What type of experience is required to be a competent President?

Question

Senator Clinton believes riding her husband's coattail for 30 odd years is experience, Senator McCain believes being a Senator from Arizona qualifies him. President Bush had years of experience and look at what a wonderful president he has been (not).

Answer 1

A person who stands for what they know is right, like Abe Lincoln. Being able to choose the right in the face and pressure of other people who are pushing their addenda.

Answer 2

Bush actually didn't have years of experience.  He was the governor of the weakest Governorship in the U.S. for five years.  Less if you count all the time he spent campaigning.  Prior to that he failed in virtually every business venture he was involved in.

Ironically, in this election cycle, Republicans are saying Obama has no experience, when in fact , he has far more than Bush had.

Answer 3

There was a great article about this in the New Yorker a while back. The amount of time you spend in Washington has little to do with whether you'll make a good president. Nixon, for example, had tons of experience, and it didn't make him a great president, to say the least. Whereas Lincoln had little, and is one of the most fondly remembered.  

Answer 4

Sen. McCain says a LOT more than being a Senator from Arizona...and I would hope you would know that. He has been in the Senate for over 25 years, served on the House, was in the Navy as a fighter pilot, served as the Navy Liason for Congressional Committees, and while in Senate has served on multiple boards for various committees.

Obama has only served on one committee, one that he has yet to attend since running for President. He has sponsored ZERO bills since in Senate, and has a state with a declining employment rate. I only mention Obama because I have a feeling you are voting for him.

As for Bush, how about you tell us what he has done wrong. The Economy just took a turn for the best with an increased GDP of 3.3%, more people have gained jobs than lost them, unemployment rates are at RECORD lows, global terrorism has declined over 40% since 2001, and the country is still the number 1 financial and person ell supporter of foreign nations (Africa and AIDS, Philippines with the tsunamis, etc.)

Instead of listening to everything the liberal reporters, journalists, and commentators on MSNBC and CNN have to say, how about you do some research on your own. It isn't your fault the news networks have failed us all...but it is your fault for not being objectionable and questioning things...and then doing the research yourself.

Answer 5

If you want to perpetuate the do nothing mess that is government pick someone who has been a do nothing legislator all their lives.  Executive experience is the best preparation for the presidency (governor, business owner, mayor, military leader).

Answer 6

Experience is important, just not Washington type experience.

If you would really look at Hillary's accomplishments, she hardly rode Bill's coattails.