Why is "demonstrated accomplishment" NOT considered above "experience"? Barack Obama's accomplishments are just amazing. Sometimes experience doesn't really mean much. Hoover was very experienced, but a really lousy president. Barack Obama's "lack of experience" is used as a key issue in the election. Yet few have really addressed all the things he has accomplished. I am just putting this together off the top of my head. Where are real experts on this?
In a little over 20 months Obama has, at the very least, changed and probably revolutionized the election process. He put together a team that has raised more money, without being totally beholden to "big money", than anyone in history. His contributions actually represent the "people". He did this with the baggage of African genes, a Muslin name (which he didn't change) and little backing. I call that damn good political and economic experience, quite an accomplishment, great courage and honor to his family and country.
He defeated experienced political opponents with major money backing but still managed to keep the "self-destructive" democrates together. That is great leadership experience, probably on the par of herding cats or being a Democrate 'whisperer'. I believe that he has fundamentally changed the Democratic party. It is about time that happened and something no one has been able to accomplish. After dismissing him he came back pulled them up by the scruff of their neck and said "Now you will listen to reason." He may keep them from "snatching defeat from the jaws of victory". Call it experience call it accomplishment, but it is all Barack Obama.
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He has motivated young people (college kids) for the first time in a long time. A fantastic accomplishment with great future ramifications. Call it "great teacher", "rock star", "sports hero", or "political leader" anyone that can do that has accompished something that few politicians can do. Probably his most important accomplishment.
Barack Obama has put good teams together and they love working for him. He has earned honor and respect for his intelligence, leadership, hard work, attitude,ethics, skills, etc. from all the people that whom he works. Even his professors admired him when he was a student. Quite an accomplishment. (Not so much true for bottom of the class McCain and certainly not Bush.)
Add all this to what he has accomplished in his personal life to even get to where he could start this journey. I am sure there is so much more. All I see is experience and accomplishment of great proportion. By the way Obama is humble too. He just does it.
Running such a successful campaign alone is damn good experience to demonstrate what a man would do as president. A great accomplishment win or lose.
It appears that the 'media' in its attempt to be 'fair' almost ignores or 'does not mention' the reality of things.
Perhaps it is unfair to compare the accomplishments of McCain's twenty-six years in politics,( a wealthy white man with an admiral father,political connections and a war record) with what Obama has accomplished in about ten years (with the extra weight of his genes, name, lack of wealth, middle class background, and few political connections). But it is reality.
Barack Obama gets the job done, accomplishes things and it is done fantastically. Why is that not "experience"? McCain not so much again.
I will always go for the person who accomplishes their goals! That's why I liked Hillary. But there is no question now, Barack Obama gets the job done better. He has accomplished a tremendous amount. If that is not experience then I don't know what is. It is a no brainer, be it in sports or politics. Final point, and a separate issue:
I really like John McCain but, as retired Navy, I can say that no one in the military really wants to work with a maverick in charge.
He crashed three planes? Most people would rather fly with someone that has never crashed.
Not to disrespect McCain's prisoner status, but he did get special treatment being a pilot and son of an admiral, actually the best care the Vietnamese could offer. He served his country to the best of his ability. I admire and respect him for his service, in the military and in politics. But his accomplishments of crashing and surviving prison are not on the par of Barack Obama's for leading the country.
A maverick being a good leader is a movie myth. Frankly it gets people killed. G.W.Bush is the actually the ultimate maverick, he does not need information to decide anything. He shoots from the hip. He rubs the shoulders of female German leaders and sees the soul of Russians. The appeal of that "maverick" title to a % of the U.S population shows how many people live in virtual world, a movie world. I hate to say it but there is a parallel between "mavericks" (unbranded range cattle) and "undecided" voters at this stage of the election. If people can't make up their mind after almost two years, what can one say.
Being a maverick is NOT an accomplishment! It is dangerous. This is especially true for being a maverick for maverick's sake, like suspending the campaign to go the Washington for something you are not involve in. It inhibits thoughtful consideration and actually prevents change and leads to dead ends and perhaps inaction. Eight years of the "decider" maverick proves it... missing memo warning of terroist attack, Iraq, WMD, Katrina, economics etc. A person can't learn if they don't listen with an open mind. Mavericks are just non-conformists as if everyone else is wrong except them, as in "you are either with me or against me".
Being open to considering change is an accomplishment. It takes vision. It is way to success in evolution, business, and politics. It does not make one a 'flip flooper'. I admire Barack Obama because he is not afraid to change, modify, adapt, learn , and improve based on information from anyone regardless of their religious, genetic or political backgrounds. Barack Obama learns and just gets better and better. He learns, changes, adapts and improves then beats people at their own game. He has proved it repeatedly. He has never claimed "maverick status". Just think was he has done with what is percieved to be "little experience", it is hard to imagine all the things he will accomplish with more experience. Especially presidential experience.
I just don't understand how people do not realize how lucky we are in the USA to have someone like him around when it is needed. He is the perfect candidate for these times. He will get concenus and cooperation.
I guess the absurd 2 years of running for election in a great way to vet someone and for them to get experience. He has been the head of an organization that took in $150,000,000 in about a month, spoke to the biggest crowds in political history and put together opinions on every issue important to the USA. He has done this almost constantly for over 20 months. I think that counts as major experience.
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