What are the most important credentials for a presidential candidate?

[TB]

...

[Jake]

Male genitalia

[Beet]

White Anglo-Saxon Protestant

[dazzleman]

Very enlightened comments so far...

Maybe accurate, but who knows?

I'd say leadership ability, optimism, and the ability to explain complicated problems in an easily understandable way.

[SMOT]

Leadership, knowing what you are talking about, and being liked by people and the media.

[nini2287]

Having a simple last name.

[Cowboy]

Cynics, aint you all?

[minionofmidas]

35 years of age, being a native born American.

[No more McShame]

35 years of age, being a native born American.

Intolerant religious prude

[minionofmidas]

35 years of age, being a native born American.

Intolerant religious prude

Ah yes, another credential he needs.

[Lincoln Republican]

Raving, looney, leftist, pro abortion, pro gay marriage wingnut.

Oh, I'm sorry, I meant to say

Raving, looney, right wing, anti abortion, anti gay marriage wingnut.

Actually, I meant to say

Executive and legislative ability and experience, a concensus builder, the ability to make tough decisions in a crisis, the ability to make tough decisions in more normal times, honesty, integrity, high moral standards, the ability to recognize and choose the best people for the administration, for the courts, for the government, and officials who will put the good of the nation first and foremost, someone who will truly uphold the constitution and the rule of law, the ability to communicate effectively at home and abroad, the ability to bring government officials, legislators, state leaders, local leaders, and Americans from all walks of life, together to work for the common good, someone who will not spend more than what is earned, the ability to unite and heal a divided nation, the ability to work well with foreign leaders and nations  to bring peace to a divided world, someone who will tell the truth, even if it's not always what people want to hear or believe, someone with respect for all mankind, regardless of race, color, or creed.   

[muon2]

Raving, looney, leftist, pro abortion, pro gay marriage wingnut.

Oh, I'm sorry, I meant to say

Raving, looney, right wing, anti abortion, anti gay marriage wingnut.

Actually, I meant to say

Executive and legislative ability and experience, a concensus builder, the ability to make tough decisions in a crisis, the ability to make tough decisions in more normal times, honesty, integrity, high moral standards, the ability to recognize and choose the best people for the administration, for the courts, for the government, and officials who will put the good of the nation first and foremost, someone who will truly uphold the constitution and the rule of law, the ability to communicate effectively at home and abroad, the ability to bring government officials, legislators, state leaders, local leaders, and Americans from all walks of life, together to work for the common good, someone who will not spend more than what is earned, the ability to unite and heal a divided nation, the ability to work well with foreign leaders and nations  to bring peace to a divided world, someone who will tell the truth, even if it's not always what people want to hear or believe, someone with respect for all mankind, regardless of race, color, or creed.   

That's fabulous, and well said. Realistically, nobody will be a perfect match. Now, who come closest to those ideals?

[J. J.]

Raving, looney, leftist, pro abortion, pro gay marriage wingnut.

Oh, I'm sorry, I meant to say

Raving, looney, right wing, anti abortion, anti gay marriage wingnut.

Actually, I meant to say

Executive and legislative ability and experience, a concensus builder, the ability to make tough decisions in a crisis, the ability to make tough decisions in more normal times, honesty, integrity, high moral standards, the ability to recognize and choose the best people for the administration, for the courts, for the government, and officials who will put the good of the nation first and foremost, someone who will truly uphold the constitution and the rule of law, the ability to communicate effectively at home and abroad, the ability to bring government officials, legislators, state leaders, local leaders, and Americans from all walks of life, together to work for the common good, someone who will not spend more than what is earned, the ability to unite and heal a divided nation, the ability to work well with foreign leaders and nations  to bring peace to a divided world, someone who will tell the truth, even if it's not always what people want to hear or believe, someone with respect for all mankind, regardless of race, color, or creed.   

I hate to say this, but I want a president who is capable of running the country.  I truly believe that an evil president is better than inept one.

[Lincoln Republican]

Raving, looney, leftist, pro abortion, pro gay marriage wingnut.

Oh, I'm sorry, I meant to say

Raving, looney, right wing, anti abortion, anti gay marriage wingnut.

Actually, I meant to say

Executive and legislative ability and experience, a concensus builder, the ability to make tough decisions in a crisis, the ability to make tough decisions in more normal times, honesty, integrity, high moral standards, the ability to recognize and choose the best people for the administration, for the courts, for the government, and officials who will put the good of the nation first and foremost, someone who will truly uphold the constitution and the rule of law, the ability to communicate effectively at home and abroad, the ability to bring government officials, legislators, state leaders, local leaders, and Americans from all walks of life, together to work for the common good, someone who will not spend more than what is earned, the ability to unite and heal a divided nation, the ability to work well with foreign leaders and nations  to bring peace to a divided world, someone who will tell the truth, even if it's not always what people want to hear or believe, someone with respect for all mankind, regardless of race, color, or creed.   

That's fabulous, and well said. Realistically, nobody will be a perfect match. Now, who come closest to those ideals?

In my own humble opinion, I belive Mitt Romney comes closest to these ideals.  Not perfect, nobody is, but Romney embodies many of these qualities.

[Lincoln Republican]

Raving, looney, leftist, pro abortion, pro gay marriage wingnut.

Oh, I'm sorry, I meant to say

Raving, looney, right wing, anti abortion, anti gay marriage wingnut.

Actually, I meant to say

Executive and legislative ability and experience, a concensus builder, the ability to make tough decisions in a crisis, the ability to make tough decisions in more normal times, honesty, integrity, high moral standards, the ability to recognize and choose the best people for the administration, for the courts, for the government, and officials who will put the good of the nation first and foremost, someone who will truly uphold the constitution and the rule of law, the ability to communicate effectively at home and abroad, the ability to bring government officials, legislators, state leaders, local leaders, and Americans from all walks of life, together to work for the common good, someone who will not spend more than what is earned, the ability to unite and heal a divided nation, the ability to work well with foreign leaders and nations  to bring peace to a divided world, someone who will tell the truth, even if it's not always what people want to hear or believe, someone with respect for all mankind, regardless of race, color, or creed.   

I hate to say this, but I want a president who is capable of running the country.  I truly believe that an evil president is better than inept one.

Any President who has the above qualities would be "capable of running the country", believe me.  This President would certainly not be "evil", and this President would be anything but "inept". 

Now, where do we find such a President?  That is the question.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

I hate to say this, but I want a president who is capable of running the country.  I truly believe that an evil president is better than inept one.

So you'd vote Stalin over Carter? Not that Carter was inept, but people seem to think he was.

[J. J.]

I hate to say this, but I want a president who is capable of running the country.  I truly believe that an evil president is better than inept one.

So you'd vote Stalin over Carter? Not that Carter was inept, but people seem to think he was.

Statin was inept, remember the purges?

[MaC]

what America thinks:prior political expirience
what I think:no prior political expirience

[Max Power]

Not being the unpopular incumbent or a member of his/her party.

[skybridge]

Raving, looney, leftist, pro abortion, pro gay marriage wingnut.

Oh, I'm sorry, I meant to say

Raving, looney, right wing, anti abortion, anti gay marriage wingnut.

Actually, I meant to say

Executive and legislative ability and experience, a concensus builder, the ability to make tough decisions in a crisis, the ability to make tough decisions in more normal times, honesty, integrity, high moral standards, the ability to recognize and choose the best people for the administration, for the courts, for the government, and officials who will put the good of the nation first and foremost, someone who will truly uphold the constitution and the rule of law, the ability to communicate effectively at home and abroad, the ability to bring government officials, legislators, state leaders, local leaders, and Americans from all walks of life, together to work for the common good, someone who will not spend more than what is earned, the ability to unite and heal a divided nation, the ability to work well with foreign leaders and nations  to bring peace to a divided world, someone who will tell the truth, even if it's not always what people want to hear or believe, someone with respect for all mankind, regardless of race, color, or creed.   

I hate to say this, but I want a president who is capable of running the country.  I truly believe that an evil president is better than inept one.

I actually agree. I try to give credit for being effective when rating presidents.