He nominated people with tax problems. Tax problems seem to be routine amongst the wealthy and powerful. One of the two people that withdrew their names from consideration post-nomination had an issue with not paying employer taxes on childcare (nanny tax) which was a problem in the last administration too and keeps coming up. It is still unacceptable and I agree that we don't want to see that in people in positions of power.
Obama screwed up because either his team didn't do their homework or he didn't think it would be a problem. Obama doesn't get a honeymoon. He's got a lot on his plate and the mood in Washington is heavily partisan. Daschle's withdrawal is a big blow to Obama's healthcare agenda. That was going to be the big play this year aside from economic stimulus, actually, along side economic stimulus and intertwined with it. Daschle was chosen because of his leadership experience with the Senate. Now Obama has to go to another pick for HHS, his agenda in that area is on hold, and Republicans have a win before the battle really gets started as a senior Democrat has been ousted from the picture. So yeah, Obama fucked up. He either didn't do his research or he underestimated his opposition. Regardless, he has to move the pieces around on the board now and healthcare reform is likely to be slower and more complicated as a result. On Tue, Feb 3, 2009 at 9:34 PM, Dana <[email protected]> wrote: > > Still too busy to follow the story but if he messed up and admitted it > that is refreshig, yes, > > On Tue, Feb 3, 2009 at 10:17 PM, Judah McAuley <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2009/02/03/1779622.aspx >> >> Obama admits he totally screwed up some of the cabinet picks and takes >> responsibility. >> >> Obama later added, "I'm here on television saying I screwed up, and >> that's part of the era of responsibility. It's not never making >> mistakes; it's owning up to them and trying to make sure you never >> repeat them and that's what we intend to do." He also offered one more >> mea culpa: "[S]o, did I screw up in this situation? Absolutely and I'm >> willing to take my lumps, you know that's part of the job here. But I >> think it's important not to paint a broad brush here, because overall, >> not only have we gotten in place a -- functioning government in record >> time -- but overall the quality of [the other appointments] are >> outstanding." >> >> I have to say, that's refreshing. I'm still not entirely happy with >> the picks that he seems to think are "outstanding" but hey, they >> aren't my picks. Still, I like him owning up to things so far. >> Perfect? No. But that paragraph there is something you don't hear from >> politicians much. And when you do, it is at the end of their term, >> reassessing their legacy, not admitting to a potential flaw/weakness >> at the beginning, going into negotiations with the opposition. >> >> I wonder if it will help or hurt him. >> >> Judah >> >> > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Adobe® ColdFusion® 8 software 8 is the most important and dramatic release to date Get the Free Trial http://ad.doubleclick.net/clk;207172674;29440083;f Archive: http://www.houseoffusion.com/groups/cf-community/message.cfm/messageid:287298 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/groups/cf-community/subscribe.cfm Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=89.70.5
