Be warned, this is another post with a political flavor to it.
Gordon MacDonald has proposed a list of qualifying questions for 2008 presidential candidates. Before you choose to follow the link and read the list, please know that these are not necessarily the questions I would ask. On the whole, I think I would actually make them simultaneously a bit sharper and not as reflective of a bias against the current administration (I think the latter is, unfortunately, reflected in MacDonald’s list). Nonetheless, these questions are good ones and could reasonably be put to the current crop of candidates to see how they answer (or squirm out of answering).
For me the end result of reading this list was a sort of depressed feeling. The list doesn’t describe anyone that I can think of, no one who’s applying for the job anyway. I’d love to be proved wrong, by either a Republican or a Democrat, but I don’t think either party has anybody worth paying attention to, honestly. It’s kind of how I felt last time too.
Some of you will probably want to add or drop some of the questions, others will perhaps think the list is completely wrong and substitute their own. And others will think this is all complete nonsense. That’s fine.
What I’m saying is that, when I read this list there are a few items (I’ll not specify which) that I think are deal-breakers for any candidate who answers “no.” And right now, nobody on offer makes the cut.
Yeah, it’s early. But with some of these people, I’ve seen all I need to see already and I wish they would just go home.
This is America. We can do better, folks. Isn’t it about time?
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March 7, 2007 at 9:04 pm
beth
I think, generically from what little I know of your political flavor, that you and I sit on opposite sides of many issues, but at the same time…some of these questions are good. And some are not ones that I would ask. But I do tend to agree with your assessment (or at least how I read your assessment) – if I had to vote today, I don’t know what I’d do – I’d be tempted to stay home as much as it galls me when people don’t take the opportunity to exercise their freedom muscles.
And here’s where I get frustrated with the political process as it stands in the US today – it’s too political. People can say they stand for things all they want – but at the end of the day our politicians on both sides of the aisle seem more interested in reelection than in actually doing anything for the good of the people, the nation, or the world. And we as constituents feed that.
But on the other hand – what are our options? When we have the freedom and responsibility to try to effect political change and (hopefully) help steer our culture back to a Biblical worldview we need to speak up and be heard.
All that to say, I hear your frustration and second it.
March 7, 2007 at 9:26 pm
jvjannotti
Beth, if we were to sit together and actually bring up issues to see where we stood on them I think you’d be surprised at how many we agreed on.
Though generally I think (and please don’t take this the wrong way, ’cause I know how it sounds) that a conservative approach to politics is somewhat limited, I hold many views that are associated with a conservative ideology. The thing is I have quite a few liberal biases as well, so there you go.
The reason for that mixed up perspective (or the rationalization, whatever you prefer) is that I like to think that I’m trying to approach everything from a biblical and Christ centered point of view. At the same time, I’m well aware that many people I love and respect hold opposing views and feel that they are thinking biblically as well. And who am I to say that I’m right? Or left.
This is where I run into problems with politics and politicians. They’re always right, even when they might be wrong. Show me the person who is willing to make mistakes but also admit them. I might actually vote for such a person out of sheer delight, even if they were (horrors) a Republican! But I don’t see that kind of person in politics right now. In fact, I don’t see them much at all. Once upon a time I thought Bill Clinton (I can hear you chuckling, stop it right now) might be that kind of guy… but alas.
As you implied, such a person doesn’t get re-elected (probably because they don’t get elected in the first place).
Everybody makes mistakes. Why is it that we can’t elect people who can own theirs? Or maybe I should rephrase that: Why can’t people who own their mistakes get elected… or at least run for office?
I don’t know, and I’m starting to ramble.
Thanks for hearing me.
March 8, 2007 at 7:50 am
beth
Jim,
You’re probably right that we’d end up agreeing about more than one might suspect. I’m not a Stepford Conservative. I really think that it comes down to each and every issue, weighed individually against the Bible. Pretty much like what you just said. 🙂
And it’s funny, cause I did chuckle. But then I tried to stop when you told me to.
One of my favorite movies is Mr. Smith Goes to Washington…and I’d vote for Smith in a heartbeat. He’d get beat up and slandered – but unlike in the movie, today he’d not likely prevail. And that’s what makes me very disgusted with politics today. Cause you’re right – it’d be refreshing to find someone who was willing to step away from the spin and simply be a human being.
March 8, 2007 at 8:14 am
jvjannotti
Stepford Conservative — LOLAL (that means laugh out loud and long, I made it up)
You know, I’ve had the very same thought about Mr. Smith, that he wouldn’t get far today, though maybe it was true back then too.
March 8, 2007 at 10:03 am
Will
For a person who loathes politics and most, if not all, politicians, you have been spending quite a bit of time writing about them lately : )
As a student of politics, I guess I am very pragmatic when it comes to politicians. They are all trying to win our votes. They are all trying to get re-elected and preserve their jobs. And they, like everyone else I know, are reluctant to acknowledge their mistakes.
So what to do? For me it all boils down to trying to find the person that best represents my own views. At present, I don’t yet know who that might be, but I am all but 100% sure it will be a Democrat. But then again, the presidential election is over a year away, and I might find myself in the other camp come next November.
March 8, 2007 at 10:09 am
jvjannotti
I’m open either way, Will. But I’m not holding my breath either.
And you’re right, I’m posting way too much about politics. I jumped on this story because of the tie to Gordon MacDonald. Think I’ll re-start my political fasting now.
March 8, 2007 at 9:31 pm
Kevin
Gordon MacDonald has proposed a list of qualifying questions for 2008 presidential candidates.
At this point, I’d just settle for basic competence. 🙂
March 8, 2007 at 10:17 pm
jvjannotti
Heh. Good point.
March 8, 2007 at 10:27 pm
jvjannotti
Will,
I’ve been thinking about your reluctance to admit mistakes statement. Reluctance is okay. Unwillingness is not. I think we see an unusually high incidence of unwillingness on the part of politicians–bordering on inability, in fact. Reluctance is excusable, unwillingness or inability is not. I do not personally know many people who are unable to admit their mistakes. I hate to say this, but the scant few people that spring to mind are pastors or ministry professionals (present company excepted, of course).
March 10, 2007 at 11:30 pm
Will
Could it be that those most reluctant or even unwilling to admit mistakes have the most to lose when they do, especially their jobs/careers? I would think that this holds true especially for pastors, ministry professionals and politicians.