Better Questions, Please

Well Joe you if very hard for you colleagues to let the drama go. Having said that why were there so few reporters present who are national security or foreign policy specialists? Couldn’t be because of the bean counters could it?

Two questions on nukes:
Will you get on the stick with Russia and try to get START renewed?
Will you press the Senate to ratify the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty?

I agree with Joe here, and was equally irritated by the reporters this morning, who, like Ed (the chipmunk) Henry the other day, seemed to focus on “gotcha” questions…

I think Obama handled these stupid questions well, and sooner or later expect that he will be less accommodating to these approaches, and call them what they are…questions designed to get a headline on the reporters sites or papers.

There are too many important issues out there for the WH reporters to engage in this kind of juvenile behavior!

Thanks Joe!

Joe Klein
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The questions today were all “gotcha” type questions but such is the nature of our MSM now. Funny thing is if a blogger like say Greenwald or Yglesias were there they probably WOULD have asked some of the questions you posited. As it was the press only wanted to know how Obama feels about Clinton after the way he dismissed her foreign policy experience during the primary or if Obama will still get the troops out in 16 months since he picked people for his cabinet who said he was naive for claiming he would do so. Oh by the way I have been asking this question for the last 2 weeks but to no avail….
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When was the last time, if ever, that the media asked a President Elect if the people in his cabinet would actually follow his orders? And if there isn’t a historical precedent for it I would LOVE to know why you think it is happening now.

My fantasy president would look at the reporter that asked him that question like he was an idiot, then say, “Shut the f–k up! Next question!”
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As for my questions, here are some:
I just recently found out that the cumulative bailout cost is in the trillions, and is more than the adjusted costs of the Marshall Plan, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and NASA combined.
(1) How is this feasible given our current economic condition?
(2) Will there be conditions attached to the bailouts, so that I as a taxpayer will see some sort of return on this outright theft?
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What are your thoughts on the man who was trampled to death on Black Friday?
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Do you agree that Mexico is a failed state, or is close to it? What are your plans for handling it? Is it foolish to concentrate so much on the Middle East when one of our bordering nations is sinking into anarchy?

Watch out Joe. You’re running the risk of turning into a dirty hippie.
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I’d ask questions about the two reports from the Defense Business Board and the collection of Pentagon analysts about the bloated defense budget, about weapons systems that don’t work, and about weapons systems that have no mission but continue to be produced.
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I’d also ask about closing bases in Japan and Germany, and question the reason for their existence.
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Oh, and I’d ask exactly why the US needs to spend half as much as the rest of the world on defense.

You can’t be surprised about a press that is so easily rolled over by news stories like this:

The Campaign Finance Institute (CFI) study asserting that Barack Obama actually raised most of his campaign money from “larger” not “small” donors has gained wide, often approving, coverage in recent days, from, among others, USA Today, The New York Times and Los Angeles Times, and countless other web sites. Almost inevitably such accounts have held a headline referring to the “myth” of Obama riding a wave of small donations to victory. The study’s author himself uses it.
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The “myth” [charge] is actually in the spinning of the report, including by its author, Michael Malbin, a former speechwriter for Dick Cheney, when he was Pentagon chief, and a resident fellow at The American Enterprise Institute from 1977 to 1986.
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As usual in these cases, it’s not that the numbers are wrong, it’s the analysis and how the interpretation is being played by the media. Because, buried in the report, are all the figures and arguments for showing that the CFI’s “myth” is actually a myth…
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by CFI’s definition, if you gave Obama $100 in 2007, then $100 when he kept battling Clinton in the spring of 2008, and then another $100 in September 2008, you were not a “small” donor.
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…Even putting aside all this, the report relates, deep within, that Obama, in fact, received donations under $200 from a staggering 2.5 million people — completely unprecedented. A closer look at the actual figures show that Obama got over $115 million from these donors — while the other three ever got only in the range of $40 to $50 million. The study also notes that Obama’s 2.5 million donors equaled the combined number of such donors for all candidates in 2004. Yet the media is now being accused of pushing the “myth” that there was something extraordinary about Obama’s relation to small donors. Even accepting the report’s definition, Obama received twice as much “small funding” as did Hillary Clinton.

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The small donor is a game changer in a lot of ways. It’s not surprising that a former AEI-er is desperate to discredit it as a story.

Yes, Joe, what’s with your colleagues lately? They seem to be more interested in the supposed frictions between Barack and Hillary or Hillary and Bill than the friction between India and Pakistan.
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Obama was astute and remarkably prescient to have said that the relationship between India and Pakistan is key to resolving the Iraq-Iran-Afghanistan-Pakistan debacle. Reporters had an excellent opportunity today to follow up. They let us down.

Oh as for my question its a two parter
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President Elect Obama will you commit to asking your new AG Holder to initiating an investigation into the Bush White House with respect to torture? And if not can you tell us how the nation is better served by NOT knowing what led to our Country participating in torture which, it has been said by a former interrogator of Iraqi detainees among others, put our men and women in our military in greater peril and was also done in contravention of the Geneva Conventions?

I think you put your finger on the problem: These were political reporters. All they know is politics, so they view every story in political terms. Their interest in policy is minimal — they just want to know who wins and who loses and what bloc of voters is being pandered to. The blame rests not with the people asking the questions, but with the editors who send them there.

Obama has done an excellent job switching gears from campaigning to governing. The nation’s media has not.

You’re just noticing this?! Sheesh.

Joe,

Only now you’re noticing this?

Cliff-
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NASA’s budget is a measly $16 billion a year, and not all of that gets spent on space exploration. Compare that with the defense department’s budget of $550 billion a year. In fact, the defense department spends more money on space than NASA does. You should probably take NASA off that list, since pretty much every other government agency outspends NASA.
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Joe-
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Ditto. When are the “WH” liasons for the news networks going to get the ax for asking stupid questions? Can it be soon? Please?

That was supposed to be WH “liaisons”.

Well Joe I guess it’s time for the perennial Newseum panel to discuss the situation. If only your colleagues would take notes so that we didn’t have to go through this after every election. Frankly, you would think that members of a shrinking industry in a shrinking economy would figure out a way to be even more relevant than usual. And here I thought that with the rise of Obama the era of incompetence would be over.

Jackalasses

I’d like to know as soon as he enters office 1) what country or region Obama plans to address first 2) what leader he plans to meet or sit down with first and 3) where he’s going to send Hillary first.

In other words, is he going to prioritize the problem spots or the allies? Is he going to meet with neighbors or get to the Middle East right away? Or Russia? Or Pakistan? What is the more urgent focus?

nathan777 – the list I read says: “NASA: Cost: $416.7 billion, Inflation Adjusted Cost: $851.2 billion”
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Whether this means the total running costs of NASA, or just getting it established, I don’t know.
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This also assumes a total bailout cost of $4.6165 trillion.
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Also, on the comparison of the the DOD budget to the NASA budget: Thank you, Captain Obvious.

puhleeze Joe the “Journalist”

Ur just now realizing the fluffy softballs you people throw at your chosen one?

you make me laugh (at you) joe!!

–dp

Reminds me of the inanity of reporters commenting on how “strong” Bush looked in his flightsuit on the deck of the aircraft carrier.
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Oh, wait…

I loved Obama’s answer on Iraq. He still thinks 16 months is a good time line, but he is open to the suggestions of the people who want to stay there forever. He really is a centrist now, someone unburdened with the weight of consistency, especially where principles are concerned.

…Anyone who has argued in this thread that it’s inconceivable for anyone to address a problem more than once, like dumasphilip among others, is an idiot.

[...] Filed under: Media, Politics — Tags: journalism, Media — Jon @ 6:19 pm Joe Klein laments the quality of questions at Barack Obama’s presser today: Watching the Obama rollout of his national security team [...]

I don’t know, you guys.
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Look at it this way:
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The price of gas is down to $1.85, the Dow has rewound to 8800, the Iraq war is coming to a close, and the Dark Forces are leaving with the sunrise.
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Didn’t you all know that this was all just a bad hangover from a really, really bad party and that it’s all over now?
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The spiders took the absinth, too.
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The last eight years were just a really bad alcohal-induced fever-dream and we can all wake up, drink some tomato juice, and look outside the broken windows to see what damage the guests did.
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It really is December 1, 1999. Or, at least, it should be…

This is always going to be a game of “get the guy.” I think the press corps has had more access to the president elect since the election than they’ve had with Bush over the last three years, but I may be exaggerating.
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Let’s face that the current crop of journalists are less concerned about their collective intellectual curiousity, then they are about their TV Q scores and the infotainment (what passes for journalism in the 21st century) value of the sound bite.
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To wit: How many times can the Obama vs Hillary meme can be repeated by the network and cable flacks?
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No one should be surprised. Match this babble with what passed for policy related questions at the presidential debates. Gibson/Stephanopluos come to mind.

Watch out, Joe. You are qualifyting for membership into the DFH League. Your colleagues, eg Norah O’D and Mike Barnicle were following up the gotcha types at the presser on her show this p.m. They can’t help themselves. They have decided that “We the Village idiots are going to behave like Village idiots : we are into gotchas”. At MOURNING -not Morning Joe – Mika brought her father on to do a little put down job on HRC. They can’t help themselves. Your colleague Richard Wolfe of Newsweek: no better. Poor old Ed Henry of CNN did a three’fer the other day which pissed off the Pres -elect. His response was laden with contempt. No Bin laden, just laden.

Joe, the Clintons drive them mad. Strangely Tweety was very circumspect. Does this mean he has an eye on a Senate seat????????

I’m with you Joe. I didn’t used to crack negative on the MSM but now the shallow and often PoliTainment Tonight style of the questions is becoming frustrating to downright infuriating.

My question: How will you pursue a better course with Iran to keep it from worsening our relations with Russia?

Moderators:
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Please note my disdain for the crappy basic text style of this board. It used to be good.
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Perhaps Obama’s move to select Senator Clinton was a genius move to distract the press. He must know they just can’t keep their eyes off that shiny object. Kinda like it’s fun to watch the right-wingers spend weeks and weeks working themselves up over the idiotic story about Obama being born in Kenya secretly! Genius–gives the crazy wingers busy work to keep them out of the way while Obama gets stuff done…

I agree the questions were terrible. It was all gossipy stuff and nothing else.
Here is the president elect rolling out his national security team a few days after the terror in India and they want gossip. Joe, I feel bad for your profession. It’s definitely going downhill fast.

bethnva, I gotta say I love your post because it’s true. The shiny object will keep both the crazy rightwingers busy and the press as well.
two stones.

Well, since this is a national security and foreign policy team, I would suggest relevant questions regarding what the team would do. I would ask Obama to summarize his view of the past 60 years of foreign policy, what he thinks may be deficient or positive about it, and how this team will try to deliver something different (remember “Change”?), or just ride the same worn pony. I would ask if Russia couldn’t be a closer ally in the war on Islamic terrorism, since that country is up to its eyeballs in it, and we helped advance the terrorists cause in their fight against Russia in Afghanistan. Campaign issues between Obama and Clinton here, now? I agree with Joe.

Did the reporter expect Obama to say, “Well, I still believe her resume is overblown, that’s why I appointed her…oh, and by the way, she still thinks it’s dumb to talk to the Iranians without preconditions.”
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She didn’t say that! I challenge anyone to find a substantive difference between what Obama said in the GE about meeting Iranian leaders and what HRC has said: Both agreed that meetings between diplomats should occur without preconditions, but that careful preparation was necessary before any Presidential meeting. Obama briefly – in a debate – said he thought Presidential meetings without preconditions was a good idea, but he quickly backtracked. And Clinton was never opposed to meetings between lower-level US officials and Iranian officials without preconditions. It’s a relatively unimportant error, but in a post about bad journalism a simple error seems inappropriate. The questions sound good though.

Another relevant question. Obama’s take on Medvedev’s tour through Latin America.

Derek says:
He still thinks 16 months is a good time line, but he is open to the suggestions of the people who want to stay there forever. He really is a centrist now,
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Gee Derek have you ever listened to Obama’s speeches ever??? He’s always said he’d be careful getting out, wanted to be out in 16 months but, would also listen to the generals regarding conditions on the ground…
I think you can find q-tips at the corner drug store.

How about:

In your judgment, should Bush and Cheney be on trial for war crimes, and if not, why not?

What steps will you take to reverse the erosion of civil liberties in this country?

You have spoken about open government, and have taken some steps towards greater transparency. How will you develop your approach, and how will you make it binding for future administrations?

Are you prepared to use the nuclear option if Republicans seek to filibuster important legislation?

basil, great questions. Also, do you believe that Iraq will sink into a sectarian, theocracy after withdrawal. How long will that take?

“Gee Derek have you ever listened to Obama’s speeches ever??? He’s always said he’d be careful getting out, wanted to be out in 16 months but, would also listen to the generals regarding conditions on the ground…”

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Do you have a cite for that. I just checked his website and did a Goggle search and I could not find anything saying there was wiggle room on the 16 month time line. I did find references to him stipulating that a small residual force would be left behind, but that is all.
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Thanks

Derek, I haven’t tried to find a citation, but I distinctly remember Obama tempering his withdrawal statements by saying that he would call his military staff together and tell them to prepare a plan. That implies many possibilities for a withdrawal from the idiot war scenario.

formerlyjames the cites I found, including his website, stated very clearly that his time line was already based on advice from military leaders. The PM of Iraq also agreed to the 16 months and so did John McCain.

Derek, I defer to your cites. This is not an argument I want to get into. I personally would have told the military commanders to prepare for withdrawal yesterday. Plan a reasonable turnover of equipment to Iraq, and go. Same with Guantanemo. The arguments about these things can reach absurd proportions. There are 200 prisoners who stand as a symbol of the deneggration of the Constitution. That is a drop of water in the sea of the Islamic terrorist movement. It is so imperative that these prisoners be held, when their very detention and torture is questionable? Give me a break. I bow out of this discussion. Thanks, Derek.

We demand that our President-to-be is competent, articulate and caring. We expect the press to ask intelligent, focused and relevant questions. What do we ask of ourselves as commenters and commentators? Should we not make sure that our comments and suggestions are thoughtful, responsible and civil?

The opposite side of the coin to mature leaders is mature citizens. In between are mature “pressers” as Joe Klein calls his kind.

I challenge my fellow commenters, commentators and bloggers to write well reasoned, non-inflammatory, non-mudslinging messages to our leaders and pressers.

How else do we expect them to respect us and listen to us?

Jane Iddings, Blogger, GrowUpNow.info and BarackObamaRealMaturity.com

My question finally emerged in my own head. I’d ask:

“You say you believe in strong personalities, and airing of contrary opinion, but there is very little scope of disagreement among your national security appointees. They are all what I would call Foreign Affairs realists. There are no isolationists, no neo-cons, more pointedly, nobody who disagrees with the central exceptionalism that underlies American foreign policy in the post war era. Who will provide the voice in opposition to America on a permanent war footing, with bases all around the world?”

There is about as much diversity in Obama’s cabinet as there is on CNN. It’s hilarious to watch CNN roll out one Clinton retread after another to ask them why progressives are upset with Obama’s choices. You would think they might pose the question to an actual liberal. David Gergen is the first one I’ve seen who said progressives have every right to be upset.

My question to Obama would be why do you think Republicans are so happy with your cabinet, while the Left isn’t?

Derek, I couldn’t agree more. Indeed, why are the fascists so happy with this? But I have no answer for what would make the left happy. Washington has people who don’t hone to the foreign policy line? Seriously, I am at a loss as to who they may be. I believe our foreign policy sucks. I believe our intelligence agencies suck. But I can offer no alternative, because that is the way it has been, and maybe will forever be?

formerlyjames I don’t really give a sh@t any longer. Obama has made it clear, no liberals welcome. He fooled me once, it won’t happen again.

Derek, I understand. I am not there yet. I’ll give it a little more time.

formerlyjames, some excerpts from Merriam-Webster’s definition of fascism: “stands for a centralized autocratic government” and “severe economic and social regimentation”.

I don’t think this applies to either of our current major political parties but I’ll let you guess which party is closest to wanting more power centralized with greater control over the economy and society (it’s not the Republicans)!

andjp, in my opinion, the Republican Party is fascist. And I will accept part of your definition. Certainly, “…social regimentation” applies. Unfortunately, the “severe economic…regimentation” does not apply, as we are so severely aware now with the economic colapse.
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So, andjp, this discussion can go long and hard. When people ask me what my political affiliation is, I respond, “Anti-Republican”. I detest the party and its followers. I apoligize for detesting you as a member of that fascist organization. Go pray to your jesus.

Don’t assume I’m republican or religious because I detest when people use words they don’t understand. The original fascist started out as socialists and while I’ll agree that our country has moved left (toward socialism) over the last 50 years, democrats are occupying idealogical space that would have been considered out-right socialism 50 years ago.

I would also argue that buying huge pieces of companies with (borrowed) tax dollars (this goes for republicans and democrats) is extremely socialist and goes against everything this country was founded on (free-will and capitalism). Let the companies fail, the homeowners default, etc.; if there are no consequences there can be no freedom because everyone knows the government will eventually bail them out of their poor decision making.

We may agree that the country is headed down the wrong road, but unfortunately, we don’t agree on the reasons.

Not to be unkind, but could we hold off on the cries of betrayal until we have time to see what Obama does with the team he has? Let’s see some action, before we start deciding that he rejects liberals. Give him at least a year, and see what he does, and then judge.

andjp using the government as an instrument of monetary policy at certain critical points in the business life cycle is not socialism. Socialism is when the government owns all the means of production, permanently. If the government steps in temporarily, and then steps out, due to sunset clauses, that is liberalism, or Keynesian economics.

andjp, sorry for my presumption that you are Republican or religious. I agree that the country has been down the wrong path, and I am not sure about the future path. As for the economy, I really don’t know. I have lost a lot of money and hope for the best for the future. Call the bailout socialism if you want, but I really don’t know. I will hope somebody does, and I don’t give a damn if they are socialist or right wing.

formerlyjames: “I will hope somebody does, and I don’t give a damn if they are socialist or right wing.” Agreed.

andjp, ok, good time to say good night. Thanks.

[...] the Swampland blog, Time’s Joe Klein is beating the press for asking "inane" questions that suggest that [...]

CNN’s Campbell Brown on her Monday night show more or less chastised Obama for not answering those insightful questions you challenged, Joe. Seems she has a different take… that Obama was dodging the press and belittling the reporter. As a journalist, I saw it as a fishing expedition. Brown has a bully pulpit. I don’t. Glad to read your comments. That’s why I subscribe to Time.

Joe Klein, in proferring a “question”, asserts: “With [Biden's] foreign policy experience, will he be given specific overseas assignments–if so, have you settled on any yet?” “[Biden's] foreign policy experience”? Other than being wrong on every issue critical to the United States for the last 35 years, what exactly is the hair-plugged plagiarist and buffoon’s “foreign policy experience”? He was on the wrong side of the Cold War and every issue related to the Cold War. He was on the wrong side of the Iranian revolution. He was on the wrong side of of Saddam Hussein’s invasion of Kuwait and America’s liberation of Kuwait. He was on the wrong side of America’s liberation of Iraq and every issue related to America’s liberation of Iraq. He was on the wrong side of ….

[...] the Swampland blog, Time’s Joe Klein is beating the press for asking "inane" questions that suggest that [...]

Thank you Joe, the questions asked at the press meetings have been talking points on cable shows. I have been waiting to see if the reporters stop acting like sheep and come up with some interesting questions.
If the reason we have these questions is because they are political reporters then it is time to change to reporters that have knowledge on everything that is happening to our country.
Some questions that could have been asked if Hilary was not the only focus
Do you plan any changes in Homeland Security?
What will be your top priority for changes at Justice?
How important will the United Nations be in your Foreign relations plan?

Mr. President-Elect, do you expect Eric Holder to carry your water the way he did Bill Clinton’s or do you think he’ll completely change character and challenge you when you decide to pardon Tony Rezko or put your wife in charge of whatever?

The Constant Weader at http://www.RealityChex.com

“Let’s see some action, before we start deciding that he rejects liberals. Give him at least a year, and see what he does, and then judge.”
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Basilbrush:
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I would venture to say that Obama’s economic plan is already decidedly liberal and that liberals can’t have everything. He’s broken with the trickle downers and is talking stimulus AND tax cuts for the middle class as well as raising taxes on the top few percentiles to pay for fixing the mess.
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On top of that, he’s pulling some of FDR’s rabbits out of his own hat, so how un-liberal can he really be.
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If he does the things he’s repeated over and over again, why would any self-respecting liberal have a beef?
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I think this is just another manufactured conflict. Like the potential Hillary vs. Obama “conflict” that is supposed to happen now that he has picked her as Secratary of State.

53_3, I agree that the economic plan looks liberal (and sane, which is a nice change!), and I suspect that President Obama will prove to be a master at sounding moderate and even conservative while getting liberal stuff done. That said, I don’t think Obama is or claims to be a doctrinaire liberal – certainly his books suggest a pragmatist with clear liberal leanings, rather than an radical ideologue of any sort. I would predict that you’ll see some real change, but not so much in the way of big slogans or open liberal crusading. In any case, I can’t see how anyone can coherently talk about betrayal before his administration has taken office or enacted any legislation.

Liberals are not radical ideologues. Obama has created this problem by not appointing any liberals to his cabinet, which he will pay for in the next election.

Basil, I agree that he’s not a doctrinal liberal either.
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He’s going to take the best from everyone, and right now, it looks like the times call for drawing from the liberal playbook for some of his upcoming work.
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It’s possible Derek might be right, but if he emplaces some liberal policies, like he has clearly stated, I think liberals will be happy even if he doesn’t appoint them to high places.
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I’m sure that eventually though, the liberal wing will have to get better representation.

Derek, you can have radical ideologues who are liberal, conservative or libertarian. It’s a measure of commitment, not a specific viewpoint. And don’t start being silly about the next election until we see what happens in the Obama administration. If Obama turns the economy around, sorts out Guantanamo and gets things done in healthcare and alternative energy, I don’t care if he hires Tom Delay to sing Dixie on the White House front lawn accompanied by the corpse of Jesse Helms in a coffin.

“…accompanied by the corpse of Jesse Helms in a coffin.”
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Now that would really stink. Not to mention the flies…

Obama beat the centrist Clinton and the conservative McCain. He then filled his cabinet with centrists and conservatives and no liberals, the people who put him in power. He has made a huge error and isn’t as smart as I thought he was.

I’m sorry I missed the discussion last night between formerlyjames and andjp. I don’t think the issue is government action vs. no gov’t action. Friedman had the view that monetary policy was appropriate government action – increase the money supply to the banks, they will lend and business will grow and jobs/incomes will grow. He blamed the great depression on the fact that the Gov’t didn’t do so in a timely manner. In fact, there wasn’t so much a liquidity crisis as a lack of solid investment opportunities. So, now as in the 30′s, banks and companies are hoarding cash. What Friedman failed to take into account is that sometimes, government needs to increase the money supply by investing in the economy – in real products/jobs, etc. This is a terrific article by Paul Krugman that explains this much better than I can: http://www.nybooks.com/articles/19857

Derek, congratulations on reducing the complexities of the last two years down to some remarkably simple and misleading claims. Clinton and Obama were very close in a lot of policy areas in the primary, so to mark one centrist versus a supposed liberal is simply plain dumb. McCain ran as an unconventional, even maverick Republican, rather than a straight conservative, although Palin undid most of his work in that regard. As for your persistent nonsense about how Obama will pay the price in four years time, I wish you would stop babbling about matters that you cannot predict, and realize that OBAMA HAS NOT YET TAKEN OFFICE. As for your “huge error” claim, most people seem to like his picks just fine, so you might want to recalibrate for reality next time you play political analyst.

Derek, congratulations on reducing the complexities of the last two years down to some remarkably simple and misleading claims. Clinton and Obama were very close in a lot of policy areas in the primary, so to mark one centrist versus a supposed liberal is simply plain dumb. McCain ran as an unconventional, even maverick Republican, rather than a straight conservative, although Palin undid most of his work in that regard. As for your persistent nonsense about how Obama will pay the price in four years time, I wish you would stop babbling about matters that you cannot predict, and realize that OBAMA HAS NOT YET TAKEN OFFICE. As for your “huge error” claim, most people seem to like his picks just fine, so you might want to recalibrate for reality next time you play political analyst.

juniusredivivus if it is all right with you I’ll go on expressing my opinion without seeking any authorization from you first. Obama could have had at least one Liberal in the cabinet. The message is loud and clear, no liberals are welcome, other than at election time. My guess is Liberals will break off from the Democratic Party and try and find a home where they are welcome, and are treated as equals.

Dear Derek,

You’re crazy.

The end.

Some of you guys are turning out to be good buddies with the Right. You are basically reduced to personal insults.

Derek, define liberal, explain why none of the picks so far fit. And yes, your ranting about a hypothetical election in four years time is simply an embarrassment to people who value serious discussion.

Sorry I don’t have any time for people who think insult is a form of argument.
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Why don’t you define what a centrist is?

It seem that Derek has conceded his inability to answer the question. Not quite surprise of the week, I fear.

Sorry…HIllary Clinton IS NOT A CENTRIST. She is considered one of the most liberal senators in the senate. What is this BS?

Plus…the press wants to find “things” where there is nothing to find. It is obvious that a profound respect has grown between Clinton and Obama. There is plenty of reason for those two to respect each other and I don’t believe President Elect Obama is easily impressed and I think HRC has impressed him.

American journalists, understand that this is not the time to be cynical and question what is behind Mr. Obama’s choices and moves. It is obvious for those who live outside the US that he is doing what he is doing for the good of the country not for his political future. I’m naive? Ponder this: achieving the good of the country will pave the road to his political future, get it? His mandate is enormous. It is not only in the US it is worldwide. So get over it…NOW. And for once, just this once do your jobs responsibly. You owe it to the people.

“It seem that Derek has conceded his inability to answer the question. ”
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Why don’t you try Goggle if you don’t know what a Liberal is.

Derek, I find that Google works better. And in any case, the question here is whether you can define liberal and explain why eg. HRC is disqualified, or Bill Richardson or the other picks announced so far. Given how you try and wriggle away from answering a straightforward question, I suspect that you know you’ve said something dumb and are just trying to run away from your embarrassment. Of course, you might just be a not very gifted false flag Republican troll.

Why do idi@ts like you always roll out the republican troll line? I’m not going to waste my time educating a m@ron when it is very easy to type the word liberal into Goggle and read what it says.

Derek, grow a pair, grow up, and learn to spell G-O-O-G-L-E. It really does have two Os. Maybe you should try the experience? And you are a Republican troll because you produce imbecilic babble about liberals, can’t offer a shred of an argument, and then start crying for mommy when people call you on it.

F@ck off assh@le.

Junius, you’ve driven Derek into abusing himself. That’s strangely impressive.

Why don’t you two dickheads get a room?

Basil, I think it’s pretty obvious to the adults in the room that Derek’s career of self-abuse began long long ago, in a galaxy far away….

The only thing that is obvious is you are too lazy, or too st@pid, to do your own research.

Junius, it seems that the troll is getting grumpy. And it keeps talking to itself. Still, I suppose it now knows that it is lazy and needs to do some research. Anything could happen – it might even figure out the wonders of Google!

Basil, we can only hope the poor little thing sees the light in the end. I suggest we leave the creature to its unhappy ravings, and pray that it achieves a measure of dignty.

Go back to the Free Republic and hang out with your own kind m@rons. The people who throw the troll line around freely are the real trolls. Your grammar gives you away.

Junius, I think it’s clear that dignity and Derek have never met. I agree that we can’t help the unhappy creature however. Maybe a good child psychologist could achieve something.

Excellent point Joe, but buried in the banality of those questions I see an overlooked nugget of considerable substance, which applies universally to any politician of any party. The point of raising the nasty things Obama and Clinton said about each other during the primaries might just have been to ask, which I think the reporter in question was doing, and as I would in essence ask of any politician given the opportunity:

Mr. President-elect, during the campaign you disparaged Sen. Clinton’s foreign policy experience while now you are praising her capabilities for the primary foreign policy role in your administration- were you a) inaccurate in your remarks during the campaign or b) are you inaccurate in your remarks now or c) has something substantially changed between then and now and if so could you please elaborate on what has changed? And by the way, Mr. President elect, I don’t see it as “having fun”, I see it as “holding politicians accountable” to the American people for apparently saying or doing what is politically expedient at one time and then saying or doing something completely contrary at another time, while dismissing the difference as “things said in the heat of a campaign” as if every speech and talking point in a campaign is not carefully crafted.

[...] Better Questions, Please Watching the Obama rollout of his national security team from overseas–I’m in Europe, on my way to [...] [...]

To all those who were out there getting a bit too upset…one of the many definitions of liberals found in google:

Liberalism refers to a broad array of related ideas and theories of government that consider individual liberty to be the most important political goal. Liberalism has its roots in the Middle Ages and Age of Enlightenment.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LiberaL

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[...] Better Questions, Please Watching the Obama rollout of his national security team from overseas–I’m in Europe, on my way to [...] [...]