I'm Old, yes, but I'm Smarter

On experience v. judgment

It appears that this will be a major part in this year elections. Clinton has made it a huge issue with her new ad and Obama's counter (click here to see.)

This is an old argument.

First, I find it interesting with a bit of Irony, that Clinton, who is hitting hard on this issues, is a baby-boomer. The same generation that fought hard against the establishment during the 1960's. (ok Clinton did campaign for Goldwater, but changed thereafter.)

Second, experience and judgment are not mutually exclusive. There are those who have had lots of experience and good judgment. Both increasing with age. FDR I think is an excellent example. He had been state senator, a assistant secretary of the navy, an governor of New York. He is consider one of the best president this country has ever had, credited for leading this country through two pivotal time in history, e.g. the Great Depression and WWII.

Third, judgment can make up for experience. My favorite example of this is JFK. He had served as a member of the House of Representatives for 7 years and 6 years in the Senate before becoming President. His foreign policy experience was minimal. The Bay of Pigs was disaster, but an operation he had inherited from his predecessor, from which he learned. The Cuba Missile Crisis is the best example of good judgment over simply experience. He had the good judgment to surround himself with smart people who would tell him what he did not want to hear. One particular issue during the crisis was the use of military intervention. Curtis Lamay, who was Chief of Staff of the Air Force, and who had much support, argued for a full military strikes on the missles in Cuba. JKF's response was what would the world look like after the strike. He knew what questions to ask of his advisers. It is now known that if the US had used military force, Castro had already given the Soviets the go-ahead to strike the US with the missiles that where already operational. The US was under the assumption that none where operational! Scary, WWIII would have ensued. But for better judgment, the crisis was defused. (see Robert McManara's book or the film The Fog of War)

Fourth, Experience can lead you astray. I have to say is look at the key personnel that took us into Iraq - Cheney, Rumsfeld, Douglas Fief, Paul Wolfowitz. All these men had had experience in these matter in and out of government. Cheney had been the Secretary of Defense during the first Gulf War. James Baker, Secretary of State at the time has recently said that they do not ask anymore why they did not go into Baghdad in 1991. This means Cheney was aware of the risk in 1991! So much for experience.

Finally, Obama has had 12 years in elected office. Clinton only 7. Is she counting time as First lady? She complains that Obama's opposition to the Iraq War does not count because he did not have to real decision to make - like her, cast a vote in the Senate. Using her own logic, we should not count the years as First-Lady because she did not have to make a decision that mattered. ugh!