Posted by
jarhead on Sunday, February 08, 2009 12:00:00 AM
President Obama's picks for various administration posts seem to reflect a worse than usual cast of folks that clearly do not represent a change from the way things were and not reflective of any change in the way business is done; so far they have more issues of character than I can personally remember so early in an administration. How could this be?
We have to remember that the erstwhile President of change has little experience with issues at a national level. The vast bulk of his experience with public affairs was gained in Illinois politics. His long standing closest associates, advisers and mentors clearly do not translate to a national level team and moreover, they are so unsavory that he had to cast most of them aside to save his run for the presidency. And he's dealing with issues of a scope and importance he has never experienced. He needs a lot of help fast. So now he's secured the top job, where can he look for help with his agenda?
Since he is a left wing socialist he'll find some folks already there that will support him BUT he certainly has no long or even short term relationships that he can rely on-with the possible exception of Rahm Emmanuel who I suspect will soon emerge as a huge liability. He desperately wants to appear moderate and non-partisan but the issues are of too great a consequence (read lucrative) for the liberal left not to try and exploit the crisis as Rahm has said should be the effort if one is in charge at such a time. So everything Obama tries to do will be taken as far left as possible by the Pelosi/Reid crowd. And I think we are already seeing his willingness to support the left by making partisan comments to the press. I suspect it will not be too long before his lack of experience and relianace on help from those he does not know and should not trust will presage a sharp decline in his popularity. This is no two term President by any stretch. Glibness may sell during a campaign but now it is substance and principle that count-and he has little of either to draw on.