My friend just emailed this to me. And since I have a BA in History/Political Science, I just can’t help adding my two cents (albeit belatedly).

The 143 days refers to days IN SESSION, which is not the same as time served as a Senator. Senators actually do work between sessions. They help resolve issues for their constituents, find out what problems are affecting their states, research issues, write legislation, try to convince other Senators to support legislation, etc etc. And the US Senate is not the full extent of Obama’s experience.

Here’s a quick bio:

Obama is a graduate of Columbia University and received his J.D. from Harvard School of Law. He was a civil rights attorney and taught constitutional law at the University of Chicago Law School before running for the state legislature. He has spent 8 years as an Illinois State Senator and 3 years as a US Senator.

Let’s compare that to a few of our friends:

George W. Bush –

B.S from Yale, and M.B.A from Harvard. Before he became the Governor of Texas, he worked for his family’s oil business and then co-owned a major league baseball team. His only additional political experience consisted of an unsuccessful campaign in 1978 for the US House. He spent 6 years as Governor before running for President.

Sarah Palin –

B.S. in Communications/Journalism. I’m not sure where her degree is from because its described as follows: “She enrolled at Hawaii Pacific College but left after her first semester, transferring to North Idaho College and then to the University of Idaho. She attended Matanuska-Susitna College in Alaska for one term, then returned to the University of Idaho.”

Her political experience consists of the Wasilla City Council for 4 years, Mayor of Wasilla for 4 years, and two whole years as Governor of Alaska. By the way, Wasilla has a population of about 5400 according to the 2000 US census. The state of Alaska itself ranks 48th in total population. So if McCain wins and happens to die in Office…I’m moving to Canada.

Ronald Regan –

Graduated Eureka College in sociology and economics. He was a Captain in the Army and President of the Screen Actors Guild. Before he became president, his political experience consisted of 9 years as Governor of California and an unsuccessful presidential campaign in 1976 (He was then elected in 1980).

This one is my favorite:

Abraham Lincoln –

Self-educated lawyer who only completed about 18 months of formal schooling in his entire life. He spent 8 years in the Illinois legislature, and ran unsuccessfully to become a US Senator before being nominated as the Republican Candidate for President in 1860 (He won).

So personally I think that Obama’s experience is at very least comparable to others who have become President.

And as a sidenote, military experience is neither a necessity for becoming a good President even in times of war, nor a guarantee that someone will make a good president at any time. If you don’t believe me, I urge you to look up Franklin D. Roosevelt and Ulysees Grant.