There has been a lot of talk about who is “qualified” to be president, but except for being 35 and born in America there are no prerequisites for the job. I’m interested in getting the opinions of the various and sundry contributors to this board as to what their list of experience/qualifications for the office are. I’m not interested in a rehash of the Obama/Clinton drivel, just what your ideal candidate would have done in the past.

My ideal candidate has: Military service, a legislative or legal background, strong academic credentials of some kind, believes in individual liberty in the social arena (gays, church, dissent are OK), has a strong personal/professional record of integrity, and does not oppose the right idea because it comes from the other side of the aisle. This is just what would make me giddy about a candidate from the outset. What say you?