Winning Isn't Everything -- In More Than One Sense
As President Obama and his team learned the last few days, "winning isn't everything" is no longer only what parents tell their children. It's useful advice for winners.
Yes, they won. They had a marvelous celebration. Hopes ran high. And then they took their impressive political capital and squandered it on nominations counter to their campaign promises. What were they thinking?
Was it elitism? How about hubris? Or was it perhaps taking a good thing too far? In politics you don't overextend your political credit, especially when you've just arrived. So there had to be a pinch of naiveté - a bit of being new to the job.
Returning favors was also in the mix. But mostly I think they just got used to things going their way. They're clever by half. And they know it.
But to his credit, the next day our new president wasn't moping about The White House feeling sorry for himself. After a night of "I screwed up" apologies delivered to the press, he was cutting the exorbitant salaries of senior executives whose companies are borrowing money from -- well -- us. Now, that was a terrific recovery from a "no good very bad day."
If you followed the Obama campaign closely, you saw that they were masters of subtle shifts. Voters noticed at times, but it was all for the greater good.
Things got somewhat rocky when post-election they decided experience, the platform that killed Hillary's campaign, was exactly what they wanted in the Cabinet. But that was justified successfully as consistent with Obama's intention to be open to other views, to needing on board the best thinkers, and to inviting in people who supported his strongest adversaries, including the lead adversary herself.
He got Geithner through by a thread because we thought he must know what he's doing and so we didn't raise much of a fuss. And maybe, just maybe, an economist can accidentally underpay his taxes. Besides, many reasoned, he could be THE exception to the rule.
But Daschle was too much and too close in time. This was, as the coarse saying goes, writing checks the Obama team's butts couldn't cash. He and they overestimated their power and nearly wrecked the popular president's credibility.
Yes, winning isn't everything. It's always wise to remember that. There's always another game to play. If I were President Obama, I'd be recalibrating - starting with more caution toward the edge of the political envelope. Bold is good but smart bold is better.
I'd stop asking for people to support crucial proposals like the stimulus package until I actually tell them what is involved, because the press isn't bothering to do so. The last thing we need is a master persuader who decides less is more in telling us why he supports anything. And there is a sense in the air that this is exactly how the wind is blowing in the newly decorated White House. It's early yet so recirculation is possible, maybe likely, if lessons from this week become memorable. But where is the Barack Obama who didn't hope for us to believe but told us why we should?
Dr. Reardon also blogs at bardscove
Loading comments…
Want to reply to a comment? Hint: Click "Reply" at the bottom of the comment; after being approved your comment will appear directly underneath the comment you replied to
There's a list on cnn right now of what was slashed - but NOT what was given. That's what I would like to see.
President Obama is losing the support of the independent voter quickly. At the same time he is really beginning to piss off the progressives. Now, you add to this dynamic a bolstered and fighting GOP and 2010 will crush his presidency. This is not an outcome I want at all. Perhaps my skepticism blocks pathways to hope. Maybe pessimism is stronger in these tough times than we all realize. Obama's mistakes have a common theme and simply put he is acting like a Republican. Lesson one which he shows no sign of grasping. When you have the power, you demonstrate it - You set the example. I went through Catholic school knowing the nuns would "beat" you. Never did I see it or experience it. It happened at least one time and reputation did the rest. Obama's reputation is forming and he does not understand it. He is earning the reputation of a jellyfish. This hole is self-dug.
Your blog represents my sentiments exactly. I was not a supporter of Obama but certainly wanted him to succeed when he was elected. It seemed to me that from the very recent beginning of this administration that Obama wanted to live up to his campaign promises but knew from day one that that was not going to be possible. And the Geithner appointment was just a beginning of bad judgment. Having taken on many of the Clinton administration's warriors, and Hillary Clinton, it was clear that he was looking for the experience that was lacking, but also taking on some of the problems with the economy that Rubin and Larry Summers help exacerbate, the deregulation, the capitalist tone that the Republicans love even more than some Democrats. We think the conservative tone of government is over, and it probably is, but its proponents are still in Congress and determined to keep government away from what they consider too much control of the corporate entities. Obama, never really a liberal, was and is sensitive to the charges of socialism even though the economic crisis cries out for more controls from the feds. And to boot he was torpedoed by mentors and allies he relied on, Daschle being the most significant. He'll need a tougher, more realistic attitude to overcome the problems now and he'll need to go to the American people for help to right the ship of state.
You make a good case and bring an interesting perspective uncommon in our current re-visitation of yellow journalism. Powerful people have always created an air of mystery what they do, as it is much easier to govern in secret. The complexity of the legislation could make it difficult to understand but not impossible. People are more capable of understanding than you state and could given time make informed decisions with input from as many people with an opinion as possible. The real concern is the time frame, rushing to enact any piece of legislation rarely serves the people's best interest but to spend a trillion dollars without allowing the bill payers time to absorb the ramifications is suspect.
Thank you Dr.Reardon
kalimuzo. Thank you. Unfortunately, most of televised news and news commentary is about personalities and "journalists" interviewing "journalists" and "senior analysts" instead of experts in relevant fields -- such as economics. They celebrate each other at our peril. What was that about an informed electorate? Ah, yes -- the foundation of democracy. We should expect and demand more.
Bravo! Finally someone who gets it.
Why didnt obama bring his proposal to Congress. Why did he allow this congress to bring theirs it to him? he should ignore them all and give us his plan not theirs. Does he have one?
There is a huge power struggle going on right now. If Obama wins this he has the potential to be one of the greatest presidents ever. If he loses, he will probably be completely ineffective and will not win a second term.
Let's hope he wins.
Yes indeed. But all the more reason for him to be explicit -- for us to be informed. For us to be able to get behind him rather than allow personality issues and power struggles on the Hill dictate the outcome. He'll likely get it through anyway, but it sets a precedent in terms of letting us in on his reasons.
I agree Dr. Readon. I would also add that there has been too much back tracking and splitting hairs when it comes to the testimony of some of his nominees. I'm thinking of Leon Panetta in particular. An unequivical statement that torture is against the law needs to be followed up by investigation of those persons who both authorized and carried out techniques which led to torture in at least one instance according to Judge Crawford who is overseeing the Gitmo trials.
"But where is the Barack Obama who didn't hope for us to believe but told us why we should?"
I think he's shown up again and is reminding us what we went to polls for which was to reinvest in our country as we recover from this economic slump, which is why the bill is called the "Recovery and Reinvestment Act". The media and republican were masters at framing the debate making the bill a simple stimulus (a la the tax rebate seen earlier last year). Look no further than the ridiculous proposal by many republican including John McCain to start over with a bill in the range of 400 billion (more than 2/3 tax cuts) for evidence of this.
I think they are all pushing so hard against Obama because Washington do not want to change. That was quite a big order to fill, and although many people say they want it, trying to make it happen with so many status quo people still in the picture, having media impact is going to be difficult. If Obama starts playing standard politics they will yell....I thought you were going to be different.
If winning isn't everything, then why do we keep score?
I think that in a lot of ways Obama is an establishment guy, and he underestimated the extent of the rot in the oligarchy. So Obama made promises about ethics that, when he got into office, he could not easily deliver on using well known well connected centrist Democrats. He was also apparently surprised by the banks using bailout funds to pay bonuses.
You must be logged in to comment. Log in or connect with
