The Chores Of The Presidency
Juan Williams, quoted in the WSJ, feels the Obama administration isn't quite up to the task:
I think the problem here is this is an administration that, as Hillary Clinton famously pointed out, you may not want to have answer the 3:00 a.m. call. These are guys who have tremendous vision about legislative achievements and specific things like health care, going forward on immigration, those difficult issues. . . . But when it comes to the crisis, when it comes to the gulf oil spill, the wars, the recession, they feel as if it's being imposed upon them, rather than taking the helm. That's what Americans are sensing right here. . . . Are you able to handle a crisis in a convincing way that inspires confidence? And so far, the president hasn't done that.
"Tremendous vision"? Yes, for spotting a cause they think they can solve with other people's money. For spotting a vote they can buy.
Radwaste at June 14, 2010 2:00 AM
I wouldn't call passing a 2 thousand page (unread before passage) bill that attempts to provide health coverage to 10% of the population by creating 50+ new federal bureaucracies whose implementation of this law's provisions will, in a few years, ration everyone's health care to the same institutional mediocrity at an increase in cost, as "tremendous vision". But that's just me.
cpabroker at June 14, 2010 6:26 AM
This is an ironic comment coming from Hilary who's husband suffered from the same condition as Obama. They are both academics suited for thinking, but not for doing. And unfortunately, their thinking is the ivory tower kind of socialism in which academics are steeped.
Clinton presided over one of the calmest and most prosperous periods in the history of the country, and he still managed to get impeached. I shudder to think what would have happened had he faced the same kind of problems that Obama is facing. Obama already has us shuddering.
AllenS at June 14, 2010 6:36 AM
I'm not a Dem but I would much rather have Hillary Clinton in the whitehouse than Obama.
She had way more experience and a more reality based vision.
David M. at June 14, 2010 6:37 AM
Amy Alkon
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2010/06/14/the_chores_of_t.html#comment-1723624">comment from David M.Agree with you, David M.
Amy Alkon at June 14, 2010 6:45 AM
For God's sake, NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOooooooooooooooooooo..........
Crid [cridcomment at gmail] at June 14, 2010 8:27 AM
Amy Alkon
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2010/06/14/the_chores_of_t.html#comment-1723649">comment from Crid [cridcomment at gmail]Not saying I LIKE Hillary, please note.
Amy Alkon at June 14, 2010 8:51 AM
This doesn't seem right. Bill Clinton was a two-term governor, and i don't think he was an academic prior to that. His policies were of the new-Democrat type that favored more market-based thinking. I'd say you're correct about Obama's team being more academically oriented, but not so much Clinton's.
Christopher at June 14, 2010 9:17 AM
Do we really want her oft-implicated but never indicted brother living in the White House basement again?
Crid [cridcomment at gmail] at June 14, 2010 9:23 AM
Amy Alkon
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2010/06/14/the_chores_of_t.html#comment-1723664">comment from Crid [cridcomment at gmail]We don't actually want Hillary, Obama, Bush, Kerry, McCain in the White House.
I'd vote for Jeff Flake, though.
http://flake.house.gov/
Amy Alkon at June 14, 2010 9:32 AM
Flake seems like a decent guy, and I like his fiscal discipline and his support of individual liberty and personal privacy. I could support him. Of course, there is no chance that someone with his consistency on policies could make it through the nomination process intact.
Christopher at June 14, 2010 9:45 AM
I think I'd vote for Chris Christie of New Jersey right now. He has several good clips on youtube- one where he embarrasses a reporter.
David M. at June 14, 2010 9:48 AM
This is an ironic comment coming from Hilary who's husband suffered from the same condition as Obama. They are both academics suited for thinking, but not for doing. And unfortunately, their thinking is the ivory tower kind of socialism in which academics are steeped.
Posted by: Christopher at June 14, 2010 9:17 AM
-----------------------------------------Christopher I like your thinking.
Here is a quote that I think applies to some of our higbrow politicians and academics.
"A highbrow is a person educated beyond his intelligence." James Brander Matthews
David M. at June 14, 2010 9:52 AM
I call Williams NPR's token conservative; a friend says he's Fox's token liberal.
te at June 14, 2010 10:49 PM
"This doesn't seem right. Bill Clinton was a two-term governor, and i don't think he was an academic prior to that."
Let's not forget that Clinton was a Rhodes Scholar, but yes, Obama is much more the academic.
AllenS at June 15, 2010 6:07 AM
Bill Clinton lectured at the University of Arkansas Law School.
Barack Obama lectured at the University of Chicago Law School.
Conan the Grammarian at June 17, 2010 1:02 AM
It really is worrying me what is happening in the gulf at the moment. The oil could continue to leak for another couple of years if attempts to stop the leak continue to be unsuccessful I know we need oil for fertilisers, fuels plastics etc but i worry that we will see more and more disasters in the future like this one. Personally I tihnk it's all too easy to pick BP as a scapegoat (regardess of any mistakes they made). Just like all other areas which involve human falacy mistakes happen, they are almost inevitable. The problem with deep water drilling is that the consequences are so high.
Mauricio Leonello at June 19, 2010 1:06 PM
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