President Obamanator?
Bloggers on Barack Obama's plans for 2008.
But while Obama is basking in this media glow, some bloggers are grumbling about his inexperience, such as "JFK Democrat" Taylor Marsh, who pines for a seasoned candidate. "Frankly, after George W. Bush's reign, I want someone of deep experience in the presidency. A mature foreign policy thinker and gifted diplomatic leader. … Obama outpaces Bush by a mile in intelligence, thought, curiosity and every other meter. However, he would still be a man learning on the job, having to rely enormously on his advisers," she writes.
At Key Words, Illinois-based libertarian Daniel Macintyre finds Obama less polarizing than that junior senator from New York with presidential ambitions. "Obama just doesn't inspire the intense hatred in conservatives that Hillary does - and that means less conservative voter turnout."
Steve Clemons of the New America Foundation reads the tea leaves at Washington Note and sees some other fate for Barack: VP. "But behind the energetic spontaneity exists a cautious calculator. He knows that he is vastly out-gunned by Hillary Clinton as things stand. … Obama, despite the feverish speculation, is RUNNING FOR VICE PRESIDENT." At Better Living, liberal Mark Danielsalso estimates that Obama could join the bottom of the presidential ticket. "Given the recent higher administrative profiles given to our Vice Presidents--think particularly of George H.W. Bush and Al Gore, it's easier for Vice Presidents to jump directly into the Oval Office," he writes.
At Is That Legal?, guest blogger TFW is giddy at the prospect of Barack's entrance to the race. "For two years, everybody has been telling him he can do it. He may believe them; they may be right. He may feel the weight of history, pushing him just as hard as Oprah. It will be fun."
Jonah Goldberg at National Review's TheCorner thinks Obama should throw himself into the '08 race, but for slightly different reasons. "Obama should run now, in part because Senators get stale very quickly and politicians should always seize their moments. … But also because I don't think Obama can afford to wait for another 'minority' to get the nomination and win. If Hillary runs and wins. Obama's prospects plummet. If Hillary runs and loses Obama's prospects plummet. The Democratic Party won't throw up two identity politics candidates in a row. If Condoleeza runs as VP and wins, the novelty over Obama evaporates as well." Mark Noonan at Blogs for Bush also brings race into the discussion. "[T]he looney left (I know these people) simply cannot refuse to nominate the first serious black contender for the Presidency of the United States. ... They'd be guilt-ridden for the rest of their lives if they voted for anyone else," he writes.
Elsewhere at The Corner, Myrna Blyth does not consider Obama the cat's pajamas. "Personally, I think Barak Obama is the David Caruso of this political season. Caruso, you may remember, was the star of NYPD Blue and so hot, hot, hot that he left the show after just one season to become a Big Movie Star. Only trouble, after making several crummy movies, he is back on CSI: Miami, twelve years later, playing virtually the same role he played then."
Read more about Obama's potential presidential bid.
Candor, retracted: The State Department's Alberto Fernandez, who during a Sunday appearance on Al-Jazeera said American policy in Iraq was marred by "arrogance" and "stupidity," has eaten his words in a department-issued statement. "I realized that I seriously misspoke. … This represents neither my views, or those of the State Department. I apologize," it reads.
Tom Baker at liberal blog Bring It On! is unconvinced of the retraction's sincerity. "Looks like all those 'advanced interrogation' methods are paying off," he writes.
