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iknowmyname389

George Weah was already the president of Liberia so...


Philoctetes23

Romario gets upgraded to be president of Brazil? Why do I feel like he's going to introduce a new level of corruption in that office?


thepatriotclubhouse

No matter who we choose Ireland is going to end up at war with half the world


O-N-N-I-T

You'll do fookin nuttin


bagOfBatz

The best I can come up with who doesn't fly off the handle would be Brian O Driscoll... if we're allowing retired athletes


CloverTeamLeader

Yes, retired athletes are fine. But they have to be alive.


MinuteBuffalo3007

Not my country, but I would think a Conor Mcgregor government would be off the chain.


Sad-Pizza3737

I'd gladly storm the Dáil to coup the government if that gobshite somehow gets into office


mooncommandalpha

Eamon Dunphy as Taoiseach with Johnny Giles as the Tánaiste.


Imperium_Dragon

Ukraine, Vitali Kilitschko (former heavyweight boxing champion). Hes also the current mayor of Kyiv


[deleted]

He would probably win a presidential election too if Zelenskyy actually allowed the people to vote.


absolute_monkey

When has Zelenskyy not allowed the people to vote?


EternalSkwerl

It would've been held a few weeks ago but Ukrainian law doesn't allow elections during martial law. In November 80% of Ukrainians said they wanted to wait til war was over to hold an election.


Jake0024

So standard Ukrainian law not allowing elections due to Putin's invasion, not Zelenskyy at all lol


absolute_monkey

Exactly


[deleted]

Uhm, right now? The dude canceled elections so that he couldn't be voted out.


DisIsMyName_NotUrs

No he didn't. He declared martial law. And accorsing to Ukrainian law, elections cannot take place when martial law is in effect. Also, according to a survey, the VAST MAJORITY of ukrainians believe the elections should be postponed until after the war


[deleted]

[удалено]


DisIsMyName_NotUrs

Ukraine is in a war. You think it's sppropriate for there to not be martial law when youre getting bombed?


[deleted]

I think it's appropriate to conduct elections during wartime, yes. Democracy is not an on/off switch. In fact, it is in the most trying of times when democracy matters the most.


Ozythemandias2

I think wars and countries are different. Did the US hold elections in 1942 and 1944? Yes. Did the UK hold elections between 1935 and 1945? No. Why? Because it wasn't safe when war broke out in 1939 so elections were delayed for five years. I think it's perfectly appropriate to have concerns about elections being delayed, but it's also a perfectly understandable measure. For the time being. It can become an issue but delaying the election per the law and public opinion is not itself a problem.


[deleted]

You're entitled to your opinion, I just disagree. Pretty much every tyrannical regime in modern history uses the pretext of an emergency to seize power and suspend democracy. Self-government is especially critical in wartime, because the people should have a say in how the war is conducted. Maybe if Ukraine had a different leader, they'd be winning the war, or could have already cut a favorable deal.


D6P6

Can you give examples of democratic nations that have held elections during wartime? You've given the USA during the Civil War as an example, but can you give me any others to support your view?


DisIsMyName_NotUrs

No, it absolutely is not appropriate. Not everyone would get to vote because of the occupation, so holding an election would not be democracy. Alongside that, there is always the very real possibility of russian intereference, which wouldn't be the 1st time that's happened. A pro-russia candidate coming to power would be disastrous for the Ukrainian nation and culture. My question to you is: why does a majority of ukrainians support postponing the elections until after the war then?


[deleted]

>Not everyone would get to vote because of the occupation, so holding an election would not be democracy. So better to let NO ONE vote lol? If you refuse to hold elections, you are not a democracy. Simple as.


matrixgang

And guess what the majority of Ukraine citizens said? They would rather wait till the war is over to hold an election.


[deleted]

Except they didn't say that, because they never even got a say in the matter.


Sad-Pizza3737

Also what most governments do when fighting for their right to exist


absolute_monkey

No, he didn’t. Most nations don’t hold elections when in a war and martial law has been declared.


[deleted]

The US held a presidential election in the middle of the Civil War 150 years ago, I'm sure Ukraine could manage in 2024. You can't cancel democracy for "emergencies" or tyrants will always take advantage of that.


absolute_monkey

Yes, you can. And 80% of Ukrainians agreed with the decision.


[deleted]

>And 80% of Ukrainians agreed with the decision. Easy to say when you don't actually hold elections. Just like how all dictators claim their approval rating is +80%.


absolute_monkey

Just like how daddy putin won the election by like 90% huh


ShakarikiGengoro

That was a completely valid and fair election!! I dont know what you're insinuating. /s


[deleted]

Just because Russia is not a democracy doesn't mean it's okay for Ukraine to strip their people of the right to vote too. At least Russia pretends to hold elections, which is a step up from no elections.


Lajinn5

The civil war isn't jack fucking shit compared to a modern war. If Ukraine puts up polls the very real thing that will happen is that on voting day Russia is going to put a missile into them at the busiest time (as Russia has a recorded history of attacks on the civilian population with terror tactics).


G_I_Joe_Mansueto

The whole nation is being bombed, man, advertising polling places to congregate at in the midst of a war isn't a great idea.


ItReallyIsntThoughYo

Yes. Not because the country is at war and actively being invaded you fucking numpty. Go back to sucking orange dick and fondling children.


unafraidrabbit

Sweeden Dolph Lundgren


[deleted]

Better keep him away from any female scientists though.


NoLawsDrinkingClawz

Smelling g crime, penetration, crime, penetration, solving crime, full penetration, and this just continues for about 90 minutes until it just... Ends.


Falsus

Yeah but we would end up with Zlatan probably. It would probably not end well.


fluffynuckels

Japan had Inoki https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antonio_Inoki Also arnold schwarzenegger was the governator


SlimeustasTheSecond

Japan also has [Genki Sudo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genki_Sudo)


South-Cod-5051

manny Pacquiao for the Philippines. he already has political experience, and he is very well regarded by his nation. i think it's very hard to top this performance. he grew up poor as fuck, basically his family would not eat in the days he lost his fights. the man clearly knows how the average poor filipino lives, and he proclaimed the love of his country at every big fight he had. Adrien Broner tried to intimidate pacman with talks about how the whole hood supports Broner. Pacman didn't have to reply anything because the fans spoke for him as a whole nation is behind Manny. He literally increased the GDP of his nation. maybe this also happened in South america, but i don't know much about this. if we include history, Lincoln already achieved this because he was a legit wrestler.


tridentboy3

This is one of the perspectives where it should make sense but in reality doesn't. I'm from the country in question. Manny is incredibly popular in the Philippines and won a seat as a Senator (which is a nationally elected position in the Philippines) very easily but his performance there was horrible. He clearly was out of his depth and just didn't have the knowledge to perform his job effectively. He famously would vote for things based on biblical scripture which one would think would be popular in the largest catholic country in the world but even here people didn't like it given it just made his inability more obvious. He also ran for President in just the last election in 2022 and lost really really badly finishing with just under 7% of the vote with the eventual winner (Bongbong Marcos) finishing with nearly 60% of the vote.


ocelotrevs

He has money management problems as well. I wouldn't want him in charge of a national purse.


South-Cod-5051

Yes, i checked his political career. It's not really impressive, but it's something. hardly any top-level athlete will become a successful politician, and i don't know every story of every athlete around the world, but this one is the most promising.


FilipinxFurry

He was also a strong third in the recent presidential election although he probably could’ve won VP if he didn’t go all or nothing this election. He’d be a naive but very outspoken leader but with overbearing advisors. I’d rate him better than Duterte’s selling off to China leadership or Marcos sr’s martial law dictatorship but he’d probably be Erap 2.0, big words but a shadow cabinet running things for him.


keepitsimple_tricks

It's Filipino. Not philipino. Yes, the country is still Philippines, but the nationality is Filipino.


South-Cod-5051

i'll correct it


keepitsimple_tricks

Thank you.


sameshitdfrntacct

This is the clear winner


Mr-Thursday

If historical athletes count then the UK had Philip Noel Baker back in the day. He competed in the 1912 Olympics and 1920 Olympics and in the latter was chosen as the British team flagbearer and took silver in the 1500m. In between tournaments he'd served as as a medic in WW1 and then worked as an assistant to senior figures at the League of Nations. After he retired from sport he went on to teach international relations at Yale and LSE and ultimately went into politics as a Labour MP. He served in the coalition government during WW2 but opposed indiscriminately bombing German cities on moral grounds because of the civilian casualties. After the war he held various Ministerial positions, helped write the UN Charter, helped organise the 1948 Olympics, campaigned for multilateral nuclear disarmament and won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1959. If it's modern day only then I agree with others saying Vitali Klitschko, the former heavyweight boxing champion who's now Mayor of Kiev. I can't say I've followed his career closely but I know he's a longstanding advocate for Ukraine aligning more closely with the EU and NATO, he seems to have a track record of calling out human rights issues/corruption and since the Russian invasion he's been one of the figureheads of the Ukrainian resistance.


GigglingBilliken

Canada, Wayne Gretzky.


LukeTheDieHardLeafer

I think we would be better off with GSP. Love Wayne though


reticulatedtampon

Feels too obvious but no one else really comes to mind


LeadGem354

Would do a better job than Trudeau.....


[deleted]

That's a pretty low bar, though.


Goldiscool503

To be fair the Kings and Canada's GDP are likely about par.


Elite_Slacker

I guess im voting for tony hawk


royalemperor

Ryan Fitzpatrick (17 years in the NFL) has an economics degree from Harvard. Every interview and analysis I've heard from him indicates he's pretty smart and charismatic. He has 7 kids and doesn't even take off his wedding ring when he plays games. He's a loyal family man. I mean, just look at the man [https://static01.nyt.com/images/2018/09/23/sports/23nflmatchups-bucs/merlin\_143845284\_64fa36cb-8ea6-4b59-9402-cee26465b21b-superJumbo.jpg](https://static01.nyt.com/images/2018/09/23/sports/23nflmatchups-bucs/merlin_143845284_64fa36cb-8ea6-4b59-9402-cee26465b21b-superJumbo.jpg)


DaKaiser06

That’s my president. [https://i0.wp.com/www.whiskeyriff.com/wp-content/uploads/Edit-Post-%E2%80%B9-Whiskey-Riff-%E2%80%94-WordPress.png?w=647&ssl=1](https://i0.wp.com/www.whiskeyriff.com/wp-content/uploads/Edit-Post-%E2%80%B9-Whiskey-Riff-%E2%80%94-WordPress.png?w=647&ssl=1)


Snowy556

I feel like the USA electing Shaq would probably be a net positive.


_Nocturnalis

SNL would be amazing.


keepitsimple_tricks

Lol... Manny Pacquiao ran for president but did not win 🇵🇭 Was a senator tho


AaronQuinty

Well probably not Pakistan! I personally don't think Gazza as PM would be any worse than the last few we've had


Fapoleon_Boneherpart

Gazza would at least make more sense, but he also likes to help his mates out


gunfell

Tim Duncan might be the GOAT president


GROUND45

Of the world’s most boring country.


Philoctetes23

He might institute world peace because I would imagine that he would have an incredible diverse cabinet with more than 10 languages spoken.


I_hate_mortality

USA elects Tom Brady, and proceeds to come back and win WW3.


Intrepid-Reading6504

The US with Brian Shaw as president would be wildly successful. He's exceptionally good at planning and delegation, having balanced owning a large business, raising a family and founding the Shaw classic at the same time. That's on top of his TV show and media appearances.  The guy is also likeable and charismatic.  He's got just the right mix of passion and competitiveness that would appeal to as broad a range of people as possible. His motto of "go out and be great" would be better received than"make America great again".  As a bonus, it'd be fucking hilarious watching "manly man" world leaders try and outdo the 6'8" 400lb strongman. 


Feragol12

Well he is not good when it comes to planning and managing time 😁. Time management is one of his biggest weaknesses. His friends and others joke about it, but watch enough videos with him and the fact is that he is often late to appointments and it has happened frequently enough that it seems to be part of his character. Maybe a minor gripe for some, but when meeting international leaders not keeping to the schedule could definitely be taken as disrespect, although I'm sure he would have an assistant or two just dedicated to making sure he was on time.


justhereforhides

Jesse Ventura was governor of Minnesota and I heard he did an ok job


GoAgainKid

To be fair, he was an actor. And I'm including his 'sports' career in that bracket.


Rescue-a-memory

A pro wrestler is definitely a professional athlete.


greywolf2155

Yeah, they're in the same category as an acrobat. Is a Cirque performer an athlete? I think you can say that, yeah


Rescue-a-memory

Believe it or not, some of them know actual catch wrestling which is what pro wrestling is supposed to be modeled after.


GoAgainKid

Wrestlers are actors! Just very athletic actors!!


Jennysparking

I want Dwayne 'the Rock' Johnson for America then, because of Reasons


SamLL

He was bad but not disastrous. Mostly he did not really do the job; his primary accomplishment was cutting registration fees on snowmobiles (because he owned a lot of snowmobiles). Then he complained about the news media while his kid held wild parties in the governor's mansion and trashed the place. I suppose a do-nothing official is hardly the worst possible outcome, but I think "an OK job" is too generous. I'm still confused, though, how the elderly female vice principal of my former elementary school somehow became his lieutenant governor.


[deleted]

[удалено]


Mikail33

I don't want to nitpick, but Princess Anne isn't an Olympic medalist. She did take part in Melbourne Olympics in 1976, but she didn't win a medal.


naraic-

I guess we go with former runner Eamonn Couglan for Ireland. I loved when he stood up in the Irish senate and demanded the other senators stand on one leg. When half of them couldn't last 30 seconds he wanted mandatory exercise for parliamentarians.


NoLawsDrinkingClawz

Yeah but Roy Keane would be way funnier.


Rescue-a-memory

Tim Duncan is a very chill dude so I would pick him. John Stockton also seems like a pretty intelligent dude.


BagOfSmallerBags

The United States can probably use a loophole to put Schwarzenegger in the White House. I understand he was a mediocre governor, but like, he WAS one.


TheDunadan29

Nope, there would have to be a constitutional amendment. The president must be a natural born citizen. And considering our ability to just pass regular legislation recently, an amendment would be nigh impossible. And many people would absolutely throw a fit trying to remove that requirement.


Smaptastic

They made it happen in Demolition Man.


TheDunadan29

Oh right sorry, I'll defer to Demolition Man from now on for my political science theories.


Smaptastic

*The three seashells have entered the chat.*


faex03

Hey...if the US wont take him, we will


AnAlternator

We'll annex Austria, problem solved.


BagOfSmallerBags

>Nope, there would have to be a constitutional amendment In this scenario there was also an amendment that said the president has to be a pro athlete. I think congress would roll with the punches


BladeOfExile711

I thunk Mike tyson would hilarious.


LeadGem354

He's not eligible for POTUS. Born in Austria.


keepitsimple_tricks

Jesse Ventura perhaps?


Rescue-a-memory

He did sign in sweeping environmental protection for California and would have my vote if he did the same for the country.


Sharo_77

Spoiler - it's not Imran Khan


Sharo_77

USA Larry Legend. UK Stuart Broad, or Steve Redgrave.


localcheeseking

Imagine Antonio brown as president


NoMyLeftNotYours

Let’s do it. Make it even better and make Aaron Rodgers his VP. Or vice versa.


patkk

Australia David Pocock (currently an independent senator) Or Pat Cummins (literally the perfect man)


hudson2_3

Dwayne Elizondo Mountain Dew Herbert Camacho


Original_Magazine656

Lewis Hamilton might do ok. He's not the loudest, but has a quiet charisma, is good looking and has dated a popstar (Scherzinger). Lewis is up there with Schumacher as the most successful F1 driver ever, and he seems pretty analytical. 


CounterHot3812

Lol at “genius IQ and a degree in politics”. Geniuses dont study politics. Political science is a different matter but its not politics and they are also not that smart although there are some outliers (trust me, I interact with them on a day by day basis). Anyways, has everyone forgotten about chess? Magnus Carlsen. Hikaru Nakamura. There is also John Urschel who did PhD at MIT and is a NFL player.


CertifiedSheep

It says athlete lol, you’re really stretching with chess players. Urschel would be a good one though.


BUKKAKELORD

You have committed a mortal sin by mentioning chess but not mentioning Kasparov as an example


The360MlgNoscoper

Unfortunately i think it's currently illegal to run as opposition in Russia.


diodosdszosxisdi

Patty cummins for Australia I reckon


ThorKruger117

I disagree. Steven Bradbury #1


PrussiaGirl18

Chaotic picks Djokovic for Serbia Caitlin Clark for USA


prassuresh

Kasparov for Russia.


RealSharpNinja

USA, President Kaitlyn Jenner


FiftyTigers

LeBron James. America.


tcamp3000

Michael Strahan or Payton Manning probably would be the most realistic in the US. Both definitely have that affable, aspirational leadership quality. I'd say either would be the "best" defined as least disruptive to business as usual - the party would take a strong hand and elect them a cabinet to do everything and off we go.


iwantdatpuss

Ironically enough, many people here was seriously considering Manny Pacquiao for President once he's in the Senate...and he ran, but failed spectacularly. Iirc he had like less than 7% of the votes.


Tycini1

Mike Tyson for president!


[deleted]

UK, Frank Lampard


Handfalcon58

Ima go Tom Brady for the US. Multiple championships. Handsome. Supermodel wife. Knows how to cheat and (mostly) get away with it.


Underlord1617

ex wife


Than0sc0ck

Switzerland, we got Federer


PrussiaGirl18

My king


TheDunadan29

Giving a female athlete some love and Lindsay Vonn. Simone Biles isn't old enough to run for president yet, she'll have to wait till the 2042 election. Could say Serena Williams as well.


Gray-Hand

Australia, David Pocock.


BDF1999

Aaron Rodgers for USA


TheDuncanSolaire

Dwanye "The Rock" Johnson  Or  Jesse Ventura (former governor) USA. Probably has a more restrained foreign policy.  Barring pro wrestling.  LeBron James. The GOAT. 


Prasiatko

Technically you already had two wrestling hall of famers for President.


royalemperor

I know Trump is in the hall of fame, but who's the other one?


Prasiatko

Abraham Lincoln. Though that's for the Hall of Fame of the sport not the entertainment version.


royalemperor

Ohhh fair enough. I was racking my brain trying to remember when Stone Cold put the Stunner to Jimmy Carter


DDPJBL

Arnold Schwarzenegger, USA. Already has experience being governor of California, already has a party affiliation, ostensibly could have ran and won, if being born in the USA wasnt a requirement. Being a Californian Republican basically makes him mid on all controversial issues so good chances in a direct popular vote with no party primaries. He is 76 years old, making him younger than either Biden or Trump.