Tuesday, February 24, 2015
Jeb, the Introvert
Jeb Bush is a self-admitted introvert. He would rather read a book than go to a party. He (unlike his older brother) took only two and a half years to graduate from college. Although this introvertedness can demonstrate intelligence, it also demonstrates awkwardness: not a quality desired in a Presidential campaign. Jeb, currently the frontrunner of 2016 Republican Presidential candidates, must be careful to use this quality of his to his benefit and not detriment. If he did this successfully enough to become governor of Florida, there's a decent chance he could do the same and become President. (Be sure to notice the second page)
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Though I think it is important for politicians to have a connection with the people and with their constituents, Jeb Bush could still use his disposition to his advantage. Too many Republican politicians have little substance and simply play off the prejudices and ignorance of voters by appealing to their base and deeply-conservative beliefs through flashy showmanship and speeches, but if the article is correct, Jeb Bush would be the opposite of this. If Jeb Bush really only ran for governor of Florida because he had a vision of how he could change the state for the better, then he has the potential to be a promising presidential candidate. America needs a president who is not a career politician, and according to the article, that would be someone like Jeb Bush. Though I am not too familiar with Jeb Bush's policies, on the surface, he appears to be a sensible and genuine candidate.
ReplyDeleteI think being shy would only hinder Bush as a presidential candidate. As Bush stated, it is important to be able to make a social connection with voters in order to win an election. With his shy side, I don't know if that would be possible for him. Also, the aspect of speeches obviously isn't a strong suit for Bush based on his previous performances. Speeches are a major part of a presidency. Finally, social gatherings are a big part of being the president, you have to show up and impress. With Bush being so shy, I don't know if he would be able to efficiently accomplish these things. If he wants to be the president I think he needs to overcome this issue.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Haley. I think that because Bush is an introvert, it will hinder him as a presidential candidate. Being an introvert isn't necessarily a bad thing but I think that in this case, it will not help him. Bush has to be able to go to social gatherings and be able to connect with any one. He has to be able to put himself out there and connect with his potential voters. Because Bush is so shy, I don't think that he will be able to demonstrate that he is outgoing enough to win the voters over. If Bush wants to become president someday, I think that he would need to come out of his shell more to give the voters a better representation of himself.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I don't think being outgoing is the only characteristic needed by a president, it is, in my opinion, an important one. As president, he is a symbol for the entire country and he must be able to connect with not only his own people but also foreign heads of state and important government officials. This is necessary to accomplish his agenda and get other people on his side. It's also important for him to be able to sound genuine and relatable in order to gain respect from the American people.
ReplyDeleteI think that the role of president demands a lot of one person, however, being charismatic is not an essential one. In my opinion a good president should be able to communicate well with the public and on foreign policy. The methods to this can be different however and not every president communicates in the same way. I think that Jeb Bush has a chance at running but I don't think the deciding factor would be his outgoingness.
ReplyDeleteWhile having an outgoing personality can be an asset for a presidential candidate, it is not a make-or-break aspect of a campaign for executive office, as Jeb Bush has proven by winning two elections for governor of Florida. Also, Bush acknowledges his introversion, so he will clearly consider its political impact as he weighs his chances of winning the Republican primary and the eventual general election, and he will try to find ways to compensate. In fact, his quiet persona could help him in his campaign, as he would be able to portray himself as a modest Washington outsider who simply wants to focus on policy. The American public would likely gravitate toward this type of candidate after having eight years of the opposite in the White House. As long as Bush can prevent his potential awkwardness from affecting him in public addresses and speeches, as it did in the one specified by the article, he should not worry about it too much. More pressing concerns for his candidacy are his controversial positions on immigration and Common Core, which do not sit well with the Republican base.
ReplyDeleteI think the average American looks for a president they can "have a beer with," as the article says. A presidential candidate needs to maintain a consistently good public image. The media is constantly looking for a misstep; Howard Dean was ridiculed for yelling during a speech while running for president, which shows how important it is for the media and people to view candidates well. Jeb Bush will need to push himself into being charismatic and smooth every day of the campaign and, if he were to become president, every day after.
ReplyDeleteHonestly I'm so sick of the Bush family in the oval office. on another note, I think if Jeb Bush wants a shot at the presidency he's going to have to be more social and definitely more charismatic. The American people don't care if a President is smart but quiet, they want a charismatic all-American man that plays football with his son and washes cars for fun. We value social skills over intellect and Jeb Bush needs to be outgoing and charismatic for the American people to like him, even if it's fake.
ReplyDeleteI feel like people would be reluctant to elect an introverted president, as his quietness may be misinterpreted in many ways, such as indifference. Still, though Jeb Bush prefers not to socialize, he may still be able to take charge in a leadership position. I don't really care whether you can have a beer with the president, as long as he can effectively lead.
ReplyDeleteI do not believe that there is anything wrong with being an introvert. Those who have this quality are also very observant people, which is a good quality to have in a president. However, I do think it is an advantage to be an extrovert when someone holds a position that powerful. It allows ones to be more social and create stronger bonds. But, Jeb Bush says that he is getting over his shyness so that he may be considered a candidate.
ReplyDeleteI think being an introvert will make winning the election difficult for Jeb Bush. Although he seems genuine and to truly care about policy, it is important for him to be able to express those ideas well. On the other hand, he did win the elections for governor. I don't think being an introvert will make-or-break his campaign, I think social skills will definitely be something Jeb Bush would need to work on if he wants to win the election.
ReplyDeleteI don't think being introverted or extroverted should pose as a talking point for candidates. It's important to make a connection with voters but if the president who's going to be elected is truly fit for the job then their tendencies in social situations should not play a role.
ReplyDeleteThere is nothing wrong with being an introvert and I don't think that should be a deciding factor for people who vote. It shouldn't matter wether a president is an extrovert or introvert as long as he or she does their job. I do understand why this throws people off but I don't agree that it will make him a worse candidate.
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