Well, sure, but how much brush has he cleared?
-Joe
This is a wonderful gesture, and the right thing to do—for a man who wants to be a local community organizer.
But when you’re running for leader of the western world and commander-in-chief, some voters might prefer a man who knows how to manage huge organizations.
One man filling sandbags is a great symbol. But when you need 100 thousand men filling sandbags (in the midwest, or in Iraq) some voters might prefer a man who knows how to give orders and organize a budget for the shovels.
(Not that I am disparaging Obama for getting his hands dirty filling sandbags. That’s the right thing for him to do in a flood, when he has no authority to do anything else. It makes me like the guy. But it doesn’t convince me that he can run foreign policy, or bring about his promised change in the massive bureaucracy of government. I may vote for him…but I would feel happier voting for him in another decade,when he’s done more than give inspirational speeches
Oh for Og’s sake, not that allegation again. In particular, see this post. The man has held elected office for 11 1/2 years. He’s authored and co-authored hundreds of pieces of legislation.
Nothing but inspirational speeches my ass.
Please describe McCain’s experience at doing such. Cite to relevant examples, including his military experience at the top of the chain of command.
Someone else has jumped you for repeating the nonsense about Obama just being pretty speeches. I would like to see how his opponent in the election in question has the executive experience that Obama does not have.
When you get down to it, McCain has plenty of experience, as a senator. Precious little else. Despite his wish to be appear as the moderate maverick, he is deeply embedded in the problem that is the current system.
As to the question asked - blowout by Obama. My source of choice is electoral-vote.com. I think those numbers will dip after the post nomination bounce dies out, and then rise steadily after the convention. The economy is going to get no better, the war is going to be worse, and Obama is going to to continue to do what he did in the primary. Clinton voters are going to get over their frustration at not having a woman to vote for and realize that a vote for McCain will likely change the abortion balance in the Supreme Court.
We have to look at the choices we actually have rather than the ideal choice we wish we had right?
Any indication McCain knows how to run a huge organization or be a wise CIC? As we saw in the thread about experience, being a long time senator doesn’t automatically translate into being a good president. Neither does military service, especially the decades old kind.
How do we look at the type of experience a man has had and decide, that experience will help him be a better president someday? I can equate being a community organizer with being president {national community} Lack of experience is a popular meme right now but the fact is we have no way of measureing what type of experience will serve a president and exactly how it will serve him. I think we have to judge more recent ndications of character, sincereity, and intent.
He can bring about that change if we, the voting public , continue to pay attention and push our elected officials in that direction. You want to change how much money your elected officials get from lbbyists? Pay attemtion and let them know you are watching and it will effect how you vote. Support the polticians who support changes and throw the ones who don’t out of office.
From what I’ve seen offered from the GOP as foreign policy I have much more confidence in Obama. When it comes to security for America good diplomacy is as important as a strong military.
The meme that all he amounts to is inspirational speeches is easily dispelled with a little investigation. Don’t you think electing a president deserves that much effort from us as citizens?
and more importantly, did he have cake during the recent floods. It’s that kind of experience that tempers a man who would be president.
Hurray for the Fellows program getting mentioned on the SDMB! I’m excited because I am a fellow 
.
On topic, I don’t think anyone can know how the electoral map will play out, a lot will change in a few months. I think the popular vote will probably run 55-45 Obama, although that won’t necessarily give him the presidency.
Bear in mind that site predicted a convincing Kerry victory.
I think the election is going to be split pretty evenly, and it’s anyone’s game. I don’t think anyone is going to be blowing the other out, and I think the final margin of victory will be within 20 electoral votes. I wouldn’t be surprised if it came down to one state, like the last two elections. As for who will win? I’d lay equal odds on both of 'em. Those electoral maps look a bit optimistic to me.
If Iraq stays quiet, there is a reasonable chance for a close race. If everything blows up, McCain is utterly toast. Maliki, al Sadr and al Sistani have more control over our election than we do.
While I would like to share my friends’ optimism, my own prediction is for a narrow electoral win for Obama, 272 to 266. If the night goes really well, he might swing Virginia, and raise his count to 285 (to McCain’s 253).
It will not be a blowout, but a close victory will do.
Just curious – what’s your track record on presidential election predictions?
262 to 261 is a “convincing victory”? :dubious:
In the run-up to the 2004 election there were some wide swings in favor of both Kerry (298 on Nov 1) and Bush (280 on Oct 30). Mostly on the strength of who won Ohio.
What kind of question is that? Besides, I could lie my ass off, and you’d never know!
For the record: wrong in 2000, thought Gore would lose.
Obama 283-255
Obama takes CO, and NM. Loses OH and WI. Takes MI, IN, PN, and…wait for it…VA.
Well, if you were to say, “I’m sure Obama will win. Just as sure as I was about Kerry in 2004, Gore in 2000, Dole in 1996, Bush in 1992, and Dukakis in 1988,” then I think your prediction might lose a bit of punch.
In 2004, the solid weight of the SDMB’s opinion was behind a Kerry win. The only real debate here was how much of a margin of victory he would have.
I made a very public series of bets then, predicting otherwise. Remember that?
And I think you’re too proud to lie your ass off.
Here is an interesting article. I think this link is okay, doesn’t require a subscription AFAIK.
I’m hoping for Obama by a wide margin. too wide to allow any election shenanigans.
I’m expecting to see a lot of conflicting reports about how close it is or isn’t.
In general I think people are too sick of Bush to vote for McCain and simply won’t see enough of a difference between the two to support JM. I’m sure they’ll have reservations about Obama as well, but the choice is between those two.
Arrrrggggghhhh . . . Ohio! :mad: :mad: :mad:
Which raises the question: How can we prevent all that from happening again this year?
Here’s how it looks now:
which is a virtual tie, Obama=266, McCain 248 and 24 undecided.
Note that FLA is now “Strong Gop” where under HRC it was weak Dem, and 319 to 202 totals, which is a landslide.
Obama seems to have no chance of winning Fla over, the voters there blame him for the debacle with their votes, and other things.
It does seem a Obama victory is quite possible- if he wins even one “undecided” states (IN and VA) he can win. But even winning over half the “barely GoP” states will not pull it into a landslide. However, GOP election dirty tricks are almost certain, and if they just pull the two undecided votes over to MCCain, he’s in by a squeaker.
Right now it’s too damn close to tell.
RCP has it slightly better for Obama, however:
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/maps/obama_vs_mccain/
Barack Obama 238
91 Solid 147 Leaning
John McCain 190
90 Solid 100 Leaning
Toss Up 110