Trust Obama's Vision

[babylonsister]

http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/12/08/do_we_simply_trust_obamas_visi/

Trust Obama's Vision
By M.J. Rosenberg - December 8, 2008, 9:41AM


"Change comes from me....That's my job, to provide a vision in terms of where we are going, and to make sure, then, that my team is implementing." -- President-Elect Obama


I keep hearing from friends who are unhappy about the overall feel of Barack Obama's Cabinet and White House staff choices. Too conservative. Too Clintonesque. Too typical Washington.

I understand that. I'm not crazy about all his choices (especially on the domestic side).

But, so far, I have no reason to believe that his instincts are anything but superior to my own, my friends, or the pundits in the blogosphere. Of course, I supported his candidacy even before Iowa. I supported it even before he decided to run so my confidence in him is no big surprise.

But it's more than that. His decisions have been almost unfailingly right ever since he began his campaign. Obviously, the very fact that a one-term African-American senator got himself elected President demonstrates rather sound judgement.

snip//

At this point, it appears that Barack Obama rely primarily on his own informed instincts (George W. Bush also trusted his instincts but they were utterly uninformed except by the Lord). I trust those instincts and I will until I see reason not to. I don't expect that to happen.

What a joy to know that the President is smarter than the rest of us.

[Captain Hilts]

1. I trusted him on FISA and the DC gun ban. nt

[babylonsister]

2. You have never trusted him or liked him. That's a given. nt

[Captain Hilts]

3. I have been a real cheerleader for nearly all he's done the past couple of months....

but I don't "trust" him - or anyone else in his situation.

We have to keep leaning on him because the right won't stop doing so.

I'm just not the groupie you are.

[babylonsister]

4. Sure you have been. Who you kidding?

I've seen your posts and communicated with you. Please don't insult my intelligence.

[Captain Hilts]

5. Yet another example of seeing only what you want to see:

I've praised:
Putting Michelle in charge of relations with military families.
Praising his cabinet choices.
Wishing he were president right NOW.
My plans for attending the inaugural.

And you must have missed the NUMEROUS posts in which I've posted photographs of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt cheering him on. Like this:

FDR: Obama's one tough guy!
ER: Indeed, he doesn't need sycophants like Babylonsister!
FDR: Oh, I always liked groupies and sycophants.
ER: We'll talk about THAT later...

[Shakespeare]

6. I cannot for the life of me understand why some can't reserve judgment til he's actually in office.

There's an almost pathological pessimism and nastiness here lately, and I think it's ultimately a destructive tendency.

Give him a fucking chance, people.

WE WON. And we've elected somebody who's exhibited extraordinary intelligence and judgment--give him just a little while to do some work before you go all victim-y and write off the presidency before it's even begun.

I'm still enjoying the dizzying combination of relief and joy over the election, and I think his choices for the cabinet positions he's chosen so far show an independence and confidence that's refreshing.

It's almost as if everybody has been so locked into pessmism and acrimony here for so long, that they just can't break away from it. And it's a real perspective-warper.

[babylonsister]

7. Thank you so much for your positive response.

Everything you said is spot on. I don't get it either, but the negativism might account for lack of people around these parts lately. I've noticed, and I was gone for a week.

[rvablue]

9. I totally, totally agree! n/t

[nuxvomica]

8. I am also pleased by his overall approach

While I don't agree with specific choices, I think we are beginning to see a grown-up government instead of the sandbox Bush created and filled with cronies and apparatchiks. One of the most insidious legacies of the Bush era is that we may have forgotten what a pragmatic government looks like, or even that such a thing is possible.

[Milo_Bloom]

10. I don't trust ANY politician.

His cabinet choices are cause for conern, but he hasn't DONE anything yet.

So long as he doesn't try to govern from the mythical center, we will be fine.