.., he was not a "mixer" socially, not, anyway, with most members of Congress and their wives. His manners were impeccable, his charm impelling, but he kept his social life distinct from his official life and congressmen were rarely in his social circle. To know how Congress works but to disdain its joys is an acquired taste for most ex-congressmen downtown, produced by hard experience. Kennedy, however, brought it with him. Many of the difficulties he was to encounter in his day-to-day congressional relations stemmed from that disdain (p. 174, 1990 edition).
Showing posts with label Congress. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Congress. Show all posts
Saturday, July 06, 2013
An "introvert" in the White House
Richard Neustadt, author of Presidential Power and Modern Presidents, seems to have been rather a Kennedy worshipper, judging from a chapter on Kennedy written for a later edition of his signature work. All the more reason that this minor caveat to a portrait of near presidential perfection caught my eye:
Sunday, June 10, 2012
The real problem with Obama's June 8 press conference
I am not going to opine on whether Obama's "the private sector is doing fine" gaffe will hurt him in the long run. Sullivan assumed yes, and when I read his lament I jumped immediately for comfort to Jonathan Bernstein, who, right on cue, assured that ultimately it will matter not a whit.
I am distressed, though, by a more conscious word choice of Obama's in that June 8 press conference below, though -- on that recalls the political summer from hell, 2011. Wanna guess what I'm thinking? I will refrain from putting the (repeated) keyword in italics:
I am distressed, though, by a more conscious word choice of Obama's in that June 8 press conference below, though -- on that recalls the political summer from hell, 2011. Wanna guess what I'm thinking? I will refrain from putting the (repeated) keyword in italics:
Last September, I sent Congress a detailed jobs plan full of the kind of bipartisan ideas that would have put more Americans back to work. It had broad support from the American people. It was fully paid for. If Congress had passed it in full, we’d be on track to have a million more Americans working this year. The unemployment rate would be lower. Our economy would be stronger.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)