You'll be among the very few who don't see Bush II taking that title by a country mile.
Quote:
The liberal Public Policy Polling organization asked the public “Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of” each president by name ahead of George Washington Birthday — or as it is more commonly referred to as Presidents Day, as if Andrew Johnson is the equal of George Washington.When it comes to our current president and his predecessor, George Walker Bush beats Barack Obama.
The poll showed 45% now have a favorable opinion of Bush 43, while 46% have an unfavorable opinion.
Carter was decades ahead of his time. If the US followed his lead on energy conservation and not living beyond it's means it wouldn't be in the mess they find themselves in today.
Amen, Brother. I was able to say that I voted for Carter in the State of Georgia ....... and proud of that vote.
Paix, mon ami.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by i-rui
Carter was decades ahead of his time. If the US followed his lead on energy conservation and not living beyond it's means it wouldn't be in the mess they find themselves in today.
I will say this about that... a good politician is of his time neither in front nor behind it.
Carter's energy plan was simply to reduce energy use, regardless of how it impacted the living standards of the country. I'm glad he was stopped short.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by groovetube
Hmm. Short sighted, vs someone with long term vision.
Guess my definition of a 'good politician' differs.
Not short sighted, to be of ones time, dealing with the issues that one can deal with during their tenure and people are ready and willing to accept... it didn't do Carter any good to have a plan than no one was willing to implement now did it... you can have the best plans in the world but if the electorate isn't willing or ready to receive them then all it does is get you unelected. Good politicians are pragmatists not pie eyed utopians.
it didn't do Carter any good to have a plan than no one was willing to implement now did it... you can have the best plans in the world but if the electorate isn't willing or ready to receive them then all it does is get you unelected.
and by not following a conservation plan and spending willy nilly the US has spent itself into oblivion.
if your criterion for being a "good politician" is to be re-elected then sure, a good politician is an opportunist that panders to the swing vote.
that however, is certainly not my definition of a good politician.
and by not following a conservation plan and spending willy nilly the US has spent itself into oblivion.
if your criterion for being a "good politician" is to be re-elected then sure, a good politician is an opportunist that panders to the swing vote.
that however, is certainly not my definition of a good politician.
Some people are happy with the status quo.
Though I wonder sometimes, how this whole 'it's not popular, but he's going to do it because it's the right thing' thing somehow disappears at the right times...
Location: Aylmer (Gatineau) across the river from Ottawa
Posts: 20,720
Quote:
Originally Posted by i-rui
and by not following a conservation plan and spending willy nilly the US has spent itself into oblivion.
if your criterion for being a "good politician" is to be re-elected then sure, a good politician is an opportunist that panders to the swing vote.
that however, is certainly not my definition of a good politician.
Quote:
Originally Posted by groovetube
Some people are happy with the status quo.
Though I wonder sometimes, how this whole 'it's not popular, but he's going to do it because it's the right thing' thing somehow disappears at the right times...
Some people are willing to to see how things are when it comes to a system (democracy) built around a notion that policy and laws can shift every 4 or 5 years... with every new administration whether or not it is of your choice.
When it comes to the status quo, what politician or political party hasn't pandered to it in one form or another when they gain power, even those that profess that they will do things differently during an election?
By "good" politician I mean "effective" and in a democratic political system that means getting re-elected and being able to continue to move your policies forward, otherwise you may as well have never been if your policies are only to be overturned when the next administration takes power, such is the nature of democracies and not oligarchies and dictatorships... Some may wish it to be otherwise but given the system we have (democracy) that is the lay of the land.
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