Team Obama

The possible strategy behind the picks.

Finally, we have unity between conservatives and progressives.  Unfortunately it is a unity based either in stupidity or deceitfulness.

Both sides are tripping all over themselves to criticize Obama's picks for his cabinet and advisers.  Progressives in particular seem to be livid that moderates figure so prominently and conservatives, who want change less than they want a salt filled straw in the eye, are falling all over themselves pointing out that Obama's picks seem to be at odds with his campaign mantra of "change".  One side is being incredibly shortsighted and the other is being blatantly disingenuous.  Both are being patently ridiculous.

Barack Obama will face challenges upon taking the oath like no president in recent times has seen and possibly, no president ever.  I certainly have no contact with or special insight to the Obama mindset but, it is obvious what he is doing.  Given the current economic crisis and the wars that have so far been idiotically prosecuted, team Obama will have to hit the ground running.  Among the things he wants to avoid are contentious and drawn out confirmation hearings.  He also simply does not have the time to wait for an entire crew of fresh minded Washington outsiders to learn the whos, whys, and hows of the Washington system.  It is almost an impossibility that many of today's picks will not start to need to spend more time with their families in two years or whenever things start to get better.  I fully expect them to be replaced with those who would be considered outsiders today.  They will be working for current picks and/or will have been apprised of their position on the list and will have been given study materials plus, they will not all start at once.  It would be irresponsible, even if it were possible, to institute al the desired change at once.  It must be instituted over time.

However, all of that is pretty much secondary.  There is an old saying that "the fish stinks from the head".  The Clinton appointees will not do as they did under Bill Clinton.  They will have the knowledge and experience but they will have a leader with a a different agenda.  What seems to be forgotten is that Bush did not hire stupid people to work for him.  He hired smart people(of perhaps questionable moral character) and he led them to do stupid things.  The fish stinks from the head.  Anyone who doubts that Barack Obama could take the exact same crew who helped bush screw the nation and achieve significantly different and positive results is simply not paying attention.

So what say we give Obama a chance to lead.  What say we withhold judgment until we have some evidence.  It may be that he can't fix this but then, it may be that no one or group can fix this.  For sure his chances will not be improved by building his team entirely out of rookies.

CAFKIA

Comments

[rczach]

"Both sides are tripping all over themselves to criticize Obama's picks for his cabinet and advisers. Progressives in particular seem to be livid that moderates figure so prominently and conservatives, who want change less than they want a salt filled straw in the eye, are falling all over themselves pointing out that Obama's picks seem to be at odds with his campaign mantra of 'change'."

Progressives are not livid that MODERATES figure so prominently, we are livid that NO PROGRESSIVES have been included. Even after two landslide elections in a row, are our only governing options as a nation either all right-wing Republicans, or a centrist mixture of Democrats and Republicans? Isn't there ever a point when we can get an actual Democratic administration? Why isn't there a single member of Obama's cabinet who will be advising him from the left? Not a single, solitary, actual progressive has even been mentioned for a position in the new administration. Not one. Remember this is the movement that was right about Iraq, right about wage stagnation and inequality, right about financial deregulation, right about global warming and right about health care. The emerging establishment consensus on all of these issues came from the left... And yet, no one who comes from the part of American political and intellectual life that has given birth to all of these ideas is anywhere to be found within miles of the Obama cabinet thus far.

Conservatives on the other had have been thrilled with Obama's choices. Karl Rove, Richard Lugar, Mitch McConnell, Charles Grassley, John McCain, and Joe Lieberman have all supported Obama's choices.

And Since when is Robert Gates a moderate? Timothy Geithner? Lawrence Summers? Peter Orszag? Paul Volcker? Since when is deregulation and trickle-down moderate or centrist?

[Twisted_Colour]

The Clinton appointees will not do as they did under Bill Clinton. They will have the knowledge and experience but they will have a leader with a a different agenda.

What was the Bill Clinton agenda and how does Obama's agenda (and how do you know his agenda) differ?

[CAFKIA]

rczach: Your points are valid and worthy of consideration. I can understand that there is some, perhaps significant, value in having known progressives active and respected in government. However, I think it is more important to get progressive ideals in place than it is progressive idealists, at least initially. It is my hope and belief that Obama will lead this centrist/rightist crew gently to the left. I am a progressive and I wholeheartedly agree that progressives (including me) have been far more correct about the major issues of the day. But if take our 7% victory and try to use it to shove hard left policies down the throats of Faux News fed Amurikkkans, we will create backlash and resentment.

Obama has shown uncanny political skills. I am inclined to trust him at this point. I doubt that I will be happy with everything he does. As a matter of fact, it would scare me and cause me to reevaluate my positions if I were. But if I can see a general trend in my direction after a couple of years, with no corresponding outrage in the general population, I will go ahead and call it a win.

CAFKIA

[CAFKIA]

Twisted_Colour: I do not know the details of either agenda. I am familiar with what has been said/done in a general way and tend to make some assumptions which, may not be borne out by the passage of time. In addition, while I had some specific issues with Clinton, I thought that overall he governed intelligently and effectively. I do wish he had been inclined/able to take the nation further left but, I must acknowledge that he did what he did in an almost unbelievably hostile political atmosphere.

What I want to get across here is that in my opinion, cautious optimism is warranted and I intend to be patient and let him work his plan. I hope that others will as well.

CAFKIA