Question

[Orrex]

Why is it appropriate for a sitting President to campaign on behalf of a Legislator, when that Legislator might conceivably be required later to serve as part of in independent and equal branch of government, checking the power of the Executive branch?

It seems to me a direct conflict of interest, much like a CEO selecting the boardmembers who will later decide his salary and bonus. Bush, with his flaccid and rubber-stamping GOP Congress is the worst offender, but my misgivings apply equally to a sitting Democratic President.

Even if it's not against the letter of the Constitution, it certainly seems to be somewhat contrary to its spirit.

[baldguy]

1. Where have you been the last 20 or so years?

CEOs pack their boards w/ friends and/or allies all the time. It's part of the corrupt corporate culture that's taken over America.

[Orrex]

3. Well, yeah. That was kind of my point

I mean, I didn't say "the immaculately non-corrupt world of CEO finance should be the model for Presidential behavior re: campaigning," now did I? :evilgrin:

It shouldn't be permitted in the business world IMO, and it certainly shouldn't be allowed in the Oval Office.

[coco77]

2. I have a question...

why does bush roll up his sleeves when he goes out to campaign as though he is doing some HARD WORK...

[Orrex]

4. A fine question!

I found this in an old trade publication about animal-actors in vintage Hollywood films:

…even when the animals can be coaxed to perform before the camera, certain behaviors still leave them visibly frustrated and uncomfortable. Even Herman, the famed chimp who starred in such classics as The Monkey-Sitter and The Banana Thief often interrupted filming by tearing off his human-styled clothes. The constraints of fabric on his outsized simian limbs was too much for poor Herman, it seems. Even in his later years…

exerpted from Actors and Animals, in Modern Film and Screen

See? Our esteemed President is compromising between his simian urge to rip off his clothes and the human requirement that he wear them. For that matter, the act of keeping his sleeves on probably is hard work for him.