Roger Federer Amazed By U.S. Presidential Campaigns

MASON, Ohio -- Roger Federer thinks that U.S. presidents ought to be worn out when they take the oath of office.

The Swiss tennis star was asked on Thursday night what interests him during his weeks in the United States to play tennis. Although he doesn't watch television reality shows, he said he was intrigued by the last presidential election in 2008, which Barack Obama won.

"I did follow the presidential race with Obama, for instance, quite closely, because this time around I thought I was old enough and interested enough, whereas the last time I just heard it somewhat," the 30-year-old Federer said. "And I couldn't believe the length of it and the brutality of it, you know.

"So I felt like every president should be extremely tired becoming the president, you know, and this is actually when the job starts. So it's pretty fascinating to watch, I'm definitely going to follow it the next time around the same thing again."

Federer didn't give any hints about whom he might favor in the race.

Federer also said he's interested in geography and likes to learn about the cities and states he visits as part of the tennis tour. He beat American James Blake on Thursday night, advancing to the quarterfinals of the Western & Southern Open near Cincinnati.

Comments

[Farzan]

09:56 PM on 08/29/2011

The worst part is campaig season just never ends so governance phase never starts.

[Harvo]

11:40 AM on 08/22/2011

There's a lot of money that's up for grabs Roger.
It's no wonder they're at each other's throats.

[Carmen Madonna Campos]

11:58 PM on 08/21/2011

yes Roger, this is definitely NOT a Gentlemens' Game.

[Bob Utne]

11:07 PM on 08/21/2011

Tennis speaking, I'm curious what is Roger's view re the recent spat of quitters on the men's tour. The Joker, Berdych, Tsonga and others in recent days quit when they fell behind and saw little chance of winnng. OK quit, but don't show up the next week like Tsonga and play and don't get paid for making that particular unfinished round. The fans and sponsors paid big bucks for action, not for quitters claiming they can't go on while the commentors cover their (quitters') butts, ad nauseum.

[SalesmanForLife]

05:01 PM on 08/21/2011

It is brutal because the players are children and the voters are not too bright either. Our best presidents are in our past.

[CharlesDevell]

07:08 PM on 08/21/2011

"Our best presidents are in our past."

Whichever Presidents you have in mind, I assure you, most citizens of their time felt the same way.

We have just become a more cynical nation. I like FDR, but if FDR had to deal with a 24 hours news cycle, internet blogs, etc., he wouldn't have been elected once let alone 4 times.

You really think a President in a wheelchair gets elected today? I don't. And all of Kennedy's liaisons in this media age? No way.

[Kiranitisme]

06:33 AM on 08/21/2011

It is really brutal when people use any tactics to win so they can force their 17th century religious beliefs on unwilling people.

[Rambling Ruminations]

12:43 PM on 08/20/2011

One of the Kennedy's( Ted ?) said politics is a contact sport...how true!

[RusStyles]

11:31 AM on 08/20/2011

If Feds cool, calm persona is indicative of the average Swiss, I can understand his shock at the ugly, combative nature of US politics. The Swiss have maintained a unique voting system among modern democratic nations in that they practice direct democracy, in which any citizen may challenge any law at any time. In addition, in most cantons all votes are cast using paper ballots that are manually counted. Running nasty attack ads doesn't appear to be a part of their electoral process.

Four times a year, voting occurs over various issues; these include both Referendums, where policies are directly voted on by people, and elections, where the people vote for officials. Overall, the Swiss conduct their election process in a more civilized fashion; we should be taking notes....

[liberal53]

09:28 AM on 08/19/2011

Internationally our election process indeed a curiosity given that it begins almost 24 mos before the day itself and its vicious enough that in some countries, the callous lies and insults being thrown in terms of racial and intellectual innuendos could end up in sending goons/private armies to visit opponents.... we have not reached that stage yet..

[chaucer1]

09:21 AM on 08/19/2011

I cannot find anywhere else for this: yesterday's match between Nadal and Verdasco demonstrated the pitiful state of pro tennis. Three hours, forty minutes for three sets of tennis, even tie-breakers? The players, especially Nadal, should be fined for slow play; and the endless rallying back and forth with no net play bores everyone. Get rid of all this ball-bouncing, ball-choosing, sitting between games and constant stalling, and bring back tennis on a reasonably fast court instead of creating a new game called "BORING BASELINE BOMBING." ATP, take note please!

[jl4141]

01:54 PM on 08/19/2011

Yeah! I was watching the Soderling-Tsonga ATP match yesterday, and Soderling was constantly looking for (and taking advantage of) opportunities to move to the net. Play like that makes for excellent tennis.

[Cory111]

11:26 PM on 08/19/2011

Ban the towel for starters.

We have lines people we need an "in-between-points" counter. Go over the limit and you go from first serve to second serve. On second serve you go to double-fault.

[Joseph Van Der Putten]

08:30 AM on 08/19/2011

Even some Americans are astonished and disgusted with the whole election process.

As long as more than 1/2 the eligible population doesn't bother to show up to vote, all kind of nutcases can win elections.

Just look at the current crop of GOP candidates.

They all treat scientists as terrorists or charlatans, have all kinds of pre-Galileo ideas based on literal reading of the bible and some are proud to be practically illeterate.

[SalesmanForLife]

05:02 PM on 08/21/2011

curb your enthusiasm;)

[mercedes1947]

08:15 AM on 08/19/2011

Zero comments, exactly what this story deserves.

[whowhatwhywherewhen]

03:05 PM on 08/19/2011

YOU'RE #1, YOU'RE #1, YOU'RE #1

[CharlesDevell]

07:12 PM on 08/21/2011

Is it ironic that you took the time to read the headline click the link and type a comment?

[mercedes1947]

08:49 PM on 08/22/2011

I was aware of the irony, but I so thought the story irrelevant, although since there is a dearth of American tennis stars, they had to ask somebody.