That Settles It, Then

Via OpinionJournal:

Three of the four most recent former presidents have turned out to be highly influential after leaving office. President Carter has turned himself into an international nuisance who aspires to be a menace. George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton created important family dynasties; it is unlikely that George W. Bush would have become president, or Hillary Clinton would have been a serious candidate, had their immediate family members not served in the White House.

...When Americans elect a president, then, they may turn out to have committed themselves, for better or worse, to more than a four-year term. Among recent presidents, only Ronald Reagan's influence is measured almost entirely by what he did before leaving office. In choosing the next president, then, the most cautious approach may be to vote for the old guy.

Of course, John McCain had kids, too.