Novak: Obama is running

[Thorgrim]

"Contrary to reports that Barack Obama is still trying to make up his mind on seeking the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination, sources close to the first-term senator say he is unequivocally committed to making the race," Robert Novak writes.

"The word has spread through political circles that Obama's wife, Michelle, is resisting the campaign out of fear for her husband's physical safety as an African-American candidate for president. But an Obama insider dismissed that as a problem. 'We took care of that last summer,' he told this column."

"Obama advisers were surprised how much the prospect of his campaign has shaken front-running Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton."

Political Wire: Novak: Obama is Running

One wonders, with Obama and Hillary in...where is everyone else going to get money

What sucks about this is Obama is going to take away a lot of the anti-Hillary vote...guys like Clark and Richardson are going to have to work 10x harder to win this thing

Biden and Dodd should get the hint and drop out, I think their fundraisers will them that

However, the GOP underestimates both candidates, they don't get how people have been looking for a charismatic authentic democrat forever (That's how Clinton got elected right when the american people were the most disgusted with democrats...Perot or Bush should clearly have won that race) and Obama takes up that position perfeclty

Also Hillary is just as "polarizing" as Clinton was in 96, and she's got the super-edge with female voters, and previously unregistered ones, she's basically tied with Rudy and McCain, who are considered the darlings of "middle america" add in people who won't vote until they hear Hillary is running...and she could take this in a walk

[Stoner]

He won't, but Obama would fair far better if ran as Clinton's VP.

[Thorgrim]

Complete sentences would be apprecieted...

He won't run, he won't win the nomination, he won't win the white house?

Obama will never be picked for a VP unless it becomes apparent the race is a cakewalk (ex they find Bush criminally handled WMD intel and Iraq turns into a huge regional war where hundreds of US troops are killed until we barely make it out)

Why? You don't pick a VP with more star power than you...Obama is going to make people think "hey...we should have him as president!" and that's terrible going into an election

[R-Type]

Obama is a bit too religious for my tastes (remember the 'obama speaks to god' thread?), and the last thing this country needs is yet another schizophrenic politician who thinks he's got a direct line to jesus christ to justify all kinds of wacko policy... I don't vote for people based on 'star power' either. If I wanted to play in a popularity contest, I'd go watch american idol.. He does speak well, I'll give him that..

Thorgrim, you're probably right. He could take this if he plays his cards right. I'm just not happy with any of the 'proto-candidates' at the moment. Maybe I'm just being too idealistic.

here's the thread for reference Obama speaks to God

[Thorgrim]

People mess up being really religious and being really spiritual, which are two completely different things

He is showing he has a significant christian spirituality, something I'd normally tell all democrats to embrace but many of them just say they are christian but think christianity is a fraud

I remember the line "I believe that this...is not just a test"

However it's going to decades for American's to understand in a soundbyte that you can have strong christian-like values and a spirtitual connection that are identical to mother teresa, yet still decide that Jesus is not your personal savior

[R-Type]

Like every citizen, politicians are welcome to believe what they like and run their personal lives accordingly, but too many of them couple their office positions with their religious and moral beliefs to justify restricting others' freedom unnecessarily. Obama's voiced strength in his convictions on the subject makes me think he's the type who might do that. I guess we'll see what his message is once the race starts to heat up.

[Dumpy Dooby]

Originally Posted by Thorgrim

"Contrary to reports that Barack Obama is still trying to make up his mind on seeking the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination, sources close to the first-term senator say he is unequivocally committed to making the race," Robert Novak writes.

"The word has spread through political circles that Obama's wife, Michelle, is resisting the campaign out of fear for her husband's physical safety as an African-American candidate for president. But an Obama insider dismissed that as a problem. 'We took care of that last summer,' he told this column."

"Obama advisers were surprised how much the prospect of his campaign has shaken front-running Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton."

Safety?

Does she think he's going to get lynched or something?

[Thorgrim]

Originally Posted by Dumpy Dooby

Safety?

Does she think he's going to get lynched or something?

No shot

He'll almost certainly have a white VP, so shoot him and "white power" to whatever racist wants to throw away his life and take Obama with him

[nbiggershaft]

Originally Posted by Thorgrim

No shot

He'll almost certainly have a white VP, so shoot him and "white power" to whatever racist wants to throw away his life and take Obama with him

pick a mexican vp, then you are safe, as says chris rock

[Thorgrim]

Originally Posted by nbiggershaft

pick a mexican vp, then you are safe, as says chris rock

People I've come across generally hate blacks more than hispanics

[Diesel66]

I seriously doubt a 1st term Senator has any chance of winning the Presidency, add in he is black and the chances are zero.

[Thorgrim]

Originally Posted by Diesel66

I seriously doubt a 1st term Senator has any chance of winning the Presidency, add in he is black and the chances are zero.

I don't think being a black man hurts him at all in any state that matters

And his lack of being in the senate too long is easily an asset when put against people like Romney...I mean, what meaningful foreign policy experience does he have that Obama doesn't?

I think 2006 proved that scaring people with "terrorism 9/11 terrorism 9/11" doesn't work anymore...moderates will still flock to inexperienced democrats to replace long-time republicans

BTW Clinton, Kennedy, and Lincoln's previous experience was pretty nill and everyone thought "gasp, a catholic from the weaker party on communism during the height of the cold war against a strong and smart Nixon? He is going to get crushed!"

[Diesel66]

Originally Posted by Thorgrim

I don't think being a black man hurts him at all in any state that matters

Dems have a hard enough time winning without possibly alientating the voters even more.

And his lack of being in the senate too long is easily an asset when put against people like Romney...I mean, what meaningful foreign policy experience does he have that Obama doesn't?

The fact that he is a Senator is problem enough. His lack of experience doesnt help him at all.

I think 2006 proved that scaring people with "terrorism 9/11 terrorism 9/11" doesn't work anymore...moderates will still flock to inexperienced democrats to replace long-time republicans

only took three elections for the mid term curse to hit ? Pretty sad when Bush's numbers have been dropping after he was blamed for everything including the weather.

BTW Clinton, Kennedy, and Lincoln's previous experience was pretty nill and everyone thought "gasp, a catholic from the weaker party on communism during the height of the cold war against a strong and smart Nixon? He is going to get crushed!"

And those three men are good options ?

Clinton had 12 years of leadership experience as a Governor. Obama has no leadership experience.

[Thorgrim]

They don't have "trouble winning" we just kicked ass all over the GOP's backyard all the way from the mountain west, Montana, to the South, Virginia

Being a Senator for 2 years is not a problem, being a senator for 20 years is...its about having a huge voting record that a 13 year old on a bad night could twist to make it look bad AND the attitude one gets after being in the Senate too long

2002 Bush was just coming off what, 90% approval after 9/11? Democrats had no answer for a president who went out and campaigned more than any president in history right after one of our biggest disasters, the president is a powerful man if he wants to exploit the deaths of thousands of Americans for a GOP gain, that's his problem and Democrats couldn't do much...the GOP was able to run ads comparing veterans who gave up multiple limbs in Vietnam for our country to Osama bin Ladne

2004 people were still scared when republicans went "boo", but still, we lost by 60,000 votes when we nominated an inept campaigner who was a liberal senator from a liberal state, in the midterm elections we would have picked up seats except
1) In the House, Texas gerrymandering
2) In the Senate, the battlefield was overwhelmingly deep red state open seats in a polarizing year, none of them had a chance except Castor, and that still would have led to the GOP picking up seats

Run for senate and tell me there's no leadership involved, at least as much as Kennedy had

Clinton had 12 years in Arkansas, It's no California, Florida or New York, you think being the governor of Hawaii for 12 years is significant leadership experience that one is ready to fight the war on terror?

The fact is, NO ONE on either side is ready to fight the war on terror, they barely know the difference between shia and sunni, have a dreadful lack of arabic historical education, etc

[Diesel66]

Originally Posted by Thorgrim

They don't have "trouble winning" we just kicked ass all over the GOP's backyard all the way from the mountain west, Montana, to the South, Virginia

Clinton had 12 years in Arkansas, It's no California, Florida or New York, you think being the governor of Hawaii for 12 years is significant leadership experience that one is ready to fight the war on terror?

The fact is, NO ONE on either side is ready to fight the war on terror, they barely know the difference between shia and sunni, have a dreadful lack of arabic historical education, etc

Winning a house seat is nothing like winning the Presidency. And YES by far, Clifton's governing experience is miles above any Senator.

[Thorgrim]

Originally Posted by Diesel66

Winning a house seat is nothing like winning the Presidency. And YES by far, Clifton's governing experience is miles above any Senator.

So you'd vote for Richardson over McCain or Brownback?

[Diesel66]

Originally Posted by Thorgrim

So you'd vote for Richardson over McCain or Brownback?

I would vote for damn near anyone over McCain.