Your Ideal Politican.

[Razgovory]

Lot's of people have expressed dissatisfaction with the current Presidential candidates, so I'm curious what folks here think is the "Ideal politician".

For me, it's a wheeler and dealer, a backroom negotiator and a frankly dull bureaucrat.  I dislike flashiness which I often associate with vanity, which is in my opinion, a one the most severe handicaps a politician can have.  Honestly is important, but not as important as you might think.  A politician needs to be able to lie.  There also needs to be certain ruthlessness, particularly in foreign affairs.  Inflexibility is not a desirable trait.  Certainly, a politician needs to stand strong at certain times, but at others, they must be willing to bend.  It's fine for a politician to have strong ideas, but it's okay to sacrifice some of them to achieve others.  Getting 40% of what you want is much better than getting 0% and remaining pure.  Another trait is a person who not particularly interested in what the public thinks.  This may seem odd, but people often want stupid and contradictory things.

As it happens I rather like Hilary Clinton, who actually fits much of this criteria.  She is a dull but competent bureaucrat and an able backroom politician.  I never really cared for Obama, who always struck me as the "Cool professor" type.  If you guys recall my favorite candidate in 2008 was Bill Richardson.  I am at heart a person who believe in Evolution rather than Revolution.

What about the rest of you?

[The Brain]

You want a Machiavellian politician?

[Barrister]

[Zanza]

For me, it's a wheeler and dealer, a backroom negotiator and a frankly dull bureaucrat.  I dislike flashiness which I often associate with vanity, which is in my opinion, a one the most severe handicaps a politician can have.

That reminded me of this politician...

[Zanza]

I am pretty sure what Ed's answer will be.

[Drakken]

Sideshow Bob for Mayor.

[Valmy]

There are plenty of politicians whose way of leading I really admire, even if I don't necessarily endorse all their policies. Like Genghis Khan. Ok just kidding. Like Eisenhower for example.

[Syt]

I am pretty sure what Ed's answer will be.

Could be Hitler or Sulla.

[Valmy]

Sideshow Bob for Mayor.

Mayor Quimby supports revolving door prisons. Mayor Quimby even released Sideshow Bob. A man twice convicted of attempted murder. Can you trust a man like mayor Quimby? Vote Sideshow Bob for Mayor.

[Drakken]

Sideshow Bob for Mayor.

Mayor Quimby supports revolving door prisons. Mayor Quimby even released Sideshow Bob. A man twice convicted of attempted murder. Can you trust a man like mayor Quimby? Vote Sideshow Bob for Mayor.

I am presently incarcerated, imprisoned for a crime I did not even commit. "Attempted murder," now honestly, did they ever give anyone a Nobel prize for "attempted chemistry?"

[mongers]

A politician whom Raz would like?

[derspiess]

[Valmy]

Better luck next time Rand. Hell the way things are going I may vote for you.

I kind of expect the populist nuts and the Bernie Bros to take over for awhile regardless of how this election goes

Hey that rhymes!

[Monoriu]

The ideal world is one where no citizen is willing to vote or to run in elections.  When all mighty god asks "who wants to be king?", everybody looks elsewhere and is too scared to say anything.  Wherever god's gaze goes, people run in terror. 

The ideal politician is one who very reluctantly raises his hand and mutters in a voice that is barely audible, and says that he is willing to take the burden.  Upon hearing the news, the entire population erupts in joy, thanks the politician, forgets about politics, and lives happily ever after. 

[derspiess]

The ideal politician is one who very reluctantly raises his hand and mutters in a voice that is barely audible, and says that he is willing to take the burden.  Upon hearing the news, the entire population erupts in joy, thanks the politician, forgets about politics, and lives happily ever after. 

So Coolidge then?