Obama Promised Change, but Picks Insiders Instead

Too bad you don't know how to smell.

No lies here.

Don't you have traffic to go play in or something?

reply to post by sos37

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What I said was:

Nowhere did I blame all Republicans for all the problems facing this country... yet the fact remains 32 years Republican presidents 12 years Democratic ones... Of the past 14 years 12 of those Republicans controlled congress.

Simple logic says with that predominance of power... Republicans have a major responsibility for both things that have gone well.... and things that have gone bad.

To try and blame all that has gone wrong on liberals and/or Democrats as some on the right have done is nothing less than an attempt to evade Republican's share of responsibility for the problems. I have never denied the Democratic share of responsibility.

BUT NOWHERE do I impinge your or Republicans love and concern for country... nor would I... as you did me.

[edit on 20-11-2008 by grover]

Actually there is a good article posted on prisonplanet

www.prisonplanet.com...

Hardly a partisan site that pretty well sums up Obama so far. He really is for something its just not change. Hes for the status quo. Dont worry just start brushing up on your farci so when we go to war with Iran we can speak it.

DEFENSE SECRETARY

Defense Secretary Robert Gates.

Former Navy Secretary Richard Danzig.

Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., critic of Iraq war, retiring from Senate.

Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., member of Senate Armed Services Committee.

John Hamre, former deputy defense secretary, now president of Center for Strategic and International Studies.

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TREASURY SECRETARY

Timothy Geithner, president of Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

Former Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker.

Lawrence Summers, former treasury secretary and one-time Harvard University president.

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SECRETARY OF STATE

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-NY, former first lady and one-time rival of Obama's for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Gov. Bill Richardson, D-N.M., former U.N. ambassador and energy secretary.

Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., 2004 presidential nominee.

Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., critic of Iraq war, retiring from Senate.

Richard Holbrooke, former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.

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ATTORNEY GENERAL

Eric Holder, former deputy attorney general.

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HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES SECRETARY

Former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D.

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HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY

Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano.

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CIA DIRECTOR

John Brennan, former director of the National Counterterrorism Center

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NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE DIRECTOR

Tim Roemer, former Indiana congressman and member of the 9/11 commission.

Rep. Jane Harman, D-Calif., chairwoman of House Homeland Security intelligence subcommittee.

Jami Miscik, former head of CIA's analytical operations.

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NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER

James B. Steinberg, former deputy national security adviser.

Susan Rice, former assistant secretary of state for African affairs.

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ENERGY SECRETARY

Dan Reicher, director of climate change and energy initiatives at Google, former assistant energy secretary in charge of efficiency and renewable energy programs in the Clinton administration.

Former Rep. Philip Sharp, D-Ind., president of Resources for the Future think tank.

Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, a democrat.

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INTERIOR SECRETARY

Former Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber.

Former Alaska Gov. Tony Knowles.

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson.

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EPA ADMINISTRATOR

Lisa P. Jackson, commissioner of New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.

Mary Nichols, head of California Air Resources Board.

Kathleen McGinty, former secretary of Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.

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HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT SECRETARY

Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C.

Renee Glover, head of Atlanta's housing authority

Nicholas Retsinas, director of Harvard's Joint Center for Housing Studies

Shaun Donovan, commissioner of New York City's housing department.

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LABOR SECRETARY

Ed McElroy, former president of the American Federation of Teachers

Former Rep. Dick Gephardt of Missouri

Linda Chavez-Thompson, former AFL-CIO vice president

Former Rep. David Bonior, member of Obama's Transition Economic Advisory Board.

Maria Echaveste, former Clinton White House adviser.

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COMMERCE SECRETARY

Laura D'Andrea Tyson, former chair of White House Council of Economic Advisers under President Clinton.

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OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET DIRECTOR

Peter Orszag, director of Congressional Budget Office.

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EDUCATION SECRETARY

Colin Powell, former secretary of state, former chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius.

Arne Duncan, chief executive officer of Chicago public schools.

Inez Tenenbaum, former South Carolina schools superintendent.

Linda Darling-Hammond, education professor at Stanford University.

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TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY

Jane Garvey, former head of Federal Aviation Administration.

Rep. James Oberstar, D-Minn., chairman of House Transportation Committee.

Mortimer Downey, former deputy transportation secretary.

Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., member of the House Transportation Committee.

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AGRICULTURE SECRETARY

Former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack.

Tom Buis, president of National Farmers Union.

Former Rep. Charles Stenholm, D-Texas.

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VETERANS AFFAIRS

Tammy Duckworth, a disabled Iraq war veteran and Illinois veterans affairs director.

Former Sen. Max Cleland of Georgia, a Vietnam veteran who had three limbs amputated after a grenade blast.

Current VA Secretary James Peake.

What you said was:

"Second: our support for him has far less to do with bush minor and more about the direction Republicans and their policies have taken this country than anything else."

And you made sure to bold the word "Republicans". What is that statement if not an accusation of the mess the country is in because of Republicans? Therefore it stands to reason, if you accuse only the Republicans of the problems this country is facing then you must think that voting a Republican into office is the worst thing for the country.

Your logic is very sloppy...

I highlighted Republicans because I do hold them responsible for much of the mess in this country... and I gave my reasons as to why. The party that has held the majority of power for the past 40 years should not be allowed evade its responsibility.

You seem to think the same thing of Democrats.... but my reasoning is not as poorly defined....



I would not make such a sweeping statement nor do I think that.

There are many Republicans I respect and indeed I voted for our local rep., Bob Goodlette (R) and I've voted repeatedly for our retiring Senator, John Warner (R) not because I necessarily agreed with them all the time (most of the time I didn't) but I respected their experience and their independence and the good they have done the state of Virginia.

I did not vote for the Republican aiming to replace Warner, former Gov. James Gilmoe because I lived through the mess he made of this state and saw it turned around by his replacement Mark Warner (D) (no relation to John) so I voted for whom I thought was the better man.

I could have lived with John McCain though I didn't agree with him either but I was more than willing to give him half a chance had he won... which many of you on the right here on ATS seem incapable of doing for Barack Obama.

Stop trying to read things into my statements, you're not very good at it.

[edit on 21-11-2008 by grover]

I hope obama does well- because so many eggs have been put in that basket. it's imperative Good Change happens, and with experience- and a few people from Clinton's staff will help this economy.
( From what I recall, the country wasn't too bad under Clinton Administration)

But- then reality sets in.
If these people in Wahington really consider us sheeple, wouldn't it make sense to send us a few wolves in sheeps clothing?
They say pretty words, sweet talk us like world-class con artists, and promise us the world like only politicians can, feeding us on hopes and dreams of a better place.
personally, I've been burned enough to see a fire being lit at twenty paces. I hope Obama and his picks the best, at least for our sakes. Then again, if hope could change everything for the best, what a world it would be.

I disagree. Although Obama is genuinely concerned with the welfare of the working class (after all, they are largely responsible for his successful election, and in principle he is accountable to them), his science and technology initiatives, such as providing universal broadband to the entire country and doubling funding for basic research and research grants, will more than make up for his plan for to bail out the automobile industry. He was, after all, accountable to those workers so we should give him a bit of a bit of a break there...

We can't save that industry. I hope he realizes that. I'm betting he does know this actually, and this whole attempt at bailing out the automobile industry was most likely just a show of support for those that elected him. It's probably better to extinguish all the false hopes before his term actually starts. There was no way in hell that industry could be saved. If it weren't for the recent economic crisis, however, it may have lasted another half decade, but that wasn't the case.

Socializing health care is good. Efficiency might go down, but more people will be better off. A multi-tiered health care system would prove most effective. Those with more money can pay for their operations and get them done right away. Those with basic health insurance will get everything they need for free, but it might take a little longer. And in turn businesses will benefit from the luxury of not having to supply their inevitably large base of union laborers with health insurance, and other social benefits (as all these will be relegated to the public health care system).

To continue manufacturing cars in America is like continuing the manufacture of the horse-drawn carriage, or textiles, or whatever archaic industry. It's time for innovation. One of Obama's greatest promises during his campaign involved providing the stimulus for innovation in science and technology. Hopefully, in the next four to eight years we see a new industry emerge out this federal spending. Now all this has yet to be seen, and having experienced the last eight years under the Republicans, there is a lot of reason to be cynical about any change. But Obama seems to be a highly resolved individual, and he's surrounding himself with a lot of experienced people, the majority of which will largely respect and follow him. And that's the key. He's not drowning himself out with the ideals of past regimes. He's using the best of the best and reigning them in towards the production of his own personal vision. I think the future looks fairly positive.

[edit on 20-11-2008 by cognoscente]

I think most people will be happy if he can manage to appoint people who are competent and who follows and perhaps even believes in the rule of law.

Obama will deliver on that, I assure you. But it won't be a change for the good of the masses. And he never said that it would be.

See, that's how deception works. Tell people things that have a double meaning. It's so sad that so many people still think that because a new President is elected, somehow he is going to be in charge of everything.

Presidents are just puppets - they do as they are instructed. To change things for the better, you need to remove the puppet master.



[edit on 21/11/08 by NuclearPaul]

All this debate, when its REALLY SIMPLE: Right now, we are seeing the influential "WHOs" in the Democratic Party that gave their "support" in exchange for Cabinet Positions. Obama is simply "paying up"!

Did Hillary REALLY want to be President? As Secretary of State, she'll be in the perfect position to do the international wheeling and dealing that will fill her and Bubba's pocketbooks!

Give me $$$. It's "for the children"

[edit on 21-11-2008 by CreeWolf]

Well I didn't like any of the candidates and called my dad when all of them started spouting about change. The conversation ended up like this, "Dad! McCain and Obama are talking about change! Hide the piggy banks!"



Seriously it is over, time to see how it all plays out.

Obama's entire presidency rests on speculative thought to some, to others it shall be judged by his indifference and complicity towards and of George Bush's policies during his tenure, still others look only at those of whom he's appointed as a measure of his character and presidency.

To call him intelligent, disciplined and charismatic is premature and baseless. His legislative history is none to that, his ethical stance on issues of war, the economy and civil rights far closer to the neo-conservative base than progressive, and his wisdom characterized by his uncanny ability as a cavalier rhetorician - or by virtue of his speechwriters and marketers.

People seem to forget (especially those that supported him) that the media seemingly ignored criticizing his specific policies or bringing to light how they resembled, if not increasingly became far more aggressive than those of the Bush regime. To deny this is to completely ignore fact and instead head stalwart in a cautious optimism that has denied the American people of any true democratic voice.

Barack Obama is the new, softer, eloquent face of U.S imperialism. This man is not going to end war, confront it philosophically, degrading it as unethical and morally inept beside the general anti-war consensus of Americans, or even prevent the use of militarism as a means of resolute, posit peace. Nay, instead he puts forward the notion that a stronger, more heftier and violent military standard can only bring about an era of peace; he proposes to continue this War on Terror (a categorical war against developing countries) and confront the rising opposition to U.S globalization through its illegal and murderous utility. He has given the right of corporations and financial institutions to socialize losses and privatize profits, all at the cost of trillions of American tax payer dollars.

Yes we can, yes we can exploit and rape you as we wrap you in velvet cloth and caress your soul in messianic words of hope and change.

Luxifero

what i love most about those opposed to obama is how quickly they jump on him. YES he is selecting politicians for political jobs

dose this in-fact mean he is NOT about change? it is hard to tell. how about we all wait until he starts actually performing the job of president before we critique his performance.

based on what i have herd as his list of priorities when he actually gets into office i do believe he is about change, but only time will tell.

What is much of the mess in this country you speak of? Lack of handouts? Or perhaps the economy. As much as you want to believe Ole Bill wasn't a cause of our economy woes right now, he really is. Or perhaps you speak of the fact that republicans even exist. You do realize this country was founded as a republic and if there's any "mess" to be had, it's people wanting handouts by the government. The democrats give it. And then things go south under republicans and they get the bad rap. What we have is a mess created by democrats ages ago and it's finally catching up to us, and every time republicans try to fix the mess democrats make, they get blocked. If it weren't for republicans blocking democrats from making MORE MESSES over the last 30 years, we'd be in a whole lot worse shape but you know I'll bet the farm that the outcome of finger pointing would be no different: Republicans fault, they keep blocking us from turning their country into a freebie nation.

All you have to do is your homework and you will find that our problems today dates back to democrat choices. But then that view changes if you're a democrat. It's republicans fault for blocking you from all of your crummy government programs. I'll say it again. If democrats in this country desire their views and government programs to rule the land so badly, go take over a third world country or something and move there with your democracy/socialism, and leave America and her republic the hell alone.We grow tired of the BS, especially when democrats are telling us we are ruining our own country when they really just mean we're ruining their dreams by wanting to keep our country the way it was founded.

Geither is confirmed as secretary of treasury! Sigh, our economy is done. It's Hank Paulson's mini-me........

We really needed some serious change within this position. Out of the list of possibles Volcker would have been by far the best pick.

I think you may like Janet Napolitano - present governor of Arizona.

She is one of the very few Dems I would vote for, for anything.


I didn't vote for President-Elect Barack Osame-o samo-o and thought that giving him a chance to see how he did was a sensible plan of attack.

Looks like I don't have to wait for the inauguration....

reply to post by Desert Dawg

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Once again... PEOPLE are not POLICY.


I elected him for the POLICY he would execute, not the PEOPLE through which that execution would occur.


-One Happy Obama Supporter

en.wikipedia.org...





www.ny.frb.org...



Is this the "change' we were promised?, damn right it is.

There was ebonics, and now there is Obamics.

Definition of "change" in the Obamic dictionary:

Continuation of the destruction of American sovereignty and a hastening of the New World Totalitarian Order ruled by Banksters.