What are some things the "Perfect" candidate should have?

[LibraLiz1973]

Let's cast a wide net. What are you looking for in a Presidential candidate for 2008?


I'll start.

The perfect candidate would never have supported the Iraq war.

[HereSince1628]

1. The "Perfect Candidate" would share every one of my views...

whether they are right or wrong. Have all my values and come from my region of the nation, and of course speak my dialect, have my gender preferences, my color skin and never have been affiliated with the DLC. :silly:

[LibraLiz1973]

8. oh you!!

:rofl:

[laststeamtrain]

2. Non-smoker, lives in a rented cardboard box, celibate w/ a family...

religious atheist...etc.

I like your start. I'd also like someone without ties to the 'defense' industry.

[LibraLiz1973]

6. I agree about the defense industry

[LARED]

3. How about

Brains, a backbone, and skin that turns bright blue every time they lie.

[LibraLiz1973]

7. Backbone verrrry important

[earthlover]

4. At the bare minimum...

a candidate should be electable. I suppose some would say the ideal candidate should lose, but.... Of course if electability is all, there is no reason to elect him/her in the first place. In it to win is not enough.

I'll add to the wish list....respect for Constitutional liberties, and understanding of middle class problems, and a willingness to do something to help the plight of the poor, improve education, the environment, and it wouldn't be bad to have a President who has a command of the English language. or at least marginally literate.

[LibraLiz1973]

5. lol... marginally literate

My how Bush has eroded our hopes and dreams

[undeterred]

9. Not too rich, not too poor

House must be paid for and between 2500-3500 square feet

Not single or divorced or married more than twice

Never needed mental health treatment

No chronic health problems

No family secrets

No unsightly moles or scars

Must be tall and have good hair

Never experimented with non-prescription drugs (spouse didn't either)

Doesn't smoke

Wife didn't breastfeed in public (there could be embarrassing photos)

Never posed nude or stripped to earn extra money

2.3 Children never got into trouble

Religious upbringing but not too religious and religious upbringing must not be anything considered weird like Mormonism

Perfect Credit History

Plays an instrument

Military experience preferred (AWOL OK)

No premarital or extramarital sex ever

A variety of political positions will be accepted.

Edit: Must be "proven" heterosexual {not that there's anything wrong with being gay or bisexual) i.e. if children are adopted, there will have to be testimony taken

Must be white and male (hey we all know this Hillary/Obama stuff is just to appease the looney left)

[LibraLiz1973]

10. And here I was hoping for a former Chippendales dancer,,,,

:rofl:

[Cleita]

11. I want one who has received no corporate funds for his campaigns.

Of course that's probably not workable but I'm an idealist.

[LibraLiz1973]

12. I so totally agree with you!!!!!! n/t

[thoughtcrime1984]

13. I'll amend this to why I will vote for Obama

To me, Obama is as close as we will get to a perfect candidate for 2008, and it boils down to basically one thing: I actually believe him. I believe that he will try to accomplish what he says he will do. I believe that his voting record aligns most closely to my views and values, and that he is trustworthy enough to stay consistent with his past; that his beliefs and what he does and will stand for shall not change. He has not said much of substance since entering the Presidential race, however, if one looks into his voting records, they will get a solid idea of his views. He will no doubt roll out strategies in greater detail as we move forward. I also fully believe that he is electable, regardless of name and color, as I suspect many other people will find him to be believable and honest as well- a pretty rare trait in politicians, IMO.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

14. Perfect candidate should

have a small house

own a hairshirt

have a spouse who can win the Family Circle Presidential Candidate Cookie Bake-off

be raised by wolves so no embarrassing immediate family members
(Autobiography title - Feral Faith of my Fathers)

get around in a solar-powered rickshaw

have a body mass index no greater than 24

[Alamom]

15. Brain live is a good start., since we have brain dead now.

[Swamp Rat]

16. must be a human being

that can 'coexist with the fish.'

[librechik]

17. a good public school education and experience working for a living

oh, and humility combined with the supreme capacity for heroism and self-sacrifice.

an IQ over 120, but not over 140. Respect for those smarter and more accomplished, rather than resentment.

I hope there is a history of a good marriage and a child or two. Wide interests and reading across many fields, like T Roosevelt or Clinton.

Ideally, I want him to have a history of vanquishing very powerful forces, such as Kerry's investigation of the BCCI, and his VietNam experiences. In other words, the candidate shouldn't be intimidated by or in the pocket of the interests he will be defending the people of the US against.

Finally, I hope he has had a profound loss, like the death of a family member. An appreciation for the fragility, briefness and nobility of life, a REAL compassion for humanity and its weakness, its need for a caring leader, is necessary for a good president.

[Auggie]

18. The perfect candidate puts people ahead of corporate profit and

special interest.

[More Than A Feeling]

19. Ability and willingness to institute public financing and get us out of Iraq.

Everything after that is gravy.

[LibraLiz1973]

21. Is that all?

I agree

[derby378]

20. The perfect candidate will make peace with gun owners

Gore didn't in 2000 - that's how he lost Tennessee. Kerry didn't in 2004 - that hunting trip didn't fool anyone.

Americans for Gun Safety tried this campaign where Democratic candidates would claim that they supported the Second Amendment while chipping away at our Second Amendment rights at the same time. They started this in 2003, hoping to influence the 2004 election, and it failed miserably. They tried it again in 2006, only to see pro-RKBA Democrats like Jim Webb, Jon Tester, and Bob Casey taking power in the Senate.

So I think the next Democratic nominee for President will have a tough choice to make. Rely on the failed strategies of the Brady Campaign and AGS, or actually try to make peace with gun owners without capitulating to the NRA?

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

22. I like your qualification and share it.