Well, Kennedy's style couldn't be much different from this President's style. Bush doesn't strike me as a very inspiring President. I say that as objectively as I can without basing it on his decisions or politics. He seems like a good guy but he's never made me feel like I have a mission as an American. He's never really made me feel like I should do anything. Kennedy called upon people to do something, even if you disagreed, you'd have to say he was inspiring people. He wasn't just inspiring to Americans but I believe to people around the world, as when he declared that "I am a Berliner". http://video.google.com/videoplay?d...qLprUqAPXqdmyAg&q=ich+bin+eine+berliner&vt=lf
I don't actually care, Rob, as I said. It just seems difficult to accept she's interested in "straight dealing" when every opportunity for transparency has been fearfully avoided, by all appearances. As to Obama v. McCain in a one-on-one, I can't answer why he hasn't answered the call, but I would not in any way characterize McCain as a tiger on the debate trail relative to Obama. In all seriousness, he got thrown by the View. As to Obama, he doesn't debate at all well, either, but the problem is different. I think Obama's problem is precisely his brains - something I've alluded to elsewhere on the forum - he ends up sounding like a professor discussing Socratic subtleties, when he's expected to speak in monosyllabic chunks. It hurts him. Still, avoiding McCain will only hurt him more, I believe.
Yep, agreed, and this is something I feel Obama has as well, in common with Kennedy - at least the potential for such an inspirational presidency. It's probably important to note, though, that Kennedy came at the end of the stolid '50's, the beginning of the "decade of discovery," and we've lived through a lot of heartbreaks since then - Vietnam and Nixon being only two. I do wonder if what was said then, inspiring a people, is hopelessly tinny now, and we simply believe it's all bullshit.
McCain is know to be extremely comfortable in town hall venues, and effective. His staff shouldnt have booked him on the morning PMS show... I'm not worried that he didnt bother to tell Joy Behar off on camera, but I suspect if a world leader tried to go ballistic he'd deal with it just fine. As for the town hall invites Obama continues to dodge... he's been reported as now carrying a teleprompter to pretty much any venue where physically possible. Between the two... that says he's not good on his feet without a script, and that to me is a huuge weakness. I dont think he's gonna be able to skate thru a presidential term without being in extemporaneous gatherings. He cant be president if he cant convince us he isnt just a mouthpiece for a speechwriter.
If we don't I would say that at least much more of the world does than they did back then. Not as many people see us as the champions of freedom and generally of what is right anymore. I still think we are, though. It's just not as clear today because there is not another superpower to contrast and compare against. When you're the only superpower it's hard to not be seen as anything but the bully. But you've skipped over Reagan. Whether or not you agree with Reagan's politics, he was also an inspiring President.
Might have been nice if he wasn't so flustered by the two hosts - Walters and Behar - that he could have remembered that, yes, in fact, Sarah Palin has uh, gotten federal pork while Governor. He said she hadn't, and the $450 million gaffe doesn't speak well to his ability to speak under even the mildest pressure. C'mon, Rob - the View? This threw him that badly? Far as I know, both have gone to canned speeches since the financial collapse, for fear of coming off like ignoramuses. (Something like: "the fundamentals of the economy are strong," know what I mean?). I don't know, man. I've known a lot of very bright people who don't do well under all kinds of circumstances, to include public interaction of any kind. We're measuring "brains," and whether either candidate does well or poorly under a debate scenario, it isn't a good measure of intelligence, to me. I do think Obama's brains get in his way, to be honest, but a sign that he's an imbecile? Nope.
You're right, Reagan was an excellent speaker, and tapped a seriously deep vein in American sensibilities.
Never suggested he's an imbecile, never implied it either. Just pointing out he's going to have to speak extemp as Pres if he gets there... he's not gonna be able to rely on canned speeches the entire term. If he *can't* do it... or is afriad to do it... would this not be pertinent to know?
No, Rob, you didn't call him an imbecile, unlike Biz. I'm responding to: or, on the "Clinton-VP" thread, Perhaps I misread, you. I thought by this you were implying a poor showing in debating skill equates to a lack of intellectual ability. Absolutely, Obama needs to stand tall and debate. No question.
Honestly cant say... theres *some* reason he'd turn them down, but unless he does it we dont know what it is. The comment was meant to question why someone whose supporters believe to be an intellectual giant would prefer to hide it by avoiding a chance to showcase himself in contrast to McCain. I've even seen posts suggesting McCain is a doddering idiot who cant speak without a teleprompt... which seriously begs the question why Obama wont go. It is unlikely that a face-to-face in an informal format would indicate a lack of intelligence IMO, I dont suspect he's got a problem there. What I'd guess is either he's worried about going toe to toe in a format McCain is known to do well and Obama isnt comfortable away from a script... or without a script ed scenario his lack of experience will be seriously evident when shown side by side with McCain. There may be another possible reason, but i havent come up with it. Just suggesting that as has been mentioned by you... if Mc continues to press and Obama continues to turn it down, the refusal may work against Obama.
Obama poor showing in debating skill equates to a lack of intellectual ability due to lack of experience and lack of knowledge on government issues. He can read and rehearse speeches great. I watched him memorize one first hand with a coach rehearsing with him. It was quite amusing when he turned to us and asked how did that sound. Hey but the man bought us a chick-fillet-sandwich with no pickle.
Obama wrote the speech on race himself, the night before. I don't know how much he's involved in other speeches, but clearly he is more so than Bush ever was and McCain too. You may disagree with his positions, but he's not just a mouthpiece for speechwriters.
not that I like either candidate, but here are the cold hard stats: Obama: Occidental College (Los Angeles) - 2 years studying Politics and Public Policy. Columbia University (New York) - B.A. Political Science with a specialization in International Relations. Harvard Law School - Juris Doctor (J.D.) Magna Cum Laude, Editor-in-Chief of the Harvard Law Review. Biden: University of Delaware - B.A. in History and a B.A. in Political Science. Syracuse University College of Law - Juris Doctor (J.D.) McCain: United States Naval Academy - Class rank 894 of 899. Palin: Hawaii Pacific University - 1 semester - Business Administration. North Idaho College - 2 semesters - General Studies. University of Idaho - 2 semesters - Journalism. Matanuska-Susitna College - 1 semester. University of Idaho - 3 semesters - B.A. in Journalism.
Biz, you really should slow down. We're aware that irrespective of the man's education, history and qualifications, you'd place Obama as a janitor and nothing more, apparently, but your missing Kaethy's good point - Obama crafts many of his speeches himself - is not helping your cause. http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1837368,00.html You're stepping in cowpies, actually.
Lost me, Rob...are you saying you're a shit stomper, like moi? (at least by heart, now - damn, hate the city, miss the country). If so, I can appreciate a good shit stompin', but there's a time and a place. I like to stomp shit, then come inside by the fire of reason and good conversation. Confusing the two - talking to oneself while stomping shit, stomping shit while talking to others inside, well.....
One more thats just jealous cause the voices only talk to me. Yeah... bit of a stomper... only of the horse variety these days. Sorry to hear about that city location... it's handy for some things but bad for the soul. Granted it's probably be tougher to do french cuisine in BFE, but the food channel (my wife's an amateur cooking addict) did a special on a world class chef that went "back home" and opened a succesful restaraunt, it was a pretty cool story. [OK: I'm waay off on a rabbit trail I see. We've repeated ourselves a lot, I figure we can spare a post of two.]
Yeah - tell me about it. Nothing like opening the first French house in the middle of the Land of the Cornish Pasty. Glad we paved the way, proud of what we accomplished, but I'd have preferred a more stoneless path....but that's another story. Hate the city, and agreed - it's no place for human beings. We hope to get the hell out soon enough, for ourselves, as well as our boy. Very cool that you raise horses - I rode as a kid, and oddly enough, just talking with my wife this last week about getting out to the burbs to take it up again. What do you raise?