"Obama's Change Leaves By The Back Door"

[Leopolds Ghost]

Obama's Change Leaves By The Back Door

Sources close to Obama have leaked names on the list of candidates for the position of treasury secretary—no doubt as a means of reassuring Wall Street. Included are former Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker, former Clinton treasury secretary and current Citigroup executive Robert Rubin, another former Clinton treasury secretary, Lawrence Summers, and Timothy Geithner, the New York Federal Reserve Bank president.

All of these individuals played leading roles in the deregulation of the banks and investment houses that facilitated the super-profits and massive CEO compensation packages of the 1990s and first half of the current decade, and contributed to the financial collapse that is now plunging the US and the rest of the world into the deepest recession since the 1930s.

http://tinyurl.com/5wvqv6

[Leopolds Ghost]

1. David Corn (former editor of the Nation) on Rahm Emanuel

When I attended Obama's final campaign rally at Manassas, Virginia, on Monday night, I asked Obama supporters in the massive crowd what they wanted to see in an Obama presidency. There was a pattern in the replies: the older white guys all said they wanted Obama to move beyond partisan confrontations and remake the political culture of Washington. That is, they really were moved by his campaign trail vow to bring a new kind of politics to the nation's capital. So Obama ought to take steps that meet that rhetoric darn fast.

Appointing Emanuel obviously doesn't fall into such a category. And there's this: OpenSecrets reports that Emanuel was the "was the top House recipient in the 2008 election cycle of contributions from hedge funds, private equity firms and the larger securities/investment industry--not the most popular of industries in the current economy." The campaign money watchdog group notes:

Since being elected to Congress in 2002, after working as an investment banker, Emanuel has received more money from individuals and PACs in the securities and investment business than any other industry....As a member of the powerful House Ways & Means Committee--which has jurisdiction over tax legislation, Social Security, Medicare and other entitlement programs--Emanuel is a popular industry target. Private equity firm Madison Dearborn Partners has given Emanuel more than any other contributor over his career at $93,600. Emanuel and Obama have more than just Chicago in common; investment bank UBS, Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan Chase, Citigroup and Morgan Stanley are among both men's lists of top donors.

Emanuel, who is currently the No. 4 Democrat in the House, has also collected $136,640 from the lobbying industry during his career, making K Street his 13th most generous industry. Obama, on the other hand, eschewed contributions from registered lobbyists for the presidential race. Obama also refused contributions from PACs, an easy task when only about 1 percent of presidential contributions come from these committees.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/davidcorn/2008/11/is-rahm-emanuel-right-for-obam.html

[moodforaday]

2. But, but, but!

...DU-ers are going to hold Obama's feet to the fire, aren't they?

We need an emoticon for that.

[rug]

50. There's already one.

;-)

[Leopolds Ghost]

3. Keep an eye on Summers and Rubin people. They are personally responsible for China

And the stock market / mortgage bubble credit inflation crisis of the past 15 years.

[Buzz Clik]

15. "They are personally responsible for China." Wow! They are powerful dudes.

We should watch out for two people who are "responsible for China."

[Leopolds Ghost]

19. The fact that all our goods are made in China

Of course you have no problem exporting manufacturing jobs, I take it.

[Buzz Clik]

25. I have a lot of problem with crappy imports.

But that was a nice dodge.

[CatWoman]

49. they're gonna pelt us with egg rolls

:)

[liberalmuse]

4. Our new President hasn't even taken office.

And the asshat purists are crawling out of the woodwork. I'd like to extend a hearty, 'FUCK YOU' to all those who can't even wait until our guy is sworn in before they start with the slime.

[Leopolds Ghost]

6. But let me guess, we are ALL OVER Prop 8.

People who think decisions get made and influence is to be brought to bear AFTER the groundwork has been laid and the votes cast, not before.

Just look at people picketing the OUTCOME of a vote while attacking other elements of the progressive caucus who are trying to forestall further damage.

Some Dems only care about a select few issues, it seems.

Or prefer to attack other progressives and forgive the people at the top of the ladder, because an evil person such as some republicans can always be expected to be evil without us demanding an apology from them.

[SoxFan]

7. Thank you!

:applause:

[NashVegas]

14. If Wanting An Administration of People OTHER Than the Idiots Who Put Us In This Shipwreck Is Purist

Where do I sign up?

[PennyP]

20. I agree, for cripes sakes, this was the shit he warned about...

No wonder the Democrats lose 90% of the time. They eat their own leaders alive.

Keep bitching about EVERY little decision he makes that you don't agree with, and don't worry, you'll get your sincerest wish and we'll start losing again.

Do you have a republican in mind who you'd like to see in office in 2012, because with purists like y'all, we're likely to do the repugnantcons work for them.

[Dark]

53. This isn't a little decision.

nt

[jonnyblitz]

22. be honest, you would be having as big of a hissy fit over this

even if Obama had been in office for quite some time already.

[TheWraith]

26. Amen, LM. People are going batshit over every rumor.

And let me repeat this again: F--KING RUMORS. There's no proof to any of this, any more than the rumor that Obama was going to appoint Hillary Clinton as Secretary of Defense. So why doesn't everyone just cool off and stop finding reason to scream bloody murder and try to tear down Obama no matter who he picks?

[Evoman]

33. Yeah, well complaining AFTER he is sworn in and has a cabinet is counter-productive.

The only time we even have the least amount of power (albeit negligible) is BEFORE decision are made, when names are being put on the table. I.e. NOW.

[Buzz Clik]

5. I am OUTRAGED by the list of names unofficially leaked by somebody.

What bullshit.

[Leopolds Ghost]

8. David Corn is bullshit?

I'll tell him Duers said that.

[malaise]

10. Not this one n/t

[Buzz Clik]

11. Gee ... did I respond to your post on David Corn, or the OP.

And you can tell Corn anything you want. I'm sure he gives a shit what happens in an asylum like DU.

[Name removed]

9. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Tarheel_Dem]

12. "Messiah"? WTF is your deal? Sorry you guys lost, but you'll get over it.

[Joe Chi Minh]

42. Tee hee. Don't bank on it! Leopold's Ghost has often shown us how

much brighter and more honest he is than Obama. Not.

[Vickers]

17. I have a feeling I know who YOUR messiah is...

And she's wearing *really* expensive clothes.

:rofl:

Welcome to DU yadda yadda yadda...

[cali]

18. ah to bad your little fuckwad from Alaska went down in flames

[graywarrior]

13. Damn that lying bastard Obama!

Impreach him now!!!!

:sarcasm:

[Vickers]

21. Impreachment is off the table!

:crazy:

[graywarrior]

23. Right. No one gets impeached! Not now, Not ever.

[TheWraith]

27. FREE THE DUCK! nt

[graywarrior]

35. .

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x7811204

[girl gone mad]

38. Why haven't you set that poor duck free yet?

Inquiring minds want to know.

:P

[Patchuli]

40. 1-20-09

The day you set the ducky freeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!! Right? :party:

[Selatius]

16. I always understood that Obama was not the next FDR. I get it.

When I voted for him, I was simply voting against Bush-McCain. I wasn't voting for Obama's policies per se. I'm more of a Progressive Caucus-style Democrat than a Blue Dog or a DLCer.

As far as left wing Democrats in the White House, the last one was probably Jimmy Carter even though he had a lot of conflict with Congress.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

24. Obama's Going To Do An Amazing Job And All His Choices So Far Have Been Spot On.

They naysayers are just morons.

[cliffordu]

36. yep. Massive know-it-all morans

[leeroysphitz]

52. The sales of red Kool-aid have fallen lately but that new cool blue flavor is all the rage.

Enjoy!

[earth mom]

28. Status Quo all the way, doncha know.

:puke:

[Tarheel_Dem]

29. What part of "differing opinions" and "building consensus" don't you get?

Have you been mislead in any way?

[earth mom]

34. What part of corporately owned & controlled don't you get?

I'd say you're the one that's been mislead.

[Tarheel_Dem]

37. Whatever. By all means, let's demonize ALL corporations, and anyone

connected with them. Riddle me this. When all those evil corporations have moved their operations offshore, what happens to this country? Someone has to be able to negotiate with them so that we ALL benefit..doncha think?

[Joe Chi Minh]

43. What makes you think they'll be allowed to, Dum-Dum?

[lennytee]

30. Will Rogers wuz right...

see sig...

[nini]

51. Welcome to DU

your sig line says it all. :-)

[Mz Pip]

31. Rassuring Wall Street

sounds good to me. Nearly a third of my retirement is gone. I'd like to keep what's left.

[Lumpsum]

32. Obama has said we need to put aside partisanship in order to bring change.

Part of that is hiring people from both sides of the aisle.

Personally, I'd like to see Corzine take the treas-sec job, but he has said he doesn't want it. Oh well.

[tomp]

39. putting aside partisanship is one of obama's stupider ideas....

...and he has a few. he's going to go SO "non-partIsan" or "bipartisan" or whatever that he's really going to prove finally that it's just one party anyway.

AND he's not going after bush crimes. if he were, powell would be nowhere near his administration.

stupid and morally fucking wrong. hope away. mr. landslide messiah is not who you think he is.

[Patchuli]

41. Really? And who was your candidate of choice? nt

[tomp]

45. irrelevant. nt

[Patchuli]

47. You're right. Your candidate at this point

is completely irrelevant.

[ProfessorGAC]

44. He Is EXACTLY Who I Thought He Was

Save your broad brush insults. I know who Obama is. I'm from Illinois and he's been big political heat here for a long time.

You have some specific instances of people who indicated they don't know what Obama's about, give them.

In the meantime, don't try to paint me with that same brush.
The Professor

[tomp]

46. that's what you think. nt

[ProfessorGAC]

54. No. What I Think Is That You're Utterly Clueless

You're just being an officious know-it-all and you have zero idea about which you speak.

That means this discussion is over. You have no opinion worth hearing.
GAC

[mondo joe]

48. Part of the change he articulated was putting partisanship aside. Did you think he was joking?

He's just doing what he said he would do.