The Oil Drum | DrumBeat: November 23, 2008

91 comments on DrumBeat: November 23, 2008

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Leanan on November 23, 2008 - 12:09pm

The group of people he is surrounding himself with seem like they are recruited from the temple not the countryside.

Definitely. It's all Clinton retreads. He's even sending his kids to the same school Chelsea Clinton went to.

He seems more like a populist pandering to the biases and desires of the majority as opposed to someone willing to lead that majority in the correct direction.

Yes, but to me it's not unexpected. That is clearly what he was, even during the primaries. I doubt he'd have been elected otherwise.

I am expecting Obama to be very conventional, despite the talk of change. Just the fact that he's black and relatively young is about as much change as the average American is ready to accept. He has to be very careful not to seem radical. More so than an old white guy.

It's another variation of "only Nixon could go to China."

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TrueKaiser on November 23, 2008 - 2:26pm

It's like what was described in the book 'friendly fascism'. even IF obama was someone 'for the people', which is about as possible as being struck by lightning 5 times in a row in five consecutive steps. due to the system he has to appoint people fully invested in the political side of the elite class of this country so they would sabotage anything he would try to do for the people not in the elite caste of this country.

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beggar on November 23, 2008 - 4:40pm

I think that the book "Friendly Fascism" was the most prescient analysis of US politics I've ever read.

There are some good online excerpts at "Third World Traveler"

http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Fascism/Friendly_Fascism_BGross.html

US politics have been a matter of slow manipulation of the party system so that the people can choose between two fascist candidates, each appealing to different slices of the electorate.

How could it be otherwise?

"War is the only solution" for fascists. We are engaged in a single long war for full spectrum global dominance. The war will get dicier and more costly as time goes by.

Eventually, of course, the "victors" will inherit a bombed-out, depleted wasteland and toxic oceans which will be incapable of supporting human life.

Is there any chance that we can avoid such a scenario?

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TrueKaiser on November 23, 2008 - 8:04pm

considering the times that the people have been given power in the political system and then turned around and given it up, i have come to the conclusion that while democracy is possible. since we are kind like herd animals we prefer less participatory systems.

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AlanfromBigEasy on November 23, 2008 - 8:54pm

Thus the greatness of George Washington. First command of the Army (many of whom wanted him as King), and then as the only unanimous US President after two terms.

Best Hopes for Pro Bono Publico,

Alan

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TrueKaiser on November 23, 2008 - 9:36pm

you have to realize though, he did not do what he did for the common man. he did what he did so he and his upper class buddies were not under the thumb's of top dog elites.

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Burgundy on November 23, 2008 - 4:38pm

The elite like to go with what works. Tony Blair worked well for them in the UK. So it's no surprise that a rash of young trendy Blair-like politicians and leaders have hit the scene since, dressed in whatever political colours best suit their respective countries.

Obama is just a vehicle to provide a veneer of public consent to the underlying policies of the elite.

The elite have been badly affected by the current crash and know things are going to get worse. They need to recover their wealth, power and position at the head of the table and Obama is the way they're going to do it. In the midst of a Depression its going to be very much of a zero sum game and their gain will be the middle and lower classes loss.

Obviously the losers will fight to keep what is theirs, so things might get a little rough as the elite appropriate what they want through the powers of the State.

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souperman2 on November 23, 2008 - 9:24pm

I have come to the conclusion that the fall back position of all politicians and in fact TPTB in general is DEFER.

It gives one time to secure their objective and it is amazing how effective it is.

Obama represents the ultimate deferral candidate.

Even APEC bought into it. Indeed the world is on hold until Obama does...

In the imortal words of the current young generation,

whatever.

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Apuleius on November 24, 2008 - 1:48am

Obama has yet to say "I feel your pain."

He's no Clinton, thank $DEITY for small mercies.

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Leanan on November 24, 2008 - 7:45am

I'm just hoping he's not another Bush.

The CNBC talking heads this morning seem to think he is. They are practically wetting their pants over the Geithner pick. They seem to think choosing Geithner means continuation of Bush policies. They are now hoping that the Obama administration will change its stance on taxing the rich, unions, and NAFTA, and come around to Bush's positions on those things, too.

It's unreal. They still think tax cuts are the solution to everything. If Obama signals today that the Bush tax cuts will stay, happy days are here again. If not, Great Depression II, here we come.

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