I don't think G H W Bush was ever a governor.

 

 

Nixon was a Congressman and Senator representing California prior to serving as Vice President.

 

:thumb: GHS Bush was Director of the CIA and VP, but never a governor.

 

As far as experience, I prefer governors, however, an accomplished senator can have enough experience. However, it really seems that there are only 2 really accomplished senators in this race, McCain and Biden. I still haven't heard anything that Obama has actually accomplished. If I had to rate overall experience as qualifying I would rate the 4 candidates as follows:

 

1. McCain

2. Biden

3. Palin

4. Obama

From a pure "running a gov't" standpoint, Governor or CEO most resembles being a POTUS. However, being a US Senator introduces you to how Washington works and holds its advantages as well.

 

In this election, I do not think any one of the tickets holds much of an advantage when you break it down. Bottom line - McCain and Biden have been around for a while. Obama and Palin have not. I do not try to get in to comparing and contrasting the merits of their work.

Also this idea that the Presidency "does not lend itself to on-the-job training." Exactly what job really lends itself to that kind of training? It is not like we have interns that are familiar with the job. It is a unique position unlike any other. Any person will be taking part in "on-the-job" training.

Given some of the recent governors we've had that later became president (Carter and Dubya come to mind), is it any wonder that some of us have our doubts that governorships somehow are automatically considered to be the best possible POTUS training ground?

No one can definitively say which is better, this is truly a matter of opinion. I don't blame you for having your doubts

Voting records are not the only reason Senators generally make bad candidates. They often have no executive experience and lack the leadership of governors, who make executive decisions every day. Negotiating a deal as a Senator is very different than wielding the power of the presidency effectively. I agree with Gunner's comparison of a governor or president to a CEO. I would have no problem supporting the right CEO for president even if the CEO had no experience in government.

 

So you're saying Sarah Palin not only is better qualified than Sen. Obama due to all of the above but she's also more qualified than Sen. McCain? What decisions has Sen. McCain made that make him more qualified than Ms. Palin?

 

To quote: Negotiating a deal as a Senator is very different than wielding the power of the presidency effectively.

:thumb: GHS Bush was Director of the CIA and VP, but never a governor.

I would count director of the CIA as executive experience.

I think governors are better suited for the Presidency, because they are familiar with the executive powers that they have. From giving state of the union speeches to promoting budgets to wooing companies to your state. Using the veto, working with a House and a Senate, being the party chief in your state, etc...

However, being a governor does not automatically make you Presidential.

Communication, collaboration...all of the things that define leadership are a must, and not all governors have it.

Experience is a must...how long is good enough????

 

I'm sure senators could do well as well, but you must realize their voting records are exposed, which is fodder for their opponent.

For example, Obama has hit McCain on voting with Bush, when the majority of those votes cast were in unanimous fashion with the Senate.

 

Those can be twisted.

So you're saying Sarah Palin not only is better qualified than Sen. Obama due to all of the above but she's also more qualified than Sen. McCain? What decisions has Sen. McCain made that make him more qualified than Ms. Palin?

 

To quote: Negotiating a deal as a Senator is very different than wielding the power of the presidency effectively.

McCain does have command experience from his long stint in the military. I personally would prefer Palin over McCain because her position on issues fits my own more closely and she appears to be the best candidate at articulating a conservative vision since Reagan.

 

Based on his experience, I would say that McCain is the most qualified to be president but Palin has that "vision thing" going for her in addition to an impressive list of accomplishments for one so young.