I was just looking for input here...

The experience issue has been brought up now by both sides. Obama isn't experienced enough to be president or Palin isn't experienced enough to be Veep.

I was just wondering what experience anyone has to be POTUS. It's quite a singular job. I don't know that there is an experience edge to be had. Being a senator or a governor or a ice cream parlor owner (for that matter) can not really prepare you for the most powerful position on the planet.

I know President Clinton said much the same thing earlier in the primary campaign season, and it was much touted as a dodging of the issue or a besmirching of Obama at the least. When I heard him say that I thought that it was a valid point.

What experience can anyone actually have to be President of the United States?

Opinions... comments... all appreciated.

We are generally screwed.

The skill set to become POTUS has only the smallest overlap with the skill set needed to be a good POTUS.

Do it yourself. List the skills that would be vital to get Obama elected then list the skills needed to be a good POTUS. You'll see.

It's only slightly better for McLame. It's quite a bit better with Palin.

__________________
------------------------------
------------------------------
Giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys. - P. J. O'Rourke

Read the Constitution for the qualifiers. I always laugh about this question because the POTUS has a Cabinet that handles every major department in the government, POTUS has Military leaders from the Pentagon. So all he really does is listens to what they say and makes an educated guess as to what is the best course of action based on their belief system. They pick people usually based on party recommendations and experience. So what really does the POTUS need to know about every government department. Everyone of them have different experiences in life and work, so name me ONE that is a specialist in every area of government.

__________________
"The only title superior to President of the United States of America is Citizen."

Did you know the word "gullible" isn't in the dictionary?

The qualifiers per the Constitution are to be 35 years old and a US citizen. I was speaking more to the question of the experience to be president. The office is a wholly singular post. I would go so far as to say that the only real way to be experienced to be president is to have been president.

I also do understand your point about the cabinet, which is a good one. In that sphere I'd saw Obama would have and edge as the more thoughtful and calculated of the two candidates. He seems to examine issues before judging which would make him better suited there.

One hears all the time that governing experience would be valued over a lack thereof. While I see the merit of some executive experience from being a governor, I also see that that experience pales in comparison to the responsibility that comes with being the POTUS. I'd compare it to being the manager of a convenience store and then taking over a fortune 500 company. While the jobs are the similar the scope is astronomically different.