New Obama book by Alter airs private flairs of temper

[RamboLiberal]

President Obama may cultivate an image as the unflappable Mr. Cool, but he can get hot under the collar too, according to a new book.

In "The Promise: President Obama, Year One," by Newsweek senior editor Jonathan Alter, the author recounts a series of private blow-ups - including a particularly fiery one involving the nation's top military brass.

"A presidential dressing down unlike any in the United States in more than half a century," is how Alter describes the October 2009 eruption.

The background: Gen. Stanley McChrystal had just given a speech in London in which he publicly rejected proposals to turn the tide in Afghanistan with more drone missiles and special forces, a strategy backed mainly by Vice President Biden.

The President viewed McChrystal's comments as a bald attempt to back him into a Pentagon-backed plan more reliant on troop buildups - and he soon ripped into top commanders for what he considered insubordination.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2010/05/08/2010-05-08_new_obama_book_by_newsweek_senior_editor_jonathan_alter_airs_private_flares_of_t.html#ixzz0nPEApmDe

[bluestateguy]

1. Stupid, mousey little reporter. Georgetown Cocktail Party nonsense

nt

[impik]

2. True, but actually all the stories in this report makes Obama looks good

[Clio the Leo]

6. Sure do...

... "dressing down" one of the highest military leaders in the land. .... MEOW!!! prrrrrrr.

[onehandle]

4. Alter is on MSNBC frequently. He seems to be a good journalist to me.

The NY Daily news is probably just looking for the 'dirt' in his book.

[Teaser]

11. elaborate.

.

[Thrill]

19. Alter is a good guy. I think you're confusing him with that worm Finemen

[onehandle]

3. So Obama didn't want a plan more reliant on troop buildups. Sounds like a good thing. nt

[MadBadger]

9. Oh but the drones

[ClarkUSA]

17. More drone missiles were Biden's idea, because he didn't want a bigger footprint. n/t

[Clio the Leo]

5. If I were the President, I'd be in jail by now...

... for assault .... for whopping people upside the head with those "Briefing - Classified!" folders he gets. All the BS that is going on now. Takes a special character to not be in a constant state of anger.

[goclark]

20. Absolutely ~ I would be in a cell too

I am not surprised that he is like this at all.
He really has good home training.

It has always surprised me when he is called "weak" or "always playing nice guy."

[Clio the Leo]

26. He definitely has home training...

... no doubt about that. I'm reading "The Bridge" and there's a passage where his sister is quoted as saying (on behalf of her mother) that "Barry" was never the hot trigger type. He has always had a very calm demeanor, even as a child. So a lot of it IS home training ... but a lot of it is nature.

I would say, "we got lucky" .. but we DID pick him, didn't we? lol ... we didn't win him in a lotto.

[Clio the Leo]

7. This sounds like him...

In an Oval Office showdown, Obama told Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Gen. David Petraeus that he was "exceedingly unhappy" with the Pentagon's conduct, Alter reported, adding that its leaks to the press were "disrespectful of the process."

"This was a cold and bracing meeting," an attendee said of the encounter, where Obama demanded to know "here and now" if the Pentagon would be onboard with any presidential strategy.

It apparently worked: Petraeus later described himself as "chagrined," and both he and Gates "swore loyalty" to the President. Obama eventually supported a troop buildup.



Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2010/05/08/2010-05-08_new_obama_book_by_newsweek_senior_editor_jonathan_alter_airs_private_flares_of_t.html

Not "f'ing pissed at you" but "exceedingly unhappy" ... I can HEAR him saying that.

[AwakeAtLast]

8. Yup, sounds like my kind of President

You know, actually sounding "Presidential". Amazing, isn't it?

[Jennicut]

14. Isn't it the worst thing to be told by Obama that he is "disappointed in you".

Seems more effective then just yelling at people, doesn't it? Obama seems to have a way to express to certain people that he has had enough of their BS simply by giving them the cold shoulder.

[Clio the Leo]

27. Can you see it in your mind?

him shaking his head in disgust and turning and walking away ... worse than dying a thousand deaths. lol

[Clio the Leo]

10. But this one is weird....

When the President learned that Massachusetts Democratic Senate candidate Martha Coakley was mocking Republican opponent - and eventual victor - Scott Brown for shaking voters' hands in the cold outside Fenway Park, he knew his presidency would soon be in trouble.

"No! No! You're making that up!" he shouted at aide David Axelrod, grabbing him by the shirt. "That can't be right."



Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2010/05/08/2010-05-08_new_obama_book_by_newsweek_senior_editor_jonathan_alter_airs_private_flares_of_t.html

How in the world was his "Presidency in trouble" because of Martha Coakley? .... health care reform maybe but his presidency? ... and grabbing Axe by the shirt and yelling at him? ... nah ... I'm calling BS on that one (or it's being mis-characterized.)

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

12. How do you grab someone "by the shirt" anyway? (nt)

[Dr Morbius]

13. Yeah, that's hard to imagine.

I am sure there's something behind it, but this is one of those unconfirmed and unconfirmable stories. We'll never know. It's on the internet now, though, so in two years expect some posters to bring it up as the gospel truth.

[Bluenorthwest]

18. I don't see that as yelling at Axelrod at all.

How to describe it? First, forget the editorial crap about what the President is thinking, that is of course, assumption.
The author's narration suggests one thing, but frankly, the action suggests different things.

Mischaracterized is a kind way to put it. What he is describing as the 'sub text' is absolutely not supported by the text and actions of the 'characters' in the scene. We should be glad that Alter is not directing movies, because they would not make sense. If we had a video link, or were in the same room, I could show you in ten seconds what I see in that exchange, and it is nearly the opposite of what Alter thinks he saw. This stuff makes me like the President more. Much more.
From reading this, I know he and Alexrod actually like one another as people, and that they trust each other. I know they have a strong relationship, and understand each other. I see no anger toward Axelrod in that exchange whatsoever. Not a hint. I see humor and a shorthand communication. I see a President who is as much of a peer to his staff as a President can be, and a man who does in fact have emotions, and passions. And you know I am not overly generous to any politician, Obama included.
I agree with you. Happy Sunday.

[Clio the Leo]

28. Yeah, I can see him going through those motions...

... but more as if to say, "you're kidding man, come on now, that's not funny." and then "crap!"

The Coakley/Brown episode is, so far, the ONE episode I want to hear about from the man himself (when HIS book eventually comes out.) At what point did they realize they were screwed? Why did they not know earlier?

[Fire1]

23. Sounds like conjecture. I don't buy it. n/t

[Cha]

24. I'm calling bs too.

As for Martha..I hadn't read she did that..and people wonder why she lost..she practically gave it to the disingenuous poser.

[Clio the Leo]

29. Oh, that part is def. true...

.... one of my favorite bloggers, Brian Beutler ... or is it Dave Weigel? .... anyway, occasionally makes reference to, "this would ALL be different, if Martha Coakley had shaken hands outside of Fenway park!"

[tavalon]

15. This is not abnormal for his personality type

He holds himself in tight control (with the extreme dignity sometimes seen in Leos) and no one, no one, gets to avoid the angrys once in a while. So, to me, this is kind of a duh moment. I never once thought he was Mr.Cool in every situation. He's got poise and control but he is human, albeit an extraordinary human. Even that dude from Nazareth had his moments - remember that temple tantrum (pun intended)?

[Kahuna]

16. Holy cow! The "Rock" Obama really does exist! Me likey.

:rofl:

[Phx_Dem]

21. Kicking McChrystal's ass! Me likey. Just pre-ordered the book!

Sounds like Obama put that arrogant SOB in his place.

[polichick]

22. So he got pissed and then called for a shitload of new troops anyway? nt

[ClarkUSA]

25. "shitload"? I think not. Hillary and McChrystal wanted 80K troops for a 10 year engagement.

I'm very glad Hillary isn't president right now.

[high density]

30. So how should one deal with insubordination, especially on a topic as important as a war plan?

"Oh General, please don't do that again.

Khx, Barry."