The Character Factor: How We Judge America's PresidentsTexas A&M University Press, 2004 - 209 頁 Annotation The American president's character matters. To most Americans, it matters deeply. But how do we define what character means, and why can't we agree? In this sober, probing consideration of "the character factor" and the presidency, veteran political analyst James P. Pfiffner leads us through a survey of three aspects of presidential character that have proved problematic for recent chief executives: lies, promise-keeping, and sexual probity. His goal is not to tell us which presidents have been "good" and which "bad." Rather, he helps us think critically and impartially about complex character issues and invites us to reach our own conclusions. The Character Factor avoids both moral judgments and cynicism. It helps us look at our presidents (and our presidential candidates) without illusions, knowing that flawed men can still be great leaders but that some flaws deserve defeat at the polls--or even the ultimate presidential sanction, impeachment. |
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第 1 到 5 筆結果,共 40 筆
第 x 頁
... argues that partisanship makes fair judgment impos- sible ; Democrats will blindly defend their presidents , and Republicans will blindly defend theirs . Cynics look at unacceptable behavior on the part of presidents and conclude that ...
... argues that partisanship makes fair judgment impos- sible ; Democrats will blindly defend their presidents , and Republicans will blindly defend theirs . Cynics look at unacceptable behavior on the part of presidents and conclude that ...
第 xii 頁
... argues that some lies are jus- tifiable , some are minor , some are wrong but understandable , and some are serious breaches of the public trust . These two chapters present in- stances of lying by presidents and suggest criteria for ...
... argues that some lies are jus- tifiable , some are minor , some are wrong but understandable , and some are serious breaches of the public trust . These two chapters present in- stances of lying by presidents and suggest criteria for ...
第 6 頁
... argues , " the personalities of presidents are as integral a part of the Ameri- can political system as the constitutionally mandated instruments of government . . . . [ O ] ne need only think of the natural counterfactuals that are ...
... argues , " the personalities of presidents are as integral a part of the Ameri- can political system as the constitutionally mandated instruments of government . . . . [ O ] ne need only think of the natural counterfactuals that are ...
第 7 頁
... argue that public leaders have additional duties to act ethically because of their public office. The consequences for ... argues that presidents have dual responsibilities: executive moral duties and exemplary moral duties.11 Executive ...
... argue that public leaders have additional duties to act ethically because of their public office. The consequences for ... argues that presidents have dual responsibilities: executive moral duties and exemplary moral duties.11 Executive ...
第 9 頁
... argue that relations between spouses cannot be fully known and therefore we ought not to judge oth- ers' private sexual practices. Even if we stipulate that sexual behavior ought to be private and the privacy of presidents ought to be ...
... argue that relations between spouses cannot be fully known and therefore we ought not to judge oth- ers' private sexual practices. Even if we stipulate that sexual behavior ought to be private and the privacy of presidents ought to be ...
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