What does it mean (or matter) to look "presidential"?
OutOfBreath
Posts: 1,804
That is a phrase I see slapped around here alot these days with elections coming up. But what does it mean to "look presidential"? Is that just a rewrite for "old white guy with a nice white smile"? Does it mean that he looks photogenic? Looking good for those ceremonial photo shots?
Or is it meant more in what he/she does? In that case, how are presidents (supposed to be) different from other people and other politicians in general? They are into politics, hence they have policies and agendas they wish to pursue when they get into office. So depending on agendas, presidents can be very different things. Hence I dont see something central that is set apart as "presidential".
So I guess I'm just wondering, for you that use this term, what do you mean by it, and do you lend it any weight when you consider candidates?
Peace
Dan
Or is it meant more in what he/she does? In that case, how are presidents (supposed to be) different from other people and other politicians in general? They are into politics, hence they have policies and agendas they wish to pursue when they get into office. So depending on agendas, presidents can be very different things. Hence I dont see something central that is set apart as "presidential".
So I guess I'm just wondering, for you that use this term, what do you mean by it, and do you lend it any weight when you consider candidates?
Peace
Dan
"YOU [humans] NEED TO BELIEVE IN THINGS THAT AREN'T TRUE. HOW ELSE CAN THEY BECOME?" - Death
"Every judgment teeters on the brink of error. To claim absolute knowledge is to become monstrous. Knowledge is an unending adventure at the edge of uncertainty." - Frank Herbert, Dune, 1965
"Every judgment teeters on the brink of error. To claim absolute knowledge is to become monstrous. Knowledge is an unending adventure at the edge of uncertainty." - Frank Herbert, Dune, 1965
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It means looking like one of these guys. Use your savvy and esthetic, and be creative, dan.
But seriously, ever look at one of these strip of presidential photos and notice that as you go from top left to bottom right the faces look less like honest, scrupulous, dignified men, and more and more like abaggadouchea ?
If I opened it now would you not understand?
And if you think so, have you considered that the old ones are probably based on paintings.....
Peace
Dan
"Every judgment teeters on the brink of error. To claim absolute knowledge is to become monstrous. Knowledge is an unending adventure at the edge of uncertainty." - Frank Herbert, Dune, 1965
Every election since Kennedy beat out Nixon this has been so. Part of it certainly is photogenic and another big part is being a great public speaker.
The image or perception of the president is almost more important than the substance in this sense because if the president is percieved to play/work well with others more is going to get done. Most of our politicians simply stick thier finger in thier mouths and then up in the air to form thier political opinions and stances so if the man at the top of the executive branch is seen as reasonable it makes everyone feel included and important and that their concerns are being heard. Hell even in financial markets, the perception of what is going on is almost more important than what is actually going on because it relates to how people feel about spending thier money.
One of the main issues of the last 8 years is Bush's "my way or the highway public image." It's of course decidedly Texan and it is definately who he is but it often results in needless conflicts rather than easy diplomacy. He certainly is unafraid of decisions he just dosen't go about it in a very diplomatic way.
Indeed much of what happens in life is perception.
That's what entire campaigns are built on and the way most of us progress in our careers.
Whoever wins this election needs to "unite" the country by making them feel included and important. Galvanized. Of course one way is to find a common enemy. Another is to make them feel important included and intelligent.
The next president needs to be a brilliant diplomat capable and unafraid of making tough decisions and then answering tough questions reasonably.
A reasonable person would improve our world relations greatly.
Oh I don't know. I think modern television/movies has changed that perception a little for the younger crowd. Not quite all the way to Agenda Setting theorems or a wag the dog kind of thing, but certainly younger voters need not see another old white haired white guy to make it seem like a competent person is in charge.
The problem with that is that younger voters do not turn out to vote like our elders, specifically the baby boomers. To the majority of them the presidential look is just what I described.
yeah, that's true. I honestly cannot believe at this point that more young people won't take 2 hours to go freaking vote.
Two hours, I live in a large urban area and it only takes me about 20 minutes. Get up about half an hour earlier than you normally do and go in the morning when the lines are short.
This is off the subject a bit, but what you wrote in this sentence -- while certainly true -- runs counter to his reputation as a governor here. He was pretty famous for working with both sides of the aisle to broker compromise and change.
I'm not sure what happened since he moved to Washington.
I don't know if D.C. changed him, or if 9/11 hardened him or if he simply fell in with the wrong crowd (Cheney). But it really is a stunning reversal of how he operated as governor.
Anyway, just wanted to throw that out there ... carry on.
for the least they could possibly do
You make a good point, in the campaigns and even now he does seem willing to work with people especially privately and largely I think personally he has some good relationships but his public image, I believe even beginning with the chinese spy plane incident that was handled rather poorly back in 2000 has left the public perception of Bush to be very hard headed and single minded. I don't know if it's completely true or not, but the "you're either with us or with the terrorists" types of comments have further isolated him internationally and domestically I think publically.
something we sure haven't experienced in seven years.
Bush actually set a new record last night. on his way to the podium he dissed a african american woman and mussed up some dudes hair.
It was the first time I was disengaged BEFORE he even started talking.
and we wonder why the world thinks we are a fucking joke.