What the hell does "looks presidential " mean ?

[blues90]

I find this the most american idol , american stupid comment ever spewed out.

I don't see any past presidents who looked alike other than Bush sr and W . So what it this new illusion really mean.

Does this sort of thing only bother me?

I suppose one has to think stupid and rule out say Kucinich because he did not fit the looks presidential profile by todays dumbed down american fuck head idol, air pocket between the ears mentality.

I guess this should then be applied to everyone , to be a teacher you must look teacher , a plumber look sewer stained , a carpenter with swollem thumbs. The list is endless and really insane.

Looks presidential , my ass. Who comes up with this shit?

[notalemming]

1. It means a little bit more than simple physical appearance.

To me, anyway.

[rzemanfl]

2. It means "doesn't looking like an angry, blinking, smirking old

jerk."

[rzemanfl]

16. Don't you just hate it when you make a stupid mistake and

don't see it until after the editing period is over?

[dkofos]

3. Obama's got the look.

[AirmensMom]

4. I take it to mean

presenting yourself with dignity. Not making rude noises and faces, saying stupid things, etc. Poise, intelligence, grace ... along those lines.

Bush and McCain are perfect examples of people NOT looking presidential.

[yella_dawg]

5. Not like Bush.

[LWolf]

6. Looks like an actor who can help the ratings. nt

[Caliman73]

7. I agree that it is simplistic

but it implies certain qualities that a person possesses including an even temper, some sense of intellect and ability to formulate and communicate your ideas effectively. I would also say that "looking presidential" implies an understanding of our history and place in the world with a balance of advocacy for our interests and our interaction as part of the global community. I believe that many of the people we historically consider "good presidents" had some of these qualities which were condensed and packaged into the term "look presidential" for the less intellectually curious of our citizenry.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

8. It's a matter of comparison

Look at how Obama handles himself. Look at McCain.

Look at George W. Bush.

One of them looks presidential, bespeaking the dignity and stature and gravitas of the office.

I bet you know which one it is.

[blues90]

9. I honestly don't recall this term ever used until 2004 n/t

[Tangerine LaBamba]

17. Oh, it has, it's always been a part of the parlance

You just didn't notice it, or else you've forgotten, but, yeah, it's common usage.

[Taverner]

10. Looks Presidential=Acts Presidential

See Obama. Looks and acts presidential. Cool under pressure. If you were his aide and told him "The Pentagon is being bombed right now" he wouldn't sit for seven minutes. He wouldn't panic. He would make a rational first decision, and then follow it with a rational second decision.

[Lex]

11. Poised, calm, cool and collected.

[blues90]

12. I think a better term would be has presidential qualities

That defines it as far as balanced but to say "looks" is ignorant and simplistic where it could mean anything. It depends.

[Lex]

13. it's just a short-hand way of saying "has the qualities of"

nt

[McCamy Taylor]

14. It means like a doctor. Always has an answer. Just naturally takes charge in a crisis.

W. has never looked presidential. Clinton always looked presidential. Reagan could fake it because he was an actor. Howard Dean would have been a natural if he had won the nomination.

[KamaAina]

15. A five-dollar phrase meaning "white"

:sarcasm:

[stray cat]

18. Someone who instills convidence and appears sane, reasonable and competent