If You Could Push a Button . . .
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?
John Howard.
Kevin (1c20c1) — 7/12/2007 @ 12:36 amCornyn’s a great choice. I’ll nominate Tom Coburn.
Ken Hahn (7742d5) — 7/12/2007 @ 2:03 amJohn Ringo.
gahrie (de5a83) — 7/12/2007 @ 2:12 amSecond on Tom Coburn. The question is whether you could convince him to take it.
Teflon Don (e90a89) — 7/12/2007 @ 3:53 amIf 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) — 7/12/2007 @ 5:20 amI 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) — 7/12/2007 @ 5:36 amI 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) — 7/12/2007 @ 6:04 amAl Gore
Andrew J. Lazarus (8dad87) — 7/12/2007 @ 6:06 amRon Paul
Allan Bartlett (18f8d0) — 7/12/2007 @ 6:07 amGeekier, 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) — 7/12/2007 @ 7:13 amInstaPrez!
Paul (a7928e) — 7/12/2007 @ 7:18 amditto #9 – Ron Paul
Phil (427875) — 7/12/2007 @ 7:19 amSen. DeMint
Scott Jacobs (5f5f64) — 7/12/2007 @ 7:52 amMichelle 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) — 7/12/2007 @ 8:06 amDennis Miller
H2U (81b7bd) — 7/12/2007 @ 8:36 amI 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) — 7/12/2007 @ 8:40 amI 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) — 7/12/2007 @ 9:10 amOf 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) — 7/12/2007 @ 9:23 amProbably David Friedman.
Milhouse (a100cb) — 7/12/2007 @ 10:39 amThomas Sowell – if he wouldn’t quit immediately afterwards.
TL65 (f29a1a) — 7/12/2007 @ 10:57 amIn 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) — 7/12/2007 @ 11:05 ami would consider oprah winfrey.
assistant devil's advocate (0237ce) — 7/12/2007 @ 11:18 amR. Lee Ermey
horatio (7d8b39) — 7/12/2007 @ 11:54 amDo they have to be alive? No, you say. OK, Robert A. Heinlein
horatio (7d8b39) — 7/12/2007 @ 11:56 amTony Blair.
aphrael (9e8ccd) — 7/12/2007 @ 12:12 pmJeb Bush
voiceofreason63 (99db90) — 7/12/2007 @ 12:24 pmI 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) — 7/12/2007 @ 12:39 pmToo bad Margaret Thatcher isn’t available.
Mike K (6d4fc3) — 7/12/2007 @ 12:43 pmRick Santorum
Mike (085fd2) — 7/12/2007 @ 1:12 pmGeorge F. Will
Paul (501161) — 7/12/2007 @ 1:13 pmI gotta go along with R. Lee Ermey. Just think of the State of the Union address!
JayC (dcc820) — 7/12/2007 @ 1:45 pmRush Limbaugh, mainly for the reaction that would cause.
Pablo (99243e) — 7/12/2007 @ 1:48 pmJudge Roy Bean.
Wait a minute, that would be redundant.
Semanticleo (4741c2) — 7/12/2007 @ 2:11 pmAlong 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) — 7/12/2007 @ 2:28 pmDepends; who does Saturday Night Live have a good impersonator for?
roy (3a744a) — 7/12/2007 @ 3:42 pmSon of a bi…gun, someone beat me to it.
I like the way you think, horatio.
N. O'Brain (9056e2) — 7/12/2007 @ 5:41 pmclint 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) — 7/12/2007 @ 5:55 pmMy 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) — 7/12/2007 @ 6:21 pmYour spam filters really, really hate me, Patterico.
Beldar (dc42c4) — 7/12/2007 @ 6:21 pmAnother vote for Thomas Sowell!
Another Drew (58e334) — 7/12/2007 @ 6:46 pmWalter Williams, Jr
Boris A.Kupershmidt (7a6150) — 7/12/2007 @ 7:38 pmPatterico for President.
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Vermont Neighbor (95b069) — 7/12/2007 @ 9:35 pm* * * * ======
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Patterico for President.
If nominated, I will not run.
If elected, I will not serve.
Patterico (0b3ac9) — 7/12/2007 @ 10:43 pmJohn Stossel
Can you imagine a “Give Me A Break” presidency?
Brian Epps (b62152) — 7/12/2007 @ 11:41 pmI’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) — 7/12/2007 @ 11:57 pmalgore
alphie (015011) — 7/13/2007 @ 12:12 amGordon Shumway
Senor Bumblebee (5a473d) — 7/13/2007 @ 2:30 amMike Connaway (the President’s congressman)
Altidus (c0bb9d) — 7/13/2007 @ 7:39 amThree 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) — 7/13/2007 @ 8:00 amJohn Bolton.
Bob (3f3bad) — 7/13/2007 @ 12:07 pmLou Dobbs.
If he wouldn’t take it-Gore(Al).
Moto (e52c22) — 7/13/2007 @ 1:35 pmGo figure.
John Roberts
Rick O (2895dc) — 7/13/2007 @ 7:15 pmMark Rudd, just to see the look on the face of any conservative who knows who he is.
Leviticus (73d659) — 7/15/2007 @ 7:28 pmDan Rather. Because you can’t play God forever.
Vermont Neighbor (95b069) — 7/15/2007 @ 7:43 pmAltidus #48:
It’s Conaway (not Connaway) and you must be joking.
DRJ (31d948) — 7/15/2007 @ 8:12 pm