Posted by
Nerdus Maximus on Saturday, September 27, 2008 11:05:45 AM
Even otherwise insightful columnists get lost when talking about executive qualifications. Kathleeen Parker's recent article about Sarah Palin is an excellent example of this.
The worst person you could ever elect as President of the United States is someone who thinks they know it all. The job is just too big for one brain. McCain and Palin have the three key skills needed in a president.
A president must surround himself or herself with specialists who know more about particular areas than the president does. Good judgment about who to have around you is more important than specialized knowledge. Two names that disqualify Obama: William Ayers and Tony Rezko. (I give him a pass on what Jeremiah Wright has said due to previous experience with the preaching style of Black pastors. Saying that he sat in the church for 20 years and didn't know it was being said is another matter altogether.)
A president must listen before deciding. Surf up some articles where Obama's campaign staff talk about his leadership and decision making styles.
The third key skill is gaining the trust of key decision makers so that the ideas generated by the presidential team can be communicated effectively and convincingly. Palin's wowing of a few foreign dignitaries one-on-one is a promising sign. That Obama can't form a clear though without a TelePrompter is not.
Character and judgment are more important than knowledge in any executive position. They are pretty much the ONLY things that can qualify someone to be the President of the United States. It is pretty clear which ticket wins on that score.