Comments on: Barack Obama Officially Running in 2008 http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/barack_obama_officially_running_in_2008/ Online Journal of Politics and Foreign Affairs Thu, 26 Nov 2009 01:11:02 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Politics Now » Meet the (Conventional) Press: Reactions to Obama’s Run http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/barack_obama_officially_running_in_2008/comment-page-1/#comment-109993 Politics Now » Meet the (Conventional) Press: Reactions to Obama’s Run Wed, 17 Jan 2007 18:49:29 +0000 http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/2007/01/barack_obama_officially_running_in_2008/#comment-109993 [...] Again, the New York Times falls prey to another fallacy when it asserts that “[w]hile Mr. Obama does not have the burden of explaining his vote on the war resolution as other senators do, the lack of a Senate track record on other issues could prove damaging as he fends off inevitable criticism that he does not have the experience to be president.” Anyone remember John Kerry? Yes, the decorated Vietnam veteran and onetime challenger of President Bush in Election 2004 mainly failed because the Republican candidate could tear apart the paper trail of votes the Massachusetts senator. Remember the infamous “I actually did vote for the $87 billion before I voted against it.” This was the line that effectively undermined Kerry’s candidacy and allowed the Bush campaign to portray him as an unprincipled “flip-flopper”. This time around, not being a Washington insider might be the ticket into the White House. New York Times, take note. In 1976, “experience” also counted against the Republican ticket, and the nation went for a little-known Southern governor who had an undistinguished term of office in Georgia and had already retired by the time he declared for President. Whilst evaluations of Jimmy Carter’s stewardship of the United States during 1976-80 may radically differ, no one can dispute that the country was in something of an exceptional situation back then. Watergate, the trauma of Vietnam, Soviet resurgence. Obama’s bid in 2008 has rightly been recognized as being built around the message of radical change, akin to Robert Kennedy’s campaign in 1968. His appeal as a “different kind of politician” might be this young senator’s ticket to the White House. The Los Angeles Times is detailing the battle for donors that is currently going on including the perception in the Clinton camp that Obama’s star is a supernova that will implode. But the article also points out one of the chinks in the former first lady’s armor: her unwavering support of military action in Iraq. Overall, California, one of the most reliably Democratic states since the beginning of the Bill Clinton era, is expected to be a major battleground for money and, presumably, endorsements, in the primaries. The Washington Post, meanwhile, sees this race as being “one of the most historic and compelling contests ever” for the Democratic nomination. Well, this is very hard to argue with: a former First Lady-turned-Senator and an African-American senator, as well as (let’s not forget that) possibly the first Hispanic to run for the presidency is quite something. Ah, and if Democratic voters look for something totally different, they might go for Al Gore. Le Monde, on the other hand, feels that Clinton’s cancellation of her news conference on the day of the Obama announcement may not have been that coincidental after all. Maybe a last-minute decision to avoid being drowned by saturation coverage of Obama announcing his run…The blogosphere is also full of coverage of the Illinois senator’s decision. Oval Office 2008 joins the camp of those who feel that the senator may be able to talk his relative inexperience into an asset. Outside the Beltway, on the other hand, is not particularly convinced of the senator’s qualities and, like Hillary Clinton’s entourage, predicts that “the shine will wear off” the Obama campaign. Next up: Senator Clinton’s announcement, as well as (on the Republican side) that of Senator John McCain and former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani. [...] [...] Again, the New York Times falls prey to another fallacy when it asserts that “[w]hile Mr. Obama does not have the burden of explaining his vote on the war resolution as other senators do, the lack of a Senate track record on other issues could prove damaging as he fends off inevitable criticism that he does not have the experience to be president.” Anyone remember John Kerry? Yes, the decorated Vietnam veteran and onetime challenger of President Bush in Election 2004 mainly failed because the Republican candidate could tear apart the paper trail of votes the Massachusetts senator. Remember the infamous “I actually did vote for the $87 billion before I voted against it.” This was the line that effectively undermined Kerry’s candidacy and allowed the Bush campaign to portray him as an unprincipled “flip-flopper”. This time around, not being a Washington insider might be the ticket into the White House. New York Times, take note. In 1976, “experience” also counted against the Republican ticket, and the nation went for a little-known Southern governor who had an undistinguished term of office in Georgia and had already retired by the time he declared for President. Whilst evaluations of Jimmy Carter’s stewardship of the United States during 1976-80 may radically differ, no one can dispute that the country was in something of an exceptional situation back then. Watergate, the trauma of Vietnam, Soviet resurgence. Obama’s bid in 2008 has rightly been recognized as being built around the message of radical change, akin to Robert Kennedy’s campaign in 1968. His appeal as a “different kind of politician” might be this young senator’s ticket to the White House. The Los Angeles Times is detailing the battle for donors that is currently going on including the perception in the Clinton camp that Obama’s star is a supernova that will implode. But the article also points out one of the chinks in the former first lady’s armor: her unwavering support of military action in Iraq. Overall, California, one of the most reliably Democratic states since the beginning of the Bill Clinton era, is expected to be a major battleground for money and, presumably, endorsements, in the primaries. The Washington Post, meanwhile, sees this race as being “one of the most historic and compelling contests ever” for the Democratic nomination. Well, this is very hard to argue with: a former First Lady-turned-Senator and an African-American senator, as well as (let’s not forget that) possibly the first Hispanic to run for the presidency is quite something. Ah, and if Democratic voters look for something totally different, they might go for Al Gore. Le Monde, on the other hand, feels that Clinton’s cancellation of her news conference on the day of the Obama announcement may not have been that coincidental after all. Maybe a last-minute decision to avoid being drowned by saturation coverage of Obama announcing his run…The blogosphere is also full of coverage of the Illinois senator’s decision. Oval Office 2008 joins the camp of those who feel that the senator may be able to talk his relative inexperience into an asset. Outside the Beltway, on the other hand, is not particularly convinced of the senator’s qualities and, like Hillary Clinton’s entourage, predicts that “the shine will wear off” the Obama campaign. Next up: Senator Clinton’s announcement, as well as (on the Republican side) that of Senator John McCain and former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani. [...]

]]> By: President Obama? » Right Pundits http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/barack_obama_officially_running_in_2008/comment-page-1/#comment-109943 President Obama? » Right Pundits Wed, 17 Jan 2007 07:05:08 +0000 http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/2007/01/barack_obama_officially_running_in_2008/#comment-109943 [...] The folks over at Outside The Beltway have the full text of Obama’s announcement HERE. [...] [...] The folks over at Outside The Beltway have the full text of Obama’s announcement HERE. [...]

]]> By: The Glittering Eye http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/barack_obama_officially_running_in_2008/comment-page-1/#comment-109917 The Glittering Eye Wed, 17 Jan 2007 00:18:28 +0000 http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/2007/01/barack_obama_officially_running_in_2008/#comment-109917 <strong>Obama announces exploratory commission...</strong> Illinois senator Barack Obama has announced that he is forming an exploratory commission, the first step in seeking the presidency of the United States: WASHINGTON - Sen. Barack Obama (news, bio, voting record) launched a presidential campaign Tuesday ... Obama announces exploratory commission...

Illinois senator Barack Obama has announced that he is forming an exploratory commission, the first step in seeking the presidency of the United States:
WASHINGTON - Sen. Barack Obama (news, bio, voting record) launched a presidential campaign Tuesday ...

]]> By: DaveD http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/barack_obama_officially_running_in_2008/comment-page-1/#comment-109891 DaveD Tue, 16 Jan 2007 19:06:25 +0000 http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/2007/01/barack_obama_officially_running_in_2008/#comment-109891 And if it doesn't quite work out, he will be a strong candidate for the VP spot I would surmise. And if it doesn't quite work out, he will be a strong candidate for the VP spot I would surmise.

]]> By: Caliban Darklock http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/barack_obama_officially_running_in_2008/comment-page-1/#comment-109889 Caliban Darklock Tue, 16 Jan 2007 18:49:22 +0000 http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/2007/01/barack_obama_officially_running_in_2008/#comment-109889 So far? He's got my vote. Lieberman has an opportunity to win it away from him. I haven't seen anyone else worth my attention. So far? He's got my vote. Lieberman has an opportunity to win it away from him. I haven't seen anyone else worth my attention.

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