Here's something to mull over that a lot of people are missing, I think. It may be a very minor point, but it's been so long since a President has been elected when their primary justification for the job has only been their congressional experience. A lot of Senators have run for President, but I can't name the last active Senator who was elected President.
Bush 2 was governor of Texas, but never in Congress.
Clinton was governor of Arkansas, never in Congress.
Bush 1 was governor of Texas, but never in Congress. Also Reagan's VP.
Reagan was governor of California, never in Congress.
Carter was governor of Georgia, never in Congress.
(anyone see a pattern here?)
Ford was the last President we've had who served in Congress, and he was only appointed V.P. prior to Nixon's resignation to fill a seat until the next election because there was no WAY he was going to be elected because he was appointed by Nixon.
Nixon was in Congress, but his major claim was as VP under Eisenhower. Nixon was also responsible for expanding the office of VP.
Johnson was in Congress, but was Kennedy's VP when Kennedy was assassinated, and assumed the Presidency. Then he was elected as the incumbent, I assume in part on Kennedy's popularity.
Kennedy played the war hero card, he also played the "check out this smile" card and the "my family can buy me this election" card.
Eisenhower was our last GREAT war hero President. 5-star General, President of Columbia University, and the first Supreme Commander of NATO. I don't think he served in Congress.
I could go farther back but I don't know when a President was ever elected in the U.S. when his first and only experience in the national theater was as a member of Congress. And Obama is just a couple years into his first term.
I didn't vote for him, but I am curious and excited to see what the next 4 years will bring under President-elect Obama. My suspicion is, "No where near what was promised" since that seems to be true of everyone who takes office.
