Obama: "I think I screwed up"

[Stuart Mackey]

President Obama was entirely correct in admitting his error. While his candor is refreshing, Daschle should have been quietly asked to withdraw once his tax issues were known to the Administration - and before it hit the newspapers.

In short, Obama is not to blame, but he is responsible?.

[General Zod]

President Obama was entirely correct in admitting his error. While his candor is refreshing, Daschle should have been quietly asked to withdraw once his tax issues were known to the Administration - and before it hit the newspapers.

You realize it would have hit the newspapers either way, right? It's not as if this is something the newspapers just happened to stumble onto and they were blowing the lid on some massive cover-up or anything.

[Count Chocula]

Mackey, Zod,

My main concern over this latest episode is not that Pres. Obama apologized over a poor choice, but rather over the decision-making process that led (a) to Daschle's nomination and (b) Obama's support after all this surfaced.

Daschle, after retirement, became a lobbyist for an investment company. He failed to report direct income. He failed to report use of a taxable car service. That's all old news.

Pres. Obama, in his campaign, said (paraphrasing) "there's no room for lobbyists in my administration." Yet, here he is nominating a lobbyist for a Cabinet post (not the only one IIRC). He promised "a new era of integrity" (paraphrasing again) in his administration. Yet, he "absolutely" supported his nominee, who - let's not mince words - cheated on his taxes to the tune of $130,000. While the Daschle tax issue would have made the papers either way, as Zod pointed out, it would have been MUCH better for the Obama administration if the news came out as "Pres. withdraws Daschle nomination after tax revelations," instead of "Pres. Obama stands by lobbyist HHS nominee who cheated on his taxes." The President apparently did not understand, or care about, the distinction between those two hypothetical headlines - and that's what bothers me.

I'm frankly seeing a marked disconnect between what candidate Obama said he would do, and what President Obama is now doing. I don't know if it's him stumbling as he learns the Washington game, or a reflection of the way he practices Chicago-style politics, which is, after all, where he cut his teeth. The next four years should be...interesting.

[Edi]

Did you go through the past 8 years with your eyes closed? The Bush administration would have done nothing but stonewall and never admitted anything. After a remarkably short period, the problem persons in this regard are getting booted from Obama's administration, even if he did give a statement that turned out to be unwise in the long run. I'd understand concern if Daschle hadn't been booted.

This is just another fucking storm in a teacup and the morons are once more lapping it up.

[General Zod]

Mackey, Zod,

My main concern over this latest episode is not that Pres. Obama apologized over a poor choice, but rather over the decision-making process that led (a) to Daschle's nomination and (b) Obama's support after all this surfaced.

Except he ultimately didn't end up taking the spot, so it's not as big of a deal as people are trying to make it out as. If this were the Bush administration these issues wouldn't have come to light at all until well into his term.

Pres. Obama, in his campaign, said (paraphrasing) "there's no room for lobbyists in my administration." Yet, here he is nominating a lobbyist for a Cabinet post (not the only one IIRC). He promised "a new era of integrity" (paraphrasing again) in his administration. Yet, he "absolutely" supported his nominee, who - let's not mince words - cheated on his taxes to the tune of $130,000. While the Daschle tax issue would have made the papers either way, as Zod pointed out, it would have been MUCH better for the Obama administration if the news came out as "Pres. withdraws Daschle nomination after tax revelations," instead of "Pres. Obama stands by lobbyist HHS nominee who cheated on his taxes." The President apparently did not understand, or care about, the distinction between those two hypothetical headlines - and that's what bothers me.

Ex-lobbyist. People seem to consistently fail to make this distinction. The Obama administration's already more or less acknowledged the reality of the situation, being that they can't avoid lobbying completely, so there's provisions with how long it was since you were a lobbyist before you can sign on and regulations on conflicts of interests between the post you want and the people you were lobbying for.

I'm frankly seeing a marked disconnect between what candidate Obama said he would do, and what President Obama is now doing. I don't know if it's him stumbling as he learns the Washington game, or a reflection of the way he practices Chicago-style politics, which is, after all, where he cut his teeth. The next four years should be...interesting.

Maybe you just had unrealistic expectations?

[Count Chocula]

Maybe you just had unrealistic expectations?

Naah...I figured the Big O would break or ignore at least half of his campaign promises, since he is after all a politician, and I don't recall any President living up to his promises. I'm not starry-eyed enough to expect down-the-line fulfillment (growing up in Washington DC cures you of that right quick), I just didn't expect his nominations to go sideways this quickly.

If Daschle hadn't removed himself from consideration for HHS, his confirmation process would have been as nasty as anything we saw in the past 8 years; Daschle made the right decision (which benefitted Obama), for the wrong reasons IMO.

[ray245]

Maybe you just had unrealistic expectations?

Naah...I figured the Big O would break or ignore at least half of his campaign promises, since he is after all a politician, and I don't recall any President living up to his promises. I'm not starry-eyed enough to expect down-the-line fulfillment (growing up in Washington DC cures you of that right quick), I just didn't expect his nominations to go sideways this quickly.

No one is really capable of fulfilling all their promise you know, Even if you are not a politician. So stop thinking that you are any better than him, because he cannot fulfill all of his promise. Realistic results and demands means we cannot stick to pure idealism all the time.

Come to think of it, who can be a better choice for the HHS?

[Flagg]

Come to think of it, who can be a better choice for the HHS?

Howard Dean.

[Bilbo]

Come to think of it, who can be a better choice for the HHS?

Howard Dean.

Are you being serious? Or are you just trying to get him out of his position as Head of the DNC?

[The Spartan]

Come to think of it, who can be a better choice for the HHS?

Howard Dean.

Are you being serious? Or are you just trying to get him out of his position as Head of the DNC?

He's a physician. Who better to run the HHS department but a doctor with experience in politics?

[Patrick Degan]

He's a physician. Who better to run the HHS department but a doctor with experience in politics?

True in an academic sense. But as Dean is one of the few Democrats trying to teach the rest of the party to stand up on its hind legs again and how to actually win elections, he's too important where he is.

[Flagg]

I was under the impression he was no longer head of the DNC?

[The Original Nex]

I was under the impression he was no longer head of the DNC?

He isn't. Soon to be ex-Governor Kaine of Virginia has taken over. Dean is currently unemployed.

[Flagg]

I was under the impression he was no longer head of the DNC?

He isn't. Soon to be ex-Governor Kaine of Virginia has taken over. Dean is currently unemployed.

That's what I thought. He'd be a most excellent HHS secretary.

[Guardsman Bass]

What does Dean actually know about the health care issue? One of the reasons why Daschle was initially chosen was because, in addition to his connections in Congress, he'd taken a very strong interest in the issue, up to writing a book about it detailing his plan for health care.

[General Zod]

What does Dean actually know about the health care issue? One of the reasons why Daschle was initially chosen was because, in addition to his connections in Congress, he'd taken a very strong interest in the issue, up to writing a book about it detailing his plan for health care.

I find it funny that people think writing a book on a subject means someone's got qualifications.

[Flagg]

What does Dean actually know about the health care issue? One of the reasons why Daschle was initially chosen was because, in addition to his connections in Congress, he'd taken a very strong interest in the issue, up to writing a book about it detailing his plan for health care.

He's a Medical Doctor?

[Guardsman Bass]

What does Dean actually know about the health care issue? One of the reasons why Daschle was initially chosen was because, in addition to his connections in Congress, he'd taken a very strong interest in the issue, up to writing a book about it detailing his plan for health care.

I find it funny that people think writing a book on a subject means someone's got qualifications.

Perhaps if you had actually read my post instead of rushing to nitpick, you would have noticed that I put it into the context of Daschle actually giving a rat's ass about Health Care Reform beyond "Wouldn't it be nice?" generic territory. Does Dean?

He's a Medical Doctor?

That was a long time ago, before he was Governor of Vermont and later DNC Head. In any case, it doesn't make him an expert in health care reform.

[General Zod]

Perhaps if you had actually read my post instead of rushing to nitpick, you would have noticed that I put it into the context of Daschle actually giving a rat's ass about Health Care Reform beyond "Wouldn't it be nice?" generic territory. Does Dean?

So. . .he cares about health care. Big whoop. I'm failing to see how "writing a book" and "caring about something" makes him necessarily qualified. I wouldn't have a problem if there were other reasons he was qualified beside these, but these are apparently the big ones being touted.

[CarsonPalmer]

Perhaps if you had actually read my post instead of rushing to nitpick, you would have noticed that I put it into the context of Daschle actually giving a rat's ass about Health Care Reform beyond "Wouldn't it be nice?" generic territory. Does Dean?

So. . .he cares about health care. Big whoop. I'm failing to see how "writing a book" and "caring about something" makes him necessarily qualified. I wouldn't have a problem if there were other reasons he was qualified beside these, but these are apparently the big ones being touted.

It makes him more qualified than most. If he wrote a book about health care reform, he obviously has a vision for it, which is a good thing for the HHS.

[General Zod]

It makes him more qualified than most. If he wrote a book about health care reform, he obviously has a vision for it, which is a good thing for the HHS.

Rush Limbaugh has a vision for the US, but I don't think anyone would be seriously attempting to argue that makes him necessarily qualified to be any kind of leader.

[CarsonPalmer]

It makes him more qualified than most. If he wrote a book about health care reform, he obviously has a vision for it, which is a good thing for the HHS.

Rush Limbaugh has a vision for the US, but I don't think anyone would be seriously attempting to argue that makes him necessarily qualified to be any kind of leader.

Well, obviously there's a basic premise that Daschle has a vision that Obama agrees with.