Why Obama cruises where Bill Clinton stumbled.

[denem]

Obama Gets High Marks From Clinton Administration Veterans

Veterans of President Bill Clinton's administration say there are several reasons why Barack Obama has gotten off to a better start than their former boss.

First, Obama is more disciplined and efficient in making decisions and delegating responsibility than Clinton was back in 1993, when the last Democratic presidency got started, making for a smoother operation at the White House.

Second, the Clinton veterans, some of whom are currently working for Obama, say senior people in the administration coordinate constantly with each other, which sometimes didn't happen under Clinton.

Third, Clinton aides would frequently get into arguments about the timing of policy initiatives. "Today, we don't fight about sequencing" because Obama wants to do so many things at once, says a former Clinton aide who is now on Obama's team.

Another big difference is that the Obama team is more experienced in Washington and more mature than Clinton's team was, Clinton veterans say.

Many White House insiders add that White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, a former Clinton adviser and an ex-congressman from Chicago, is a big reason for the improvement. "Having Rahm there makes a huge difference," says a former top Clinton aide. "He has very good relations with Congress. He knows how to navigate Capitol Hill." By contrast, Clinton and his first chief of staff, Mack McLarty, had to learn that for themselves.

http://www.usnews.com/articles/news/obama/2009/05/01/obama-gets-high-marks-from-clinton-administration-veterans.html

I would add that the Obama Administration knew what was coming. The Clinton Admin. may have assumed a measure of good will from Republicans, and outside the beltway. Obama, for all his talk of bi/post partisanship made no such mistake.

After eight years, Clinton veterans had a pretty good idea of Republican tactics, and must be amused/bemused that the GOP hasn't learned any new tricks.

Finally, Rahm knows the House, but the VP has a pretty fair knowledge of the senate ;)

[lunatica]

1. Yup. That old quality, experience, does work, and there's only one way to get it

Bush appointed hundreds of people, like 'heck of a job Brownie' who had no experience. We've seen how that worked out.

[denem]

3. Without the Clinton Administration,

Obama would be relying on Carter Admin veterans for experience. Not Good.

[lunatica]

5. Things would look very different from out here without the experienced staff

They've made President Obama look like a duck taking to water. Of course he has his Senate experience too, and I'm sure he did a lot of networking because that's his style.

[Captain Hilts]

8. Exactly. They weren't an option for Bubba. Other than Warren Christopher. nt

[CTyankee]

15. And I am grateful for the Clinton admin. as a result.

Good people some of whom were somewhat wasted in the Clinton years because of Clinton's own personal indiscretions (I am not morally against him but his actions did cause us Dems to lose our power and effectiveness).

Now we have a great president who effectively leads. This is refreshing. I am hopeful for the first time in a long, long time...

[Arkana]

18. What makes me chuckle

is that all those folks who squawked during the transition about guys like Rahm Emanuel not being "CHANGE WE CAN BELIEVE IN!!!!" are oddly silent about this.

I knew that Rahm's fighting spirit was one of the main reasons he was chosen as chief of staff--you have to have someone who can run a tight ship in the White House, navigate Capitol Hill successfully, and get the requisite number of votes for your boss's policy initiatives.

It helps that Biden's got 30 years of Senate experience and some invaluable friendships on the Hill, too.

[denem]

24. Change is a Direction. Rahm is a man who can get things done.

[Maven]

2. Of course he gets high marks from Clinton Administration veterans.

He hired half of them!

[denem]

4. But only they are in a position to compare the inner working

of Government and the first 100 days ipso facto.

[Captain Hilts]

9. Having them there helps avoid the mistakes of inexperience, such as get an attack dog as CoStaff. nt

[Cha]

6. And, that's why I

like Rahm and since he and Dean buried the so-called hatchet I like him even more.

[tritsofme]

7. In 1992 Republicans had won 5 of the last 7 presidential elections

In the previous 25 years there had only been a single one term Democratic president.

On many things, he was starting out from scratch. Obama greatly benefits from all of the Clinton veterans he has at his disposal.

Clinton also found himself an outsider in Washington, whereas Obama spent 6 years in the US Senate, building relationships with the legislators he will need to advance his agenda.

And Rahm really is just great at what he does, all of the whiners can shove it.

[Captain Hilts]

10. Republicans gained congressional seats the year Clinton was first elected. BHO not in Sen. for 6yrs

[ProSense]

22. Actually, Senate Dems picked up a seat (57 D to 43 R) when Clinton took office, but

by two years later the Dems lost nine seats (48 D to 53 R).

[AtomicKitten]

11. Pres. Obama's organizational skills are second to none. n/t

[Forkboy]

13. Pfffft

He can't hold a candle to mine....



:hide:

[AtomicKitten]

14. File this.

[Vidar]

12. Keeps his pants zipped.

[Arkana]

20. I think Michelle would probably cut it off if he didn't.

Barack doesn't strike me as the type to cheat on his wife.

[damonm]

23. He's got more brains than that.

Would YOU cheat on Michelle? Anybody short of Catherine Zeta-Jone swould be trading DOWN.

[Jennicut]

16. Perhaps Obama hiring some former Clinton officials was not so bad after all

Experience is good.
I also remember the days of poor Mack McLarty trying to navigate Washington, he had a bit of a tough time though he seemed like a nice guy.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

17. COMMUNITY ORGANIZER

.......with RESPONSIBLITIES, baby!!!! :fistbump:

Palin won't be able to use that line against him again!!!! ;-)

[wyldwolf]

19. "Rahm Emanuel - a big reason for the improvement."

Rahmbo!!!!

[cooolandrew]

21. President Obama mostly uses history as it was intended to learn from mistakes of the past.>

Bill Clinton was a good guy not as aware how bad his adversories were. President Obama has consulted and took consel and perfected the formula.

[WinkyDink]

25. Pres. Obama doesn't have Bill's need to be loved.