The office that Barrack Obama is seeking is President of the United States, which is described as follows:
United States Constitution: Article II
Section 1. The executive power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America.
So, when we arrive at the question of whether he has sufficient relevant experience to quiet our doubts we would simply ask: of what institutions, corporations, organizations, polities, etc. has he been the chief executive, the ultimate decision-making authority?
Our answer is: The Harvard Law Review, if we choose to count it as significant. But ... but ... but he was a community organizer! He organizes communities. He went into a chronically poor, gang-infested part of Chicago and ... put everything in alphabetical order! Sorted the gang-bangers by the color of their gang colors, even.
The truth of the matter is that many Senators are lifelong legislators, rather than past executives, and that's why we rarely elect them president. Not to mention that the legislators we have elected (and those who were primarily creatures of the legislature--like LBJ, despite his vp experience) have been such disasters. The sole exception may be Abraham Lincoln, but they aren't growing the Great Emancipator on trees.
The best presidents have been men with experience as governors (with a couple generals thrown in): Washington, Polk, FDR, Ike, Reagan, Clinton, and W, for example.
There are, in the Senate today, a few former governors who would certainly be considered to have the requisite experience, temperament and judgment to be good presidents: Evan Bayh & Lamar Alexander come to mind most readily.
It just so happens that Barrack Obama and Joe Biden are not two of those so qualified and that John McCain's main exercise of executive authority came in the military, where he was, of course, subordinate to others.
Indeed, if we look at the two tickets and ask which of the 4 persons thereon is most qualified the unavoidable answer is the Governor of Alaska, and former mayor, Sarah Palin.
There are plenty of reasons to favor or disfavor each of these four people--their politics, their personality, their values, etc.--but if the sole criteria by which we were judging them was their Constitutional qualification, then it is obviously the executive who is best suited to be Executive.
Posted by: Mike ||
08/31/2008 11:00 ||
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#1
But ... but ... but he was a community organizer! He organizes communities. He went into a chronically poor, gang-infested part of Chicago and ... put everything in alphabetical order! Sorted the gang-bangers by the color of their gang colors, even.
So, like, you're saying, the head honcho of the LA Bloods or Crips has executive experience too?
I'm actually putting a little edge on my criticism just to make up for the fact that on MSNBC last night somebody said, quote, "it wasn't a speech: it was a symphony." I'm sorry; I won't even name who did it. I am here to balance that bit of fatuous -- fatuous suck-upping!
Watch Peggy Noonan destroy Andrea Mitchell o MSNBC at link
Then, at noon, I tuned in to see Palin in Dayton. I suppose I'd half expected a female Dan Quayle, the unknown sprung upon us as George H.W. Bush's unexpected choice (presumably to appeal to younger voters) in 1988. But the moment she strode on stage, accompanied by her fisherman/oil worker husband and a gaggle of kids with strange names, it was apparent that she was different. No deer in the headlights, this was obviously a confident woman.
More to the point, there's what she is confident--and forceful--about: fighting for energy independence and against earmarks; cutting property taxes and otherwise taking on even those special interests which generally have a hold on her own party. Then there was the personal stuff: the son in the army, en route to Iraq; the Down's Syndrome child who has so clearly enriched her family's life; her history as a high school basketball star, including, (as we later learned) the time she played in a championship game, Kerri Strug-like, with a fractured ankle.
If, as one commentator observed, McCain's pick was a classic fighter pilot's move, as risky as it was daring, the plain-spoken, gun-toting Palin is the kind of strong and independent woman who, a few short generations back, helped conquer the West. Lots of liberal women politicians call themselves strong and independent--and spend their careers relentlessly working for programs that increase people's dependence on government. Palin could hardly be more different. She is the anti-Barbara Boxer.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/31/2008 00:00 ||
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OK, shes's philosophically Fred Thompson. Thank God she she doesn tlook like him. /heh
And my wife says I have to post this for the women here (she thinks he's a "Man man", not one of those metro things):
#8
(she thinks he's a "Man man", not one of those metro things)
OldSpook, commercial fishermen cum oilman union workers cannot by definition be metrosexual. Not to mention retired Marines, as I hear Mr. Palin is. The gentleman is successful in his chosen areas of endeavor, and as Barbara says, is pleased that his wife is successful in hers -- and as equally willing to support her work as she has been his.
That, my dears, is what grown-up men look like, when they wear their red power ties.
#9
commercial fishermen cum oilman union workers cannot by definition be metrosexual. Not to mention retired Marines, as I hear Mr. Palin is
Those things, and 4 time winner of a grueling and dangerous 2000 mile snow machine race through the wilderness. This year he and his partner only came in 4th though when he broke his arm 400 miles short of the finish. Slowed them up a little but he didn't seek medical treatment until the finish line.
No, he's not a metro. He seems to be what good men have always been: strong, hard working, making a living for his family. Not a whiner and if I had to guess, I'd say his nails have never been buffed nor his hair cut by $200 stylists. And he doesn't appear to think someone owes him a living or a microphone.
#10
I also suspect they will not retire to Georgetown or Alexandria.
The anti-Barbara Boxer point is very well stated. Her effect o the country could be much greater than being the first female Vice President and I hope it will be.
#11
Got to say I am smitten by her. The drive-by and DNC (I repeat myself) have so little on her that it must be driving them crazy. She gave BACK the bridge to nowhere? You can't find a single Democrat that would EVER give back federal funding.
#12
I like her and her whole family. Washington really needs a breath of fresh air like this. Who knows, she might actually clean up that scummy town a bit. Maybe we won't even have to burn it to the ground and start over either.
#13
The democrats are going crackers because she is Pro-Life, young, smart, and apparently cannot be bought off. Being young means... she has legs and could be around to haunt their evil arsses from a very long time. Can you imagine a one term president followed by an experienced candiate such as Sarach Palin, with General Petreaus as her running mate in 2012? Slick and the Hildebeast might as well check into an assisted living center.
#15
I have this funny feeling that in her debate with Biden he will not be able to help himself and will do and say something totally "metro" foolish and end up looking like the pandering, pompous, narcissistic jerk he has always been. On the other hand, if he doesn't - I believe she will eat him alive on the issues simply because she knows the price of bread and milk and has 5 kids that are not K street denizens and one of whom is willing to voluntarily serve his country in combat. There is nothing like doing battle with an accomplished woman who is a mother of 5 and can shoot your lights out. I hope Joe tries to do a Rick Lazio on her. God help him!
Posted by: Jack is Back! ||
08/31/2008 10:33 Comments ||
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Then, at noon, I tuned in to see Palin in Dayton. I suppose I'd half expected a female Dan Quayle, the unknown sprung upon us as George H.W. Bush's unexpected choice (presumably to appeal to younger voters) in 1988. But the moment she strode on stage, accompanied by her fisherman/oil worker husband and a gaggle of kids with strange names, it was apparent that she was different. No deer in the headlights, this was obviously a confident woman. 
