In hindsight, it was a mistake for Obama to keep on the Bush holdovers...

[kentuck]

Bob Gates at Defense and David Petraeus, his General in the field, and others. That was the evidence that he planned on continuing in place most of the Bush policies. In foresight, with different people in those positions, there would probably been different policies and different ideas. His Administration would have taken a much different direction, even in regards to the spying and eavesdropping. With Bob Mueller at FBI, the Bush policies were set in place when Barack Obama took over.

Of course, with the economy on the skids and the appointment of Timothy Geithner at Treasury, the direction of Barack Obama's first term was predictable. However, it is still early in his second term and if he wins a Democratic House, there is still time for an authentic Obama Presidency. He has had some successes with his social agenda but on the big ticket items, defense, war on terror, the economy, and general direction, it has been a third term for Bush up to this moment. It is very important that he pick the right person for the FBI. It's just difficult to make a lot of plans when you are up to your neck in alligators.

[Enrique]

1. that was the authentic Obama presidency

and in case we've forgotten, when Obama took office the Democrats had large majorities in both houses.

[kentuck]

2. True, but he wanted to work in a bi-partisan way and bring the country together.

When the Repubs found out they could filibuster everything with no consequences, the game was over.

[whatchamacallit]

3. The mistake

is believing it was a mistake.

[kentuck]

4. Maybe?

[Bluenorthwest]

5. He told us all we had to 'turn the page' from the one that said 'Bush Policy' to the one that said

'Obama Policy' and now he and those who supported that denial of history are shocked that people are reading from a page that says 'Obama Policy' and not instantly flipping back to the Bush page. Who told us to turn the page and look away from Bushco crimes? Obama.
Centrists are very 'cake and eat it too'.

[1-Old-Man]

6. In Hindsight it was a mistake not to toss half of them into prison.

And you named a pretty good bunch to start off with.

[morningfog]

7. I agree and consider all the bush policy holdovers to be big mistakes too.