Perhaps it should be said that a “debate“ has virtually nothing to do with running a $30 trillion company called the United States. Winning an argument with a politician, word-smithing and practiced one-liners, or attempting to make someone look silly on a stage, bears no resemblance to being capable of solving actual economic problems, or protecting national security and borders in the real world.
I personally don’t care who supposedly won or lost some political debate, but I do know that choreography and method acting is not anything like governance or leadership.
Just sayin’.
1. Cicero (106-43 BC) – A brilliant orator and skilled debater in the Roman Republic, Cicero’s political career was marked by his inability to effectively navigate the shifting alliances of Roman politics, leading to his downfall.
2. Charles James Fox (1749-1806) – A prominent British politician known for his eloquence in Parliament, Fox was often criticized for his lack of discipline and effectiveness in government, with many of his policies being either ineffective or never implemented.
3. John Randolph of Roanoke (1773-1833) – A skilled American orator and debater, Randolph was known for his sharp wit but also for his erratic behavior and inability to work effectively within government, often alienating his allies and accomplishing little.
4. William Jennings Bryan (1860-1925) – A gifted speaker and three-time U.S. presidential candidate, Bryan was known more for his eloquence than his political acumen, struggling with key decisions like his opposition to modern science during the Scopes Trial.
5. Georges Clemenceau (1841-1929) – Known as the “Tiger” for his forceful rhetoric, Clemenceau was a key figure in French politics but often struggled with long-term governance, and his actions during the Treaty of Versailles contributed to future conflicts.
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Michael H Peters
Whatever would the world be without teleprompters! That magic piece of glass has changed the grasp for power everywhere. Speech writers for politicians are worth their weight in inflationary-priced gold! The best of the best can make $100,000 per project, or over $300,000 a year. But oh boy they are worth it — when they can capture an audience with emotion on a Teleprompter, even if nothing could’ve been said ad lib in a meaningful way.
“Great speech!” What in the world does that even mean — since they didn’t write it themselves, the phrases were manufactured for pay and poll-tested, and keeping a promise is never enforced? Do we all “really” believe Hollywood actors reading someone else’s lines energetically makes Dustin Hoffman for-real into Mr. Magorium, or Jack Nicholson for-real into Batman’s Joker? Reading lines is only just that.
What if everyone had to write their own speeches, from the heart — and got a lien on their house or bank account wiped out if they intentionally misrepresented someone or something, or their actual platform. What if there were real-world consequences for deceit or manipulation? Hmmmmm. Fascinating proposition.
“Effective leadership is not about making speeches or being liked; leadership is defined by results not attributes.”
-Peter Drucker
Mark Penn, Democrat Pollster and Advisor: “When the refs aren’t fair, the game doesn’t count.”
