Wet-Behind-The-Ears

[jasd]

>>Still, wouldn't surprise me if I read more and know more about US politics than a reasonably large proportion of those who *d0* vote there...<<

Wouldn’t surprise me either; further, I expect you’ll someday ‘see the light’ and move to the right – as all other righteous – *d0*? (allusion?)

Speaking of ‘reasonableness’ – and the subject of this thread, that is, Barak Hussein Obama – why? would any good-thinking American want as POTUS someone who is demonstrably and uniquely unqualified to undertake the large decisions required by the office? Yes, technically,

Obama qualifies..., but experience-wise!? Yikes!? c’mon... we’re not about requitement of social grievances perceived – but about our very Nation and the welfare of our posterity – all of them, regardless of pigmentation.

Moreover, he is touted by the very ones who’ve been so vociferous regard the qualifications of the resident POTUS – who was and is – eminently

more qualified to sit in the office – than him touted! Go figure.

Sheesh (stipulating that I would vote Black, Pink, Green, Polka-dotted or other – if such was qualified and deserving),

given the present scenario...,

why not instead (if there is racial preference in the mix – for shame) draft Harry Belafonte? Same political bend with, additionally,

gray hairs attesting to the chance of greater worldly-wisdom.

[Bravus]

Mmmm, I'm not sure Dubya was so much more experienced when he gained the role...

[jasd]

Begging to disagree...:

Guvn'r of Texas?

Huge! a sight more 'chits and chips' than that offered by the office of a Senator - when questing the highest office in the land, yes?

[Dr. Shane]

George Bush had actually completed his first term as governor and was half way through his second term. Moreover he grew up in a political home. His dad had been a congressman, UN ambassador, director of the CIA, chairman of the RNC, chief liaison to China, Vice-President and then President. Growing up in such a political home, George W. was well prepared to become President himself.

Now some want to say he can't claim his father's experience. While it is true, his father's experience isn't his directly, he does have experience himself because of his father's experience much like Hillary Clinton has experience herself because of her husband's experience. We can't say that none of Bill Clinton's experience in politics should be credited to Hilary. Certainly Hilary shared in some of that experience much like George W. shared in some of his father's experience.

Obama... well, I can't see how he is in the same class with Hilary or George W.

[Bravus]

Yeah, I guess you're right on that. I actually don't know enough about how successful his time was as governor of Texas to make a useful judgement - after all, I'm not sure just being in the role counts as experience so much as what you do with it. But Shane is in a much better position than me to judge that, having lived in Texas at the time.

The 'experience' issue was played out in the recent Australian election too, and we ended up choosing the less experienced person, on the basis of a number of other issues. It could be argued that if you always opt for experience in the system, you'll keep on getting people whose ideas are shaped by the system.

Just one other note - colour has nothing to do with my preference of Obama over Clinton either. I'm really just talking about the front-runners. As I think I said before, Kucinich is the one whose values actually align best with mine.

[Bravus]

On Huckabee, this from Salon:

"The most egregious offender against basic American civics today is Huckabee, who told a group of students at Liberty University, the center of higher learning founded by the late Jerry Falwell, that his sudden rise in the Iowa polls is an act of God. He compared the improvement in his political fortunes to the New Testament miracle of the loaves and fishes. He wasn't joking, as both his demeanor and his words demonstrated.

The Rev. Huckabee has proved willing to risk his oversold reputation as the "nice" evangelical with a primary strategy that draws attention to his qualifications as a "Christian leader," in contrast to the suspect Mormonism of Romney. Huckabee was honest enough not to deny that he believes the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a cult -- and in fact, many if not most of his fellow Southern Baptists regard the LDS church as a satanic cult."

Basically, Huckabee is the most worrying of all the candidates on both sides on religious liberty grounds. He's exactly the kind of devout leader who could easily introduce a Sunday Law. Not saying he will, but a Huckabee-led US would be less tolerant of views other than his.

[Bravus]

More on Huckabee: http://www.salon.com/politics/roadies/?last_story=/politics/roadies/2007/12/10/huckabee_on_aids/

The fact that you may agree with him does not make the idea of sexuality-based apartheid any more constitutional.

[carolaa]

Yeah, I know my 2c worth is only worth about 1.9c on current exchange rates because it's in Australian cents!

Still, wouldn't surprise me if I read more and know more about US politics than a reasonably large proportion of those who *d0* vote there...

Oh, but your opinion (2c worth) is very valuable because it's in Australian "sense"! :smilewink:

[lazarus]

I think it can be a mistake to assume that an individual has gained the right experience because they have occupied a particular position. Of course being governor of Texas will have afforded GWB experience but was it the right kind of experience to enable HIM to perform well in the office of president.

People benefit and develop differently even when occupying the same role.

As first lady, Clinton may have gained the experience necessary to enable her to be president because of the kind of person she is and natural abilities that she has. On the other hand a two term governor may not have garnered the experience to become an effective president because perhaps they didn't make the best of the opportunities they had and they simply lack sound leadership skills.

[Neil D]

Quote:

As I think I said before, Kucinich is the one whose values actually align best with mine.

Yeah, he gets my vote too...unfortunately, his down to earth principles don't get much in the way of advertising with the main stream media...AS someone once imtimated, it doesn't sell newspapers....

[Dr. Shane]

We know that Bush's experience was sufficient to be President. He got elected, re-elected and has governed during time of economic turbulence and war. the anti-war crowd hates him because of the war, obviously, but looking at all the stats of what has happened during his terms in office, he certainly cannot be rated any worse than previous Presidents.

Hillary, well... she has yet to be elected so we really don't know how much being Bill's wife helped her. I am willing to say a lot. I think being first lady would be bound to prepare a person to be President. Look at Edith Wilson. She was the "Secret President". She pretty much finished up her husband's term for him.

[lazarus]

We know that Bush's experience was sufficient to be President. He got elected, re-elected and has governed during time of economic turbulence and war. the anti-war crowd hates him because of the war, obviously, but looking at all the stats of what has happened during his terms in office, he certainly cannot be rated any worse than previous Presidents.

I think GWB is someone who was elected because of his experience but evidently his experience did not transfer well. I think most will agree that has not been an effective president. His job approval shows that.

One thing that he may have claimed as evidence of success, the economy, does not look very healthy right now.

I believe many will suggest he's shaping up to be one of the worst presidents and thats not just the anti-war crowd.

[Woody]

Quote:

I believe many will suggest he's shaping up to be one of the worst presidents and thats not just the anti-war crowd.

I would hardly place a convicted felon with the same class as George W. Bush. Hardly. Come on man. Just because his wife is running for president?

[lazarus]

convicted felon????

[Woody]

Yep .... Bill Clinton.