Obama: Charisma Isn't Enough

[Beacool]

Obama: Charisma Isn't Enough

Prof. Barry Rubin - 3/9/2008

The U.S. presidential election is not--at least not supposed to be--like electing a high school class president. Vague promises, glib speeches, and personal popularity shouldn’t be enough to gain victory. This should be especially true this year since so many Americans don’t seem to think they did such a great job of choosing the last time they voted.

All these points go double and more for the Middle East , an area too dangerous and important to deal with lightly. Yet since these debates are so highly partisan there has been a huge amount of distortion and self-interested blather on all sides.

http://globalpolitician.com/24256-obama-elections


The first paragraph says it all, as far as I'm concerned.

[Straight Shooter]

1. That first sentence exemplifies my problem with the Obama campaign.

It reminds me of high school, when the class president, strangely enough, was usually the most popular guy in school, too. We didn't think much of it then, because it was high school and that's not supposed to be the real world.

Although I suspect the real world is a lot more like high school than it should be. ;)

[bhikkhu]

14. Check the link. There is substance.

I am a supporter because of his stands on the issues. If these substantial issues are not spelled out in detail in debates and ads, these are defects inherent in the media rather than in the candidate. A bit of reading is worth the effort:

http://origin.barackobama.com/index.php

[tabatha]

2. He sounds biased.

Nobody has succeeded in the Middle East - no-one (except Carter who at least got Egypt and Israel to stop fighting each other).

He has Bushes in two of his three categories - none of which has worked.
Hillary Clinton will not succeed, because she won't think outside of those two boxes.

Obama can and will.

[WinkyDink]

28. "Obama can and will." Wishing isn't fact. Predictions aren't fact. Hope isn't fact.

I could just as easily exchange the candidates' names in your post, and you would have zero proof to refute me with.

[anonymous171]

3. Charisma wins elections, inspires people to work for the good of the Nation.

It's time we stopped thinking of the president as a manager and started thinking of the president as a LEADER.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

4. Exactly.

2008 is the Salesman (Obama) vs. the Technician (Hillary) -- they both have virtually identical platforms, but we need someone like Obama to make our ideas palatable.

[CalGator]

17. Inspiration is nothing

Have we learned nothing from the Kennedys?!?!?

Oh, wait...

[JoFerret]

25. Yes - lots

...and not all good.
JFK was a very flawed president. If he had had a chance to complete two terms it might have been different.

[JoFerret]

24. And charisma is damned dangerous

.

[JoFerret]

26. The NATION - lol

Obama is good for me and the NATION.
Wow. I must take my daily dose.

Truth is - he a politician not a god. he has great style and excellent marketing. he may well make an adequate and better president. In any event he is way better than any republican.

But this Obama worship is way over the top.

[WinkyDink]

32. Why not just nominate Bon Jovi or similar? But you do explain Kerry's loss neatly.

[calmblueocean]

5. Good lord, who ever said it was?

Obama simply has better positions on the issues and a better chance of accomplishing them. He's beaten or matched Hillary in every debate. The whole "high school popularity contest" myth is just a political tactic. I don't begrudge Hillary supporters that tactic, but I recognize it for what it is.

[Beacool]

7. He's beaten Hillary at every debate?????????????

You're too funny!!!!


:rofl:

[PseudoIntellect]

9. He said beaten or matched.

[CatnHat]

20. LOL

what!! are you really serious!! Obama won or matched Hillary in every debate!!! :rofl: :rofl:

[Danger Mouse]

27. in the one on one debates? yes, he has.

[grantcart]

6. Fortunately charisma and substance are in fact, not mutually exclusive

[Beacool]

10. They are in his case. n/t

[grantcart]

19. Yes his outstanding academic career and the fact that he is a lecturer

of constitutional law has shown how very shallow he has.

Unlike you who takes every petty point and tries to make a partisan point out of it even when it involves taking such a tagentailly exposed position that reveals how completely inchoate your apperception is,

[lumberjack_jeff]

8. Cha-DEES-ma

Sorry, channeling Fez there for a second. :)

[EFerrari]

11. Where has Rubin been for the last 45 years?

What, this is his first presidential election?

lol

[nebula]

12. Sour grapes.

[Beacool]

15. Nope, just a reality check. n/t

[cooolandrew]

13. yes, see what this woman says on it...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kyn35HL0eng

[Beacool]

16. " Exquisite judgment", way too funny.

The guy opposed the IWR vote in a speech and once in the senate he toed the line and voted to finance the war every step of the way.

As for Rice, I like her admission that her guy is not ready to answer the "3AM call".

[istopforcookies]

18. She must be racist!!!!

[NJmaverick]

21. Why should we listen to Prof. Barry Rubin????

Does he have our nation's best interests in mind?

[WinkyDink]

31. One need not "listen" to anyone. But that does seem to be the Obama tune (cf. Barr, Roseanne). Well,

except for Queen Oprah.

[jgraz]

22. Hillary: No Charisma is Even Less

[Dammit Ann]

23. it worked for bush.

and this man has a brain. i'll take my chances.

[WinkyDink]

29. That would be Grand Theft and Treason 2000 "worked" for Bush. He's charismatic like herpes.

[SoCalDem]

30. Oh no.. We should impeach Reagan ../immediately

:rofl:

[WinkyDink]

33. Reagan's "charisma" proves the point about NOT electing on that basis.

[SoCalDem]

37. He served TWO terms

and apparently won the cold war with one hand tied behind his back.. :evilgrin:

Charisma ONLY is a bad thing, but someone with charisma AND judgement and insight and big ideas can inspire a nation for the good..

Reagan used his charisma for the narrow partisan gain, and screwed the country..

[Vinca]

34. Being a Clinton isn't enough, either. nt

[not_too_L8]

35. Hillary, negative isn't enough

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x4965360

[Splinter Cell]

36. Hillary: Lies and Bullshit are not enough

[DeeDeeNY]

38. Slight correction to first paragraph

The last time Americans voted for a president, they chose Kerry, just as the time before that, they actually chose Gore.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=203