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Obama Thinking Big

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Other Politics
Posted on Mon Nov 17, 2008 at 09:10:22 PM EST
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Our good friend Joe Gandelman has a good piece putting the Clinton at State story in a larger perspective on what President-elect Obama is aiming for (think FDR big):

Will New York Senator Hillary Clinton accept a reported job offer of Secretary of State from her onetime Democratic nomination rival President Elect Barack Obama? The British newspaper The Guardian says she is going to accept it — and a longtime Democratic strategist says Obama’s offer to Clinton and his victory speech signal Obama’s intention to make his presidency a “big” Presidency.

Read the whole thing.

< Guardian: Hillary To Accept State | McCain Can Play Maverick Again >

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    Obama Thinking Big | 10 comments (10 topical)

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    Good (5.00 / 3) (#1)
    by andgarden on Mon Nov 17, 2008 at 09:22:24 PM EST


    No fair. (5.00 / 4) (#2)
    by LarryInNYC on Mon Nov 17, 2008 at 09:22:34 PM EST
    You didn't tell us the "longtime Democratic strategist" is Bob Shrum!

    I hope to Hell (5.00 / 1) (#4)
    by oldpro on Mon Nov 17, 2008 at 09:37:11 PM EST
    that Shrum and Gandleman are right.

    Well when was the last time (none / 0) (#9)
    by Pepe on Tue Nov 18, 2008 at 01:14:51 AM EST
    you remember someone planning a 'small' Presidency? LOL.

    This is silly - Obama planning a BIG presidency. What a surprise. Everyone plans a big Presidency. Even Bush did and we see where that led.

    Well Obama is packing his team with Clinton people so let's see if he can do better than Clinton. Of course Obama doesn't have an internet bubble to bring in revenues and ramp up the stock market. He doesn't have a world mostly at peace, in fact quite the opposite. He doesn't have a thriving economy complete with an intact manufacturing base and a stable middle class. He's dealing with idiot Free Traders who were in their infancy with Clinton who help usher them in, who btw are the same people Obama is bringing in. He is dealing with the worse trade deficit in history. And he has a record national debt, with a faltering financial sector, high unemployment getting worse by the day, and the last vestiges of manufacturing spiraling toward ground zero with the auto manufactures who will take a big portion of the businesses and people who survive with the auto industry with them should they fail.

    Pretty huh?

    I could go on but we all know the picture here. Given the circumstances it's unlikely that Obama can match Bill's successes as Obama is starting out in a deep hole. So deep you can see China from there.

    Gees I just saw him and McCain together and Obama looks like he has aged 5 years in just two weeks already. In four years he will make Morgan Freeman look like a young man.

    I have 5 words of advice for Obama: Watch what you wish for.

    Parent

    What Obama has that (5.00 / 1) (#10)
    by oldpro on Tue Nov 18, 2008 at 01:42:56 AM EST
    Clinton didn't:

    ...he has both Clintons for backup.  Clinton had nobody.

    ...he has a stable of competent public servants to draw from from the Clinton administration.  Clinto didn't and had to raid universities, private sector, state governments, etc. with little or no federal experience.  (It had been 12 years since the 4-yr Carter admin).

    ...he has a Democratic congress who said they ran to bring change to DC and the country and back up a new Democratic president.  Bill had a corrupt and arrogant Dem congress who got themselves thrown out on their asses leaving him all alone with a veto pen and his imagination and determination to fight the Gingrich revolution.

    ...not to mention, Obama has the backing of the establishment.  They resented and hated Clinton and undermined him at every turn.

    So...we'll see.  Obama has as much help and support as any Democratic president has ever had.  Let's see what he can do with it.

    Parent

    I like this part! (5.00 / 1) (#6)
    by coigue on Mon Nov 17, 2008 at 10:41:09 PM EST
    As important as his victory was, Barack Obama doesn't want the most significant accomplishment of his presidency to be the day he was elected.
    He must have seen the movie (5.00 / 1) (#8)
    by hairspray on Tue Nov 18, 2008 at 12:12:47 AM EST
    "The candidate."

    Parent
    In this one case, this seems to be true: (none / 0) (#3)
    by lilburro on Mon Nov 17, 2008 at 09:36:33 PM EST
    In his personnel choices, Obama has revealed that the mission is more important to him than past service or personal support.

    Kerry's probably wondering right now exactly what kind of favor you have to do to get a little love back.  

    But otherwise he's been depending on Clinton vets (past service) and close friends (Jarrett/Emmanuel also Greg Craig - lots of overlap between the two categories).  There are many important positions that are still up in the air so we'll see.  But the mission is still emerging.  

    Kerry and Daschle and (none / 0) (#5)
    by oldpro on Mon Nov 17, 2008 at 09:40:05 PM EST
    a string of lesser lights, no doubt some scrambling and some invisibly locked in already.

    Fascinating...

    Parent

    I hope that (none / 0) (#7)
    by JThomas on Mon Nov 17, 2008 at 10:51:31 PM EST
    Obama will assure Kerry privately he can take over at Defense dept. when Gates moves on after the troops are out of Iraq by mid-2010.
    I think Kerry deserves it and would be good in that post. Swiftboaters my butt.

    Obama Thinking Big | 10 comments (10 topical)

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