Or will we soon see the start of Obaman-Fatigue?

Someone said "every hero becomes a bore at last."  Methinks Senator obama is peaking way too early.

Senator Obama's greatest strength is the interest he generates in the media, according tho the author [Dante Chinni] of the linked article.  But that's a wasting asset, and pretty soon he'll have to provide more than just interesting copy to remain viable as a Presidential contender.

Here's a relevant excerpt:

So what is it about Obama that has the press's pens scribbling and cameras flashing?

...

Ironically, however, a big reason for the press's fascination with him is that he is almost as much a mystery to the media as he is to the public. He has no lengthy public record we in the media can go back and study, as is the case with most senators – including Clinton – or governors. Other than his two years in the Senate, his political experience consists of seven years in the Illinois Senate. He has no previous big, close campaigns we can look at to see what he did in a pinch. He is as fresh and new to most of us as he is to you.

As much as people like to talk about "the media" as though "it" is a monolith, they are complex organisms made up of people – people that have ideas about the issues and personalities they cover. Years of covering politicians and the electorate leads many reporters to think that a certain kind of person may be the right kind of person to fix the problems and run the country.

It's less a Democrat or Republican issue than it is a type-of-person issue. The press gravitates toward well-educated moderates who talk about a third way or new paradigm in politics. In 2000, it was Sen. John McCain (R) of Arizona and his Straight Talk Express that captured attention.

For many in the media, Obama is a candidate to get excited about because he holds the promise of being interesting, different, and able to shake up Washington.

And that means Obama-mania will probably be alive and well in the press for at least a few more months. But at some point that lack of a long public history could present some problems for the senator.

Inevitably the "Who is Barack Obama?" stories will come – pseudo-psychological pieces that will put the senator on the couch. They will, as they most always do, look for "key moments" from his life to draw a picture. And what will they find?

Obama's short time in office means that image will be crafted probably even more than usual from old friends, old tales, and old pieces of writing. Those things may or may not have real significance – and may or may not be flattering – but are easy to draw from and more difficult to rebut.

Right now, Obama enjoys a sweet story line. But at some point, the media will be eager to fill in the missing pages. And when they do, Obama may find that his biggest strength with the media has its problems.



• Dante Chinni, a senior associate at the Project for Excellence in Journalism, writes a twice-monthly column on media issues. E-mail him at Dante Chinni.

I would quit now.

I agree. I think he's actually positioning himself for races in 2012, 2016 and possibly 2020.

But she will not run unless drafted and is already making plans to go back to Stanford.  But I think she would be a kickass president and she's got BRAINS!  I wish I could l**k her p***y!!!!

She would give Hillary a whupin in a debate.  Hillary would probably be crying halfway thru.  But maybe not.  Hillary would probably pull some kind of dirty trick shenanigan during the debate.

Oh I'd like to see Hillary get clobbered or just explode in one of her tirades.  A favorate often used phrase of Hillarys is:  "What's that m*ther f*cker up to now.  She loves to use "m*ther f*cker"  when talking about her enemies.   so unbecoming of a lady---wait a minute-- she's a female but not a lady.  She's an evil witch.

is like a freak in a circus side show. The novelty of the opportunist will soon fade. No serious person, Democrat, Republican, Independent, or Pinko-Commie (redundant, see #1), could possibly consider him to be qualified.

When the momentum of public opinion starts moving in what would seem to be an absolutly obsurd direction, LOOK OUT! The Sheeple will follow!

With the Politically-correct entrenchment of the left, they are armed to the teeth with "hate-speak" policies that Obama can and will expoit to his fullest!

-- When We say he's an "IDIOT", the fascist-left will shout us down and scream "RACIST"! And Jesse Jackson will lead a march and his followers will loot downtown in a "peaceful-protest"!

-- When we object to his sudo-Muslim childhood, the Brown-shirt-liberals will scream "DISCRIMINATION"! And come out in droves to tear the Crosses off of our Churches and set them ablaze (crystal-knoch all over again, but not to the Jew this time, but to the wild olive-shoot grafted in!)

-- When we say "Hillary is an evil psyco-cunt"!, The femi-natzis will Scream, cackle and hiss at us and tell us that MEN are the true evil and don't want her because we OPPRESS WOMEN! (Failing to acknowledge that we hate her for WHO she is rather than WHAT she is!)

Sadly, these groups of extremists have

Ben, you hit history and the likely response of the arrogant-parasite-elitists (APE's) right on the noggin.

When the left don't like the facts of an argument, it's always easier to paint them so they color-coordinate with with their pre-conceved notions of what they hold true and dear...  Nothing new under the sun...

-- Modified on 1/23/2007 8:30:19 AM

Obama has generated buzz in the press because he's really, really damn good at giving a speech.  As in nearly everyone who leaves his speeches are excited about him.  Many have compared his abilities to Bill Clinton, who managed to make people truly believe that he "felt their pain".  That excitement generated the media buzz.

He's also expressed a generally 'upbeat' philosophy, which many find attractive.  Especially with the large majority that feels the country is on the wrong track.

Yes, he's got little political experience.  That could be written as he's got no political baggage, like Hillary Clinton.  It's both a plus and a minus.  After all, who here hasn't thought that a "regular guy" could do a far better job running the government than the politicians.  (define "regular guy" however you personally like.)

We could also talk about GOP front runner Guliani's complete lack of experience.  At least Obama has held both state and national offices.  Guliani's only been a mayor, and was quite unpopular until 9/11 where he was the only leader to actually show up to work, and thus won great acclaim.

[begin tin-foil hat]
It's also very interesting to me that there is this MASSIVE scrutiny of the Democratic candidates, and nearly zero coverage of the GOP race.  Is this because there's nobody worth covering on the GOP side, or is it because big media really wants to rip down candidates like Obama before he becomes more of a threat?
[end tin-foil hat]

Anyway, Obama is good to listen to, and talks a decent game.  It's way too early to consider anyone 'out' of the race or a flash in the pan.  We should wait and see how both primaries develop before trying to guess what the political situation will be more than a year from now.  It could be anything from a resurgent GOP candidate crushing all before him to President Pelosi.

But I do agree with you on your cunnuilingus [spelling?] fantasy.

on the table.  Obama, Common man?  There is nothing common about him, from his conception (mixed parentage, questions on his education, his reticence to acknowledge his white mother publically) to his education (Harvard Law Degree with honors)- Given this, I have a hard time with two factors in his background - ivy league education, and reticence to acknowledge ALL of his heritage (ie- his mother).  Sorry, just cannot go there.

With respect to putting Reps under a microscope - who do YOU think is leaking info (some of it incorrect) to the press about the different Demo Candidates?  Mostly Demos - my own personal opinion is that the Demo party itself is "trial ballooning" these candidates to determine what, if any, issues in each of their pasts... are important to their electability.  In short - it is a manufactured scrutiny that the press is aiding and assisting.

WRT Guliani - yea, he showed up... Nagin and Blanco sadly did not.  It could be argued that running NYC is much like running a small state or even country - with an annual budget that indeed rivals many small countries.  It also carries the weight of international relations... ie UN.  But to fair, it is not the same - similar - but not quite the same.  with respect to unpopular... ever walk on 42nd street prior to the clean up?  

with respect to "garbage digging" - Guiliani's garbage is well known, as is Newt's... McCain? (his biggest worry is his own party).  Others? are they real - if they cannot generate enough coverage?

My money?   Hillary - because if Obama is as nice and gentlemanly as he would like us to believe, Hillary will castrate him - no ifs ands or buts about it.  She hasn't even started.

"Obama, Common man"

He hasn't been a national politician for years.  That's all I was saying.

"who do YOU think is leaking info (some of it incorrect) to the press about the different Demo Candidates?  Mostly Demos"

And your evidence is......?

Or is this about Fox's claim that their bogus madrassa story came from Hillary's campaign...no wait, the Edwards campaign!  (They can't even keep the blame straight).

"with respect to unpopular... ever walk on 42nd street prior to the clean up?"

Ever spent time in NYC before September 2001?  Guliani's popularity was in the toilet.  Liberals didn't like a lot of his policies, and social conservatives were upset with the three wives and other personal 'quirks'.

"My money?   Hillary"

I don't think Democrats will give her the nomination.  Too many rank-and-file party members are scared that Hillary's baggage will prevent her from wining the general election.  A recent poll showed that 94% have made up their mind about what sort of person Hillary is.  That's gonna be a problem.

OTOH, the problem Obama faces is his 'lack of experience'.  That's a much easier problem to solve.  Campaign messages that show he has "good ideas" will counter it.

Also, we really shouldn't rule out anyone lower down on the media's coverage.  You have to remember that Kerry was a relative nobody in the media until Iowa.  It's just unfortunate he didn't stay that way.

So who should get the nomination on the Republican side, in your opinion?