LETTER TO THE EDITOR:

Campaigns show candidates’ executive skills

Herman Gordon, Las Vegas

Mon, Sep 8, 2008 (2:06 a.m.)

We keep hearing about the lack of executive experience of our two presidential candidates who come from legislative backgrounds. We hear a lot of false stories during the political season — and this is another one.

Both John McCain and Barack Obama conceived and mounted a movement that thrust them to the top of the heap among dozens of other Republicans, Democrats and independents who had such dreams. This meant they exercised enormous executive abilities to sustain and nourish their campaign organizations.

They had to demonstrate the usual executive abilities such as strategizing short- and long-term goals, choosing assistants, approving organizational structures, worrying about budgets, obtaining revenue, overseeing hundreds of thousands of employees and volunteers, conducting hundreds of meetings requiring decision-making and assuming responsibility and accountability for nearly everything associated with their campaigns.

These two succeeded while executives such as Rudy Giuliani and Mitt Romney couldn’t even get much traction in their campaigns. I don’t think it’s Obama’s and McCain’s executive abilities you have to worry about. That’s a phony story. Stick to the issues when you look for a president.

And, incidentally, most “experienced” executives, such as a mayor or a governor or a corporate official, take over a going organization. These two candidates had the added burden of organizing from scratch.

Discussion: 28 comments so far…

By neiman1

9/8/08 at 5:48 a.m.

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It's sad when someones leadership history is so empty they have to use their ability to run for office as THE example of their ability. Isn't that kind of thinking what got us in all this trouble?
By mschaffer

9/8/08 at 6:14 a.m.

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No, what's sad is the inability of so many voters to discriminate between the intelligence of Obama and the empty headed rhetoric of McCain.
By jfnance32

9/8/08 at 7:39 a.m.

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What is exactly is Obama's cliam to success?

Is it writing two books? LOL....

Is it getting big bills passed by forging compromises within his own party and reaching out to the other side?

No, all he did was get a routine bill that had no opposition passed.

Is it fighting corruption?

No, he had the biggest convicted crook in South Chicago for years as his core fundraiser and the dude helped Obama buy a house.

Is it fighting the establishment in his own party?

No, he has kissed the butt of South Chicago party machine and the DC establishment.
By NVMakz

9/8/08 at 8:10 a.m.

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His base influences are communists, domestic terrorists, socialist wealth re-distributors, racist preachers, uber-liberal political base (one of the most liberal Senators year after year) and simply someone who has spent half of his time in public life running for the next political position.

Obama has more endorsements from global terrorists, dictators and crushers of the human spirit than any other person running for POTUS in my adult lifetime.

When he loses, he can go back to 'representing" Illinois less than half the time.

STILL, libs have a big problem simply stating what accomplishments and achievements Obama has got done in his time in public life that he'll put his name on.

What exactly ARE his accomplishments in his "street organizing" career? What quantifiable and / or qualifiable effects have his Saul Alinsky-socialist influenced years of organizing had?

What exactly ARE Obama's Illinois Legislature accomplishments? What bills did he get PASSED that positively affected Illinois?

What exactly are Obama's national political accomplishments, besides getting Hillary out of the way, barely?

These are VERY hard questions for liberals to answer, so I expect the usual shift to McCain/Palin whining and bashing, quite soon!
By mschaffer

9/8/08 at 9:25 a.m.

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And the two responses above nicely prove and amplify my post by showing the laziness of conservatives. NVMakz could, oh I don't know, look up the information about Obama by going to reputable sources of information but his first paragraph exemplifies why I feel contempt for his sort.
By jfnance32

9/8/08 at 12:53 p.m.

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New Obama commerical:

"Hello, I am Barack Obama. I have been a community organizer, slum lord lawyer and a college professor. I was a state senator for 7 years and a part-time US senate for 3 years. I have written two books.

All those things are good experience, but my greatest accomplishment is that I have been running for president for the last 3 years.

Vote for me...a professional campaigner!!!!!"
By azsk8fan

9/8/08 at 2:02 p.m.

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Nance - good one LOL
NVMakz - gotta luv it :)
By boftx

9/8/08 at 2:05 p.m.

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The thought of Palin finishing out McCain's term should be more than enough to put Obama in office, as painful as THAT would be.

Her personal beliefs are so diametrically opposed to mine that I simply can't vote for McCain and risk something putting Palin in as POTUS.
By thebs

9/8/08 at 2:58 p.m.

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Man the number of people out here with Obama Derangement Syndrome is intense!

Makz and Nance thinks we should judge a candidate by their associations? Okay!

Palin was handpicked by indicted Senator Ted Stevens to run his 527 attack group.

Palin hired a lobbyist connected to Jack Abramoff in order to lobby on behalf of Wasilla.

What about McCain's ties to Pastor Hagee, whose endorsement McCain BEGGED for?

McCain's beloved pastor says Catholicism is "'The Great Whore,' the 'apostate church,' the 'anti-Christ' and a 'false cult system'"

When asked about Hagee, McCain said, ""Well I think it's important to note that pastor John Hagee who has supported and endorsed my candidacy supports what I stand for and believe in."

McCain then said, "And I am very proud of the Pastor John Hagee's spiritual leadership to thousands of people and I am proud of his commitment to the independence and the freedom of the state of Israel."

He's PROUD of Hagee's "leadership?"

His leadership when Hagee said Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans to punish it for it's "level of sin that was offensive to God?"

His leadership when Hagee said of Catholicism, "Most readers will be shocked by the clear record of history linking Adolf Hitler and the Roman Catholic Church in a conspiracy to exterminate the Jews?"

His leadership when Hagee said that it would be easier to negotiate with a terrorist than a woman on her period?

His leadership when Hagee said the difference between a woman on her period and a snarling Doberman pinscher was "lipstick?" (OH THE IRONY)

His leadership when Hagee said that the fight for women's rights was, "throwing off authority in rebellion against God's pattern for the family?"

And what about McCain's chief advisor, Charlie Black?

Black said, of another terrorist attack on U.S. soil "certainly it would be a big advantage to [McCain]."

A terrorist attack and advantage for McCain?

Black said that "[the assasination of Benazhir Bhutto] helped us."

Thankful for an assasination on one of the world's most emminent female leaders?

What about Black's lobbying firm, which lobbyied on behalf of Ferdinand Marcos, Mobuto Sese Seko, Jonas Savimbi and Ahmed Chalabi?

Marcos who declared martial law, looted billions from the treasury, and executed thousands of his own citizens.

Mobuto Sese Seko, who tortured and killed his political enemies.

And of all the political advisors McCain could choose, he chose Black to be his chief advisor.

Cheering assasinations and looking forward to terrorist attacks?

So if you want to judge based on associations, maybe you should spend a little time defending McCain's associations with Hagee and Black, and Palin's associations with Stevens and Abramoff's lobbying friends.
By thebs

9/8/08 at 3:02 p.m.

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Oh, and it's rich that Makz is now asking for Obama's "accomplishments."

Makz said that the time spent in the Congress doing the people's work doesn't count as an accomplishment.

So what has McCain been doing the past 26 years?
By NVMakz

9/8/08 at 3:52 p.m.

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(3:02) Perversion of my points here - only for the continuation of a sad, pathetic candidacy - simply subtract points from YOU! Thanks

It's rich that compared to even Hillary, Obama is an empty suit. America sees this now that Obama is "surging behind"(mq)

Obama Dead-ender Syndrome has conquered "the bs" in political discussion. As if we didn't know THAT?? LOL!

See that McCain "bounce"? Obama got skunked in audience by McCain and within 200K from being beaten by Palin, a new force as we see now.

See 'ya off as you fall, lol...
xxxxxxx
(2:58)
Hagee: McCain never spent 20+ years in the pew, like Obama with his truly racist pastor. This angle has been debunked on your end before, hasn't it? YES, I believe so! Are you recycling old, debunked garbage from "the bs' " sewer? YES!

What did Stevens get convicted of? Nada! A garage and a porch?? When indictments become more important than convictions, let me know - else-wise, you lose again!

Smearing people who have ever even worked with a guy like Abramoff? PROVE that this person you smear had been convicted, if mentioning Abramoff.

The tank is lib-empty IF you think this will gain any traction. Recycle due to lack of an argument, defending an empty suit with empty rhetoric and withering lib-gravitas, "the bs".

America's enemies KNOW who their friends are = Obama and "the bs" point of view.

Compared to the active enemy the Obama associations are and have been documented to be - McCains are tame and less offensive. CLUNK, CLUNK, CLUNK goes "the bs' " lead helmet, lol.

Compared to people McCain very spent little time with in his life = and the people Obama in-the-inner-circle - spent almost half his life in his Chicago "Machine" politics and religious "growth" into the Black Liberation Theology (remember that beat down?) socialist he had become == you have no argument at all which won't wind up splattered all over your monitor.

The alignments of the campaigns going forward is of two REAL Americans vs a racist socialist empty suit and a fossil from before the Roman Empire, it seems.

It's a sick, hobbling "Jackass" that emerged from the gloss and propaganda of Denver. What a waste of money re: Denver!

My side is rejuvenated.
By jfnance32

9/8/08 at 4:11 p.m.

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Pretty weak....pretty weak...by theBs
By thebs

9/8/08 at 4:35 p.m.

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Ah, I see, it's the NVMAKZ NEO-CON DOUBLE STANDARD!

Obama and his associations are fair game, but for the Republicans, Makz peddles EXCUSE after EXCUSE. That's some convenient morality for ya!

Splitting hairs on indicted Senator Ted Stevens? Excusing all the oil company contributions? LOL, how positively CORROSIVE.

The NEO-CON DOUBLE STANDARD, flawlessly executed by NVMakz, wants to make Obama's associations the issue, rather than addressing the actual, pertinent issues facing the nation.

You know, education, health care, defense, foreign policy.

And when you question the associations of McCain and Palin? Suddenly, it's EXCUSE CITY for Makz!

LOL, he thinks McCain's endorsement from Hagee, the one McCain BEGGED FOR, the one which includes Hagee claiming that Catholics helped the Nazis kill Jews is "tame and less offensive.?"

More convenient morality from Makz!

McCain choosing someone who's helped defend some of the world's worst dictators as his handpicked Chief Campaign Advisor? Clap everybody, McCain's a maverick!

And your side is rejuvenated? What an inadequate admission that McCain puts everyone to sleep. He's got the gravitas of a fossil and needs Policyfree Palin to get the Fundies in the game. You know, those people led by the "Agents of Intolerance" that McCain once decried? Now that he needs their cash, he's peddling Palin, who thinks God himself wants her to build a natural gas pipeline. Sounds an awful lot like Bush, doesn't she?

No, I didn't see any McCain bounce. You're still looking at those WORTHLESS national polls? How CLUELESS! It isn't a national election, Einstein, it's a local one, and Obama leads EVERY SINGLE ELECTORAL VOTE prediction. Choke on that!

Bounce? NOT QUITE!

Yikes, expose the NEO-CON DOUBLE STANDARD and they just choke, choke, choke.
By jfnance32

9/8/08 at 4:39 p.m.

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State by state polling up and downs usually lag national daily tracking polls because state polling is not done on a regular basis like the national tracking polls.

So a true picture of electoral college will not be known until earily next week. I am sure there probably be a bounce in the state-by-state polls.

It will be a close race.

Obama is still probably favor.

He should be light years ahead...but heck...I am glad that almost every election except Clinton the Democrats seem to pick the most liberal candidate and not the best-to-win candidate.
By jfnance32

9/8/08 at 4:42 p.m.

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Also there are two factors in polling that are hard to figure out this year.

1) Effect of newly register Obama voters (CNN claims to add some points to Obama numbers to account for this)

2) Effect of white voters lying about voting for Obama because they are afraid to a stranger over the phone otherwise....every single primary race...Hillary did 3 to 5 points better than the polls say so...even the exit polls where off by 2 or 3 points....
By boftx

9/8/08 at 5:02 p.m.

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I can think of one argument in McCain's favor about his age: he is old enough to have forgotten most the the BS he might have heard from a pastor in his youth.
By thebs

9/8/08 at 5:15 p.m.

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WRONG, boftx. McCain begged for Hagee's endorsement on January 27, 2007, AFTER Hagee condemned Catholicism and said that Roman Catholics had helped the Nazis kill Jews.

Or is your argument that John McCain has matured significantly between the ages of 70 to 72? LOL!
By jfnance32

9/8/08 at 7:44 p.m.

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Hagee was a spiritual mentor of McCain for a number of years. Hagee married McCain and his wife. In fact, McCain wrote a chapter in his book about Hagee. McCain attended Hagee's church for over 20 years where Hagee said that "God Damn America", praised anti-Israel nuts, said that USA gave aids and drugs to blacks and many times in the church it had Hamas anti-Israel rants.

Oppps.. I got that wrong...that is Obama his pal Rev Wright.....sorry for the typo.....
By thebs

9/8/08 at 8:11 p.m.

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Ah Nance, thanks for proving the neo-con double standard, yet again!

You are so useful around here.
By jfnance32

9/8/08 at 8:49 p.m.

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Is it really a double standard?

You can talk about McCain and his weak ties to Hagee all day long. I do not care.

I am OK with a TV commerical.

You have 30 seconds talking about McCain "begging" for Hagee's endorsement and say all the bad times about Hagee.

I have 30 seconds and talk about Obama who had a spiritual mentor, wrote a chapter in his book about his spiritual mentor, spiritual mentor married Obama and his wife which is the same spiritual who supports anti-Israel nuts, who said "God Dam America", who said that the USA gave AIDS and drugs to blacks, who's church had many times Hamas anti-Israel rants.

I am OK with doing that.

I think the voters can tell there is a slight difference between the two.
By thebs

9/8/08 at 9:18 p.m.

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Yes, and I will take your pastor problem, the one that everyone know about, and raise you Palin's pastor problem...

You know, the one where she brought her family to the church to hear about the Palestinians killing the Jews in Israel and how it was God's "judgment" against Jews for rejecting Christ?

http://www.salon.com/politics/war_room/2...
http://blog.beliefnet.com/stevenwaldman/...

I'm sure that will endear Policyfree Palin to the Jewish voters of the USA.

So let's see, both of the candidates on the Republican ticket now have connections to some awful language and screwy religious types.

2 > 1
By jfnance32

9/8/08 at 11:20 p.m.

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LOL....that is pretty weak...but go ahead and promote it.

The Jewish voter can make up his/her own mind on which side is pro-Jewish more.

I am sure the Jewish's voters have no problem over Obama's praise of Farrakhan or Obama going to a church that frequently had Hamas anti-Israel rants in the church bulletin.

I am sure that they have no problem that Obama has/had some campaign advisors that tend to have positions that many in Israel would consider to be anti-Israel.

I am sure that they have no problem with the fact that Hamas is cheering for an Obama win.

I am sure that they have no problem with Obama putting down the Likud Party.

I am sure that they have no problem with a picture of Obama and his wife sitting with extreme anti-Israel Professor Said at Said's keynote speech.

I am sure that none of them are worry that he said at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) 2008 Policy Conference, "The Palestinians need a state that is contiguous and cohesive, and that allows them to prosper." I am sure they have no questions on how a Palestine state can be contiguous without making Israel non-contiguous.

P.S. I got much of this stuff off Israel news sites or Jewish websites.

I think that Obama will still get a majority of Jewish voters because most of them automatically vote Democratic.

I am guessing that Obama is not getting all the Jewish fundraising money that a normal Democrat would get.
By thebs

9/9/08 at 6:40 a.m.

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LOL, not a single source or quote in that entire diatribe.

Care to quote OBAMA saying any of those things?
By NVMakz

9/9/08 at 7:22 a.m.

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"Ah, I see, it's the NVMAKZ NEO-CON DOUBLE STANDARD!"

Considering I am responding to THE most partisan and spin-till-"the bs"-is dizzy poster here, the flail you propose IS laughable.
xx
"Obama and his associations are fair game....

"Makz" peddles beat down after beat down - raining on "the bs" libs back-peddling.

Seeing the comparisons in associations and pasts, McCain has a LOT more Americanism and less / none racism, socialism and corrosiveness than Obama has.
xxxx
"Splitting hairs on indicted Senator Ted Stevens....

No convictions, except by the laughable "the bs". Oil company contributions, WWWHHOOOOO. IF you hate the oil-industry, stop using oil products.

Your naivety keep me in stitches.
xxxxx
"The NEO-CON DOUBLE STANDARD, flawlessly.......

Since you've been wiped out on my addressing the real issues, the ASSociation issue of Obama and the fossil, Biden, ARE actual, pertinent issues facing the nation.
xxxx
"You know, education, health care, defense, foreign policy."

Education, which the lib-dominated NEA has worked on corroding and communizing our schools and universities for decades? Is THAT the issue?

Health care - Universal HC IS already a proven failure around the world. As the world strains under its over-runs and lack of everything compared to a free-market system - da lib needs the failure in America, again.

Defense, how can you hope to be taken seriously at all (it hasn't happened YET) on this issue - with the LOSS of cred in the "surge" (STILL cling to the hope it failed, "the bs"??), the 15 of 18 Iraqi "benchmarks" earned - and the VICTORY coming on in Iraq. Just no winning for you here.

Foreign Policy: Dems need our "stab-in-the-back "friends" like France to buy off on OUR national security?. Dems don't mind when Clinton goes to war in the Balkans without their permission = but lib-hypocracy whines / cries when a (R) WINS THE ARGUMENT.
xxxxx
"And when you question the associations of McCain and Palin? Suddenly, it's EXCUSE CITY for Makz!"

Nope, it's just the fact Obama and Biden simply do NOT match-up at all with McCain / Palin.
xxx
"LOL, he thinks McCain's endorsement from Hagee.....

Your guy actually SAT IN THE PEW for 20+ years at Trinity, was married there, raised his family there, accepted the political support which IS the reason he went there - then disavowed Wright (not really, imo) until after November, then Barry's mentor will be back.
xxxxx
McCain choosing someone who's.....

The endorsements from dictators in '08 FOR Obama more than kill your point here. Would you like a list of foreign dictators who like Obama? AGAIN??
xxxx
"No, I didn't see any McCain bounce.....

McCain and Palin HAVE A BOUNCE, especially among "likely voters", not the "registered voter" you've touted here.
By jfnance32

9/9/08 at 8:36 a.m.

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Here theBs are some of the links you requested.

I believe almost all of them are either Israeli newspaper sites or Jewish websites.

http://web.israelinsider.com/views/12994...

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/N...

http://www.israeltoday.co.il/default.asp...

http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/indiv...

http://yidwithlid.blogspot.com/2008/01/o...

http://atlasshrugs2000.typepad.com/atlas...

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?a...

http://www.israeltoday.co.il/default.asp...

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?c...
By jfnance32

9/9/08 at 8:39 a.m.

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Obama did say: "Palestinians need a state that is contiguous and cohesive, and that allows them to prosper."

Not sure how one could make Gaza and the West Bank contigous with out making Israel non-contigous.

http://web.israelinsider.com/views/12994...
By NVMakz

9/9/08 at 9:07 a.m.

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Obama said "contiguous" here??

He must not have had a TelePrompTer handy.
By thebs

9/9/08 at 9:19 a.m.

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Oh, moral equivocation from Makz, how quaint!

You've given me 'Exhibit A.' in making the case for those with Obama Derangement Syndrome. Your convenient morality is far from circumspect, and indicative of those who listen to O'Reilly condemn the parents of unwed teenaged mothers, then turn around and give Palin a free pass.

Selective morality, based only on party affiliation. It's disgusting.

You give McCain a free pass for ACTIVELY BEGGING for Hagee's endorsement, AFTER Hagee insulted millions of American Catholics? Disgusting.

"Since you've been wiped out on my addressing the real issues, the association issue of Obama and the fossil, Biden, ARE actual, pertinent issues facing the nation."

And then you discount the associations of McCain and Palin? What's good for the goose is good for the gander, hypocrite.

"The endorsements from dictators in '08 FOR Obama more than kill your point here. Would you like a list of foreign dictators who like Obama? AGAIN??"

Did Obama or Biden take money from those dictators to lobby on their behalf? No. Did McCain's right hand man Charlie Black? Yes. McCain's most trusted advisor has profited from some of the worst dictators on Earth. Your convenient morality is abhorrent.

And you criticize Obama for sitting in the pews with Rev. Wright, but give Palin a free pass for taking her family to her church to hear about how the Palestinian violence against Jews in Israel is God's "judgment" against the Jews for rejecting Christ? DISGUSTING!

Palin's obviously a true believer... what else would explain her public comments about God's plan for the War on Iraq and God's personal interest in getting her natural gas pipeline built?

And the fact you're still looking at worthless national polls, conveniently ignoring the electoral maps, which ALL favor Obama, just exhibits your weakness.

Show me an electoral map that has McCain/Palin in the lead.

It ain't happening, son! The American people aren't buying what McCain/Palin are peddling... more LIES and LIES and OUTRIGHT LIES about their positions and "change?"

Sorry, your convenient Republican moral relativity is truly what's corroding our country's values.