What was Hacketts qualifications for Senate?

[johncoby2]

Besides being a Iraq war veteran, what was Hacketts qualifications for Senate?

and why doesn't he run again for the House?

[RB TexLa]

1. 30 plus years old and a citizen n/t

[understandinglife]

4. Yes. And, he distinguishes himself by speaking the truth.

Peace.

[shance]

2. He's an American citizen.

n/t

[johncoby2]

5. Ok, besides being legally qualified. Geez come on folks. Think a bit.

[BOSSHOG]

8. Okay I'm thinking!

May I interject some left handed logic? What is bush's qualifications? cornyn's? santorum's? frist's? And on and on and on.

Please give us a hint of what kind of response you want. Since I'm a fellow veteran, I think Mr Hackett is highly qualified for public office.

[Mass]

10. At least as much as Georges Allen.

Not sure what the point is?

[BushOut06]

14. I think the mistaken idea is he has to "pay his dues" first

But that's simply not true, there have been plenty of people who have run for Senate without ever holding public office at all.

[insane_cratic_gal]

20. He was running as NON Career Politician

That was the platform and it was quite successful in his 2004 bid.

Maybe people are just sick tired of career politicians who don't give two shits about the middle class american, keep proving it with their votes for Ahh I dunno the Bankruptcy Bill?

His qualification was people related to him and found him appealing, remember: Its not what you know but who you know. Apparently Hackett didn't know the right people but someone else sure did.

[Kukesa]

6. And a resident of Ohio. nt

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

3. Hackett's stated reasons for not running for the House

is that he promised other Democrats who were thinking of running that he wouldn't run. He isn't running because he feels his word is his bond, a rather refreshing outlook, imho.

[Justitia]

7. John, why does this thread sound like flamebait?

Seriously, you see all the inflamed passions around here and you're asking for round number whatever in people justifying their chosen candidate who just got screwed yesterday.

C'mon already.

[Kolesar]

12. no kidding. thanks Justitia

[johncoby2]

13. Just wanted to know his background

Does he have political background? If not, business background?

We have people here in Texas running for office that clearly dont have any experience in anything, except to "take back the hosue". And it is not working.

Just wanted to know his experience. nothing more.

[mattclearing]

29. He made a strong showing in a Republican district last year.

That's about it.

[Leopolds Ghost]

32. "that's about it"?

If you want to be so cold-blooded about it, that should be all that's important.

[mattclearing]

35. It's a nutshell.

I didn't think they were asking for the long version.

[leftchick]

37. yep!

not very constructive eh?

[mattclearing]

39. Prolly not.

:)

[Greyhound]

9. Here they are...

"No person shall be a Senator who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty Years, and been nine Years a Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State for which he shall be chosen."
These are the only requirements, oh, and a truckload of money.

[BushOut06]

11. There are LOTS of people who run for Senate without "qualifications"

Hillary Clinton is the biggest example I can think of. Unless I'm mistaken, this is the first time she's held public office.

I'm sure if I took the time to research every member of the Senate, I'd probably find plenty who didn't serve in the House first.

[Mojorabbit]

15. He met the legal qualifications for the job

and he was honest, a good speaker who spoke his mind, and would have made a hell of a senator. I am seriously bummed this turned out the way it did. I really like him and how he handles himself.
Refreshing.

[400Years]

16. An unapologetic straight talker, something sadly lacking in the Senate

[Leilani]

17. What were John Glenn's qualifications

for running for Senate in Ohio?

That's right, he was an astronaut...

John Glenn said Hackett should have stayed in the race, & the party also tried to keep him from running.

[catnhatnh]

18. People have called your post "flame bait" ...

...and I believe you are espousing a certain attitude here,but let me speak for a moment to qualifications....Appearently you would like me to discuss things like education (George Bush-Harvard and Yale),Family background (George Bush back to Nazi sympathizers and rapacious financiers)Political experience (George Bush prior to crony financed Texas Governors campaign-Failed oilman and minority, crony financed, baseball team owner) etc,etc...
My point being that many US senators have pulled the same trick that careerist military officers pull-they have their tickets punched and move on, never understanding the meaning of the punch....I would love to list 3-4 "traits" of senators and see how many sitting senators fit it.....

A.Rich/illustrious/well connected family.
B.Ivy league,C average,legacy college career.
C.Brief lawyer/Doctor/executive career.
D.One local election-then POOF-national statesmen....

and your implication is that this has served us well in our choices...

Hackett was a Marine-I know they truly do believe in an honor code.He was a combat leader-that means he truly understands what a hard decision takes and what the results can mean.I have heard him speak the truth and found it refreshing.....that's good enough for me.

[insane_cratic_gal]

19. He was lawyer but weren't they all =p eom

[madmom]

21. what were Arnold's qualifications, what about Sonny Bono and now his

widow and Fred(I think) Gandy just to mention a few who's only qualification was name recognition.

[catnhatnh]

22. Okay

A.Didn't get an Oscar.
B.Didn't get a Grammy.
C.Didn't get an Emmy.
I think that about covers it....

[MrBenchley]

23. High praise indeed (snicker)

Why, he's just as unqualified as some of the worst politicans around!

[MoJoWorkin]

24. What a question, it is like asking,"What were HIllary's qualifications?

Besides being married to a President.....
and why didn't she start out as a Rep......


There are other things about a person that can make them great candidates---many of them have been mentioned by others in this thread.


Sorry, I didn't realize someone above already mentioned this.

[WilliamPitt]

25. Well, Hilly has been hands-on working on policy issues for decades.

In Arkansas and in Washington. So...

[MoJoWorkin]

27. Your point is that no one is qualified unless they are policy wonks

or come up thru the ranks?

A fresh perspective on things from someone who is truly outside the Beltway , to many of us here, is a good qualification. Those on the "inside" sure have messed up a lot lately. and that INCLUDES Hilly.

[WilliamPitt]

31. My point

is that experience is helpful when serving in an important government job. I think the governor of Massachusetts is a shithead, but that doesn't mean I am qualified to do his job. A Senator has to know about committee structures, subcommittees, staff, who wants what and works where, what policies will fly and what won't, who needs what for deals to be made, etc. It isn't the kind of thing that on-the-job training is a good thing.

This whole line of thinking - having experience for a big, important job - isn't exactly crazy or anti-democratic, ya know.

[MoJoWorkin]

33. I think Hackett is pretty damn quick on his feet. I bet he could get

all that committee structure stuff in no time---after all, he was military and there sure is structure there.
That old dog just don't hunt for me, Will.

[Dr Fate]

40. Its the old "this is too complicated for you" excuse.

Some DUers act like regular people cant read books and watch CSPAN and figure out things.

If jokers like Joe Biden & Hill Clinton can figure it out, a Lawyer & Marine can too.

Citizen statesmen are what we need more of, not more machine politics.

[Leopolds Ghost]

38. So Hillary is qualified and Hackett is not?

You wouldn't happen to have any beltway buddies who are rooting fer Brown, now would ya? ;-)

[WilliamPitt]

41. Beltway buddies?

No. PDA has endorsed Brown, and did so a while ago. I'm sure the Congressional Progressive Caucus would like to see a Senator Brown.

Somehow, saying that Hillary has actual policy experience makes me some kind of beltway whore?

I really, really enjoy when DU collectively refuses to do anything but flame on and flame out.

[Dr Fate]

34. Hackett has hands-on working on Military issues...

...which is where Democrats are percieved as being weak.

That perception will be very easy for the Repubs to continue to promote in Ohio now.

The talking point WILL be:

"Democrats squeezed out the vet for some Big city librul with a girl's name! HAW HAW! Probably sips Merlot too- HAR! HAR! It's obvious that DEMs dont care about the military or Ohio vets, blah blah blah..."

We blew it.

[WilliamPitt]

36. Yeah

That's why the DCCC is supporting a legless Iraq vet named Duckworth in Illinois over Christine Cegalis.

Right-o.

[Dr Fate]

42. Illinois is not Ohio and Duckworth aint Hackett.

Just because the DCCC may be getting it right in Ill. does not mean they did not blow it in Ohio.

Which they just did.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

26. From What I've Seen As The Trend On DU Lately, He Says What They Want To

hear.

I'm on the side though that believes that in itself is not enough to get one elected to the senate, much like Cindy saying what they want to hear wouldn't be enough either.

I liked Paul and admire him. I'm not convinced, however, that he was ready.

[mattclearing]

28. To your second question, he promised the people who ran he wouldn't.

To your first, I never really understood that either.

[Dr Fate]

30. Credibility on Military issues/ promised other DEMs not to run for House.

His exact qualifications are just as good as half the hacks there now- the biggest one is he had CREDIBILITY on military issues, guts and a straightforward way of communicating.

[johncoby2]

43. this is not a hard question folks. What does Hacket bring to the table?

He is illegal for a senate run.
He is a veteran of the Iraq war.
Ok, now what?
What is his experience in business?
Law?
Civic leadership?
etc
etc

All I have heard so far, is that he ran a great campaign against a republican and he is a veteran saying the right things opposing the war. this is great. Now what else has he done.

I dont know a thing about the guy, except I was excited about his possibility of winning his district. So someone speak up and tell me about him.

[roseBudd]

44. The same thing Bill Clinton & JFK had. Charisma and smarts

it's called electibility

[Donailin]

45. BALLS

to speak truth to power.

At this point, anyone who has the courage to say what everyone is thinking gets my support.

John Conyers is at the top of that list.

[FrenchieCat]

46. His lips weren't Brown from kissing ass

That's plenty for me!

It's not like most of these sitting senators have a clue anyways.

The man's a lawyer like the rest of them, so what else should he have on his resume.

Did John Edwards serve in any public office prior to running for the Senate?

[theHandpuppet]

47. What were Arnie's qualifications to be governor of California?

There are plenty of folks in Congress RIGHT NOW who got there not because they were "qualified" but because they had money, fame, or were sports heroes, etc.

And there's no use running again in Ohio's District Two until the corruption in Columbus is eradicated -- and I mean a total cleaning of the house! Until Taft, Blackwell, and that whole rotten GOP machine is tossed out any fair election in Ohio will be in doubt. Unfortunately, when Daft and Blackwacky are sent packing they will be heading back home -- and guess where that is? Jean Schmidt country. Yep, I dare any Dem to run in D2 and get a fair result.