WWTBAM Bored

Barack Obama on the change that he's bringing to Washington. Short version: He is the change.

Long version:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/mcclatchy/20081 ... /3110268_1

Money quote:

Understand where the vision for change comes from, first and foremost. It comes from me. That's my job, is to provide a vision in terms of where we are going, and to make sure, then, that my team is implementing.

Translation: Obama's job is to make big speeches and look presidential (or perhaps messianic) and hope like heck that his "team" figures out how to solve our problems. If they don't, they're not the people he thought he knew and make room under the bus.

silverscreenselect wrote:Barack Obama on the change that he's bringing to Washington. Short version: He is the change.

Long version:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/mcclatchy/20081 ... /3110268_1

Money quote:

Understand where the vision for change comes from, first and foremost. It comes from me. That's my job, is to provide a vision in terms of where we are going, and to make sure, then, that my team is implementing.

Translation: Obama's job is to make big speeches and look presidential (or perhaps messianic) and hope like heck that his "team" figures out how to solve our problems. If they don't, they're not the people he thought he knew and make room under the bus.

In the interest of increasing my post count, I don't see anything particularly wrong with this. A president should be one who provides vision, inspiration, etc. Policy details are the responsibility of the advisors. Micromanagement from the Oval Office would be a bad thing.

silverscreenselect wrote:Barack Obama on the change that he's bringing to Washington. Short version: He is the change.

Long version:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/mcclatchy/20081 ... /3110268_1

Money quote:

Understand where the vision for change comes from, first and foremost. It comes from me. That's my job, is to provide a vision in terms of where we are going, and to make sure, then, that my team is implementing.

Translation: Obama's job is to make big speeches and look presidential (or perhaps messianic) and hope like heck that his "team" figures out how to solve our problems. If they don't, they're not the people he thought he knew and make room under the bus.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with this statement -- indeed, God help a leader who CAN'T do this -- unless, of course, you are so disposed to go through every single thing somebody says with a finetooth comb and put the worst possible interpretation on it.

You've crossed over into the worst territory somebody can. You've gotten BORING!

S3, I have to agree with the others regarding Obama's comments. It is his job as the soon to be empowered leader to provide the vision to the Administration.

Throwing underlings under the bus is not a new tactic. It's as old as man.

However, one point you didn't bring up, and one I believe more telling for both Obama and the media is his reaction to being asked about his cabinet choices.

"Oh, no, we're not here to talk about that." Controlling the message is always an Administration's goal.

The media let him slide.

That is worrisome to me.

flyb:

"Oh, no, we're not here to talk about that." Controlling the message is always an Administration's goal.

You apparently missed the Vice-Presidential debate.

ne1410s wrote:flyb:

"Oh, no, we're not here to talk about that." Controlling the message is always an Administration's goal.

You apparently missed the Vice-Presidential debate.

No, I didn't.

Apparently, you missed the point of my post.

I don't fault Obama for trying (successfully in this case) to control the message. As I said, it's what every Administration does. Some much better than others.

I do fault the reporter in this case, and the media in general, for letting him do it.

The best line so far? Chris Matthews, "As a journalist, I'm going to do everything I can to make sure this Administration is successful."

That is worrisome to me.

Isn't this how Reagan ran the country? He handled the vision stuff and the administration handled the details. Although I suspect Obama is a bit more into details than Reagan.

nitrah55 wrote:Isn't this how Reagan ran the country? He handled the vision stuff and the administration handled the details. Although I suspect Obama is a bit more into details than Reagan.

I was about to make much the same point. One of the few things I really admire about Reagan is knowing his weak areas, choosing the best people he could to manage those areas, and staying the hell out of their way while conveying his message and selling his manager's results to the public.