Iowa Caucus and NH Primary Thread

[Freak Out]

To early to tell with Clinton/Obama...hell the mud hasn't even really started flying yet and I think they both still have tons of money. Who the hell knows on the right..does Huckabee have much cash?

[GrnBay007]

My son and I went to the grocery store late one night this past week for dog food. There was a huge coach bus in the parking lot with Huckabee's picture/name all over it and several people standing outside of it. The woman at the cash register asked my son if he saw Chuck Norris in the store. I haven't followed much about Huckabee. Apparently Norris is supporting him...didn't know that until after that incident and then looked it up.

[Deputy Nutz]

I will not support a candidate so heavily favored by the religious right.

[Harlan Huckleby]

Clinton is probably toast. She can't possibly hope to increase her support, because of her massive negative polling numbers. Supporters of Obama and Edwards have already made a decision about Clinton...I doubt many Edwards supporters will flock to Hillary when Edwards eventually bows out.

Iowa might be the most unfavorable state for Clinton in the whole country. you do make a good point that Edwards supporters are more drawn to Obama. GEt ready for a long battle, this is far from over, Clinton has strong support among older voters, blacks, women.

Barrack Obama pains me. I really like him personally, his positions are generally OK with me. But he is just too immature, he hasn't had enough life experience. Obama is on the Senate Foreign Relations committee, their hearings are streamed on the internet, and I often watch them. Obama is a lightweight. The questions that he asks are pretty shallow. He simply doesn't have the wisdom and experience of the more senior members on the Foreign Relations committee - it's obvious. He has not developed good judgement yet.

Obama is a very sharp and charismatic guy. Certainly if the country survived George Bush, they can survive Obama. It just pains me to think that several more serious people are being left behind, Dodd, Clinton, Biden and Richardson would all be much better presidents, they are ready.

If Obama gets the presidency, he will learn and grow. But he is going to make errors in judgement, especially in his first few years. Over 8 years, perhaps he can be good for the country. I'll certainly vote for him over any republican, since I see the presidential election as a vote for 10,000 people of party A or party B.

[Harlan Huckleby]

I will not support a candidate so heavily favored by the religious right.

ahhh, don't let that put you off. Huckabee is a Baptist Minister, so of course the religious right will support him. But that doesn't mean Huckabee owes them any favors. He seems like an independent man of principle.

I see in Huckabee a man with compassion and balance, he is one of the least fanatical politicians to come along in years. Speaking as a freedom-from-religion heathen, I think Huckabee embodies the good qualities of Christianity.

[The Leaper]

GEt ready for a long battle, this is far from over, Clinton has strong support among older voters, blacks, women.

The problem is that the blacks and women aren't likely to vote for her if Obama continues to gain momentum. She was THIRD PLACE among women in Iowa! Clinton just has too many people who despise her...not just Republicans, but those in her own party. She's a bitch...people don't want a bitch as president.

Barrack Obama pains me. I really like him personally, his positions are generally OK with me. But he is just too immature, he hasn't had enough life experience.

You are probably right. However, a president can lean heavily on those he puts around him. What great foreign experience did Bill Clinton have? What great foreign experience did Ronald Reagan have? They both proved to be rather large forces on the world stage.

Dodd, Clinton, Biden and Richardson would all be much better presidents, they are ready.

They all are also far more likely to be swayed by the politics as usual of Washington...which is precisely what we DON'T need.

[The Leaper]

I will not support a candidate so heavily favored by the religious right.

I will not support a candidate so heavily favored by the fruits and nuts. Obama is probably the most liberal of all the candidates...and that is saying something when Clinton is in the race. Why the hell can't the Dems bring out someone who is MODERATE. Hell, Bill Clinton is the prime example of why you do that...yet the Dems can't seem to figure that out, and have taken it on the chin twice in the last 8 years with ultra-lefty candidates (Gore/Kerry) against a weak GOP candidate like Bush.

Republicans will have a field day pounding on Obama's ultra-liberal positions. To be honest, Huckabee is far closer to the middle than Obama is. His populist ideals are not in step with the notions of many ultra-conservatives such as Rush Limbaugh.

[Harlan Huckleby]

What great foreign experience did Bill Clinton have? What great foreign experience did Ronald Reagan have?

Both Clinton and Reagan were state governors. I don't put that much stock in "foreign policy experience" per se. I think a President should have years of experience in a decision making capacity. And a range of life experiences. Many people really do grow, we're wiser at 50 than at 40, we constantly learn.

Obama hasn't done anything with his life yet. He's just learning how things work in the Senate. Honestly, he is greatly underqualified to be president of anything, let alone the U.S.

But hey, he is very charismatic and intelligent. I do respect him. Hopefully it can work out.

And as far as the more Senior Democrats being too engrossed in the system: it sounds nice to be a fresh face, but the reality is that Obama is going to have to learn how to make the system work before he can change it. He is not being elected CZAR, change will require manipulating the existing actors. A fresh face is romantic, but a huge liability in reality.

[The Leaper]

And as far as the more Senior Democrats being too engrossed in the system: it sounds nice to be a fresh face, but the reality is that Obama is going to have to learn how to make the system work before he can change it.

True...but look at the experience the Dems have in Congress right now. They rode into power with great momentum...what the hell have they done? Pelosi hasn't done a damn thing.

The bottom line is that it is IMPOSSIBLE to accomplish anything in Washington without an ability to appeal to the PEOPLE of the nation. Special interests bog everything down so that nothing can get accomplished.

Experience can't change Washington...only the American public can change Washington. If a leader can't connect with the American public, there is no potential for change.

[The Leaper]

I think a President should have years of experience in a decision making capacity. And a range of life experiences. Many people really do grow, we're wiser at 50 than at 40, we constantly learn.

Obama hasn't done anything with his life yet. He's just learning how things work in the Senate. Honestly, he is greatly underqualified to be president of anything, let alone the U.S.

I would generally agree.

All those who are basically claiming the Democrats have wrapped up the presidency at this point are very wrong. Both likely Dem hopefuls (Obama, Clinton) have some major negatives working against them in a presidential election. For Hillary, it is the sheer number of voters who claim they just won't vote for her regardless. For Obama, it is his inexperience and record as an ultra-liberal...he's been able to escape much criticism to this point as an underdog, but once he is no longer an underdog, he'll have some tough items to answer for.

The GOP knows its shit in terms of elections...getting dumbass Bush two wins shows that they have the ability to take advantage of weak Dem candidates. To me, I see both Hillary and Obama as weak.

On the flip side...no GOP candidate looks all that strong right now either. The race is really a toss up at this point IMO.

[Harlan Huckleby]

If a leader can't connect with the American public, there is no potential for change.

I do think Obama can excel at connecting with the public. Huckabee too.

[BallHawk]

If, and I emphasize if, Obama gets the nomination he would be best choosing either Biden or Richardson as his running mate. Biden and Richardson were both strong but they just didn't appeal to voters. I would of been happy with either of those candidates as the nomination, but it wasn't meant to be.

[Joemailman]

Clinton is probably toast. She can't possibly hope to increase her support, because of her massive negative polling numbers. Supporters of Obama and Edwards have already made a decision about Clinton...I doubt many Edwards supporters will flock to Hillary when Edwards eventually bows out.

Iowa might be the most unfavorable state for Clinton in the whole country. you do make a good point that Edwards supporters are more drawn to Obama. GEt ready for a long battle, this is far from over, Clinton has strong support among older voters, blacks, women.

Barrack Obama pains me. I really like him personally, his positions are generally OK with me. But he is just too immature, he hasn't had enough life experience. Obama is on the Senate Foreign Relations committee, their hearings are streamed on the internet, and I often watch them. Obama is a lightweight. The questions that he asks are pretty shallow. He simply doesn't have the wisdom and experience of the more senior members on the Foreign Relations committee - it's obvious. He has not developed good judgement yet.

Obama is a very sharp and charismatic guy. Certainly if the country survived George Bush, they can survive Obama. It just pains me to think that several more serious people are being left behind, Dodd, Clinton, Biden and Richardson would all be much better presidents, they are ready.

If Obama gets the presidency, he will learn and grow. But he is going to make errors in judgement, especially in his first few years. Over 8 years, perhaps he can be good for the country. I'll certainly vote for him over any republican, since I see the presidential election as a vote for 10,000 people of party A or party B.

(Bold is my emphasis)

Are you saying he lacks the wisdom and judgment of the people who voted to let Bush take us into Iraq? (Clinton, Dodd, Edwards, Biden). I have respect for those people, but all those years of experience didn't stop them from making a huge foreign policy blunder. The key for a guy like Obama would be to surround himself with quality advisers. I suspect he could handle that. I'm not supporting him yet, but his lack of experience doesn't worry me.

[Harlan Huckleby]

Are you saying he lacks the wisdom and judgment of the people who voted to let Bush take us into Iraq? (Clinton, Dodd, Edwards, Biden).

Well, this is the mantra of the Obama supporters. You must also consider that Britney Spears was initially against the war.

The decision to support Bush initially is not a litmus test of good judgement. The incompetence of the Bush team was not so obvious at the time of that vote. History might have gone another direction.

Claiming that because Obama's war opposition gives him a lock on wisdom is uncritical thinking. And then the next step is even worse: suggesting that since many experienced people were on the wrong side of history in this or any other incident, therefore experience is unimportant.

[Freak Out]

Obama is probably the most liberal of all the candidates...and that is saying something when Clinton is in the race. Why the hell can't the Dems bring out someone who is MODERATE.

I think Edwards and Richardson are more liberal than Obama....and if anyone is a moderate in this race it is Clinton....maybe with Biden a close second.