10-05-2008, 09:37 AM	#1
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	Yeah, I always look at these sort of pickers as not giving us the whole story. They only tell you where the candidate stands on issues, not whether they have the leadership to actually try to accomplish things, which items will on the agenda and which simply will never be, what they are actually able to do from the office, whether they are unflappable under pressure, whether they can convince the people of what to do, etc. etc. I think a gut-level feeling about the people is a better predictor than random policy statements they've made. Similarly the quiz show failure of Ms. Palin. Of course she's underqualified. But does it even make a decent predictor of what sort of President she'd be if in office? Truman never went to college at all, ran a men's clothing store into the ground in three years as preparation for his station as Senator, which would lead to the VP selection after sessions of booze and poker played out of his office. He'd surely fail the quiz show format; and at the time they thought he was lousy as Pres; but history turned that around and now he's seen as one of the better ones.

10-05-2008, 09:58 AM	#6
skysidhe ~~Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.~~ Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 6,828	8-McCain / 5- Obama

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