Oprah for president?

[Tashyboy]

Just reading about how Oprah Winfrey made a powerful speech last night at the Golden Globe awards. It was suggested that she could run for president of the USA.
Now don't get me wrong I have had a skinful of career politicians in this country who have never done a days proper work and have no connection to the common man, even though they feel our pain. Now Oprah certainly has worked her way up. But to run for Presidancy. What political experience does she have. Would you trust her? Where is the happy medium? Now am sure if Trump can do it she could. Just could not imagine Jeremy Kyle running for it over here as a comparison. Has it got that bad in America that American politicians are being overlooked for celebs now.

 

[Beezerk]

My initial thoughts when I first saw the speech was, those gullible Americans will be all over that and she’ll be punted as a future president.
Media rules sadly.

 

[ManinBlack]

A quote from Back to the Future comes to mind. "Ronald Reagan is President, and who's Vice President, Jerry Lewis?"

 

[SocketRocket]

Self gratifying claptrap.

 

[Crazyface]

And that Natalie Portman announced “the all-male nominees” for best director. Seriously? Maybe, just maybe, it's because they were the best. Bluddy women! They want everything without even trying.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

I remember seeing the Running Man, classic Arnie, and it being described as a satire on how modern tv will develop and incorporate real life. I just enjoyed it as an Arnie film of the period to be honest, violent with some wisecracks. However, Trump as President, Oprah running against him, it is coming true. TV taking over real life.

How stupid are Americans? Neither have experience of running a town, a state or any other form of office. Yes, they have huge business interests but they are not running countries. They are tv personalities. Heaven help us if this trend crosses the Atlantic. Will Ant & Dec run as a dream ticket? Who gets to be PM though? Michael McIntyre anyone, seems a nice chap on the BBC. What a bunch of clowns.

 

[User62651]

To run for US President first thing you need is cash and oodles of it, in that respect most suitable candidates probably can't afford to get to the position of being able to run for Pres, leaves the super wealthy of which Oprah is one. Of celebrities she at least does come across as quite mature and sensible but unqualified, yes.

Clint Eastwood, Jesse Ventura and Arnie have all been state governers or city mayors so there is a small trend of celebs doing politics in US and it could be argued at least they've got political experience although Arnie wasn't born in US so is ineligible for Pres.
Opposite to here where failed politicians try and become celebs - see Ed Balls, Kez Dugdale, George Galloway, Nigel Farage, Anne Widdicombe, Lembit Opik, Michael Portillo etc etc.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Opposite to here where failed politicians try and become celebs - see Ed Balls, Kez Dugdale, George Galloway, Nigel Farage, Anne Widdicombe, Lembit Opik, Michael Portillo etc etc.

Safer for the rest of the world when it is that way round though.

You make a very good point about becoming President though. It really is a money game which is a very sad state of affairs.

 

[Bunkermagnet]

Can see Ivanka Trump up against Oprah in the final presidential They voted Donald in so why not?
The future prospects don’t look good.

 

[Don Barzini]

I thought the next US President was going to be Dwayne The Rock Johnson.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Why not, throw his name into the hat as well. Taylor Swift is popular, Beyonce is huge and has money. Bring on the Kardashians, they have a big following amongst idiots. It could be quite a race to the White House.

 

[Beezerk]

Jesse Ventura

What a guy, delivers some of the finest lines in films ever 😂

 

[drdel]

Cash/wealth is king in the US and its spreading (Russia, China, etc. etc. ). Merit, intelligence, capability or honour has little to do with it; being photogenic and confident with the 'gift of the gab' are modern societies' qualifications: replacing a need for education. Unfortunately its the opposite of what we need as we want the most gifted people in the areas that matter like medicine, industry etc.

Celebritisation is hitting pretty much every area. Their media savvy promotors realise that the greater the exposure / marketing budget the greater the fees.

So called 'stars' have the contacts within the media for marketing and funding that a politician would be hard pushed to replicate/develop.

When 'average' newsreader/presenter can command a million pound salary the 'media' becomes the only perceived game in town for money driven youngsters. The average company could not offer pay on these levels.

 

[MegaSteve]

From my experience, of working in the film 'industry', many in entertainment believe their 'world' is real and the rest of us live in a bubble...

 

[Doon frae Troon]

Oprah would certainly be a big improvement on Trump.

Next up......Daffy Duck.

 

[londonlewis]

I heard this on the news. My immediate reaction was to turn to my wife and say 'what?' .... .... .... 'what? how ridiclous!'
Then I went to bed.

How can people think someone would make a good President based on a single speech? It baffles me.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

I heard this on the news. My immediate reaction was to turn to my wife and say 'what?' .... .... .... 'what? how ridiclous!'
Then I went to bed.

How can people think someone would make a good President based on a single speech? It baffles me.

What makes you think these people's thinking is based upon that one speech?

 

[FairwayDodger]

I heard this on the news. My immediate reaction was to turn to my wife and say 'what?' .... .... .... 'what? how ridiclous!'
Then I went to bed.

How can people think someone would make a good President based on a single speech? It baffles me.

Oprah would be infinitely better than the current POTUS and has been touted for making a run for some time, so definitely not just one speech. She used to say she'd never do it but has been more equivocal recently.

It's a terrible idea, though, just a trip deeper down the rabbit hole the GOP have taken them with Trump and probably the end for any hope of a return to more "sensible" politics in the states if the Dems were to take such a desperate approach.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Oprah would be infinitely better than the current POTUS and has been touted for making a run for some time, so definitely not just one speech. She used to say she'd never do it but has been more equivocal recently.

It's a terrible idea, though, just a trip deeper down the rabbit hole the GOP have taken them with Trump and probably the end for any hope of a return to more "sensible" politics in the states if the Dems were to take such a desperate approach.

But if we complain about career politicians who know nothing about real life? Yes OW has great wealth - but she knows where the bottom is; she understands struggling from the bottom, and has experienced significant personal life struggles and painful events between then and now.

At what point does someone in public, but not political, life change from being unqualified to run - to being qualified to run. OW has been active in US politics for at least 10 years - she is 63 - she is no kid.

I am not saying that OW running for POTUS would be a great thing - it might be, but sure as hell almost ANYBODY would be better than the current, possibly mentally unstable, incumbent...

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Saying anyone could be better than Don is not setting the bar very high. He is a fool. That does not make Oprah or any other tv personality more qualified however. Being politically active, being in a pressure group etc is not the same as running a dept, dealing with foreign govts etc. There are no consequences to your actions when you are not in power, see Donald and his embassy move in Israel for an example of that one going horribly and predictably wrong.

FD's last sentence is a very good and accurate one.

Here is a novel thought, become Governor of a state, run that state and learn how a govt body works, how people in those organisations work, how you have to deal with various people that the organisation works alongside. Make a success of that and then run for president. You might then have a better idea of how to do it, or prove how awful you are at it, rather than just standing in a tv popularity contest.