In The Shadow of Bush
The trick is to make sure that the next president will hear something beyond his or her own self-justifications and the cloying encouragement of handlers. Former ambassador David Abshire, a longtime Washington centrist and author of a new study of the presidency, "A Call to Greatness," has proposed the creation of a unity cabinet. Citing presidents like FDR and JFK, who brought in Republicans as advisers and cabinet secretaries, Abshire proposes that the next president name at least two major cabinet members from the opposing party. Such a bold move would send "an immediate signal," says Abshire, that the new president wants to reduce the angry partisanship that poisons Washington.
Of course, presidents can cut out even the most powerful cabinet officers. Just ask former secretary of State Colin Powell how much face time he had with Bush once it became known that he opposed an invasion of Iraq. Presidents have to be willing to seek out contrary advice, but they don't have to be showy about it. In fact, modesty works well. When Truman's advisers recommended that he create a plan to rebuild Europe after World War II, Truman wisely said, "Just don't put my name on it." Thus was born the Marshall Plan, named after the sainted General Marshall, who had become secretary of State.
Eisenhower was a master at creating consensus behind the scenes. After he was elected in 1952, he secretly gathered all the best national-security thinkers in the country to help him shape a strategy to deal with the Soviet Union. Three teams were created, each to argue a different point of view. Eisenhower could seem inarticulate, even a little dim, in public. But in the private "Project Solarium" (named after the room where the teams met in the White House residence), the man who was best able to sum up the opposing points of view was … Dwight Eisenhower. The next president of the United States faces challenges just as vexing as Soviet communism. He or she would do well to summon proponents of different strategies—and then truly listen to what they have to say. If George W. Bush had done something similar before the invasion and occupation of Iraq, his would-be successors might not be so standoffish, and the Republican Party might not be in such a precarious state.
With Holly Bailey, Suzanne Smalley, Pat Wingert, Sarah Elkins and Sarah Kliff
© 2008
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Member Comments
Posted By: Lee Holmes @ 08/10/2008 5:59:28 PM
Comment: Uhh,Thomas. Your Democrat ''fundemental advantage''is being squandered after almost two years after total inertia in a Congress under their control,due precisely to a lack of ''critical open-mindedness''. Get with it man. Pelosi is running the House like a fiefdom,and is now out-Republicing the Republicans in her Manichaean,shall we say,perogative.
In the new day,we find that the most ''stubborn truth''is that there was never to be a ''new era'' or a ''most ethical congress'' to begin with. We were swindled,again. Should we couple this now so ineffective[and corrupt] congress with a leader of their party in the Oval Office,we will simply get More Of The Same. This proof will display[is already in fact], that Americans will not labour under the ''Shadow''of Bush,but the Shadow,of Politics,under the Sun of the Soundbite. Will you do your damned job then I wonder Thomas? Or will you wax eloquent on steeplechasing or underwater basketweaving while a nation groans under the weight of the Next Big Manichaean Thing? I for one,will not be holding my breath.
Posted By: thehappyamerican @ 08/10/2008 4:08:48 PM
Comment: yup...arrogant! Obama seems to want Obama Bucks printed of him!
When a conservetiv faces down discrimination, Liberals want him to apologies! Liberals are not to be openly or publicly corrected. Or so Liberals believe.
Get used to it!
Strut,Smirk,Star down,Shrug?
How about Drags 'is knuckles? Snorts? Star into space?Grunt 'n slap 'is forehead?
What happened to "content of ones speeech?"
(What Liberals can pick up on to hate is amazing!)
Don't spend any Obama Bucks, though. It's a figure of speech and means "shop lifting," now.
Posted By: thehappyamerican @ 08/10/2008 3:48:24 PM
Comment: This story is ridiculous. GOP moderates who cave in and compromise are the problem within the GOP. This story is some liberal's wish list of what-is-wrong with the GOP.... but it is fantasy ! This is what liberals who have succumbed to the drum beat of Americans-Suck-First would feel good about, because if true the situation is hopeless for the Republican Party.
But it is the DNC and Liberal marching banner that is not true.
America is a great country and most other countrys, societys and culters suck! Some worse! some not so bad!
The moderates within the GOP cave in and compromise and don't stand up to the many discrimination campaigns it requires to create the americans Suck First illusion. The GOP moderates forget most americans think discrimination campaigns suck and theres political momentum in standing against the lies, dis-information and slander. Moderates would rather COMPROMISE to the lies... then wonder why the voters sort of... left them.
The GOP needs a crash course in countering the the DNCs' Americans Suck First campaign, and the 5 or so ugly discrimination campaigns it is composed of! It is the Americans Suck First campaign that is unraveling .The only question is , how fast!