January 28, 2010
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Heavy Lies the Head
Last night I got into my pjs and got into bed with a nice hot cup of soy chai. I flipped on the tv to watch the State of the Union address with the Architect. Throughout the speech, I made snarky comments about the members of Congress they showed on tv and about what was being said (believe me, I’m an absolute joy to watch political speeches with because I enjoy talking back to the tv). It’s really easy for me to make these comments from the comfort of my bed. I know that being a member of Congress or being the President are two jobs that I never want to have. I mean never, ever.
It’s very easy for me to watch these people on tv and say that I know how to do things better than them. Maybe I do, maybe I don’t. I wouldn’t really be able to figure out until I stepped into their position. I recognize this (as much as I hate to dis my political prowess). The President inherited a lot of different issues where I would not even begin to know where to start in on fixing them. He inherited a most difficult task.
I would never want that much pressure falling down on me. There are all sorts of people in the United States that you have to try to speak to and to help feel like they are being heard. I have to imagine that you’re being pulled in no less than a hundred different directions by someone that just wants to be heard. There are wars to consider and initiatives like healthcare to ponder and the giant issue of the economy. No matter what you do, no matter what action you take, there’s going to be someone that gets mad at you for not choosing a different way, their way. Any time you speak, your words and facial expressions will be dissected by the talking heads. Any negative reaction that anyone has about what you do will be flashed on the news over and over again. Anytime you do something that the majority of voters consider a good thing, it’ll be a flash in the pan on the news and nothing more. No, I’d never want to be President. There are a lot of perks that go with the job but I am not sure I would be able to handle the pressure long enough to partake.
What job would you not want to have?
Comments (29)
Being a President or being a singer/rapper. I can’t sing, and I can’t rap. I am going to be a Dentist, and I enjoy that. I would love to be a fire-fighter. Being a President scares me for the exact same reasons you mentioned (good post, by the way.)
Most people who are smart enough to be President and/or Congressmen aren’t dumb enough to run for it. Just sayin’.
I wouldn’t want any job that’s the same day in and day out. I get bored too easily. That’s why I love my job. No two days are the same. <3
@PeriwinkleAdonis - Great line there. Makes sense haha.
Any job in politics whether it be politician or President.
What a good question…I would not want to be in the funeral business seeing the overwhelming grief people go through . I also would not want the job of having to tell families their loved ones died . That must be so difficult but I respect those that are able to do these things.Wonderful job hun !
Pres., no thanks. Have you ever looked at before and after pics of these guys?!? I noticed Obama aging in Dec. (08) Yup, they get crapped on from all sides no matter what. I was watching the speech last night before my sister called. I’m so ‘ashamed’ with myself. There are what, 535 (Sen. and Con.). 10 years ago, I could have named 500 of them and told you something about probably 450. (same goes for governors and my [wherever i lived] state and local reps.) Now I’ve let myself slide into ignorance. (i even missed the last local election – but i was taking care of Son and didn’t have time to do an absentee – library issue passed, though!!!)
In other news: found out where to get the wedding dress cleaned so Yoda can wear it- at the bridal shop – duh… So, what are you looking at for food? Your wedding, we’ve discussed, will be bigger and more formal, but, well, I like good food. just sayin’ (and asking)
Synchronicity !! I was telling someone this morning about a side bar in my University statistics text in re IQ. A particular man who had one of the highest chose to be a night janitor
I found the whole thing a big joke and do not have any hope that he will do what he says, and I voted for the guy.
For me it is a toss up between cleaning sanicans and outhouses, or being the president.
I don’t think I could be in Congress or the President. Too much corruption involved. After the recent Supreme Court decision, those that serve the people will have it more difficult than those who serve the corporations. I wouldn’t want to serve the corporations while pretending to serve the people, like much of Congress does now and probably all of Congress will do after the elections this year.
I also wouldn’t want to work in an animal shelter that has to put animals down. I’d get attached to the animals too easily and would be heartbroken every time I would put animals down.
I would not want to be a lawyer because I am horrible at thinking quickly on my feet, and I know that I would lose most of my cases because of some detail that I missed. I’d also not want to be a surgeon because, although the sight of blood doesn’t frighten me, the idea of cutting someone open and touching all the things they need to be ALIVE… ick.
I would not want to be a politician, prostitute or garbage collector! I don’t think I am conniving enough to be a politican. I don’t want to sleep with strange ugly men and I can’t stand the smell of garbage.
I could never be a politician. I cannot stand people who lie.
I liked Icepearlz and PeriwinkleAdonis’ answers. they are funny.
How about the pollster who had to tell the President that Coakley really was going to lose the senate seat in Mass.. Being President would be bearable assuming the White House chef had an ample supply of backfin crab cakes from the Crisfield pickers. Your entry reminds me of Teddy Roosevelt’s words about the challenge of being “In the Arena”. –BTB
My frustration, though, is that I’m not seeing a lot of leadership from President Obama. I know he wants to be a consensus builder, etc. but he starts negotiations at what he believes is a reasonable proposal and then has to negotiate from there. Instead, he should stake out the bold ground, the grand statement, the impassioned argument for why something needs to be done, and then be willing to negotiate back to a compromise.
Give me the job. I would gladly do it.
As long as you approached it with being honest and serving your constituents first, and understanding that your elected position is “temporary” and not “permanent”, you would do better than the majority there now.
It seems to me that the biggest fear driving both parties is getting re-elected instead of serving the needs of the people.
@christao408 - Seeing what took place last year is making me cynical of Obama’s true mission. Actions speak louder than words and I want to see if he is actually genuine or just another politician. The proof will lie in what we get with finance reform as well as health insurance. If Obama went down in flames because he held fast to a strong agenda without wavering, I’d chalk that up to greatness. But if he continues down a mediocre path, then mediocre or worse is the branding he will receive. All this compromising has to stop.
@SoullFire - Amen on both counts. We won’t be able to judge his presidency (or any other) until many decades afterwards, when we can see his successes and failures in the larger context of history. If he sticks to his principles, I agree that he will earn a lot of points in the long run. If he can achieve things even if there are some compromises, that will be okay, too, since politics is the art of compromise. But if he gets little to nothing done, I’m going to be sorely upset.
To be president needs a legitimate ambition for the good of the country , a high self-esteem ,a good dose of common sense , courage and also a speaking talent .
What job I wouldn’ t want to have : to be an administrative .(but for me it is too late !
Love
Michel
@OhItWontBeForever - Thank you for the rec! I could never be a rapper either.
@PeriwinkleAdonis - LOL, I think you may be right
@American_woman_USA - I wouldn’t want that job either. I would just cry all of the time.
@travelerblue - As for food, we haven’t figured out a menu quite yet. We’re doing a buffet style dinner and I think we get to pick two entrees and a couple side dishes. I’m thinking that we’ll probably go for pasta of some sort and a chicken dish since those seem to be pretty agreeable for most people. For appetizers, we’re keeping it simple but I think we’re going to spring for crab dip (it’s pretty much a law that crab dip must be served at Maryland weddings
).
@stixandstonz2009 - Same here, I voted for him!
@Rob_of_the_Sky - I’m with you on the animal shelter part as well. I’d end up being the crazy cat and dog lady because I would bring home all of the unwanted pets!
@lostinafebruarysong - I actually enjoy watching surgeries on tv (discovery health rocks) but I don’t think I could do that in real life either!
@icepearlz - LOL, I’m with you on all accounts!
@ZSA_MD - Me too. They made me giggle
@buildthebridge - TR is one of my very favorite politicians to read about. He definitely led an interesting life. I think he made a pretty good point with the “man in the arena” spiel!
@christao408 - I think politicians forget the whole idea of “under promise, over deliver.” That seems to work out a bit better! Hey, if you ever run for President, I’ll vote for you
@SoullFire - I would be a big fan of not having reelections for politicians. I think that it would help avoid a lot of wasted time. Incumbants don’t seem to worry about their actual job. They want to be re-elected because that’s a pretty perk filled and prestigious job!
I think being a waste collector would SUCK… or a daycare provider.. haha…
mmmm…chia….
You know, it’s funny but I was thinking about this before too. As a kid, I was so eager and naive and wanted to run for office and fight the good fight. However moving into DC has made me more skeptical about it. The more I live here and watch CNN/FOX and congress debate about issues they have no idea about and I actually have real access too makes me distrust them even more.
There are so very many…though from what my dad says about the gig, I don’t think I’d want to try my hand at being a postman.
Owner of Xanga.
I certainly would not want to be president, or any other political figure who has to take the flak for what congress and the judiciary are doing.
I’m not sure I could be a doctor, counselor (e.g. grief counseling) or social worker. I’d probably be very frustrated with the system and get emotionally involved with my “clients”.
@Scrooge0 - the Now Conservative controlled Courts are even worse
@Kontzicles - Gah, waste collector would really suck!
@portiajules - Yummy, yummy.
@Scrooge0 - I do think that living here makes us cynical. We almost seem to be over-exposed to everything going on. On one hand, I like that our local news is the country’s national news but it can be a pain.
@skittler335 - I think I would absolutely hate that.
@TheBigShowAtUD - Too many complainers, seriously.
@butshebites - I hear ya!
@ElusiveWords - Me too. I’m very, very overly sympathetic and empathetic.