Obama -- The Anti-Bush
I don't know if Barak Obama will run and I really don't know if he's experienced enough. But who is? George W. was governor of Texas and as we've seen that didn't help him much. LBJ had served in the Senate for years and later was VP before becoming President and it didn't help in Viet Nam. Of course Lincoln didn't have a lot of experience, though he chose people like William Seward, the former governor of New York to serve in important posts.
Personally, I'm excited by Obama. As a Christian who believes that faith and public life are inseparable (though the institutions are separate) Obama's willingness and ability to speak from the heart about faith and his ability to connect his faith to public policy in a non-coercive, non-dogmatic way is not only impressive, but is very attractive. No Democrat that I know of has been better at this. There is a long time between now and election time and we don't know if he'll run and if he'll be able to sustain the star-power he currently has. I kind of believe that there is such authenticity there that he won't flame out. I also realize that there are other more established possible candidates like Hillary. But there is time and besides everyone seems to know who he is!
This morning in the LA Times Michael Tomasky writes a column entitled "Obama the anti-Bush." Tomasky is editor at large of the American Prospect. He makes the point that Obama more than anyone else is the opposite of George Bush and we as electors look to opposites when making changes.
So, how is Obama different? Besides being able to speak with eloquence, fluidity, and grace! Tomasky writes:
So the time is now. He's not too young -- He'll be 46 or 47 by the time he'd be inaugurated. He'll have 4 years of the Senate under his belt. And, I expect he'll choose a governor like Tom Vilsack or Mark Warner as a running mate.
Only time will tell, but Obama seems well poised to take the crown!
Personally, I'm excited by Obama. As a Christian who believes that faith and public life are inseparable (though the institutions are separate) Obama's willingness and ability to speak from the heart about faith and his ability to connect his faith to public policy in a non-coercive, non-dogmatic way is not only impressive, but is very attractive. No Democrat that I know of has been better at this. There is a long time between now and election time and we don't know if he'll run and if he'll be able to sustain the star-power he currently has. I kind of believe that there is such authenticity there that he won't flame out. I also realize that there are other more established possible candidates like Hillary. But there is time and besides everyone seems to know who he is!
This morning in the LA Times Michael Tomasky writes a column entitled "Obama the anti-Bush." Tomasky is editor at large of the American Prospect. He makes the point that Obama more than anyone else is the opposite of George Bush and we as electors look to opposites when making changes.
"The most reliable guide to presidential winners over the last quarter of a century is not ideology or charisma or any of the other established factors. It is instead what we might call character typology. That is, after four (or especially eight) years of one type of person, American voters tend to turn their affections toward someone who is that person's opposite — someone whose
personality and affect provide a direct contrast to the fellow who's leaving office, who has something the other guy lacked."
So, how is Obama different? Besides being able to speak with eloquence, fluidity, and grace! Tomasky writes:
"If my theory is correct, then 2008, coming directly off of Bush's tenure, will be exactly the right time for Obama to run. His themes and his personality — his agreeable nature and penchant for self-contemplation, so utterly unlike the incumbent's petulant, unreflective swagger — will be uniquely in demand in 2008 in a way they just might not be in 2012 or 2016."
So the time is now. He's not too young -- He'll be 46 or 47 by the time he'd be inaugurated. He'll have 4 years of the Senate under his belt. And, I expect he'll choose a governor like Tom Vilsack or Mark Warner as a running mate.
Only time will tell, but Obama seems well poised to take the crown!
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