Who are the Democrats that have the ear of the President?

[kentuck]

Is there anyone to tell him, "Hey Man, that would be a big mistake"?

Who does he listen to for advice?

I sincerely hope there is someone that will tell him to his face, "Hey Man, we can't let you do that".

But I wonder who it would be?

[hrmjustin]

1. Biden and Bill Clinton come to mind.

There have been complaints that he has no deep relationships on capitol hill. I just don't know who you would send on this kind of mission.

[Moses2SandyKoufax]

6. His closest friends from when he was in the Senate were:

Lugar, Hagel, and Coburn. Wow, that pretty much says it all...

[hrmjustin]

9. Yes it does.

[kenny blankenship]

10. Forgot Lieberman

Joe was his mentor when he came to the US Senate. As President, he supported Lieberman against the Democratic candidate Ned Lamont.

[Moses2SandyKoufax]

11. Wasn't he also close to John Warner?

I can't think of any Democrat he was close friends with.

[kenny blankenship]

14. I don't know

I know he had the utmost respect for Robert Gates, Stanley McChrystal and David Petraeus - before the untimely ends of their public careers. John Warner, although of the right party, is perhaps not hawkish enough to fit in with that crowd.

[Moses2SandyKoufax]

15. Yep, mostly older conservative men. I guess a person is judged by the company they keep.

And judging by our last two "Democratic" Presidents we would do well to avoid candidates who might have daddy issues.

[AtomicKitten]

19. Not true.

"As President, he supported Lieberman against the Democratic candidate Ned Lamont."

Yes indeed Obama endorsed Lieberman in the Democratic primary, but when Ned Lamont won and became the Democratic candidate, Obama threw his support behind Lamont.

BTW the year was 2006 and it was Senator Obama, not President Obama.

Lamont Gets Help From Obama
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/26/AR2006102601187.html

[Marie Marie]

2. Wish I had inside access to Michelle.

IMHO, I think she is his conscience and keeps him grounded. Plus I don't think she thinks in political terms - just right or wrong, fair or unfair. As far as Democratic politicians, sadly, I think he is more interested in cutting a deal with the Republicans at the expense doing the right thing. Maybe he sees that as the only way to get things done, don't know - I'm not in his head. But I am watching him rally the forces and not back down on gun legislation and wondering why he can't do the same on other issues that the majority of us seem to want. I want to support him but sometimes, I really do not understand him.

[JaneyVee]

3. Pelosi & Reid.

[Purveyor]

5. Dear the Lords...spare us if that is the case. eom

[hrmjustin]

8. +1

[QC]

4. Really, really, really rich ones. n/t

[1StrongBlackMan]

7. I suspect that President Obama is talking to the right

people.

but please allow me to provide my prediction, as a seasoned negotiator, of President Obama (and his more seasoned team's) next move in these "negotiations":

President Obama (or maybe a Democratic legislator):

Okay, Mr./Ms. gop Legislator ... Here's what we can do ... I'll drop the Chained CPI, no one seems to like that approach, even apparently the gop that is demanding cuts to "entitlements" (a win for the American people) and I will reduce my revenue ask by half what the CCPI would have realized (a win for the you, the gop).

Now ... where does the gop go ... and not cement their "unwillingness to compromise" monicker with the solid plurarity of gop and independent voters (a solid majority when taken as a whole) that poll as having the gop being unwilling to compromise and President Obama (and Democrats being willing to compromise).

In order to flip the House (because of gerrymandering as a result of 2010), we need those groups to either stay home, vote 3rd-Party, or vote Democratic. In my estimation ... It 's all about 2014.

[kentuck]

12. I think it would like he dropped the CCPI because of opposition from his left base...

and that a lot of damage has been done in the process. As usual, the GOP will refuse to raise taxes. They simply are not going to do that.

The only alternative for Democrats is to win the House and keep the Senate in 2014, then change the rules for filibuster. And bust the balls of any Democrat that huddles with the Republicans.

The question is, what is the best way to get Democrats to the polls? I think the present strategy is the wrong way to do that. You do not get people to the polls by talking to their brains - you get them to the polls by talking to their hearts. Just my opinion.

[1StrongBlackMan]

13. Sadly ...

I don't think there are enough Democrats to get out ... we've had record turn-out the past two cycles; but because of gerrymandering, it still isn't enough.

In order to flip the House, we need that solid plurarity of gop and independent voters (a solid majority when taken as a whole) that poll as having the gop being unwilling to compromise and President Obama (and Democrats being willing to compromise) to either: vote Democratic, vote 3rd-Party or stay at home.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

16. Senator Durbin (D-IL), the Senate Majority Whip.

[neverforget]

17. I know who its not

the Left on Social Security

[TheKentuckian]

18. The Clintonites and other assorted fuckbag Republicans with a circle D next to their names.