From Chris Bowers at Open Left:
Let's say that all of the leading contenders for Obama's national security team end up in his administration. This would give him a core foreign policy team of Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton, Janet Napolitano, Jim Jones, and Robert Gates. That is, overall, a center-right foreign policy team lacking any clear progressives (at least, foreign policy and national security progressives). All of them, with the possible exception of Jones, supported the Iraq war from the outset. At least two of them, Gates and Napolitano, opposed withdrawing troops as recently as 2007 (although the new agreement with Iraq has rendered that debate moot). Also, two members of this group, Gates and Jones, supported McCain. This team would oversee roughly 60% of discretionary federal budget spending, military operations, and all diplomatic relations.
....
It is just so very frustrating. It seems like the only place progressives are making any gains is in the House. We are being entirely left out of Obama's major appointments so far. I guess everyone gets to play in Obama's administration, except progressives.
I told all the screamers who said Obama was a socialist that he was a right-leaning centrist, but they didn't believe me. Perhaps, they will now. I feel frustrated, too.
well.... sigh. given his record on Iraq, and that the final decisions will be his, may he is our only hope of a progressive in this, his own cabinet....
ReplyDeleteSee, I told you I was to Obama's left.
ReplyDeleteMargaret, he was right about Iraq, but he is not truly progressive, IMHO. He will do many things better than Bush (that should not be difficult), but I'm sure I will disagree with some of his policies.
ReplyDeleteCounterlight, I told you I was, too.
Mimi, folks clearly need to pay more attention to you.
ReplyDeleteOf course, it is early days yet. I know he won't be as progressive as I would like but at least the nation can begin to move in a better direction and that in itself is, given our recent history, a huge thing.
Paul, I'm still thrilled that Obama was elected. I'm quite sure he will steer the country in a better direction (how could he not?), but I know I won't agree with all of his policies. I knew that from the beginning. If he is more progressive than I think, I hope he is strong enough to stand his ground in the midst of this group of powerful and strong-willed people.
ReplyDeleteI'm still thrilled that Barack was elected, too, grandmere. However, as I cautioned at my blog, "the more things change", etc. It's the Chicago political machine at its best.
ReplyDeleteI also think I predicted the "new province" before the turn of the year on your blog a while ago. They're scheduled for early December now. Do I get your assured "mention" for that, or do we have to wait for the first week of December to make it official?
(Nasty of me, I know. But since when was that not the case?)
:)
Scott, you did predict the new province. I remember. But where? I'd quote your words if I could find them.
ReplyDeleteI think he's a pragmatist. whatever that means.
ReplyDeleteLOL. Doesn't matter, grandmere. It was somewhere at your blog. Don't bother. I don't need the recognition. Honest. As a matter of fact, you can delete this and my last comment, if you wish.
ReplyDeleteBest...
Diane, I believe that pragmatist is good, I think, just so he doesn't make too many compromises just to get something done.
ReplyDeleteScott, somewhere on my blog! Do you know that I have 1,745 posts? That shocked even me.
grandmere,
ReplyDeleteI know. I shock myself sometimes in that regard.
ROFL
Is not so bad, Socialism. As long as they're not National Socialists!
ReplyDeleteMimi,
Since you always worry about me and sometimes go over to read what I've written, know that that is just expressing anger and frustration. There is no need to get concerned.
The garnishment went through, and the accusations of Obama-the-Socialist strike me more as virtues than drawbacks, at this point.
Mark, I went, and I read, and I left a few words. I see where you're coming from with the socialism.
ReplyDeleteI am just happy that we have an intelligent President-Elect. Such a change from the present one.
ReplyDeleteBTW, speaking of intelligence, did you hear about Palin pardoning a turkey at a turkey processing plant and talking to the press in front of an actual turkey being 'processed'? What a totally unaware person she is... Might I call her a Turkey?
Susan, I saw the video on Rachel Maddow's show. The actual slaughtering of the turkeys in the background was blurred out. Now Sarah says that she didn't know what was happening behind her, as she talked to the press. A turkey, indeed!
ReplyDeleteAfter 8 years of reckless and corrupt leadership, I'll be very happy with a responsible and competent President.
ReplyDeleteAnd so will I.
ReplyDeleteI'm simply NOT READY to feel sold-out yet.
ReplyDelete(Not until at least 1/21/09! ;-p)
The difference between a Democrat and a Republican, is NOT that the former never make mistakes . . . it's that they learn from those mistakes.
Democrats are not, and NEVER have been, so wedded to an ideology, that they can't synthesize new information, and deal w/ it.
I, for one, think Hillary will make a GREAT SecState. [And I say that as one who's never been a fan of hers]
Let's just see what happens?
JCF, no, no, no! I'm not feeling sold out. He's not the Messiah, and he will make mistakes. I'm trying to keep a sense of perspective, and it's not easy. He's quite good.
ReplyDelete