Obama: Is Ambition Enough?

The notion that any young person should be able to grow up and become President in America is so much a part of our rhetoric, it's a cliche. But in reality, most responsible adults assume there's a bit more to becoming the President of the United States than simply wanting the job.

I found myself pondering the prospect of an Obama General Election candidacy yesterday as I rode the DC Metro to a meeting downtown. It dawned on me that it is Obama's seemingly blind and relatively inexperienced ambition that troubles me most of all about his candidacy.

Obama will be forty-seven in August. He has just two years in the Senate. In a legislative body where tenure means everything, Obama is hardly more than a first grader still growing accustomed to wearing his new school duds. And his previous experience as a "community organizer" and local pol in Chicago hardly appears "presidential" upon closer inspection.

Why on earth this relatively young man wouldn't simply wait the four or eight years he easily could and arguably should have, or didn't quietly pursue a Veep slot is beyond me. Frankly, he desperately needs the seasoning.

Later, downtown, I had the chance to sit down for a brief chat with Roger Simon of Pajamas Media. As part of the conversation, I asked an offhand question as to what he thought of the Obama / Hillary fiasco. Surprisingly, discussing the Obama piece of the puzzle, he volunteered that it was Obama's ambition combined with his lack of experience that troubled him most about the man's candidacy. He basically repeated every concern I had been kicking around in my head while riding downtown. And I hadn't mentioned my thinking to Roger first.

For what it's worth, that coincidence tells me there's something to this whole "ambition combined with a lack of experience" thing as regards Obama. Given that his positions, the little we actually know of them, are stock in trade Democratic Party, though perhaps a bit more leftist, a great many mostly moderate voters might just end up asking themselves, "Why on earth does this man want to be President?" come November.

If they do and the only real answer they can come up with is ambition, Barack Obama is most likely going to fall short of the oval prize he seems to have fixed so prematurely in his relatively young and inexperienced eyes.

Comments

[Worst President Ever]

Gee, an ambitious politician. Who would've thunk it.

You can listen to soon to be President Obama's speech he gave last night:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtL-1V3OZ0c

and compare it to the speech McCain gave last night:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7RuX4pQPLY

Unless there's a lot more racists in America than I think, this is gonna be an Obama / Democratic landslide.

[Dan Riehl]

Geesh, you morons are already starting what will be the standard meme. If you don't vote Obama, you're racist!! Well, that BS just might cost you the election. In the first place, much of America is nowhere near as liberal as your Oba-messiah. And many of us want a more experienced hand in the WH, as opposed to some affirmative action upstart. And ultimately, Americans don't want to be lectured to by a bunch of liberal idiots screaming racial bias every chance they get.

If you really think Obama should win this going away, you are, to quote your queen Rosie - "delusional!"

[JustOneMan]

The Dumbocrat Affirmative Action candidate's reading of the teleprompter last night was very troubling....

"recruit an army of new teachers and give them better pay and more support; to finally decide that in this global economy, the chance to get a college education should not be a privilege for the wealthy few, but the birthright of every American."

Is he saying that the federal government is going to take over the public school system? Is he saying that college is a birthright and not based upon scholastic achievement?

This guy is sounds like he is running for an illionois senate seat in the south side of chicago....
He is nothing more than a lighter skinned Jesse Jackson....

And to correct the media he is not the FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN presidential candidate..he is in fact the FIRST MIXED RACE presidential candidate...

JOM

[Worst President Ever]

Ah, the BS self-righteousness. Republicans, who have a long history of exploiting racial divisions, are going to somehow become the party of light and hope now that we have our first black nominee.

Bush ran as the experienced guy that was going to run government like a business. That's worked out great. And McBush wants to give us more of the same.

If you liked the last eight years, vote for McBush. If you didn't, vote for Obama.

[joeb]

Obama figured carpe diem. If not now when? He was right. He went for it when there was a clear opening. Hillary stumbled and he picked up the ball and ran with it. Also his lack of experience is actually a help to him(voter wise). No old baggage weighing him down like Hillary had/has.
And his mantra of Change change change worked even though it is obviously nothing new. Hillary tried the I am experienced route and that really fell flat to the Change routine. I have lived in DC for 40 years and believe me nothing ever changes in DC except the faces and the names.
Oh happy Day! What a beautiful day! Hillary loses! Hooray! I feel so good today knowing we will not have to put up with her and her husband for another 4 or 8 years. That is a welcome relief. I am a McCain voter. I have been from the get go. I am just so glad Hillary lost. I cant contain myself with glee. It is so great to see the Clintons lose.

[Greyson]

Yeah, These idiots don't know nothing about what it takes to be a president. It concerns me that a black man can come out of the blue, and win the nomination, because he is has no experience at all. What is up with this? It there some sort of conspiracy? Because I don't know nobody in my town who would vote for Oba'messia.

There is no way this man will win the race for president, as he will likely not make it to November.

[Fred Beloit]

If I read Mr. Ever's comments below correctly, and I don't know how they can be read in any other way than as presented, his argument is simple. This election is all, ALL, about race now. Forget conservative, forget socialist, forget foreign and military policy. If you are not a racist you must vote for the Half-African-American Obama for no other reason than that is is half-black. If you vote for McCain you are a racist.

Thanks for keeping things simple, Mr. Ever. Mission accomplished.

Then there is this:
One simply must admire the Llama. Moe is a person of integrity and fairness who is always careful to debate only the issues, like all good libs.

He says: "John McCain pees himself a little - but only because he's got a bladder control issue, not because he's afraid."

These two trools are our adversaries. Makes one proud.

[IslamoLlama]

"-- Yeah, These idiots don't know nothing about what it takes to be a president. It concerns me that a black man can come out of the blue, and win the nomination, because he is has no experience at all. What is up with this? It there some sort of conspiracy? Because I don't know nobody in my town who would vote for Oba'messia. --"

I agree. You need a real man of experience to run. A man who's bankrupted a small oil business, run his state's budget $5 billion into the red, has a history of alcohol and drug abuse, was elected entirely on his father's name recognition, and secretly just wanted to be baseball commissioner.

Why the GOP isn't the go-to party for advise on picking a vetted candidate with real world experience and serious governing potential, I'll never know. What this country really needs is another 4 years of George Bush. Damn you 22nd Amendment!

[Fred Beloit]

joeb reminds us there is good news for us on this beautiful day. The good ship Clintons seem to have been scuttled. Oh joy and happiness sublime. And the Dems picked an unknown, wet-behind-the-ears, newbie and very junior senator to be their candidate for president. And, get this, he is rated the most liberal senator in Washington. Most Americans can't stand liberals and this guy has a 100% certified label.

[jharp]

Fred,

"This election is all, ALL, about race now."

No.

This election is about the war.

And we have one candidate who promises to end it and one who is willing to continue it for 100 years.

And upwards of 2/3's of Americans understand the war was a colossal blunder and is either already won or not winnable.

[IslamoLlama]

"-- Most Americans can't stand liberals and this guy has a 100% certified label. --"

I'm assembling a list of quotes like this, Fred. On November 8th, I promise I'll post them all back here, just because the crow will taste that delicious.

Bring on the Islamo-Fasci-Communism, bitches! Bugga-bugga! Bugga-bugga!

[Worst President Ever]

No, the election is and should be largely about whether the public wants to continue the policies of the Bush Administration or institute a new set of policies. McCain's platform is I'll be Bush III. Since Bush's approval ratings hover somewhere around 30%, the public feels the country is off course, hates the War, etc., it's hard to see McCain winning the election while campaigning in support of those unpopular positions.

[Fred Beloit]

Oh, Harpo, your contributions are always priceless:

"No.
This election is about the war."

It is true, Harpo. Libs always want to surrender when we are winning a war (see Viet Nam). I have the feeling that this time people will demand we stay there long enough to ensure the victory will be permanent.

[Worst President Ever]

Gee, if America hates Liberals, why does the Democratic Party keep growing?

The poll showed 52 percent call themselves Democrats, up from 45 percent in an AP-Ipsos survey in mid-December. Thirty-five percent say they are Republicans, about the same as December's 37 percent.

http://www.sacbee.com/642/story/766729.html

[jharp]

"I have the feeling that this time people will demand we stay there long enough to ensure the victory will be permanent."

You have a lot of selling to do, Fred. And you have about 5 months to do it.

And thank you for the compliment. I'll be the first to compliment you as soon as you come up with something that makes sense.

[Fred Beloit]

Why Mr Ever, you sly trickster, a short while ago you wrote this"

"Unless there's a lot more racists in America than I think, this is gonna be an Obama / Democratic landslide.

Posted by: Worst President Ever | Wednesday, June 04, 2008 at 10:30 AM"

Now you are trying to hope audaciously for and implement this change: "No, the election is and should be largely about whether the public wants to continue the policies of the Bush Administration or institute a new set of policies."

Common now. Stop talking like a politician and pandering to a new position every few minutes. Which will it be? Let's get this established now

[Fred Beloit]

Mr Ever, you are trying to prove the Dems (not the libs, yes there is a difference) numbers are growing by sourcing this March poll about what people say about who they are?

"Published 5:04 pm PST Thursday, March 6, 2008

Print | E-Mail | Comments (0) |

WASHINGTON -- More people say they are Democrats than said so before voting started in this year's presidential contests while the number of Republicans has remained flat, a survey showed Thursday.

The Associated Press-Ipsos poll had additional bad news for the GOP: The number of independents and moderates satisfied with President Bush and the country's direction has dipped to record or near-record lows."

This is all you've got? What about the record lows in the polls concerning how the public feels about the Dem-controlled congress?

[jharp]

Fred,

"What about the record lows in the polls concerning how the public feels about the Dem-controlled congress?"

You do understand how the Congress works, I hope.

And you are aware the composition of the Senate is 49-49-2, I hope.

It's better to remain quiet and let folks think you are dense that to write posts that remove all doubt.

[Mr DeBakey]

"Barack Obama is most likely going to fall short of the oval prize"

Who is going to beat him?
Did you watch McCain's speech last night?

[IslamoLlama]

"-- No, the election is and should be largely about whether the public wants to continue the policies of the Bush Administration or institute a new set of policies. McCain's platform is I'll be Bush III. Since Bush's approval ratings hover somewhere around 30%, the public feels the country is off course, hates the War, etc., it's hard to see McCain winning the election while campaigning in support of those unpopular positions. --"

That's crazy, WPE. We all know that Americans, on a whole, are simply captivated by black people. The sagging economy brought on by lax, business-friendly GOP non-existent oversight coupled with the endless two-front War On Muslims that has crippled the US military and drained away the federal budget has absolutely no effect on the average American voter.

The only reason Obama is winning is because he's like a black Mr Rogers. Once McCain's campaign successfully convinces the public that Obama is not, in fact, a resident of Mr Rogers' neighborhood and will most likely have all the white women rounded up for wild drug-fueled sex parties, the voters will be lining up in droves to get another 4 years of Old Rich White Guy presidential politics.

100 years in Iraq foreign policy shows commitment. Vague comments condemning torture that are not backed up any significant Senatorial votes proves character. Having a balding scalp and liver spots demonstrates experience. Can anyone doubt that John McCain will win November in a landslide?

[JustOneMan]

Gee..so the looney left realizing the weakeness of their Affirmative Action Candidate now want to change the presidential election into a speech contest...what next a spelling bee?, dancing with the politcal stars?

Obama..proof that Affirmative Action does not work!

JOM

[Totally Heterosexual Conservative]

"Is he saying that the federal government is going to take over the public school system? Is he saying that college is a birthright and not based upon scholastic achievement?"

That depends on if you consider what Obama says, or if you merely entertain the lunatic banter that bounces around between your ears.

[Worst President Ever]

No, we want it to be a contest of ideas. Because McBush doesn't have any new ones. Same old, same old.

Ah, the "Affirmative Action Candidate". Code words are just so much fun.

But George Bush isn't running this time. Obama actually got into Harvard on his merits, not on his family name.

[Totally Heterosexual Conservative]

I love it when wingers whine about being labeled as bigots, while in the same breath they also whine about Obama only being where he is because he's black. It's a mystery!

[wally2]

you are correct Dan.

and if we liked condi, we are going to luv Obama

[IslamoLlama]

"-- Gee..so the looney left realizing the weakeness of their Affirmative Action Candidate now want to change the presidential election into a speech contest. --"

Haha! Those devilish Democrats. Oh so foolish. Oh so sneaky. They're trying to turn the Presidential Election into some sort of triviality based entirely on personal appeal and having nothing to do with policy decisions or platform issues.

We all know McCain's position on health care, the economy, and the war are held by a solid 27% of the American public, but the crazy, stupid left isn't going to talk about any of those things. No! They're going to talk about public speaking skills, and that is where they will fail.

No US President has won an election based on superior speaking skills in nearly a decade. Hahaha! Thou art undone foul DemoNcRats! The day is mine!

/swishes rapier, flaps cap, jumps out window

[chris]

I saw that sad, splotchy old man giving a speech this morning while at the gym. He looks like he's running for president of the local senior center! Haha. Bring em on!!!

[JustOneMan]

I saw that black...well sort of...ashey brother giving da speech dis mornin while at da basketball court. He looks like he's runnin for Mulado oh da year...Haha. Bring em on!!!

[IslamoLlama]

"-- I saw that black...well sort of...ashey brother giving da speech dis mornin while at da basketball court. He looks like he's runnin for Mulado oh da year...Haha. Bring em on!!! --"

JustOneMan. Not a racist. We swear.

The white hood and burning cross is just to keep him warm through November.

[chris]

"I saw that black...well sort of...ashey brother giving da speech dis mornin while at da basketball court. He looks like he's runnin for Mulado oh da year...Haha. Bring em on!!!"

Rednecks=dogs Go fill up your tank for Jeebus and GW Bush. Hahaha!!!

[SacTownMan]

Ah the next 5 months should be entertaining. The resident trolls will be repeating their favorite talking points ad nauseam.

So lets make it easier for them and just get the "top 10" list going now shall we:

1. McCain = "Bush 3".
2. McCain wants to keep us in Iraq for "100 years".
3. McCain is too old!
4. Bush lied, troops died.
5. If you don't vote for Barry you're a racist!
6. Democrats are behind the troops. (That's why they continue to try and cut Iraq funding!)
7. Barry will "unite" the country. (As long as you're not one of those 18 million racist's that didn't vote for him or a Republican)
8. We are in a recession.
9. Barry's associations for the past twenty years with various extremists have nothing to do with him.
10.Here's my personal favorite - "That was taken out of context"

So, Lame-O, Harpo, Chris, Bob, Grit Eater, President Carter and others, would you like to add some new ones?

What about you Seeker, LaLa, Fred and other non-haters what moonbat talking points did I miss?

How about another link to the annointed one giving one of his "leg tingling" speeches. That really works as an argument to elect this socialist/communist Manchurian Candidate -

Oops, I forgot this is about the war!

[jharp]

Presidential election odds at linesmaker.com

John McCain 3-2
Barack Obama 1-2

For those who need an explanation.

20 on McCain wins 30
20 on Obama wins 10

Apparently the folks who are willing to put their money up instead of flapping their jaws don't quite see it the wingnut way.

[jharp]

Sac,

I agree with all of your points except

5. If you don't vote for Barry you're a racist!

And you forgot a vote for McCain is a vote for more of same broken health care system.

[chris]

11. McSame couldn't steer his plane out of danger, how can he steer America?

[seekeronos]

"--- Apparently the folks who are willing to put their money up instead of flapping their jaws don't quite see it the wingnut way. ---"

Some folks believe that gambling is a sin.

Betting on the outcome of a presidential contest - especially this early into this phase of the process - seems a tad wasteful to me.

I'm sure that there will be plenty of "surprises" that come down the pike.

"--- Is he saying that the federal government is going to take over the public school system? Is he saying that college is a birthright and not based upon scholastic achievement? ---"

More like expand the bloated Dept. of Ed. and create an impossibly expensive entitlement system for college kids, or worse, collective all post-secondary education (really, really Marxist notion!)

Stick to the GSL loans at 3.5% APY, those seemed to have worked well enough.

[jharp]

"--- Apparently the folks who are willing to put their money up instead of flapping their jaws don't quite see it the wingnut way. ---"

"Some folks believe that gambling is a sin."

And some folks believe torturing people and dropping bombs on civilians is a sin.

Myself, I think all of the above should be against the law.

"Betting on the outcome of a presidential contest... ...seems a tad wasteful to me."

I agree. And it is illegal.

I was just pointing out that those who do gamble heavily favor Obama.

[IslamoLlama]

"-- More like expand the bloated Dept. of Ed. and create an impossibly expensive entitlement system for college kids, or worse, collective all post-secondary education (really, really Marxist notion!) --"

We'd be better off sticking $12 billion / month in a bloated military and create an impossibly expensive occupation effort of Iraq, or worse, whatever large chunks of the Middle East McCain wants to invade next.

Trillions for war, not a penny in domestic spending! The GOP mantra.

[Worst President Ever]

Yeah, too bad McBush couldn't show up to vote on the Webb GI Bill a couple weeks ago. He was too busy fund-raising in California to vote to support our troops.

[joeb]

Gambling odds on who will be President are subject to CHANGE. If you don't believe that ask Hillary Clinton.
Oh happy day! The Clintons have been defeated. How sweet it is!

[Mr DeBakey]

12. Don't forget McCain's wife, C-word. Always follow the money!

[chris]

13. If McLame waits until 2012 to run, he will have even more EXPERIENCE!!

[shockwave]

The ape known as chris has a hang-up about an old man. You're about as charming as a snake, chris, and I'm sure you'll be able to convince thousands to vote for Hussein. Your mission has now been accomplished, as you say.

[shockwave]

"Trillions for way, not a dime for domestic spending. The GOP mantra."

Why don't you offer some proof for that lie, dumb ass?

[IslamoLlama]

"-- Why don't you offer some proof for that lie, dumb ass? --"

Abuh? Just check the budget. No need to get all bitter because you don't keep up with the news.
http://throb.typepad.com/special/2004%20US%20Budget.jpg

With Republicans firmly in control of both Houses of Congress and the Presidency, this is where priorities lay. During the height of Bush spending, when deficit projections were running in the $400 billion / year range, the Bush Administration proposed cuts to Medicare, Social Security, public housing, veteran's health care, after school programs, educational benefits to teachers, and... of course... taxes. He pushed to raise military spending every year he was in office, even before his Emergency Supplementals for Iraq and Afghanistan, and never once vetoed a spending bill for any reason under a Republican Congress.

http://dir.salon.com/story/news/feature/2004/02/24/abstinence/
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2005/02/16/23budget.h24.html
http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget/fy2004/budget.html

Facts fucking hurt. If you're wondering why America is deserting the GOP in droves, check your pocket book. While the taxophobic tear out their hair at the idea of Marxist Radical Barack Obama, they happily pay over half their income tax to Boeing, Raytheon, Halliburton, and an assortment of other corporate government parasites.

All that "raise your taxes!" bullshit doesn't phase the average voter when faced with record deficits after record tax cuts. Few are willing to indulge another 4 years of "Put it on my credit card" Presidency. The fiscal conservative died in 2002, when the Republicans got their greasy paws on the US Legislature. Good luck raising the dead.

[JustOneMan]

IslamoScumbag

Hmmmmm thats right and the Dumbocrats led by Clinton, Kerry, Ghwore, Kennedy and Osama Obama...stood up to those damn republicans and .....and.......um.....er.....VOTED FOR MORE SPENDING....

Thats why guilty liberal looney whites and ignorant minorities are supportung Osama Obama,,,

JOM

[Southern Values]

Sac- The numbering system cheapens the verbal elegance of recounting all the McCain / Bush “highlights”. Kind of the like the Right’s bumper sticker political mindset.

And per Islamolama’s last post - Why do those messy facts always get in the way of my reality?

[SacTownMan]

Hey President Carter,

This must be one of the 100+ times your boy Barry didn't just show up and vote "present"

How bout that great "Uniter" though. He voted right down the party line a whopping 96.5% of the time (Whenever he didn't just vote "Present").

That rebel crossed over nearly 4% of the time!

http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/members/o000167/

FYI McCain voted 88.3% of the time in support of the Republicans.

So McCain is 4 times more likely to vote with the opposition than Barry.

The real fact is McCain didn't like that with the Webb bill the benefits kicked in the same for the 4 year guy as the 20 year lifer. This would only help to ensure a nice high turnover rate in the military and the benefits couldn't be passed on to other family members.

Here was another recent effort by the Democratic congress to "support" our troops.

http://patdollard.com/2008/02/dems-schedule-surprise-vote-to-de-fund-war-today/

I think this was the fifth attempt to screw the troops by the current 23% approval congress.

Not even you and your troll buddies could try and make an argument that someone that won the Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Purple Heart, Distinguished Flying Cross and was tortured daily for 5 years as a POW could be anti-military.

Not every soldier sells out their own like "Genghis" Kerry and the "King of Pork" Murtha did.

Sorry but talking point #6 is in play here. You've got to come-up with something less predictable.

[Worst President Ever]

Hilarious to hear guys that have been changing "support the troops, support the troops" suddenly turn to pretzel logic to explain how bad it is to offer educational benefits to service men.

Read the study, new enlistees offset any loss of troops taking advantage of the new benefits.

Sactoman supports the right of our troops to be cannon fodder. But educate 'em, not so much.

[Worst President Ever]

McCain's missed 60% of the votes this session. I don't think his voting record means a whole lot since he's missed far more votes than he's actually made.

[IslamoLlama]

"-- Hmmmmm thats right and the Dumbocrats led by Clinton, Kerry, Ghwore, Kennedy and Osama Obama...stood up to those damn republicans and .....and.......um.....er.....VOTED FOR MORE SPENDING.... --"

Oh noes, you fail again. Check the voting record, and you'll find that Kerry, Kennedy, and Obama repeatedly voted against war authorization and war funding. Clinton lost her Presidential bid specifically because she DIDN'T vote often enough against the war. And Gore isn't even in the fucking government anymore.

Wow! That's a lot of ignorance. But please, tune back into Rush for another episode of "Democrats always agree with Republicans, except when they never do". You can't waffle fast enough. Either the Democrats really support the war, or they're giant surrender monkeys. Either they've let the voters down by failing to end the war, or they're all on the sides of the terrorists in an attempt lose Iraq through college education benefits and a reliable veterans' hospital system.

But SacTownMan really isn't a threat to the inevitable Obama victory. Let's face it, he's not going to volunteer for McCain. He's not going to donate to support his candidate. I doubt he'll even show up to vote. This is going to be a landslide election because of turn out. The liberals will be turning out in droves to support a candidate they love. The conservatives will be too busy screeching and crying about communists under their pillows and terrorists in their back yards to assemble an adequate defense. And the independents will have been burned one too many times by plutocratic, petulant children of privilege to vote for another GOP wingnut champion again.