Comments on: One Term Pledge?

By: Sarah

Sarah — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 21:51:47 +0000

Turns out no one can predict the future.

By: Geoff

Geoff — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 00:53:29 +0000

Sen. Dole, with all due respect to him and his service to this country, was a weak candidate irrespective of his one term pledge.

By: Kurt Diekelman

Kurt Diekelman — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 18:34:14 +0000

Bob Dole did a 1 term pledge. It was stupid beyond belief, and it shows weakness. Why make himself a lame duck?

By: Geoff

Geoff — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 08:16:03 +0000

I definitely agree that NATIONAL REVIEW can always be counted on to catalyze philosophical and intellectual on the Right. Not sure how much of an embarrassment their original endorsement of Gov. Romney is though, however much I disagreed with it.

By: forrestal

forrestal — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 07:39:57 +0000

I like the idea of McCain saying on the stump, “Hey, chose me as your president, and if you like what I do, then we’ll talk about another term.” That way he basically says, “put me in the hotseat.” But I’m ambivalent at best about the wisdom of this one-term pledge. That’s National Review for you though — getting the philosophical question started…now if they just would’ve endorsed the right guy. My, that must be embarassing for some there still, don’t you think?

By: Geoff

Geoff — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 07:34:17 +0000

I would encourage you guys to read Mr. Ponnuru’s article if you can. He addresses that concern.

While it’s certainly a possibility that a Democratic Congress would wait him out in such an instance, if Sen. McCain were in a position of political strength as president they could not do so without paying a political price, just as they did for waiting out on the Department of Homeland Security and judicial nominations in President Bush’s first term.

By: Matt DiBari (Mattpat11)

Matt DiBari (Mattpat11) — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 03:12:31 +0000

I think the Democratic Congress would just wait him out.

By: Almiranta

Almiranta — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 02:43:46 +0000

I find it so offensive to have “popularity” be the defining characteristic of an American leader, but for some reason this shallow approach to evaluating the success of our presidents has taken over the mindset of too many Americans.

While I agree that a one-term commitment would have some good aspects, prior presidents have said that it took them most of their first terms to really get a grip on the job.

By: Geoff

Geoff — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 01:38:17 +0000

It isn’t the prospect of being up for re-election that gives a President power, but his popularity with the American people.

By: NJ McCain

NJ McCain — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 00:53:50 +0000

A one term pledge out of the gate makes President McCain a lame duck the minute he enters the White House. He needs to be able to wield authority on many matters (specifically military), and that involves bi-partisan outreach and compromise. Congress won’t act on certain things if they know he’s just there for four years, they’ll just bide their time. If he doesn’t have the potential of a second term, he becomes a place holder president with little authority. That’s certainly not what this country needs.