The formal introduction of the incoming Obama administration’s national security team at a Chicago hotel on Monday provided a definitive exposure not merely of the fraudulent character of the “change you can believe in” mantra of the Democratic presidential campaign, but more importantly of the failure of American democracy itself.
There on the platform with the president-elect was Senator Hillary Clinton, his nominee for secretary of state, and Robert Gates, whom Obama has asked to remain at the post of secretary of defense to which George W. Bush appointed him. Rounding out the nominees for the key national security positions was retired Marine Gen. James Jones, tapped to serve as national security adviser.
The significance of these choices is unmistakable. They represent an open and contemptuous repudiation of the will of the voters expressed just last month. While millions turned out at the polls in November with the aim of putting an end to eight years of war and repression under the Bush administration, Monday’s announcement signaled there will be no such change.
I have heard from other sources that this is just a ploy to keep the media and the Repubs off balance while he tries an end run to the Left. I think that analysis is just wrong. He, Obama, once the nomination was his, he ran to the center and that is where he is today, if not a bit right of center. Sorry guys change is not in the cards.
Actually, Obama’s mantra is quite different, repeated in every press conference, and championed by a number of progressive thinkers. The role of the President is policy; the role of the Cabinet is execution. These people, chosen for their ability to wrestle in the halls of governments here and abroad, will not be over-ruling the President’s directions, but putting them in place. They know whom they work for, and their job is to implement his policy. There simply aren’t enough genuine progressives with Congressional and international negotiation experience to do the job. Expertise over cronyism was one of the campaign’s promises, too.
Morning Monte and thanx for the visit and the comment….I will agree that there a few “true” Progressives in the government…..I just see so many egos on his team that there could possibly problems….his choices are truly people of experience and most are definitely right of center on National Security…I will be watching and posting so please check back….