Obama is on course for victory. But he isn’t ready for the White House

john problem

But newly elected leaders anywhere rarely have experience or training to do the new job.
At least, Obama will have the stamina to address a failing economy, enemies abroad, global anti-Americanism, etc, whereas McCain might not. In which case one would have someone even less prepared for the job.
"Shucks! I pressed the wrong button! Doggone! Lookit that missile go! Betcha they're gonna know when that one arrives, huh? Say, General Er-whatsyername, what was it aimed at?"

American Voter

Despite the article's title, there is little comment on Barack Hussein Obama's total unsuitability for the position of President of the US. In other words, a typical Old Media hit job against the opposition, in support of their lame choice, who would not be able to stand if subjected to critical analysis. So, for the benefit of those who might wonder just what Obama does stand for, and against, here is a video, largely in his own words:

http://hotair.com/archives/2008/10/21/the-comprehensive-argument-against-barack-obama/

Kerry

So America doesn't see itself through its own values any more.

It sees itself through the eyes of the Middle East (full of hate) and Europe (full of grovelling) and thinks this will change its fortunes.

Obama is simply the modern day snake oil salesman with his claptrap about 'the highest hilltop', 'change the world' and so on.

Dave Cameron tried two syllables of this with his 'sunshine' line and it went down like a lead balloon. Rightly, too.

Yet no-one in the mainstream media says squit about Obama's florid hyperbole.

As eerie as I find Obama, the press deference towards him scares me even more.

Water

Yesss…and let’s have the reverend associate with his finger on the button (but of course he only fraternizes with such men, thus we should put him at the helm of the civilized world). As for spurious arguments against when we looks back at some of the blog entries of late in opposition it seems like anything other then hot air against the man. In actuality if somebody had anti-American sentiments Obama would be the person to side with.

alan

A nothing article. Not well done.

Laurie Macdonell-Sanchez

Brilliant analysis. Alas, such honesty is no longer possible in the American press anymore.

Augustus

Obama has managed to disassociate himself from the race card thanks to the help of the American established media. But he has been shown to have been a party to actions designed to use 'race' as a means of pressurizing banks to lend hundreds of millions of dollars to racial minorities who were often not creditworthy.

Madeline Talbott, who was head of ACORN in Chicago, and who was the pioneer of sub-prime mortgages, was so impressed by Obama, who worked there as a community organizer in the early 1990s, that she asked him to teach her employees.
After becoming a lawyer, he defended ACORN on many occasions, even winning a case against Citibank to get risky mortgages approved in 1995. He helped ACORN to get the Freddie Mac and Fannie May rules changed so that more sub-prime loans could be made available, which Bill Clinton subsequently approved. No wonder he has kept quiet on the credit crunch, he played a significant part in its development.

Water

Still sticking with my initial assertion.

Tony Gonzalez

Sure Obama may not be ready for the White House, then again, who really is? Tell you one thing though, he's certainly more prepared for the executive challenges of the U.S. Presidency than the current occupant.

George W. was elected solely on the basis of his last name and not much else. He was (and remains)a "concoction" birthed by the leadership of the Republican party, and as such, was (and remains) sorely lacking in intellect, as well as in experience. A quick sojourn as Governor of Texas (a not very challenging job akin to a scout master) and he's painted as qualified. I'll take my chances with Obama. He certainly can't do worse.

Water

I'm sure McCain would say he is ready.

brenda u.s.

McCain is 72, not 73. John McCain turned 72 on August 29 , 2008.

Water

Certainly one point worth noting.

Water

One hell of a point I must admitt, well picked up.

PT

One thing that really bothers me about Obama is the likelihood that any opposition to his projects, or legeslation, is going to be branded "racist". This is even worse than saying something is "unpatriotic". By the way Tony, considering you're obvious distain for Bush the Younger, I wouldn't have thought using him as an example of an inexperienced leader gives much solice. Bush at least was Governor of Texas, which is more governing experience than Obama does - and you also knew more or less what he was and how he saw the world. I dare say that's one reason why you voted against him. Obama is a big question mark.

Arminius

Yes, during a period of economic upheaval it's always a good thing when voters give absolute power to a charismatic demagogue, who came from nowhere and whose friends are virulent firebrands. I mean, what harm ever came of that?

Jack Peverill, Sarasota, FL, USA

I found this rather bemused analysis to be refreshing. Maybe in some cases, getting out of the smoke-filled room and breathing some fresh air makes sense, and this Brit is able to distance himself from this whole mess. Before you decide whether you like him or not(ie whether he fits your own biases), bear in mind that he actually takes a stiff jab at both parties, and in the process seems to come up with something, and it is not too encouraging. He does not mention many “issues”, but points out how many issues are avoided by the two contending sides As we near the end of this interminable drama, try to remember that beyond all the bullshit there still is reality or a number of realities, and we have a lot ahead of us and it won’t be talked away or dismissed by the aforementioned BS, soothing though it may be to the witnesses.

JohnAnt

"Obama dominates fundraising among the leaders of ‘finance, insurance, real estate, health, communications and law’."
And all of them simply contributing the $600m with no thought of self or financial return?

PA Refgirl

Mr. Caldwell's main complaint seems to be that Obama has failed to do or say anything egregiously stupid. It may not make for interesting press, but I like that in a candidate. And after eight years of egregious stupidity in the White House, I will certainly appreciate that in a President. Nobody, and I mean NOBODY, is really prepared for the economic mess that our newest president will inherit. But I believe that Obama is less dogmatic, smarter, and generally better suited to cope with this crisis than McCain would be.

Claire Solt PhD

This author has a very odd sense of relevance. He ascribes great meaning to little things long forgotten. Put him back on a reporter's beat.

uffa

It's all very well for Europeans to be Olympian about America's struggle to Do The Right Thing by an unqualified Black candidate cunningly put forward by far left members in a left-wing party that has in this election a natural advantage. Nothing can touch him: not illegal fundraising, terrorist connections, hidden chapters in his background, racist mentors. But don't crow. If America suffers, so will you.

Davidicus.

I don't know who Christopher Caldwell is but this article is frankly, complete tripe. We've heard all this before--the Democrats are the "eliteist" party. Obama is an elitist, presumably beacuse he is an intelligent man. Tired and desparate cliches, Caldwell, from a partisan hack. The Spectator should have a higher editorial standard.

Vivian

The reason Obama is winning is the Republicans are running on stale stale stale ideas they won't change. These ideas have become entrenched in the GOP platform platform as if they were gifts from God. Even my family, a bunch of very conservative "folks" are going to vote for Obama because they think there won't be a country left if they don't.

Water

Thank God they won't change on certain things.

Apres Ski

Bush43 had even less experience than Obama . . . and look at the mess he left us!

At least with Obama, we know he'll have patience and not be grumpy, mean, or short tempered in negotiations

Hayward Maberley

Mr Caldwell
How true that...“Republicans found a simple policy to replace the Democrats’ old formula of tax-and-spend.It’s called:spend"
Is this not just following in the footsteps of “The Gipper”?
For it was in President Reagan’s terms of office followed by that of President Bush that both the deficit and the National Debt started on their ascent or descent, which ever you wish to look at it.
In 1981, shortly after taking office, Reagan complained of "runaway deficits" that were then approaching $80 billion, or about 2.5 percent of gross domestic product. Within only two years, however, his policies had succeeded in enlarging the deficit to more than $200 billion, or 6 percent of GDP. Under the “fiscally responsible” Republicans, from when Reagan took office, the National Debt standing at $995 billion from the Carter era, by the end of the Bush presidency, had exploded to $4 trillion.
Clinton managed hold/wind them both back returning the
budget to a surplus of some US$280 billion. The National Debt, in 1980-1990 under Reagan and Bush Republican Administrations had climbed as a % of GDP from 26% to 42%. Under Clinton it fell to 35%, It is currently heading north of 38%.
The Faux Texan and current encumbrance in the White House and the Republicans have managed to set another unenviable record. This in two terms as President and not forgetting that the Republicans had control of the House and Senate until the start of 2007.
That record is their success in outdoing even "The Gipper" in “growing” both the deficit and the National Debt. The 2009 budget deficit was forecast to be $482 billion, moving from black ink at the end of Clinton’s term, into red ink to the order of US$750 billion! That is without adding all the billions being thrown at the Wall Street Debacle. Plus the Iraq Fiasco, US$3 trillion and counting, which is only the second conflict to be fought on credit. The other being the War of Independence.
This will all push the National Debt way past the US$9.7 trillion forecast for 2009.

Augustus

There are reports that Obama is already appointing some of his White House staff. Coming on top of earlier reports of him preparing his victory speech, isn't that like selling the skin before the bear's even been shot?

Long Memory

Never rule out a Republican trick to fix the election. State Governor Jeb Bush fixed Florida in 2000 and when that didn’t quite swing the national poll the Republicans just went ahead and fixed the result on the casting vote of a Supreme Court toady.

Yet I still (kind of) hope McCain/Palin win. That way the people responsible will have to clear up the sickening financial, economic and moral mess into which America has been dumped by three decades of Republican ascendancy.

This greedy and sinister cabal (think Gingrich, Cheney, Rumsfeld and shudder) has plunged America into titanic foreign debt by throwing away its magnificent industrial heritage, thrown away its fiscal probity, thrown away its rule of law, thrown away its constitutional probity by stealing the 2000 election and thrown away the goodwill of the world after 9/11 with the nightmare they unleashed in Iraq.

And made the rich richer and the poor (the decent hard-working ordinary folk of America) poorer.

kayvijkay

The mainstream media of the world, even when endorsing Obama's candidature. has been generally equivocal about his qualification for the top job. One wonders why? Any guess, anyone?

Gil

It is amazing to see people who only see the candidates through the prism of TV or You Tube, commenting on Obama's temperament.

We simply don't know enough about Obama to make judgments of his suitability to be president.

He promised (still does?) 'change'. What 'change'? That he will be the first Afro-American (albeit black only on dad's side) president?

Obama has spent most of his short Senate career running for the presidency. What on earth has he done to deserve, to earn, the highest office in the land, leader of the world's only superpower.

Don't Obama's supporters stop to think that perhaps this is all too soon?

As someone who has followed politics for 40 years, I believe that the questions marks over Obama are too great to ignore.

Waht also amazes me is the bias shown towards Mccain in the media. How can any reasonable person, looking at the coverage of the Hillary-Obama race and now this one, say that the coverage was fair?

Incredible.

Paul

I'm no fan of Obama but the thought of Palin anywhere near The White House would have me voting for him.
It is precisely his support for abortion rights and gun control that attract me; I'm not at all keen on his economic policies.
Palin's brat-breeding, no abortion under any circumstances, persona makes a vote for McCain an impossible choice for me.
Paul.

Gil

Whoops...my previous comment should have read 'bias against McCain'(as if anyone really cares...)

Paul:'Palin's brat-breeding'.

What an arrogant, dishonest, low comment. Typical of many Democrats. No wonder why Reagan beat Jimmy Carter and no wonder McCain will beat Obama.

So because Palin breeds 'brats' you're willing to see the economy go under.

Your post MUST be satirical.

Water

Satire and the Speccie (could it be?).

Linda US

I agree, Obama is a snake oil salesman been saying that for months. Also a black racist. Our media is biased, people are too busy to research thoroughly, there is voter fraud and basically Obama is buying the election with the backing of mysterious supporters. McCain 08'

Cdn

Obama speaks highly of community organizers and has invited them to the White House, should he become President. I hope not this kind of community organizers, as described by Dohrn & Ayers, in Osawatomie, and sampled here: There are serious antiracist organizers building a revolutionary base in working class communities — in neighborhoods, shops, mills, mines, social institutions. There are those who are working among women, GI’s, vets, prisoners, among youth, students and the unemployed in every part of the country. There are some who have been at it for years and some who have just begun. Thousands more are needed; and each particular piece of work will have to be linked up into a whole. We need to out-organize the sophisticated and well-financed forces of George Meany, Louise Day Hicks, Ronald Reagan, George Wallace and Albert Shanker. Organizers need to crush this reactionary leadership with a revolutionized torrent of people. But revolutionaries expect adversity, expect to be fought every inch of the way by an entrenched ruling class, expect to confront danger and demoralization and overcome it, with creativity and audacity.

Theory and ideology are important tools, and we should make study of Marxism-Leninism an important part of our work.

Is there a fifth column at work within the USA?

Janet mccarthy

Yawn i wish you would dig a MCCAIN in the same way. McCain seems to be the media darling everyone has forgot his past and his dodgy dealings not to mention his temper and this is what people want leading the free world. Your artical is a complete waste of time i used to enjoy the spectator but now Christopher Caldwell has demoted it to a right wing magazine only

Water

I'll agree as far as thoughts regarding snake oil are concerned. Though if I am entirely honest, it's not his thoughts that bother me as much as (though they do). The hapless regard that the general public (over in America) are giving to Obama (though as we have seen with the plumber incident not all are ignorant).

None the less, the congruity of idiocy that has been condoned by the general public beggars’ belief. Though a lot of us are at ease with the facts, in Europe, from what media coverage (via what television broadcasts and web data lead me to conclude e.g. the plumber par exempla as ironically entertaining as the scenario maybe be).

Thus it is safe, with my aforementioned technological premise under-consideration, that in coming to the conundrum that general levels of ignorance over in America are not equal par (for it exceeds) the general level of conscious thought given by the Europeans. For the thoughts put out by the Democrats are advocated in such shallow rhetorical forms (both obvious and inadvertent) that ever desensitised iconoclastic U.S. electorate eat up. Whilst equally holding an unrivalled degree of contempt as far as opinion polls are concerned. All in all the general levels of spin have been phenomenal.

As such I wish the Americans much success as a Republican sympathiser. And wish that they (the U.S. public) make the most enlightened decision. For after all this is a role that should not be taken (and symbiotically given) in a shallow superficial light.

young

the author of this article claims obama doesn't have a plan but fails to tell us what exactly is the "plan" that obama doesn't have.

Water

But that's the whole point... in that his plan is so rhetorically residual that it requires no mention, ‘tis the specie after all for all accustomed bloggers (and I am not saying that you don’t know, I merely state the case). Hence the sympathies for McCain, the author should not need spell it out.

Familiar Clown

"Satire and the Speccie..."

Ooh! Water, you are awful...but I like you!

Sean O'Brien

Your closing paragraph is the story. Obama's election is less about change and a new future than about the old rule in politics; follow the money. The bottom line is the bottom line. Had McCain out-advertized = outspent to the extent that Obama did him in Colorado, Florida, Indiana and Pennsylvania etc, he would likely have been accused of "buying the election.' Not Barack, though. "Aye, there's the rub," whence comes all that Democratic Party money? The issue; can conservatives raise three times as much money as Obama, four years hence?