Comments | semerkhet: Election Day Fun

semerkhet

Election Day Fun

Nov 07, 2006 14:11

I saw a clip of Bill Clinton stumping for Jim Webb in Virginia, and I think he summed up the Republican campaign pretty well with this statement, and I'm paraphrasing slightly, "...they're (Democrats) going to tax you into the poor house. On your way to the poor house you're going to meet a terrorist on every street corner. When you try to run ( Read more... )

Comments 6

whymc November 7 2006, 21:56:08 UTC

I'd go with Russ... Obama has some charisma going on, sure, but don't sell Russ short - the man does have passion and conviction, and he's no slouch as a public speaker. I worry, too, about the fact that Obama, like Clinton, seems to actually be more of a centrist, and I'm convinced that that's not actually the right approach.

likethebeer November 8 2006, 01:24:13 UTC

I've been against Russ running because (a) I want him here in our state, (b) I know he'll get creamed* and (c) I don't want him to be put through the image machine that will take away everything I love about him.

Barack Obama, though. Damn, I heard him on WPR the other day and for some reason, he makes me giddy. It's crazy! I looked at mda and said, "I know now how people felt about JFK." Just giddy. ANd I can't explain it. Except he's so cool and so eloquent. It's totally non-intellectual, but, yah. On the other hand, I really don't want him to blow his wad by trying this time around.

So I'm against no one running, basically.

*I was visiting my republican folks in a conservative (read: incredibly rich) suburb of Philly this past weekend, and there was an ad against a certain Dem. They tried to scare the dickens out of people by saying that the candidate was an extreme (scary) liberal; she's like Nancy Pelosi, like Hillary Clinton, like Russ Feingold (etc.) I told my mom that that's when I know I'm a liberal: I don't think of ( ... )

semerkhet November 8 2006, 02:20:56 UTC

I think there is a certain wisdom in the chain of thinking that goes something like this:

1) There's a pretty decent chance that the Dems have a lock on the Presidency in '08.
2) If Barack Obama runs, whatever deficiencies he might have in experience or by being a black man will be overcome by how unpopular the Republicans have become.
3) If Obama doesn't run, some other Democrat will win.
4) Obama will likely not challenge an incumbent Democrat president.
5) By the time '12 rolls around, Barack will have accumulated the voting record baggage and bad habits from 8 years in the Senate that will hurt him more than his inexperience would '08. Plus, the political situation for Democrats might be less favorable.

I'm not saying I agree totally with this logic, but it's enough to make me think, "Why not?" Plus, can you really get any less experienced in most everything, besides getting drunk and losing other people's money, than Shrub was when he was elected?

likethebeer November 8 2006, 03:04:58 UTC

Ah! But I heard today on _On Point_ that some Repubs hope for a big Dem win now so they can take the presidency in '08. That's something I think about, just because I can't enjoy anything.

If Obama runs in '08, he's at least been out of this country (as opposed to our current pres). A black man as our president? What, are we living in some alternate universe right now?

I'm not a pundit, I just watch. Oh, and vote, and scream at the tv.

A heretic tandu November 9 2006, 16:23:52 UTC

Personally, I don't think Obama should run for president in 08. He's still too inexperienced. He should go become governor somewhere, and run in 12 or 16 (if we get to 16. Whole age is gonna end in 2012, to hear the mayans tell it ( ... )

Re: A heretic semerkhet November 9 2006, 16:41:00 UTC

I think we'll just have to agree to disagree on the Obama thing. I think that a man in his forties with the life experience and education of Obama is perfectly qualified for the job.

I agree with your other points, however. I hope Nancy Pelosi carries out one of her campaign promises immediately. That is, to make some real ethics changes that will help mitigate the sort of pressures that brought down the Republicans. She wants to take anonymity out of earmarks, and enact a bunch of restrictions on lobbying. If the Dems actually do this, it might slow down the process by which the party in power is corrupted. I do agree however, that if we have a Democratic president in '08, it might be better to have one chamber of Congress held by the opposition party. However, I'd prefer that the first two years be all Democrat. There are some things that need to get done that just plain won't get done if Dems don't have complete control. Mostly I'm thinking of universal health care of some flavor and real reform on energy policy, but ( ... )