Inexperienced, very liberal politician files papers to run for President

Republicans have a very uphill battle now, especially with the cluster**** in Iraq

which aint going nowhere until W leaves office. W is doing his party no favors by escalating the occupation.

Chuck Hagel is the only Repub that I would even consider at this point.

 

It wasn't reported back then though, was it? Times have changed, every single minute detail of the President is broadcast. you can't hide any skeletons in your closet anymore as a politician.

 

Hagel is "obsessed" with the war in Iraq, says his brother Tom, who served with him in Vietnam. "You can't have a conversation with him without this coming up." During Christmas, Hagel looked "markedly older and grayer than when I saw him this summer down at the beach," says Tom. In an interview with NEWSWEEK last week, Hagel teared up when he began talking about a Purple Heart ceremony he had attended in August in Lincoln, Neb. "You're sitting there thinking, Was this a waste?" said Hagel, who voted for the original congressional resolution backing the war despite raising serious doubts about whether the invasion made sense. He added, somewhat uncomfortably, that at times he wonders whether he has done enough to try to stop the war.

Hagel is not pushing for "Out Now." But he is almost angrily dismissive of the idea of sending an additional 10,000 to 20,000 troops to Iraq. "Are we going to pacify Baghdad?" he asks. "Are we going to break the militia's stronghold? Are we going to use these troops to propel or force a settlement between the Shias and the Sunnis? What's the objective of it? I will guarantee that there's going to be a lot more American casualties. And there's going to be a lot more animosity by the Iraqis." The idea that the Iraqis will respond only to more troops, he says, is "complete folly, unless you're going to kill all the Iraqis."

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16503665/site/newsweek/

 

oh i agree with the political realities that sex is a huge issue and many times can ruin candidacies. i just dont think it has that much relevance to the potus doing his job.

 

This is only true if you're white. The fact that he's black means people will want experience from him.

I'm still puzzled as to why Colin Powell didn't run, he IMO was a better candidate than Obama, though his "soldier" mentality during his time as Sec of State kinda disappointed me.

 

I agree also, I think Clinton was very good at doing certain aspects of his job. But I think it's hard for him to do anything about family oriented stuff because of his record, which limits him because I think most Presidents would want to promote the family structure in their country to be as stable as possible.

My whole point of the statement was that I thik McCain would restore dignity to the office. After years of stepped up parodying and general lampooning of the sexual antics of Clinton and the bufoonery of Bush, I think the Oval Office really could use someone who would at least generate something other than disdain from the general public.

 

I think inexperience will be a PC excuse for people who don't want to vote for him because he's black, but I still believe a long record that can be spun into whatever the attack of the day will be against him would do worse. The people who racist would only see him as the typical politician with far left leanings is no different than all the other politicians.

That argument will affect the disinterested, or burned out, folks as well. Someone who is with fresh ideas, and a record that won't contradict them will help.

 

I still think that race will be the biggest factor. Having grown up and still living in NYC, I always felt comfortable around other races, but a recent trip to the South really opened up my eyes about how people view minorities. I won't speculate on people in the MidWest

 

That is so strange. I grew up in Texas, but lived in NY and I always felt that in NYC the racism was as bad as anywhere. In away it was worse because people didn't understand they were racist. They would always say things like "I'm not racist, but..." then they would go on to say something racist.

I think racism shows itself in different ways. In the south people have had to deal mandated affirmative action, and it has helped over the generations. That being said, when there is racism it is more open and obvious than in NYC. But I don't think it is more prevelent. It just manifests itself more openly and in some different ways.

 

not "black", but BalaCk. there's a difference, and you can thank your winged friend for the locution.

 

don't you have any opinions of your own?

 

Everyone that I've talked to that knew Powell (including one who served militarily in the White House when Powell was head of the JCS) said that his wife is mentally ill, and he refused to run for President so she wouldn't be in the spotlight.

 

Didnt Obama do a bunch of Cocaine in college?

 

Yes he did, and has been totally open about it, and wrote about his experience in his book.

Considering Bush served two terms, maybe past cocaine use is becoming presidential.

 

Who didnt do cocaine in college? That was like a prerequisite for a couple of my classes.

 

don't you know republicans are hypocrites about sex and drugs.

 

point is your just emphasizing that he is black by calling him "Balack"

 

dont mind basso - he's just saying it because he hears rush do it.

 

i'm pretty sure he has.. but for a mayor, doesn't people in his city have a more accurate assesment than someone from outside? they are the ones voting right?