Anyone else watch the Charlie Rose panel analysis? I think they were "spot on" at the end --

[smalll]

What they concluded, at the end, is that essentially, it's game over, Obama's won, excluding some unforseen major outside event that has to come SOON to shift this thing back to McCain. Obama has 260 electoral votes at this point solidly in his camp. And everywhere else he looks, there are bushels and bushels of low-hanging fruit. And Obama's the one with the ground game, the money, and more paid campaign staff than anyone yet in presidential campaign history.

And they made the point that there are two main things that have put Obama on top - the unforseen major outside event of the financial crisis, and Obama's temperment -- his cool, and yes also, his caution.

So as far as I see it, the Mods can shut down GD: Presidential right now. Another thread warns us not to be to cocky, but at this point I'm as cocky as a gay orgy vis-a-vis Obama's chances on Election Day.

But I do have (so shoot me) a concern: Obama is riding into the White House on the first wake of a financial deluge -- bad times ahead. He's no poetic, visionary "Messiah" as the Hannities of this world like to call him; he's a cerebral, wonky, cautious guy. He's a man of brief experience with the upper levels of American politics. He's coming out of nowhere. He's an outsider Democrat coming into power with a Democratic Congress. He's facing an energy crisis, a financial crisis, a crisis in confidence, and various emerging emergencies around the world.

My concern is that Obama will be a one term President. I fear he will be Carterized. I shudder to think who may get to play Reagan in 2012. Palin perhaps? First time as tragedy, second time as farce (or however Marx put that exactly.)

:shrug:

[MadMaddie]

1. Don't fret my friend Obama is smart enough to surround himself

with the real professionals not hacks. This will make his Presidency also I think that he will have a second term, I say this because once he makes it transparant and available to the public what a fucking mess the Republicans have created Americans will leave him in office. I don't think we have even seen the tip of the financial mess because the current adminsitration has fudged and lied about all of the financial states of all Government organizations.

The American people are pissed now, wait until they find out the truth!

[smalll]

5. I get where you're coming from, but Carter was not the type to pick hacks --

sure, he had a few Georgia buddies he brought up with him, but Carter was also a good, honest, intelligent technocrat, and brought on a lot of the best and the brightest.

Your point about the financial mess the Republicans have made is a good one - that doesn't really have Carter parallels, and it will be a strong influence on how things play out. Notwithistanding all that, do remember however that Carter essentially succeeded Nixon (after the Ford interregnum) so the fact that Obama is coming in after major Republican failure (or "fail" as the kids say) doesn't make him exceptional.

[MadMaddie]

8. This is true

I think Carter had many great abilities and he has shown those outside of the WH.

I think that Obama has pulled so many Republicans and Undeceideds to the light that he will be able to pull the best and the brightest into his cabinets and get the job done.

Obama is exceptional, he has the organizational and people skills it takes to get large projects done. He will not delegate to someone he doesn't think will get the job done.

He will make some mistakes but he will force the country into the right direction.

We still have 3 weeks so let's get him in office first and let thenhim work!!

[MoJoWorkin]

2. Let's get him elected first!

I know, I wouldn't wish this mess on an enemy. I also feel it in my bones that Obama and Biden are the right ones to fix it.

[speedoo]

3. He won't be "Carterized".

I love Jimmy Carter, he's a great man and a very smart guy, but Obama's got a lot more street smarts and political savvy than Jimmy had. Plus he will surround himself with smart tough guys, starting with Joe Biden, who will be a great VP.

The rethugs are in disarray and they have no one like Reagan to take down Obama.

[WeDidIt]

4. Barack Obama is set for eight years

We will have a deep rcession that will end as 2010 rolls around. Times will be good and whomsoever the Republicans put up in 2012 will be noteworthyy as the sacrificial lamb who takes one for the team.

[smalll]

7. Nice point. The late '70s was a slow slide downward for the U.S. economy -- we're taking a big hit

right now, and as long as this ISN'T the next Great Depression (which I highly doubt it will be) we should be on a rebounding upswing in four years time.

:)

[jacksonian]

6. i don't think that will happen

a big difference here is Carter (and Clinton) both came to power with Dem congresses that had been around for quite awhile and had their ways of doing things - ways that didn't always jive with the outsider coming in.

Obama will take over have been part of the Dem congress that is still relatively new, meaning more people on the same page. This is more like FDR than Carter, and like FDR they're going to think of this economy as Bush/Hoover's economy.

[smalll]

10. You have a good point too about the newness of Democratic control on on the Hill.

And about how that might play out. I'm starting to feel better! :) (Of course if Obama DOES get Carterized, you heard it here first! :evilgrin: )

[Doremus]

9. You lost the points I gave you for

"cocky as a gay orgy." :rofl:

Unfortunately, I'm afraid you underestimate our esteemed candidate. Sorely.

[Teaser]

11. Did Doris Kearns Goodwin have a stroke?

I swear I'm seeing Bell's Palsy