Obama takes the big leap

[CollegeJournalist]

Not sure if you're miss-phrasing things, or miss-understanding things, CollegeJourno, but Romney is a Republican.

Doh! Knew that...just a brain fart...

 

[Double J]

I am not sure that the heartland--and I know he's from Illinois--will support him. All the GOP has to say is "Obama Hussein," show 9/11 footage and his candidacy is down the toilet.

Dumbest comment in the history of the board.

That's quite a statement, considering some of your, um, "contributions."

 

[DyePack]

You can still get runner-up.

 

[Oz]

As much as I like Obama and think he's potentially a JFK-esque leader that this country needs, I am not sure that the heartland--and I know he's from Illinois--will support him. All the GOP has to say is "Obama Hussein," show 9/11 footage and his candidacy is down the toilet.

I do look forward to seeing how the GOP's hitmen slander his character. Compassionate conservatives, indeed.

Disagree. A lot of people in the Heartland love the middle ground. Problem is, they haven't had a middle-ground candidate to choose in some time. Forget the Kansas ties and Chicago background -- Obama is the Midwest because he's humble and honest, and he really doesn't seem to care to bicker or blame.

That would carry some weight, especially given how some have turned on the GOP the past two years.

 

[Lyman_Bostock]

Let's wait and see how well Obama does when he has to confront issues. He does look good and sound good on TV.

Long time until 2008, folks. Lotta things could be different then. But it is humorous watching you all wet your pants just thinking about him.

 

[Oz]

Pandora's Box, Lyman.

 

[Piotr Rasputin]

I like Obama. Don't know enough about him and his stances, but I like what I see/hear so far.

And that just about sums up Mr. Obama. Been a Senator for a short time, wrote a book, preaches bipartisanship at a time when that's the only message that makes sense. Eminently likable, was on the Oprah Winfrey Show hocking his message of Kumbaya, has a memorable name, young and spry enough for people to be inspired in a Kennedy sort of way, the way they forced themselves to be inspired by Clinton.

Hasn't pissed anyone off yet, but if the Democratic party is allowed to twist him as parties twist their national candidates, he will pish someone off.

And then his mettle will show.

For me, no one has my vote at this point. I used to really respect Hillary, but she seems now like so much sound and fury signifying little. McCain has always just been a loudmouth. Straight Talk is his slogan, not his way of being.

Mr. Obama says a lot of pretty words, and his indecisiveness doesn't approach Mr. Kerry's idiocy when he refused to say he was a Red Sox fan on ESPN, trying to avoid pissing anyone off. But I'll hold off on Obama until the substance matches the excellent writing and quality oratory.

 

[Lyman_Bostock]

Pandora's Box, Lyman.

Care to elaborate, Oz? You do realize the rest of America isn't quite as liberal Democratic as this board (not by a long shot).

 

[Oz]

Pandora's Box, Lyman.

Care to elaborate, Oz? You do realize the rest of America isn't quite as liberal Democratic as this board (not by a long shot).

Only thing left in Pandora's Box was hope. Some of us are simply clinging to the hope that Obama might be a good one.

 

[heyabbott]

Four of the last five presidents have been governors. He's got no shot.

43 of the last 43 presidents have been white. He's got no shot.

Actually I don't think that's as big an obstacle as the fact he's got zero experience running anything.

But Bush is a hillbilly, so it's proven anyone can win a presidential election.

So let's repeat that mistake.
What's so substantively special about Obama?

 

[heyabbott]

I hope he gets the nomination just so we'll find out how well his candidacy will do in the south...

Obama is smart, thoughtful, curious, knows how to work with people, will listen to the opinions of experts.

How do you know this? Is that all it takes to be president?
If some smart, thoughtful, curious, lawyer who was on the board of directors of the Gannett Corp came off the street in to the NY Times personnel department, would he be the perfect candidate to be the managing editor or publisher of The Times, or CNN or CBS?

Why is the bar so low for President compared with major corporations and media concerns

 

[Michael_ Gee]

The scenario you outlined happens in private business more often than you might think. The bar is "lower" in politics because we're a democracy. We don't got no stinkin' board of directors (at least not in theory). If enough people think you're the person for the job and bother to vote their belief, you get the job.