That is no historically proven of objective metric. There are many reasons why Reagan didn’t run until 1976. Your “he didn’t think he was ready” projection, is just trying to shoehorn it into your construct.
Isolated citations of past lukewarm, half-hearted applications of the politically-driven and of course largely undefined “ready” question prove how asymmetrically and stridently this is being applied to Governor Palin.
Reagan was a great President not because of his executive experience or any past foreign policy exposure, he was great because he had the courage to boldy act upon his convictions, and seek out expert counsel in areas in which he was not knowledgeable.
Sarah Palin has already demonstrated ability in both of those areas.
Ture. Politics is an art, not a science.
There are many reasons why Reagan didn’t run until 1976. Your “he didn’t think he was ready” projection, is just trying to shoehorn it into your construct.
Say what you like, but the fact is he didn't even consider trying to become president until he had successfully served two terms as governor.
He didn't quit two years into his first term, spend the next two years signing books and doing reality shows, and then try to run without a resume.
Isolated citations of past lukewarm, half-hearted applications of the politically-driven and of course largely undefined “ready” question prove how asymmetrically and stridently this is being applied to Governor Palin.
Name a single presidential candidate, other than Obama, who was as inexperienced and unaccomplished as Palin who managed to even become a contender for his party's nomination.
Reagan was a great President not because of his executive experience or any past foreign policy exposure, he was great because he had the courage to boldy act upon his convictions, and seek out expert counsel in areas in which he was not knowledgeable.
Well, then by your criteria, Jimmy Carter should have been a good president. He had strong convictions and boldly acted on them. He also sought out lots of expert counsel. And yet, he was a horrible president.
Having convictions, courage and expert counsel isn't enough. A great president has to have the right convictions, understand why he arrived at them, and then be capable of convincing others of them. I have yet to see any evidence of Palin possessing these traits.