Charisma!

I have to admit that I'm a little bit surprised to see David Kopel, a fairly libertarian fellow, praising Barack Obama for being presidential and a potentially "outstanding Head of State" because he's so charismatic and all. (I tried to listen to the speech linked to see what everyone has been raving about, but I couldn't stand listening to what seems to me to be empty drivel. How a person could be inspired by it remains a mystery to me, but I've never heard a stump speech that didn't make me want to gouge my ears out, so maybe I'm an outlier) A charismatic person can get people to like him regardless of what he says, even if he says nothing (applicable!). In a system where the Head of State and Head of Government are different, there's nothing wrong with it, but when they're both the same person, it seems like the last thing a libertarian would want is a charismatic Head of State.

I, personally, want an extremely uncharismatic president, because then everyone would look at everything he does extremely critically. I don't want a president who is able to avoid backlash over what he's doing because people like what he says. The way people have been gushing over Obama has only confirmed my fears, so I think I'm going to have to toss my hat in with Hillary Clinton.

posted by Beetle Aurora Drake 1/27/2008 12:47:00 AM #
Comments (3)

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Comments:

there is no objective standard for a president which you can use to critically evaluate their performance. you would evaluate his or her actions as good or bad based on your own ideology (of course thats not true in every case, but probably most).

just wait until obama is elected. i doubt there will be the same excitement.

# posted by  Anonymous : 11:11 AM, January 27, 2008

 

What does it matter if there's an objective standard? What I'm worried about is people who would criticize the president for his policies but don't because they like him. Go check out Daily Kos if you want examples of how widespread this is. If the opposition also joins in, then it becomes quite grim for those who believe in a limited government.

# posted by  Beetle Aurora Drake : 1:36 PM, January 27, 2008

 

"maybe i'm an outlier," is probably the most understated clause you've written on this blog. ever (and yes, that is a fragment). And forgive something which could be construed as ad hominem, but Jesus, were you asking for it.

# posted by  Anonymous : 4:35 AM, January 28, 2008

 

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