He has officially entered the presidential race. What do you all think about it? I really dont think he stands a chance against Hillary Clinton in the caucuses because A) He is severly lacking in experience and has done nothing to warrant a presidential run other than being black B ) Hillary has much more money in her campaign and the most popular person in the democratic party backing her, Bill Clinton.


He is trying to draw comparisons to Lincoln who was a political outsider with little experience, but he never really had to deal with foreign political matters. I think the more accurate comparison would be to Jimmy Carter.

Obama is my senator. I've liked him as long as he's been on my radar, but I don't want him for president. Yet. I was really hoping that he'd get experience and set up a good, solid reputation before running for president. Also, there are just some things that he does and says in attempting to appeal to a wider audience that alienate who are supposed to be his base... so instead of strong support and whoever else he can convince to hop on board, he's got sort of a nebulous cloud. I really like him, but I'm not comfortable enough with him to want him in office.

I think he's a strong candidate and has a better chance of winning in the next election, but I think he can beat out Hilary this time. I got curious and read about him for about an hour about a month ago. Personally, if I was just voting for the democrats, I'd vote for him. Not that I'm a republican, I just don't know who they're gonna single out.

Why? He has no platform or credentials.

Did you read his book? His platform is quite clear. Don't assume that, just because the talking heads on TV haven't dissected it into bite-sized soundbites, he doesn't have one.

I don't think Big Dog will support his wife that long. This is the guy who cheated on her for a fatty

What? That part doesn't make any sense, Im sure he would love nothing more to be in a position of power again back in the Whitehouse and I dont see them getting a divorce any time soon. As far as I can tell his platform seems to be a generic unity one, just like Bush' and Clinton's before him.

Bill's already in a position of power and wealthy beyond his needs. He's never come off as the power-hungry fiend you make him to be but hey, I could be wrong.

I dont see how what I said made him out to be a power hungry fiend, its just part of being a politician. Why do you think he wont support his wife he wouldnt support his wife for her candidacy?

Oh, he's going to support her. I just think it's going to be late in the campaign and more of a token support.

This is pretty much what I think Bill is going to do, but I honestly hope it turns out differently. Barack is young, and simply doesn't have the experience to clean up the clusterfuck Bush has created, but I do think he should be able to beat Hillary pretty easily. Of course if he does win and at any point he seems to be dropping the ball on whatever "fixing" the analysts say he's got to be doing they will bring the fucking hammer down on him so hard it won't even be funny.

Clinton is the most well-known democrat, but Obama is liked more amongst the people that DO know him. You are completely mistaken by saying he hasn't done anything but be "black". He is half black and half white, which doesn't matter as much as his knowledge and likability when you stop being so ignorant. I agree that he is more like Carter, but this time around, we'd take another Carter over another Bush.



John McCain is my senator.

As for getting experience, I have old TIME magazines in which he repeatedly said he's too inexperienced to lead the nation. Over the last year, the media has pushed him so hard, he's decided to go for it anyway, just because he will get more attention than most candidates. I do agree that he alienates some people. For example, being openly pro-choice turns a lot of people off who otherwise like him.



You can have both and still fuck the USA. Have you lived under a rock for 7 years?

Yeah, well mine's the majority leader and I have a picture of myself at 3 with him while I'm picking my nose.

TAKE THAT!

Sorry, I couldn't resist. It's a funny picture, really.

Bush wasn't that qualified when he ran. He was gov of Texas, but he had no national exp. He also didn't have any foreign policy platform and lacked any intellectual curosity that a president should have. He won on being the outsider that was going to fix Washington, while he surrounded himself by Washington insiders. I think Obama has a realistic shot of winning the primaries, but there are other people I'd rather have over him (Bill Richardson) I think Obama has the smarts and charisma to do it, but a lot would depend on who he picks to surround himself with. For sure it won't be any necons. I guess we'll see.

I dont know, I just figured most of you would be wary of the whole "Im a different sort of politician" "uniter not a divider" "not sullied by washington politics" spiel, since it is the same one Carter used to get into office and GWB did with his first run at the presidency during the 2000 campaign. AS you remember neither of those turned out so well...

Clinton is still the front runner, but it is still really fucking early as you all know. Personally Im banking on that she and Obama take each other out in a war of words during the caucus races like Dean and Gephardt did during this last election and open the way for Edwards to take the Democratic ticket.

Don't get me wrong, I like him, I voted for him for senate. I just think he is way too green and hasn't really established anything for himself other than being a media darling up until as of recent.

Well, there's no telling how he'd react in office. I doubt he'd have the same issues as Bush (delegates too much, doesn't learn about major issues enough before acting on them, etc). As for Carter analogy, I don't know how Obama reacts around his staff. Carter was too nice to them and that created major issues.

I do think he needs another term or two as a senator before he runs, but on the other hand I do think somebody who's inexperienced would almost be better.

The "not sullied by Washington politics" thing is a way to get votes, but it also holds a little truth to it. Somebody who's been in the Senate for so long has learned to just play party politics and do whatever will get you votes. I truly believe that every representative, senator, mayor, governor, etc. first goes into their job thinking about what needs to change in this country, with lofty goals and plans on how they can get it done, but after being in office for so long just kind of get jaded on the lack of anybody else's willingness to take any large steps because it would lose them votes. Obama hasn't been a senator long enough yet to lose those kinds of goals, and the President of the United States has more influence over politics than a senator from Illinois.

That, and I like him as a candidate much more than Clinton, who's his only significant opponent. His politics fit more in line with line than Clinton's do.

Oh, believe me, that doesn't turn me off at all. A part of what makes me uncomfortable with him is, like SEP said, the whole "I'm a different sort of politician" thing. I can't claim to have voted for him for senate, I was a few months too young to vote during the 2004 elections.

I'd like to try a woman president, but please God no, not Hillary Clinton.

I can tell you why I plan on voting for him if the primaries were held tomorrow: He knows what's going on, and he's a pretty real person, two things most current politicians lack. He doesn't have the "spin" that got Clinton in so much trouble over the years, he'll just come right out and tell you he smoked pot and tried coke, then add a little, "but hey, it was college," to the end of it like just about every person we know already does. He doesn't try to hide his past behind things like "I didn't inhale" or "define 'is.'" Then look at that recent issue with the PM of Australia coming out publicly and bashing Obama's Iraq policy. Obama turned right around and stuck it back in his face without thinking twice. "If Iraq were as important as he said it was, he should send more than 2,000 troops to help." He's also in touch with society. He's got a Flickr stream, a MySpace page, a YouTube portal...hell, his own campaign site doubles as a LiveJournal/MySpace style social networking site.

I look at my own situation...the fact that I know a shitload about computers, but lack of experience and credentials prevent me from getting a chance to showcase my talent. When I do get a chance to work in my field, I'm met with all sorts of comments like, "why aren't you doing something better? You could be making a lot more money at this." I think Obama's situation is very similar. it seems a lot of the people he comes in contact with think he'd be a great candidate, yet he lacks the credentials. I'm hoping there's someone out there willing to give me the benefit of the doubt, so I'm passing along the same treatment to him.

And shit, he sure as hell couldn't do a worse job than the current guy's done. And I'd rather vote for him than fucking Hillary or that weasel ambulance chaser Edwards.

SO.

Where's Christopher Walken in this discussion?

http://www.walken2008.com/index.html

I still don't see what all the hype is about. I don't see Obama as other people do. Maybe I'm missing something. If I went by bills, I'd go with Clinton.

The more I read up on this stuff, the more I'm looking forward to voting for this guy.

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/012595.php

I'd pick him any day of the week over Hillary, but I don't want either in office.

Then who DO you want in office? Hitler?

Umm...he died. I mean, like, he shot himself. Didn't you take history class? Plus a German wouldn't be able to hold the office.

Obviously, because if you dont want Obama or Clinton in office, you are then in the HITLER IN '08 camp.


Seriously though, where fuck did that response come from usurper? Isnt it a bit too early in this discussion to invoke Godwin's Law already?

No, Hillary beat him out this year.

He was Austrian.

Even worse.

Pretty much, my grandpa who came from Bavaria where he lived close to the border of Austria said Austrians are basically German hillbillies.

Have you seen his lips? He has purple lips, like he's always cold. They're weird looking.

politics are INTENSE

That joke response was me wanting to know who he would like to run. This response comes from you being a dick.

Actually, I think a more accurate comparison would be John F. Kennedy. JFK was 43 when he entered the White House, and if Obama wins he will be 45.

Personally, since the first day I heard he was running I thought to myself he is just like Kennedy. He's young, he's feisty, and has good ideas.

One thing I predict is he will not be winning this election. But if he runs for 2012, I think his potential will get him elected, because what he does in Senate from now to 2012 will be under a bigger magnifying glass that all Americans can look over.



And that is basically what I was thinking coming into this topic. Anomaly again hits it right on the dot.



She already ran our country once.

Annnnnnnnddddddddd Obama raises up 25 million dollars to catch up to where Clinton is funding wise with twice the number of donators.

THERE IS HOPE

Yeah no joke, it happened wayyyyyyyyyy to early.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godwin's_law

for those who don't know.


That's all I'm brining to this topic, peace.


This post has been approved by Hillary Clinton.

I've been keeping close to and learning about this guy for the past couple of months, and he seems to be promising.

How are people seeing him differently (if at all) as 2008 nears?

He is much more likable than Hilary, but still comes in second to her.

Basically that, but only in the "Hilary makes more sense for this election while Obama gains more political experience" sense.

As a Republican, Obama is the only Democratic candidate I'd vote for.
Fact of the matter is, this entire "I like him, but he lacks experience," bit is just bull. Another 10 years in Senate won't change the fact that America does not want a black (Yes, it doesn't matter that he's mixed) President.

I think the only reason inexperience hurts Obama is because he can't play the political games. Clinton has been taking shots at him all year, and as soon as he strikes back with honest, straightforward answers, both parties come crashing down on him, because they fear him. After his statements regarding the war on terror, I think he's beginning to realize that he can't get any further without bullshitting his way in.

I'd choose Obama any day out of the year over Hillary, but I don't want either of them to be president.

I'm still not convinced by Obama. I still don't see what's so great about him. Seems to be a typical Democrat to me.

Except for his upbringing.. that's impressive. I'm sick of these stuffy old men with little to no contact or experience with foreign countries or their inhabitants winning office. I mean, come on.. this guy was a goat herder with his Kenyan father!

Actually, no he wasn't. He was raised with his mother. His father (or was it grandfather) I believe was a former goat herder that went on to earn a degree later on. So if he goat herded, that's news to me. But even if he did, how does that qualify someone for president? I heard Bob Dole was born into poverty, he wasn't a rich kid like JFK, but his background isn't interesting nor impressive (from what he came from)?

In the 1900's, many politicians had backgrounds that included first generation immigrants. It's nothing new. First mixed Vice president? No to that one too. Charles Curtis was vice president from 1929 – 1933.

From all the debates, media releases, and transcripts his position falls very close to every other Democrat. The only thing different from others is his inexperience. I don't know about you, but I don't think a manager (with not a lot of experience) of a McDonald's could run the entire McDonald's corporation as a CEO. Same goes for our country.

Yeah, he actually did herd goats with his father. And yes, you have a point, but I think it's a little extreme to be comparing his rags-to-riches to climbing the McDonald's financial and social totem pole. This is a little different. He may not have much experience in politics, but I think he's got the most progressive platform and that's what this country needs. Sadly though, he's abandoning his initial progressive ideas and creating his own versions of the other washed-up platforms of all of the forerunners. That's what disappoints me, and I suppose that's what makes him the "typical" Dem., but we'll see.

Well, now I know. But goat herding is just unique, nothing impressive.




I just picked a random business. No one would want some new manager to run an entire corporation, I was just using McDonald's as an example. He is new to politics, I don't want a man new to politics to run the superpower of the world.

I also wouldn't consider him a candidate for "rags to riches". I don't think he was raised that poor.



That's exactly what I'm getting at. His platform is the basically the same as any other Democrat, centrist even (along with Clinton). If you want a real progressive, go with Dennis Kucinich* (not that I'm endorsing him, I'm a moderate anyways).


*EDIT: Sorry, messed up there.

Hilary Clinton is gonna win the Democratic bid, everyone hates Hilary so they vote republican. we have another republican in thw white house. GOD I HATE HER.

Yeah, that's pretty much how I predict it will go. However, we can't say that all Republicans will automatically be bad, just because Bush was.