Comments on: Team of Rivals

By: wmryan2010

wmryan2010 — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 01:46:41 +0000

Not to dodge the debate going on, but I'd just like to add my own two cents. Namely that Holbrooke, amongst the rank and file, is not very well liked (and that's an understatement). He's got a rep for being a diva and having a terrible temper. Obama should not screw this up. The diplomatic corps has liberal sentiments but Clinton consistently screwed them over by first appointing Christopher who did nothing as Clinton cut State's budget and then Albright who had a small coterie of advisers and didn't trust the everyday diplomat at all and was not a very effective manager. The gold standard of secretaries of state is Powell. He inspired the diplomatic corps, he was a very well respected voice be it in the UN, Foggy Bottom or abroad. People don't realize this but fundamentally, being secretary of state is about managing. It's a bureaucracy. Holbrooke may be a fine negotiator but I don't think he's a very credible manager when he has engendered strong dislike amongst the people he'll be leading. The person who fits the bill is Richardson- he has executive experience, he's familiar with the foreign arena and he's competent. As one FSO told me,"Our problem historically has been we have had Secretaries of State with foreign policy smarts, but with deficient management ability". Richardson fits those criteria. As for Kerry? People are surprised when they find out that he wants the job. In addition to the prestige that would appeal to him, the fact is, his dad was a foreign service officer. I wouldn't be surprised if running the place he grew up in would not appeal to him, from a romantic point of view.

By: kathy

kathy — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 12:08:49 +0000

The Jonestown special is Thursday night, not tonight.

By: jayackroyd

jayackroyd — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 04:27:07 +0000

Thanks for pointing me to the NYT Magazine story, I will read the dead tree tomorrow. Slowly as to frustrate my SO as she waits for the crossword. It's a household tradition. ha Today's, Saturday's, was uncharacteristically easy.

By: newliberty

newliberty — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 02:54:27 +0000

Dear Barack Obama:

I beg you...please take our Governor Deval Patrick to Washington with you. He was elected after a brilliant Axelrod-run campaign, as you were, but has done virtually nothing for the state of Massachusetts. His Lieutenant Governor, Tim Murray, is of a much higher caliber and has far more experience than DeVille Patrick ever will. I would be so grateful to have Murray as our Governor. That's the change that Massachusetts needs. Please...we don't need a Governor bred of Chigaco politics running this state. Take him to Washington. Give him a job with little influence but high salary...he likes that. Please.

By: Derek

Derek — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 02:40:38 +0000

"So Derek if you are saying you DO care about the lives of the soldiers then why are you opposed to Obama as you put it "refining" his plan according to conditions on the ground?"

I told you I was done with you.

You are an idiot.

By: pirate wench (demwoman)

pirate wench (demwoman) — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 23:48:50 +0000

It hasn't even been a week since the election!
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I understand it's Joe's job to opine, but I am content to wait and see who President-elect Obama selects for his administration. I was worried about his choices in the primaries, but he was spot-on. I was worried at times about his choices regarding not responding to the McCain slime during the race, but he was spot-on. I'm sure he's been working on this for weeks now, at least, and I have confidence he'll choose the best people to represent both the Obama administration and the USA.
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Actually, it's kind of refreshing to have this sort of confidence...the past 8 bumbling, corruption-filled years were such a nightmare!
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Now let me go through and make sure I don't have any a$$ combinations here...

By: Paul-no not that one

Paul-no not that one — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 22:52:35 +0000

If anyone is looking for something to read check out the Newsweek story that Rose has linked at 2:32.

By: kathy

kathy — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 21:22:09 +0000

Sorry - I think it was cyanide, not arsenic. Not that the details matter when you're drinking the kool-aid.

By: kathy

kathy — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 21:20:24 +0000

Had a conversation with someone this summer (Elvis?) who didn't recognize the name Jim Jones having another tag than General Jim Jones. A generational thing.
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CNN has a special tomorrow night on Jonestown (This is the origin of the phrase "drinking the kool-aid" though it was, as it happens, flavor-aid, that was laced with arsenic to kill his followers.)

By: kathy

kathy — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 21:17:47 +0000

C-SPAN has been running a roast of Rahm from 2005. Certainly makes clear he can be abrasive and foul-mouthed, but also paints a picture of him as affectionate and kind. Not surprisingly, he's complex.
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Obama had a funny line about Emanuel cutting off part of his middle finger - said it had the effect of nearly rendering him mute.
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The roast was for the benefit of a group to combat epilepsy, founded by David Axelrod and his wife, who seem to be compelling people. The web site is cureepilepsy.org