Comments on Character

Last night I watched the GOP Convention and dozed. Something came to mind.
Candidates spend their entire lives competing in elections. Preparing to compete, raising money to compete, listening to constituent groups with disparate agendas. Molding those constituent views into a plausible campaign plans. Finally campaigning in a primary.
Who are their competitors? Older more experienced incumbents, younger fresh faced talented newcomers, well moneyed industrialists, well informed academics, and senators becoming governors or governors becoming senators. All from your own party. Heaven knows, then you must face the opposition party. Who can a new presidential candidate trust?
Spouse's with foibles and personal political paper trails, family with opinions and normal weaknesses of character, advisers with agendas and personal expectations and plans, an opposition party ensconced in both houses of Congress, and the media, and to what degree are those pesky SCOTUS  members in your court? (I left out the military, CIA, NSA, and Secret Service because they are too stealthy to comment on.) Maybe past Presidents?
You had better believe in yourself and your ideas. You need real courage of the quality of your convictions. You need to be able to teach, decide, explain, cajole, finesse, care, empathize, and wake up in the face of doom, well presented and ready for each day.
I am comfortable we have that person in the White House. How does the latest opposition candidate compare? Like previous presidents he'll need and take advice from an array of folks. Who are they likely to be? You may think he's good and smart and capable. In spite of all the rhetoric and bluster, do you really think he has enough?