Do you think it should be a requirement for Presidency to serve in the military?

[CoolBlue74]

I say yes. At least 4 years.

 

[Gringao]

Good God, no. What a terrible idea.

 

[RoryN]

I say no.

Seeing as how many fratboy hick southern fucks are in the armed forces right now, it doesn't favor well for a potential President.

 

[landslider]

It shouldn't be an absolute requirement.

However, it is a good thing for a president to have experienced implementing foreign policy at the tip of the spear.

 

[kotori]

He (or she) becomes Commander-in-Chief when he (or she) when elected; for four years, at least.

The better question might be should every citizen have to do some period of National Service (most likely military, but other options would be available). That would solve any perceived "problem".

 

[CoolBlue74]

I can't understand how someone thinks it shouldn't be a requirement. Please explain. After all, to me, giving someone supreme control of the world's greatest military force should require some experience in the military. Why is it that this doesn't make sense?

 

[drveovru2]

the pres should know what it feels like to have been in harms way as well as how it feels to send his own troops in harms way. he should know what it is like and what soldiers go through. i am not talking about some bullshit national guard service.. he should have active duty and actually have real expierence.


soldiers train for war and pray it never happens... civilians dont care about war and pray it happens somewhere besides amerian soil.


it should be a requirement. but no bs national guard duty(unless they have a few years experience over the next 10 years of the iraq war)

 

[Gringao]

He also has control of the Department of Agriculture. Do we require him to have been a farmer?

 

[CoolBlue74]

He also has control of the Department of Agriculture. Do we require him to have been a farmer?

I'm not too worried about being killed by 50' tomatoes...
Nor, do I think, anyone else is.

 

[RobDownSouth]

He also has control of the Department of Agriculture. Do we require him to have been a farmer?

Depends on how many Dept of Agriculture employees he/she plans to put into harm's way by engaging in elective wars.

 

[Gringao]

I'm not too worried about being killed by 50' tomatoes...
Nor, do I think, anyone else is.

Isn't your idea to instill in the President a knowledge and sympathy for those he forms policy for?

Or is this just a Bash Bush thread in sheep's clothing?

 

[Ham Murabi]

FDR could have served in the wheelchair brigade of the Third Infantry/Iron Lung Division.

 

[Gringao]

Depends on how many Dept of Agriculture employees he/she plans to put into harm's way by engaging in elective wars.

That gives me my answer.

 

[RobDownSouth]

FDR could have served in the wheelchair brigade of the Third Infantry/Iron Lung Division.

Another Republican attempt at humor. *shakes head*

 

[CoolBlue74]

Isn't your idea to instill in the President a knowledge and sympathy for those he forms policy for?

Or is this just a Bash Bush thread in sheep's clothing?

The military isn't the same as agriculture. I can read a book on agriculture and understand it. You can't read a book on the military and understand it. You have to experience it.

And no. This is a 'politician and the people who vote for them' bashing thread.

 

[CoolBlue74]

FDR could have served in the wheelchair brigade of the Third Infantry/Iron Lung Division.

FDR wasn't always in a wheelchair. And he was a rare man. A leader who understood he understood little of military actions and trusted his commanders.

 

[HeavyStick]

No....

 

[Ham Murabi]

Another Republican attempt at humor. *shakes head*

You'd disqualify FDR from even running for president because he was confined to a wheelchair.
Not very inclusive of you. In fact, it's pretty darn intolerant.l
What kind of liberal are you, anyway?

 

[RoryN]

Or is this just a Bash Bush thread in sheep's clothing?

How long did it take for you to figure this out?

 

[CoolBlue74]

You'd disqualify FDR from even running for president because he was confined to a wheelchair.
Not very inclusive of you. In fact, it's pretty darn intolerant.l
What kind of liberal are you, anyway?

FDR didn't take the presidency in a wheelchair.....

 

[CoolBlue74]

How long did it take for you to figure this out?

I'm a Republican. Care to pull the foot out of your mouth?

 

[JazzManJim]

I think if it were an essential requirement, we would have figured that out somewhere along the line.

I think it's funny that folks keep wanting to reinvent essential parts of our government like their ideas are novel. They're just not.

Presidents have been taking our armies to war for decades. Some have had military service and some haven't. They've all, by and large, done pretty well in their jobs.

The idea that a President needs to have been in the military to be a Commander in Chief is as silly as the idea that he needs to be a scientist to be the ultimate head of the FDA or that he needed to be an astronaut to control NASA.

What you do need are people with great expertise to advise you and the conviction to make solid decision based on the best information you have. so far, our Presidents have done a pretty good job in wartime with those things.

 

[Gringao]

The military isn't the same as agriculture. I can read a book on agriculture and understand it. You can't read a book on the military and understand it. You have to experience it.

Why? Isn't that what West Point, Annapolis, etc. are all about?

 

[JustSkye]

But Blue, he was in the military.

 

[The Mutt]

Served:
U S Grant
Richard Nixon
George Bush
George W Bush (sort of)

Did not serve:
John Adams
Thomas Jefferson
FDR
Bill Clinton

So I would have to say NO!