Charles Barkley - "I was a Republican until they lost their minds" Ponders running

[Poiuyt]

Video: NBA player with political aspirations, Charles Barkley: 'It's an easy call. We've got to get out of Iraq.'
David Edwards and Josh Catone
Published: Wednesday February 21, 2007

NBA Hall of Fame player, Charles Barkley announced his intentions last July to run for Governor of Alabama, perhaps in 2010. "I was a Republican until they lost their minds," said Barkley at the time.

snip-

"I want to be a politician," Barkley said. "I think I understand how the system works, I think a lot of politicians are corrupt, and it's about time we put some people in there who are going to look out for the majority of the people instead of the rich people."

When asked about the war in Iraq, Barkley replied that the situation was simple, "It's an easy call for me. We've got to get out of Iraq. is dead. That situation hasn't gotten better. So, anything the the Republicans say about the war in Iraq -- it's just bogus. I mean, it's a terrible situation. We've got a lot of innocent kids getting killed over there, and we're never going to be safe over there."

Classifying himself as an Independent, Barkley told Blitzer, "I think the Republicans are terrible, and the Democrats are not much better. ... But I think the Republicans have took the country in a terrible situation. And let's get one thing straight about the last elections: the Democrats did not win, they won because the other team wasn't any good. They've got to get their act together, because this country right now is in serious, serious turmoil."

http://www.rawstory.com//news/2007/Barkley_Its_easy_call._We_got_0221.html

[BuyingThyme]

1. That might be a good thing for Alabama.

I'm not really sure.

[boobooday]

2. Can he pinpoint the moment they lost their minds?

Because I think that happened before Charles was born, or at the latest, when he was in elementary school.

[Ian David]

3. He's the woman-hating guy from the anti-perspirant commercials, isn't he?

[Bucky]

4. Barkley's been talking about this at least since 2000. And how does Alabama's governor end the war?

I thought I knew the Constitution better than that. Does it say "Congress and/or the exectutive branch of the first state in alphabetical order shall have the power to declare war"?

[Leopolds Ghost]

5. Good. This can only be good for Alabama

Don't forget, people, that Charles Barkley was being courted
by the Republicans to be the Arnold Schwarzenegger of the South.

For the future of the Republican party,

This is like Schwarzenegger or Giuliani becoming an Independent.

[tabasco]

6. Seems to be a pretty smart guy. Clean too!

My apologies to Joe Biden.

I think he considered himself a republican when he was playing and only thinking about his tax bracket. Since he retired, I think he started paying attention and has become much more informed. I think he's a great example of someone who was not ruined by wealth and greed.

[DivinBreuvage]

7. Why not, any old dumbass can get elected these days

I think Kevin Federlein and Pauly Shore should run too.

[tom_paine]

8. I think Charles would make a good Governor of Alabama

He is a smart guy, even if he isn't the best spoken. People dismiss him, but listen to him speak. He THINKS, and that is something not a whole lot of people are doing these days.

He can recognize a mistake and grow stronger for it, and dammnit, if the Republics can have their Gropenfuehrer the we can have Sir Charles.

By the way, take note that he described the Democratic situation as it continues even now with few words, which is the mark of a good politician.

Run, Charles!

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B000FKP9V0.01._PIsitb-st-arrow,TopLeft,-1,-14_OU01_SCTHUMBZZZ_AA100_.jpg

[derby378]

9. The main thing is to ensure Barkley doesn't become Alabama's version of Kinky Friedman

Someone really needs to approach Barkley with a solid, grassroots approach to Democratic values.