'I very much enjoy working for' Obama, Gates says

[jillio]

Secretary Gates said President Obama is 'very analytical' and 'delves very deeply' into issues.
WASHINGTON (CNN) – Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who was a prominent member of former President George W. Bush's Cabinet, told CNN that he is enjoying working for Bush's Democratic successor.

In an interview broadcast Sunday on CNN's State of the Union, Gates praised Obama’s approach to decision-making as the nation's commander-in-chief.

"He is very analytical," Gates told CNN Chief National Correspondent John King. "He is very deliberate about the way he goes through things. He wants to understand everything. He delves very deeply into these issues."

Gates, who previously worked for 27 years in the CIA under six presidents, was the first defense secretary to be asked to remain in office by a newly-elected president when Obama kept him on.

The Pentagon chief was diplomatic when comparing Obama to other former occupants of the Oval Office.

"I'm not going to get into comparing the different presidents, Gates said. “I very much enjoy working for this one."


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[shel90]

This man is probably the better judge than all of us on how Obama is performing at his job. We all are the outsiders while he is the insider.

 

[Beowulf]

I am not surprised Gates enjoys working with him. It is becoming increasingly apparent that not only is Obama an analytical thinker, but like a good chess player, he thinks several moves ahead. I do not blame him for keeping Gates on board.

 

[Jiro]

I am not surprised Gates enjoys working with him. It is becoming increasingly apparent that not only is Obama an analytical thinker, but like a good chess player, he thinks several moves ahead. I do not blame him for keeping Gates on board.

I wouldn't say Obama is a good chess player. To me - he is still very inexperienced compared to other Presidents. A good chess player is good because he has decades of experience, not necessarily because he's a genius like Bobby Fischer. but Obama is very smart to keep people on board who are smarter than him. Some bosses have ego issue and do not hire excellent advisers.

He listens to them and questions them.... which made the meetings much longer than usual. It's a serious issue that needs serious discussion. but hey - everybody's got different management style. Bush has his and Obama has his. Some prefers to micromanage everything... some prefers to use close friends to oversee the matter.... some prefers outsider.... etc.

Bush's style is more of cronyism and business. Obama's style is more of some micromanaging and personal.

 

[Jiro]

This man is probably the better judge than all of us on how Obama is performing at his job. We all are the outsiders while he is the insider.

Don't forget - Obama is his boss. Do not bite the hand that feeds you

I'd wait for his memoir book when he's long retired as an old wrinkly fart Alan Greenspan's book is a perfect example of that.

 

[Lighthouse77]

I am not surprised Gates enjoys working with him. It is becoming increasingly apparent that not only is Obama an analytical thinker, but like a good chess player, he thinks several moves ahead. I do not blame him for keeping Gates on board.

I hate to say it, but there are conspiracy against him because they think he is like a good chess player.

 

[Cowpuppy]

It shows that Obama has respect for intelligence and military thinkers and not trying to overlook thier intelligence with his own.
We are back to the 'working together' scenario....whereupon two heads are better than one. When you ignore others purpose the communications tend to be lacking after a while. As per Colin Powel and Gates and most anyone under cheney bush......yes, little c little b. It was a two man government. You were told to 'go .... yourself'....after that communication stopped duh.

 

[CJB]

I think one of the things that makes Obama a strong leader is that he doesn't get caught up in his own ego.

 

[BradB08]

I wasn't big on Gates as Obama's Defense Secretary at first but now, it seems to make more sense.

 

[jillio]

I think one of the things that makes Obama a strong leader is that he doesn't get caught up in his own ego.

Agreed. And the reason that those who are opposed show such fear is that they can't understand the process of analytical thinking and considering all angles. They can't see any further than the end of their nose, and are completely baffled by intelligence and fluid thinking.

 

[darkdog]

Agreed. And the reason that those who are opposed show such fear is that they can't understand the process of analytical thinking and considering all angles. They can't see any further than the end of their nose, and are completely baffled by intelligence and fluid thinking.

Then explain to me the principled arguments of his opposition. Switch sides for a moment and demonstrate your understanding of all angles.

 

[jillio]

Then explain to me the principled arguments of his opposition. Switch sides for a moment and demonstrate your understanding of all angles.

What principled arguments? Things like, "Get government out of my health care, but don't touch my Medicare!!!" ?

 

[darkdog]

What principled arguments? Things like, "Get government out of my health care, but don't touch my Medicare!!!" ?

Ahh, understand all angles for thee, but not for me. I somehow knew you would throw out such a straw man. If you actually understood the points we make, you probably wouldn't have such a cartoonish view of us.

 

[jillio]

Ahh, understand all angles for thee, but not for me. I somehow knew you would throw out such a straw man. If you actually understood the points we make, you probably wouldn't have such a cartoonish view of us.

The vast majority have a cartoonish view of the Teabaggers. Probably has something to do with Halloween costumes, statements like the above, and inflamatory and offensive signage, instead of intelligent and well informed presentation of the points.

And it wasn't a straw man. That quote, and many others expressing the same sentiment, have been attributed to this group many,many times over. It is indeed a part of their platform, and therefore, one of the points they focus on.

 

[darkdog]

The vast majority have a cartoonish view of the Teabaggers. Probably has something to do with Halloween costumes, statements like the above, and inflamatory and offensive signage, instead of intelligent and well informed presentation of the points.

And it wasn't a straw man. That quote, and many others expressing the same sentiment, have been attributed to this group many,many times over. It is indeed a part of their platform, and therefore, one of the points they focus on.

That quote has been attributed to them by politicians and liberals trying to ridicule them. I have not seen anyone make that point directly. Being worried about lowered Medicare benefits is not the same as not knowing that Medicare comes from the government. Taking an argument and twisting the nuance out of it is a straw man by definition.

And have you ever seen any large protest without at least a few offensive signs and people wearing costumes? How many liberal causes would be invalidated by such a standard?

Now, can you actually list any of the intelligent and well-informed points that the opposition is actually making, and not just crap made up by Democrat politicians?

 

[jillio]

That quote has been attributed to them by politicians and liberals trying to ridicule them. I have not seen anyone make that point directly. Being worried about lowered Medicare benefits is not the same as not knowing that Medicare comes from the government. Taking an argument and twisting the nuance out of it is a straw man by definition.

And have you ever seen any large protest without at least a few offensive signs and people wearing costumes? How many liberal causes would be invalidated by such a standard?

Now, can you actually list any of the intelligent and well-informed points that the opposition is actually making, and not just crap made up by Democrat politicians?

They have been caught on tape any number of times making such statements.

And, no I can't. I am too distracted by their ignorance, lies, and misrepresentations.

 

[BradB08]

Now, can you actually list any of the intelligent and well-informed points that the opposition is actually making, and not just crap made up by Democrat politicians?

That would be like asking me to listen to an angry person scratching their nails along a chalkboard.

No thanks.

 

[darkdog]

And, no I can't. I am too distracted by their ignorance, lies, and misrepresentations.

At least you're willing to admit you don't consider all angles, although how do you know it's all just lies and misrepresentations if you don't even know what they're saying? That is, unless you redefine a lie as "anything that goes against my agenda".

As an opponent, let me demonstrate what "considering all angles" looks like. Just focusing on health care reform, I'll quickly argue the pro-ObamaCare case.

Our health care costs are rising at unsustainable rates. Much of the problem is the insurance companies. A large portion of your premiums are taken out in profit, marketing costs, executive pay, and administrative costs. Worse yet, much of the administrative costs are used find ways to deny their customers treatments through rescission. That's how they maximize profits. It's an immoral system. Medicare, on the other hand, operates much more efficiently with only around 2% going to administrative costs.

We live in the wealthiest nation the world has ever known. There's no excuse for having 47 million people uninsured while the rich are flying around in their private jets from between their east coast and west coast mansions. Other countries with government-provided health care, like France and Canada, spend half as much as we do as a percent of their GDP on health care and get superior results. Their life expectancy is higher and infant mortality is lower. We're paying a lot and getting so little in return.

Clearly, our free market system has failed us and the government has to get involved. We need the public option to increase competition, keep the insurance companies honest, control the rising costs, and ensure that everyone has access to health care.

Of course that's not everything, but that covers most of the main points. I don't agree with all that, but I do understand it. I least I know what I'm rejecting and why.

Now, if you actually want to hold yourself to your own standard that you expect from the opposition, here's three articles that explain some of the reasons for our opposition, just on the issue of health care. This is no way covers all of our points. You don't have to agree with all the points, but it's not unreasonable to ask that you understand them.

Impossible Promises: Obama says his health care plan will cut costs and increase patient choice. It won't. - Reason Magazine
Charles Krauthammer - Preventive Care Isn't the Magic Bullet for Health Care Costs - washingtonpost.com
Third party payment in health care (part 3): Technology drives cost growth|KeithHennessey.com

And just so you don't think we have no solutions, Keith Hennessey has a nice succinct list of alternative reform solutions.

Hennessey?s health care reform plan, v2|KeithHennessey.com

 

[Reba]

I thought this was about Gates? :scratch:

 

[darkdog]

It was until it became about Obama and his opposition.