Barack Hoover Obama - Interesting Essay

Autumn · 06-19-2009, 08:15 AM

I read this piece in Harper's and thought it was very well done, and thought provoking. I actually knew a lot less about Herbert Hoover than I thought I did. Please note that Harper's is a rather liberal leaning magazine, and thus the author is speaking to that audience. Obviously if you are not that audience you are not going to agree with most of his assumptions.

It's still an interesting read for anyone, I think, but not those who can't get past that.

The Tease:

Quote:

Obama’s failure would be unthinkable. And yet the best indications now are that he will fail, because he will be unable—indeed he will refuse—to seize the radical moment at hand.

Every instinct the president has honed, every voice he hears in Washington, every inclination of our political culture urges incrementalism, urges deliberation, if any significant change is to be brought about. The trouble is that we are at one of those rare moments in history when the radical becomes pragmatic, when deliberation and compromise foster disaster. The question is not what can be done but what must be done.

Obama has frequently been compared with Franklin Roosevelt. So far, though, he most resembles the other president who had to confront that crisis, Herbert Hoover.

The link:

hxxp://www.harpers.org/archive/2009/07/0082562

sterlingice · 06-19-2009, 08:31 AM

Dang, have to subscribe to read it

That said, I think there's a lot of truth to that intro. And the sad thing is that I think he could have pulled it off but we're missing a great opportunity. No, not to turn the country into a socialist paradise or whatever some idiots think about his fairly minor changes. But to change a whole swath of bad and destructive policies on a number of issues. It's still very early, but unfortunately, he seems more and more content to be Bill Clinton than actually change things substantially for the better.

SI

Autumn · 06-19-2009, 08:41 AM

Oh crap, I didn't realize I could see it just 'cause I had a subscription, I wouldn't have linked to it.

Let me see what I can do.

Ronnie Dobbs2 · 06-19-2009, 08:43 AM

http://groups.google.com/group/alt.s...e9446b49d566b?

Autumn · 06-19-2009, 08:46 AM

I guess the only thing I could do is cut and paste the whole article. Here are a couple links with some of the text.

hxxp://hnn.us/roundup/comments/92772.html

hxxp://www.harpers.org/archive/2009/06/hbc-90005235

hxxp://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/6/15/13242/7788

06-19-2009, 08:31 AM	#2
sterlingice Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Back in Houston!	Dang, have to subscribe to read it That said, I think there's a lot of truth to that intro. And the sad thing is that I think he could have pulled it off but we're missing a great opportunity. No, not to turn the country into a socialist paradise or whatever some idiots think about his fairly minor changes. But to change a whole swath of bad and destructive policies on a number of issues. It's still very early, but unfortunately, he seems more and more content to be Bill Clinton than actually change things substantially for the better. SI __________________ Houston Hippopotami, III.3: 20th Anniversary Thread - All former HT players are encouraged to check it out! Janos: "Only America could produce an imbecile of your caliber!" Freakazoid: "That's because we make lots of things better than other people!" Last edited by sterlingice : 06-19-2009 at 08:34 AM.

06-19-2009, 08:43 AM	#4
Ronnie Dobbs2 Pro Rookie Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Bahston Mass	http://groups.google.com/group/alt.s...e9446b49d566b? __________________ There's no I in Teamocil, at least not where you'd think

06-19-2009, 08:41 AM	#3
Autumn Head Coach Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Bath, ME	Oh crap, I didn't realize I could see it just 'cause I had a subscription, I wouldn't have linked to it. Let me see what I can do.

06-19-2009, 08:46 AM	#5
Autumn Head Coach Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Bath, ME	I guess the only thing I could do is cut and paste the whole article. Here are a couple links with some of the text. hxxp://hnn.us/roundup/comments/92772.html hxxp://www.harpers.org/archive/2009/06/hbc-90005235 hxxp://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/6/15/13242/7788

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