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More Obama

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Other Politics
Posted on Mon Oct 23, 2006 at 02:00:21 PM EST
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Bob Herbert says:

The giddiness surrounding the Obama phenomenon seems to be an old-fashioned mixture of fun, excitement and a great deal of hope. His smile is electric, and when he laughs people tend to laugh with him. He’s the kind of politician who makes people feel good. But the giddiness is crying out for a reality check. There’s a reason why so many Republicans are saying nice things about Mr. Obama, and urging him to run. . . . If I were advising him, I would tell him not to move too fast. With a few more years in the Senate, possibly with a powerful committee chairmanship if the Democrats take control, he could build a formidable record and develop the kind of toughness and savvy that are essential in the ugly and brutal combat of a presidential campaign.

Matt Stoller makes a similar point:

when Obama has to face his first round of negative ads, and his first real negative campaign on a state or national level, does he really want to face the charge that he's a pretty face and an empty suit? Is that what he wants to be known as? I hope not. That's not what I want for this incredibly talented and brilliant man, and that's not what I hope for our Democratic Party. That's not what we need as a country, and we're going to get something more than that in the next twenty years.

Politics is a bloodsport. It is not a Kumbaya place. Obama acts as if he does not know that, and to the detriment of his Party right now. And if he sticks to his "gee whiz" ways, he'll learn the hard way personally.

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    • More Obama | 5 comments (5 topical)
    Re: More Obama (none / 0) (#1)
    by cpinva on Mon Oct 23, 2006 at 03:51:04 PM EST
    gee, i must be psychotic, or psychic, or maybe just have some common sense, you make the call! :)

    frankly, it didn't take a rocket scientist to figure this out. mr. obama seems like a nice guy, pretty smart, attractive, nearly the whole package. that said, he lacks substance. by that, i don't mean he's a bush style empty hat, i mean he's not accomplished anything with heft yet.

    no surprise, he's not been around long. give him a few years to mature, and attach his name to legislation of value, then we'll start talking seriously about higher office. maybe 2012. more realistically, 2016.

    Re: More Obama (none / 0) (#2)
    by scribe on Mon Oct 23, 2006 at 04:13:44 PM EST
    Who gives a crap about 2008?  The 2006 election has not yet occurred, and is not nearly decided.  Anything other than making sure people come out to vote for Dems, and don't for Repugs, is beside the point at best, and counterproductive at worst.
    Worry about 2008 after 2006.

    Re: More Obama (none / 0) (#3)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Mon Oct 23, 2006 at 04:24:50 PM EST
    scribe:

    Due respect, skip the post if you don't want to read it.

    Parent

    Re: More Obama (none / 0) (#4)
    by diogenes on Mon Oct 23, 2006 at 08:39:13 PM EST
    Hillary had a failed health plan, six years of being invisible as first lady, and six years so far of avoiding controversy in the senate.
    Obama figured out that people vote for the candidate they LIKE (a la George W. Bush) which is why he can win in red states and blue states.  
    Being accused of being a lightweight certainly didn't hurt the election campaigns of one George W. Bush.

    Re More Obama (1.00 / 1) (#5)
    by aw on Tue Oct 24, 2006 at 12:51:14 AM EST
    So, you say, Obama figured out that people vote for the candidate they "like" like Bush.  How the heck did people decide they liked Bush?  They didn't know anything about him. They liked what was being marketed to them.  (And how do you explain that Gore got more votes?)  I doubt Obama told you what he "figured" out, but if he did think like that, he is as naive as you are.

    Parent
    More Obama | 5 comments (5 topical)