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John McAfee Pondering Presidential Bid
An anonymous reader writes: Since this U.S. presidential election cycle clearly isn't chaotic enough already, it seems John McAfee is now considering a campaign as well. Wired reports that McAfee hasn't decided for sure yet, and he's hoping to persuade somebody more charismatic to run with his backing. He said his advisors are pressing him to run, adding, "I have many thousands of emails saying please run for President. It's not something I would just choose to do on my own." What would his platform be? It actually sounds pretty simple: "It's clear that the leadership of our country is illiterate on the fundamental technology that supports everything in life for us now, that is cyber science, our smartphones, our military hardware, our communications." He'd be a strong proponent for privacy and autonomy. We should know in a few days whether McAfee is in or out — Wired says he "seems far more concerned with having his voice heard on one particular issue than with taking a seat in the Oval Office."
Something seems to have changed his mind about politics: in a 2014 interview here, McAfee said. "I would never run for office, neither would I want to be in office, of any kind. I would rather drive a nail through my foot." According to the paperwork McAfee has filed, he is founding a new party (PDF).
Most of the other candidates are batshiat crazy, why not throw John into that mix?
Solving Unix problems since 1989...
He has access to virtually all information by virtue of his Constitutional office.
You'd think so, but there have been times when the President was removed from "need to know" on various bits of information.
The cracking of the Japanese code in WWII was withheld from FDR for a time, and other information has been withheld from time to time.
That being said, your statement is generally true.
No, the President does not require a security clearance. He has access to virtually all information by virtue of his Constitutional office.
Yeah, something tells me the POTUS position kinda gets a pass on the whole background investigation thing.
It certainly will have to if Hillary is somehow elected.
Business leaders should spend at least 4 years as a representative in Congress or a state governor in my opinion, and show aptitude there. Running government and dealing with politics is too different from the private sector. You have to learn how to compromise and persuade, not just order around underlings to carry out your vision your way.
This also applies to Trump, Carly, and Carson.
Table-ized A.I.
Maybe the US should just consider picking someone at random. Just write a program that takes all adults that meet the criteria for president (age, born in the US, etc) and select one. Can't be worse than what's going on now. And as a added bonus US carbon emissions will plummet since there won't be all of the campaigning.
Larry Lessig is looking for a running mate, so that he can resign in favor of the VP after reforming the electoral system.
I'm gonna need a spec.