Obama Just Knocked It Out Of The Park

Bush was voted in because he had experience as Governor of Texas (I think he was pretty successful at it too), had experience in business, was the son of a former President, came from money and influence, and was likable enough to have a majority vote for him.

Obama and Bush are apples and oranges. Obama's entire life is one of a desire to learn and help. If it wasn't he never would have finished high let alone Harvard law school and then into politics. He's obviously ambitious (this could be good and bad), and I'm not saying he'd make a good President. All I'm saying is that I think his bid makes sense.

Anybody who has attended law school is familiar with murky, boring, technical details. Law school is nothing but technical laborious detail. Lawyers routinely come across conflicing advice and statements and it is their job to make sense of it and go with the 'right' decision. This wouldn't be something new for Obama.

its fun to watch the same people bat their heads against the wall over and over

Nice to see him throw his Grandmother who raised under the bus trying to get elected.

Pretty much everyone knew Gore was far more knowledgeable about the issues than Bush. In terms of knowledge and experience, Gore was far more suitable than Bush. Based on those things alone, Gore would have won without a problem. The conservative base, while very significant, would by itself not have been enough to deliver the victory to Bush.

The reason he won was likability. Moderates could identify more with the guy posing as a "regular Joe" than with a born bureaucrat like Gore.

As for Obama... his entire life is one of a very strong ambition. Ambition, coupled with intelligence and charisma, is more than enough to ensure success. No desire to help or learn is needed for that.

That is not to say that Obama does not have a desire to help. I'm sure he does. About his desire to learn, however, I'm less sure. More importantly, I am rather unsure about how good of an idea it is not to spend significant time learning the details of the trade before running for president, instead of planning to learn them after being voted in.

Like you, I am unsure whether he'd make a competent president. Looking at the current US economy, that worries me. When the economy is failing, taking large risks seems like a rather bad idea to me.

Familiar with murky, boring, technical details? Yes. Familiar with the relevant murky, boring, technical details? No.

Being a senator was the perfect opportunity to learn about the relevant details. Instead, he chose to spend his time on other things.

Very good points Libertine. I guess we'll see what happens and cross our fingers for the best.

Thanks.

I'd like to add, though, that I would love to see him as president - 4 or 8 years from now, after he's gained more experience in the Senate, and has proven himself to be a competent legislator as well as an inspiring and charismatic personality.

The TRUTH SHALL SET YOU FREE

The dems are giving it them by only putting up really weak candidates. I am not anti women or anti black but lets face it there are folks that are. Add in hilary's past and Obama's lack of one and crap, the republicans actually have a chance.

I have always stated he should have waited 8 years. Now I wonder if his jumping the gun will have a negative effect 8 years from now.

not even close

wtf? Bush had experience? he was the friggin' governor of Texas, a state where the governor doesn't wield much power, if George Bush Sr. literally had a retarded son not one who's just a little slow he'd still have been able to get him the governorship of Texas.

comparing Dubya's achievements and Obama's prior to running for the presidency is a joke - Dubya bailed on the National Guard his daddy got him into to avoid the Vietnam War, was a cokehead overaged frat boy until he was 40, then handed an oil company that went bust under him, a baseball team that was a disaster on and off the field, then became governor of Texas.

haha - can you imagine Dubya being the editor of the Harvard Law Review?

with the economy teetering on the abyss though I'd be very concerned to elect a Democrat - the Republicans aren't much better fiscally now but a Democrat really could crash the country into a devastating long Depression.

so will another 10 years in Iraq and possibly another war with Iran...sorry I'll take my chances with the Dems this time around

Agreed.

I'd love for Obama to say that he'd have a ticket with Edwards. It may be premature, but I really think that would help. I think they would make an admirable team at least as far as knocking off the McCain/Bush machine. Edwards got shafted by all the 'change' hoopla but that may bite the Dems in the ass if they don't pick somebody like him back up and put him in the game with them.

Heck, even Hillary could do the same - say she'll have Edwards as VP.