Why do we still have Presidential elections?

Question

I seem to be in a minority that understands that the President doesn't run America and is just a figurehead of the real powers that run the country, but why can't this person be someone reputable, honest and intelligent?

The latest group of Presidents have been absolutely terrible, as far as, image quality. You have to go way back to Eisenhower in the 1950's to find a halfway respectable President. Look at the latest Presidents: Kennedy and Clinton-womanizers and adulterers, Carter-a peanut farmer, Reagan-a senile, B-movie actor, Bush, Sr.-a drunk, wimp and liar, Bush, Jr.- dumb, alcoholic, drug addict and liar, Nixon-an impeached crook, Johnson-a proud racist, Ford- a dumb, ex-jock. Now we have to choose between a biracial man, who does have character, but no one knows anything about him or an old, sick man with a bimbo Vice President that can't stop making babies.

I know with the hundreds of millions of people that reside in America, these past and future Presidents can not be the best that can represent us to the world. The quality of everything else in America is dropping like a rock in water, so why don't the truly good men or women want to be President? If the candidates stay as bad as they've been for over 50 years, why bother with elections at all?

Answer 1

Its to maintain the laughable idea that America is the land of the free, where choices between political candidates aren't confined to the two big names of Clinton and Bush I've seen more freedom in Soviet states. Its a joke.

Answer 2

Because apparently America is the only true democracy and the rest of the world are either commies or terrorists :)

  

Answer 3

Every day, there is always one of you guys who talks about radical change to the old system.

Don't like the candidates?  Don't vote.  It's your right as an American to not vote if you don't like the candidates.

Write in your own candidate then.

Answer 4

I have to agree our current crop of presidential wannabees could be improved on.

However to answer your question:

It is written in the Constitution.

You want 100 Senators and hundreds of Representatives to have Co-Equal Leadership?

They have a hard time agreeing on anything!

I realize that liberals think both the Constitution and the Ten Commandments need to be regularly changed depending upon what ever way the current political wind is blowing.

Answer 5

Anyone worth electing will not run because they do not want to subject themselves to the electron microscope examination of every aspect of their life and hyperjudgementalism (like you're displaying - NO ONE is perfect) that the media and public demand.

What's your critique of 3rd party candidates like Bob Barr?

Answer 6

you have been brainwashed.  first off there is not some sort of shadow government that is REALLY running things, the big corporations are not REALLY running things, the system is up and running as intended, and it is good but flawed.  the president is much more than a figurehead, he makes many decisions, and is instrumental in accepting or vetoing decisions made in congress.  he is also the supreme diplomat of this country, and that is not an uniportant job.  what he says and does can start and end wars, or prevent them from happening in the first place.  do not underestimate his power.  you mentioned the lastest group of presidents as being terrible, i would agree on some, and disagree on others, but don't think those guys in the past were lilly white either, they didn't have near the means to find information on those guys.  we are not electing a god here, he is a man, and he will have flaws, and with a country of this size he will not please everyone.  i didn't like carter, but why does his farming of peanuts exclude him in your book?, who cares if reagan acted in b movies?  who cares if ford played football? i don't accept many of the other labels you have placed either.  i agree that we could get a much higher level of candidate than we do now, but we will never get candidates that have no negitive qualities to everyone, that is ridiculous to think.  america also is not dropping like a rock, everything is a matter of perspective, and if you choose to view it in that mannor, it willl be that way for you.  other times in our history seemed desperate such as the great depression, such as the race riots of the 60's, the civil war, the war for independance, ww 1, ww2,  vietnam era.  the key is to do the best we can, not give up and moan about it, improve it.  bolster up the strengths, and knock down the weaknesses.  we have a country we can be proud of, that doesn't mean you have to love every little thing about it, you never will, you look at the overall, and overall this is one h**l of a shining beacon on a hill!

Answer 7

The people are the ones that really make the decisions...... Who ever they elect as a servant of the people, thats who it is....... However being, you do have choice..... No other country offers a choice where anyone can be president like the U.S. Its the current system in place.  Judiciary, legislative, executive....... It can work smoothly if the people choose right! Oh, and what of the current candidates????? Reagan ended the cold war threat, and the country was at least certain it was heading somewhere. You just have an opinion of people partner..... You need to do a little research, and some soul searching yourself...... If its so bad, why arent you running, to change things?????

Answer 8

I am a libertarian so don't look at me. Actually I am more of an anarchist, but I realize that some form of government must exist.

Answer 9

Uh oh - must be an Obamanite?  I wondered how long it would take his followers to cut and run...just give up.  It's starting already.  Sorry.

The President, while having the veto power, is mainly a figure-head for our nation.  It's important to have a strong leader with a good record of patriotism.