Does putting together a Team of Rivals trump everything else?

[Skwmom]

I have yet to hear one talking head question this whole team of rivals concept. What's the difference between putting together a team of rivals and making sure you have so many blacks, so many Hispanics, so many gays, so many women etc. represented in the administration (and making this your most important criteria).

What about the following criteria:

Qualified,in fact VERY qualified.
A track record of being RIGHT on the crucial issues of our day (i.e., DEMONSTRATED good judgment) - especially in the area you're being hired for. You know saying someone is qualified 1,000 times will still not make it so.
Honest.
Trustworthy.
Someone with integrity - what an old fashioned concept that has become - who is not morally bankrupt.


Most Americans aren't looking for people that they agree with on every issue but they are looking for a govt comprised of qualified individuals that are trustworthy.

[babylonsister]

1. And that's precisely what PE Obama is doing, selecting qualified

individuals at a thoughtful and steady pace. I'm loving it.

[gristy]

2. "team of rivals" sounds like so much MSM spin - not what Obama is doing

[Skwmom]

3. God I hope so.

[zuul9]

4. This whole "Team of Rivals" thing is very dangerous.

If he picks the drama queen as SOS, it will only be matter of time before shes sabatoging his presidency.

[Skwmom]

5. I give Bill a week. They will be in a great position. They can take ALL the credit for

any improvement in foreign policy while hammering Obama on the economic and financial mess (which they played a MAJOR role in creating). Oh the irony.

[blondeatlast]

6. Explain. Who's the "drama queen"? Seems to me he's picked no one as yet.

Maybe you know something I don't, though.

[EstimatedProphet]

13. Oh bullshit!

Obama is PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES! Do you think he is so weak that he got there by accident?

[PeaceNikki]

15. Hmm. I doubt the "Drama Queen" wants to sabotage his presidency.

idiot.

[HEyHEY]

22. Maybe his relationship - that's more drama queen style.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

17. Ladies and gentlemen, we have a new freeperism! SABATOGING!

:rofl:

[PeaceNikki]

24. Listen all y'all it's SABATOGE!

[EstimatedProphet]

27. TOGE! TOGE! TOGE!

[Jennicut]

7. Why do people doubt Obama so much? He ran a brilliant campaign.

Not to say he should not be criticized but the man is a hell of a lot smarter then many of us and every crucial step he made was done almost perfectly. He also is much stronger and has a bigger backbone then many realize. If he wants to hear other points of view and then come to a consensus well that is very good. Bush never listened to anyone and look where we ended up. Clinton listened to too many people so his governing was a bit all over the place at times. Obama is pragmatic and concise, if a bit cautious. I like his style so far.

[Skwmom]

12. Bush/Karl Rove ran what some would call "brilliant campaigns."

[EstimatedProphet]

16. What the hell does that have to do with anything?

[Jennicut]

29. Brilliant? Hardly. They had to steal votes both times.

[qwlauren35]

31. I Think We're Being Hoodwinked by The Media

It's kinda like how Obama said that the puppy isn't coming until the spring, but the American public seems to think it should be part of the National Agenda.

I don't think it was clear that Biden would be chosen until a week before the convention. Speculation was quite high before then, and the media fed the flames because it increased circulation/viewership/readership.

So. Look at all of the flurry and increased attention to the MEDIA that comes with the very idea that Hillary could be SoS. And Obama is saying NOTHING.

I'm going to take a deep breath and put this entire "Who Will Be In The Cabinet" nonsense on a back burner.

I don't have to know immediately. And I don't like the way my brain is getting yanked around by hints and rumors.

I need to get out more.

[happychatter]

8. I have more concerns about Obama than HRC

he's totally my man

but he will need pressure

this is HIS party now and he's got a lot of corrupt assholes to cajole and coerce

he'll need help

[Cosmic Charlie]

19. that is why he needs to surround himself with the incorruptible

[happychatter]

30. like elliot ness, eh?

you may be right

[yodermon]

9. I hope some actual, you know, Liberals make it into his cabinet.

here's hoping.

[Skwmom]

21. I doubt it. Many liberals and progressives were the ones who didn't go along with

the legislation and policies that have led this country to the brink of financial ruin. That in and of itself seems to be a major dis-qualifier.

[sfam]

10. Most people want shit solved. They don't care about much else.

I sort of agree with them. Let Obama choose who he thinks will solve the immense problems. I don't care about sex or ethnic diversity choices, appropriate sex parts or party affiliation, as long as the selected office holders fix the problem.

[EstimatedProphet]

26. Not on DU

It is far more important on DU that all appointments adhere to the Official Party Doctrine.

[Thrill]

11. I think the media is reading more into the Team of Rivals meme than Obama

[EstimatedProphet]

14. What Obama is trying to do is pick people who can advise him well

That's the big secret of what he's doing. He's trying to pick good advisors. Let the man work. If people are going to condemn him for failing, they should wait until he fails.

[Skwmom]

18. Let's take Summers, who is mentioned for Treasury Secretary.

How in the heck is the idiot that played a major role in getting us in this mess going to advise Obama well?

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/11/11/1679/2508

One would think that it would be a MAJOR dis-qualifier. Are we stuck on stupid? Is there something in the water? B/c while idiots like Summers were pushing deregulation and NAFTA, other SMART people were arguing against it, predicting exactly what has taken place. Hmmmm.... don't you think that they should be the ones under consideration?

[EstimatedProphet]

25. Mentioned by whom?

Has Obama said he was selecting him? The article you linked doesn't say anything about who is talking about him. How do you know Kos didn't throw his name out as an excuse to gripe? How do you know he's not considering other candidates?

The man just won the election. Let him do his job. Griping about things that haven't happened yet won't prevent anything bad from happenning at all. Unlike far too many people here, I could care less about whether Obama's appointments are progressive enough, so long as we move in a positive direction for a change. Frankly, I'd rather our problems are fixed by people who are capable but not extremely liberal than not get fixed by people that are.

[Skwmom]

28. Well there is a thing called a trial balloon. So I think we have an obligation to let our feelings

known.

Who said anything about liberal. But when you have a TERRIBLE track record and go against Obama's message of changing the world, unless you consider dumping toxic waste in Africa changing the world, you shouldn't even be considered.

[EstimatedProphet]

34. Let him do his job, and pick the people he thinks will advise him best

[HEyHEY]

23. How dare he. You're supposed to pick guys who helped your Dad run companies!

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

20. There was a fatal flaw with Lincoln's picks.

Everything fell apart when he was assassinated.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

32. I hope a "Team of Rivals"

doesn't cause too many RIVALRIES!!!

[Two Americas]

33. "team of rivals" is misapplied here

Lincoln selected men who had been rivals for the nomination of his party - Seward, Bates, Chase - and men from the other party - Blair, Welles, Stanton, but they were all anti-slavery.

Lincoln did not include pro-slavery voices in his cabinet.

I don't know what people consider to be the over-riding issues today, or what they think the public votes for, but it would seem to me that placing people in the cabinet who are pro-war, pro-Patriot Act, or pro Wall Street, would be the opposite of what Lincoln did.

Lincoln put political considerations aside, and brought together people who were all anti-slavery regardless of their political affiliation or history. That is the opposite of putting people in the cabinet who disagree on the fundamental issues we face today for the sake of "post-partisan" or "reaching across the aisle" or "healing the divide" or "getting the job done." All of those are political considerations, and putting people in the cabinet who supported the various Bush policies would be placing politics above principle. Lincoln placed principle above politics.

The way people are talking about the "team of rivals" concept is the exact opposite of what Lincoln did.

[Skwmom]

35. Thank you for this EXCELLENT POST. You should make it a separate thread.

[Two Americas]

36. thanks n/t

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