The Transition: Speed Is Of The Essence

Face The Nation: Chief Of Staff Says Obama Is Working Faster Building His Team Than Previous Incoming Administrations

(CBS)  Rham Emanuel, whom President-elect Barack Obama named as his Chief of Staff, said it's important that Obama gets his economic team in order quickly, and that he is doing so faster than previous administrations.

Appearing on Face The Nation, Emanuel told host Bob Schieffer that Obama is now “going through the names” for his economic team.

“He has been working tirelessly with the transition team on the development of his economic team. … He wants us to move with deliberate haste - emphasis on deliberate, as well as equal emphasis on haste."

He also said, in relation to the auto industry's troubles, that "Washington needs to look at fast-forwarding the $25 billion that has been provided for retooling the factories for, basically, a more fuel-efficient auto fleet.”

And while Obama has called for passage of an economic recovery act, Emanuel suggested that, during the transition period, Obama would not be participating in the lame-duck session of Congress, as a Senator from Illinois.

"I think that the basic approach has been he's going to be here in Chicago, setting up his economic - not only his economic team, but the policies he wants to outline for the country as soon as he gets sworn in, so we hit the ground running."

Emanuel said it is important that the public and Congress realize that Obama and his administration are not in office yet.

"President-elect Obama has repeated that there's one president, one administration at a time, and so you don't want to get in front of that," Emanuel said.

Columnist David Brooks of The New York Times said that the last thing Obama wants, as president-elect, is accountability without power. "So if he gets in the middle of this, he'll have accountability without the actual power," Brooks told Schieffer.

"And I think also, there's a question of atmospherics. … And I think the nation is ready to start seeing him as a president. And so to be down there on the Senate floor haggling over deals, he does not want to be seen as a legislative figure or a deal-making figure."

Brooks (left) said that Emanuel gave him the impression that Democrats "want to do everything at once. They want, as you called it, the big-bang theory. I think that's a disastrous mistake. You're going to tell me you're going to solve an incredibly difficult economic crisis, at the same time you're going to reorganize 14 percent of the American economy? Health care? I think that would be a gigantic overreach."

Brooks argued that if Obama does not take a slower approach - tackling the economy and health care in stages over several months, building faith in Washington - "in my opinion you're going to freak out the country."

John Harris, editor of Politico, also warned against overreach on the part of the incoming administration.

"I do think there are sort of two theories of presidential power at stake here," he said. "One says you're never more powerful than on January 21st, the day after inauguration, and you spend down that account, and you better get as much as you can, because it's going down.

"The other, as David suggests, there's a slow but steady approach that says a president can, by doing modest things first, getting them done, being effective, build up reservoirs, and so you can actually have more leverage, more power in year two, three and four than you do in year one."

Harris pointed to President Bill Clinton as an example, with the result that he lost the majority in Congress two years after his inauguration. "There was a lot of overreach in that first year, where they did try to do too much. And his popularity went down and down and down. He actually had more power after he got his clock cleaned in 1994."

"Obama, I think, will avoid that mistake," Brooks said.

Brooks was less optimistic about the Republican Party, following their losses on Tuesday.

"World of pain," Brooks said. "A generation of pain. 1964, it was so much better than now. In '64, they had a coherent belief system. They lost, they didn't persuade the American people about it, but they understood where they wanted to take the country.

"Now it's just a circular firing squad, with everybody attacking each other, and no coherent belief system, no leaders. You've got half the party waiting for Sarah Palin to come and rescue them. The other half is waiting for Bobby Jindal, the Louisiana governor, to come rescue them. But no set of beliefs. Really a decayed conservative infrastructure. It's just a world of pain."

Harris said that the party has to decide whether they are looking for "another Ronald Reagan to carry them out of the wilderness? By the way, that took Reagan years, a full generation to do that. Or are they looking for a Republican version of Bill Clinton?"

Harris (left) said that the party is now divided into two wings: the "hell, no" wing and a "yes, but" wing. "The 'hell, no' is going to fight [Obama] every step of the way" on ideological grounds.

"The other will say, 'Tes, we agree with a lot of his objectives; we want to do it in a somewhat different way.' It really, I think, goes right to a tactical and philosophical fault line in the Republican Party."

Brooks was not convinced that Sarah Palin could be taken seriously as the GOP's next Ronald Reagan.

"Well, the 'hell, no' group is rallying around her," he said. "And this past week, I don't think, has been particularly flattering to her, the McCain people - and the whole thing has been a complete disaster. They've attacked her for her lack of human capital and for being a diva.

"I'm not sure it's all fair, but one would not say she has spent her life preparing for an intellectual revolution to lead the party out of the wilderness. Let's put it that way."

Brooks declared himself a part of the "yes, but" wing. "You know, this is where the American people are," he said. "And, fundamentally, the conservative movement failed (and I've been in it my entire life) because it hasn't addressed the problems of today, the rise of China and Russia, the rise of inequality, energy, health care. It's great to worry about Reagan. I loved Reagan, but those days are over."

---

Read the full "Face the Nation" transcript here.

By CBSNews.com producer David Morgan.

[hitoyou1]

It is. They need to find a way to get that 70B in there hands. They will all be rich by the time they get out of office.

[irmcvet97]

Sometimes I forget what it''s like to be young and then along comes a leader like this! He actually doesn''t seem intimidated by this and seems to be moving very quickly to confront it. The Speed he is moving at is not so quickly though that proper assessment can''t be done. IF we learned anything during his Campaign, it was that Obama is a quick learner! When this all started I found myself, as so many others in the camp of Hillary Clinton. As the Campaign continued the cool, thoughtful way this young man approached everything and the fact that when he made a mistake, it didn''t happen again started to change my thinking! We have a good one here folks with a chance to be great!

[pinewalker-2009]

Since when is the rise of China and/or Russia a problem??? No wonder conservatives lost the presidency. As for the rise in inequality, healthcare and energy costs, these have happened under President Bush''s watch. He has been so obsessed and pre-occupied with WAR that he couldn''t proffer good legislation for congress to consider. He only wanted to enrich the rich, not advance peace throughout the world. Oh, yeah...we "fellow americans" are responsible also for overspending, letting our eyes and purchasing appetite far and beyond exceed our capacity to pay, but we learned from "Uncle Sam" that operating in the red is SOP so who''s to blame???

[credibility2]

Pinewalker, exactly how old are you anyway? The issues you itemize weren''t just issues that happened since Bush took office. You sound like script right from the Obama playbook. These problems have been around for decades. They wax and wane under different administrations, including the Dems. Please stop the blame game; you might want to study some history to get a better appreciation for the nation and its ups and downs politically, socially and economically. It might help to put things into their proper perspective. Hopefully you''re not one of those Obama supporters who will expect immediate resolution to whatever conflict(s) is confronting all of us just because you''re possibly accustomed to immediacy and having everything go your way.

[caliengineer]

How long before Brahma forms his own SS?

[mphcpa]

It''s easy when you are changing the our whole economic system, to move fast. He is throwing out capitalism and bringing in Marxism.

Just remember this Some pigs are more equal than others!!!

No wonder Europe loves BO (phew) he want to bring us down to their level. Cannot wait for Socialized Medicine so I can start begging for an MRI and then the governement says no.

Under BO (phew what a stench) we are mortgaging our grandchildren''s future. And to those who will bring up the 700 Billion Payoff for the criminals stating that Bush wanted it well just remember Pelosi was so hot for it! If Bush did not do anything and let it all fall to be rebilt you would blame him for it. He cannot win.

For all those who want to do their patroitc duty by paying more taxes you can--Just ask your tax preparer to not itemize your deductions, do not deduct any expenses from self employed income and you will be a SUPER PATRIOT and Biden will personally thant you that''s if he can remember what he said.

[whosaid1]

oh I''m sure that the liberal press will validate that he has done it FASTER, BETTER and with more CLASS than any President in American History...

[bjcone8559]

God''s speed Mr. President Elect!! Be ready to kick the door down on Jan. 20!! (Don''t forget to bring some lysol)

[dburfears]

whosaid1

MPHCPA

caliengineer

Hitoyou1

Keep doing what you are doing! In fact, I think you are not being loud enough. Louder please!

[materiality]

Just where do the people screaming socialism think we''re going to get the money to fix the economy? The Bush tax cuts for the richest Americans dumped trillions of our dollars into their pockets. THAT was wealth redistribution. Ending those huge tax breaks for the last people who could possibly need them isn''t socialism--it''s sanity.

[xlib]

pinewalker-who has had the majority in Congress for the past two years?? Who ran freddie and fannie, who made the big bucks off of fannie and freddie? Who brought us the Community Reinvestiment Act?? AND, where are the posters that remind us quite frequently that Congress makes the policies, they have the real power, NOT the president.
And, what was the unemployment rate before you libs took over??Do believe it was below 5%.
NOw, get fitted for your brown shirt and put a little hussle in that goosestep.

[liceu93]

President-elect Obama has been moving quickly and intelligently with the transition. He has to, after 8 years of Bush-Cheney-Republican misrule, our nation is in the worst mess we''ve been in since the Depression. However, given his intelligence, discipline and focus, I think he has the best chance of any incoming President since JFK to accomplish what needs to be accomplished in order to get our nation out of the hole that Bush dug us into.

[whosaid1]

liceu93: Can we wait till he completes a term before we put him on Mount Rushmore......?

[i_am_dj]

keystonebull;

So since bush''s could fall from 90 to 27 Obama could not rise?

I think it is possible for it to go either way. Four years is a long time. And those who want him impeached are those who hate him. Thats not going to happen but it is still going to circulate

[paulstewart9]

America must also right away push on education. This can never wait - its like child care. You can''t let your child''s care go for any time at all as the consequences are long term or perhaps even terminal. This is just maintaining your human capital. Indeed, it is building and leading the world in it, which America is failing to do right now. Health care is a must - again, its about not only healthy people, but about human capital as competitive edge.

Social security is important too, but maybe it waits a bit. What helps it right away is to get the financial system stabilized and rebuilt and the economy going full throttle.

So, I would encourage, no actually, I would urge, Obama -- pursue all these priorities. And, do that in a way that is knitted together, that is synergistic, and produces non-linear positive results.

Go for it. Just do it. Now! Yes we can!

[paulstewart9]

These are unprecedented times. Obama has unprecedented opportunity. Yes, there are huge challenges, but with the right agenda, things will work out. My advice, don''t short change. Don''t miss out on any objectives.

How will it all be done? It will come to us. Where there is a will, there is a way. Right now, there is tremendous will. Don''t worry, the way is there. If it is not obvious, don''t worry, "It will come to us". Put everyone to work on figuring it out, get everyone focused on what is to be accomplished and let ''er rip.

[paulstewart9]

These are unprecedented times. Obama has unprecedented opportunity. Yes, there are huge challenges, but with the right agenda, things will work out. My advice, don''t short change. Don''t miss out on any objectives.

How will it all be done? It will come to us. Where there is a will, there is a way. Right now, there is tremendous will. Don''t worry, the way is there. If it is not obvious, don''t worry, "It will come to us". Put everyone to work on figuring it out, get everyone focused on what is to be accomplished and let ''er rip.

America is still the strongest engine on the planet. It has the resources to do this. Yes, it must quit its war in Iraq, asap, yes it must be cautious about getting into more wars, yes it must reduce its military expenditure - but that is not protecting it from terrorists anyway. It must invest in its middle class to keep them and the economy afloat. Invest in its economy in intelligent ways - help the car industry get to green cars and lead the way. Get off foreign oil, and invest in alternate energy and energy efficiency.

[rafterman1]

===I''''m 78 years old and have lived through many elections but this is the first time I have seen so many people against the man elected. Usually they just accept him but this time they are not and the country remains devided. Already email going around to go to a web site to impeach him and he is not in office yet. I don''''t think anything will come of that but he does not have the backing of all the people as he needs. I see a change of command in 4 years.===
Posted by keystonebull

Then why did Obama win by seven million votes, the largest victory margin since 1996? The color of his skin is the main reason why some people won''t accept him and there isn''t anything Obama can do about that. Its time the right wing stops denying the obvious, a point the right has been fighting tooth and nail since day one because they don''t want to admit it. Obam is popular. The right pretended the huge crowds didn''t go to see Obama. The right pretends that the margin of victory wasn''t that big. And the right pretends that "so many people (are) against the man elected". But none of that changes reality. Obama is hugely popular and the majority are willing to give him a chance to prove he was worth the effort.

[wardoglrs]

You people who slam GWB & DC don''t realize that the Government is and has been for a very very long time taken over by the Elitist. When will you that trust gov wake up to the real nightmare and take charge for your Independents Liberties & Freedom''s.

Obama is hiring the same old peeps that Clintons used, these people are deadly to your change I just hope that your not fallen in love with this Neo Con
to the point of blindness to the already desperate poor people that you forgot about and left for dead
along with the death of our only hope for change is as simple as obeying the constitution.
The Constitution is designed for you and each and for all individuals good or bad smart or dumb healthy or disabled. This is your hope not Obama rather the Constitution.

[caldwellptr]

All those folks in fear that the country has turned to Socialism, and that Guns are going to be taken away .... I sometimes wish I could be as easily duped into believing anything.

[tibu987]

Let''s all give Obama a chance to prove himself.

My biggest concern that, hopefully, he will not surround himself with cronies from tne Chicago machine. Emanuel is already one too many.

NO to Emil Jones, Jesse Jackson, Jr., Bill Daley,et al.

A plus though if he should select Valerie Jarrett, one of his campaign managers a very sharp lady.

[tibu987]

To all the hillbilly rednecks out there.

Give Obama a chance, he may surprise you.

Don''t let your prejudice interfere with your common sense.

[likeitis5050]

To all the hillbilly rednecks out there.

Give Obama a chance, he may surprise you.

Don''''t let your prejudice interfere with your common sense.


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

Posted by tibu987

Great way to motivate...hick

[likeitis5050]

All those folks in fear that the country has turned to Socialism, and that Guns are going to be taken away .... I sometimes wish I could be as easily duped into believing anything.


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

Posted by caldwellptr

You may have been...but that''s how the kool-aid is supposed to work.

[likeitis5050]

Then why did Obama win by seven million votes, the largest victory margin since 1996? The color of his skin is the main reason why some people won''''t accept him and there isn''''t anything Obama can do about that.

*************

He was elected by just as many for the color of his skin...so it works both ways. 48% didn''t vote for him...but if you really think 48% were turned off by his color you are ignorant beyond belief....worse than a red neck. 48% had serious reservations about his qualifications, relationships with radical, anti-American activists, and his economic policies based on punishing the very people who make this country tick...the workers...specifically those who have made it to the $225,000 figure in earnings. Now in that 48% you had the usual 11%..maybe 13% who didn''t want the black man in...balance that with 12% who voted simply because he was black and ignored all other areas of consideration.

So boil it down to this....by a very large margin he won because he is black...something he can''t even take credit for...so what did he actually do that gave him the upper hand to be in there? I don''t want to hear about ''the people'' or ''his change plans''. Name 3 things he has done that he is personally accountable for that gives him the right to say he''s qualified.

[sayfud-deen]

what i don''t get and i probably never,will is how people can feel so good about somebody walking all overthemlike bush and his gang have done for the last eight years and that is ok! now youhave a guy who at least appears to have the best for the people in mind ,and ihear a bunch of crying! what,is it ok to get screwed as long as it''s a whiteman! what bush and co. did to this country and other countries around the world is atrocious! why do you think the u.s. is hated so much,by most of the world! and what bush has done to this country, you have''nt seen the half of it yet! now you want this man to jump through hoops! i can''t see him doing any worse than bush and his gang or mccain and palin!

[likeitis5050]

All of those associations are non-existent. You gullible McCain nazis were TOLD to believe it, and you did - even though there was NO EVIDENCE to substantiate the claims.

If Obama was white and had the same platform, he would have won by 27% - not 7%.


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

Posted by IwasHungry68

The Holocaust never happened either, did it? He''s on record for these associations...like it or not. But don''t dismiss it by saying it ''never happened'' and think people will simply accept your stupid remark as fact. If you choose not to believe it, that''s one thing. Don''t say it never happened and insult the intelligence of people who obviously out number you.

[valentin73]

David Brooks, I agree with all you say about taking things over a spread of time, versus trying to tackle everthing at once. I say, Let Obama tackle the issues as he best knows how, if and when, should their be flaws in his approach , then comment all you want to. You can then explain your strategy to him (keep in mind you are only a journalist, and due to the 1st Bill of Rights, you tend to speak a little too much, before hand). That is just my opinion (which of course is also granted under that same Amendment, only mine is called "freedom of speech" while yours is called "freedom of the press"...

[likeitis5050]

what i don''''t get and i probably never,will is how people can feel so good about somebody walking all overthemlike bush and his gang have done for the last eight years and that is ok! now youhave a guy who at least appears to have the best for the people in mind

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

Posted by sayfud-deen

You don''t get it. Bush was a disaster. His legacy is filthy. But that is still no reason to usher in someone simply because he will make history by way of being the first in something...in this case black. He is dangerous. He has dangerous ideas...and has already broken promises since his acceptance speech. And it tickles me the way suddenly our support of this man is crucial to his success....since when is supporting a president important to anything? Bush was blasted...but suddenly, even Chris Matthews declares his job is to see that BO succeeds...his job isn''t to report news anymore...it''s to make sure BO succeeds.

So, no...you don''t get it. BO is regurgitating Clintons Administration but wanted nothing to do with Hillary or Bill...interesting how his platform for CHANGE IS COMING involves resurrecting Clinton''s Administration. But come he11 or high water, even if we have to dummy down everything normally done to accommodate the first black man...it has to be done because HE CAN NOT FAIL...the world is counting on us to make him the greatest thing since Christ. And the heavenly choir sings.....

[ioweign]

I am part of the "hell, No" crowd, I won''''t support this RADICAL "far-left" Liberal "nut-case" of a President Barack Obama!!! He is going to be the most ANTI-busiess president in American History. He is going to drive many small-business out of business with his "far-left" anti-business policies, sending millions to the unemployment lines over the next year!!!

Posted by scb1111_1 at 05:32 PM : Nov 09, 2008

It appears that the last 8 years of Boosh and his trickle economy and business taxcuts has already put the US 75 percent down that road...

[sandy19731]

I am part of the "hell, No" crowd, I won''''t support this RADICAL "far-left" Liberal "nut-case" of a President Barack Obama!!! He is going to be the most ANTI-busiess president in American History. He is going to drive many small-business out of business with his "far-left" anti-business policies, sending millions to the unemployment lines over the next year!!!

Posted by scb1111_1 at 05:32 PM : Nov 09, 2008
Actually,
I think your poor grammar and spelling will probably drive you out of business before Obama will.

[rafterman1]

===I don''''t think race had as much to do with it as you think. The thing that turned millions off was Rev Wright, Rekzo, Bill Ayers and his wife, Larry Sinclair, Farrahkon, The Catholic Priest, His back ground and the people that backed him in Chicago.===
Posted by keystonebull

I think race had everything to do with it. Obama doesn''t have any more skeletons in his closet than anybody else (many of those "issues" were exagerated by the right, like Ayers). But a (small) percentage of people just errupted in rage over Obama. Look at Hillary supporters. She and Obama agreed on 95 percent of their positions - some Hillary supporters even accused Obama of stealing here ideas. She also had just as many skeletons (Whitewater, Vince Foster, Health Care debacle). Yet Hillary was great while Obama was the devil. How can that be if they are so similar in their views? And was Obama really that much different than even McCain? They probably shared half their views.

===That is in the past and I think in the future he will never get as high in popularity as Bush was at one time but I do believe his popularity will equal Bush''''s low rating.===
Posted by keystonebull

Bush''s high in popularity was the result of 9-11 and the country getting behind him. He wasted that "capital" soon enough and he never had any sort of strong popularity on his own.

[whosaid1]

I''ve been voting for over 40 years...and during that period I have, depending upon those running, voted for candidates from both of the parties. Over the last few elections I have voted for the Republican candidate because the older I get, the more conservative I become. However, I should also say that McCain was not my choice during the primaries...but when he was selected as the Republican candidate, I had no choice but to support him. Why...because I saw Obama as too inexperienced and too liberal. Now, having said that, my attitude is; that, Obama is to be the President...there''s nothing we can do about that...so, I hope he does well!!! I''ll give him the benefit of the doubt. I certainly don''t share the attitude of many...that he''s the solution to all that%u2019s wrong with American. Based on his inexperience, I''m don%u2019t think his selection of Rham Emanuel is a bad thing...yeah he''s a "tough nut"...but he''s a "get it done" kind of guy. Obama needs a VERY strong team around him if he is to be successful.

[stevemccoy7]

Doood!...Barack..you better slown down man...Already making fun of old ladies, appointing hyper-partisan folk..Getting the Iranian president all angry..and getting praises from a Jew hater, Louis Farrakan...dang..

[rafterman1]

===I too thought I knew it all when I was young but realized I didn''''t when I got older. They will be the same way.===
Posted by keystonebull

Young people are a lot smarter and more mature these days. They also have more information at their disposal thanks to the internet, 24 hour new media and other technologies. It doesn''t matter how smart you were or weren''t when you were younger. That was then. This is now. It only matters how smart kids are now. And it''s smarter than you and I were at that age.

Again, assuming young people aren''t as smart as you because they didn''t vote the way you did is pretty arrogant.

[downsteamjim]

The media has yet to try to find out who Obama is. If he appoints Rev. White to the U.N. or Ayers to Sect. of Defense, the media would work overtime to find a reason to approve the choice.

[downsteamjim]

Rafterman: Who knows anything about Obama? The ''cult of personality'' worked for Mao and Kim il Jong, but is it what America needs.

[hawksprings]

On other news sites you can read how Obama is already going back on his campaign promise about Off-shore drilling. He is planning an executive order to overturn areas that have been opened up.

But yet he promises to get us off foreign oil in 10 years.
- with no new drilling and apparently even cutting back what we do now.
- with no new nuclear plants.
- with promising to bankrupt coal companies if they try to grow.

I would call Obama a liar, but we mustn''t speak ill of our Glorious Leader.

[downsteamjim]

HawkSprings: You are treading close to blasphemy.

[rafterman1]

===Rafterman: Who knows anything about Obama? The ''''cult of personality'''' worked for Mao and Kim il Jong, but is it what America needs.===
Posted by downsteamjim

After two years of a neverending campaign, where the media crawls up the candidates'' ***, you are telling me that we still don''t know about Obama? No one''s buying that anymore.

Mao and Kim don''t have elections. So a cult of personality has no merit in this country.

[whosaid1]

Rafterman1: What you say about the young and how "smart" they are due to exposure to the internet, I agree with...I''m continually surprised by my grandchildren. However don''t think all of us "old" folks don''t "play" with computers as well...I worked for years with the Defense Department and I''ve been exposed to computer technology since the very beginning. Now, have said all that, I think what keystonebull was referring to was the WISDOM that comes with age...it''s not taught by schooling and the internet...

[downsteamjim]

Rafterman: The ''Cult of Personality'' is alive in well in the Messiah. By the way, Obama''s first election was done by removing all opposition.

[rafterman1]

===I would call Obama a liar, but we mustn''''t speak ill of our Glorious Leader.===
Posted by HawkSprings

Now you know how we felt listening to Bush worshippers give excuse after excuse on why nothing was ever Bush''s fault.

Let''s see if you ''cons put your money where your mouth is and support "our president", like you told us for eight years. So far, I''m not seeing too much support.

[downsteamjim]

Rafterman: Bush let me down by being a big spender. Obama plans to be even worse. Bush let me down by being pro illegal immigration, Obama is in lock step with Bush here. Bush let me down with campaign reform. Obama supported Bush here and beat Bush''s record of campaign spending.

[rafterman1]

===Rafterman1: What you say about the young and how "smart" they are due to exposure to the internet, I agree with...I''''m continually surprised by my grandchildren. However don''''t think all of us "old" folks don''''t "play" with computers as well...I worked for years with the Defense Department and I''''ve been exposed to computer technology since the very beginning. Now, have said all that, I think what keystonebull was referring to was the WISDOM that comes with age...it''''s not taught by schooling and the internet...===
Posted by whosaid1

I''m not saying all the "old timers" aren''t technology-savvy or that they aren''t smart because they voted for McCain. I was strictly responding to keystonebull, who said young people under 28 should not be allowed to vote - apparently because they didn''t choose McCain. That is an arrogant view.

As far as wisdom goes, we''ve seen what "wisdom" has gotten us over the years. These same old failig policies for decades. Wisdom also means stubborness - not changing a failing way.

[downsteamjim]

Running off of a cliff will get you change, but is it wise.

[samthetvcat]

---"The other, as David suggests, there''s a slow but steady approach that says a president can, by doing modest things first, getting them done, being effective, build up reservoirs, and so you can actually have more leverage, more power in year two, three and four than you do in year one."---

I wonder whether the debate stems from the fact that Congress is a co-equal branch of Government and a lot of them are going to be up for re-election in two years such that they might feel they have the time to pace themselves for years three and four. Has any Congress in every maintained their majority two years when both branches and the President are from the same party?

I wonder too whether paradoxically, it might possibly be the leaders of the party who never have to worry about getting unseated that might be pushing for the more aggressive agenda - like how we saw different behavior with the bailout bill depending on how tight a re-election bid the member of Congress was likely to face. If Ted Kennedy feels like passing healthcare by the end of year one and he''s got the votes to do it, does Barack really have the political juice to say no?

That dynamic between Congress and the President might be something interesting to watch unfold . . .

[nearl4511]

Still licking wounds?

Bitter bitter, tsk. tsk.

Everything I have seen so far bythe Obama camp SMACKs of,.............


Total professionalism. What a breath of fresh air.

[whosaid1]

Rafterman1 : I obviosuly missed keystonebull mention of age requirement to vote...must have been an earlier posting? I do however find your definition of WISDOM to be interesting ("Wisdom also means stubborness"). Where did you learn that??

[downsteamjim]

Near14511: Running down 87 year old Nancy Reagan really shows a lot of class.