參考資料 :美國選民抉擇的準則

There are a few areas on which to judge a presidential candidate in descending order of importance:

  1. decision-making process (judgment, managerial skill)
  2. character and life experiences (integrity)
  3. ability to communicate (to command the media)
  4. mental abilities (breakdown threshold)
  5. policy proposals (the beef)
  1. Judgment is by the far the most important quality a president must possess. It is the only quality that the brilliant and able men around George Washington acknowledged that he possessed more of, and with only this quality in surplus, they all looked to him and acknowledged him as their superior.
     
  2. A person’s character and life experiences are also relevant to understanding a president’s decision-making process, and also to see how they will withstand the pressures of the presidency and most importantly if they will be able to withstand the temptations of power to punish and demonize, to enrich themselves, to hoard. The president must be able to understand the limits of power, as well as the power of America; and at the same time, to see the tremendous influence that America can and does have.
     
  3. A person’s ability to communicate is essential as the most significant power of the president is to command the media and communicate message–it is this access to the media that gives the president the most significant advantage in dealing with Congress and international affairs. Everyone wants to know what the president has to say.
     
  4. A person’s mental ability needs to meet a certain threshold; more is obviously better, but not at the expense of the above. Intelligence can as easily lead a person astray as to the right decisions. It was often said that FDR has a second class intellect and a first class temperament. Thomas Jefferson, one of the most brilliant presidents, was also one of the least successful.
     
  5. And policy proposals. Only the broad categories seem to matter much–for the specifics change over time and with the circumstances. Better to have a good person as president than one who you agree with on policy matters.