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President Sarah Palin. President Sarah Palin. President Sarah Palin.
Those words might strike dread or excitement to you.
People on both sides of the aisle have strong opinions one way or the other on Sarah Palin, and for good reason: she just isn't like any other political candidate.
She hunts (yes, with a gun); she STILL lives in Alaska; she is an avowed Christian; and she has 5 children.
But lots of people can claim those some or all of those attributes, and it's safe to say that not all of them would make a good President. But how about Sarah?
Would Sarah Palin make a good President?
Instead of looking at Palin and judging from our opinion of her, let's look at what a good President is and then see if she fits the bill. What makes a good President?
Well, we're not necessarily looking for someone with an education. George Washington was home schooled, and had about a 6th grade formal eduction. How is this possible? Because a LEADER is not necessarily someone who is book smart. A leader is someone that is charismatic, that has strong opionions, and make good judgements. Having a college degree is not a prerequisite for any of those.
And that goes to the crux of what makes a good President. Time and again, Americans give high marks to Presidents that are strong leaders, have political skill, and have character/integrity to weather the storms of office.
Merely having political skill and a strong leader makes one an unpopular authoritarian.
Merely having political skill alone gets you elected but makes you a weak, ineffective leader.
Merely having character/integrity alone makes you likable as a person, but hated as a leader.
It is the combination of all 3, so rare in our history, which makes for a great President.
It is the character to know WHEN to exercise power, and when not to, for the sake of something other than yourself that makes for a great leader. The notion that a great leader will sacrifice themselves in some way, for the sake of the country.
And in these aspects: of the undefined nature of a leader that we can ill-define yet recognize when we see it...it is in these aspects that the Presidency of Sarah Palin will be judged.
What do you think? Given the nature of good Presidents, do you think Sarah Palin has the qualities of leadership, of character, of integrity, of political skill, to be ranked among the top tier of American Presidents?
Let us know your thoughts.
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