Not So Fast -- Why Barack Obama may not run.

The Wall Street Journal ^ | December 17, 2006 | John Fund

[Zakeet]

Just about everybody seems convinced that Sen. Barack Obama is going to run for president. The Chicago Sun-Times, his hometown paper, is writing as if his candidacy is an established fact.

[Snip]

Time out. Let's look at the 1 in 5 chance that even his own advisers say he won't run.

[Snip]

Left unspoken is the big reason why so many Democrats are swooning over the newcomer. It's the nagging belief that the country isn't ready to elect Hillary Clinton. "If she is the nominee, voters will be asked to select another Clinton, after having had a Bush in the White House, preceded by a Clinton, preceded by the first President Bush," one Democratic consultant observes. "Against her, most Republicans would look like a fresh face and with less baggage."

[Snip]

Only for so long will Mr. Obama's sparkling personality help him avoid troubling questions out his ideological record. The fact that he originally opposed the war in Iraq would help him with primary voters, but it's unclear how many Democrats want to plump for someone who, according to National Journal, has a more liberal voting record than Hillary Clinton. Last year Mr. Obama had a perfect 100% voting record from both the Americans for Democratic Action and the AFL-CIO.

His record as a state legislator is even more liberal. In 1996, he spoke out against the Defense of Marriage Act, which the Senate approved 85-14 and Mr. Clinton signed into law. He twice voted "present" on a bill to ban partial-birth abortions came up. In 1999 he was the only state senator to oppose a law that prohibited early prison release for sex offenders. Is anyone naive enough to believe Mrs. Clinton wouldn't use those positions as evidence that he couldn't win?

[Zakeet]

This article is another good read by John Fund. The excerpt doesn't do it justice.

[Sterm26]

After awhile, people will look beyond the glitz and see that Obama has no "there" there. However, Hitlery may see him as the perfect running mate. The R's need to find a candidate quick.

[napscoordinator]

It seems to me that the Republicans are already giving up on the 2008 election and setting their sights for 2016. I know that seems strange, but it just seems that is the mood of the GOP right now.

[SWEETSUNNYSOUTH]

Unfortunitly, I don't see a Republican conservative anywhere on the horizon who has any chance of capturing our attention. The MSM will of course trash any candidate who is conservative. 2008 is going to take a lot of "grass roots" effort by all of us on a 24/7 schedule. Our only hope is Fox News and the internet to get to the 35% of Americans who will vote.

[joseph20]

I'm still dissapointed in the loss of George Allen.

[SWEETSUNNYSOUTH]

I am as well. It's a good example of how the power of the MSM can "trash" a conservative and the sheeple can't see it.

[Joe Boucher]

Good persuasive article.
Thanks for posting

[Gorzaloon]

It's a good example of how the power of the MSM can "trash" a conservative and the sheeple can't see it.

..Or how they can synthesize a fantasy candidate out of thin air, just as they synthesized Gay "Marriage".

These are just Media Events, as the MSM touches itself while dreaming of ruling the World.

[Recon Dad]

All the speculation is that Hillary and Obama will be a great ticket, the woman and the minority. But does Hillary need someone one left of her as a running mate.

[DOGEY]

All the speculation is that Hillary and Obama will be a great ticket, the woman and the minority. But does Hillary need someone one left of her as a running mate.

Will he deliver one voter that Hillary does not already have? Richardson would bring more.

[proudofthesouth]

What the Repubs need to realize is that once Hitlery becomes presz she will NEVER give it up and will become Dictator!

The Klintoons as we all well know don't obey laws that apply to the rest of us peons.

[Recon Dad]

I agree with your Richardson call, though I have always thought of Richardson as a real lightweight. He always looks like the guy that is trying too hard to be important.

[texastoo]

I agree with you. I think it will be Hillary/ Richardson. The Dems already have the black vote and actually have the hispanic vote also. But a Richardson run would clinch it.

Right now Hillary is playing it smart and not talking as it is too early. She will watch Obana open his mouth one time too many and put himself out of the running.

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

Thank God Rick Santorum is not going away!

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1754977/posts

[Coldwater Creek]

Half of the country has never "looked beyond" the Clinton glitz!

[Coldwater Creek]

I don't think in the long run that mrs. Clinton will run, but if she should, you can take it to the bank that it will be Richardson. That has been in the works for a very long time.

[Coldwater Creek]

With Richardson, the dems will get two for one. He's half white and half Mexican.

[RoadTest]

"Unfortunitly, I don't see a Republican conservative anywhere on the horizon who has any chance of capturing our attention."

I like Tom Tancredo and Kurt Weldon. I'd vote for one of them.

[iopscusa]

Before running for the big house, Obama would do well to review his performance in debating Allan Keyes in IL senate race a couple of years ago. If he has not improved a 100 times, his ability to even understand issues much less to debate them, he will not make it out of the primaries.
John Fund has proposed an honorable solution, certainly one that Obama best entertain. Maybe he should spend some time in the minors, possibly as President of Illinois or California?