Obama’s Bailout Bunch Brings Us More of the Same

[Allan from Fallbrook]

Breeze: No question that Obama brings considerable intellectual horsepower to the equation, and his academic record speaks for itself.

The unanswered question is the one posed by the article that started this thread: Where is the “change” and the break with the status quo ante we’ve been promised? His appointments, starting with Rahm Emanuel, look to be more of the same and many of them are intimately tied to the very mess they’ve been tasked to fix.

Also, most true conservatives loath Bush as much as you do.

I’d be curious to hear your thoughts about Rubin, Emanuel, et al.

[Arraya]

But in a year or less you will see that the only *change* Obama is bringing is a cosmetic one: skin color and a catchy slogan. Is that enough to steer us through this crisis? LOL.

This is very indicative of how superficial the US has become. We confuse fancy marketing for substance, catchy phrases for meaning.

Obama is kind of like Chance Gardner from the movie “Being There”. Each person projects their own impression of whom they want him to be.

“I am new enough on the national political scene that I serve as a blank screen on which people of vastly different political stripes project their own views.”
— Barack Obama, “The Audacity of Hope”

The Rights created Che Guevara persona is equally ridiculous as some of Lefts savior projection. He is a company man, no more, no less.

The *Change* is baked in the cake and Obama’s job is to get us to eat it.

allen: Thanks, I thought you would like the Faust reference;)

[Arraya]

But in a year or less you will see that the only *change* Obama is bringing is a cosmetic one: skin color and a catchy slogan. Is that enough to steer us through this crisis? LOL.

This is very indicative of how superficial the US has become. We confuse fancy marketing for substance, catchy phrases for meaning.

Obama is kind of like Chance Gardner from the movie “Being There”. Each person projects their own impression of whom they want him to be.

“I am new enough on the national political scene that I serve as a blank screen on which people of vastly different political stripes project their own views.”
— Barack Obama, “The Audacity of Hope”

The Rights created Che Guevara persona is equally ridiculous as some of Lefts savior projection. He is a company man, no more, no less.

The *Change* is baked in the cake and Obama’s job is to get us to eat it.

allen: Thanks, I thought you would like the Faust reference;)

[Arraya]

But in a year or less you will see that the only *change* Obama is bringing is a cosmetic one: skin color and a catchy slogan. Is that enough to steer us through this crisis? LOL.

This is very indicative of how superficial the US has become. We confuse fancy marketing for substance, catchy phrases for meaning.

Obama is kind of like Chance Gardner from the movie “Being There”. Each person projects their own impression of whom they want him to be.

“I am new enough on the national political scene that I serve as a blank screen on which people of vastly different political stripes project their own views.”
— Barack Obama, “The Audacity of Hope”

The Rights created Che Guevara persona is equally ridiculous as some of Lefts savior projection. He is a company man, no more, no less.

The *Change* is baked in the cake and Obama’s job is to get us to eat it.

allen: Thanks, I thought you would like the Faust reference;)

[Arraya]

But in a year or less you will see that the only *change* Obama is bringing is a cosmetic one: skin color and a catchy slogan. Is that enough to steer us through this crisis? LOL.

This is very indicative of how superficial the US has become. We confuse fancy marketing for substance, catchy phrases for meaning.

Obama is kind of like Chance Gardner from the movie “Being There”. Each person projects their own impression of whom they want him to be.

“I am new enough on the national political scene that I serve as a blank screen on which people of vastly different political stripes project their own views.”
— Barack Obama, “The Audacity of Hope”

The Rights created Che Guevara persona is equally ridiculous as some of Lefts savior projection. He is a company man, no more, no less.

The *Change* is baked in the cake and Obama’s job is to get us to eat it.

allen: Thanks, I thought you would like the Faust reference;)

[Arraya]

But in a year or less you will see that the only *change* Obama is bringing is a cosmetic one: skin color and a catchy slogan. Is that enough to steer us through this crisis? LOL.

This is very indicative of how superficial the US has become. We confuse fancy marketing for substance, catchy phrases for meaning.

Obama is kind of like Chance Gardner from the movie “Being There”. Each person projects their own impression of whom they want him to be.

“I am new enough on the national political scene that I serve as a blank screen on which people of vastly different political stripes project their own views.”
— Barack Obama, “The Audacity of Hope”

The Rights created Che Guevara persona is equally ridiculous as some of Lefts savior projection. He is a company man, no more, no less.

The *Change* is baked in the cake and Obama’s job is to get us to eat it.

allen: Thanks, I thought you would like the Faust reference;)

[Allan from Fallbrook]

arraya: You’re welcome on the Goethe/Faust reference. My grandma left Germany in 1935 (she was a teacher at a girl’s college near Heidelberg), and she used Goethe to illustrate quite a few morality lessons, as well as to show how a country as educated and intelligent as Germany could bring Hitler to power and ecstatically so.

On another note, and referencing another post: Have you read up at all on Smedley Butler and the US/USMC during the Banana Wars? I’d be curious as to your thoughts. I spent three years down there during the mid-1980s and it completely altered my view of the world, to say the least.

You mentioned Butler regarding uncovering a planned coup during the 1930s, but I was interested to see if you knew of his exploits during the Banana Wars. He was like the Zelig of the 1920s and 1930s, and was a driving force behind the Marine Corps’ SMW (Small Wars Manual), which has become the bible of counterinsurgency. It was written in 1940, and we were using it in the 1980s. Fascinating read.

[Allan from Fallbrook]

arraya: You’re welcome on the Goethe/Faust reference. My grandma left Germany in 1935 (she was a teacher at a girl’s college near Heidelberg), and she used Goethe to illustrate quite a few morality lessons, as well as to show how a country as educated and intelligent as Germany could bring Hitler to power and ecstatically so.

On another note, and referencing another post: Have you read up at all on Smedley Butler and the US/USMC during the Banana Wars? I’d be curious as to your thoughts. I spent three years down there during the mid-1980s and it completely altered my view of the world, to say the least.

You mentioned Butler regarding uncovering a planned coup during the 1930s, but I was interested to see if you knew of his exploits during the Banana Wars. He was like the Zelig of the 1920s and 1930s, and was a driving force behind the Marine Corps’ SMW (Small Wars Manual), which has become the bible of counterinsurgency. It was written in 1940, and we were using it in the 1980s. Fascinating read.

[Allan from Fallbrook]

arraya: You’re welcome on the Goethe/Faust reference. My grandma left Germany in 1935 (she was a teacher at a girl’s college near Heidelberg), and she used Goethe to illustrate quite a few morality lessons, as well as to show how a country as educated and intelligent as Germany could bring Hitler to power and ecstatically so.

On another note, and referencing another post: Have you read up at all on Smedley Butler and the US/USMC during the Banana Wars? I’d be curious as to your thoughts. I spent three years down there during the mid-1980s and it completely altered my view of the world, to say the least.

You mentioned Butler regarding uncovering a planned coup during the 1930s, but I was interested to see if you knew of his exploits during the Banana Wars. He was like the Zelig of the 1920s and 1930s, and was a driving force behind the Marine Corps’ SMW (Small Wars Manual), which has become the bible of counterinsurgency. It was written in 1940, and we were using it in the 1980s. Fascinating read.

[Allan from Fallbrook]

arraya: You’re welcome on the Goethe/Faust reference. My grandma left Germany in 1935 (she was a teacher at a girl’s college near Heidelberg), and she used Goethe to illustrate quite a few morality lessons, as well as to show how a country as educated and intelligent as Germany could bring Hitler to power and ecstatically so.

On another note, and referencing another post: Have you read up at all on Smedley Butler and the US/USMC during the Banana Wars? I’d be curious as to your thoughts. I spent three years down there during the mid-1980s and it completely altered my view of the world, to say the least.

You mentioned Butler regarding uncovering a planned coup during the 1930s, but I was interested to see if you knew of his exploits during the Banana Wars. He was like the Zelig of the 1920s and 1930s, and was a driving force behind the Marine Corps’ SMW (Small Wars Manual), which has become the bible of counterinsurgency. It was written in 1940, and we were using it in the 1980s. Fascinating read.

[Allan from Fallbrook]

arraya: You’re welcome on the Goethe/Faust reference. My grandma left Germany in 1935 (she was a teacher at a girl’s college near Heidelberg), and she used Goethe to illustrate quite a few morality lessons, as well as to show how a country as educated and intelligent as Germany could bring Hitler to power and ecstatically so.

On another note, and referencing another post: Have you read up at all on Smedley Butler and the US/USMC during the Banana Wars? I’d be curious as to your thoughts. I spent three years down there during the mid-1980s and it completely altered my view of the world, to say the least.

You mentioned Butler regarding uncovering a planned coup during the 1930s, but I was interested to see if you knew of his exploits during the Banana Wars. He was like the Zelig of the 1920s and 1930s, and was a driving force behind the Marine Corps’ SMW (Small Wars Manual), which has become the bible of counterinsurgency. It was written in 1940, and we were using it in the 1980s. Fascinating read.

[TheBreeze]

Obama mentioned several things in the interview that he would do differently:

(1) Bailouts will be directed to homeowners instead of banks. I’d prefer no bailouts, but if we’re going to have them, let’s help people try to stay in their homes as opposed to paying the banks full price for crappy loans.

(2) Different approach to the automakers as discussed above

(3) Major focus on alternative energy:

(CBS) Kroft: When the price of oil was at $147 a barrel, there were a lot of spirited and profitable discussions that were held on energy independence. Now you’ve got the price of oil under $60.

Mr. Obama: Right.

Kroft: Does doing something about energy is it less important now than…

Mr. Obama: It’s more important. It may be a little harder politically, but it’s more important.

Kroft: Why?

Mr. Obama: Well, because this has been our pattern. We go from shock to trance. You know, oil prices go up, gas prices at the pump go up, everybody goes into a flurry of activity. And then the prices go back down and suddenly we act like it’s not important, and we start, you know filling up our SUVs again.

And, as a consequence, we never make any progress. It’s part of the addiction, all right. That has to be broken. Now is the time to break it.

(4) Re-regulation of the financial markets

Kroft: How high a priority are you placing on re-regulation of the financial markets?

Mr. Obama: I think it’s a top priority. I think that we have to restore a sense of trust, transparency, openness in our financial system. And keep in mind that the deregulation process, it wasn’t just one party. I think there’s a lot of blame to spread around.

But, hopefully, everybody’s learned their lesson. And the answer is not heavy-handed regulations that crush the entrepreneurial spirit and risk taking of American capitalism. That’s what’s made our economy great. But it is to restore a sense of balance.

(5) Closing Guantanamo/stopping torture

(6) redeploying troops out of Iraq into Afghanistan

(7) Not being an idealogue/being willing to change direction:

Kroft: There’s been talk on Capitol Hill and a number of Democratic congressmen have proposed programs that are part of sort of a new New Deal. The possibility of reviving agencies like the Home Ownership Loan Corporation.

Mr. Obama: Two points I’d make on this. Number one, although there are some parallels to the problems that we’re seeing now and what we say back in the ’30s, no period is exactly the same. For us to simply recreate what existed back in the ’30s in the 21st century, I think would be missing the boat. We’ve gotta come up with solutions that are true to our times and true to this moment. And that’s gonna be our job. I think the basic principle that government has a role to play in kick starting an economy that has ground to a halt is sound.

I think our basic principle that this is a free market system and that that has worked for us, that it creates innovation and risk taking, I think that’s a principle that we’ve gotta hold to as well. But what I don’t wanna do is get bottled up in a lot of ideology and is this conservative or liberal. My interest is finding something that works.

And whether it’s coming from FDR or it’s coming from Ronald Reagan, if the idea is right for the times then we’re gonna apply it. And things that don’t work we’re gonna get rid of.

(8) Communicating clearly and honestly with the American people

Kroft: Are you gonna make a lot of speeches? Are you gonna talk a lot to the American people on television and radio?

Mr. Obama: You know, I’m not sure that the American people are looking for a lot of speeches. I think what they’re looking for is action. But one of the things that I do think is important is to be able to explain to the American people what you’re doing, and why you’re doing it. That is something that I think every great president has been able to do. From FDR to Lincoln to John Kennedy to Eisenhower. I mean, I think that they were people who were able to say ‘Here’s the direction we’re going. Here’s why I think it’s important. Here are the possible dangers or challenges. But ultimately, you know, this is gonna lead us to a better America.’ And I want to make sure that I can recreate a bond of trust between the presidency and the public that I think has been lost.

Overall, I like what I’m hearing so far. However, it is just all talk at this point and we’ll have to see what happens when Obama is actually sworn in. I’m sure he’ll make mistakes, but hopefully he will have the intelligence to recognize those mistakes and change direction when needed.

[TheBreeze]

Obama mentioned several things in the interview that he would do differently:

(1) Bailouts will be directed to homeowners instead of banks. I’d prefer no bailouts, but if we’re going to have them, let’s help people try to stay in their homes as opposed to paying the banks full price for crappy loans.

(2) Different approach to the automakers as discussed above

(3) Major focus on alternative energy:

(CBS) Kroft: When the price of oil was at $147 a barrel, there were a lot of spirited and profitable discussions that were held on energy independence. Now you’ve got the price of oil under $60.

Mr. Obama: Right.

Kroft: Does doing something about energy is it less important now than…

Mr. Obama: It’s more important. It may be a little harder politically, but it’s more important.

Kroft: Why?

Mr. Obama: Well, because this has been our pattern. We go from shock to trance. You know, oil prices go up, gas prices at the pump go up, everybody goes into a flurry of activity. And then the prices go back down and suddenly we act like it’s not important, and we start, you know filling up our SUVs again.

And, as a consequence, we never make any progress. It’s part of the addiction, all right. That has to be broken. Now is the time to break it.

(4) Re-regulation of the financial markets

Kroft: How high a priority are you placing on re-regulation of the financial markets?

Mr. Obama: I think it’s a top priority. I think that we have to restore a sense of trust, transparency, openness in our financial system. And keep in mind that the deregulation process, it wasn’t just one party. I think there’s a lot of blame to spread around.

But, hopefully, everybody’s learned their lesson. And the answer is not heavy-handed regulations that crush the entrepreneurial spirit and risk taking of American capitalism. That’s what’s made our economy great. But it is to restore a sense of balance.

(5) Closing Guantanamo/stopping torture

(6) redeploying troops out of Iraq into Afghanistan

(7) Not being an idealogue/being willing to change direction:

Kroft: There’s been talk on Capitol Hill and a number of Democratic congressmen have proposed programs that are part of sort of a new New Deal. The possibility of reviving agencies like the Home Ownership Loan Corporation.

Mr. Obama: Two points I’d make on this. Number one, although there are some parallels to the problems that we’re seeing now and what we say back in the ’30s, no period is exactly the same. For us to simply recreate what existed back in the ’30s in the 21st century, I think would be missing the boat. We’ve gotta come up with solutions that are true to our times and true to this moment. And that’s gonna be our job. I think the basic principle that government has a role to play in kick starting an economy that has ground to a halt is sound.

I think our basic principle that this is a free market system and that that has worked for us, that it creates innovation and risk taking, I think that’s a principle that we’ve gotta hold to as well. But what I don’t wanna do is get bottled up in a lot of ideology and is this conservative or liberal. My interest is finding something that works.

And whether it’s coming from FDR or it’s coming from Ronald Reagan, if the idea is right for the times then we’re gonna apply it. And things that don’t work we’re gonna get rid of.

(8) Communicating clearly and honestly with the American people

Kroft: Are you gonna make a lot of speeches? Are you gonna talk a lot to the American people on television and radio?

Mr. Obama: You know, I’m not sure that the American people are looking for a lot of speeches. I think what they’re looking for is action. But one of the things that I do think is important is to be able to explain to the American people what you’re doing, and why you’re doing it. That is something that I think every great president has been able to do. From FDR to Lincoln to John Kennedy to Eisenhower. I mean, I think that they were people who were able to say ‘Here’s the direction we’re going. Here’s why I think it’s important. Here are the possible dangers or challenges. But ultimately, you know, this is gonna lead us to a better America.’ And I want to make sure that I can recreate a bond of trust between the presidency and the public that I think has been lost.

Overall, I like what I’m hearing so far. However, it is just all talk at this point and we’ll have to see what happens when Obama is actually sworn in. I’m sure he’ll make mistakes, but hopefully he will have the intelligence to recognize those mistakes and change direction when needed.

[TheBreeze]

Obama mentioned several things in the interview that he would do differently:

(1) Bailouts will be directed to homeowners instead of banks. I’d prefer no bailouts, but if we’re going to have them, let’s help people try to stay in their homes as opposed to paying the banks full price for crappy loans.

(2) Different approach to the automakers as discussed above

(3) Major focus on alternative energy:

(CBS) Kroft: When the price of oil was at $147 a barrel, there were a lot of spirited and profitable discussions that were held on energy independence. Now you’ve got the price of oil under $60.

Mr. Obama: Right.

Kroft: Does doing something about energy is it less important now than…

Mr. Obama: It’s more important. It may be a little harder politically, but it’s more important.

Kroft: Why?

Mr. Obama: Well, because this has been our pattern. We go from shock to trance. You know, oil prices go up, gas prices at the pump go up, everybody goes into a flurry of activity. And then the prices go back down and suddenly we act like it’s not important, and we start, you know filling up our SUVs again.

And, as a consequence, we never make any progress. It’s part of the addiction, all right. That has to be broken. Now is the time to break it.

(4) Re-regulation of the financial markets

Kroft: How high a priority are you placing on re-regulation of the financial markets?

Mr. Obama: I think it’s a top priority. I think that we have to restore a sense of trust, transparency, openness in our financial system. And keep in mind that the deregulation process, it wasn’t just one party. I think there’s a lot of blame to spread around.

But, hopefully, everybody’s learned their lesson. And the answer is not heavy-handed regulations that crush the entrepreneurial spirit and risk taking of American capitalism. That’s what’s made our economy great. But it is to restore a sense of balance.

(5) Closing Guantanamo/stopping torture

(6) redeploying troops out of Iraq into Afghanistan

(7) Not being an idealogue/being willing to change direction:

Kroft: There’s been talk on Capitol Hill and a number of Democratic congressmen have proposed programs that are part of sort of a new New Deal. The possibility of reviving agencies like the Home Ownership Loan Corporation.

Mr. Obama: Two points I’d make on this. Number one, although there are some parallels to the problems that we’re seeing now and what we say back in the ’30s, no period is exactly the same. For us to simply recreate what existed back in the ’30s in the 21st century, I think would be missing the boat. We’ve gotta come up with solutions that are true to our times and true to this moment. And that’s gonna be our job. I think the basic principle that government has a role to play in kick starting an economy that has ground to a halt is sound.

I think our basic principle that this is a free market system and that that has worked for us, that it creates innovation and risk taking, I think that’s a principle that we’ve gotta hold to as well. But what I don’t wanna do is get bottled up in a lot of ideology and is this conservative or liberal. My interest is finding something that works.

And whether it’s coming from FDR or it’s coming from Ronald Reagan, if the idea is right for the times then we’re gonna apply it. And things that don’t work we’re gonna get rid of.

(8) Communicating clearly and honestly with the American people

Kroft: Are you gonna make a lot of speeches? Are you gonna talk a lot to the American people on television and radio?

Mr. Obama: You know, I’m not sure that the American people are looking for a lot of speeches. I think what they’re looking for is action. But one of the things that I do think is important is to be able to explain to the American people what you’re doing, and why you’re doing it. That is something that I think every great president has been able to do. From FDR to Lincoln to John Kennedy to Eisenhower. I mean, I think that they were people who were able to say ‘Here’s the direction we’re going. Here’s why I think it’s important. Here are the possible dangers or challenges. But ultimately, you know, this is gonna lead us to a better America.’ And I want to make sure that I can recreate a bond of trust between the presidency and the public that I think has been lost.

Overall, I like what I’m hearing so far. However, it is just all talk at this point and we’ll have to see what happens when Obama is actually sworn in. I’m sure he’ll make mistakes, but hopefully he will have the intelligence to recognize those mistakes and change direction when needed.

[TheBreeze]

Obama mentioned several things in the interview that he would do differently:

(1) Bailouts will be directed to homeowners instead of banks. I’d prefer no bailouts, but if we’re going to have them, let’s help people try to stay in their homes as opposed to paying the banks full price for crappy loans.

(2) Different approach to the automakers as discussed above

(3) Major focus on alternative energy:

(CBS) Kroft: When the price of oil was at $147 a barrel, there were a lot of spirited and profitable discussions that were held on energy independence. Now you’ve got the price of oil under $60.

Mr. Obama: Right.

Kroft: Does doing something about energy is it less important now than…

Mr. Obama: It’s more important. It may be a little harder politically, but it’s more important.

Kroft: Why?

Mr. Obama: Well, because this has been our pattern. We go from shock to trance. You know, oil prices go up, gas prices at the pump go up, everybody goes into a flurry of activity. And then the prices go back down and suddenly we act like it’s not important, and we start, you know filling up our SUVs again.

And, as a consequence, we never make any progress. It’s part of the addiction, all right. That has to be broken. Now is the time to break it.

(4) Re-regulation of the financial markets

Kroft: How high a priority are you placing on re-regulation of the financial markets?

Mr. Obama: I think it’s a top priority. I think that we have to restore a sense of trust, transparency, openness in our financial system. And keep in mind that the deregulation process, it wasn’t just one party. I think there’s a lot of blame to spread around.

But, hopefully, everybody’s learned their lesson. And the answer is not heavy-handed regulations that crush the entrepreneurial spirit and risk taking of American capitalism. That’s what’s made our economy great. But it is to restore a sense of balance.

(5) Closing Guantanamo/stopping torture

(6) redeploying troops out of Iraq into Afghanistan

(7) Not being an idealogue/being willing to change direction:

Kroft: There’s been talk on Capitol Hill and a number of Democratic congressmen have proposed programs that are part of sort of a new New Deal. The possibility of reviving agencies like the Home Ownership Loan Corporation.

Mr. Obama: Two points I’d make on this. Number one, although there are some parallels to the problems that we’re seeing now and what we say back in the ’30s, no period is exactly the same. For us to simply recreate what existed back in the ’30s in the 21st century, I think would be missing the boat. We’ve gotta come up with solutions that are true to our times and true to this moment. And that’s gonna be our job. I think the basic principle that government has a role to play in kick starting an economy that has ground to a halt is sound.

I think our basic principle that this is a free market system and that that has worked for us, that it creates innovation and risk taking, I think that’s a principle that we’ve gotta hold to as well. But what I don’t wanna do is get bottled up in a lot of ideology and is this conservative or liberal. My interest is finding something that works.

And whether it’s coming from FDR or it’s coming from Ronald Reagan, if the idea is right for the times then we’re gonna apply it. And things that don’t work we’re gonna get rid of.

(8) Communicating clearly and honestly with the American people

Kroft: Are you gonna make a lot of speeches? Are you gonna talk a lot to the American people on television and radio?

Mr. Obama: You know, I’m not sure that the American people are looking for a lot of speeches. I think what they’re looking for is action. But one of the things that I do think is important is to be able to explain to the American people what you’re doing, and why you’re doing it. That is something that I think every great president has been able to do. From FDR to Lincoln to John Kennedy to Eisenhower. I mean, I think that they were people who were able to say ‘Here’s the direction we’re going. Here’s why I think it’s important. Here are the possible dangers or challenges. But ultimately, you know, this is gonna lead us to a better America.’ And I want to make sure that I can recreate a bond of trust between the presidency and the public that I think has been lost.

Overall, I like what I’m hearing so far. However, it is just all talk at this point and we’ll have to see what happens when Obama is actually sworn in. I’m sure he’ll make mistakes, but hopefully he will have the intelligence to recognize those mistakes and change direction when needed.

[Author]

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