<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Charles Barkley, declaring himself a Democrat, said Tuesday he is seriously considering a run for governor of Alabama, maybe as early as 2010. The Leeds native and former Auburn University and NBA basketball star has teased for years about pursuing the state's highest office, but he told about 900 public school board members from across the Southeast that he's moving toward a decision on the matter. "Alabama, that's my home. I'm thinking about running for governor; they need the help," Barkley said as the crowd laughed. "If it wasn't for Arkansas and Mississippi, we'd be dead last in everything. I think we can do better." </div> link: http://www.al.com/news/birminghamnews/inde...7070.xml&coll=2
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Deadly Assassin:</div><div class="quote_post">This is crazy. Next thing you know is going to happen is Isiah running for governor.</div> Thats a really scary thought (perhaps the apocolypse)
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Moo2K4:</div><div class="quote_post">I guess Jesse and Arnold winning governor spots gives everyone faith that they can do it...</div> While this is probably true the Arnold situation was pretty complex and well thought out by him and his advisors. He took advantage of the recall and the crazy political situation CA was in to become the governer of California. Any politician probably would have been eaten alive similar to how Gray Davis did but Arnold is less of a politician and more of a "face" that states his stance on the issues and throws a corny movie line from terminator in at the end and he can get away from all the scrutiny that other politicians would have to go through. Arnold has the personality that you want a politician to have when shown in the media but I'm sure he doesnt make a whole lot of political decisions by himself (though he is extremely intelligent and hes is/was in control of some major worldwide weight lifting and fitness associations). At the time of the recall, Arnold may have been the only candidate who really could have survived to finish his term, not saying hes the best option now though. I think Charles is taking advantage of a similar situation by trying to become the governer of Alabama. The middle to lower class people in Alabama (and Mississippi, Louisianna, etc.) want a leader they can identify with who they trust to represent them, especially after the whole hurricane Katrina situation where they were ignored by the federal government for a while. Charles more than likely isn't a great political mind but he's a leader, a local, a man that grew up and knows what the lower-middle class are going through. That's a huge benefit for him because no other candidates will probably be able to capture that audience like Charles could be able to. This being said I still don't think its very likely that he actually becomes governer but if there is any time to give it a shot this would be it.
This would, however, put a huge damper in Chuck's nightlife. I don't know too many political candidates that spend their off time at the high roller tables or at any bar that calls last call when Charles says so. I like Chuck a ton but I don't think he really has a clue as to what it takes to be an effective political leader. He probably would have a ton of advisors that could help him in the process but I'd rather see him continue to try to help people in the capacity that he has since his playing days ended. His efforts are not in the media spotlight but he has contributed a ton of his time and money to Alabama natives for years. I wouldn't want him to be a be in a position where his contributions were diminished b/c he couldn't hold up under the pressures of the political spotlight. It would be a lot different than what he was accustomed to as a player.
I don’t know if he can win in the state of Alabama, but I feel he is fit to run for front office. The thing about Charles is he will get the job done whether you like the way he goes about it or not. If he is fully committed to this I don’t see any reason he shouldn’t run.
I would love to see him run. He's one of my favorite analysts. Should be interesting to see what happens.
