Too soon?
At the 2004 Democratic National Convention, a mere two nights before John Kerry sealed George W. Bush's reelection by strolling out onto center stage and saluting the crowd like a douche, Senate candidate Barack Obama filled me and countless other viewers with the audacity of hope, fleeting though it may have been. He had -- and has -- the honesty and frankness that I have yearned for in a political candidate. He spoke of the American dream as if it still existed. He spoke of everyday Americans as if they cared about real issues, as if they were patriots regardless of their point-of-view on the Iraq war, as if their political affiliations had no bearing on whether they genuinely wanted what's best for America. He put a brief yet somehow lasting dent in my own personal deep-seated cynicism about politics.
And now apparently he's mulling over a bid for the presidency.
So the question I'd like to pose to the gallery, many of whom I know have also had their eye on Obama, is this: is it too soon? I mean, sure, Hillary as the Democratic candidate would make my vote for a third-party candidate a near certainty, and I'll bet I'm not the only one. But would Obama be jumping the gun by pursuing the nation's highest office before finishing out a full term as a Senator?
Discuss.
Update: In the comments, Jeff links to a Richard Cohen article about the potential of Obama's candidacy. I wanted to post that along with another link to a Charles Krauthammer article (can you tell Jeff and I grew up in Washington?) that suggests that Obama should run in 2008, because although he would lose, it would also make him more visible and appear more viable as a future candidate. They are both interesting reads. I particularly like Cohen's line about how he's excited because he has "read [Obama's] speeches". Indeed, maybe what the country needs more than ever is simply a president who can be articulate, who can inspire, and who is comfortable in front of the camera. We haven't had one since Reagan (and look how much we love him in spite of numerous harmful policies). You could argue Clinton but, c'mon, can anyone say "used car salesman"?
Song lyric of the day:
"And you're so occupied with what other persons are occupied with
And vice versa
And you've become what you thought was dumb
A fraction of the sum"
- Built to Spill, Carry the Zero
And now apparently he's mulling over a bid for the presidency.
So the question I'd like to pose to the gallery, many of whom I know have also had their eye on Obama, is this: is it too soon? I mean, sure, Hillary as the Democratic candidate would make my vote for a third-party candidate a near certainty, and I'll bet I'm not the only one. But would Obama be jumping the gun by pursuing the nation's highest office before finishing out a full term as a Senator?
Discuss.
Update: In the comments, Jeff links to a Richard Cohen article about the potential of Obama's candidacy. I wanted to post that along with another link to a Charles Krauthammer article (can you tell Jeff and I grew up in Washington?) that suggests that Obama should run in 2008, because although he would lose, it would also make him more visible and appear more viable as a future candidate. They are both interesting reads. I particularly like Cohen's line about how he's excited because he has "read [Obama's] speeches". Indeed, maybe what the country needs more than ever is simply a president who can be articulate, who can inspire, and who is comfortable in front of the camera. We haven't had one since Reagan (and look how much we love him in spite of numerous harmful policies). You could argue Clinton but, c'mon, can anyone say "used car salesman"?
Song lyric of the day:
"And you're so occupied with what other persons are occupied with
And vice versa
And you've become what you thought was dumb
A fraction of the sum"
- Built to Spill, Carry the Zero
