Obama’s 'team of rivals' Cabinet following his 'no drama' mantra

[babylonsister]

Obama’s 'team of rivals' Cabinet following his 'no drama' mantra
By Sam Youngman - 12/28/09 06:00 AM ET




Despite some memorable slip-ups, Barack Obama's Cabinet has dodged controversy in 2009, continuing the president's campaign theme of "no drama Obama."

Political analysts and administration officials say Obama's Cabinet has avoided the public squabbling and missteps of prior administrations because Obama picked the right people for the job, beginning with Vice President Joe Biden.

Biden, officials say, has been largely instrumental in helping ease tensions between Cabinet members, serving as an intermediary between the secretaries on both the foreign policy and domestic fronts.

The vice president can "serve the president as a useful go-between, settling disputes or channeling information," one administration official said.

Obama hit some snags as he tried to assemble his team, with former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.), New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson (D) and Sen. Judd Gregg (R-N.H.) withdrawing their nominations.

But analysts say Obama's much-hyped "team of rivals," including appointing bitter campaign rival and former Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton to be secretary of State, has not stirred tension in the administration.

"The whole 'team of rivals' business was oversold from the beginning," said Ross Baker, a professor at Rutgers University and an expert on the presidency.

Baker said Obama's Cabinet officials have not been ideologically divided, and they were suited for the jobs with which they were tasked.

"There are no political hacks in this group," Baker said. "That often happens with Cabinets, that people are put in there specifically because they are people who are strong political connections.

"{Obama} just picked the right people for the job,” he said.

Added an administration official: "There is so little of the classic infighting among members of the president’s Cabinet not just because he picked people who play well in the sandbox together, but because of the tone and expectations he set.

"Competence was his top priority," the official continued. "Other factors were obviously weighed, but non-ideological competence was what mattered to him most."

more...

http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/73689-obamas-team-of-rivals-following-no-drama-mantra

[rudy23]

1. Too bad about All-Drama Rahma

Calling progressives "fucking stupid", using "the left of the left", bragging that they have nowhere else to go. That's fine if he's supposed to be the lightning rod for all the drama, but he certainly doesn't fall into that characterization of being even-tempered and easy to work with.

[glitch]

2. IIRC he wasn't the only one dissing progressives. nt

[bvar22]

3. Team of "rivals"?

I don't think so.


The DLC New Team
Progressives need NOT apply.

(Screen Capped from the DLC Website)