A Glimmer of Hope for Obama?

[swgprop]

At some point my hope is that Obama will stare into the abyss, recognize that the current approach will fail, take a deep breath, and break away.

It’s not that Barack Obama isn’t aware of what’s at stake. That’s very likely why on April 27, the president gathered in some of his chief outside economic critics —including two of the most vociferous, Nobelists Joseph Stiglitz and Paul Krugman—for a secretive dinner in the old family dining room of the White House. Also in attendance: Paul Volcker, who has one foot in and one foot out of the administration as the head of Obama’s largely cosmetic economic recovery board; Princeton economist and former Fed vice chairman Alan Blinder; Columbia’s Jeff Sachs; and Harvard’s Ken Rogoff. Representing the home team, as it were: Obama’s chief economic adviser Larry Summers, Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner and Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel. Why did Obama hold the meeting? “I think he wanted to hear the [opposing] arguments right in front of him,” says Blinder. “All I can say is if the president of the United States devotes that much personal time, and it was about two-hour dinner, he must want to hear what people outside the administration are saying and hear what his own people say in rebuttal to that. Why would you do that if you aren’t at least turning over your mind what to do next?”

http://blog.newsweek.com/blogs/wealt...ess-tests.aspx

Regardless of one's opinion of the attendees, the fact that he seeks out opinions of those outside the inner circle is encouraging.

[metalman]

Re: A Glimmer of Hope for Obama?

At some point my hope is that Obama will stare into the abyss, recognize that the current approach will fail, take a deep breath, and break away.

http://blog.newsweek.com/blogs/wealt...ess-tests.aspx

Regardless of one's opinion of the attendees, the fact that he seeks out opinions of those outside the inner circle is encouraging.

maybe, maybe not. if stiglitz and krugman go quiet, we'll know a deal was struck.

[doom&gloom]

Re: A Glimmer of Hope for Obama?

I am not holding my breath for any policy changes at this point. Team Obama is hell-bent on cap n' trade, national healthcare, big spending and big stimulus -- and I just do not see that changing anytime soon.

[cbr]

Re: A Glimmer of Hope for Obama?

i live in this world professionally. if obama were going to listen to merits, he would have had this meeting long ago. if he is as others postulate, making a hush deal, this makes sense.

the only third option is that he is only now realizing that everything he had done is a mistake, and that is not encouraging at all.

[GRG55]

Re: A Glimmer of Hope for Obama?

i live in this world professionally. if obama were going to listen to merits, he would have had this meeting long ago. if he is as others postulate, making a hush deal, this makes sense.

the only third option is that he is only now realizing that everything he had done is a mistake, and that is not encouraging at all.

Your first sentence and third sentence appear to make the same point, not two different points. In the first you criticize Obama for not a) having the meeting sooner; and in the third you criticize him for "only now realizing...".

Your suggestion that this is "not encouraging" makes no sense to me. Would you rather he wait longer? Never? Would that be better? Or perhaps you'd prefer that he fire up the White House flux capacitor and go back to the future...

[audrey_girl]

Re: A Glimmer of Hope for Obama?

At some point my hope is that Obama will stare into the abyss, recognize that the current approach will fail, take a deep breath, and break away.

http://blog.newsweek.com/blogs/wealt...ess-tests.aspx

Regardless of one's opinion of the attendees, the fact that he seeks out opinions of those outside the inner circle is encouraging.

If the President changes course now, it will be bigger than Nixon goes to china.

Its been done before; but he has got to do it soon. Time is running out.

[flintlock]

Re: A Glimmer of Hope for Obama?

I don't see him admitting trillions in bailouts was a mistake and reversing course now. Talk about political suicide.

[audrey_girl]

Re: A Glimmer of Hope for Obama?

I don't see him admitting trillions in bailouts was a mistake and reversing course now. Talk about political suicide.

maybe - but Nixon redefined his career and legacy with the china trip; Reagan did the same with his meetings with Gorbachev

[flintlock]

Re: A Glimmer of Hope for Obama?

maybe - but Nixon redefined his career and legacy with the china trip; Reagan did the same with his meetings with Gorbachev

Yeah, but those examples didn't hit people in the pocket book. Or tax bill I should say.

[GRG55]

Re: A Glimmer of Hope for Obama?

I don't see him admitting trillions in bailouts was a mistake and reversing course now. Talk about political suicide.

There's plenty of ways to change course without ever admitting it...

[flintlock]

Re: A Glimmer of Hope for Obama?

There's plenty of ways to change course without ever admitting it...

And that's why he won the election.

But I still think it would be like letting out a loud fart then trying to blame it on someone else. A few trillion dollars makes a lot of noise and smells awful. By that point, nobody will care who dealt it.

[GRG55]

Re: A Glimmer of Hope for Obama?

And that's why he won the election.

Change you can believe in.

Better believe it...:rolleyes:

[vanvaley1]

Re: A Glimmer of Hope for Obama?

Looking for options if worse goes to worser, then most worstest, and finally WMD...worse mindboggling depression? Too bad Hudson wasn't invited. A little history ain't bad at supper.

Ok, EJ...when is your invitation coming? Will ya tell us bout it? Seems to me he needs to listen to somebody that's been right a bit more than ones who have been wrong.

[vanvaley1]

Re: A Glimmer of Hope for Obama?

Looking for options if worse goes to worser, then most 'worstest', and finally WMD...worse mindboggling depression? Too bad Hudson wasn't invited. A little history ain't bad at supper. Ok, EJ...when is your invitation coming? Will ya tell us bout it?

[D-Mack]

Re: A Glimmer of Hope for Obama?

(Satire)

Many are applauding Obama's efforts at coming up with unique ideas and ways to try to fix the economy. But critics charge that his famous grassroots mentality is misplaced in Washington, DC and that he needs to focus on the American people as a whole and not spend too much effort on a small subset.

"Like these apple pie muffins with raisins on top, or those coconut bars covered in pecans," said economist Joseph Stiglitz, referring to two bake sale items that didn't sell as well as others. "Raisins and pecans may work in Chicago, but they're much too eclectic to be successful at the national level.

"It's okay to think outside the box," added Stiglitz, "but he needs to think inside the recipe."

Stiglitz said Obama's appointment of Vice President Joe Biden's wife Jill as Bake Sale Administrator was "questionable at best," given her well-publicized lack of experience with bake sales. He said someone with more experience would have known the sticky buns would sell fast and would have had more on hand, therefore increasing overall revenue.

"Hey, that's still $1,278.64 the American people didn't have before this sale," Obama said when asked about the lack of sticky buns.

...

http://www.crystalair.com/content.php?id=34200905005

It would be interesting to hear what they talked about.