Seems to be where our fearless (or fearful) leader is right now. First the Jon Stewart mocks the ability of his administration to deliver a cogent message. Then Joe Trippi is unable to offer an explanation for how or why the administration has lost the message. Then today, Paul Krugman puts a short, but pointed, column in the NYT about how Obama is losing the trust of progressives. Obama's Trust Problem Then Arianna goes on Charlie Rose to discuss how Obama is compromising before he even gets to the fight. Obama is no FDR
Seem to be a theme developing here?
I consider myself a progressive and I have been whining about Obama for months. Really, since I heard him say that the Wallstreet banks were too big to fail. I knew he wasn't really a progressive, and I knew that being more intellectual meant that he was not going to be a forceful leader. I recall an interview with one of his fellow professors at Chicago saying his only criticism on Obama was his refussal to take a position. But you tell yourself that a man that commands the crowds he did and who was so able to change the game in terms of running a campaign, would find some footing as a leader and make it happen. Was I wrong?
While I am not a big fan of Rham, I felt he was a step in that direction. He was a big player in the 2006 success as leader of the DCCC. He is both criticeized and respected for his direct manner of confronting issues and other congressman. He certainly fit the mold of hammer for the new administration. But a hammer is a tool and it only works when you use it. I can't really tell if or how this hammer is being used.
Axelrod, the master of the message, would seem to be a good choice for senior advisor. A well known and successful political consultant, if anyone should be able to control the message it would be him. Clearly, that has not been the case. Why? Is it Axelrod not getting it done, or again a situation where this tool is not being properly wielded by it's master.
The Clintons have been there and done that. You cannot have a better resource for this type of battle. Both in terms of knowledge and political clout. But agains the questions is one of how they being used, if at all.
Really, at this stage, I think I really have to ask myself the question, what is his agenda. The change is questionable, and hope is fading fast.