I have been DVR'ing and skimming the Celebrity Apprentice, and I continue to be boggled by the fact that Rob Blagojevich is on there.

However, last week's episode really struck me at how amazingly stupid he is, and I susepct - most politicians. He was given a task of typing up a list of cyber crimes described on Life Lock's site. I was amazed to see the following:

1. He did not know how to turn on a computer
2. He did not know how to surf the web
3. He did not know how to type

This isn't George H.W. Bush. This isn't Sean Connery. This guy is 54... how can he not know how to use a computer?

At first I'm mad, then I'm somewhat hopeless. I wonder how many politicians are out there who lack basic survival skills. He basically got into office by marrying a woman with an influential father.

I'm not sure this rant has a point except I wonder if there is any way to remedy our situation. Part of the problem of government is that in order to get into politics, you pretty much have to fit 1 of these 4:

1. You lack any real skills, so you can't make a decent living anywhere else
2. You are born into money
3. You marry into money
4. You manage to get so wealthy, you don't have anything better to do

I might not mind #4 ruling me... but the other 3 cause me fear.

Wait till you see the current episode. Suffice to say Rod is team leader, and hijinks ensue. It's almost painful to watch.

Yes, most politicians do not know how to use a computer. And yes this includes the ones to try to set national information security policy.

The question that pops into mind is: Did Kennedy know anything about how to launch a manned spacecraft? Did Eisenhower know anything about highway construction? Did Roosevelt understand the full dynamics of war upon entering WW2? In my mind the goal for a good politician is leadership, getting the ball moving, and organizing/managing people.

Might it suggest they're out of touch with people? Yea, probably, but I suppose I'm unconvinced that that's necessary for them to do their job effectively. Most experiences can be conveyed effectively to intelligent people.

In some ways it might be better if they knew basic "skills" like this, but I'm much more concerned with whether their underlings and those who work behind the scenes know what's going on. They're the ones who, IMO, are probably more responsible for what Sarissa is talking about with national information security policy than the front-man politican who crosses a T or dots an I in the actual bill.

I suspect that this kind of thing is true for both good and bad politicians. It's not something that is(or, at least historically, has been) part of their playing field nor required for them to get what they do done.

Disturbing, but not alarming.

This is madness! What grown man doesn't know how to surf the web ...for porn.

I think the biggest problem with him not knowing how to use a computer or send a text message is that he is (or was) in a profession that is based around information and communication, and he is incapable of using the most powerful information tools available.

How many intern and mistress scandels could have been avoided if more politicians simply learned how to surf for porn? Maybe the Vatican is starting up a computer training course on internet browsing as we speak.

politicans

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Unfortunately they are equally inept. They do know how to use computers, but they know almost nothing about security. It's sub-contracted to a policy contractor, which is just about worthless. Thank the flying spaghetti monster that government entities operate under different and more effective rules.

Politicians wrote my spell check.

First, you're making the assumption I think these were great leaders. Kennedy got power because of his father. Giving good speeches does not equal a great leader.

And no, you do not need to know how to fire a gun to lead people who fire guns. However, there are basic skills you should have, such as unfolding a map.

The ultimate point is that you need basic leadership skills and I am convinced the vast majority have none due to the 4 constraints I outlined. Think about how few politicians we have who are truly "self-made".

Rod was on the Today show this morning, and I got to shake his hand. I felt dirty.

Got to? Had to?

Should've stink palmed him.

hahaha!

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It was interesting to watch him. He really is a politician... his ability to appear at ease and schmooze the crowd that was there was impressive.

How many times has this been proven correct.

/em glances at Obama...

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Another great avenue into the political arena is the legal industry. And trust me - as a whole lawyers have no fucking clue how to operate computers. I won't complain though as that leads to them paying me a lot of money.

I don't know, Khan. HOW many? Give us some more examples!

I would disagree. Giving good speeches is one of the most important jobs of the president and is often under rated. When the shit hits the fan you need someone who can rally the troops and inspire confidence.

Giving speeches is fine, but at the end of the day there needs to be some functional intelligence. If someone doesn't know how to turn on a computer, I'm sorry - there is just no way they can be a valuable member of society. That doesn't mean they can't be "successful". George W. Bush was successful.

Obama's doing a good job, AND he gives good speeches.

I didn't imply that it was the only qualification, merely that the ability to give a good speech is an important quality of being the president. There is a very long list of important skills I expect our country's leader to posess, none of which are mutually exclusive of each other.

I didn't imply that you did imply it was the only qualification. You did state it was one of the most important jobs, which I couldn't disagree with more.

Where would you the importance of public speaking as a skill for the president then? Low, middle, high or not important at all? Before I make the case for it being high importance I want to know how much we disagree on it.

Medium-low.

Bush was an awful president, not because he was a clown on the podium, but because of his policies. Eloquence simply allows good speakers to sell bad ideas.

You can argue it that it allows them to unify the nation, to which I say "meh". JFK was mostly a terrible president. Bay of Pigs, Vietnam, sex scandals, etc. He was young, good looking, talked well, and was fotunate enough to be assassinated, which makes people act like he is George Washington Part 2.

Wait wait wait. Are we saying GW was a good speaker? He was absolutely awful. Every time he spoke babies brain cells died in utero.

I don't know how you interpreted that, intin -- orme pretty much said that gwb was a clown.

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Yeah now that I read it again I don't either. I was reading it while riding on a shaky train though. I must have gotten scrambled.