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When does a political candidate have enough experience to be President of the United States? Is it like qualifying for NASCAR?

How about we take a quick stroll down recent Presidential history lane!

W had little experience and has helped Congress spend its way into the biggest hole since Cyrus Griffin.

Clinton has little experience and helped our Congress get a balanced budget, reform welfare, and create some of the largest corporate bankruptcies in history.

H.W. had TONS of experience and helped lead the world in kicking Iraq out of Kuwait but couldn’t stimulate the economy to save his political career.

Reagan had relatively little political experience, save running the largest state in the country. Karl Rove might say he was the biggest celebrity since Britney Spears, but Britney wasn’t even born when he was elected. Still, Reagan had some ups and downs during his presidency and came out with America ahead.

Carter had relatively little political experience and brought us such governmental improvements of the Department of Energy and the Department of Education (note: I am being facetious). Let’s not forget having Walter Mondale and a VP. Yet, he did accomplish much in foreign policy, such as the failed US hostage rescue, massive fuel shortages, and handing the Panama Canal back to Panama. He did redeem himself with Israel and Egypt.

Ford had considerable political experience. He was even on the Magic Bullet Commission. His chiefs of staff might ring a few bells: Donald Rumsfeld and Dick Cheney. One can see the beginnings of the post-Reagan Republican party in the wake of the Ford administration.

Nixon had a fair amount of political experience prior to becoming President. After all, he was Ike’s (not the hurricane) VP. However, he was certainly not the Gerald Ford or Al Gore of politicians with a lifetime achievement award in national government experience.

I could go on and on about the Presidents we’ve had and how some of the worsts ones were the “most qualified” and some of the best ones were “least qualified”. Also, opinions change over time. For example, Harry Truman had a horrible approval rating (the lowest for the longest amount of time). However, he is almost always listed as one of the top 10 Presidents. I seriously doubt W is going to share the same sentiment 50 years from now.

Talking about whether someone is “qualified” to be President is the most ridiculous conversation. Historically, it has been a crap shoot… actually, craps seems to have better odds and is a little more exciting.

Are McCain, Obama, Biden or Palin qualified to be President? What does that even mean? The question should really be whether they are going to have Donald Rumsfeld, Dick Cheney, Karl Rove, or one of their scumbag cronies in their cabinet. McCain has already answered that question by having Rove on his election team.