Barack Obama campaigned on a promise to change the partisan tone in Washington. So why did he pick a take-no-prisoners partisan; Rhambo Emanuel, for his chief of staff? This guy makes HR Halderman look tame.

I also think it ironic that he picks Emanuel , a former Freddie Mac board member , to be in his staff. In short order at Freddie, Emanuel pocketted a cool $231,655 in director's fees his last year there .He then moved on to another investment bank where he "earned " $18 million in 2 years . Emanuel now blames Wall Street "greed" and the "anything goes," "right-wing" free-market ideology of Republicans for the financial crisis.lol In that he echos the other Democrat crooks like Chris Dodd and Barney Frank.

From all early indicators Obama is loading up his administration with former Clintonoids ,Daley machine goons ,and corrupt Wall Streeters . More of that change stuff I guess.

Side note :Rhambo's brother Ari Emanuel is the Hollywierd agent of Michael Moore.

Change is what was promised, and that is what we will get.

I sure hope everyone is ready for the "Change" we will be confronted with.

But since, OB has already shown himself to be a liar, could the Change promise be a lie also?

Hello tom:

The people who Obama hires to pull the levers of power ARE people EXPERIENCED in doing that exact thing. Should he hire neophytes? Didn't you guys yell about IN-experience??

But, Obama, unlike the Republicans, CAN get his employees on board. It'll be HIS policy that gets forwarded - NOT his staff's.

By the way, the Chief of Staff job is not a political one. It's an organizational one. He's the PERFECT one for the job. Of course, I'm not surprised you don't like it.

excon

Tom, I think you and I knew that "change" was "just words," and that can't be more evident than his first decision. It was back in August that he ran an ad where he called McCain "a Washington celebrity playing the same old Washington games," during his 9 months of running against "more of the same." Imagine a president McCain naming Karl Rove as chief of staff.

Ultimate AP Obamanoid Liz Sidoti opened her article today with "Obama is signaling a shift in tactics" while telling us has "made it clear he will rely heavily on veterans (http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5isOFwdbq0tsqatW6vJpkDRTI1gMgD949PPQO2) of [Clinton's] eight-year administration." But, his "tone" will apparently be different. We'll see.

Hello again, guys:

How about "change" meaning change in policy - not change in everything?? Geez. I would have thought you guys understood that...

He's going to CHANGE the policy in Iraq. It really doesn't matter WHO he hires to DO that. He's going to CHANGE our policy in Gitmo. It doesn't matter that somebody who you might recognize will carry out that CHANGE. He's going to RESTORE the Constitution. Would you feel better about it if he hired a guy you never heard of before??

He's going to CHANGE everything about the direction of the country... And, he's going to use people who KNOW how to DO that - people who have experience doing that - people who can get the job done!! And, he's going to CHANGE the direction of our country by USING the political process. He's not going to CHANGE the political process itself.

Course, I don't expect you guys to give him a break.

excon

Personally, I am not ready for the radical changes that are supposed to happen. Guess I'll have to go back to school so that hubby can stay home and raise the kids. And I thought I was too old to be a doctor. Guess not. Someone will have to bring in the dough.

Hello again, guys:

How about "change" meaning change in policy - not change in everything???? Geez. I woulda thought you guys understood that....

He's gonna CHANGE the policy in Iraq. It really doesn't matter WHO he hires to DO that. He's gonna CHANGE our policy in Gitmo. It doesn't matter that somebody who you might recognize will carry out that CHANGE. He's gonna RESTORE the Constitution. Would you feel better about it if he hired a guy you never heard of before???

He's going to CHANGE everything about the direction of the country.... And, he's gonna use people who KNOW how to DO that - people who have experience doing that - people who can get the job done!!! And, he's gonna CHANGE the direction of our country by USING the political process. He's not going to CHANGE the political process itself.

Course, I don't expect you guys to give him a break.

excon

Almost every word you posted here is TRUE.

I can see no better statement posted anywhere, and it should scare the hell out of ALL Americans.

The only point I would argue is that he wants to CHANGE the Constitution, NOT restore it.

The Constitution was not designed to be a "living" document, sure, as the conditions change, things may need to be amended, but it was never designed for the core principals to be CHANGED.

Got to go now, need to make sure that my firearms are in good working order.

Gotta go now, need to make sure that my firearms are in good working order.

If you need a Master Gunsmith, I offer my husband's talent's for free. LOL

The only point I would argue is that he wants to CHANGE the Constitution, NOT restore it.

The Constitution was not designed to be a "living" document, sure, as the conditions change, things may need to be amended, but it was never designed for the core principals to be CHANGED.Hello again, prog:

Nahh. I'll stick with the word RESTORE..

Here's why: Before the dufus, we had habeas corpus rights. RESTORING those Fifth Amendment rights ain't changing anything. Before the dufus, we had a right to be free from the government listening to our phone calls. RESTORING our Fourth Amendment rights, isn't change. Before the dufus, we had a right to be free from torture. Restoring our Sixth Amendment rights ain't change either.

I could go on. And, I WILL if you'd like.

excon

Hello again, guys:

How about "change" meaning change in policy - not change in everything?? Geez. I would have thought you guys understood that...

We understand - and remember - what Obama said. And what he said and what he's doing are already at odds. Fortunately NRO remembered the exact quote (http://campaignspot.nationalreview.com/post/?q=ZWU2MmRiNzUyYmU4NWEyNTBjNjdiMTE2ZDgyMTBlYjE=).. .

"The real gamble in this election is playing the same Washington game with the same Washington players and expecting a different result." -Barack Obama 12/27/07

And who are the players so far besides he of the sharp elbows (http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&hs=1zp&resnum=0&um=1&tab=wn&nolr=1&q=emanuel+%22sharp+elbows%22&btnG=Search+News), Rahm Emanuel?


Potential Secretary of State John Kerry: Elected to the Senate in 1984; served every day since.

Potential Secretary of State Bill Richardson: Elected to the House of Representatives in 1982, served until 1997. Former U.N. Ambassador, Secretary of Energy.

Potential Secretary of State Anthony Lake: Joined the State Department in 1962. Worked in the Carter Administration. Named National Security Adviser in 1993. Nomination to be CIA Director was withdrawn by the Clinton administration.

Potential Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers: Joined the World Bank as chief economist in 1991. Served in Clinton's Treasury Department and actually previously served as Treasury Secretary from 1999 to 2001.

Potential Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin: Assistant to the President for Economic Policy, 1993 to 1995. Treasury Secretary, 1995-1999.

Potential Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner: Joined Kissinger and Associates in 1985; joined the Treasury Department in 1988 and served in various capacities until 2001.

Potential Treasury Secretary Laura Tyson: Chairman of the President's Council of Economic Advisers from 1993 to 1995; Director of the National Economic Council from 1995 to 1996.

Potential Treasury Secretary Paul Volker: Joined the Treasury Department in 1962; became undersecretary in 1963. Federal Reserve Chairman from 1979 to 1987.

Potential Defense Secretaries: Richard Danzig, Chuck Hagel, former Georgia Sen. Sam Nunn, and former NATO Commander Wesley Clark.

Potential Secretary of Commerce: Harold Ford Jr., congressman from Tennessee from 1997 to 2007.

Potential Secretary of Labor: Gephardt, congressman from Missouri from 1977 to 2005.

Potential Secretary of Transportation: James Oberstar, member of the House of Representatives since 1975.

Potential Secretary of Energy: Ed Markey, member of the House of Representatives since 1976.

Potential Secretary of Veterans Affairs: Max Cleland, administrator for Veterans Affairs from 1977 to 1981, elected to the U.S. Senate in 1996.

Potential National Security Adviser: Susan Rice, member of the National Security Council from 1993 to 1997; assistant Secretary of State from 1997 to 2001.

Oh, but they're going to change their game, right?


Course, I don't expect you guys to give him a break.

I gave him a break on Wednesday, wasn't that long enough until I started screaming my head off again?

And “Rahmbo” sings, "Onward Christian Soldiers." 100,000 more troops will save us from the terror. The terror The royal Saudi family and Israel face. The only terror America is facing is a 50 year war to keep them in power.

In an interview with Ma'ariv, Emanuel's father, Dr. Benjamin Emanuel, said he was convinced that his son's appointment would be good for Israel. "Obviously he will influence the president to be pro-Israel," he was quoted as saying. "Why wouldn't he be? What is he, an Arab? He's not going to clean the floors of the White House."

The Ma'ariv article also quoted Dr. Emanuel as saying that his son spends most summers visiting in Tel Aviv, and that he speaks Hebrew, but not fluently.

Now that's a really nice man. The fruit doesn't fall far from the tree. I hear Rhambo's brother is a big Hollywood producer. He specializes in making a show look real slick. You know, that Hollywood slickness that almost makes you believe that the story is true? Nice folks. Just what this country needs more and more of.

Barack Obama campaigned on a promise to change the partisan tone in Washington. So why did he pick a take-no-prisoners partisan; Rhambo Emanuel, for his chief of staff? This guy makes HR Halderman look tame.

I also think it ironic that he picks Emanuel , a former Freddie Mac board member , to be in his staff. In short order at Freddie, Emanuel pocketted a cool $231,655 in director's fees his last year there .He then moved on to another investment bank where he "earned " $18 million in 2 years . Emanuel now blames Wall Street "greed" and the "anything goes," "right-wing" free-market ideology of Republicans for the financial crisis.lol In that he echos the other Democrat crooks like Chris Dodd and Barney Frank.

From all early indicators Obama is loading up his administration with former Clintonoids ,Daley machine goons ,and corrupt Wall Streeters . More of that change stuff I guess.

Side note :Rhambo's brother Ari Emanuel is the Hollywierd agent of Michael Moore.






Obama's Chief of Staff Pick a Freddie Mac Alum - Will Media Notice? (http://www.businessandmedia.org/articles/2008/20081106133228.aspx)


However, while Emanuel’s was on the Freddie Mac payroll in an overseer capacity, the government-sponsored enterprise was cooking the books. According to a Forbes magazine article from Dec. 11, 2003, the GSE was fined $125 million for understating its earnings by a whopping $5 billion



Yup - change!

Is Obama the new McSame?

No wonder, he said "call me" about the Fannie Freddie mess.

What kind of decision making is this. We are in a economic crisis in part because of REGULATED gse[s] via acts like CRA, and because of corruption within Fannie and Freddie, and Obama wants an insider in this corruption to be his chief of staff! :confused:

Oh, that's right, it is for Emmanuel's "organiztional abiltiy" and fund raising capability.



The American Spectator : Fanny, Freddie, and Obama (http://www.spectator.org/archives/2008/09/08/fanny-freddie-and-obama)

"Emanuel during his time on the board opposed every reform proposed by the Bush Administration that would have impacted Freddie and Fannie Mae."


ABC News: Emanuel Was Director Of Freddie Mac During Scandal (http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/Story?id=6201900&page=2)



How can anyone not see the conflict of interest [ bailout ] in this?

Hello Magprob:

The post was removed, not because of its necessity, but because I called Magprob a bad name. It's a TRUE bad name. It WAS necessary. But I understand the need to remove it.

I will say this. The reason I hate probation officers is that they are ANTI-SEMITIC, just like the old magprob here is.

You DO know that magprob WAS a probation officer, didn't you?

excon

Ooopps! I got caught telling the truth again. Mustn't do that in certain circles... as you can see.
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull&cid=1225910047157

I been called everything already. Doesn't seem to affect me.

Hello again, guys:

How about "change" meaning change in policy - not change in everything???? Geez. I woulda thought you guys understood that....

He's gonna CHANGE the policy in Iraq. It really doesn't matter WHO he hires to DO that. He's gonna CHANGE our policy in Gitmo. It doesn't matter that somebody who you might recognize will carry out that CHANGE. He's gonna RESTORE the Constitution. Would you feel better about it if he hired a guy you never heard of before???

He's going to CHANGE everything about the direction of the country.... And, he's gonna use people who KNOW how to DO that - people who have experience doing that - people who can get the job done!!! And, he's gonna CHANGE the direction of our country by USING the political process. He's not going to CHANGE the political process itself.

Course, I don't expect you guys to give him a break.

excon

Wow, Ex. You really surprise me a lot! I didn't know you were a Pollyanna!:D

You libs think Obama will clean everything up? You're havin' one of "those" dreams.

Hi Excon!

Magprob's applying for a comedian licence and perhaps hoping for a role in another Police Academy sequel. Unless, of course, I missed him saying something seriously anti-Semitic. However, and whatever the case maybe, you and I know that probation officers are just rejects from the real academy that couldn't cut it otherwise; police force wannabes. Anyway, as for my work, the gaming side of the casino remains slow, but the hotel continues a high occupancy rate. We have now started PDO's for the very few that can afford to lose a day or two out of their checks. In the short run maybe that will help defuse any layoffs to my department.

Rahm Emanuel Dismisses 'Hyper-Partisan' Charges - FOXNews.com Elections (http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/11/09/rahm-emanuel-obama-responsible-setting-bipartisan-tone/)

I see that the McCain/Palin/Bush clans are slow to learn. Fortunately for Reagan, a man that received my support and vote for at least one term, he will not have to witness the demise of the current intellectually challenged Republican party. Yes! Rham was an excellent choice!! Way to go Barack! Thank you! BTW seventy-one percent of Jews voted for Obama. This morning I was able to catch some of Rham's interview on Meet the Press. I have to say he is very articulate and assertive. As for the Pubs, if they want to dig their heels in and fight with Obama (like they did at times with Dubya), then I'm going to let them commit suicide. The public will just vote more of the GOP out, again, next go round. PS. I'll try and check-in once in awhile.

Well thank you Bobby! I'm glad someone around here gets my humor. For a minute there I thought you were going to get mad and give us your address again. Whew!
And you are right about Probation Officers, they have to deal with a lot of losers but we can usually find them a job in a casino. They take anyone. After I retired for the federal government, I works security in a casino for about five minutes. The smoke and despair just runs a soul down. I knew it wasn't for me. Then I tried to be a comedian but I kept getting hit with glasses and food so, I started my second career. I am now retired and no longer consider myself anything but a fat, bald old bastard. And proud of it I might add. :)

Clintonoid Paul Begala refers to Rahm Emanuel's style as a “cross between a hemorrhoid and a toothache.” He's a take-no-prisoners Chicago Daley machine partisan who's pick demonstrates that Obama has no intention of being a post-partisan President.
(yeah I already know the bs he spouted on the Sunday talk shows about Obama's commitment to governing in a bi-partisan manner)

He once was so angry at his political opponents that he repeatedly stabbed a dinner table with a knife while shouting the "traitor's " name and then yelling "dead !!!!". Reportedly the table looked like the lunar landscape by the time he was finished his rage.

Is he a friend of Israel ? I certainly hope so. That would be the silver lining to a dark cloud.

Why a silver lining to a dark cloud tom?

Well thank you Bobby! I'm glad someone around here gets my humor. For a minute there I thought you were going to get mad and give us your address again. Whew!
And you are right about Probation Officers, they have to deal with a lot of losers but we can usually find them a job in a casino. They take anyone. After I retired for the federal government, I works security in a casino for about five minutes. The smoke and despair just runs a soul down. I knew it wasn't for me. Then I tried to be a comedian but I kept getting hit with glasses and food so, I started my second career.


Some of those addresses are eighty miles out and six feet down, although now-in-days they just trespass you and call metro. At least that's what Mayor Goodman wants us to do. BTW there's a hiring freeze in Vegas, you better stay with the retired comedian gig. Only the low end casinos (what we call break-in casinos) have loose hiring practice's where probation officers are given a second life to play deputy. And... thankfully most of our casinos have huge smoke ventilation systems that remove the second hand smoke. I do hope you are retired financially secure. I'm quite sure a full-time Federal job now would be a prized possession in these shaky times. I wouldn't mind being a Post Office employee except that I might just have to go postal. :eek:



I am now retired and no longer consider myself anything but a fat, bald old bastard. And proud of it I might add. :)

That reminds me of what Dean Wormer said to Flounder in “Animal House”, “Fat, Drunk, and Stupid, is no way to go through life son.” :D

No, I don't buy wolf tickets.

I've got a question for you Obama lovers?

What are we going to do, when 40 million Americans, not to mention the illegals that are here, suddenly have health care?

Where are they going to find a doctor to see?

I have to wait 3 to 5 days as it is, just to see my doctor now?

I don't think he even took the time to think that far ahead, but I have, and it doesn't sound like a good "change" to me.

You mean the people that are currently laid-off and don't have the means to pay for cobra. Now if we can ever get out of the economic hole, it's possible to push for making education more affordable and adding jobs to the medical profession.


PS. I notice the local LV gun shops are going to be overstocked and lowering prices in about six months, maybe less. Sales are temporarily brisk, so the larger gun retailer claims, but I'm waiting for after the new year for first quarter reports. I'm betting their little fear Obama tactic and ploy is going to backfire and that's when the smart consumer buys. Watch!

You mean the people that are currently laid-off and don't have the means to pay for cobra. Now if we can ever get out of the economic hole, it's possible to push for making education more affordable and adding jobs to the medical profession.


PS. I notice the local LV gun shops are going to be overstocked and lowering prices in about six months, maybe less. Sales are temporarily brisk, so the larger gun retailer claims, but I'm waiting for after the new year for first quarter reports. I'm betting their little fear Obama tactic and ploy is going to backfire and that's when the smart consumer buys. Watch!

You may be right, I may be crazy, but it just might be a lunatic you're looking for!!

Thank goodness I have all the guns I need, already.

You mean the people that are currently laid-off and don't have the means to pay for cobra. Now if we can ever get out of the economic hole, it's possible to push for making education more affordable and adding jobs to the medical profession.



What is the incentive to go through medical school and residency and perhaps fellowship training when a greater percentage of what you make is going to taxes? Or what you can earn has a ceiling?

Plenty. Think of it as hitting a jackpot or lottery. You make two million and the government takes approx one-third. I'm eating good, living large on 1.3 mill. How many middle and lower class families would be happy with that kind of cheddar? You betcha! You're hung up on taxes when it's paying off those loans after medical school that are the killer.

PS. As for salary caps my doc can get used to having one less mansion.

You make 2 million - which most doctors do mot make - and the gov under Obama takes close to 40 %, then in most states - state tax, then in most cities - city tax, then property tax, vehicle tax etc... over half


Celebrating Tax Independence Day - South Florida Business Journal: (http://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/stories/1997/06/30/editorial2.html)
ATR estimates Americans spend more than half the calendar year, or 183 days, working for the government






Taking Note: "Spread the Wealth" Controversy Hits Doctors (http://takingnote.tcf.org/2008/11/spread-the-weal.html)

The Va can't keep specialists due to their lack of salary competitiveness.

Canadian doctors relocate here due to the lower salaries in Canada.

Canadian doctors relocate here due to the lower salaries in Canada.

PayScale Canada - People with Jobs as Physicians / Doctors Salary, Average Salaries (http://www.payscale.com/research/ca/People_with_Jobs_as_Physicians_%2f_Doctors/Salary)


Their first year Canadian physician's resident salary is lower than the US doctors, but still way above that of lower and middle class American citizens. BTW they could returning home soon at the rate our US businesses are going belly up.

Tom - No, it's not ironic that O wants Rhambo in his cabinet. He's a fellow Illinois lawmaker and graft taker and having had loads of "practice" in the Clinton dynasty, I'm sure he'll be pretty filthy, filthy rich after this dynasty along with O and his fellow cronies. I am sure he picked Rhambo long, long ago and we're just finding out now. His other cabinet "picks" will surely hold no surprises either. O goes where the money (or huge power) is. He wants a huge slice of the pie as well for himself. Remember that one speech where he kept repeating the word pie about 20 some times? Pie, pie, pie ad nauseum in that speech. He thought he was cute over in, I think it was, Pennsylvania when he gave that speech.

His cabinet appointees are going to be a rather interesting bunch to say the least. I think I heard it rumored that he's going to want to have Dr. Frankenstein for Secretary of Health, but I think it's just a rumor. For Secretary of Education, William Ayers is a shoe in for sure as this upstanding citizen is such a great brainwasher educator with some radical teachings that O has fully embraced. I think that good ole boy William Clinton should be Ambasador to the UN as he does have the qualifications(?) for this job. His Wife Hilldog can definitely be Secretary of State as she was never home anyway and traveling(?) is one of her greatest achievements. Just ask the Travelgate employees about that one.

Daschle got the job, even though his wife is a lobbyist for a firm with health care clients. I love that the MSM is still playing CYA for Obama, CNN offered up an excuse (http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/11/19/transition.wrap/index.html) for why over half of Obama's "change" will be Clintonistas. "Before Clinton, however, Democrats had not been in the White House since Jimmy Carter, and many of those in Carter's administration are too old to serve again under Obama."

But I know, "real change is about policy, not people." When Obama said "the real gamble in this election is playing the same Washington game with the same Washington players and expecting a different result" it was "just words."

Janet Napolitano for Homeland Security(DHS)...

She's qualified because she can see Mexico from her porch.Not that it matters ;she is about as open-borders as they come . Shamnesty now wears a badge .

If she accepts then she has to resign as AZ Guv.
Jan Brewer, the conservative Republican Secretary of State would replace her . Yippee! Finally a Republican gain!!

Yippee !! finally a Republican gain!!!!!!

Meanwhile, Norm Coleman's lead continues to shrink. He's now down to a 169 vote lead.

They are letting Franken get away with it
Here is a Coleman ballot that is being challenged :

http://www.drudgereport.com/fc.jpg

Worse than a hanging chad

they are letting Franken get away with it
Here is a Coleman ballot that is being challenged :

http://www.drudgereport.com/fc.jpg

worse than a hanging chad

I can't believe this is being challenged that is a bunch of BS. Clearer they voted for Coleman.

Here is the article where the picture was posted :
http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/whistleblower/2008/11/19/one-challenge-headed-to-the-state-so-far-in-plymouth/

Clearly this voter intended to vote for Franken.

Speaking of election shenanigans (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081121/ap_on_re_us/joe_the_plumber_records), an investigation revealed that "there was no legitimate business purpose for the head of Ohio's Department of Job and Family Services to order staff to look up the records" of Joe the Plumber.

Of course "investigators weren't able to determine whether the searches were politically motivated," even though she "improperly used state e-mail to engage in political activity" allegedly to raise funds for Obama.

Hello Steve:

Shenanigans, hell. That guy clearly voted for Franken.

Snippy

Hello Steve:

Shenanigans, hell. That guy clearly voted for Franken.

Snippy

LOL, that's more like it.

More challenged ballots.

Franken says the X means the voter intended to cross out the vote for Coleman:
http://minnesota.publicradio.org/features/2008/11/19_challenged_ballots/images/xfactor.jpg

Franken says the thumbprint is an identifying mark so it's invalid under Minnesota state law, which prohibits a signature or SSN to identify a ballot:
http://minnesota.publicradio.org/features/2008/11/19_challenged_ballots/images/thumbballot.jpg

Franken said what the eraser marks over Franken's bubble indicated the voter intended to vote for him:
http://minnesota.publicradio.org/features/2008/11/19_challenged_ballots/images/eraser.jpg

And everyone's favorite, the vote for Lizard People:
http://minnesota.publicradio.org/features/2008/11/19_challenged_ballots/images/lizardpeopleb.jpg

To be fair, both sides have made some weak challenges but these Franken challenges seem pretty obvious to me.

I'd vote for lizard people over franken :)

Hello:

Let's say that I was the Seattle Mariners brand new manager... For you non baseball geeks, they're the only team in history to have lost over a 100 games with a payroll over a 100 million $$$'s. They're REAL LOSERS. Let's say that I promised change.

Would you think I meant the players, or the record?

If I filled the team with people like Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Hank Aaron, and other winners like those, would you accuse me of doing business the OLD way, and not fulfilling my promise of change?

I think you would.

excon

Obama was vague enough I guess to make some people believe that he was the change . But most people ;including a lot of his backers (you should read what the left wing blogs are saying ) thought he was going to tap into people outside the Washington culture.

I have been predicting a big dose of buyer's remorse . It is happening a lot sooner than I thought.

Your analogy by the way is similar to the current Yankee squad... a bunch of overpaid has-beens who have name recognition but little left at the plate.

I have been predicting a big dose of buyer's remorse . It is happening a lot sooner than I thought. Not at all. The people who voted for him are still emphatically happy they did. You, on the other hand, never liked him so you are trying to project your view on others. Look at the projected crowds for his inauguration. No remorse there, just a large group of excited people.

Andrew Sullivan of Atlantic ;a big time Obama supporter has this to say about his potential CIA selection :

We didn't work our butts off to elect Obama only to get Bush another four years at CIA. If Brennan emerges as the pick, those of us against the continuation of war crimes and the prosecution of war criminals will have to oppose him strenuously in the nomination process. We will, in fact, have to go to war with Obama before he even takes office.
And if Obama doubts our seriousness, I have three words for him. Yes we can.

The Daily Dish | By Andrew Sullivan (November 21, 2008) - No Way. No How. No Brennan. (http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2008/11/obama-picks-a-b.html)

The LA slimes says his base is unhappy about his new and improved Iraq policy:


Antiwar groups and other liberal activists are increasingly concerned at signs that Barack Obama's national security team will be dominated by appointees who favored the Iraq invasion and hold hawkish views on other important foreign policy issues...
The activists -- key members of the coalition that propelled Obama to the White House -- fear he is drifting from the antiwar moorings of his once-longshot presidential candidacy. Obama has eased the rigid timetable he had set for withdrawing troops from Iraq, and he appears to be leaning toward the center in his candidates to fill key national security posts.

The president-elect has told some Democrats that he expects to take heat from parts of his political base but will not be deterred by it.Antiwar groups fear Barack Obama may create hawkish Cabinet - Los Angeles Times (http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-foreign-policy20-2008nov20,0,1380983.story)

The Telegraph notices this trend also :


Chris Bowers of the influential OpenLeft.com blog complained: "That is, over all, a centre-right foreign policy team. I feel incredibly frustrated. Progressives are being entirely left out of Obama's major appointments so far."
Markos Moulitsas, founder of the Daily Kos site, the in-house talking shop for the anti-war Left, warned that Democrats risk sounding "tone deaf" to the views of "the American electorate that voted in overwhelming numbers for change from the discredited Bush policies."

Barack Obama accused of selling out on Iraq by picking hawks to run his foreign policy - Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/barackobama/3502411/Barack-Obama-accused-of-selling-out-on-Iraq-by-picking-hawks-to-run-his-foreign-policy.html)


Here is what some other "progressives" are saying :


And if Obama really wanted change, if he really wanted to honor progressives who backed him early on and then did the grunt work against McCain, he'd nominate Dennis Kucinich as Secretary of State.
That sure would indicate a welcome departure from empire as usual.
But at this point, progressives are getting absolutely nothing from Obama.

Obama Throws No Bones to Progressive Base (http://www.progressive.org/mag/wx111908.html)
The Kossaks are beginning to notice:

So why is Obama picking the same people who were part of the problem to now create the solutions?.
Who expected such conformity out of a revolutionary candidate promising change?
Daily Kos :: Diaries (http://boknows.dailykos.com/)

Here is a comment from a poster at DU:

Obama's cabinet is at this point filled with DLC people, very centrist, anti populist, and big business among other things. We heard "change and clean up Washington" before from the last President and we got a redux on Nixon's and Reagan's people. Now we are getting a redux of the 90's Clinton people, that doesn't spell change to me
For all the folks posting that they don't like what Obama's done or is doing - Democratic Underground (http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x7899385#7899430)

Mark Joseph at Huffpo.



Why would Obama want to tarnish his brand new administration with the Clinton soap opera of Monica, Whitewater, Vince Foster, Marc Rich and company when he could start fresh with an entirely new team? And why would he want a mortal enemy like Hillary who is probably at this very moment plotting her comeback strategy for 2012, inside his administration, leaking to the press and undermining him? I thought he put the Clintons away for good. He seems too smart to do something like this.Mark Joseph: Secretary of State Clinton? I Just Don't Get It (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mark-joseph/secretary-of-state-clinto_b_145679.html)

Over at Empty wheel they have come to the realization that it may be their turn under the bus .


When it comes to the netroots, Barack Obama has the long arm-short arm syndrome. He has taken much from us in terms of support, voice, momentum, money, footwork and energy. Obama has given little, if anything, in return to the netroots. Unless you count disdain and scorn. And pokes in the eye with a blunt stick.

Emptywheel » Obama's Long Arm/Short Arm Stiff Of The Netroots (http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2008/11/18/obamas-long-armshort-arm-stiff-of-the-netroots/)

Etc etc etc . It is all over the left wing blogs.

it is all over the left wing blogs.Hello:

YAWN...

I don't know. YOU'RE the guys who thought he was a socialist, terrorist, marxist, left wing whacko, commie, and all that other stuff...

But, he turns out to be exactly what he said he'd be... Imagine that. Bwa, ha ha ha ha.

excon

He said he'd be whatever you want him to be a tax cutter ,;a tax raiser ;a budget balancer ,a proponent of stimulus spending ;a dove ,a hawk and on and on.
I only went by his past performance and underlying philosophy.
I also know the past performance of the Clintoids and if I'm charitable I'll say it was uneven .

I somewhat agree with Tom. I think it would be very unwise of Obama to pick a cabinet with old faces. I can see your point Excon but he did spruik the line about going outside the square and changing the attitude in Washington. As far as I'm concerned old habits die hard and some of these schmucks won't change for anyone. They have their agenda and they'll stick to it.
But then again I don't know too many details on these people so maybe I'm reading too much in to what Tom is saying. I know that can be a grave mistake given Tom's opinion of Obama. Isn't that right Tom? ;)

And before the doodle comes along and tells me to butt out because I'm not an American and it doesn't effect me, I want to tell her that it does and why it does. These people he picks do effect me. These people have the potential to torture Australian citizens. They have the ability to torture me if they see fit. I don't want that. I want that to change. But I still trust that Obama will bring that change. I believe in the guy. Until he fails that is.

Skell

Ironically for CIA Obama is picking a George Tenet protégé . Tenet himself was a hold over from the Clintonoids.

You think that "torture" ;"rendition" etc is a GWB initiative ? Lol .The Bush team have nothing over Clintoon and his foreign policy staff .The CIA was granted permission to use rendition in a presidential directive signed by Clintoon in 1995.
PDD-39 U.S. Policy on Counterterrorism (http://www.fas.org/irp/offdocs/pdd39.htm)
Further ;we have received cooperation from many of our allies in the Western world including Australia.

My biggest critique of the current administration has been my frustration that they have not been able to reform the culture in the Federal Bureaucracy .It has become very much entrenched at almost all levels with careerists that outlast adminstrations . Their attitudes are often that adminstrations come and go ,but they remain. So at best they tolerate the White House. These are the unnamed sources that the MSM use to undermine policy.
Obama's promise to bring "change " is undermined by returning many of the Clintonoids into the leadership roles they played in the past. Obama and his supporters ,saying that he is the change ,are going to get a cold helping of reality when they realize that the static entrenched careerists in government are very much resistant to change.

I suppose the point you prove Tom is that no one can really instigate change. McCain certainly wasn't going to. I think myself, and most people regardless of his admin still see Obama as change. And with the way things are at the moment any change is good.

"What I had to insist is that the real gamble in this election is playing the same Washington game with the same players and expecting a different result," ....... "That's the definition of insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result."

{Obama Dec 30,2007 Iowa }
Obama playing defense as Iowa campaign draws to close | ONLINE EXCLUSIVE (http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/ss/byauthor/72850)

And before the doodle comes along and tells me to butt out because i'm not an American and it doesn't effect me, i want to tell her that it does and why it does. These people he picks do effect me. These people have the potential to torture Australian citizens. They have the ability to torture me if they see fit. I don't want that. I want that to change. But i still trust that Obama will bring that change. I believe in the guy. Until he fails that is.

Well the Twinkiedooter just came along...

Oddly enough years ago the world looked to America for world leadership. America was a place that most foreigners wanted to move to and live in as they had many more freedoms available in America than they did in their own countries.

Now, if anything, most foreigners are looking at America askance wondering if America is going to attack/invade their countries or, worse yet, impose harsh international trade sanctions on their countries resulting in economic chaos and/or economic collapse. Many people in overseas ports right now are literally holding their breath wondering that BO is going to do to the international trade driving up costs from everything like toilet paper to TV dinners. It will hurt the cargo ship owners, cargo ship workers, dock workers, etc.

Oddly enough, you in Australia actually get more news regarding America than the media here releases to it's populace. The media here hides a lot and would rather spoon feed us crap like Dancing with the Stars, American Idol contestants, than really tell us what's going on in our country.

You don't have to worry about America coming over to your country. We presently have an understaffed military, rag tag equipment, and poor leadership. If anything they will come to our doorsteps and confiscate our guns before going to another country. Much easier that way.

The local gun show last week end was so packed you could not get in as the lines were around the huge building. And yes, sales of guns were quite brisk here. Years ago gun shows had very few customers attend. Not so this year. It was packed wall to wall.

Sure you can come on here and butt in, but the best thing you could do would be to try and join the sensible people who are trying to resist the oncoming onslaught.

So doodle you admit to America's decline in recent years under a Republican government but still you expected McCain to be the man to fix it? How's that work? But then again you still think Obama isn't a legal citizen. Your probably one of these kind who actually believes he is Satan or worse yet a Muslim infiltrating America to destroy it from within? That would explain a lot.

So doodle you admit to America's decline in recent years under a Republican government but still you expected McCain to be the man to fix it?? Hows that work?? But then again you still think Obama isn't a legal citizen. Your probably one of these kind who actually believes he is Satan or worse yet a Muslim infiltrating America to destroy it from within? That would explain a lot.

So, Mr. Knowitall, prove to me that BO is a legal citizen eligible to be POTUS. You can't as he's just too secretive about his past and no body can prove he is or isn't a citizen. Just because he lives here in this country does not automatically make him a citizen either. It takes more than that, sorry.

And no, I am not one of those people who believe he's Satan or worse a Muslim inflitrating America. I am not impressed by his present and immediate past associations. Anyone would be if they just opened their eyes and looked around. I'm convinced he's an Uncle Tom in more ways than one. Only time will prove me right on this call, Skell.

He is presently just recycling the Clinton administration. I never said McTurd was going to fix the economy. I thought he was a better choice, that's all. I'm a Democrat and have been one for years. That does not mean I have to vote Democrat either.

So, Mr. Knowitall, prove to me that BO is a legal citizen eligible to be POTUS.Is McCain and his staff so ignorant that they don't know as much as you do?