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bagelsforbreakfast

(1,427 posts)
Tue May 2, 2017, 03:36 PM May 2017

Should there be a test given candidates running for President?

Perhaps given before the first debate they participate in on TV?

Like the GRE or SATs?

Unfortunately, I'd imagine even Bush could have passed one.

But TRUMP? No way! I think it would have saved us!!!

Or get them in a tournament with Alex Trebek -- Would love to see Trump on Jeopardy! "American History for $20, Alex" "Sorry, Donald, the war between the states was North vs. South, not East vs. SOUTHWEST."

21 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Should there be a test given candidates running for President? (Original Post) bagelsforbreakfast May 2017 OP
No, nor should there be one for voting. Bleacher Creature May 2017 #1
Exactly!!! n/t Jno_Gilmor_ May 2017 #3
Well then, how about we require that presidential candidates take civics lessons too. crosinski May 2017 #6
Fine with me. Bleacher Creature May 2017 #9
What then is the precise and relevant difference between that and... LanternWaste May 2017 #7
An age limit may be arbitrary, but it's objective. Bleacher Creature May 2017 #8
No test needed: it was blatantly obvious that he was ignorant and nuts during the campaign. frazzled May 2017 #2
The constitution outlines the requirements of running for presidental office. JoeStuckInOH May 2017 #4
'Testing' is the job of a properly functioning free press... WePurrsevere May 2017 #5
I'm thinking Trump couldn't pass a GED test. Thor_MN May 2017 #10
That seems brutally apparent....nt 2naSalit May 2017 #11
US citizenship test crazycatlady May 2017 #12
I would love to have passing the citizen test as a requirement to vote NobodyHere May 2017 #13
Do you imagine most Democrats could pass the test? brooklynite May 2017 #15
I have no idea NobodyHere May 2017 #16
I started out in politics as a Ward Committeeman... brooklynite May 2017 #18
Trump got into the University of Pennsylvania... brooklynite May 2017 #14
W got into Yale crazycatlady May 2017 #20
The MMPI (Minnesota Multiple Personality Test) Dalai_1 May 2017 #17
I think we saw and heard sufficient all last summer and autumn, don't you? WinkyDink May 2017 #19
about his getting into Penn... bagelsforbreakfast May 2017 #21

Bleacher Creature

(11,235 posts)
1. No, nor should there be one for voting.
Tue May 2, 2017, 03:39 PM
May 2017

Anytime something like that happens, it inevitably leads to discrimination.

What needs to change in voter education and engagement. I'm not sure how best to do that, but certainly making civics class a high school requirement is a good start.

crosinski

(403 posts)
6. Well then, how about we require that presidential candidates take civics lessons too.
Tue May 2, 2017, 03:49 PM
May 2017

Because I think that would have made me feel better about some of the jackasses that have been elected in my lifetime.

Bleacher Creature

(11,235 posts)
9. Fine with me.
Tue May 2, 2017, 04:22 PM
May 2017

Although no amount of civics training is like to sink in with the moron currently holding office.

 

LanternWaste

(37,748 posts)
7. What then is the precise and relevant difference between that and...
Tue May 2, 2017, 04:04 PM
May 2017

"Anytime something like that happens, it inevitably leads to discrimination..."

What then is the precise and relevant difference between that and voting predicated on arbitrary age requirements? Or is some discrimination valid while other, not?

Bleacher Creature

(11,235 posts)
8. An age limit may be arbitrary, but it's objective.
Tue May 2, 2017, 04:20 PM
May 2017

And most important, there's no way it can be manipulated to exclude certain protected classes (other than young people).

Just look at some of the issues people have brought up with the SAT where, in many cases, essay questions included cultural references that provided an unfair advantage to the people who understood them.

frazzled

(18,402 posts)
2. No test needed: it was blatantly obvious that he was ignorant and nuts during the campaign.
Tue May 2, 2017, 03:42 PM
May 2017

People just chose to ignore it (or they're stupid themselves, or they thought he would change).

 

JoeStuckInOH

(544 posts)
4. The constitution outlines the requirements of running for presidental office.
Tue May 2, 2017, 03:44 PM
May 2017

It would likely take a full blown constitutional amendment to make declared candidates participate in a binding assessment like you are speaking of.

It could be done, likely, at the primary level because that is a caucus/party thing and not an actual government office thing.

WePurrsevere

(24,259 posts)
5. 'Testing' is the job of a properly functioning free press...
Tue May 2, 2017, 03:44 PM
May 2017

It would help a lot if we had one still instead of what they've become.

 

Thor_MN

(11,843 posts)
10. I'm thinking Trump couldn't pass a GED test.
Tue May 2, 2017, 04:28 PM
May 2017

He doesn't have the intelligence of an average high school student.

 

NobodyHere

(2,810 posts)
13. I would love to have passing the citizen test as a requirement to vote
Tue May 2, 2017, 08:44 PM
May 2017

Unfortunately someone would probably use it to unfairly discriminate.

brooklynite

(93,851 posts)
18. I started out in politics as a Ward Committeeman...
Tue May 2, 2017, 08:59 PM
May 2017

100% of my voters were Ivy League students.

With the exception of President, I could have told them to vote for anyone and most would have followed my advice.

crazycatlady

(4,492 posts)
20. W got into Yale
Tue May 2, 2017, 09:10 PM
May 2017

I am not sure Trump is a legacy admission to UPenn or not (all of his kids that are old enough went there, I'm sure they are).

(Note-- I'm not Ivy League material and haven't been anywhere near a campus).

Dalai_1

(1,301 posts)
17. The MMPI (Minnesota Multiple Personality Test)
Tue May 2, 2017, 08:54 PM
May 2017

Would be an excellent choice. It gives a diagnosis and result also of The test shows whether a person lies on the test.
The WAIS gives an IQ..
Weschler Adult Intelligent Scale

Many HR departments use this as part of their hiring diagnostics

 

bagelsforbreakfast

(1,427 posts)
21. about his getting into Penn...
Tue May 2, 2017, 09:19 PM
May 2017

Found this:

Trump didn't even get in when he applied initially to Penn. He then spent his first two college years at Fordham. After his sophomore year, his brother Fred intervened for him with a friend of Fred's who was an admissions officer at UPenn. Trump was then (surprise, surprise!) accepted as a transfer student for his junior and senior years.

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