Given some of the talk on the politics side recently about Presidents, their political philosophies, and what kind of people they are, I was just thinking about which of them I could sit down and have a beer with. This is kind of my litmus test on people in general -- could I sit down with them and have a pleasant discussion, or just shoot the breeze, even if we disagree about certain things in life. This is my list of recent living Presidents, in order:
1) Bush Jr.
Agreement / disagreement in political ideologies - 60% -40% (agreement was a bit higher in his first term). W just seems like a guy you could have a pleasant conversation with about a wide range of "guy stuff". Anything from aviation to fishing lures. Conversation would not have a lot of dead air, because there's a wide range of things I think I could talk with the guy about, in a "shoot the breeze" kind of way. Setting could be anything from a wine bar to a honky tonk, though there's a bar here in town called Harry's (modeled after the bar in France Hemingway often visited) where they serve a strong pour of whiskey, followed by a steak dinner, followed by more whiskey, which would seem the apropos locale.
2) Clinton.
Agreement / disagreement in political ideologies - 20% -80%. As much as I disagree with him politically, I think he would actually be fun to hang with in a bar. I don't think I would do well one on one. I envision a group of rowdy guys out on the town, and Clinton is the one keeping the jokes going, inviting the women over to talk to us, and keeping the waitress busy bringing us more rounds. Best setting would probably be a rowdy sports bar or one of the local clubs with loud music that draws all the university girls.
3) Bush Sr.
Agreement / disagreement in political ideologies - 50% -50%. Somehow I think the conversation would be more serious, not a lot of joking. Possibly military history, maybe a bit of hunting and fishing, current events. I somehow picture the ideal locale to be a higher end hunting or fishing lodge somewhere.
4) Obama.
Agreement / disagreement in political ideologies - 10% -90%. I suppose if I was having a drink at a bar and Obama came in and sat on the next barstool over and started a conversation, I would politely make small talk. I would expect there would be a lot of long pauses. He probably doesn't know the difference between a pistol and a revolver, and I don't even know what arugula is, let alone how to prepare it.
5) Carter.
Agreement / disagreement in political ideologies - 1% -99%. I was a kid in school when Carter was President, but he's still around and shooting his mouth off, so he's included. If Carter came in and sat on the next barstool over, I would pick up my drink and move. I would have to fight back the urge to make a derogatory and impolite remark as I walked away.
