Quote:
Originally Posted by KSigkid
I don't tend to look at experience when looking at a Presidential candidate. For me, the most important things are the candidate's platform, their stances on the issues, and whether I think they can surround themselves with intelligent people.
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I would tend to agree, and would only add one other thing important to me: whether the candidate has demonstrated good judgment. I don't discount experience, but these other things -- position on the issues, judgment and picking (and listening to) the right people in the right positions -- can outweigh lack of experience. In some ways, the main value of experience is that it gives a view to measure some of these other things.
Also, frankly, I value a candidate's ability to communicate well. I don't mean necessarily to be eloquent, but simply to communicate well. I wonder, for example, if the American people would have rallied quite like they did during WWII had it not been for FDR's ability to communicate with the American people. It was certainly one of Reagan's gifts, and it had an effect on his ability to get things done (and to reshape the GOP). There are times the president needs to inspire or cheerlead.