Barack Obama Needs a Better, Skeptical Advisor - Best Advice Yet imho

[autorank]

A Better, Skeptical Advisor

Jeff Koopersmith
July 21, 2009 – Geneva (apj.us) –

It is time to stop treating corporations as privileged citizens.

As President Obama’s numbers start to slide he would be wise to allow someone with many years lobbying experience who knows with precision about American Democracy and Business, and who is dedicated to principles, not capital – someone who played the game on “K” Street NW and left in revulsion as well as having in-depth knowledge about the business of media and its impact on Main Street via exceptionally “ordered up” advertising and content by the world’s largest advertisers.

Someone the President trusts, or the group of them, seems unable to put 2 + 2 together. Of course the actual formula is far more complex, but the bottom line is that the United States is designed as an “us against them” nation, for better or for wors
Snip

For those of you who read my columns frequently you might recall I suggested to Obama that he should move the bail out money directly into the pocketbooks of Americans – not the coffers of huge multinationals.

More: http://www.apj.us/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2515&Itemid=2

[Horse with no Name]

1. Americans WANTED a leftist President

They really did. THAT was the landslide victory.
They wanted healthcare. They wanted the war to end. They wanted the soldiers home. They wanted the banking problem/mortgage issue fixed.
IF they wanted a centrist...Obama wouldn't have had a chance.
BUT he was voted "most liberal"...and THAT is what Americans voted for.
The problem is Obama has been running from that so fast that his fucking feet are on fire.
And many Americans are starting to walk the other way, too.
VERY little has changed in Washington.
Obama needs to think about WHY he was elected and WHERE he got all that political capital and WHAT he was expected to do with it.
And just start doing it.
Jettisoning Emmanuel would be a good start.

[FiveGoodMen]

2. Agreed.

[formercia]

8. Obama needs a court jester

someone who isn't afraid or withholding, to tell him the truth.

[notadmblnd]

9. I agree with you. However,

we the people can't compete with corporate America.

[Kid Dynamite]

14. backed

[Vincardog]

16. Horse with no Name is right on every point

[DebbieCDC]

3. He needs to take the advice of the people who voted for him

Remember that promise of change we all bought into that Obama was selling? Well so far it's been bait and switch all the way. Maybe if he listened to the people who put him where he is today things would be going differently. As it is, I see just another corporatist in the White House who sold the progressives a bill of goods to get elected.

[autorank]

17. That's the benefit of this

If in fact it would make a difference. You make a very good point. Someone needs to say - 'Look, it's Hell out
there and the people get nothing from the administration. How long do you think you'll be around keeping with
the Geithner's of the world." When Geithner showed up, that was a chilling omen and it's proved out. So lets
hope someone steps forward or shows up to do this who is not wedded to the corporate crew that have brought
us so low.

[undeterred]

4. He needs to move Rahm Emmanuel into another position

than that of advisor.

[babylonsister]

6. You may not like Emanuel, but I bet Obama is grateful to him.

I don't see him going anywhere for awhile.

[damntexdem]

5. And he needs a skeptical advisor to tell him that he needs a better, skeptical advisor.

He needs reason as well as Rahm. ;-)

[Zen Democrat]

7. Emanuel isn't an advisor. He's the fucking Chief of Staff. He's the bullwhip.

He's not there for his opinion. He's there to herd the cats.

[timeforpeace]

10. Rahm is his Karl Rove. He's staying.

[undeterred]

11. I didn't know Obama was the kind of man who needed

a Karl Rove. That's quite disappointing.

[autorank]

15. That's not the point of the article.

Rove advanced a war and lies about war to gain domestic political support. He's a monster.

This article suggests that Obama needs someone who is tough enough to get him in contact with the people.
Since the people don't include Geithner and Summers, that would be a very good thing. I agree with William K Black
that Geithner has the full potential to ruin Obama's presidency. Somebody needs to tell Obama that in a very
big way. Since that point wasn't 'made when Geithner was appointed, a huge mistake that indicts his closest
advisers who remained silent, that argues for what the author suggested.

But this isn't about a Rove, it's about a close political adviser who has no agenda other than Obama's agenda
which is a lot better than the current crew around him.

[FatDave]

13. Disagree.

That would be Axelrod, though I do think the comparison is disparaging. Emmanuel is there to be the hammer, and it's a role he's suited for.

[TahitiNut]

12. Few folks in the West Wing have lived in the "belly of the beast" ...

... and, of those in cabinet positions, it seems that those who have are still 'fans' of corporate behavior.