Obama's "inexperience"

[Popeye_Card]

It should be noted that George W. Bush's experience leading up to his presidency was 6 years as governor of Texas, a position that is largely ceremonial (The Texas constitution places most powers in the hands of the lieutenant governor).

To be honest, it sounds like it gave him appropriate experience for his presidency.

--P--

[ghostrunner]

You think our senators are accountable? I think that's a stretch.

I think that the rap on Obama is that he pretty much has NO political experience outside of his Senate duties. Compared to Hillary's time spent as First Lady of the U.S. and of Arkansas, I think it's a fair criticism.

Senators get voted out all the time. That's what I mean by accountable.

Why is Senate experience so insufficient? The trend is certainly in favor of governors, but have they done appreciably better than those who were former legislators?

[Radbird]

It should be noted that George W. Bush's experience leading up to his presidency was 6 years as governor of Texas, a position that is largely ceremonial (The Texas constitution places most powers in the hands of the lieutenant governor).

To be honest, it sounds like it gave him appropriate experience for his presidency.

--P--

Natty Light Post of the Day, Popeye. You nailed it.

[AdmiralKird]

Senators get voted out all the time. That's what I mean by accountable.

Why is Senate experience so insufficient? The trend is certainly in favor of governors, but have they done appreciably better than those who were former legislators?

Senators have too much experience, thats why we haven't had a Senator President since Kennedy. If you consider Kennedy's election illegitimate because of the corruption in Chicago, then it goes all the way back to the 1920's. Senators have huge track records, and there is always some dirt on how they tend to vote. This makes it much harder for a senator to hide how he or she leans ideologically. It goes back to what I said earlier about how politicians don't take "stances on issues"/"put forth plans before they're elected" because every 1 person that agrees with your stance, they're going to be 19 that don't.

Obama's "inexperience" both helps and hurts him. For one, his record is smaller, but his opponents can just as easily say he's inexperienced, which does carry a large burden on his chances, probably more so than a long Senate record would.