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Is the President an "insider" or an "outsider" ?

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kentuck Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-13-10 11:26 AM
Original message
Is the President an "insider" or an "outsider" ?


After all, he was only in the Senate and in Washington for a couple of years before he ran for the Presidency. In my opinion, he was not there long enough to become an "insider".

But, in a surprise, he won the White House. Then he had to build a government. Where did he turn? Who would be his Secretary of Defense? Who would be his Chief of Staff? Who would be his Secretary of Treasury? He did not have a lot of time to work with, considering the economic circumstances. This may sound like a trivial matter to most folks, choosing a Cabinet, but it is not.

This is just my opinion but I believe he turned to the last Democratic Administration. He sought the advice of Bill Clinton and decided to model his Adminsistration after that of Bill Clinton. He would not be partisan. He would try to work with the Repubs, just as Bill Clinton tried. He would "triangulate" if necessary.

By the time he had to get his bearings, he was up to his eyeballs in crisis after crisis. He thought he had enough popular appeal and political capital to push thru his healthcare program, but every time he compromised, mostly with Blue Dog Democrats, he lost large chunks of his political capital.

Now, after two years, it cannot be argued that he is still an "outsider". But he is now waist deep in the Big Muddy and it's a long way to safety. Even if he understands his predicament now, how does he change it? He is only one man. He cannot make laws by himself. He is in a terrible situation.

He is an intelligent man. He reads and he listens. He knows what is going on. But, in my opinion, he is powerless to do anything about it. He has been captured by the corporate sytem that controls Washington and our government. The political Parties have almost morphed into one, with minor differences over smaller issues. On the big issues, they both answer to the same master.

But, he asked for the job. Now, what does he do? Does he change all his personnel? Does he see the trap that was set by hiring all the former Clinton and Bush people? The midterm elections will tell us a lot about this President. But we need to recognize what he stepped in when he walked into the White House.

I look at the President as a mere mortal. We all react differently when faced with challenges. Our President has great challenges in front of him. America, we have a problem...

.

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NightWatcher Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-13-10 11:28 AM
Response to Original message
1. look at who he surrounded himself with. But then again, no "outsider" could be elected
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kentuck Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-13-10 11:29 AM
Response to Reply #1
2. But my point is..
why did he surround himself with those people?
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GreenArrow Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-13-10 11:37 AM
Response to Reply #2
7. Other insiders.
These are the people who are invested, literally and figuratively, in the maintenance of the system/status quo.
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Individualist Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-13-10 01:45 PM
Response to Reply #2
11. He's a New Democrat
Those were the people he wanted.
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kentuck Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-13-10 02:10 PM
Response to Reply #11
12. I do think his political philosophy was one of bi-partisanship...
and bringing the country together. He wanted to be like Abe Lincoln - he wanted to unite the country. Today, we are more divided than ever. Perhaps he was naive to think such thoughts?

He's too smart not to see the reality of the situation. He will show his true colors before this time next year but it may be too late to get him a second term. We wanted him to be something he is not. He is a conservative, not a change agent. Change you can believe in is the status quo. Hopefully circumstances will make him see the light soon?
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ProgressiveProfessor Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-13-10 11:34 AM
Response to Original message
3. The sitting president is the ultimate insider in Washington DC
no matter where he came from or did previously.
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kentuck Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-13-10 11:37 AM
Response to Reply #3
6. But I do not believe he was an "insider" when he came to Washington...
Or when he ran for President. It is true that he is now an "insider".
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ixion Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-13-10 11:34 AM
Response to Original message
4. an "insider" by definition
He is the President. Outsiders don't get to be President.
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GreenArrow Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-13-10 11:35 AM
Response to Original message
5. He's an insider...
but there are circles within circles.
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tridim Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-13-10 11:39 AM
Response to Original message
8. He's doin' it for Johnny. nt
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kentuck Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-13-10 01:39 PM
Response to Reply #8
9. Huh?
??
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tridim Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-13-10 01:43 PM
Response to Reply #9
10. Sorry, bad joke.
Stay gold Ponyboy, stay gold.
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