What if ...

[Nightwish]

... Oprah ran for President?

I've only occasionally watched her show, usually because it comes on right after Jeopardy and I'm too lazy to turn the channel. But right now I'm watching her on Letterman, and the build-up to this show, as well as the piece on the local news about it, underscores just how immensely popular this woman is. I don't know what her politics are, but I have to wonder, if she were to run for President, how much chance would she have? I think she'd have a great chance, personally. As African-American women go, she'd have a whole lot better chance than Condi Rice. What do y'all think?

[Ugly Duck]

The most powerful woman in America. Women would vote for her in droves, as would the vast majority of Blacks. The secret fear of many candidates is that Oprah might eventually come out and seriously endorse their opponent. My wife thinks Oprah is a friggin goddess, as do many, MANY women. Here's an interesting flirtation with just that scenario:

SCHNEIDER (voice-over): Senator Hillary Clinton and TV host Oprah Winfrey. According to the Gallup poll, they are the two most admired women in America. They had a very interesting and possibly politically significant encounter at the International Emmy Award ceremony Monday evening.

OPRAH WINFREY, TALK SHOW HOST: Thank you. I hope you do us a privilege and run for office. Thank you...

(APPLAUSE)

... president of the United States.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2005/11/23/oprah-to-hillary-i-hope_n_11180.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/thenewswire/archive/ap/oprah-hillary.jpg

[patteeu]

I'd move to France. LOL, no I wouldn't.

[Amnorix]

It's no more ridiculous than Reagan running, really. Whether that says something good about Oprah or bad about Reagan, or both, I'm not honestly sure.

[patteeu]

It's no more ridiculous than Reagan running, really. Whether that says something good about Oprah or bad about Reagan, or both, I'm not honestly sure.

I agree and I don't think it's bad at all. I think that if Oprah has aspirations to be President, she would have a better chance getting elected if she'd already run a campaign (like Hillary did with her NY Senate campaign), but I suspect that Oprah would be a pretty formidable candidate after working out any newbie kinks. She's an impressive lady although I'm sure I'd disagree with most of her political positions.

[Amnorix]

I agree and I don't think it's bad at all. I think that if Oprah has aspirations to be President, she would have a better chance getting elected if she'd already run a campaign (like Hillary did with her NY Senate campaign), but I suspect that Oprah would be a pretty formidable candidate after working out any newbie kinks. She's an impressive lady although I'm sure I'd disagree with most of her political positions.


I'm just generally not a big fan of popular entertainers running for President. I'd like to hope that the Presidency is more than just a big popularity contest.

But I also know I'm just fooling myself.

[Nightwish]

I think entertainers going into high offices without having some political experience first is generally a bad idea. Look at the mess Arnie has made in California. Reagan did a pretty good job of it, but he didn't go from the big screen straight to the oval office, he did his tenure in lesser roles. I don't know if he did a lesser job than governor prior to that bid, but California wasn't quite as volatile and divisive as it is now. On the other hand, Oprah hasn't served in an office, but she's been taking a pretty active role in what could be defined as "politics" for awhile now with her efforts for education in Africa.

[patteeu]

I think entertainers going into high offices without having some political experience first is generally a bad idea. Look at the mess Arnie has made in California. Reagan did a pretty good job of it, but he didn't go from the big screen straight to the oval office, he did his tenure in lesser roles. I don't know if he did a lesser job than governor prior to that bid, but California wasn't quite as volatile and divisive as it is now. On the other hand, Oprah hasn't served in an office, but she's been taking a pretty active role in what could be defined as "politics" for awhile now with her efforts for education in Africa.

As opposed to the halcyon days of Gray Davis? Arnold took the job at a time when the issues facing the governor would be daunting to even the most experienced politician.

[Nightwish]

As opposed to the halcyon days of Gray Davis? Arnold took the job at a time when the issues facing the governor would be daunting to even the most experienced politician.
I'm not comparing him to Gray Davis, nor suggesting Davis was any better. I'm pointing out that if he had some background and experience in politics, he probably wouldn't be in quite such a pickle.

[mlyonsd]

If she promises every American a new car she's got my vote.

[patteeu]

I'm not comparing him to Gray Davis, nor suggesting Davis was any better. I'm pointing out that if he had some background and experience in politics, he probably wouldn't be in quite such a pickle.

I'm not so sure I agree with that. It's impossible to know for sure though.

[recxjake]

i'd love to see Oprah run, she would really address some of the social issues that the dem's love to bring up and scare voters with but yet never do anything about... she would actually do somthing about it if elected

i think the dems never fix any of the things they bitch about so they can continue to scare the poor and inturn they get more votes....

[Nightwish]

i think the dems never fix any of the things they bitch about so they can continue to scare the poor and inturn they get more votes....
Kind of like the neocons and their constant terror alerts, not to mention their penchant for frivolously raising the terror alert on the eve of major political events, for the sake of reminding everyone that "we're the party that's tough on terror."

[recxjake]

Kind of like the neocons and their constant terror alerts, not to mention their penchant for frivolously raising the terror alert on the eve of major political events, for the sake of reminding everyone that "we're the party that's tough on terror."

umm nope not at all, but thanks for trying

[Nightwish]

umm nope not at all, but thanks for trying
I guess you're right. The Dems haven't gotten quite that bad yet.

[recxjake]

I guess you're right. The Dems haven't gotten quite that bad yet.

wrong, try again

[dirk digler]

I would love to see Oprah run. She is alot smarter than half the politicos out there. You don't get to be one of the wealthiest people in the world by being stupid.

[Nightwish]

wrong, try again
Okay, they haven't gotten nearly that bad yet. Is that better?