Rolling Up the Sleeves

October 15, 2013

Under the encyclopedia entry for “Washington Insider” they should have a picture of Leon Panetta. In Ruth Marcus’s interview with Sec. Panetta there are two money quotes. This one:

Then, to Obama. “This president — he’s extremely bright, he’s extremely able, he’s somebody who I think certainly understands the issues, asks the right questions, and I think has the right instincts about what needs to be done for the country.”

Next came the “but” — without a name but with a clear message. “You have to engage in the process. This is a town where it’s not enough to feel you have the right answers. You’ve got to roll up your sleeves and you’ve got to really engage in the process…that’s what governing is all about.”

The other one is here:

As to the notion that any proposal associated with Obama was inherently toxic to Republicans, Panetta said, “If the president, for whatever reason, feels he can’t do it because the Republicans don’t want to confront him, then he ought to be willing to delegate that responsibility to someone who can do it.”

How could Sec. Panetta and I be so completely wrong?

4 comments… add one
  • jan Link

    “If the president, for whatever reason, feels he can’t do it because the Republicans don’t want to confront him, then he ought to be willing to delegate that responsibility to someone who can do it.”

    Hasn’t Obama tried to do that in having Pelosi being the primary voice in the passage of the PPACA, and now Reid, in carrying the torch for this stand-off over the CR and debt ceiling? IMO, Obama has certainly delegated responsibility, but not to the right people.

  • Red Barchetta Link

    Call me crazy, but perhaps he has no leadership talent, or experience or instincts or anything whatsoever to recommend him as a CEO, or the President of the United States, but rather a really fine college professor, writer, or lawyer…………as someone who evaluates executive talent for a living has been saying for 6 years.

    Naw………skip that crap. Some have a hero to worship………..

  • jan Link

    Chris Stirewalt seems to be on a similar page, Drew, by questioning Obama’s leadership qualities to handle the job of POTUS: President Crisis And The Wishful Thinking Brigade.

    Obama’s reflexes, praised instinctive timing and audacious as a candidate, turn out to be poorly suited to high office. Obama has been mostly reactive and mostly captive to events. Veering here and there is part of being president. The world is big and dangerous and governance is hard. But watching Obama govern is like watching a distracted man flipping through television channels and all of it bad.

  • ... Link

    Leon Panetta has but-face.

Leave a Comment






Categories