Re: Is this guy really ready for this position. Be honest with yourself.
 

And... Hopfully, they won't be the same "qualified advisers" that George W. and Congress relied on.

Re: Is this guy really ready for this position. Be honest with yourself.
 

In many ways, the best qualifying experience is as a State Governor, regardless o the size of the state. You have almost all of the same offices subordinate to you as a president (albeit at a lower level) and have to balance all of those equities simultaneously.

At The Risk Of Starting A Cyber-Fistfight...
 

...why are we spending so much time continuing the debate on the relative levels of experience of the two candidates for President?

I might suggest that a more productive use of bandwidth might be to debate which of the two candidates are likely to produce some real change in the direction our political leadership has taken us in the last eight years. If one likes what has happened during that time and wishes that the policies of our government be continued for another four years, the choice is clear...vote for John McCain. If one is dis-satisfied with the present situation, in many different ways, and wishes for Presidential leadership that is more likely to take the country in a different direction, the choice is equally clear...vote for Barack Obama.

Why should the debate on experience continue? The two men are who they are. They've both been pretty clear on what they stand for and how they think things should be run in the next four years.

Doesn't it boil down to a question of do you think that lots of changes are needed domestically, economically, internationally, in defense, in social programs, in education, etc.? Or would you be satisfied if the situation and problems confronting our country continued for another four years?

If we consider the alternatives, our November choice seems pretty clear. That choice has little to do with the relative level of experience reflected on the resumés of the candidates.

Re: Is this guy really ready for this position. Be honest with yourself.
 

Barefoot: I have to agree with you. :agree:

Re: Is this guy really ready for this position. Be honest with yourself.
 

I think Kahuna said it best. His words should make your vote very clear.

Re: Is this guy really ready for this position. Be honest with yourself.
 

The premise above states if you want more of the same vote for McCain. And if change or heading in a different direction then go with Obama. That makes a significant presumption or more appropriately a "leap of faith" that the non more of the same can deliver on ANY OF THE RHETORIC.

The following is not intended to be any party specific commentary, just the most recent example of undelivered RHETORIC....prior to Nancy Pelosi becoming Speaker, she espoused how t"things" were going to be different. That when her party got the leadership it would be more productive, etc, et al. We all know the results of her first 100 day promises as well as the time since. It confirms a candidates propensity to say what they perceive needs to be said. And further confirms that it takes more than the words of the titular head of the organization to effect change.

When industry and business conduct executive searches they start our with specifications that at least attempt to find the best man for the job.

In both parties as stated time and again, it is unfortunate that is not the case......if we really wanted change we would find a way to get the best people to run for the job....

Lawyers and unproductive politicians would not make the cut.....I guess that accounts for most of the 545, eh!!!!

We have one candidate that is too old for the job.....the other is untested and as stated every day even in the media...they don't exactly know who he really is or what he really stands for....given the media bias that is profound!!!

BTK

Re: Is this guy really ready for this position. Be honest with yourself.
 

Honestly, I so sick of this media bias whining. The media follows the story. Obama is THE story. McCain is not. It's that simple.

Media or no media, Obama gets my vote. :#1:

Re: Is this guy really ready for this position. Be honest with yourself.
 

Hey Chelsea ~
Tell us what you REALLY think :-*

Re: Is this guy really ready for this position. Be honest with yourself.
 

Let's see if I have this correct, commenting or expressing an opinion (right or wrong) about the media is called whining .....then we must conclude the continual Bush bashing (right or wrong) is, likewise, whining.

Tolerance or prerogative must be a function of where one sits on a given issue...eh?

Ah yes the privileges and burdens that come with the first amendment. ;D

BTK

Re: Is this guy really ready for this position. Be honest with yourself.
 

When I hire a plumber or a dentist, I'd like to know if s/he ever has had any relative experience or not. If I'm paying for the service, I tend to avoid amateur plumbers and newly-licensed dentists. Why should it be any different with a public official? Shouldn't that person have training and experience to fulfill the duties and tasks associated with the job?

Re: Is this guy really ready for this position. Be honest with yourself.
 

So, you want change and I want change and the candidate promises change. But when we get to specifics, your change and my change have nothing in common, possibly different directions on the same issue or completely different issues. And though the candidate promises change, when you get into the details, if you can, you discover that his changes are not in sync with your desires.

In theory, one knows what a candidates general positions are on a variety of issues and his guiding beliefs. From that, you can extrapolate how he will lead and the decisions he will make in multiple situations. No one wants or should expect surprises from an elected official one supported. Anyone who votes for someone simply because they want change gets what they deserve.

Re: Is this guy really ready for this position. Be honest with yourself.
 

I Guess We Have To Make A Choice Or...
 

...simply opt out of the voting process. In a democracy, that seldom works.

Am I happy with the lack of progress in Congress since the Democrats took over in the mid-term elections? No.

Is there an explanation for the lack of progress of any kind since the Democrats took over the majority? I suppose the answer could be maybe--threat of filibuster by the opponents, presidential veto, etc. But if there actually were any statesmen or stateswomen in leadership positions in the Congress, the answer to that question would also be NO.

On a question of whether things might get better with the Democrats gaining a greater majority--particularly a veto-proof majority in the Senate--maybe there's hope. We'll find out soon enough. It might be the first time in decades that the President and both houses of Congress were all controlled by the same party. If nothing gets done then, I don't know what the answer might be...a coups?...a benevolent dictatorship?

As far as the presidential candidates are concerned, we should all listen and understand what their plans are, what their campaign platforms are. Then all we can hope for is that they are truthful. That would be unlike our current President who campaigned on one platform and then reversed direction and narrowed his focus to only a few of his personal ideologies, totally ignoring and failing to provide leadership to resolve any of the other glaring problems facing our country. If that happens again with either of the current presidential candidates, I will be deeply saddened and frustrated beyond any ability to express by feelings.

The ship of state changes direction very, very slowly...almost imperceptably. I hope and pray that a change of direction in the governance of our country is actually underway and I just haven't been able to see it.

Re: Is this guy really ready for this position. Be honest with yourself.
 

Obama does not reflect the kind of change I'm looking for. Change for change sake does not cut it, even if he was able to deliver, which he likely cannot because of his lack of experience.

Re: Is this guy really ready for this position. Be honest with yourself.
 

Simply put, Obama is "all hat and no cattle".