Obama's presidential style is a work in progress

[babylonsister]

Obama's presidential style is a work in progress

By Steven Thomma | McClatchy Newspapers


WASHINGTON — As he entered office, President Barack Obama made a symbolic bow to frugality, putting off the costly redecorating of the Oval Office that his predecessors had done.

But if the furnishings have remained largely the same — right down to the stain on the big oval rug — the way Obama looks and acts there is decidedly different from his predecessor, not to mention all those who went before.

At the 100-day mark, he's putting his own style on the presidency. Opportunistic. Pragmatic. Confident. Deliberate. Polite to friend and foe alike. Partisan. Polarizing. A better talker than George W. Bush. A more disciplined manager than Bill Clinton.

Some traits he'll maintain throughout his presidency. Some could change over his term. John F. Kennedy grew skeptical after a disastrous invasion of Cuba early in his presidency, learning to challenge aides and adopting an executive style that saw him and the country through a nuclear showdown with the Soviet Union.

"He's flexible," George Edwards, a scholar of the presidency and currently a visiting fellow at Oxford University, said of Obama. "He's still learning."

Nothing defines his early days as much as the way he's seized the political opportunity provided by economic crisis to push forward an ambitious liberal agenda that otherwise would have little chance of getting through Congress. It includes an explosion of federal spending, the groundwork for universal health care and broad regulation of the environment, and soaring deficits and debt.

Even before he took office, Obama knew he faced a rare moment of crisis — one when a president could push through an agenda dramatically changing the government, and perhaps the country itself.

more...

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/politics/story/66710.html

[Cha]

1. Some things in this article

seem like an honest analysis but there are others that are perpetuating some corporatemedia myths..like President Obama uses a teleprompter more than any other president?

<snip>

"While he may be laying the groundwork for more civil relations with Republicans and legislative successes later, he won only three Republican Senate votes for his stimulus package and none in the House of Representatives, none from either chamber for his budget, and he also failed to convince European leaders to send combat troops to help in Afghanistan.

"He has a difficult time persuading people," Edwards said. "He's been very good at maintaining his coalition. What he can't do is bring other people in."

George Edwards loosely uses the term "people" when we're dealing with obstructing whiners.

<snip>

"The effect? His base loves him. Republicans, however, still aren't buying his agenda. In fact, a recent survey by the nonpartisan Pew Research Center found him with high approval from Democrats and independents, but dismally low approval from Republicans."

There's nothing Obama could do to please republicans except dig up the bush policies that nearly drove our country over the edge for the last 8 years..and even then the deadenders wouldn't stop whining.

[babylonsister]

2. I know. It's a decent article, but there are a lot of

criticisms in it such as one you highlighted:

"He has a difficult time persuading people," Edwards said. "He's been very good at maintaining his coalition. What he can't do is bring other people in."

The author never also points out that the rethugs have their feet dug in and won't be persuaded, so matter how persuasive the president is. So that's his fault? There is no Democrat in this country that could persuade the rethugs. At least Obama tried.

[Cha]

6. Yes, at least he tried..

we'll always have that.

[grantcart]

3. More BS from McClatchy

"He has a difficult time persuading people," Edwards said. "He's been very good at maintaining his coalition. What he can't do is bring other people in."



Difficult time persuading people? Really?

Been able to get everything passed so far while the Republicans approach every issue with a strategy to refuse to cooperate.

[Clio the Leo]

4. Seriously Mr. President..... CHANGE the Oval Office....

.... we won't mind.

Can we get a DU fundraiser going or something? At least to buy a new rug? :)

[givemebackmycountry]

5. This jumped off the page at me...

"Nothing defines his early days as much as the way he's seized the political opportunity provided by economic crisis to push forward an ambitious liberal agenda that otherwise would have little chance of getting through Congress. It includes an explosion of federal spending, the groundwork for universal health care and broad regulation of the environment, and soaring deficits and debt".

It is NOT a "liberal" agenda.
It will benefit ALL americans, left or right.

If we can afford to build billion dollar plus aircraft carriers like the USS GHW Bush and super fighter jets that we don't need we can afford to help our people with health care.

"Liberal agenda" my ass.
It's the new "American Agenda" and we're about to do it like it or not.

[Cha]

7. +1

Precisely.

[mkultra]

8. independents always count as other people

for which Obama excels at attracting. Its the other party that will not come over.