Misery Index

In a Nov. 4, 2004 Chicago Sun-Times article, Obama was quoted as saying:

"I was elected yesterday," Obama said.  "I have never set foot in the U.S. Senate.  I've never worked in Washington.  And the notion that somehow I'm immediately going to start running for higher office just doesn't make sense.

"So look, I can unequivocally say I will not be running for national office in four years, and my entire focus is making sure that I'm the best possible senator on behalf of the people of Illinois."

"My understanding is that I will be ranked 99th in seniority. ... I'm going to be spending the first several months of my career in the U.S. Senate looking for the washroom and trying to figure out how the phones work."

... and his own plans to establish "a top-flight constituent service office" and travel the state to thank and listen to Democrats and Republicans alike to devise "concrete ways" to improve jobs, education and health care in Illinois.

"And that's my complete and total focus during this new adventure that I'm walking into," he said.

"It's important for me to show the voters of Illinois the degree to which I am concerned with the people of Illinois, because I think that the hype that's surrounded my campaign during this last phase needs to be corrected," he said.  "People need to recognize that the job I've applied for and that they have hired me for is to be the best U.S. senator possible for the state of Illinois."

"I am not running for president in 2008," Obama said.  "I mean, come on guys.  The only reason I'm being definitive is because until I'm definitive you will keep asking me this question, but it's a silly question."

"I am not running for president.  I am not running for president in four years.  I am not running for president in 2008." - Barack Obama, Nov. 3, 2004, (Chicago Tribune, February 15, 2006)

Let's take a look at a few of the comments that were left on that page, over two years ago.

• "OH NO!!! I consider this man's actions and voting to be near criminal.  I can hardly tolerate that the people of this state appreciate him and wonder what happened to this state." - Ricky
  
• "Obama is just not ripe enough.  Two years on the Senate floor is not enough national exposure. ..." - Elbow Roomer
  
• "While I am an avid supporter of Senator Obama I think 2008 is too early.  I think his position of serving at least one full term as Senator is wise not only in appearance but in practice." - Chris
  
• "I don't think Obama is ready, and is probably too liberal to woo moderate Republicans.  He should run for VP instead." - AJP
  
• "How is Mr. Obama even remotely qualified to be President?  What experience does he have other than several unremarkable years as a first-term Senator?  He has not run a state as a governor, nor has he run so much as a hot dog stand as a businessman.  His only talents, as far as I can tell, is that he is a black man who speaks like a white man while he parrots the party line and looks good in a suit. ... " - Red Stater
  
• "I hope he runs, but not in 2008.  It's too soon." - jlp
  
• "I'm a Republican, but from what I've seen of Obama so far, I think he might make a fine President.  However, I do think he needs to serve out at least one full term as Senator, get some political experience under his belt and do as much as he can for our State." - Rebecca
  
• "Come on people be for real.  Bush has 8 years experience as Governor of the second largest state.  I'm not here saying he's a great President, but the idiots saying Obama has similar experience are rediculous." - Stewart
  
• "Obama's far too short to blow his political keg so quickly.  He'll be 54 in 2016, and I think that will be the first time he runs for president.  Personally, I'd love to see him run for Illinois governor in 2010. - Jim
  
• "He's way too liberal to have a chance at winning.  I'm amused at the people who don't think he is liberal, what show are they watching?" - Joe

From a Feb. 11, 2007 Chicago Sun-Times article:

"I recognize there is a certain presumptuousness - a certain audacity - to this announcement," the freshman U.S. senator said.  "I know I haven't spent a lot of time learning the ways of Washington.  But I've been there long enough to know that the ways of Washington must change."

He provided no details, but Obama offered to try to solve nearly every problem vexing the nation - ending poverty, capping climate-changing greenhouse gases, extending healthcare in his first term, making college more affordable, providing comfortable retirement for workers, reducing dependence on foreign oil and combating terrorism.

"But all of this cannot come to pass until we bring an end to this war in Iraq," he said.  "America, it's time to start bringing our troops home."