Obama's Pattern of Accommodation

On issue after issue, Barack Obama has shown a strong reluctance to challenge established thinking and to confront powerful interests. Just the opposite. He instinctively tips his hat to every establishment he encounters -- be it Wall Street, the military, the intelligence community, or the health care industry. He is little more aggressive in pressing Congress. Obama is demonstrably someone whose loud bark is not followed but much bite. Retreat from positions boldly declared has become the hallmark of his administration. At times, the retreat follows brief skirmishes. At other times, it is preemptive -- prompted by skirmishes in the president's own mind.

This is the singular Obama style evident on major domestic issues. The process begins with a firm statement of the problem, a clarion call for action, and a pledge to force change. Then, there is the period of eerie calm -- no plan is unveiled, no campaign strategy executed. There ensues an opaque, slow-motion free-for-all involving a fractured Congress, advocates, lobbies and the media with the White House staff operating in the shadows behind the scenes. Among the protagonists are the very parties that are the cause of the problem.

The very idea of a compelling national interest gets lost in the melee. Obama makes brief public appearances punctuated by further proclamations of the imperative to act, still without any specifics or sustained effort. Whatever comes out of this muddle is declared historic and promising. Thus the ramshackle approach taken toward the financial crisis.

Comments

[Ronnjee]

There is absolutely no basis for an argument about this opinion; it is quite simply true. I wish Mr. Obama would show some more backbone. I'm afraid he's aversive to conflict.

[SonofLiberty1]

My gosh, reading what most of you wrote so far, one would think that this man has been in office forever and hadn't done anything! Creeps he has only been in office since Jan 20th! Everythng takes time, especially when there are big problems to be solved.

[Benton]

These are not the type of people you want on your team. They would give up after the first ten min of a football game.

[jmpurser]

It takes a lot more time when you don't face up to the problems in the first place. Or if you make the wrong move time after time.

[Benton]

What are you talking about time after time after time. Grow up. The guy has been in office of 6 months.

[Drjimmy72296]

So at what point can he officially be declared ineffective? Does it take a whole year? Two? Four?

He sailed into office with a Democratic Congress and an 80 percent approval rating. If you can't get stuff done under those circumstances when will you?

[cominginsecond]

Stimulus package. Check. Lily Ledbetter. Check. Keeping the economy from teetering off the edge of a cliff. Check. Important beginnings on health care and climate change. Check. What more do you want for 6 months?

[edweird]

I'd say two years because the mid-term elections could change the numbers in the Senate.
6 months is 1/8 of a term.

[aramos]

Didn't you know before you voted for him he was style over substance. An empty suit!

You've been duped.

[Benton]

No, your duped.

[wonketteRAWKS]

I think his motives are "Obama 2012"!

[LadyXoc]

I'm afraid we've settled for oratorical flash over substance. Everything was obvious at the beginning when Bush's TARP went seamlessly forward without question or oversight. I'm very much afraid Obama is a pretty boy bought and paid for by Wall Street and health industry interests. If we survive without national bankruptcy and/or rampant Weimar type inflation, it will be a miracle.

[peacethinker]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/06/14/bill-maher-takes-on-obama_n_215338.html#postComment

Here's one of Bill Maher's comments on Obama that sums up what a lot of us might feel, I know I said an amen after watching this. Real Time (HBO) is very good and Maher for being a lefty ... he has a lot of right-wing types on and gives them a chance to talk and he fairly gives his POV and allows conversational debate with them, no yelling or talking over them. Many probably don't know that about that show and just think it's a lefty bash everything righty show ... it's not IMO. Oh there's plenty of it because it's deserved, but it's not all of it. Bill is smart and see's past a lot of the hubris and bluster and cuts to the core issue on most topics.

[lafrance]

With 2 wars, a collapsed economy that was tangled in a very complicated mess, A ton of good things rolled back on, a world on the edge and the country in deep trouble, I think this president has done a phenomenal job for being in office for 6 months and accomplishing more in those 6 months than any president before him.
Have we become so spoiled in a half year of competence that we fail to realize just how much was facing this president when he took office and how much he has really done?
Or are people jumping on a bandwagon now because it's fashionable to act like spoiled children because not every little thing and every pet issue has been addressed right now and all our problems are not fixed in an hour.

[Drjimmy72296]

Let's hear some of those accomplishments. What has he really done? I mean aside from making Tim Geithner and Larry Summer's Wall St. buddies rich beyond their wildest dreams.

Just because he hasn't nearly choked to death on a pretzel or invaded the wrong country doesn't mean he's a great or even a good president. That extra $4 a week I'm saving in payroll taxes wasn't the hope and change I voted for.

[EddieG3]

Mr. Brenner, I beg to differ. Our president chooses his battles. Some battles are better fought behind the scenes. Many are best fought with kindness and encouragement to doinig what is right for our country. Our president is not perfect but he has learned from the past. He knows that if he doesn't let congress take ownship of his budget, then he will stand alone. President Obama has seen for decades what our main problems were and are. He has tried different avenues or venues to encourage these changes. His final option was the presidency. If the healthcare costs, our deteriating environment, and the status of our uneducated­/undereduc­tated future generations are not changed, the USA will become an undeveloped country, undeveloped in human potential. We will become a pitiable, laughing stock; not hated but pitied. The status quo cannot continue. A nation's downfall comes from within.

[MtDavid]

So refreshing after Bush who was a real radical.
He ignored "establishment" institutions, subverted them, and held them in contempt. Did the author enjoy the last 8 years with Bush pursuing "his" own right wing agenda while either demanding acquiescence using fear and intimidation, or just acting without any consideration that most Americans did not agree?

Established institutions are ignored at a president's peril. Furthermore, the right is crazy with hatred and fear of Obama. Imagine what would happen if he started shoving "his" agenda, assuming he has one, down their throats!

[Mandorson]

I strongly disagree with Mr. Brenner. Mr. Obama understands that real change is a not just a result of passing legislation or issuing edicts - it is about empowering others and, thereby, getting them to take real responsibility. For example, true health care reform will require that the preponderance of constituents are in broad agreement. Trying to simply blow off any constituency - insurance companies, doctors, drug companies - will likely result in backlash and turmoil - exactly what his true opposition, which is currently sandbagged, wants and needs to get energized. Sure, when push comes to shove, some constituents may not be fully on board, but by then, everyone else will be, and an opposition will have a hard time getting any further attention for their complaints. Contrast Obama's approach in this matter with Clinton's. Behind closed doors, Hillary heard everyone out, and then decided what was right. Her policy formation may have been technically correct, but the resulting political ruckus pushed health care reform off the table for almost two decades.

[Blutodog]

I wasn't surprised he backed the Blue Dogs now that push has come to shove. Americans don't want health care reform , they want to pay twice as much for their health care and get half as much. Were in deep doo do now. This guy is another empty f'ing suit.

[cominginsecond]

Saying not to aggressively go after Blue Dogs is not the same thing as "backing" them. He's still pushing for the public option, and the new favorable GAO report on the latest health care proposal only strengthens our hand.

[guajiro]

If only because 8 yrs flys by so quickly I would agree. Al Franken, former Saturday Night Live Alum, and current Minnesota state Senator, gives Obama all the votes he needs to accomplish his agenda. Why not move on some of these? I think the dreams many groups had of a new amendment is so far away as to be impossible if the President can't even handle Wall Street. At least on foreign policy he has been strong, so far. I'll wait another 6 months before I critique him.

[111]

After the last person in that seat Obama is a breath of fresh air on many levels but not on the ones that count. He is intelligent, can articulate his thoughts and seems to have a better understanding of the world we live in. His latest 'compromise' is the horrible Climate Bill he pushed.

I was disturbed to read this on Politico -
The White House is smoking mad at Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas), who says he's voting against the climate bill — despite the lobbying of the entire First Family in the Oval Office last night.
If the bill goes down, Obama won't forget Doggett's role, Democrats say.
It's "stunning that he would ignore the wishes not just of his president, but of his constituents and the country,” said an administration official.

Doggett changed his mind needless to say and supported the bill after all, but what on earth is happening to our government? Strong arm tactics used to demand complete obedience to the president, to the party. That administration official does not know the wishes of Doggett's constituents and certainly not the country.

Checks and balances begone from our government because now it is stunning to ignore the wishes of the president and anyone who does will be remembered and punished. Vote your conscience at your peril.

Same old politics but more pleasant to look at and listen to as we Americans are sold out again and again.

[Chazet2]

One thing we have not seen is enough of what you accuse the administration of-strong arm tactics used to achieve good ends. Were it not for Lyndon Johnson's strong arm tactics, civil rights legislation would not have happened when it did, nor many other worthwhile laws.
As for going over DC's head to the people, Reagan did that all the time to nefarious ends. This President has squandered opportunity after opportunity, the faith placed in him by many of us here, and the votes we cast. Backdown Obama is an apt title.

[FloridaBlogger]

Sad, but true. Now we have the latest example of this syndrome: Obama is telling organizations to stop targeting moderate democratic legislators who are refusing to support the public option which is critical to real healthcare reform. Why? It makes no sense. We should be turning up the heat, not backing off!

Obama needs to "take the gloves off" and take on these moderate dems and the republicans in a direct, honest, and forceful manner. There is no shame in fighting for what you believe in. He needs to use his immense political capital now, before it trickles away. Let's go, toughen up Mr. President!

http://BloggingDemocratic.blogspot.com

[peaceplez]

I agree with you Michael Brenner. I feel like stepping up the pressure on members of my party who don't want to support strong health care reform. I'm becoming increasing disillusioned by Obama's charm and high minded speeches and then unwillingness to offend anyone at the expense of morality and what is right. Over and over we've seen him cave and even support issues that clearly said were wrong. I'm fed up with receiving emails asking for financial help to support causes that he has no intention of firmly backing, got him into the White House and which he is getting paid to be doing.