Submitted by jprice, Sep 8, 2007 01:23

Thompson has conservative credentials, but little else. Like most of the candidates of either party he has zero executive experience, the kind that really counts. While it may not matter to some, can we really think of turning over the keys to the most powerful, and I would say, most fraught with peril, office on Earth to relative neophytes? Thompson has never had to make a decision that directly affects millions of people. Voting along with 99 other senators is one thing, making tough decisions, implementing them, and taking personal responsibility is entirely another.

Thompson, McCain, O'Bama, Edwards, Clinton, are good politicians, and have good ideas. Fine. Not one has ever had to make those ideas into policy, then make that policy happen. That takes guts, intelligence, and depth of experience in making things actually work. It takes the ability to create and manage competent teams of people. It takes time and seasoning to learn how to make good decisions when the answers are not clear-cut.

Americans have for many decades chosen governors for President precisely because they understand that having good ideas does not necessarily equate to the capacity to perform when needed. (Romney, Giuliani, even Huckabee have that.)

The White House is no place to learn the ropes of executive power and responsibility. It is the place to bring tried and proven ability, intellect, and strength, along with a new approach to the world's, and the nation's, challenges.

While prior executive experience alone does not make a great president as dubya has thoroughly shown. But he is the exception, not the rule. For most, I would contend it was crucial. 8 of the best 10 presidents had it.

Presidents with prior executive experience:

Washington - General of the Army in the Revolutionary War.

Jefferson - Governor of Virginia.

Teddy Roosevelt - Governor of New York.

Woodrow Wilson - Governor of New Jersey

Andrew Jackson - Army officer and Territorial Governor of Florida

FDR - Asst. Secretary of the Navy, Governor of New York

Eisenhower - Supreme Allied Commander in Europe (WWII).

Reagan - Governor of California.

Bill Clinton? Governor of Arkansas.

Presidents without:

Lincoln - True man of his times, and a true statistical outlier in terms of innate leadership.

Kennedy - was inspiring. But what did he accomplish? Bay of Pigs? Got us into Vietnam. Did handle the Cuban Missile Crisis well. Died well before a true judgment could be made.

LBJ - great senator, terrible president. Screwed us up in Vietnam. He knew it before the country did.

Nixon - Terrible. Screwed us in Vietnam and Watergate.

Don't underestimate the true value of real executive training, experience, judgment, and management in the White House.

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