Does This Man “Look” Like A President To You?
For all my pontificating on politics and the meaning of it all, my wife doesn’t share a love of the sport. Folks such as we Ricochetoise sometimes can’t see the forest for the trees, embedded in minutia as we can get. It helps for me to have a real life soccer mom right in the household to get some good old fashioned “regular folk” insight now and again.
This past Sunday I was watching the political talk shows while my wife was reading a magazine. A picture of Paul Ryan came on screen and with exuberance I pointed and said, “There’s Paul Ryan! He needs to be President.”
My wife looked at the TV screen and responded, “No, he doesn’t look like a President.” She looked back at her magazine, having destroyed Ryan’s brilliant career in public service with the indifference of a queen ordering the decapitation of lowly peon. Voting really is power, isn’t it?
Her words bothered me all day whenever I saw Ryan on television. I’m not sure why. Perhaps it’s the same feeling you get the first time being pulled over by a policeman who is younger than you. Paul Ryan would be the first President younger than me. That quite naturally makes me contemplate my eventual death. Not a good association.
On the surface, my wife’s judgment of the surface of Ryan appears frivolous, but it isn’t. Many have held that the TV screen sunk Nixon versus Kennedy.
And who will deny the damage done by this visual?
So tell me – Does Paul Ryan look like a President? Will it matter?
- Comment (57)
- · Quote
- · UnfollowFollow (3)
Comments :
Jun '10
Re: Does This Man “Look” Like A President To You?
For some jobs, it is possible to look too young. Ryan has the curse of good genes. He should try a full beard. Might help.
May '10
Re: Does This Man “Look” Like A President To You?
Fwiw, my wife loves the guy -- finds him to be smart, mature, reassuring, with those blue eyes that scream trust.
Somebody described him as having the feel of a young, hyper-competent doctor with a most reassuring bedside manner. Sounds about right -- and just the type of guy we need to deliver the diagnosis to an apprehensive, spooked country.
Sep '10
Re: Does This Man “Look” Like A President To You?
Yeah, it's just the youth that would make me think that. I think his demeanor would o a lot to overcome that. Campaigns aren't all still pictures. I also really, really hope that folks will pay attention for once.
May '10
Re: Does This Man “Look” Like A President To You?
Tony, Her premise is frivolous, the problem is that too large a segment of voters use similarly frivolous criteria to make decisions in the voting booth. I agree that Ryan doesn't "look Presidential"...his ears and 'Adams apple' are too big...for a movie star! I would prefer that voters ignore how a candidate looks and concentrate on the strength of his/her positions but that is not the way our society operates. That being said, such problems make a candidacy more difficult but are rarely fatal, he could still win given enough hard work by supporters. My opinion is, however, Ryan is needed more as Chairman of the Budget Committee. IF we elect a President that will work to implement the Ryan Plan (or something very similar) and enough truly conservative Senators to get it thorugh Congress, we can turn our situation around. If not, we'll continue to dig the hole deeper and no President has the power to change that without the support of Congress.
Apr '11
Re: Does This Man “Look” Like A President To You?
His first year in office should age him just fine.
Re: Does This Man “Look” Like A President To You?
Yes - have you seen Obama's hair lately? So gray!
May '10
Re: Does This Man “Look” Like A President To You?
It was comments like that that prevented women's suffrage until 1920 and made many regret it since.
Jun '10
Re: Does This Man “Look” Like A President To You?
Tommy De Seno
Yes - have you seen Obama's hair lately? So gray! · Aug 17 at 6:54am
Yup, those medium-length putts can be very stressful.
Aug '11
Re: Does This Man “Look” Like A President To You?
Every one of those gray hairs was earned, Tommy! Do you know how difficult the back 9 are?
(EDIT: D'oh! Beaten to the punch by etoiledunord!)
Edited on Aug 17, 2011 at 7:00amJan '11
Re: Does This Man “Look” Like A President To You?
Tommy, we're talking about the woman who found you attractive. This is an opinion we should use to gauge the looks of others?!
I kid! I kid!
Dec '10
Re: Does This Man “Look” Like A President To You?
Tommy De Seno
Yes - have you seen Obama's hair lately? So gray! · Aug 17 at 6:54am
At least until he colors it again.
And I think Mr. Ryan would look just fine behind that podium. Just fine. I will say, however, that it's a good thing his first name isn't Jack. That would be a little weird, and then he'd have to look like Harrison Ford.
Edited on Aug 17, 2011 at 7:04amJul '10
Re: Does This Man “Look” Like A President To You?
Do we not have a sitting president with ears that stick out a bit? It's what goes on between those ears that matters to me.
Re: Does This Man “Look” Like A President To You?
BThompson: Tommy, we're talking about the woman who found you attractive. This is an opinion we should use to gauge the looks of others?!
I kid! I kid! · Aug 17 at 7:02am
You're point is well taken Sir!
I don't know that she was talking about attractiveness with Ryan as opposed to Presidential appearence, which need not be the same.
Of couse I never know what she is talking about.
/Rim shot
Edited on Aug 17, 2011 at 7:10amApr '11
Re: Does This Man “Look” Like A President To You?
Tommy, He is calm, articulate and fearless having stood toe to toe with the president already without flinching. I don't need a "fighter" a "swaggerer" or a "mannequin" I want someone who will lead, not lecture, who is confident, not condescending. With all due respect to your wife I want someone who "looks" like I would happy to see them stepping in the cockpit of my airplane before taking off, speaking to me reassuredly before performing serious surgery on my child and telling me plainly how I could invest my nest egg upon retirement.
He "looks" exactly like all of that to me!
Jun '10
Re: Does This Man “Look” Like A President To You?
I trust that she will read up on the issues before casting her vote? And as a former soccer mom, let me defend the group. Not all of us make decisions on frivolous points. It bugs me that voters like that cancel out the votes of those who pay attention.....but it has always been so.
Anyway, I'll throw out the opinion of a middle-aged woman (52) who believes that most politicians are pretty ugly. (Politics is Hollywood for ugly people, right?) There are more Henry Waxman/Barney Frank levels of attractiveness among pols than Ronald Reagan/Sarah Palin levels. Ryan is a bit above average. Exaggerated features (nose, ears,adam's apple) are offset by amazing blue eyes and great hair. He has an easy smile and is tall and fit. Perfectly presidential. I've already had to square away being older than the president with Obama's election, so his youth doesn't bother me at all.
Jun '10
Re: Does This Man “Look” Like A President To You?
Stephen S.: Tommy, He is calm, articulate and fearless having stood toe to toe with the president already without flinching. I don't need a "fighter" a "swaggerer" or a "mannequin" I want someone who will lead, not lecture, who is confident, not condescending. With all due respect to your wife I want someone who "looks" like I would happy to see them stepping in the cockpit of my airplane before taking off, speaking to me reassuredly before performing serious surgery on my child and telling me plainly how I could invest my nest egg upon retirement.
He "looks" exactly like all of that to me! · Aug 17 at 7:25am
Yes, yes, yes to everything you said.
Re: Does This Man “Look” Like A President To You?
Without winning, either. He voted to raise the debt ceiling. Hardly his position when the debate started.
Re: Does This Man “Look” Like A President To You?
If Ryan enters the race, the cartoonists will have a field day. In motion, to be sure, he looks better than he looks in stills. But I doubt that it will much matter. He is attractive when he speaks, and he does have a soothing manner. No small thing if what one is proposing is radical.
It is interesting just how good looking the Republican candidates are. Romney is as handsome as can be. So is Perry. And Bachmann takes one's breath away (as does Palin, for that matter).
In this department, the Democrats do not do as well. I will name no names.
Re: Does This Man “Look” Like A President To You?
StickerShock: I trust that she will read up on the issues before casting her vote? And as a former soccer mom, let me defend the group. Not all of us make decisions on frivolous points. It bugs me that voters like that cancel out the votes of those who pay attention.....but it has always been so.
Anyway, I'll throw out the opinion of a middle-aged woman (52) who believes that most politicians are pretty ugly. (Politics is Hollywood for ugly people, right?) There are more Henry Waxman/Barney Frank levels of attractiveness among pols than Ronald Reagan/Sarah Palin levels. Ryan is a bit above average. Exaggerated features (nose, ears,adam's apple) are offset by amazing blue eyes and great hair. He has an easy smile and is tall and fit. Perfectly presidential. I've already had to square away being older than the president with Obama's election, so his youth doesn't bother me at all.
Ryanites are sounding like Ron Paulites. Not tagging this as primo important. Have some fun.
Attractiveness was not the issue for Nixon or Dukakis. It was looking "Presidential." That issue was out and about for Ross Perot too.
Re: Does This Man “Look” Like A President To You?
Paul A. Rahe: If Ryan enters the race, the cartoonists will have a field day. In motion, to be sure, he looks better than he looks in stills. But I doubt that it will much matter. He is attractive when he speaks, and he does have a soothing manner. No small thing if what one is proposing is radical.
It is interesting just how good looking the Republican candidates are. Romney is as handsome as can be. So is Perry. And Bachmann takes one's breath away (as does Palin, for that matter).
In this department, the Democrats do not do as well. I will name no names. · Aug 17 at 7:38am
Yes - didn't Bill Clinton call Perry "a handsome rascal" this weekend?