Obama in Command: The Rolling Stone Interview (good stuff)

[Pirate Smile]

Obama in Command: The Rolling Stone Interview
In an Oval Office interview, the president discusses the Tea Party, the war, the economy and what’s at stake this November



-snip-
How do you feel about the fact that day after day, there's this really destructive attack on whatever you propose? Does that bother you? Has it shocked you?
I don't think it's a shock. I had served in the United States Senate; I had seen how the filibuster had become a routine tool to slow things down, as opposed to what it used to be, which was a selective tool — although often a very destructive one, because it was typically targeted at civil rights and the aspirations of African-Americans who were trying to be freed up from Jim Crow. But I'd been in the Senate long enough to know that the machinery there was breaking down.

EDITED BY ADMIN: COPYRIGHT


http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/17390/209395?RS_show_page=0

[Clio the Leo]

1. kick! nt

[Pirate Smile]

3. I was in a hurry and didn't have time to come up with a catchie subject line to grab attention - he

covers too much ground to synthesize it down easily - and I had to drive the kids to school. :)

[Clio the Leo]

5. Oh, no worries, thanks for posting...

.... and I'm about to sit here with my coffee and release a tirade of excerpts onto the Twitterverse. ;)

[young but wise]

2. Thank you.

:-)

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

4. This is amazing! I'm sending to everyone who's thinks they may not vote...

because they're "so angry" that Obama hasn't done everything they wanted in less than two years!

Thanks so much for sharing!!

K&R!!!!! :kick::kick:

[Pirate Smile]

6. Here is audio of Obama talking about Bob Dylan & Paul McCartney at the WH - Dylan story is great.

http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/videos/50742/210073

[tanyev]

7. Marking to read later.

[BREMPRO]

8. hope everyone here reads this. A reminder that, he's a smart, practical, and effective

leader. The legislative accomplishments under his leadership are impressive and mostly unheralded or criticized for lack of progressive purity. Lets PLEASE not let the Teabaggers win the midterm. A republican led house and or senate would set us back another decade. That would be a DISASTER greater than any nitpicking or complaints we have about Obama and the Dems.

[thereismore]

9. Very analytical. He gets it. I really blame him only for his footdragging re: DADT.

But that will change too, under Pres. Obama.

[Pirate Smile]

12. I think it will be interesting once it is finally repealed to read about the strategy and decisions

that went into doing what they are doing.

I wish they had gotten rid of it faster and earlier but I also know that trying to negotiate legislative changes through both the SENATE and the PENTAGON is not an easy task. It is hard to think of two other institutions more resistant to change. (I can think of one - the Catholic Church. It is worse then both the Senate & the Pentagon)

I think there is a lot of behind the scenes stuff that isn't out in the public yet.

We wont know if I'm right or wrong until after it is done and I truly look forward to the day it is gone for good.

[thereismore]

13. I think when that happens, we will understand what was going on behind the scenes. nt

[Nancy Waterman]

10. Exactly!

I could have had a knock-down, drag-out fight on the public option that might have energized you and The Huffington Post, and we would not have health care legislation now. I could have taken certain positions on aspects of the financial regulatory bill, where we got 90 percent of what we set out to get, and I could have held out for that last 10 percent, and we wouldn't have a bill. You've got to make a set of decisions in terms of "What are we trying to do here? Are we trying to just keep everybody ginned up for the next election, or at some point do you try to win elections because you're actually trying to govern?" I made a decision early on in my presidency that if I had an opportunity to do things that would make a difference for years to come, I'm going to go ahead and take it.

[drm604]

14. Yes Yes Yes!

This is exactly what I've been thinking and saying to people. He has to operate in the real world and he's doing an amazing job considering what he's up against. Like he said elsewhere in the article. The only problems that hit his desk are the difficult ones. The easy ones are solved before they ever get to him. He's often presented with problems where, rather than having to decide between a right and a wrong, he has to decide between a right and a right.

He didn't say it, but I'd imagine that there are also times where he's forced to decide between a wrong and a wrong.

[JDPriestly]

27. This article is significant because it is the first time that I have

sensed that he realizes that he has not reached his goals and that is why we are unhappy. But what reassured me about this article is that Obama not only admits he has failed to reach some important goals but that he will still try to reach some of those goals. Before reading this article, I had sense that Obama had just sort of given up and accepted the idea of a mediocre presidency. I was especially pleased to read his remarks about his plans for an environmental initiative in the next two years. I was also happy to read once again that he has banned torture. I would like to see more done on the torture issue.

The thing I did not like is that he does not speak to equal justice -- to the fact that while poor people, people lacking influence and power are losing their homes or prosecuted if they commit crimes, the really fat-cat criminals are sitting pretty. It is amazing to me that so far I am not hearing about mortgage company CEOs getting prosecuted for some of the fraud they committed.

[108]

34. maybe to your standards, but Obama for me has been anything but mediocre...

All of us have the freedom of looking at things through our ideological glasses...Obama has to govern and get things passed

We would have already had health care reform and looking to improve on it, if previous presidents could have compromised

[JDPriestly]

35. Obama is the head of the Democratic Party.

As such, he should more strongly encourage Blue Dogs to vote with him on big issues. It is reprehensible that Joe Lieberman has a position as a committee chair when he votes against so much of Obama's agenda -- that is poor management of the Party's power and resources. And while that was a decision by Reid, Obama should have let the senators know that he wants more discipline in the Party. These Blue Dogs make Obama look bad.

It would be a lot easier be more supportive of Obama if we progressives could see that he was as tough with the Blue Dogs as he is with progressives. He is not evenhanded in that way. He takes us progressives for granted and treats the Blue Dogs with kid globes. No wonder we feel like neglected stepchildren.

Anyway, this interview made me feel much more positive about Obama's presidency than I did. But he needs to talk to the progressive wing of the Party with respect more often.

[CakeGrrl]

37. Blue Dogs can cast congressional votes

Maybe that's why you perceive him to treat them with "kid gloves". There won't be any legislation to sign if they don't cast a vote.

And I'm not sure how you expect to be assured how "tough" he's being. Maybe this culture's expectations have been artificially raised by reality shows. You're not going to get a live cam in the Oval office or the offices of the capitol building to see the inner workings of what's going on.

[Turborama]

11. K&R Thanks a lot for posting. n/t

[treestar]

15. Great read, thanks!

:kick:

[impik]

16. Amazing interview. AMAZING.

[Gman]

17. "It is inexcusable for any Democrat or progressive right now to stand on the sidelines

in this midterm election. There may be complaints about us not having gotten certain things done, not fast enough, making certain legislative compromises. But right now, we've got a choice between a Republican Party that has moved to the right of George Bush and is looking to lock in the same policies that got us into these disasters in the first place, versus an administration that, with some admitted warts, has been the most successful administration in a generation in moving progressive agendas forward."

--------------------------

But too many "progressives" would rather whine and complain. For some reason it feels good to them rather than get out there and keep working. Just because you voted in 08 doesn't mean things get miraculously fixed. This is long term. It will take 10 years, minimum, to fix the damage from the last 8 years. These things just don't get fixed in 2 years and you don't sit back and whine and complain that something isn't exactly like you want it.

[creon]

33. people do not understand

People do not understand how difficult it is to get laws passed in this country. The GOP is in implacable opposition; the Democratic party is divided and fractious; with almost no party discipline worthy of the name.

Many people, not just progressives, do not regard patience as a virtue. I do not "blame" progressives for being impatient; that is be expected. We, simply, do not have enough progressives in the HoR and Senate to pass the radical reform that I think is indicated. But, Obama has to play the hand that he has been dealt.

[Pirate Smile]

18. kick

[Scurrilous]

19. K & R

:thumbsup:

[newtothegame]

20. Is it typical for a standing president to be interviewed in a magazine like Rolling Stone?

[JDPriestly]

28. It is typical for a standing president to speak to his base before an election.

The Rolling Stone readers are this president's base -- or at least a part of this president's base.

A Republican president might speak to a meeting of the Chamber of Commerce. That's his base.

Not all of Obama's base read the Rolling Stone, but a good number of us do.

Also, the Mainstream Media does not interview Obama so as to really let him speak his mind. This interviewer did not softball Obama (not from the point of view of progressives anyway), but did let Obama speak about the issues on the President's mind.

I am really pleased that Obama was interviewed by Rolling Stone. Frankly, I don't read Time Magazine or Newsweek. And I don't watch cable news or even regular TV -- an occasional clip mostly on DU that's it. I think that most of the media is just about selling soap -- or computer gadgets -- or breakfast cereal, not really about informing the public.

Rolling Stone does a really good job of reporting the news. Harper's does too. As does Mother Jones. Vanity Fair sometimes does the really in depth reporting that I like. Newsweek and Time Magazine are too superficial and flashy for me. Their articles are usually rather short to begin with.

[Drunken Irishman]

29. I think Obama has shown he's no typical president.

:)

[killbotfactory]

21. It's nice to have an intelligent thoughtful president

Anyone who can remember the Bush years and is indifferent about republicans coming back into power is a goddamn fucking idiot.

[CakeGrrl]

23. Couldn't have said it better. n/t

[Tarheel_Dem]

25. +1000

[flamingdem]

22. recommended reading nt

[Blue Owl]

24. REQUIRED reading!

Was more in-depth than I expected -- moreso than most other "media" pieces out there right now.

[JDPriestly]

26. Great interview. I already posted on this in GD.

Everyone should read the interview. Sure, Obama doesn't say everything we would like him to say. But this interview assuaged a lot of my doubts about just where he is trying to lead the country. I feel a lot better after reading it.

[nofurylike]

30. thank you for posting this, Pirate Smile! K&R nt

[Think82]

31. GREAT interview

Now get out there and get out the vote!

[creon]

32. If the problem were easy

This is very important: If the problem were easy, it would not get on my desk. Someone else would have solved it long ago. That is a good insight. An insight just as good: it is not a clash of right and wrong; it is a clash of two rights. Both are pretty wise.

The rest of the interview did not surprise me at all. He said what I expected him to say. I agree with most of what he said.

He is a pretty smart and pretty wise man who is trying to govern this very large, very complicated and very fractious nation.

[creon]

36. more sense

Personally, I think that Obama has more sense than anyone in Washington; more intelligent and prescient than anyone else there.

Unfortunately, that cannot be said about Congress or the Democratic Party. Both organizations are devoid of any wit and wisdom. Both ill serve Obama and the American people.

The GOP has nothing to offer. But, the GOP is much better organized and disciplined.