Why?
My mom had a couple of questions this morning, why do Americans want a president who graduated at the bottom of his class as did Bush and McCain? Why is the standard for the presidency with whom would you rather sit and have a beer? I'll further ask, why would Americans rather have a beer with a dummy than a really smart and talented person?
Or is it that the real American preference is not having a beer swilling dummy for a president, but that is the preference of the press looking for stories on the easy and cheap and those in power who can pull the strings of the dummy?
Or is it that the real American preference is not having a beer swilling dummy for a president, but that is the preference of the press looking for stories on the easy and cheap and those in power who can pull the strings of the dummy?
posted by Ellen Beth at
5/07/2008 11:25:00 AM
6 Comments:
Did Abraham Lincoln graduate at the top of his class? During his presidency, he was repeatedly attacked for being a low brow backwoods man.
Now Bush is no Abraham Lincoln but Mom may need to rethink her positions a bit.
Louis G. Atsaves
By
Anonymous, at Wednesday, May 07, 2008 2:20:00 PM
Perhaps Atsaves needs to go back to school himself to learn that Lincoln didn't get to attend college due to the same lack of progressive programs for funding college education in the early 19h century that Atsaves, Kirk and Bush want us to go back to now in the 21st.
Ellen's mom, you are right on target and it's a good question. I for one would rather have a beer with Obama than McCain. I met Clinton once several years ago at a fundraiser and she was fun to talk with.
I would skip a date with McCain. Anyone who calls his wife the vile name he called her should be shunned by polite society.
By
Anonymous, at Wednesday, May 07, 2008 3:22:00 PM
Lou,
You can be a low brow backwoods man in those days and still be very intelligent. The opportunities were not what they are now. Bush
& McCain had every opportunity for a fine education. They were not poverty stricken and had to beg for money to attend College. If Bush had paid more attention to his education and less to drinking and playing around we would not be in the mess we are in now.
By
Anonymous, at Wednesday, May 07, 2008 3:40:00 PM
I just love this anonymous and silly leap of logic:
"Perhaps Atsaves needs to go back to school himself to learn that Lincoln didn't get to attend college due to the same lack of progressive programs for funding college education in the early 19h century that Atsaves, Kirk and Bush want us to go back to now in the 21st."
Where did this conclusion come from? I haven't seen anything from Kirk and Bush that demand a return to 19th century education. In fact, both consistently have espoused the opposite.
In fact, improving education does not appear to be a very high priority with Hillary Clinton or Obama during this campaign.
A few years ago I had the opportunity to argue a case in a Rushville, Illinois courtroom that had been restored to the days when Abraham Lincoln defended a railroad in a few cases in that very same courthouse and courtroom. Making fun of a self-made man who was a back woodsman is something you would not have done if you had the same experience.
I was impressed. The judge after the hearing gave me and my opponent an extensive tour including allowing us to view a few handwritten papers Lincoln used during his trial. Talk about smart and talented! Lincoln outshines them all.
As for me, since when do I rank higher than my Congressman or President? Wow! You keep this up and I'll get a fat head and need to buy a bigger pillow for my bed!
Louis G. Atsaves
By
Anonymous, at Wednesday, May 07, 2008 3:43:00 PM
No one cares about your life story Atsaves. Everyone knows you are a Kirk stooge assigned to monitor Ellen's blog and comment with Kirk talking points. The low quality of your comments hereshow how bad Kirk's arguments are and how pathetic he is as a congressman. I see he's claiming a big win based on an "internal" poll. It's just not believable because he's fully aligned with Bush with the lowest approval rating of any president. Millard Filmore and Herbert Hoover rank highter.
By
Anonymous, at Wednesday, May 07, 2008 3:52:00 PM
Since the news departments of the teevee stations have become profit centers, they equate high ratings with high quality. While true of entertainment, this way of thinking about news began the slow death of good news and political reporting. Having a beer with a "regular guy" presidential candidate is an easy story that can be reported by anyone. Getting into economics and policies is harder and takes a talented and/or experienced reporter. Inflated and made up controversies and a long hard-fought primary "horse race" generate ratings, but are not News.
By
Anonymous, at Thursday, May 08, 2008 11:41:00 AM
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