Once upon a time I scoffed at the idea that Trump could become president. Now it seems, Kanye West is putting himself forward. What do you think of celebrity presidents? Does he have any real chance? Will he split the votes of Democrats? Or republicans? (I'm suddenly glad of the preferential voting system in my own country).
fame is a good way to gather a following, a following translates in to votes.
Boris Johnson would never have become Prime Minister if he had not become a TV personality first on shows like Have I got News for You, Who do you think you are and others going back to 1998
It is a frightening reality of the "cult of celebrity" age we live in.
Back when Ronald Reagan was running for President, I just happened to be watching the Today Show. They were interviewing Charleton Heston, and asked him what he thought about a professional actor running for office. "Why not?' he said. "Politicians are the best actors I know!".
I just made this comment elsewhere, but it bears repeating. He is an admitted unmedicated person with bipolar disorder, likely in a manic episode. His family and friends are extremely worried for him.
And unless I'm mistaken, he has missed the deadline to officially run. So, relax. At best, he's a write-in vote. At worst, a vary unfortunate distraction.
Doesn't it make you wish there was a test for becoming President (or any government position for that matter)? A mental health test. And not one administered by a crooked quack who hands out drugs and made up health statements contrasting demonstrable lies like they were candy?
The only problem is one party would never agree to this because way too many sociopaths and psychopaths would be found ineligible to run. Not that they have an exclusive on those but it does rather for their mold.
@prometheus Well, no. That would be ableist. Having mental conditions don’t preclude having the skills to run a country.
I’m not saying that that someone with a mental condition couldn’t run for President and even do it well. I’m saying that his current bid for president isn’t necessarily something he planned, and he may not want to do it once the manic state ends..
Assuming that " virtually nobody else agrees with someone that doesn't agree with me" is a bit myopic, don't you think?
Just what we need, another unqualified cartoon character. On the upside, he would split the right wing vote although I sincerely doubt he has his shit together enough to get himself onto the ballot. Although quite frankly, anyone would be an improvement.
I thought Trump would get us killed in a war. Turns out he was able to pull it off domestically. He's gonna hate that orange jumpsuit.
For me, it is hard to imagine any Republicrats (not a typo) voting for him.