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Thu 8 Jul, 2004 08:31 am
The republicans are hammering away at Edwards lack of experience. How effective if at all do you suppose that will be?
Well, there's the heartbeat away from the Presidency thing. You do want someone who could do not only the VP job but the Prez job.
I think people have a powerful reaction to fresh face, Washington outsider, breath of fresh air kinds of things, too, though, so those things might cancel each other out. Heck, that was a huge part of Bush's appeal. What is the difference in how much experience they've had, I wonder? (Edwards now vs. Bush in 2000.)
Curious, will look it up. Edwards got into politics in 1998, so that's 6 years. Bush?
OK, he was elected Governor of Texas in 1994. (Inaugurated 1995.) He was not in politics before that. "He served as managing general partner of the Texas Rangers until his election as governor."
http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/governors/modern/page3.html
So, same span. 6 years' experience in politics, one as a governor, one as a senator.
What experience did Bush have when he was elected. Of cource he is president in name only.
Comparing time in public service ignores the nature of that public service; Edward's public service experience is entirely legislative, following a private litigational career. The Incumbent's public service has been entirely executive, following an executive career. Apart from a personal staff, Edwards has no experience of administering anything. Both Kerry, having served in military command and as a Lt. Governor, and Cheney, having headed both private sector major firms and cabinet-level governmental departments, have extensive executive experience. Given length of experience, and the nature of that experience, as qualificative parameters, of the four, Cheney by far would be the most qualified.
Au writes
Quote:What experience did Bush have when he was elected.
Well he successfully served as Governor of Texas for two consecutive four year terms. On November 8, 1994 he received 53.5 percent of the vote against a very popular Ann Richards. On November 3, 1998, he received 68.6 of the vote that would suggest a good majority of Texans approved of the job he did. Of interest, Texas demographics is split almost 50-50 anglo/minority groups.
As Texas is the second largest U.S. state and has about 20 million people making it larger in both area and population than most countries of the world, I would say he had some pretty good training and experience going into the presidency.
Foxfyre, the math doesn't work out - wouldn't it be that Bush served one full term as Governor and a second partial term (interrupted by going to the White House)? Otherwise, you've got his second term ending in 2002, yes?
I don't think it really matters one way or the other. If Edwards had only been a state level Senator it might matter but once you get into Federal level politics you are simply "in".
Timber
Cheney as you claim may be the most qualified. However, would a person with his medical history ever be elected to the office of president. He is a heartbeat away from the presidency and also a heartbeat away from the grave.
They are harping on the fact that Edwards has no foreign policy experience. What experience did Bush have in that regard?
No experience with DUI or going AWOL either.
au1929 wrote:Timber
Cheney as you claim may be the most qualified. However, would a person with his medical history ever be elected to the office of president. He is a heartbeat away from the presidency and also a heartbeat away from the grave.
That's about the most valid point I've seen offered here so far.
Cheneys health is not an issue, at best it is a fake issue.
Bush does come from a political background, the ambulance chaser was raised by a millworker or something, that makes a difference.
Quote:Well he successfully served as Governor of Texas for two consecutive four year terms.
Um, seeing as our state finances went to hell while he was here and very little of substance was accomplished, I'd hardly say he was 'successful.'
As for the experience factor, look what a
wonderful job the 'experienced' politicians are doing with things....
Quote:Bush does come from a political background, the ambulance chaser was raised by a millworker or something, that makes a difference.
Oh, it makes a difference all right. Just not the way that you think that it does.
Cycloptichorn
E. J. Dionne, in yesterday's WaPo, recalls this moment:
Quote:When you hear Republicans disparage Sen. John Edwards's lack of experience, remember the words of Sen. Orrin Hatch, spoken to George W. Bush at a debate on Dec. 6, 1999.
"You've been a great governor," Hatch declared of his rival for the Republican presidential nomination. "My only problem with you, governor, is that you've only had four and going into your fifth year of governorship ... Frankly, I really believe that you need more experience before you become president of the United States. That's why I'm thinking of you as a vice presidential candidate."
Which is exactly what Edwards was chosen for yesterday.
And checkmate.
Cycloptichorn wrote:
Oh, it makes a difference all right. Just not the way that you think that it does.
Cycloptichorn
Exactly the way I think it does, people will be voting for scary kerry, not edwards.
Karzak
Quote:Bush does come from a political background, the ambulance chaser was raised by a millworker or something, that makes a difference.
Wow! This Is America not Saudi Arabia. As for Bush's background, he was too busy getting drunk to get involved with politics.
It certainly does make a differance. Edwards can understand how the "common" man lives and what his everyday problems are while bush has lived with a silver spoon on his mouth from the day he was born. How can royalty understand the problems of the common man. Answer he cant!
rabel22 wrote:It certainly does make a differance. Edwards can understand how the "common" man lives and what his everyday problems are
The YP does nothing the prez doesn't want him too, edwards will dissapear if scary kerry is elected.
And edwards is not a "common man", his father was a common man, edwards is an ambulance chaser.
Quote:And edwards is not a "common man", his father was a common man, edwards is an ambulance chaser.
And that's so much worse than a majorly corrupt Corporation head?
Face it. Next to Edwards, Cheney looks like the freaking DEVIL. Edwards is going to absolutely destroy him in the debate; no matter what Cheney says, it's going to come off badly.
Cycloptichorn
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