I have to share this or forever hold my

[Stew225]

peace. <sic>

If a party is going to run a candidate for a biggie office, in our media driven culture you HAVE TO HAVE charisma. Can you spell Obama?

Gore? Kerry? Great mend! Great values. No charisma. Sorry, it shouldn't be this way but it freaking is.

President Bush has charisma. He's got that intangible connection. Look what it does.

There's my two cents. I have no doubt that this is the way it is.

[aquart]

1. Bush has no charisma whatsoever. What are you smoking?

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

15. Bush has kind of a George Lindsey ("Goober" of Mayberry) charisma

which to me has all the leadership quality and dramatic presence of a potted plant. But I guess it plays well in dueling-banjo land. Maybe therein lies the problem; we have Americans committing high treason and unforgiveable negligence in putting their own hubris and egos ahead of the interests of America. We have Americans who elect a murderer and liar because he looks and sounds like them. The entire Evangelical Christian movement is built on pure ego worship and hubris and on their own sense of personal righteousness.

[michigandem2]

2. if you think gay marriage and abortion brought out the evangelical

bring out an african american...

I love Obama..but I also think our turnout for him would be massive and HUGE..he appeals to so many..he STOMPED on keyes..

[question everything]

3. These were my thoughts last night. Obama for 2008, or 2012 n/t

[MsAnthropy]

4. I agree. Molly Ivins calls it the "Elvis factor"

Clinton had it, Kerry did not.

[bushisanidiot]

5. Obama doesn't have charisma?? are you kidding?

i guess you didn't watch his speech at the DNC??

[question everything]

12. Read the original post, again n/t

[PittLib]

6. Bush is an empty puppet ...

who panders to the religious right.

[DIKB]

7. Edwards had Charisma

Dean had charisma, and Al Sharpton had Attitude. Though I doubt charisma is what had people grabbing their ankles for *

[IdaBriggs]

8. Kerry had charisma for me. Bush makes me ill. We were robbed. nt

[JuniperLea]

9. i was just talking about this with a film industry buddy

i asked her if all great films are met with acceptance by the masses. she agreed, they do not. apparently, to appeal to the masses you can't appear to be smarter than they are. *'s charisma lies in his 'joe off the street' image. kerry's image is pure mensa... you know how the masses hate that:)

[Bobbie47]

10. come on

Illinois just got him let us have him for a senator for a few years...please............

[dogtag]

11. Whatever Shrub's connection is, it isn't charisma.

Clinton = charisma.

I don't know what it is about Shrub, but it can't really be called charisma. He can't even speak and he smirks.

Too bad that we couldn't get the word out that he hates football, music and sex. (According to Hunter Thompson who knows him well)

[AlCzervik]

13. Charisma? Please!

Clinton has charisma. Bush is a false idol for the gop sheep.

[Psephos]

14. You want charisma, then look at Harold Ford

The Tennessee Congressman is oozing star power.

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

16. I only partially agree...

Because it's obvious that gwb's charisma only appeals to certain groups, and he literally repulses other groups. However, I agree that charisma is important in this TV/Video age.

An example...Reagan. I was soooo upset when he won in '80 and again in '84. However, he was eloquent and a superb public speaker. I would listen to his addresses to the nation and become emotionally moved, in spite of myself. I even realized I was being emotionally manipulated, and it still happened. THAT'S charisma.

Clinton had it too. Even though repubs couldn't stand him, even they had to admit he was brilliant and eloquent when he spoke in Oklahoma City after the bombing. His speeches always resonated with me.

I will never be inspired or emotionally moved by gwb. And, sadly, although I greatly admired Kerry, I did not feel the connection. Howard Dean was the one who resonated with me this year. MKJ