Good News and Bad News - Obama Can Be Methodical and Ruthless - Not Naive

[Median Democrat]

I think sometimes we Democrats buy into the stereotypes spread by the right wing. For example, McCain's repeated description of Obama as idealistic, not ready, and naive. However, this is not true, and Obama's recent appointments should make this clear. Obama is going to try implement most of his agenda. If your pet project or cause was not listed by him as one of his priorities, don't hold your breath. Obama's campaign showed that he can be bold and audacious. However, his campaign also methodically backed up and delivered on his goals.

I think the first thing that liberals like Rachel Maddow will be upset with is the degree to which Obama seeks folks with track records, which means that Obama is going to draw a lot of former Clinton staffers. Now, Maddow complained "Is this really change?" The answer is Obama is not hiring people for cosmetic purposes. He is not hiring to placate interest groups, except where absolutely necessary. Obama will hire folks who have a track record of getting things done. This explains why Lawrence Summers is being considered even though he offends many liberals due to his sexist remarks, and his connection to the Bill Clinton era. Summers is brilliant, he is experienced, and he has the necessary credibility to help Obama get the U.S. out of the current economic crisis. If not Summers, it is going to be someone with a similar track record.

I think many of us will be shocked at how methodical Obama is going to be about trying to implement his agenda. During the campaign, Obama generally avoided radical modifications of his platform. There were few gimmicks. He really is what he says he is, and not what we want him to be. I recall reading an interview with Obama, and he said that people mistake his coolness for an unwillingness to play hardball. The New Yorker had an article describing how Obama is willing to be a ruthless to achieve his goals. Frankly, I like that, rather than naive, idealistic canddiate portrayed by McCain.

At the end of the day, I don't really care about what Obama believes. I care about what he achieves. I would rather agree with the things that Obama achieves, then the high minded liberal things that he might believe in, but never accomplish. Thus, I will be more worried if Obama starts appointing a lot of political celebrities who do not have a lot actual experience or expertise in the area they are being hired into as was the case with Bush who rewarded political allies.

For better or worse, Obama is nothing like Bush, which means that he is going to try implement his agenda, rather than please his left wing of his base in the short term. Depending on whether you actually agree with Obama's proposals, this could be a good thing or a bad thing.

[Triana]

1. I believe you might be right and ...

besides being methodical and ruthless, he's VERY intelligent. His campaign was THE best-run campaign in the history of the US. If he runs the White House and US gov't that way, well - it's gonna be VERY INTERESTING.

I agree with his agenda so this doesn't bother me. I have no delusions that he's going to kowtow to any particular part of his base. Rather, I think he has or will have a list of objectives and priorities - most or all of which he laid out in general during his campaign, and he will seek to accomplish those, bringing on-board those who can best help him do that - with or without progressive 'approval'.

He WILL NOT succeed in accomplishing *all* of his / our goals. I'd be happy if he did but he won't - at least not in the first term. And he will disappoint and anger many of us. No doubt. He SAID that, remember. And, as little as it takes to disappoint and anger many of us, what else can we expect? Look at Maddow and DU for evidence only TWO DAYS after his historical and stunning victory. Whining and hand-wringing already. And he might even - *gasp* - make some mistakes.

He warned us about all that. He did not lie about himself. I take him at his word. He said he'd be honest about what's going on. He said he would tell us what he thinks. He said he would listen to us, even if we disagree (maybe especially then).

No delusions here. If he pisses me off, I'll say so, but he hasn't yet...

[cliffordu]

2. Excellent insight. I agree fully.

[ROh70]

3. Good analysis.

[99th_Monkey]

4. K&R - Me thinks we are on the same page.

This is my response to a DUer claiming to be so far to the Left of Obama that they feel justified
in standing on the sidelines and gripping.

*******************THE POST I WAS RESPONDING TO****************************
OK, since he's the next president,

...and I'm not, and I'm more liberal,

I should be pessimistic that his agenda will resemble what I'd like to see.

Your post seems to imply that liberals shouldn't be pessimistic.

********************MY RESPONSE**************************************
I'm actually in the same boat, as a supporter of Kucinich first, then Edwards ...

If I were any further "to the left" I'd have been organizing armed insurrection after the 2004
elections were buggered in Ohio.. Once I settled on Obama as my 3rd choice, I began to listen
more carefully to him, study his roots, his record and his way of dealing with his critics and
his many obstacles to winning the GE. By now, he's earned my respect and my loyalty, base on
what I've seen and learned about him.

Obama is the first to admit he "won't be a perfect President", yet there's a genuine openness, an
invitation to the 80% of Amercans who are "to the left" of the criminal Bush/Cheney Cabal to pull
together in our own collective self-interest; which resulted in 11th hour endorsements from the
likes of Colin Powell, which in turn helped create the historic landslide we witnessed in this
election. Can we say "mandate" yet? I think so.

We all need to understand how close we came to completely going over the Edge ... into The
Jaws of The Abyss of no return. But now, due to the election results, we actually again have a choice,
we have a moment in history to pull together as a people and tackle the problems facing us with a
renewed sense of creativity and possibility. I really do feel it's my "patriotic duty" to answer
Obama's call, to chill, to self-reflect deeply on what's at stake here; even if that means putting
my far-Leftist views on the back burner until Obama's second term.

For example, if I had my way, EVERY US corporation would need to be IMMEDIATELY re-chartered to
certify it's "benefit to the community" status; as that was the original deal that was made when
the fat cats started forming corporations trying to avoid personal responsibility for their abuse
of workers, of the environment, etc. Those corporations who refuse, should be "nationalized" and
turned into worker-owned enterprises, in order to anchor jobs and capital in local communities and
clamp down on capital flight, and create a new "green outsource-proof" industrial base to help rebuild
the economy.

Now I could spend all my time harping on how "disappointed" I am ... whinning that Obama's "not
liberal enough" for me; OR I can begin organizing myself to promote worker-ownership as an essential
tool or building block in creating a stronger greener economy.

I'm choosing the later path, and I humbly encourage you and others on DU "to the left of Obama" to
do the same. I guess that about sums it up.

[Hell-A Liberal]

5. K&R

I couldn't agree with you more.

[thoughtcrime1984]

6. Well put.

Many will be upset, but ask yourself this- after the last 8 years, would you rather have a 75% chance of achieving some positive change, or a .5% chance of getting the most liberal agenda possible passed. When he said he reaches across the aisle, he is not joking. I knew he was far from the most progressive candidate, but I always felt he was the one who had the best ability to make progress for the masses. An iron fist in a velvet glove, I believe he has been called. Very tough, very cool, very HONEST. I emphasize honest because our last President was certainly anything but. Of course, Obama will never be able to tell us entirely what is going on, but you will see more transparency into gov't activity, and he will tell us what he is trying to do, for real.


For example, single-payer healthcare is important to many on DU- myself included- but at no point has he mentioned that is something that he wishes to do. Indeed, it will probably not happen in 8 years of an Obama Administration. However, what he WILL try to do is exactly what he has put out during his campaign, and that is an improvement over our current situation. We walk before we run. Who exactly has been a progressive President in the last 50 years? Depending on your definition of progressive, I'd say the answer is none. I would go all the way back to FDR's New Deal to find truly progressive action, and that is from a President that was not considered to be far left of center. I'm sure many will disagree, but that is how I see it. Our version of Utopia is not happening anytime soon, but the US will regain some standing with the world, and our middle and lower classes should receive some relief and hope for a stronger future. That is all I ask for at this point in time.

Inevitably, there will be times when most of DU will be angry with Obama. The difference here is that he will be forgiven when he manages to affect change from time to time. The expectations are entirely too high, but he will be a President we can be proud of, a leader who will make people question what it is that they really believe in, and then work to make that happen. We DUers already are like that, but the throng will grow to include the previously disaffected. Change from the bottom up will happen when there are enough people demanding a new path. Obama is already trying to blaze this trail, future Presidents can, must, continue in this direction. They will only do so if we the people demand it, though. It will take time to get more people to think this way. But, we really are the change we seek. Early indications are that we are off to a good START.

[thoughtcrime1984]

7. I want to clarify, though

I do not wish for Obama to feel as though he has to govern from the center. That is a bunch of corporate/Republican horseshit. What he will achieve will absolutely reflect the mandate that he received from the American voters. It just won't be EVERYTHING we ever wanted, probably not even close. He is a unique man, and I feel blessed and honored to look to him as the leader of our nation.

[eridani]

8. That Summers believes in deregulation is far worse than his being sexist

--at least in the context of being Treasury Secretary. We voted to repudiate the Rethug deregulation that got us into this mess.

[Virginia Dare]

15. Somebody somewhere will find some quibble or another for every nominee..

NONE of them will be perfect, we need to take all of these people in the context of the job they will be doing.

[eridani]

26. Hiring a Sec Treas that believes in deregulation is not just imperfection, it is disaster

Being an unpleasant sexist bastard is merely an imperfection, and not one relevant to the proposed job.

[anonymous171]

9. Obama's pragmatism is one of the reasons I supported him in the first place.

I'm tired of stubborn idealists running everything.

[Median Democrat]

13. Exactly, I Want To Agree With Obama's Results, Not His Beliefs

People say they want a President who shares their beliefs. I don't. Beliefs will not keep me employed or safe. Results are what I am interested in.

Bush screwed things up royally. Indeed, Bush is a perfect example of a President who valued idealogy over results. Notwithstanding the facts, Bush pursued supply side policies and neoconservative foreign policy. The result is that our economy is in the crapper and it is getting worse, and we are still as dependent as ever on foreign oil.

Ultimately, Obama's success will depend on the resolution of bread and butter issues. As the press often notes, if your house is on fire, you don't care if the firefighter is black, white, or gay. I think Obama understands the enormity of the problems facing him, and it will be interesting to see him apply that same methodical approach (with its Plan B's and C's) to governing.

[FrenchieCat]

10. Barack Obama was elected to take us forward based on the priorities

he laid out....and that is what he will do. He wrote a book, and I hope that folks have read it, cause it more or less lets you know exactly what he's gonna try to do, the economy considering....

Those wanting and demanding and requiring just the "right" people for each job, and for Obama to make each move as they have ordained it better get themselves a Sims game and make themselves an Obama and his cabinet in that world.

We've been fucked in the ass for so long by the evil in our WH as I type, anyone making any demands and criticizing and turning their nose up after two days of Obama winning an election need to sit back and chill....

[K Gardner]

11. I wish I could PIN this and make it required DU reading. Once he starts

methodically doing what he does best, the screams here will be deafening.

I turned Rachel off a week ago and don't plan to turn her back on. She is flatly annoying.

[fujiyama]

12. I also don't think his first several months will be a mess

like Clinton's. I have read accounts that it was a nightmare and incredibly disorganized and chaotic.

If the campaign is even the slightest indication, it won't. Granted, he's also got a lot of talent to draw from in recent years. By the time Clinton got elected, Carter had been out of power for 12 years and that administration was widely considered a failure. Clinton's administration had its faults but considering he left with a job approval rating in the mid-high 60s it certainly wasn't a failure, especially with regards to economic policy (in most aspects).

I also view Obama as a student of history and he can draw on others' experiences not to repeat those mistakes.

[Virginia Dare]

14. This guy ran the Clinton and Bush/Rove gauntlet and came out on top..

and people still are claiming he's naive?...:wtf: I will never doubt Barack Obama's judgement or abilities after watching his methodical campaign.

[zingaro]

16. I think ruthless is a requirement right now. We have two years.

In two years the balance of power will once again be up for grabs. If change does not come before the 2010 election cycle, we might lose seats in the house and senate - and then we're fighting for change instead of implementing it.

This is put up or shut up time. I have nothing but confidence in Obama - he's a smart man who chooses to surround himself with smart, capable others to assist him. But right now is the time for ruthlessness. I realize the implication of that word may sound negative but that certainly isn't how it reads to me. Driven, purposeful, deliberate - that's how I read that "ruthless" as it pertains to the tasks at hand.

[Dappleganger]

17. My opinion is there is a huge mess to fix...

and whatever gets it done, while maintaining integrity, is ok with me.

[kwolf68]

18. Though I am a Liberal

I want Obama to govern from a moderate perspective. Not only do I want to see our nation succeed and President Obama succeed, I want the total destruction of the republican Party. If we can pull moderates, new voters, and independents to our side the Repukkes will be melted down to nothing more than a fringe party of radical extremists.

In the long run...the death of Conservatism as a major force in American politics will be the best legacy Obama can leave. If he has to be moderate on some issues to accomplish this goal, while staying on the path of what he wants to accomplish, then I say go for it.

he's a classy man, and he'll work with people, but I have a feeling he understands the Conservative nature is flawed and dangerous.

[democrattotheend]

19. I think Obama has held on to a bit of his idealism

Sure, he's way more pragmatic and realistic than people give him credit for, but I do think that he still held onto some of his idealism, to a greater degree than most politicians, especially those who have gotten this far. I think he's not above doing what it takes to get things done but he also has more faith in the American people than most, including me. Honestly, I was nervous before Tuesday, not because I doubted Obama but because I doubted the American people. But he didn't, and that's why he had the audacity and the courage to jump into the race this year when many people told him to wait his "turn".

[knixphan]

20. agreed

As a left-leftie, I'll concentrate my firepower on my senators/rep, not the pres.

[Jennicut]

21. There are just some people complain about every little thing if they could

I don't care who he picks just as long as they help carry out his agenda and they don't have criminal backgrounds or something. Obama is not naive, he is far from it. He is pragmatic and practical. And he won't hire cronies. That is the biggest mistake Shrub made. Obama will do fine I think, he ran his campaign so tightly, more so than I have seen in years.

[RichardRay]

22. I think this is the essence of his oft misquoted statement

that he is a 'blank screen'. Everyone is projecting what each of us want him to be, but is what he is. It's not everything I might want in some ways, but, sweet baby jesus, is it better than we've had for the last eight years. I think those with alternate agendas will at least get a hearing, and to the extent a case can be made may get some satisfaction. That's all I ask.

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

23. Well, Bobby was called ruthless too

I don't shy away from that term if the person is on our side.

[dana_b]

24. very well said

I have had to put my "high minded liberal things" aside to try and understand what he is thinking. Of course I would love it if he would be more liberal BUT I understand that is not who he is or how he can get things accomplished. Also, change does not necessarily mean hiring totally new people to his cabinet. Change, to me anyway, means getting away from how things are now - which is dreadful. If it takes the wise and accomplished people from the Clinton administration, so be it! Please let's give him the benefit of the doubt. We all know how extrememly intelligent he is. His campaign was historic also because of the way he ran it. He can and WILL get things done! I for one am really looking forward to his administration and watching how well he does.

[GeorgeGist]

25. Ruthless?

ruthless: having no pity http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ruthless

[apnu]

27. Good points I agree with them for the most part.

I voted for Barack Obama because I wanted him to lead this country out of darkness. Not to enact my pet causes.

Additionally, I thank you for having some reasoned, frank criticism of Rachael Maddow with out being nasty or a anti-concern troll nazi.

Personally I have no problem with Rachael questioning Obama, its her job to do so and she does it well. And I also welcome constructive criticism of Rachael and the media too. I'm guess I'm saying that it refreshing to hear somebody reasonably disagree with Rachael and not be nasty, snarky and snide about it.