If you could choose another president today, who would you choose? It can be anyone! Ok?

[sage2021]

Updates

+1 y

Remember now, it can be anyone - a friend, relative, a teacher, your boss, anyone at all, doesn't have to be in politics.

[FunkyMonkee]

I would pick the guy that actually won the last election, Don Trump.

[AviatorTom]

It would be nice if FDR could be resurrected from the grave.

[ManOnFire]

Hang on, Tom. FDR knew Pearl Harbor was going to happen and he let it so that it would give us the excuse we needed to get in the war and attack Japan.

[AviatorTom]

@ManOnFire That's one theory, and if true, that was a great way to end the Great Depression with a stimulating War Economy. Maybe a localized war away from the US mainland (like WW II was) might be a way to get the economy back on track.

[ManOnFire]

I think he probably had that in mind too, yeah.

[KrakenAttackin]

No thanks. Roosevelt was a brutal socialist.

[nightdrot]

In terms of the posted Update, I work in politics. It is not a amateur's sport and the nation's habit of saying, in effect, "If only the PEOPLE could be heard and not be betrayed by the elites, all would be well.." Perfect twaddle. Most of the shape the nation finds itself in is due to the "common man."

Best to recall, in a democracy, properly understood, the people do not decide. Rather they decide which elites will decide. This because the "common man" does not have, as a general rule, the aptitude, knowledge and skills necessary navigating the problems of a complex society.

As to currently living politicians, Governor DeSantis of Florida, Governor Sununu of New Hampshire or Senator Ben Sasse of Nebraska - who, ironically, is retiring soon from the Senate and politics - would all be good choices. However, among recent Presidents, the one whose circumstances most closely paralleled the nation's current situation and who mastered them expertly and deftly, the late Ronald Reagan is, by far, the best choice. If we could bring him back, I would do it in a heartbeat.

Indeed, a fair case can be made that Reagan's was one of the most effective and consequential presidencies of the 20th century, if not in all of American history. Three issues, two specific, the third more general, buttress this claim. Inflation, the Cold War and the national mood.

In the first, as Robert Samuelson wrote in his book, The Great Inflation,' by the end of the 1970s, galloping inflation had almost come to be accepted among policymakers as the systemic condition of democracy. That democratic electorates would not tolerate the policy changes necessary to reign it in.

Thus, by 1979, the rate of inflation hit 14.5% - the highest annual rate in peacetime and 13.1% by 1980 - the first time the country had experienced back-to-back years of double digit inflation in peacetime. Reagan, unlike previous presidents, refused to pressure the Fed to idle back on interest rates, and in tandem with his tax cuts that provided an offsetting stimulus, brought inflation down to 1.1% by 1986, breaking the back of inflationary expectations.

In terms of the Cold War, it is hard to recall the degree to which it was seen as a permanent fixture of international affairs - with its overtones of nuclear annihilation. As Kenneth Adelman points out in his book on the Reykjavik summit, Reagan intuited that the Soviet system was on the brink. A fact that Western intelligence agencies could not confirm until the eve of the summit when they discovered a secret speech that Soviet leader Gorbachev gave to the Soviet leadership.

Reagan's policies were seen as belligerent, but they had the effect of forcing the Soviets to push their defense spending to 42% of GDP. (For comparison, even at the height of WWII, U. S. defense spending reached only 32% of GDP.) This was unsustainable and in the end brought about the USSR's collapse, a fact that Gorbachev himself later confirmed in his own memoirs.

Finally, there was the change in the national mood. The nation experienced in the 1960s and 70s a level of social tumult it had not seen since the 19th century. (Not unlike the nation's current tensions.) Reagan's personal style helped to reduce this leading to the relative social peace of the 80s and 90s.

(This was captured brilliantly in a cartoon that showed a pollster asking a voter what he thought of Reagan's policies - #@*!! was the response.

Next panel - What he thought of Reagan personally - "Oh nice guy, friendly, jovial'")

CONT.

[nightdrot]

To this it must be added that his became the dominant philosophical view of both parties up until the Trump presidency. As FDR's "New Deal" agenda dominated politics from the 1930s until the Carter presidency. Thus did Richard Nixon, a Republican, famously say, "We're all Keynesians now." (This referring to the economic theories of John Maynard Keynes which was the dominant view of the New Deal-Fair Deal-New Frontier-Great Society agenda.)

With the collapse of that viewpoint in the 1970s, with its stagflation, double digit inflation, and other social upheavals, the Reaganite view took hold. Thus did Democrat President Bill Clinton announce before the Congress, "The era of big government is over." Thus was President Obama - another Democrat - fail to get "Medicare for all" through a Congress both Houses of which his party controlled. (Thus settle for Obamacare, which only then became popular after the GOP abolished the mandate.)

It is only now, with the populism of Mr. Trump and, in a different way, Mr. Biden, that the Reaganite era has drawn to a close. Yet again, not without the significant - indeed in some cases historic - accomplishments. Indeed, with populism lacking any deeper theoretical construct, and with the Biden administration looking not unlike the Carter years, the Reaganite agenda may yet get another lease on political life.

Put it all together and the case for resurrecting President Reagan is almost iron clad. He was not perfect, but he was and remains a giant. Alas, you can only only go forward in time and so we are left to make the best of the circumstances as we find them. That said, heaven knows, we can certainly do better than the current occupant of the White House, whom the public, in their infinite wisdom, saw campaign for the job from his basement and thought to themselves, "Hey, yeah, THAT would be a goo choice."

Vox populi, vox humbug.

[888theGreat]

I think a name would have been enough

[Sixgun77]

Reagan did some good, but I can never forgive him for allowing the Hughes amendment to become law or for giving amnesty to illegal aliens.

[nightdrot]

@Sixgun77 Well, your priorities are what they are. That said, given the totality of the situation Mr. Reagan faced coming into office and given the successes of his administration, it seems a bit lopsided to focus on those two points to the exclusion of all else.

The amnesty was part of a deal that - once the Democrats gained control of the Senate - they reneged on. It was a deal offered in good faith.

As to the Hughes Amendment, while I understand, without being necessarily sympathetic to, your viewpoint, it hardly obscures the good things that Mr. Reagan did.

By your logic, you would have been happier had Reagan not accepted the Hughes Amendment but had not won the Cold War. Not sure that makes much sense.

In any case, we have not had a President since Reagan that was his equal in stature, in political skill or indeed the success of his policies. He set the stage for an era in politics that was, on balance, more prosperous peaceful and stable than the populism of the current age.

[Sixgun77]

@nightdrot:

The amnesty was part of a deal that - once the Democrats gained control of the Senate - they reneged on. It was a deal offered in good faith.

That's true but I can't agree that it ever should have been offered in the first place.

By your logic, you would have been happier had Reagan not accepted the Hughes Amendment but had not won the Cold War. Not sure that makes much sense.

That's not my logic. We don't know that he wouldn't have won the cold war without violating the constitution. Not sure how the Hughes amendment relates to the cold war. In the first place.

[nightdrot]

@Sixgun77 Yes, but we do know that we won the Cold War and that inflation was brought from 14.5% to 1.1%. Bird in the hand, so to speak.

The Hughes Amendment, by the way, does NOT relate to the Cold War. MY point was that you are willing to sacrifice much that we got from the Reagan years because you are unhappy with one aspect of it.

The old pearl of great price, don't ya know.

[MCheetah]

Tulsi Gabbard is the most qualified person today to be United States President. Too bad most of America is too dumb and brainwashed to ever support her, as the leftists would be calling her "Alt-right Lite" and the right-wingers would be stuck on one idiotic stance or policy she has (for example, being Pro-Choice) and not vote on here due to that, and we'll be right back to disastrous extremist candidates once again.

I'm not even saying she's a perfect person; she is a politician after all, but she seems to be the least corrupt and most "integrity looking" politician in America today and definitely the best choice to be president. Not that I'm trying to simp for her, but just spitting facts!

https://www.youtube.com/embed/tryfeLEMxxw

If I could choose ANYONE though? it'd be me. 100%. I know what I'm doing and I'm not afraid to "play dirty" if it means improving America back to pre-2000s status and making sure China doesn't surpass us as a Superpower.

You'd vote for me. Cause I wouldn't call you an -ist or -phobe or revoke your Black Card for not doing it.

Out of all politicians though, I'd go with Tulsi.

And out of all realistic chances of people to become president, possibly Ron DeSantis, although I am not Republican or right-leaning, but chances are, it's going to come down to Biden or Kamala vs DeSantis.

Donald Trump would sooner get assassinated than be allowed to run for president again, and I don't want to give insane/evil people four more years of endless employment, so although he got screwed in 2020, it's best for America that Trump not run again. The people who thinks he'll be re-elected again in 2024 are delusional.

[MCheetah]

My BAGA Plan:

How to please the Left: Allow THEM to do whatever they want to, as long as it doesn't interfere with anyone else's life. You want to call yourself some made-up gender or pronoun? Go ahead. Just don't expect other people to.

How to please the Right: Protect children and protect religious freedoms. And no extreme woke sh*t.

How to please everyone: Lower gas prices, reduce inflation, create more energy jobs, stop mainstream media lies and censorship, establish peace with hostile nations willing to negotiate, and Build American Glory Again! (BAGA)

[tfan1]

The one and only True President of the United States and should still be in office now - President Donald J Trump 🙏🇺🇸❤️👍😃

[pewter_moon]

Someone neutral but strong. Could reach both sides and give everyone a bit of what they want as nobody could accomplish everything in four years. It would have to be some surprise appearance but likable individual or well-known actor. The nut jobs with their heads currently sticking out of the sand would all be embarrassing.

[888theGreat]

impossible , liberals and Democrats say 100% our way or no way, Arresting Christians and killing babies, destroying economy with global warming bull shit.

[MCheetah]

@pewter_moon
So... Me?

How to please the Left: Allow THEM to do whatever they want to, as long as it doesn't interfere with anyone else's life. You want to call yourself some made-up gender or pronoun? Go ahead. Just don't expect other people to.

How to please the Right: Protect children and their religious freedoms. And no extreme woke sh*t.

How to please everyone: Lower gas prices, reduce inflation, create more energy jobs, stop mainstream media lies and censorship, and Build American Glory Again! (BAGA)

[ManOnFire]

David Muir

Someone who is in journalism and reports on all the things we all are concerned about, and who also knows what's going on around the world and has been to those places. A person who could most likely enter into the political world with a good image and record - assuming he's never done anything scandalous - and would probably win an election.

[exitseven]

I think President Trump deserves to finish what he started.

[andreasderjuengere]

Demolishing the Capitol? :D

[888theGreat]

@andreasderjuengere saving America from Socialists that burn down cities , destroying economy , and violating the constitution

[Msputiton]

@andreasderjuengere 🤣🤣🤣

[worldscolide]

Ron DeSantis.. If I chose trump the worthless piece of shit left will keep trying to impeach him.

[Chazmatazz269]

Andrew Yang - “MATH: Make Americans Think Harder”
A nation chock full of idiots CHOOSING to get dumber every… damn…. day!!!
Then bitching endlessly about the results. It would be hilarious if it weren’t tragic.

[pepper1993]

Can I pick myself? Not that I would necessarily WANT the job, but I'd take that yearly salary and honestly could I do much worse than the current guy?

[PetiteBabe64]

Paul Wesley

he’s a Good guy and I think he would Be an amazing President.

[ArtieWhitefox]

He who Left people and Muslims hate. It would be Trump.

[Wallythewalrus]

Slingblade1126! He's witty, smart, charming, sexy as all hell but most importantly, very humble. Also, very misunderstood.

[Sixgun77]

George Washington. Failing that, Mark Levin, Rand Paul, Ron Paul, Trump, or Desantis.

[Summeroflove]

Probably Ron Desantas. But. Almost anyone but Biden

[Surely]

The mayor of Talkeetna, Alaska!

U

[OlderAndWiser]

Ted Cruz.

[exitseven]

He would be good on the Supreme Court but a good choice.

[888theGreat]

nope, Supreme Court or Gov of Texas.

[slatyb]

Maybe John Fetterman, candidate for Senate in Pennsylvania.

[TroyDT2]

The phony blue collar guy who was supported by his parents and sister till he was in his 40s? You've been conned.

[letuswaltzforthedead]

From most to least: Rand paul, Jocko willink, Dave smith, or ron desantis.

Honestly, by 2024, we might as well have AOC so I'd consider voting for her too.

[MCheetah]

Seriously? AOC? Or is that a joke?

[888theGreat]

@MCheetah we would have no energy or economy. People would riot and we would have a hot civil war

[letuswaltzforthedead]

I wasn't joking, I don't like her ideas but considering how things are going, she probably has a better chance of winning (that is, "they" will probably let her win without too much of a fuss) if she was a candidate.

[sage2021]

@letuswaltzforthedead you want AOC to be our next president even though you don't like her ideas. Hmmm! Do you honestly think that she wouldn't bring her ideas to her presidency? Of course she will.

[letuswaltzforthedead]

Of course, I didn't say she wouldn't.

[loveslongnails]

John Stewart for President, Krysten Sinema for VP !!!

[Jamie05rhs]

Unfortunately it doesn't work like that.

People better think more carefully next time.

[bingbongbangbung]

Unfortunately you need to learn what a thought experiment is

[Jamie05rhs]

@bingbongbangbung Calm down, child.

[Alex8736]

Jeffrey Dahmer looks like a saint compared to the circus in office now lol

[Bethany22]

I would elect any one of my former bosses

[LordOfThePines]

Al Franken, my lovely lady or Roosevelt again.

[PainusNdeeAnus]

Morgan freeman ( obviously this man is going to live forever)

[joeldalton]

Right now? Ron DeSantis

[888theGreat]

Trump, Don Jr or Kari Lake

[MCheetah]

Kari Lake? ! ? Really? Now THERE'S a wildcard if I ever seen it!

[Anonymous]

Trump. There are a few others on my list, but Trump is at the top.

[Anonymous]

trump !!!

[888theGreat]

great answer

[Opinion Owner]

@888theGreat ty lol

[normalice]

Hm. I think Hillary Clinton.

[normalice]

Wait, no. Beau of the Fifth Column.

[Telekinetic-Potato]

I know the perfect guy

[USLegionary]

Tutsi Gabbard.

[Sixgunsound]

Dr. Michael Weiner, aka Michael Savage

[findacure4wokeness]

if I was American I would want Trump.

[libsaretards]

Ron Desantis or Texas Governor Abbott.

[Lliam]

George Carlin

[Juxtapose]

Ron DeSantis.

[TroyDT2]

Dr. Thomas Sowell.

[Luopio27]

Arnold, the x governator.

[Iron_Man]

Donald J Trump

[Fuentes]

Trump or Desantis

[BJP21]

We need to go back to the Pre Regan days.

[Pterodon]

Nikki Haley, Elise Stefanik

[EaterPeter]

Ila Arun, vote for ghaghra

[Andres77]

Reagan

[Fuentes]

Corrupt af lol

[Miraiii]

Certainly not Erdoğan haha

[eagle1951]

Mike Pence

[andreasderjuengere]

Lucy van Pelt

[AsaKyo]

My mom

[CloudMassacre]

A dog turd.

[MrTaboo]

DeSantis

[888theGreat]

nope , Trump but even Lake would be better

[MrTaboo]

I'd like Trump also. But, I think he brings to much baggage. Though I also think more people are seeing that he got railroaded by most of the federal liberal government

[Pohjolan]

Bruce Oreck

[Shy_Steve]

Keane Reeves.

[Dinosaursandanime65]

Mike Wasowski

[Anonymous]

Rand Paul