The Decline Of The American President post on Eclectic Commons, I thought, was pretty good - it showed an ability to summarize the experience of the last 8 US Presidents and defined what the writer believes should be the criteria for picking the next US President:
"…Now that it’s time to consider his successor (GW Bush), experience should be accounted for but not considered the most critical qualification for the post. How the office will mold the next president will depend more on character under pressure and the skills to unify the country and improve relations with the rest of the world."
Using that criteria alone, I decided to look at the major Presidential candidates to see which one's best typify the qualities mentioned above using Google. What I found is there's nothing online that really answers the question of what anyone would do under pressure.
On the issue of Character Under Pressure:
Joe Biden - http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=%22joe+biden%22+%2B+%22character+under+pressure%22+&btnG=Search
"….Joe Biden? I know his Senate voting record. "
Hillary Rodham Clinton - http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=%22Hillary+Rodham+Clinton%22+%2B+%22character+under+pressure%22+&btnG=Search
"…Let's take Hillary Rodham Clinton. I have read about her and followed her career since she was the first lady of Arkansas. I've even read two of her scholarly legal articles. I know where she stands on health care, children's rights, abortion and the environment. As to Social Security, I'm sure she's wobbly because, if elected, she will appoint a bipartisan blue-ribbon committee to help her make the right decision. I don't need a debate to know that Clinton, like her husband, will make a fine president."
Chris Dodd - http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=%22Chris+Dodd%22+%2B+%22character+under+pressure%22+&btnG=Search
"…Comment by Keltoi at Night — November 28, 2007 @ 10:11 pm
As a long time non-subscriber, to cable T.V., I can pick and choose what I watch of the “debates”. One of the most promising things, to me, is the crowd response. I think a candidate spewing B.S. deserves to be shouted down. It serves to show their character under pressure. And how they deal with being angry.
The sad fact is that none of the candidates, from either party, have done much to earn my respect. And, I fear, it’s going to get worse after the nominations are final."
John Edwards - http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=%22John+Edwards%22+%2B+%22character+under+pressure%22+&btnG=Search
No data found that was at all relevent, one way or the other.
Mike Gravel - http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=%22Mike+Gravel%22+%2B+%22character+under+pressure%22+&btnG=Search
No data found that was at all relevant, one way or the other.
Dennis Kucinich - http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=%22Dennis+Kucinich%22+%2B+%22character+under+pressure%22+&btnG=Search
No data found that was at all relevant, one way or the other.
Barack Obama - http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=%22Barack+Obama%22+%2B+%22character+under+pressure%22+&btnG=Search
No data found that was at all relevant, one way or the other.
Rudy Giuliani - http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=%22Rudy+Giuliani%22+%2B+%22character+under+pressure%22+&btnG=Search
"….Rudy Giuliani? I've read about him since his federal prosecutor years. Then, of course, there are the other presidential candidates. I've done my research on them. "
Mike Huckabee - http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=%22Mike+Huckabee%22+%2B+%22character+under+pressure%22+&btnG=Search
"..What struck me the most about the U-Tube debates as well as the other Republican debates was the lack of compassion for the human condition among the candidates? It was scary.
The hate was flowing. It was lake Nuremberg in the 1930’s.
Mike Huckabee said he was in favor of the Mars program and then suggested sending Hillary Clinton there.
John McCain - http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=%22John+McCain%22+%2B+%22character+under+pressure%22+&btnG=Search
"…I've read enough about John McCain and watched his career closely enough to know where he comes down on the important issues. I also read his book, Why Courage Matters: The Way to a Braver Life. I love the book, and I respect McCain's character under pressure and his decency. Would I vote him? I don't think so. I don't agree with his positions on the big issues. A presidential debate won't change my mind. "
Ron Paul - http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=%22Ron+Paul%22+%2B+%22character+under+pressure%22+&btnG=Search
"..Ron Paul was the only honest, intelligent, and principled man on the stage. Too bad he didn’t get more questions, and actually good questions."
"..What struck me the most about the U-Tube debates as well as the other Republican debates was the lack of compassion for the human condition among the candidates? It was scary.
When Ron Paul tried to explain why it is not a good thing to occupy a country illegally and that it only promotes backlash, the crowd booed him."
Mitt Romney? - http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=%22Mitt+Romney%22+%2B+%22character+under+pressure%22+&btnG=Search
"…Mitt Romney? I've followed his career. "
Fred Thompson - no data
