Obama And Competence: The New New? Or The Same Old, Same Old?

Cutest Obama puppy ever via Brain Hathcock.

Craig Crawford makes a good point:

Instead, Obama’s idea of change seems to be less dramatic than advertised. But that does not mean that the status quo will be maintained. He is building a team that brings competence and experience to the work of making a difference.

Changing Washington from the inside requires players who actually know how the place works. (emphasis mine)

If Dick Cheney has taught us nothing else, it is this: knowing how to manipulate all the levers of government, especially the easily placed lower level personnel in crucial policy places, where all the real power rests for bureaucratic rulemaking and enforcement? That’s having your hand on power.

Cheney was competent, I’ll give him that. But competence without ethics, restraint and the rule of law isn’t so hawt, Craig.

It was a recipe for abuse of process without a steady, ethical hand on the wheel. And all the Congressional bluster in the world doesn’t mean squat if they are not willing to back it up with enforcement, accountability and consequences, does it?

But the questions remain for what purposes will Barack Obama and his cabinet maneuver these levers of power?

For folks like Dawn Johnsen, nominated for the office of legal counsel at the DOJ? I have very high hopes of significant changes in respect and upholding the rule of law. For other folks? Let’s just say I have a healthy skepticism until pleasantly surprised with something good.

In other words, prove it.

We could all do with a little more healthy skepticism in this country. A little pressure (YouTube) is a good thing for all of them. Let’s make elected folks do their jobs, prove their worth — or get dumped out on their asses for someone better. It’s the American way, after all — market forces and all that jazz. (YouTube)

Although, honestly, it’s hard to imagine anyone doing as badly as Bushco…that’s some serious crapitude.

(Cute puppy photo is penance for my can of worms at breakfast yesterday…)

Related posts:

1. How Dick Cheney Cowed Obama
2. Obama to (Finally) Fulfill One Promise, Release WH Visitor Logs
3. A Movement to Make Obama Bring an End to War
4. The Cheney Interview: Judge Sullivan Rebukes Obama, but Still Shields Crucial Info
5. As Justice Stevens Winds Down, Will Obama Continue Court’s Trend to the Right?