Is Barak Obaba a viable Presidential candidate? What advise and concerns should Obama address?

Question

What Presidential candidate has your interests?

Barak Obama/Hillary Clinton ...Democrats
vs.
Rudy Giuliani/John McCain.......Republicans

Would it make for an interesting race for the White House?...Contravercial?


Obama Ties '08 Bid to Lincoln's Legacy

Last Edited: Saturday, 10 Feb 2007, 4:05 PM PST
Created: Saturday, 10 Feb 2007, 9:17 AM PST

U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill. waves to spectators as he arrives to announce his candidacy for president of the United States at the Old State Capitol in Springfield, Ill., Saturday, Feb. 10, 2007. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast) By NEDRA PICKLER
Associated Press Writer
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- Barack Obama announced his bid for president Saturday, a black man evoking Abraham Lincoln's ability to unite a nation and a Democrat portraying himself as a fresh face capable of leading a new generation.
"Let us transform this nation," he told thousands shivering in the cold at the campaign's kickoff.

Obama, 45, is the youngest candidate in the Democrats' 2008 primary field dominated by front-runner Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and filled with more experienced lawmakers. In an address from the state capital where he began his elective career 10 years ago, the first-term U.S. senator sought to distinguish himself as a staunch opponent of the Iraq war and a White House hopeful whose lack of political experience is an asset.

"I know I haven't spent a lot of time learning the ways of Washington. But I've been there long enough to know that the ways of Washington must change," Obama said to some of the loudest applause of his 20-minute speech.

Obama is looking to cap his remarkable, rapid rise to prominence with the biggest political prize of all -- the presidency. His elective career began just 10 years ago in the Illinois Legislature. He lost a bid for a U.S. House seat, then won the Senate seat in 2004, a relatively smooth election made easier by GOP stumbles.

In his speech, Obama did not mention his roots as the son of a man from Kenya and a woman from Kansas, his childhood in Hawaii and Indonesia or the history he would make if elected. That compelling biography has turned him into a political celebrity.

Answer 1

I think the key is that Bush trashing has "legs" - whichever party that can spin that the best will win, but either a minority or a woman must be on the ticket as that is anti-establishment as well. I personally would have a hard time deciding between McCain/Giuliani, Giuliani/McCain, Giuliani/Rice or McCain/Rice.

On the Democratic side Obama has the most anti-Bush "legs" but the feeling for him fades in the heartland. So Clinton/Obama (and this time the prez/veep order must be maintained, not for political correctness but so Hillary's toes do not get stepped on) would to me be the most formidable ticket for Democrats.

It's going to be very interesting and unless there is a severe act of War on Iran's part you should expect to see Hillary as our next President with Obama as Veep, but by about the same margin as in the last election as this country (as if you hadn't noticed) is getting about as polarized as it was right before the War Between the States, so there will be no landslides for the forseeable future, but definitely a Democratic Legistative bias for at least the next five years.

As far as what issues Obama should address, he has to come off as a healer of this great divide forming in our country as well as a person willing to moderate and compromise; he cannot come off as "everyone, if they were smart enough, would realize they should be a Democrat because all Dems are good while even a blind man could see that all Republicans are evil" - that stuff is passe and any such imflammatory rhetoric could only add to the momentum that is building today towards a new Civil War.

Next he has to mention the economy and must make a watershed announcement that some aspect of the Welfare system needs to be overhauled - what better way to start the change than to have the party (Roosevelt's) that started this Big Brother concept to admit that it somehow, as well-intentioned as it was, took a slighly wrong approach and must change tactics to better "promote the general welfare", and in so doing he must address spousal abuse, medical insurance and gangs, and propose better ways to get a handle on such things.

Then he must mention that, as distasteful as the War in Iraq has been (all could agree on that), that the concept of "providing for the common defense" must always be at the heart of our purpose of having a Government in the first place and he must not shrink from the duty of a War with Iran if necessary.

Then he must stop taking as an insult the fact that he has been labeled "eloquent" as a racial slur. As for me I always prefer eloquence to poor grammatical standards. He needs to imagine than nobody can see the color of his skin when they hear him talk (or even care about it as is my own tendency).

Then he must mention that the jury is still not out on Global Warming - that 50% of the professional scientists, although they are obviously aware that polar caps have been melting at an alarming rate, are still not convinced that it is solely the work of Man rather than being caused by nature and merely exaggerated by man - indeed, some still are not willing to conclude that man is indeed exacerbating it - after all, by scientific analysis of the ice layers in Antarctica it can be established that previous global warming has occurred in the past - so it would be a stretch to assume that each and every one of these previous Ice cap meltings were cause solely by man, who vanished and reappeared each time with perhaps a 2-3% remnant population base that learned absolutely nothing about its previous wrong behavior.

Then he must tackle Immigration - and must mention that, although he thinks Bush's policies have been misguided, he must make a real solution to the problem that is good enough to garner him the Nobel prize and not play into the hands of the radical Mexican protesters or the Ku Klux Klan.

Finally, he needs to say that although the ways of Washington must change in general, he must not make it a threat to throw the baby out with the bathwater - he must preserve those institutions he feels are working, and he must solicit the opinions of those across the aisle to help him fix what he perceives to be wrong.

He must also be gracious if the Dems draft Hillary as President with him Vice-President, and must not be angry that he was not nominated in her place; after all, wouldn't you rather have your party elected than ego gratification?

In short - he has a tall order.

Answer 2

People make a big deal out of Senator Obama's announcement of his candidacy for President in Springfield, Ill the once, home town of Abe Lincoln.

Springfield is the capitol city of Illinois, both men would find because of that status it would be an important place to make announcements etc. It is so typical of the opposition to look at insignificant things to blow out of proportion because they know if they talk issues, the real issues, they will lose by a landslide.

Answer 3

Are you going to vote for someone who says he's visited 57 states? His changes? Can you say socialism? Obama doesn't give a rat's rear end about this country or us. Without a teleprompter or speech writer he can't even speak without stumbling over his words! No experience is about the best disqualifier for Obama. He may have book sense but he has no common sense. I really am afraid of his "changes". Oh yeah, we all know America only has 50 states. Did you know there are 57 Islamic states? The man is a joke! He's a Christian? He doesn't want his children punished with a baby, abortion for his kids. That is NOT a Christian! If he's elected, you'd better run for the hills!

Answer 4

I like his long correct stance on Iraq. My concern is I would like to see some specifics on the budget. He needs to give a real plan on how to get rid of the deficits in the budget and trade. We could have a balanced budget if we werent in Iraq but I want a more specific plan. Being Pro-Choice doesnt matter because abortion in this country hasnt changed in decades despite control by both sides.

Answer 5

Obama one 1 national election to late comer in the election for him to the Senate.
A democrate to win in IL... yea that is tough.
That is like Kerry or Kenndy winning a senate race.

He is far too liberal.

He trys to be all things to all people and that we had 8 years of with Clinton.

Answer 6

WHy wouldn't he be? If you are basing your assessment on anything other than his record, his record on ALL issues, and not just his record in Washington, and replying no, you are almost certainly letting your racist (and ignorant) side show.

Answer 7

I think he talks a good talk.......Says what people want to hear......but what are his solutions to anything? He talks about Iraq, says to get out .Ok!
But how about the USA ? we have a disintegrating infra structure ....Iraq is important but America has problems too.........

Answer 8

talk about hillary clinton being a cold fish.

Answer 9

Maybe....but I do think the media has brought him to the fore front.

Answer 10

where does he stand on abortion!