Blind Ambition Is Not a Presidential Job Qualification | Gene Healy | Cato Institute: Commentary

Blind Ambition Is Not a Presidential Job Qualification | Gene Healy | Cato Institute: Commentary: '"an abnormal-psych study could be written on every president of the modern era except the one who never ran for national office, Gerald R. Ford." With apologies to Groucho Marx, anybody who wants to belong to this club shouldn't be allowed to be a member.

In his terrific book "See How They Ran," historian Gil Troy writes that "Originally, presidential candidates were supposed to 'stand' for election, not 'run.' They did not make speeches. They did not shake hands. Republican detachment from the political arena was good and dignified; actively seeking office and soliciting votes was humiliating and bad."'

'we ought to strive to make the office less powerful, and thus, a less attractive prize for those who hunger for power.'