Patterico's Pontifications

7/12/2007

If You Could Push a Button . . .

Filed under: 2008 Election,General — Patterico @ 12:08 am



My friend Scott Kaufer posed an interesting question the other night.

If you could push a button and make anyone in the world the next President, who would it be?

It’s a tough question to answer, since many possible choices are people who haven’t been in the spotlight. If they’re untested, you just don’t know if they would work out.

With that caveat, I’ve always been really impressed with John Cornyn. He’s always right on the issues, he’s well spoken, he has a statesmanlike appearance, he’s great on judges — and he’s a Texan. What more could you ask for?

Who would be your choice?

55 Responses to “If You Could Push a Button . . .”

  1. Cornyn’s a great choice. I’ll nominate Tom Coburn.

    Ken Hahn (7742d5)

  2. Second on Tom Coburn. The question is whether you could convince him to take it.

    Teflon Don (e90a89)

  3. If I could simply push a button and make “anyone in the world the next President,” I’d make myself the next President.

    After all, I’m the only person in the world with whom I agree 100% of the time! 🙂

    My first act as President will be to install a first-rank sushi master in the White House kitchen. Everything else is of diminishing importance.

    Dana (3e4784)

  4. I only agree with myself about 50% so I’m out.

    Since I have a sick sense of humor, I would have to at least think about making George W Bush president just to see the reaction from the NYTimesWashPostCNNABCCBSNBCetc.
    That would be funny.
    Kevin’s choice would be just about as funny except John Howard is not averse to grabbing my guns. That wouldn’t be funny.

    For a serious person? I would at least have to think about Duncan Hunter.

    Veeshir (dfa2bf)

  5. I would make Osama bin Laden the POTUS. Then the media and Democrat congresscritters would hate him for his religious fundamentalism, his stance on gays, his human rights abuses, etc. So we’d get hit piece after hit piece, congressional investigation after congressional investigation. Then we’d have the “public support” to win the War on Terror and destroy the islamofascists, because it’s All About Getting Osama.

    I'm Geekier (d6859b)

  6. Al Gore

    Andrew J. Lazarus (8dad87)

  7. Geekier, what an inspired choice and right on! It could make my day and ruin the aspirations of the tinfoil hatted leftist loons of America and the world. Plus with out military he could accomplish his goals throughout the planet. Wow, talk about bloodshed, we ain’t seen nothing yet!!

    Sue (853fd9)

  8. InstaPrez!

    Paul (a7928e)

  9. ditto #9 – Ron Paul

    Phil (427875)

  10. Sen. DeMint

    Scott Jacobs (5f5f64)

  11. Michelle Malkin

    or alternatively, my brother. He’s just the right age (35), active in politics, in the Navy, and single-handedly killed gambling in Texas.

    otcconan (cdcac2)

  12. Dennis Miller

    H2U (81b7bd)

  13. I would bide my time and keep my choice in reserve, keeping an eye on Andrew Lazarus. I would want to be ready to override and replace the President in case Andrew, or anyone else, was so stupid as to really invoke an Al Gore presidency.

    MikeD (0c089e)

  14. I wouldn’t wish that job on my worst enemy. Say, you’ve given me an idea! OK, who IS my worst enemy? # SNAP #

    Seppo (a1acb4)

  15. Of the people currently available, I’d probably choose Rudy. After reading Prince of the City, he has the best record of actually getting things done. I disagree with some of his policies, like gun control, but he is probably the best choice right now. In 2000 I supported McCain but he lost me the past few years. Thompson is probably a good candidate but Senators usually have no experience running things, witness the McCain campaign meltdown as an example. Romney would be a good manager but I don’t know enough about his foreign policy experience. Of course, Bush and Clinton had none and Bush has done pretty well but Clinton was indecisive.

    Of the Democrats, Hillary would probably be the best but that’s not saying much. She is Nixon with a vagina (I think).

    Mike K (6d4fc3)

  16. Probably David Friedman.

    Milhouse (a100cb)

  17. Thomas Sowell – if he wouldn’t quit immediately afterwards.

    TL65 (f29a1a)

  18. In theory, I agree with you about Cornyn but he blows hot and cold on immigration. He needs to decide which side of the immigration fence he’s on instead of trying to straddle it. Nevertheless, I’m encouraged that Cornyn hasn’t forgotten Border Patrol Agents Ramos and Compean.

    DRJ (31d948)

  19. i would consider oprah winfrey.

    assistant devil's advocate (0237ce)

  20. Do they have to be alive? No, you say. OK, Robert A. Heinlein

    horatio (7d8b39)

  21. Jeb Bush

    voiceofreason63 (99db90)

  22. I also like Cornyn.

    Thomas Sowell is intriguing, but he may be a better Secretary of Treasury than executive.

    If not, either Dave Mustaine or krazy kagu.

    carlitos (b38ae1)

  23. Too bad Margaret Thatcher isn’t available.

    Mike K (6d4fc3)

  24. I gotta go along with R. Lee Ermey. Just think of the State of the Union address!

    JayC (dcc820)

  25. Rush Limbaugh, mainly for the reaction that would cause.

    Pablo (99243e)

  26. Judge Roy Bean.

    Wait a minute, that would be redundant.

    Semanticleo (4741c2)

  27. I gotta go along with R. Lee Ermey. Just think of the State of the Union address!

    Along the lines of this, perhaps?

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLVuvHpDS2o

    IMHO, the greatest 5 minute rant ever and definitely not safe for work or little children

    horatio (7d8b39)

  28. Depends; who does Saturday Night Live have a good impersonator for?

    roy (3a744a)

  29. Do they have to be alive? No, you say. OK, Robert A. Heinlein

    Comment by horatio — 7/12/2007 @ 11:56 am

    Son of a bi…gun, someone beat me to it.

    I like the way you think, horatio.

    N. O'Brain (9056e2)

  30. clint eastwood is a much greater actor and filmmaker than fred thompson, he’s a moderate republican with administrative experience running carmel. wouldn’t you rather have a carmel vibe than say, a salt lake city vibe? let’s draft clint!

    assistant devil's advocate (1fc5ea)

  31. My choice would be not to push the button.

    A president’s effectiveness doesn’t depend entirely on the political capital he’s earned through popular votes, but you don’t want a new president starting with “zero” in that account. Otherwise you have a president like Gerald Ford, whose only real power came through his veto pen.

    Beldar (dc42c4)

  32. Your spam filters really, really hate me, Patterico.

    Beldar (dc42c4)

  33. Another vote for Thomas Sowell!

    Another Drew (58e334)

  34. Walter Williams, Jr

    Boris A.Kupershmidt (7a6150)

  35. Patterico for President.

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    Vermont Neighbor (95b069)

  36. Patterico for President.

    If nominated, I will not run.

    If elected, I will not serve.

    Patterico (0b3ac9)

  37. John Stossel

    Can you imagine a “Give Me A Break” presidency?

    Brian Epps (b62152)

  38. I’m disappointed no one has stated the obvious – Theodore Roosevelt. TR would promptly clone himself and Andrew Jackson and set 50,000 of them loose upon the enemies of America. Think of it – Teddy and Jackson, with Lasik and automatic weapons. A president who speaks, reads and writes German and French and several other languages. I envision his first modern white house press conference, which ends dramatically when he shoots Helen Thomas in the forehead – splattering the front row. Subsequent press conferences become a paragon of politeness. Ahhh, in a perfect world……

    Californio (8a95e6)

  39. Gordon Shumway

    Senor Bumblebee (5a473d)

  40. Mike Connaway (the President’s congressman)

    Altidus (c0bb9d)

  41. Three cheers for califorio’s nomination of Teddy Roosevelt. He would put all of the loons in a tizzy! Can you imagine the uproar? Well, the tree-huggers would actually like him, though, to their great consternation. But I pity the fool who effes with him internationally….!

    watcher (4238f6)

  42. John Bolton.

    Bob (3f3bad)

  43. Lou Dobbs.

    If he wouldn’t take it-Gore(Al).
    Go figure.

    Moto (e52c22)

  44. John Roberts

    Rick O (2895dc)

  45. Mark Rudd, just to see the look on the face of any conservative who knows who he is.

    Leviticus (73d659)

  46. Dan Rather. Because you can’t play God forever.

    Vermont Neighbor (95b069)

  47. Altidus #48:

    It’s Conaway (not Connaway) and you must be joking.

    DRJ (31d948)


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