Obama "announcement" on Monday Night Football

[beaconess]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOS358God_E

[SmellsLikeDeanSpirit]

1. I must admit, Obama just has "it."

[Bullet1987]

2. LOL...

...just showing everyone how down to earth he is. DA DA DA DAAAA!!!!

[beaconess]

5. I love that in sports bars across the country, countless bubbas got their first intro to

Obama through this good-natured, yet hip, riff on Monday Night Football.

[Mojorabbit]

21. You are right

He does have "it". I can't think of anyone since JFK who has had as much charisma.

[tridim]

3. The guy is certainly a great speaker and very charismatic

It's just too bad he lacks executive experience.

[beaconess]

4. Yeah - we'd better stick with Bush, since he has more than 12 years of executive experience

He's MUCH more qualified than Obama . . .

[tridim]

7. No, but Gore is.

Do you really believe I support Bush over Obama? I sure hope not.

[beaconess]

9. Why wouldn't you support Bush over Obama - if executive experience matters so much to you

Bush should beat out Obama, shouldn't he?

[hippiechick]

11. ohfercripessakes.

:eyes:

[tridim]

18. You're assuming Obama is the only Democratic candidate

I'm not.

[beaconess]

19. I'm not either - the same argument would hold regardless who the candidate is

Bush has more experience as president than any of the potential or declared Democratic candidates. Therefore, at least according to those who insist that the lack of executive experience disqualifies Obama, doesn't that make Bush more qualified to be president than anyone in the Democratic field?

[tridim]

22. Is Bush running in 08? It seems you think he is.

Seriously, let's get down to basics here.. What's your point? I mean, beside the fact that Obama's your candidate of choice, which BTW I have absolutely no problem with.

My only point is, IMO there are many other candidates who are more qualified than Obama. No need to read anything else into it, like "You must want Bush to be president again because you don't think Obama has the experience needed for the job". That's just stupid.

[beaconess]

25. My point is that the argument claiming Obama doesn't have enough experience

as a Senator or in an executive capacity doesn't hold water in light of clear evidence - embodied by the current president - that experience is not the only thing that determines whether someone will make a good president.

Of course I know that Bush is not running again - but that does not in any way undercut my point.

We look at someone's experience as a senator or a governor or a general, etc. for one reason - they are considered helpful predictors of what kind of president they will be, since unless they've already been president, we have no way of knowing for sure and must try to extrapolate from other experience that we think may be somewhat comparable.

Bush has been president for six years - he now has more experience as president than any other living person, besides Bill Clinton. Yet, any rational observer knows that, notwithstanding all of this experience, Bush is a complete disaster as president - so his experience as president has obviously done little to make him a better president. Which means that it is also means that it is possible that people with other kinds of comparable experience - senator, governor, etc. - would not necessarily be able to translate that experience into a successful presidency. Therefore, while it may be somewhat instructive, it is clear that previous political experience is NOT necessarily an accurate predictor of the likelihood of success as president.

How could that be? Because there are so many other factors that go into whether one is a good president. Bush could have been governor of Texas for 20 years, served as president for 8, gotten the 22nd Amendment repealed and served for another 20 and STILL would not make a good president - because he lacks most of the attributes one needs in order to govern wisely.

We have had a number of other presidents who did not have much political experience who have been outstanding presidents. We've had others who, despite their vast political experience, have been disasters.

So that's why I don't buy the argument that Obama doesn't have enough experience to be president. Maybe he lacks the qualities one needs to have to be a successful president - we'll learn much more about him in the coming months if he decides to run - but if it turns out that he's not qualified to be president, it won't be because he didn't have a weighty enough resume.

[venable]

23. I hope you're kidding

first off, nobody said they preferred bush, but your thinking that the very idea of executive experience is meaningless....well, you need to talk yourself down a bit from your Obama high, and take a look at what you are saying.

Obama does lack executive experience...does this mean that he shouldn't be president? I don't think it means that.

Does this mean executive experience is worthless (as you seem to suggest)? I hope you don't believe that.

[beaconess]

26. I never said executive experience is meaningless

I actually think it is very meaningful. I just don't think it is the ONLY factor we should be considering. And I don't think that the lack of it is an automatic disqualifier.

[jobycom]

12. Bush had little going in, and that's a big part of his problem. Do we want

to make the same mistake as the Republicans? It's a serious question. Just because Bush is still bad at the job despite his experience doesn't mean that experience is unimportant. And Obama doesn't just lack executive experience, he lacks all political experience. Having the right ideology and lots of charisma just might not be enough. I want to be a rock star, but I can't sing or play an instrument. Being president is a bit harder than being a rock star.

Obama might be able to convince me, but I'd have to see him in the heat of a campaign before making up my mind. Those who say "X had no experience (or lots of experience) and he did well (or poorly)" doesn't matter one little bit. Lack of experience is a huge consideration.

[beaconess]

15. He will have been in politics for more than 11 years by 2008

How does that equate with lacking political experience?

Do you assume that the only experience that qualifies one for the presidency is in the federal government?

Did you have the same problem with Edwards?

[jobycom]

24. Yes, on each question

I have the same problem with Edwards.

Yes, he needs some experience that would equate with running a nation to run a nation. State senator really doesn't do it for me.

And yes, he lacks political experience. By 2008 he will have worked at the federal level for three years (four by the end, but if he runs for president, he won't be doing much senatoring that last year). That's not enough experience for me to feel comfortable. As I said, maybe he can persuade me, but it will take some doing.

[independentpiney]

17. Lincoln and Kennedy had little experience going in n/t

[ieoeja]

28. Bush had a LOT of executive experience going in.

I wouldn't exactly call president of two oil companies, an executive position with the Texas Rangers and a term+ as governor of Texas "little" experience.

Okay, he was a complete failure in each case. And the first job in his entire career was president of an oil company (nothing like working your way up). But on paper it certainly looks good.

[jobycom]

30. I'd call that less than little

He was a figurehead for the Rangers, a "senior partner" for Arbusto, and CEO of Spectrum 7 for two years, IIRC. he was governor for 6 years, and that's all the previous experience he had. That's little experience, especially considering the specifics of the Texas governorship--very weak.

[caledesi]

29. Hey VP is fine with me. Experience? Like * had experience?

He met, what, every two years with the Texas legislators?

If you don't think Obama has experience, read his books. The man is a natural and very bright.

[FrenchieCat]

6. Very cute......

Liked this a lot......in particular the grin at the end!

Still waiting to see what the media does to him once he announces. That's gonna be the interesting part.

[beaconess]

10. The grin IS a clincher, isn't it?

[FrenchieCat]

13. Yep......

Definitely!

He certainly is personable.....that is something that cannot be taken away from him. period.

[JAYJDF]

8. Thanks for the youtube link.

Every time I see Obama I like him more and more.
He just seems sincere, open, honest.
People are going to have a tough time finding any weaknesses.

[thereismore]

14. That smile, it gets me right inside. Al + Hussein for 08. nt

[jefferson_dem]

16. thanks for the youtube link.

other perspectives and video from today show in other DU thread, if people are interested.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x2903291

[Eurobabe]

20. God I love this guy!!!

LOL.

[brazos121200]

27. Obama is "Lincolnesque" in his manner of speaking

in a common man's language, and coincidentally has just as much political experience as Lincoln did when HE was nominated for President in 1860.

[liberalpragmatist]

31. Moreso

Lincoln had 8 years in the Illinois House of Representatives and 2 years in the US House of Representatives.

Obama, if elected in '08, will have had 7 years in the Illinois Senate and 4 years in the U.S. Senate.

[brazos121200]

34. I know, I was only talking about their national political experience .

in the Congress.

[AtomicKitten]

32. I'm loving this guy.

:)

[nickshepDEM]

35. Me too. He's great.

[IndianaGreen]

33. His self-deprecating humor is a hit and a welcomed change

from Bush's overblown sense of self-importance.

He has the "right stuff" for TV!