Ray asks what Barack Obama has done in his career that qualifies him to be President more than Alaska Governor Sarah Palin.
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About Me
- Ray Richardson
- I live in Westbrook with my wonderful wife Dee Dee and our four children. We have been residents of Maine for a little over 22 years, moving here from Florida in 1985.
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16 comments:
There is one huge fault with just using the experience criteria. It rarely trumps education. In the Navy, you can be a Master Chief E9, as high a rank as an enlisted man can achieve. Thirty years service, more trips around the world than Sputnick and who is it you might have to directly report to? It could very well be an Ensign from Kansas who's closest encounter with water is in the shower. An Ensign is the lowest of the low in the Officer rank. Same situation in the public sector. (many)Years ago, I worked for Coca-Cola in Boston while going to College. I was a driver-salesman. My direct supervisor was a former driver salesman. HIS direct supervisor was a College grad who had only a few years with the company. Both of these examples are the prevalent scenarios in the working world. When it comes to the best education, Obama has achieved the highest level hands down. Palin has a minor degree from ???? Let's take a real world crisis as an example. Ray is too young to remember: In the Cuban Missile Crisis 1962, a very young JFK was confronted with the worst crisis in my memory. He listened to a roomful of experienced educated advisers and made a decision on how to handle the Russians. We were on the brink of nuclear war and the Russians blinked. They thought they could push a young inexperienced former Democrat Senator around and went back home with their tails tucked in. I will concede: Russia is next to Alaska. However, does anybody seriously want Sarah Palin in the same seat as JFK was 46 years ago under similar circumstances. Please make that case for us. The Gov. of a state with 1/2 the population of Maine qualified to do what JFK did.
McCain? I liked him eight years ago. I even still have a McCain 2000 t-shirt. Back then I was for him as a fellow Vietnam Vet. and me an NRA member. I have changed with Bush in office and my daughter the victim of his social policies. In '08 he is too old, too trigger happy, got into bed with what I call the "Christian Talaban" and most importantly has the wrong social policies.
Back to 1962,(you're in The Twilight Zone(: ) your kids and your country are at stake. M A D is on the horizon. Who do you want in that chair? Obama by far has the best education and best judgment to absorb the advice and come out with a rational decision.
You, of course, did not answer the question.
I know a lot of people with a wonderful education who I would not want getting that call that the Russians have missiles in Cuba.
You are right, I was born in 1962 and therefore only know of what happened through research and talking with those who lived through it. Keep in mind, my family is from Florida. The thoughts of the people there are not theory.
What one would do in such a circumstance is pure conjecture, but your premise is not. That is, who would have the most competant advisors in such a situation?
At this point, it all comes down to who you trust and much of that is based on personal belief and life experience.
I do not trust liberals. I am personally okay with Democrats, have voted for some when I think they are the best person for the job and know that most are decent, hard-working, patriotic Americans.
I do not believe the same of liberals. I question their judgement, their value system and their love of this nation.
Barack Obama is a liberal.
I guess you know my answer to your question.
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Back to my original concept modified by your interjection.
What specifically makes you think Barack is prepared to be the one?
Surely you are not suggesting that going to Havard is the answer. I have many friends who have graduated with honors from Havard and I do not think any of them should be President.
I know many people, around the country, who have served in the Senate of their State's government and I do not see any of them as Presidential timber. There is no one who has served in the Maine Senate since I have lived here (1985) that I see as qualified to be President.
Obama has spent a little over half a year actually in the United States Senate (yes, he has been elected for four years but his attendance record is awful).
He is not entitled to this job. This is not a "the time has come" position where we simply select someone to fill a void in our history.
In modern American history(last 100 years), Barack Obama will have the least amount of qualifications of anyone elected if that is the result.
Most liberals rate Woodrow Wilson as one of the greatest Presidents in our nation's history, yet he was only a Governor for a couple of years prior to election.
The point is, executive experience matters. It is an entirely different concept to the tackle on the football team instead of being the quarterback.
The same goes in politics. It is an entirely different concept to be in the Senate (the tackle) than it is to be the Governor or President (the quarterback).
At the end of the day, what this should really come down to is a battle over ideas. Who believes what, un-filtered by the media.
I believe in the ideas that Palin has espoused and I find I am closer to McCain on a number of issues than I realized.
I do not believe in the world Barack Obama talks about. I see his world as simply a nationalized Maine government experience.
Maine's government is awful. It lacks vision, leadership and wisdom. It is stuck in the idea that you should be penalized if you work hard and become successful. It embodies the idea that if you are succeeding, your success is somehow taking something from someone else.
Maine's government does not believe in the people. It sees them as subjects needing constant guidance and direction from the Lords and Ladies who run the Capitol.
It suppresses prosperity in order to perpetuate its own need to have citizen dependence on it.
I do not want this for my children or grandchildren which is why I fight this battle in Maine.
God knows I do not want this future for my nation.
Barack Obama will do to America what liberals have done to Maine for the last forty years and I believe that is a concept far too awful to ponder.
Education?
Hogwash!
There are many highly educated idiots...
Here is a man (a Republican) who accomplished great CHANGES in our country; he had less than 18 months of formal education:
Hmmmm...His humble background reminds me somewhat of anothers in this race.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/al16.html
Judgement?
Here's an A to Z of some of Barry's Buddies:
1.Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades
2.Ali Abunimah
3.Nadhmi Auchi
4.William C. Ayers
5.Richard Belzer
6.Reverend James Bevel
7.Black Panther Party (New)
8.Zbigniew Brzezinski
9.Raul Castro
10.Communist Party of Illinois
11.Frank Marshall Davis
12.Bernadine Dohrn
13.Jodie Evans
14.Louis Farrakhan
15.Hamas
16.Marilyn Katz
17.Rashid Khalidi
18.Pastor Mack King
19.Robert Malley
20.Anthony Lake
21.Reverend Eric Lee
22.Larry Lessig
23.General Tony McPeak
24.Reverend James Meeks
25.Reverend Otis Moss III
26.Raila Odinga
27.Daniel Ortega
28.Pastor Michael Pfleger
29.Samantha Power
30.Syrian Tony Rezko
31.Susan Rice
32.Edward Said
33.Reverend Al Sharpton
34.George Soros
35.Reverend Jeremiah Wright
And counting.
From Townhall.com
Bernadine Dohrn on the Manson murders:
“Dig it! First they killed those pigs, then they ate dinner in the same room with them. They even shoved a fork into the victim’s stomach! Wild!” Tate was nine months pregnant.
OK, I'll elaborate. First, we all know dunderheads who have a degree that shouldn't be president of the local driver's ed alumni. Every one I know believes Obama's intelligence is off the charts. He was not "merely" a Harvard grad, but President of the law review. There are obviously Republicans of equal intelligence that disagree on fundamental issues. Party or beliefs do not equate to intelligence on either side.
A reasonable person who looks at Palin objectively, not just because they agree with her religious views, could come to the conclusion that her relatively meager executive experience and zero foreign policy experience does not qualify her as the best Republican available for the number two slot. Just being a woman doesn't mean her time has come either!
Let's just relate to the current president. More executive experience in a more populated state that Palin and also zero foreign policy experience. By any objective standard, the worst president in thirty years. Letterman's "Great Moments In Presidential Speaches" will be a thing of the past if Obama prevails.
You don't trust the potential Democrat advisers? Who will the potential '09 Republican advisers be? The same neo-cons advising Bush. The way they manipulated Bush, it scares me what they could do with Palin.
Obama doesn't have a lot of foreign policy experience. But he is smart enough not to be manipulated by those in the military with an ulterior motive.
Back to 1962, there is no question in my mind either Obama or Biden would be the right person in the President's chair based on Obama's intelligence and Biden's experience. Same applies to 2009.
Full disclosure; In February, I was for Biden first then Obama. I do not like Hillary because of her politics, not her issues. After watching Obama for six months I am comfortable with the reversed sequence.
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Looking over your writing, it seems to me you let your religious belief's override your political ones. That takes intelligence and experience out of the equation and leaves issues/ideas as the prevailing factor.
Thankfully, yours and Sarah's right wing religious views are a majority only with the Republican base, Luckily they are in the minority in this country.
McCain said "Economics wasn't his strong point" What does Palin do to assist with that glaring void? Runs on banks, bailout of Bear Stearns, Fannie and Freddie failing, 4 million American families either in default or behind in their mortgage payments. 6.1% unemployment. Out of control medical costs destroying businesses and families.
Fuel costs out of sight. Cheney and Bush knew from day 1 we were going into Iraq. Cheney had an energy summit with all the leaders of big oil. What came out of that was "executive privilege".
With this as a very partial list of the accomplishments of seven years of Republication rule, we should give them another chance because..........? They will keep gays from being married!
I don't think you can equate Maine politics to the rest of the country. Being from "away" I really can't spar with you on that topic. I do know: Until this state puts education first and retains the people they educate, it will remain dependent on tourists to keep it's head above water.
The only politician from Maine that I have ever been impressed with is George Mitchell. I do not know his history within the state. I do like your Mayor from Auburn, but know little about him. I do know I am 100% with Ted on the seat belt issue.
Ray said
In modern American history(last 100 years), Barack Obama will have the least amount of qualifications of anyone elected if that is the result.
Interesting that you did not go back to 1860
Lincoln had 2 years as a congressman and 4 , i think as a state leg.
Awful leader wasn't he?
Oh. he was a pretty good lawyer too.
As time goes by.............. Sarah has been totally unavailable to the media, even FOX, since her introduction. She has not uttered one word that was not read from a teleprompter.
So, the media heads to Alaska and finds her group of closest friends. They call themselves "The Elite Five" (Bet Sarah wished she had that name back)! Of the four, (Sarah is the fifth) only one - thats ONE would commit to voting for her! The other three were noncommittal. That's not what I would call a resounding endorsement from a group of her closest friends for many years.
As the old slang in the used car business goes; when everything about her comes out, the Republicans will find they have lipstick on a pig, not a pitbull!
Deb,
I hope you are not referring to McCain or Palin when you say Humble' background.
Just because they use the word doesn't mean they are.
So if you agree with Palin,then you believe a girl of any age raped and impregnated by a drunken father or uncle must have the baby.
If Roe v Wade is overturned ,what do you think should be her punishment if she had an illegal abortion? Come on lay it on us.
Deb,
Honest Abe also married a wealthy woman to help him along. Too bad she turned out to be whacky.
Your boy McCain saw the merit in that also.
"formal education" was not that easy to come by in those days.
Lincoln was a very educated man. He just did most of it on his own.
If he had limited himself to only reading the bible, he probably would not have gotten very far.
At the end of the day, there is still no tangible evidence that Barack is up to the job of being President.
Unless he is using a tele-prompter, the man simply cannot speak without stammering. I had heard a number of people say this, but I really noticed it with his recent military answer, his revised abortion answer and his interview with George Stephanoplous(spelling).
Yes, he apparently has a good education, but beyond that, I am unconvinced.
I have asked countless people "Why Barack? Give me something concrete that shows this man is ready to lead this nation?"
All I get from Obama supporters is George Bush garbage or John McCain is more of the same ..... but what I don't get is something concrete that says why Barack Obama is the right man, right now.
Hoping things will change is no way to run a country.
Ray said
"At the end of the day, there is still no tangible evidence that Barack is up to the job of being President".
At least he had the guts to go on Billo's show and made agood showing. I did not hear the stammering you accuse him of.
When is Palin going on Oberman or one of the other MSNBC hosts to get grilled by the left?
So he went on Bill O'Rielly's show. Big deal, I didn't realize you were such a fan.
The only time I have watched O'Rielly in the last year other than for a second or two is during the RNC convention.
Going on O'Rielly makes him the man?
Does anyone anywhere have a concrete reason to explain why Barack Obama is the right guy, right now?
He has not authored any significant legislation in the Senate.
He did not author any significant legislation in the state legislature.
He is un-tested.
He authored a couple of best-sellers, has Oprah's endorsement and his oratory is up-lifting.
Nice things all, Lord knows I would love to know Oprah Winfrey, much less have her seal of approval, but that would not make me a viable leader of the free world.
Putting spin aside, tell me why you believe Barack Obama is the right man to lead America.
(Leave George Bush, John McCain and pulling the troops out of Iraq off the table as he has already revised that position)
I could talk until I am blue in the face about why I feel that Barack is what we need and it would never sway you.
I don't only watch shows that I am a fan of. That is why I tune in to shows like yours or Oreilly periodically.
Unlike the conservatives, some of us liberals at least listen to the other side.
Ray said:
"At this point, it all comes down to who you trust and much of that is based on personal belief and life experience."
Yepper! Oh, 'scuse me...I mean aye, yea and affirmative! The older we get, and most especially when we have children, we are more inclined toward conservatisim. What is so bad about conserving?
Ray again:
"It (Maine's government) suppresses prosperity in order to perpetuate its own need to have citizen dependence on it."
Bingo! And what government gives; government will likely take away.
Russell said...
"Looking over your writing, it seems to me you let your religious belief's override your political ones. That takes intelligence and
experience out of the equation and leaves issues/ideas as the prevailing factor."
Excuse me? Well, well...Aren't you Mr. Bumptious. (oh crikie!) You have an issue with issues? You sir, are rude.
Russell again:
"Let's just relate to the current president. More executive experience in a more populated state that Palin and also zero foreign policy
experience. By any objective standard, the worst president in thirty years. Letterman's "Great Moments In Presidential Speaches" will
be a thing of the past if Obama prevails."
Letterman? You jest??? If not, this gives me a clue as to where you may be coming from.
I get a kick out of Hollywood Squares too!
BTW...do you have any idea just where the state of Alaska is located?
And do you any idea what the state of Alaska, and the Governor of Alaska has to do with our National security? You may be very
surprised.
Mr. Russell once again,
quote:
"I don't think you can equate Maine politics to the rest of the country. Being from "away" I really can't spar with you on that topic."
Hehee...stop with the humility Russell... We're just one toothed Mainiac yokels! so, spar on!
Bruce said...
Deb,
"I hope you are not referring to McCain or Palin when you say Humble' background.
Just because they use the word doesn't mean they are."
Well yes of course I was referring to Sarah Palin! Have you read her bio? Have you read your history books? Do you know where
"Honest Abe" came from? Have you any idea just what President Lincoln did for our country??? How about what he did for the blacks
in our country??? How about when my ancestors fought in the Civil War, against the South??? This means nothing to you?
...It means a lot to me. I lost many of my people in the Civil War. I am proud of their sacrifice.
Russell again:
As time goes by.............. Sarah has been totally unavailable to the media, even FOX, since her introduction. She has not uttered one word that was not read from a teleprompter.
With all due respect. As of today, it has been one week since Sarah spoke at the RNC. And again you likely are unaware of the fact that during her acceptance speech, the teleprompter malfunctioned...Contrast this to Barack Obama who, when last his teleprompter malfunctioned, was left stuttering before a crowd unable to advance his speech until the problem was resolved. http://www.redstate.com/diaries/redstate/2008/sep/04/breaking-sarah-palin-winged-her-speech-bec/
Bruce again...
"So if you agree with Palin,then you believe a girl of any age raped and impregnated by a drunken father or uncle must have the baby.
If Roe v Wade is overturned ,what do you think should be her punishment if she had an illegal abortion? Come on lay it on us."
You assume much Mr. Bruce. Do you not have someone in your life, you've not agreed with, on every single issue? And should I assume, you believe it is A-OK to take a living aborted baby, and just let it die, or worse, kill it?
Ray said:
"At the end of the day, there is still no tangible evidence that Barack is up to the job of being President".
NO ANSWER!
Bruce again: "At least he had the guts to go on Billo's show and made agood showing. I did not hear the stammering you accuse him
of. When is Palin going on Oberman or one of the other MSNBC hosts to get grilled by the left?"
You silly! Since when is Sarah Palin, the VICE presidental candidate, needing to go up against the democratic PRESIDENTIAL
candidate, Barrack Hussein Obama? I'm thinking ya'll are a wee bit discombobulated!
Once again Ray asks the question:
"Putting spin aside, tell me why you believe Barack Obama is the right man to lead America?"
Once again...NO ANSWER!
Bruce said...
''I could talk until I am blue in the face about why I feel that Barack is what we need and it would never sway you."
Why stop now? You've rambled on to the point that I've had to prop my eyes open with toothpicks from reading your posts.
So, please! Smurf yourself! Go Blue!
Bruce, this is an honest question, Ray has asked it at least 3 or 4 times... and a simple answer would suffice:
"Why is Barack Obama the right man to lead the United States of America?"
Russell...you said:
As the old slang in the used car business goes; when everything about her comes out, the Republicans will find they have lipstick on a pig, not a pitbull!
You ignorant Boar...Gird your loins, and do a little homework on the list of Barack Huessein Obama's buddies I've posted.
Then lets chat about just who is bacon.
Lot of anger there Deb
have a nice day
Hehee...You are a funny one.
Back atcha' Bruce!
I hope your day was swell as well. ;)
Nonetheless, it's been a melancholy day for me...
Today marks the 7th anniversary of the death of my brother's sister-in-law...Carol Flyzik. She was a nurse on flight 11, which was the first plane to hit the twin towers...
What a frightening day.
God bless those who lost their lives trying to save the lives of others...And God Bless those who were lost. :(
God Bless our precious Country.
I love this quote, and hold it dear to my heart:
"What we see, depends on what we are looking for."
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