You know I thought the same thing watching the RP highlights from the debate the other day. He really looked like he was swimming in that suit. It doesn't help matters that he tends to hunch and lean his head forward when he's talking.
Like it or not, appearances matter, and RP just doesn't come across as all that 'presidential,' frankly. He's a smallish man with a high voice that sometimes stumbles over his words and loses his audience talking about concepts most don't have a good grasp of. It doesn't help that his positions are pretty controversial and outside the mainstream, both in terms of policy and economic theory. He's hardly what one would expect from the leader of the most powerful country in the world (for the time being...).
I actually think charisma is a fairly important quality in a leader, whether it's a CEO or the President of the USA. He is the chief representative of the country, after all - its most important spokesperson and advocate. It's important that person commands respect and projects the qualities we value. I understand Ron Paul, and many of his supporters, would prefer a far more limited, administrative-type role for the office of President, but it should be obvious that's not going to happen anytime soon. The great majority of people see the president as a leader - a proxy for their values and a representation of the image they want to project to the rest of the world. Some want a strong, stern figure, some prefer a more compassionate, communicative character. Few, if any, desire a frail, meek or unstable appearance. Sorry to say, but RP comes across that way to many.
Like it or not, appearances matter, and RP just doesn't come across as all that 'presidential,' frankly. He's a smallish man with a high voice that sometimes stumbles over his words and loses his audience talking about concepts most don't have a good grasp of. It doesn't help that his positions are pretty controversial and outside the mainstream, both in terms of policy and economic theory. He's hardly what one would expect from the leader of the most powerful country in the world (for the time being...).
I actually think charisma is a fairly important quality in a leader, whether it's a CEO or the President of the USA. He is the chief representative of the country, after all - its most important spokesperson and advocate. It's important that person commands respect and projects the qualities we value. I understand Ron Paul, and many of his supporters, would prefer a far more limited, administrative-type role for the office of President, but it should be obvious that's not going to happen anytime soon. The great majority of people see the president as a leader - a proxy for their values and a representation of the image they want to project to the rest of the world. Some want a strong, stern figure, some prefer a more compassionate, communicative character. Few, if any, desire a frail, meek or unstable appearance. Sorry to say, but RP comes across that way to many.
