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(Wall Street Journal)   Same old story: Veep candidate with less than two years' experience as a state governor. I am speaking, of course, about Calvin Coolidge. Also Teddy Roosevelt   (online.wsj.com) divider line
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1227 clicks; posted to Politics » on 16 Sep 2008 at 8:19 AM (14 years ago)   |   Favorite    |   share:  Share on Twitter share via Email Share on Facebook



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damageddude [TotalFark]
2008-09-16 7:15:07 AM  
Ignoring that the world is a lot different now than in 1900, TR at least had international experience. Coolige led to the Depression and, thanks to our isolationism, Hitler and WW2. They also were nominated with healthy Presidents who just happened to run into an assassin.

/TR would never be elected today
 
bigpeeler
2008-09-16 7:16:18 AM  
Hee hee...this should be good. Nice find, Subby.
 
Atillathepun
2008-09-16 7:19:36 AM  
By that logic, Lincoln = Obama
 
Pocket Ninja [TotalFark] [OhFark]
2008-09-16 7:22:15 AM  

bigpeeler: Hee hee...this should be good. Nice find, Subby.


Yes, it should be good. Poorly constructed overwriting aside, this author has done an excellent job of explaining just why all those early criticisms of Barack Obama for not having enough "experience" were complete hogwash.
 
DrowningLessons
2008-09-16 7:34:01 AM  

Atillathepun: By that logic, Lincoln = Obama


This. And who'd you rather have...Lincoln or Coolidge? Arguably the greatest president, or a man who "couldn't find a coherent sentence with both hands and a flashlight"?

/oddly appropriate
 
Mohawk742
2008-09-16 7:37:33 AM  
At least ONE of those two had enough brains to pour water out of a mukluk without having to have the directions written on the heel
 
lazfx
2008-09-16 7:51:40 AM  
I have heard this crap before that Palin is just like TR..
to this I say:
TR was a respected Historian before his VP days....
I think his book "The Naval War of 1812", published in 1882 or 1883, can't remember but it was highly used during the times. He was the assistant to the secretary of the Navy back in 96 or 97...
and I could go on and on about him, if you want...

but,
What was Sarah Palin doing before her short political life??


A beauty queen and a sports reporter.
but is that what I really want to be a VP and god forbid a POTUS??
 
FlashHarry [TotalFark]
2008-09-16 8:06:24 AM  
um, submitter, they were well educated and highly intelligent. palin is not.
 
Sensei Can You See [TotalFark]
2008-09-16 8:08:01 AM  
Came for the "yes, but!" Am not disappointed.
 
DistendedPendulusFrenulum
2008-09-16 8:15:02 AM  
Oh, well that fixes it. I am no longer worried about the government potentially becoming infested with more Monica Goodlings

.
 
keylock71
2008-09-16 8:15:27 AM  
Were Coolidge and Roosevelt under investigation for abuse of power, as well?
 
spedmonkey
2008-09-16 8:18:27 AM  
Visiting lady at the White House: Mr. President, earlier this evening, I had made a bet that I can make you say more than two words.
Coolidge: You lose.
 
HoboSong
2008-09-16 8:22:59 AM  
Mayor McCheeseburger is more qualified than Palin.
 
alostpacket
2008-09-16 8:28:02 AM  

HoboSong: Mayor McCheeseburger


[image from thevancouverite.com too old to be available]

Yes we can!
 
fenrael23
2008-09-16 8:28:46 AM  
HoboSong: Mayor McCheeseburger is more qualified than Palin.

I LOL'd. Thank you.
 
SeismicJizzer
2008-09-16 8:28:56 AM  
It is hilarious to see Republicans defend "experience".
 
Edsel
2008-09-16 8:29:07 AM  
I love hearing this right-wing bullshiat about how Sarah Palin is the new Teddy Roosevelt. Teddy had been on the national scene for a long time. He had been Police Commissioner of New York City, commanded a volunteer fighting force at war and won a Medal of Honor, was Assistant Secretary of the Navy, and then Governor of New York (then the largest and most populous state).

What a farking joke. The only thing Palin has in common with TR is that she likes to shoot game. Even then, there's no way in hell Teddy would have been caught dead taking the coward's way out and shooting them from the air.
 
seminole87
2008-09-16 8:29:36 AM  
republicans are teh funny

/they is all mavricks!
 
Clonod
2008-09-16 8:30:12 AM  
Mr. Dallek is also a presidential historian, so he must have some acquaintance with the career of Calvin Coolidge. When Coolidge was named to Warren Harding's ticket in 1920, he had been governor of Massachusetts for less than two years. Aside from a largely powerless stint as lieutenant governor and other smaller legislative posts, his chief previous government experience was as mayor of Northampton, to which he was first elected in 1910 by a Wasilla-like margin of 1,597 to 1,409.

So in picking Palin, McCain matched the wisdom and decision-making ability of the worst president in US History.
 
daveinaz [TotalFark]
2008-09-16 8:30:37 AM  
Of course, those people weren't as adept at lying.
 
canyoneer
2008-09-16 8:31:05 AM  
Harry Truman was kept in the dark about war strategy and secret programs until the day FDR died. Next thing you know, the part time haberdasher party hack was dropping atomic fire on Japan. People vastly overestimate the brilliance and intelligence of their politicians. Most recent presidents have been thoroughly mediocre individuals, and the job clearly doesn't require "greatness."

Right here on Fark, some clowns will in one breath imply that Obama is the reincarnation of Von Clausewitz while Palin is a dunce who never crossed the street alone. The truth is that either is equally qualified - or unqualified. Take your pick, but you can't have it both ways.

It's funny, really. Every four years millions of Americans turn into hysterical, strident jackasses for a few months, and say the goofiest things.
 
Klippoklondike [TotalFark]
2008-09-16 8:31:13 AM  
to this I say:
TR was a respected Historian before his VP days....
I think his book "The Naval War of 1812", published in 1882 or 1883, can't remember but it was highly used during the times. He was the assistant to the secretary of the Navy back in 96 or 97...
and I could go on and on about him, if you want...

but,
What was Sarah Palin doing before her short political life??


A beauty queen and a sports reporter.
but is that what I really want to be a VP and god forbid a POTUS??

Teddy was also a Colonel in the Army and president of the board of New York City Police Commissioners. In fact, he was nominated for the Medal of Honor back in 1898 and while he didn't get it then, he was awarded in in 2001.

He was a man of numerous accomplishments even before he became Governor. Governor Palin simply can't compare.
 
HotWingConspiracy
2008-09-16 8:31:15 AM  
Yeah, Palin is just like Roosevelt. Go with that.
 
Spanky_McFarksalot
2008-09-16 8:31:22 AM  
Hey, them were men and men folk have the better learin.
 
spill_thrill
2008-09-16 8:31:41 AM  
But they had penises
 
PlasticMoby
2008-09-16 8:32:38 AM  
You lose.
 
PruneTracy
2008-09-16 8:32:59 AM  
Didn't people only live 'til like 30 back then? Two people years back then was like ten in American years.
 
scathing1
2008-09-16 8:33:32 AM  
Vice presidential candidates are always chosen with a view toward strengthening and broadening a ticket.

This is the kind of inane shiat I can't stand.

No, you don't pick a person for what is arguably the second most powerful position in the world based on who will most help you get elected. No, you don't "strengthen" anything by picking someone with no experience and no proven intelligence or integrity.

This isn't American Idol. Sarah Palin is auditioning for a position for what very well may put her in the role of "leader of the free world." It is offensive.
 
blubberknife
2008-09-16 8:34:02 AM  
Coolidge.

Yeah, there's someone you want to hold up as a shining example of leadership.

Fail!
 
SherKhan
2008-09-16 8:34:52 AM  
At once the unprecedented candidate and yet firmly grounded in history. Quite clearly queerly quantum.
 
BigG
2008-09-16 8:35:08 AM  

canyoneer: Right here on Fark, some clowns will in one breath imply that Obama is the reincarnation of Von Clausewitz while Palin is a dunce who never crossed the street alone. The truth is that either is equally qualified - or unqualified. Take your pick, but you can't have it both ways.


Sure you can. Obama is way more qualified than Palin. Not even close.
 
jfreshbloomer
2008-09-16 8:35:11 AM  
Nice try subby, you had your "but Clinton" moment, time to move on..
 
Shadowknight
2008-09-16 8:35:38 AM  
We got lucky with Teddy. The guy was a fireball that actually knew his stuff, and had pretty extensive international experience.

Palin, by all accounts, has none of these qualities that would make her the inexperienced-yet-awesome replacement President. If I needed advice on how to properly dress, package, and freeze my fresh hunting kill, I'd consider her a pretty good source.

But as I already know how to do all of that, I really have absolutely no use for Sarah Palin.
 
Angry Drunk Bureaucrat [TotalFark] [OhFark]
2008-09-16 8:35:46 AM  

Edsel: Teddy had been on the national scene for a long time. He had been Police Commissioner of New York City, commanded a volunteer fighting force at war and won a Medal of Honor, was Assistant Secretary of the Navy, and then Governor of New York (then the largest and most populous state).


IIRC, Roosevelt was also a member of the NY State Legislature.
 
canyoneer
2008-09-16 8:37:11 AM  

BigG: "Sure you can. Obama is way more qualified than Palin. Not even close."


Bullsh*t. The guy's never done anything except get himself promoted. Your perception is bizarre.
 
DKinMN
2008-09-16 8:37:14 AM  
It's not about years of experience. Bush has eight years of experience as President of the United States, does that means he's good at it?

It's about how smart she is. It's about how many issues she seems to have more than passing familiarity.

I am a Republican. It upsets me that my party nominated McCain/Palin, and it upsets me that so many Republicans are pretending that she's ready for the presidency.
 
Gestalt
2008-09-16 8:37:28 AM  
palin is just like Teddy Roosevelt! if you replace the environmental protection and fierce consumerism with religious fervor and rampant kleptocracy!
 
Linto
2008-09-16 8:37:29 AM  

DrowningLessons: Atillathepun: By that logic, Lincoln = Obama

This. And who'd you rather have...Lincoln or Coolidge? Arguably the greatest president, or a man who "couldn't find a coherent sentence with both hands and a flashlight"?

/oddly appropriate


DOUBLE THIS
 
Go Fast Turn Left
2008-09-16 8:37:55 AM  
I grew up in Western Mass, so I'm getting a kick out of anyone finding relevance to Calvin Coolidge.
 
rosebud_the_sled
2008-09-16 8:40:30 AM  
Leaving out the fact that Palin is a creationist, secessionist whack job ...
 
Typical White Person
2008-09-16 8:40:53 AM  

Atillathepun: By that logic, Lincoln = Obama


Great. That means Civil War II.
 
TheShavingofOccam123
2008-09-16 8:41:29 AM  
I'm sorry. I'm not voting for Joe Biden. I'm a Republican voting for Obama.

And I'm definitely not voting for a John McCain. Considering the shape of the American economy and it's financial institutions, John McCain himself says he is not qualified.

John McCain told the Boston Globe in December 2007, ""The issue of economics is not something I've understood as well as I should."

Besides, John McCain has a temper that disqualifies him from being president, as evidenced by this photo from a recent presidential primary debate. If John McCain thinks this is proper behavior for a public debate, he is seriously misguided.

wonkette.comView Full Size


His fellow Republican Senator Bob Smith said this about McCain's temper:

Former senator Bob Smith, a New Hampshire Republican, expresses worries about McCain: "His temper would place this country at risk in international affairs, and the world perhaps in danger. In my mind, it should disqualify him."

You can read more about John McCain's temper including assaulting fellow Republican Senators and using racial epithets against members of Congress in this Washington Post article of April 2008.

This election is not about Palin. It is about Obama and McCain. And Obama is most suited to bring America back into good times.

BTW, Palin believes abortion is only allowed when a doctor can prove that a woman will definitely die if she does not have the abortion. No exceptions for rape or incest or woman's health. If it's possible the woman ends up like Teri Schiavo, then that's tough. No abortion.
 
Cubansaltyballs
2008-09-16 8:41:51 AM  
canyoneer: BigG: "Sure you can. Obama is way more qualified than Palin. Not even close."

Bullsh*t. The guy's never done anything except get himself promoted.

*Citation Needed*
 
Clonod
2008-09-16 8:42:05 AM  

canyoneer: Harry Truman was kept in the dark about war strategy and secret programs until the day FDR died. Next thing you know, the part time haberdasher party hack was dropping atomic fire on Japan. People vastly overestimate the brilliance and intelligence of their politicians. Most recent presidents have been thoroughly mediocre individuals, and the job clearly doesn't require "greatness."

Right here on Fark, some clowns will in one breath imply that Obama is the reincarnation of Von Clausewitz while Palin is a dunce who never crossed the street alone. The truth is that either is equally qualified - or unqualified. Take your pick, but you can't have it both ways.

It's funny, really. Every four years millions of Americans turn into hysterical, strident jackasses for a few months, and say the goofiest things.


That is a bunch of nonsense. The Presidency is the most important job in the world. You can't take a former editor of the Harvard Law Review, and a woman with a BA earned by jumping around to five mediocre colleges, and seriously suggest that they are equally qualified to run the US government. It's not even about who is more experienced. It's about who is more capable.

That said, Sarah Palin COULD be capable, but her past resume and academic career means she should have to prove it to the American people.

It took Obama over a year to convince the Democratic Party voters that he had the ideas, intelligence, and leadership skills to overcome his relatively thin resume.

Palin hasn't convinced anyone. The Republicans got lockstep behind her the first time she said "hockey mom". They weren't even the least bit skeptical for one second.

Frankly, it's a negligent act performed by a large bloc of the American voting public.
 
mediaho
2008-09-16 8:42:25 AM  
They've stopped trying, haven't they? These halfhearted attempts at amateur spin doesn't even have the illusion of truth like good propaganda should. They need to just cut their losses and plan for 2012 before embarrassing themselves further. If I was a Republican, I would be shouting to all of these B-list spinmeisters, "stop helping!"
 
GurneyHalleck
2008-09-16 8:42:44 AM  

rosebud_the_sled: Leaving out the fact that Palin is a creationist, secessionist whack job ...


What I came to say. Because that's what these red herring arguments are designed to do, distract from the real facts about this underqualified book banning corporate lapdog.
 
SineSwiper
2008-09-16 8:44:34 AM  

DKinMN: It's not about years of experience. Bush has eight years of experience as President of the United States, does that means he's good at it?

It's about how smart she is. It's about how many issues she seems to have more than passing familiarity.

I am a Republican. It upsets me that my party nominated McCain/Palin, and it upsets me that so many Republicans are pretending that she's ready for the presidency.


But, of course, you're still going to vote for McCain, right? Because you're a Republican, and why would you vote against your party line?
 
bamph
2008-09-16 8:45:31 AM  

damageddude: They also were nominated with healthy Presidents who just happened to run into an assassin.


Not quite true. While McKinley was killed by Leon Czolgosz, Harding died of a stroke. Weirdly enough, while we consider him to be one of the, if not the worst president, when he was in office he was popular throughout most of his term. Until the scandals started popping off left and right. But even then, his popularity hadn't dropped as significantly as others had by the time that he died.

Harding was a farkup, Coolidge not much better, and Hoover did far, far too little too late. I consistently lump them in with James Buchanan and Franklin Pierce in regards to worthlessness.
 
Typical White Person
2008-09-16 8:45:47 AM  

mediaho: They've stopped trying, haven't they? These halfhearted attempts at amateur spin doesn't even have the illusion of truth like good propaganda should. They need to just cut their losses and plan for 2012 before embarrassing themselves further. If I was a Republican, I would be shouting to all of these B-list spinmeisters, "stop helping!"


But then, you weren't going to vote for them anyway.
 
Etchy333 [TotalFark] [OhFark]
2008-09-16 8:46:48 AM  

HoboSong: Mayor McCheeseburger is more qualified than Palin.


I don't know, it's been YEARS and he still hasn't captured the Hamburglar and brought him to justice.
 
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