More Kudos to the president

[Gaspar]

Ok, so President Obama has chosen William Daley as his new COS.  I actually think this is a good choice, one of the few he has made since becoming president.  Sure, Daley is a big part of the Chicago Machine, but he is also a very good business man.    He's actually practiced law, running his own firm, and has run numerous other very profitable businesses.  He's a big bank guy with big connections in the financial world.  He should get along well with all of the Gold Man-sacks guys that already work for the administration.

He's a staunch Democrat but he's not a liberal by any means.  He's devoted countless years of his life to working with Democrat administrations in a capacity to promote free market and eliminate obstacles to economic growth. 
 
Daley also knows politics, counseling Bill Clinton on NAFTA passage, having been instrumental in Al Gores positive poll numbers during his 2000 run, and building the original Lobbying machine for Mayer, Brown & Platt back in the 80s.  More reticently he lobbied for ATT/SBC against federal regulation and served as president of SBC Communications.

The very act of appointing Daley to COS shows an honest desire to move to the middle and incorporate some actual non-academic experience into executive branch decision making.

Sure there are some negatives to this choice, but when you look at the alternatives this is the best decision we could hope for.

More Kudos to the president.  Now we just need to find a good Press Sec for him.  Any suggestions?

[TulsaMoon]

The very act of appointing Daley to COS shows an honest desire to move to the middle and incorporate some actual non-academic experience into executive branch decision making.

I think that line says it all. /agree Gaspar...

[nathanm]

Gas, I think it's hilarious how you can manage to contradict yourself even within the same post. You write that he's incorporating "non-academic experience" after stating that Daley "should get along well with all the [Goldman Sachs] guys that already work for the administration."

It's amazing how you continue to paint an administration full of corporate lobbyists as leftist and anti-business. Well, I'd be amazed if it wasn't the standard talking point of the right's synchophants. Since it is, it seems much less original.

Be against Obama all you want, I'll probably agree with you on a lot of it after all. But can we at least base the discussion in bucking reality for a change?

[Gaspar]

Gas, I think it's hilarious how you can manage to contradict yourself even within the same post. You write that he's incorporating "non-academic experience" after stating that Daley "should get along well with all the [Goldman Sachs] guys that already work for the administration."

It's amazing how you continue to paint an administration full of corporate lobbyists as leftist and anti-business. Well, I'd be amazed if it wasn't the standard talking point of the right's synchophants. Since it is, it seems much less original.

Be against Obama all you want, I'll probably agree with you on a lot of it after all. But can we at least base the discussion in frakking reality for a change?

Let me clarify.  Mr. Daley comes from an application background.  Major difference.  He's hired, fired, cut checks, merged, laid-off, faced triumph and bankruptcy. He's represented his interests and the interests of his employer against the government machine and won. At times he has also lost.

No talking point.  The right is outraged at the appointment of Daley.  They see him as some kind of "Chicago Thug."  In fact the talking point is exactly that right now. 

My acceptance and admiration of this appointment is based on logic.  Please do not let it get your panties in a wad.

Just because I like the guy doesn't make him bad.

[Conan71]

Meh, Nathan's been on a tear since he came back from Christmas Holiday break.  I think he must have had some Natty Light.

[nathanm]

Just because I like the guy doesn't make him bad.

I don't disagree that it's a reasonable appointment. I disagree with your characterization of the makeup of the administration and where it sits on the political spectrum. Obama is to the right of Nixon, for crying out loud.

[Gaspar]

I don't disagree that it's a reasonable appointment. I disagree with your characterization of the makeup of the administration and where it sits on the political spectrum. Obama is to the right of Nixon, for crying out loud.

To make that assertion, you must be just left of Chairman Mao.

But either way, I'm glad that liberals can now find some common ground with the recognition that appointments need to be made out of experience rather than ideology. 

I predict that Valerie Jarrett is the next to go.  She's one of the final ideologue scars that President Obama needs to cover.  Jarrett is the political version of a neck tattoo.

[Townsend]

But either way, I'm glad that liberals can now find some common ground with the recognition that appointments need to be made out of experience rather than ideology. 

"Cough" tea party "cough"

[Gaspar]

"Cough" tea party "cough"

Ok, "some" liberals.

[nathanm]

To make that assertion, you must be just left of Chairman Mao.

I wish I had some of whatever drug it is you're taking that leaves you so far disconnected from reality. It would probably be worth turning into a right wing ideologue.

As much as you wish it were so, "left wing" does not mean "someone Gaspar doesn't like." If you look at the policies promoted by each, Obama is essentially a less paranoid Nixon. I guess if you want to argue that Nixon was some sort of pinko commie you could do that.

[Gaspar]

I wish I had some of whatever drug it is you're taking that leaves you so far disconnected from reality. It would probably be worth turning into a right wing ideologue.

As much as you wish it were so, "left wing" does not mean "someone Gaspar doesn't like." If you look at the policies promoted by each, Obama is essentially a less paranoid Nixon. I guess if you want to argue that Nixon was some sort of pinko commie you could do that.

Now you've completely lost me.  Are you asserting that "left wing" means Paranoid? 
Also not sure where you're going with the Nixon thing. . . but enjoy.

[nathanm]

Now you've completely lost me.  Are you asserting that "left wing" means Paranoid?  
Also not sure where you're going with the Nixon thing. . . but enjoy.

Are you not familiar with Nixon's well-documented paranoiac tendencies? The pattern of thought that led him to order the Watergate burglary and ended up bringing down his Presidency?

I'll state my point again, this time more slowly: Obama's..policies..are..similar..to..those..promoted..by..Nixon.

Either Nixon was a left-wing nut or you're full of smile when you say that Obama is a radical leftist.

[Red Arrow]

I'll state my point again, this time more slowly:

You forgot louder.....

[Hoss]

You forgot louder.....

Then we'd have to accuse him of being a conservative.

[Red Arrow]

Then we'd have to accuse him of being a conservative.

Nah, slower and louder go together as in

D O   Y O U   S P E A K   E N G L I S H ?

Also, no need to worry about Nathan becoming a conservative.