The Orignal Plan
If things had worked out the way Obama might have originally wanted, maybe John Edwards would have been Attorney General and maybe Wesley Clark would be taking over the Pentagon.
That would have shut the malcontents up, maybe.
Unfortunately both are currently mending self-inflicted wounds. Clarke’s aren’t as deep as John’s, but he pissed off enough of even the more moderate republicans to make his life difficult — and distractions are something the Defense Secretary doesn’t need right now as we draw-down from Iraq (yay!) and try to fix Afghanistan (and Pakistan while we’re at it).
Besides, Clarke hasn’t really tried to mend any fences, cuz he was right. McCain’s experience as a POW was not a prep-class for holding executive power. Edwards has put his toe in the water of redemption, but placing him on the national stage, at least now, simply invites scorn and ridicule. That’s something No-Drama-Obama just ain’t gonna do.
Since a wise man convinced me that it’s best to judge what they do instead of what they say, I’m in good company waiting until Obama actually, you know, does something.
Maybe if the progessives out there banging their heads against the wall, convinced we’re getting screwed, pray hard enough the Flying Spaghetti Monster might get them that pony — and the winning lottery numbers, and . . .
December 2nd, 2008 at 11:59 pm
waiting until Obama actually, you know, does something
No. Wrong. Bzzzt! Sorry, but we have some nice parting gifts….
First off, Obama has “done something.” He’s presented his advisers and proposed Cabinet. Just when are we allowed to say something about them?
But more importantly, do we really want the only voices Obama hears before a decision to be those to his right? Do we really think it is good politics or even makes sense to deliberately wait until after a decision is made before we say anything about the subject? Do we really want to keep silent about what we want to see in an Obama administration and wind up having to strive to undo choices already made and policies already established?
Unless we believe Barack Obama is politically perfect, is incapable of error, and cannot be moved by political and/or intellectual pressure, it is utterly foolish and a certain loser to hold our tongues until after the fact.
December 3rd, 2008 at 10:44 am
And what, pray-tell, have those unconfirmed nominees DONE in the way of implementing what policy?
NEXT…
What possible influence do you think any of us have right now on the selections he’s made? The time for such was during the primaries. That is the time of upmost import and influence for the blogosphere. That’s when, and only when, the voices of the party base — the most liberal of us — are heard. Not that it’s too late now, but I choose to wait until they do something to piss me off before I get pissed off.
Or are you unsatisifed with Richardson at Commerce. I didn’t ask if he’d be better at another post, but you can’t tell me he’s somehow unacceptable at that particular job. And if Obama gives Bonior the Labor Secretary job, will the myth that he hasn’t enough progressives in his ear be busted?
When it was a three-way race, Blogtopia did a pretty good job of joining in an ABC (anybody but Clinton) attitude, isolating the Clintonistas to their own corner of the net. But the time to rally around the most progressive candidate was when we still had one to choose (and he hadn’t blown up his personal life yet).
There was an almost even divide between Edwards and Obama for a time across the progressive internet ’sphere. Why? Why if so many are ready to turn their back on President Obama before he spent one day in the West Wing weren’t they giving their all for Edwards — or Kucinich?
I don’t mean for anyone to hold their tongues. That’s not me. I’m just rolling my eyes that there is any reason to wag tongues at all yet. Talk about your worry-warts. Geeze. This is the boring stuff.
Bill Clinton promised me universal health care in 1992. I want it now. I want a bill passed and signed by May, June at the latest. If that isn’t done, or significant progress made in that direction by summer, then I’ll be pissed enough to start picking nits. Right now, you’re harshing my buzz.
December 4th, 2008 at 9:43 am
I don’t mean for anyone to hold their tongues.
Or for pity’s sake, of course you do. You sneer at people who are dissatisfied with what Obama has said and done since the election. (In what universe is presenting your Cabinet selections not doing something?) You call them “malcontents” and make references to the Flying Spaghetti Monster and ponies and winning lottery tickets. You “roll your eyes” at the “worry-warts” who have no reason to “wag tongues.” You suggest (”the time … was during the primaries”) that the proper role now is one of passive observer. And you toss off my objection with a total non sequitur about the nominees being unconfirmed (when the issue was who they are and Obama’s decisions in proposing them) and the snide dismissal “NEXT….”
So please don’t put on wounded air of innocence (”Geeze.”) and expect me to buy it when you are objecting to the very idea of any criticism of the course which, based on his choices so far, Obama intends to chart.
As for the rest:
Richardson is a good liberal but no progressive. However, he certainly would make a competent Commerce Secretary. Bonior has said repeatedly he doesn’t want the job. But what I think is truly revealing is that neither the Secretary of Commerce nor the Secretary of Labor was part of Obama’s “fiscal team.”
Finally:
you’re harshing my buzz
Tough.