The American Spectator

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SCOTUS Pocus

6.16.08 @ 12:01AM

(Page 3 of 5)

NO ONE TO BLAME BUT HIMSELF
Re: David Weigel's Leaving Nixonland:

It was the ego of Richard Nixon that brought down Richard Nixon. He won 60.7 percent of the vote in 1972, just short of LBJ's record 61.1 percent in 1964. He blamed American Party candidate Congressman John Schmitz and his 1.5 percent of the vote for his not breaking the record because of the vote Schmitz won and Nixon's belief that Schmitz convinced an equal number of voters if they could not vote for him to at least not vote for Nixon. Nixon's ego was a symptom of the illness of Watergate.
-- Michael Skaggs
Murray, Kentucky

MANAGERIAL STYLE
Re: R. Emmett Tyrrell, Jr.'s Tough Leadership:

Two observations:

It seems the right is always dismissive of community organizing. I expect this from the right. As defenders of the wealthy, they'd prefer the poor to remain that way, and disorganized to boot.

Second, the largest operation either McCain or Obama have managed lately is, of course, a presidential campaign. Obama's is better organized, better financed, more cohesive, more extensive, and more grassroots than McCain's. There's no doubt that, based on experience in the 21st century, Obama is the better manager.
-- Tom Davis

Tell me your article is in the opinion section of your newspaper, because it has no journalistic merit at all. It is simply your opinion. So for that, I get that you are obviously a Republican and a McCain Supporter. Which, by the Constitution, is your right: your own pursuit of life, liberty and the pursuit of obvious unhappiness.

What I actually found humorous in your op-ed piece is the comparison of Obama's experience to McCain's experience. The two men have a 25+ year age difference. Of course Obama and McCain's experience levels will be different. And to state that Obama's managerial experience only is limited to community organizing indicates you haven't just been asleep during the Democratic Primaries -- you've apparently been bored into a restless coma during a "get out the Republican vote McCain rally."

But, you aren't to be faulted for your obvious infatuation with budgets and jellybeans, so I'll help you rebuild your mental astuteness as you awaken from your blinding stupor, here's a truth lesson: Obama served as a Chicago Congressman for 12 years and now as a State Senator -- both required management skills -- while not with a "billion" dollar budget -- guess what -- they still count. And by the way -- you might want to take notes on this one -- he is currently managing a historic presidential campaign -- both in terms of management and (gasp) budget. In fact he's broken fundraising records by all accounts.

So, if becoming the president was solely based on how well you manage people and a budget -- Obama will win by a landslide.

And also if becoming the president was solely based on how well you manage people and a budget, Bush would certainly have proven himself to be fiscally responsible and we would not be sliding into a recession right now. After all, wasn't he a governor before he became president? Because everyone knows governors are the best presidents right? Wrong. The best presidents inspire a nation to grow, to get involved and to care about what happens in their world and the world around them.

This nation is getting left behind in the global community because of the thought that only someone who has "earned" the right to be at the table can be at the table. That's a superiority complex and mentality that has kept this nation divided by itself and isolated us from the world.

What McCain managed decades ago, he certainly deserves credit for, but what good is what he managed if it has only taught his campaign to steal -- excuse moi --"borrow" Obama's campaign lines and try to infuse them into his own campaign. Seriously, with all that experience, you would think the McCain team would have an original thought. Leading is not about experience -- it's about vision. We elected the first president of the United States of America because he had a vision and the guts to carry it out. I don't need experience if the vision remains what it currently is and I most certainly don't want someone with the guts to keep carrying forth this vision. Because it keeps us in the America we are today.

But, just so we're clear on the points of this lesson:
1. Obama does have managerial experience that extends far beyond being a Community Organizer.
2. Obama is a leader as evidenced by the number of new voters he has brought into the Democratic primary process as well as inspired to become involved in politics.
3. Experience does not equal effective leadership.
4. Leaders have a vision that inspires and sparks growth not recession.
5. Leaders lead, followers "borrow".

So, I hope this lesson was informative for you. I'm not worried about your thoughts on Obama. In another 25 years you'll be writing about the billion dollar budgets Obama has managed.

Letter to the Editor

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