Anyone Can Be President?

I don't accept the notion that having a president you'd want as a bar-buddy is a good idea. If s/he's really intelligent, has a good range of life experiences, great ideas and means to get them done -well, I imagine s/he would be interesting as a dinner companion. And that's great.

However, if our first criteria for president is that s/he be just like (the collective) us -we totally deserve what we get. Which in my mind, is a country at war and a failing economy. Oh wait.

I'd like a president who is willing to talk to my higher instincts rather than "meet me at my level". I'd like the president to see the big picture of our country's needs. I'd also like to know that s/he can get members of both parties to work together for the profit of The People. I'd also like to know that the president can play nice on a global scale.

Given all these high-minded ideas, is there a candidate to satisfy?

A friend of mine, K., gave me an article from the Parade (in the Sunday edition of the paper). The article is written by Doris Kearns Goodwin, entitled, "The Secrets of America's Great Presidents". It's a look at what qualities are important in a president, using Abraham Lincoln and Franklin Roosevelt as examples. It's an excellent article and I would encourage anyone who has access to this week's Parade to look it up.

Just in case you don't get the Sunday paper (I don't), the main points are listed below. An American President should have:

1. The courage to stay strong -A.L.'s rise above poverty, FDR's rise above paralysis
   
2. Self-confidence -both former presidents chose for their cabinets people who disagreed with them politically and vocally, so as to have all sides represented and the best ideas put forward
   
3. An ability to learn from errors -both presidents admitted errors and changed policies as needed
   
4. A willingness to change -see #3
   
5. Emotional intelligence -A.L. "shared successes and shouldered public blame for failures from subordinates"; FDR was able to encourage others to rise to their potential, to do their jobs well
   
6. Self control -A.L. would write "hot letters" when angered by someone else and then set it aside to deal with the issue calmly. He would apologize for offenses given; FDR was noted for his calm under calamity, reasoning over the next steps to be taken
   
7. A popular touch -both presidents made themselves aware of what everyday citizens needed and expected from their governments, they were accessible (as much as possible) to their country-people.
   
8. A moral compass -A.L. refused to give up on emancipation; FDR chose to support England against Hitler; both because they felt it was the right choice
   
9. A capacity to relax -FDR would host a cocktail hour in the evening with a strict no business policy; A.L. was known for his sense of humor and long-winded tales
   
10. A gift for inspiring others -both presidents were able to "convey their convictions with stories and metaphors, as well as a profound sense of history and a love of poetry and drama."

Marvelous, I know. Again, Doris Kearns Goodwin is the author and the whole article is worth reading.

Anywho, I feel inspired to go look closely at both candidates and make a choice.