Campaign finance reform has made impossible for some 'guy of the street' to get together enough money to run. It has firmly put the ball into the court of career politicians and for that matter those currently in office politicians.

Out of the final six, Hillary, Obama, Edwards, McCain, Romney, Huckabee, we had four Senators, a rich Governor, and a Governor with the hook of being a minister.

The final 4 has 3 Senators and 1 Governor.

Historically Senators had a hard time becoming President. Now it seems its most of what we have to choose from.

Its odd that McCain, campaign finance reform champion, is a benefactor of this narrowed field of potential candidates.

Both Georges came from wealth, so I don't know what you are talking about, and if "W" knows about "answering to the people" why has he expanded his powers like none before? I don't hear the people saying more war, more spying, more lies, more secrecy!!!!

jpm100, if what you say is true Mitt and Edwards should be the nominees since they had the most money. Hillary, with more money, may get beat-out by Obama. Campaign reform put the average person on the same level as the wealthy.

My modest proposal has been to ammend the constitution to require a minimum of 10 years employment outside of the government or politics for an individual to be eligible to serve in the House or Senate and 15 years real world experience for President. For the purposes of this requirement, active military service would count as real world experience rather than as part of the government.

I have also thought about whether I think there should be a required break (say 5 years of non-government non-political work) between being in the Congress and running for president, but I am less sure it would be a good idea.

Just my 2 cents worth, cause the entrenched politicians certainly are not gonna go for anything like this.

well if obama doesnt get the nod, i hope the dems wont run into a brick wall

As usual, the Democrats are a group turn out to be the rich elitists and ...Yes, every so often we get a George W. Bush, who generally understands that government needs to answer to the people

George Bush is just a regular guy candidate whose regular close family fabuluosly wealthy and fabulously corrupt friend for 30 years Prince Bandar, nick named Bandar Bush affectionately by George W. himself threatened">http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/feb/15/bae.armstrade">threatened Britain with an Al Queda attack if they did not put an end to its BAE arms bribery probe in which Prince Bandar caaried off allegedly one billion dollars in bribes.

Saudi Arabia's rulers threatened to make it easier for terrorists to attack London unless corruption investigations into their arms deals were halted, according to court documents revealed yesterday.

Previously secret files describe how investigators were told they faced "another 7/7" and the loss of "British lives on British streets" if they pressed on with their inquiries and the Saudis carried out their threat to cut off intelligence.

Prince Bandar, the head of the Saudi national security council, and son of the crown prince, was alleged in court to be the man behind the threats to hold back information about suicide bombers and terrorists. He faces accusations that he himself took more than £1bn in secret payments from the arms company BAE.

Lets have more regular men with a life outside of politics like Bush and close family friends like Bandar Bush back in the White House.

Ahhhh, Spring approaches and the BDS is in full-bloom again.

Well, with these guys it never ends, though.

Here is the link for the above comment

I know the Guardian, Steve. My sister in the UK says few adults take it seriously, it's gone a bit LA Times in recent years.

Thus my BDS observation.

GW did not increase his presidential power. Lefties are so inherently dishonest. GW is getting the power back that the democratic leadership over 40 years has taken from the president. Truth shall set you free. Oh, yeah! If you are a lefty you cannot be friends with anyone from Saudi Arabia. You can't work for a corporation. YOu can't hold a job. ww

No.

;-)

This regular American guy gets my vote.

DJ Drummond, yes the Guardian is left and has been for a long time. My great grandfather was an editor there..

But my rule of thumb is follow the money trail..Yes, George W. Bush has a regular guy personality but he certainly knows his class interest..

Personally I like Obama. He knows his way around the bible and taught constitutional law for 10 years with glowing student reviews (I hope you trust the Chicago Sun times) at the University Of Chicago and he knows how to run an excellent political campaign without Rovian knee capping.

Y'know Steve, I hate to keep bringing it up, but Conspiracy Theory was not only just a movie, it was not even a particularly good movie.

What ever will you guys do when you can't accuse Dubs anymore of causing everything wrong or weird in your life?

btw, Steve, about the kids liking Obama. What % of under-25 people actually vote in Presidential elections?

The real question, to my mind, is:

Can a regular american be a politician?

I say NO.

Wanting the office should be the first disqualifying factor.

DJ,

This reminds me of the Jack Ryan character in Tom Clancy's books- he got to the level of POTUS almost completely outside of political machinations. In Executive Order he begged the people to elect a congress from the people- farmers, normal business people, and others who were NOT Washington insiders. He populated his administration with executives from the private industry who were used to getting results, and who, for the most part, hated government employment. They all just wanted to "serve their time," do the best they could, and get back to their "normal" lives.

I guess that's why it's fiction- it wouldn't happen in a million years.

I think if Obama makes it you will understand BDS more in retrospect (it will all have been worthwhile) even though the government accounts are not nearly in as good order as when Bush found them. And it will be so refreshing to have for once someone eloquent in the White House and someone who is very smart and listens. That will be an enormous change itself.

Obama certainly didn't come from a privileged background, and his wealth was only recently obtained.

DJ, (Hillary) is this your definition of wealthy?

"Her father, Hugh Ellsworth Rodham, was a son of Welsh and English immigrants[5] and operated a small but successful business in the textile industry.[6] Her mother, Dorothy Emma Howell, of English, Scottish, French Canadian, Welsh, and possibly Native American descent,[7] was a homemaker."

Also, how much money did she have before she was first lady, and how much do you think she would have made if she stayed on the east coast as a successful lawyer?

Are you saying that if someone is successful later in life like Hillary or Obama they not regular people?

Well, if Barack wins in November, the Obamunists should have their heads examined because they're really truly voting for nothing.

Wow, the trolls sure came out in force for this post. I notice that once again, instead of debating the substance they are trying to nit-pick little things like Barney above pointing out that Hillarys grand parents were immigrants. Ok, but did her parents make alot of money? I don't think being an immigrant disqualifies your children from making cash, but whatever.

The point is well taken that none of these candidates actually represents a large group of americans to any extent. I think turnout is going to be horrendus if it's a Hillary vs McCain race. If it's Obama vs McCain, McCain's goose is cooked. Big time.

The only thing McCain has going for him is the Anti-Hillary vote. For that to work he at least needs Hill-dawg on the ballot. McCain has no conservative support and will not get any significant conservative support. His best plan against Hillary is to compare and contrast himself from Hillary to shed her in a worse light than she already sheds herself. He just plain cannot and will not win against Mr. Candyman vapidness Obama himself. He makes people feel too good about nothing for McCain to actually beat him.

If Obama gets the nomination, his peid-piper group of supporters will be right behind him lock-step and the issues will not matter at all to voters. The republicans nominated their weakest candidate, so this is the price that we republicans will pay. Mr. Candyman sweet sugar and sunshine, change and hope in office for at least 4 years.

Depends on the definition of "regular American." It seems to be a matter of image or a personality trait. Perhaps it simply means respect for the people and the rule of law. If it means Joe steel-mill worker, the answer is obviously no.

The Founders were a bit elitist on purpose. They excluded non-owners of property from the vote, much less the ability to take public office. They expected political leaders to have a certain degree of wealth and education. In this way we are expected to get the most qualified leaders, with a vested stake in society. I can't say I disagree. The Athenians chose leaders from all citizens by lottery, a practice the Founders rejected.

I don't really care if my leadership is elite, per se. I want leaders who are "inculcated" with the appropriate philosophy and values (see below).

And yes, GWB is elite. He went to Yale for goodness sake.

Jefferson and Madison succeeded in passing a [University of Virginia] resolution to "provide that none [of the principles of government] shall be inculcated which are incompatible with those on which the Constitutions of this state, and of the U.S. were genuinely based, in the common opinion." Moreover, Jefferson came to agree with Madison's argument that "the most effectual safeguard against heretical intrusions into the School of politics, will be an able & orthodox Professor." To this end, Jefferson and later Madison worked to ensure that only those professors who espoused a strict construction of the U.S. Constitution and the doctrine of states' rights would be appointed to the school of politics.

The foregoing is regular enough for me. Unfortunately such a person is increasingly irregular.

Hey, Barney, Obama's spent nearly his entire life in public service. You say his wealth is "recently obtained;" how did he make all that money while serving the people?

I suspect the answer is very similar to the answer to the Clintons' wealth -- and they have been on the public dole non-stop since 1992.

Why are the Democrats so eager to push forward people who became multi-millionaires while holding public office?

J.

DjDrummond ..a few plugs for Obama as well as answering some of the queries raised. Obama is bringing outa huge youth vote... Fire marshalls have been his main organizers or haven't you noticed..so popular have been the caucuses. His wife is a product of public schooling..he just finished paying off his student loans a few years from his book writing..He actually wrote all his own books_biography and memoirs .All other Democrat contenders including Hillary used ghost writers for their books I believe..His policies on his campaign site and his senate site are very detailed...but that's a little boring so I'll give you his lengthy profile in the Chicago Tribune and let you ponder if you think it looks like he comes from an elitist family.

Crickmore - "But my rule of thumb is follow the money trail..Yes, George W. Bush has a regular guy personality but he certainly knows his class interest.."

Then be fair about and not just point at the Bush family.

Start pointing at the 10 million Clinton got from the same Saudi's for the Clinton library. Gee, what percentage of the $5 mil Shillary loaned her campaign started in the Saudi's pocket?

Also, how much money did she have before she was first lady, and how much do you think she would have made if she stayed on the east coast as a successful lawyer?....

So funny.She would have made a considerable income barney, but $35,000,000 ? Probably not, unless she joined the trial bar, like Edwards did. But she isn't as clever or smart as Edwards. She was, except for a brief and unexceptional stint at the Rose Law Firm, mostly on the public payroll.

So we have a woman who wants to be President that has spent precious few years in the private sector but shows us a net worth larger than W's, the "rich elitist" (who happened to actually made some money in the private sector)?

You libs never fail to serve up irony as the main dish.

Obama's spent nearly his entire life in public service. You say his wealth is "recently obtained;" how did he make all that money while serving the people?

I suspect the answer is very similar to the answer to the Clintons' wealth -- and they have been on the public dole non-stop since 1992.

Why are the Democrats so eager to push forward people who became multi-millionaires while holding public office?

Heh. First of all, Obama made his money recently from his books (plus Michelle Obama has a high-paying job as vice-president for community affairs at the University of Chicago hospitals). Apparently elected officials writing books is dirty business in your mind.

Secondly, what kind of math do you use to determine that personal wealth of $1.3 million makes someone a multi-millionaire?

mantis, thanks for beating me to the punch since I was going to say "f*ck you Jay you g$d dam well know how he got all that money" but you already did that for me.

One other thing, spending your "entire" life to service your country like Hillary, Obama and McCain certainly puts you over and above the regular American.

"who happened to actually made some money in the private sector"

Hughs, I didn't know driving companies, your daddy's friends set you up in, to the ground paid so well?

Hughs, I didn't know driving companies, your daddy's friends set you up in, to the ground paid so well?

I knew you were going to bring that up, barney. Please provide specifics without commentary from Jim Hightower, Texas Observer and other well known suspects.

Actually, I wasn't thinking of Obama's book. Rather, I was thinking of the scads and scads of money Bill Clinton has raked in since he left the presidency with some very questionable foreign business dealings, and Mitt Romney's remarkable business success at Bain -- first launching a very, very profitable spin-off, then coming back and saving the parent company from collapse.

Barney, does EVERYTHING you say have to boil down to crass insults?

I think I know that answer.

J.

Barney, does EVERYTHING you say have to boil down to crass insults?

Well, of course it does. Barney has shown very little ability or willingness to serve up facts in support of his vapid opinions.

He repeats talking points like a mind numbed robot. He has demonstrated what a fool he is on more occasions than one can imagine (although Google has cached them all for the curious).