When sizing up the probable 2008 Presidential candidates, many of Obama's detractors point to the fact that he has only served two years (four by 2008) in the U.S. Senate following a stint in the Illinois State Senate.
Rich Miller of the Chicago Sun Times points out that another President that hailed from the state of Illinois had a similar amount of experience before running and winning the Presidency....way back in 1860. That's right, Abraham Lincoln served eight years as an Illinois State Rep. before being elected to the U.S. Congress for one term. Miller makes some great points in his article:
My dad has been pushing for an Obama presidency since before Obama was elected to the U.S. Senate.......
The experience issue is less of a problem for me. Abraham Lincoln's sole governmental experience was eight years in the Illinois House and just two years in Congress, yet he was one of our greatest presidents. Besides, more "experience" wallowing through the disgusting cesspool that is Washington may only hurt Obama, not help him.
Voters are growing tired of the stench in Washington these days. In fact the American people threw out a lot of the garbage last month, giving both chambers of Congress back to the Democratic Party. However the Bush Administration will fight hard against the new agenda and especially against the re-assertion of Congressional oversight that will restore the Legislative's branch's duty to provide checks and balances on the Executive's power.
In two years America will want to continue changing the political landscape by ridding Washington of the remaining Republican greed and excess, not to mention the debacle in Iraq. Obama has always been against the war where others have only recently changed their views (Edwards, Kerry, etc) and one remains a hawk (Hillary). The only other person that has been against the war from the start is Al Gore, who has continued to say he won't run.....for now.
In my book Obama is the man for the job, but I will happily take a Gore/Obama ticket when it comes time to replace George Bush on November 4th, 2008.
|