Closer?
The Illinois Democrat said he could no longer stand by the statements he made after his 2004 election and earlier this year that he would serve a full six-year term in Congress. He said he would not make a decision until after the Nov. 7 elections...The pundits and the public are sure to dissect the prospect of his candidacy over the weeks and months to come. Many will say that he doesn't have the 'experience' to be President.
"I'm not sure anyone is ready to be president before they're president," Obama said. "I trust the judgment of the American people..."We have a long and vigorous process.
Should I decide to run, if I ever decide to, I'll be confident that I'll be run through the paces pretty well," Obama said.
A number of people have said that they would rather see him run for Governor in 2010 and then move onward.
But Barack is a clear example of what can result from the right candidate being in the right place at the right time. The same man who got beaten handily by Congressman Bobby Rush has gone on to international superstardom while proving to the public that he had the goods all along.
I believe that he has the intellect, character and visceral traits necessary to re-engage and unify a disillusioned country...and that may be just what the American public is yearning for.
posted by Rep. John Fritchey @ 10/22/2006
10 comments
10 Comments:
Assuming the current polls in the governor's race are accurate, would you trust your predecessor at State Representative to appoint someone decent to fill the final two years of Obama's term, should the Senator run for President and win?
For a long time I thought that it was just too early for Senator Obama, and that may still be the case. I anguished over supporting Sen. Edwards last time around, wishing that he just had been re-elected to the Senate once or had been a governor or rep before making the presidential run.
The feelings about experience may still be valid. But after reading Barack's second book, it occurs to me that what he has to offer may be right for this time, and not another time. In one sense, he is a picture of the America to be (mixed background). In another sense, he is a major step back from the politics of destruction, as his temperament is clearly a thoughtful and deliberate one. The quote that Joe Klein found for his Time article was telling--the one from the fellow who had been at Harvard Law with Obama, who was part of a growing (but still minority) group of conservatives, who, in a practical sense, realized that Obama would be the easier liberal to deal with--he would actually consider their arguments.
Lane Evans once told me that Obama reminded him of Bobby Kennedy. I think that's true in a couple of ways--in a sense, the debate over whether he should run in 2008 has some parallels with whether RFK would run in '68--but it's more than that. I referred to Obama as a liberal--and by votes and position, he is, as Bobby was, but has the same "problem" with liberals that RFK did...he doesn't care for the doctrinaire, lock-step tendency of some on our part of the political spectrum.
That kind of thoughtfulness, in addition to his charisma and intelligence, may be enough to say that 2008 would be the year that his gifts would best suit the country...maybe.
Randall,
Should he still be Governor, you could see him appointing whoever he feels is his biggest obstacle (Lisa Madigan?) to get them out of his way.
Not sure what to say about this. I guess it's great that this is what the American people want. I just hope Barack doesn't get himself into something he isn't ready for. And I say this as a person who's not a big fan of his.
My guess is that Rod would appoint himself :)
How about the prospect that if Topinka becomes Governor, and Obama ran and won, then Topinka gets to appoint our Jr. Senator?
I will support Obama in whatever he does, but an Obama run for Governor in 2010 could be EXACTLY what this state needs.
I've generally been in the camp of "wait and get more experience". But lately I've been thinking that being an experienced politician has more to do with taking the time to build alliances and make your party feel that you've "earned" it than it does with policy knowledge and how to execute those policies.
With the way the media is currently working I think the idea of building alliances is outweighed by having a message and knowing how to deliver it. I say strike while iron's hot!
: )
Obama is not truly running for President.
He is running for the national exposure designed to gain acceptance this time as the Veep nominee on the Clinton ticket. A win by the democrats would enable Obama to get four to eight years of experience on the world and national stage.
That will place him in 2016, other things being equal, in the best position for a Presidential run.
This is reminiscent of when the media gave Jesse Jackson Sr. a free pass. I wouldn't over estimate the significance of the buzz. Obama did get himself elected to the US senate, but remember what a joke that election was. In essence, he ran unopposed. He'll probably need to come up with some real accomplishments to impress voters on the national stage.
Post a Comment
<< Home