White House Watchers: Keeping an Eye on the White House With Dan Froomkin

Switching Gears From Bush to Obama

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Switching Gears From Bush to Obama

posted at 12/30/2008 3:12 PM EST

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DanFroomkin

First post: 11/10/2008
Last post: 4/27/2009
Total posts: 22

After eight years, we’ve gotten used to having a president whose credibility is shot, whose policy apparatus is utterly politicized, and whose decision-making process is completely opaque. So what do we do with President Obama? Do we treat him with the same skepticism with which we learned to approach Bush? If not, how do we hold him accountable? These are some of the issues I’m wrestling with as I prepare to make the transition from Bush to Obama – and I’d welcome your input.

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Not Sure Froomkin Can Learn A New Trick

posted at 12/30/2008 5:02 PM EST

ZZim

First post: 1/22/2008
Last post: 11/24/2009
Total posts: 1903

So for 8 year we've gotten used to having a reporter whose crdibility is shot, whose articles are utterly politicized, and whose "thought process" is a transparent regurgitation of whatever anti-Bush propaganda everyone else is spouting. So what shall we do with post-Bush Froomkin? Do we treat his scribblings with the indifference with which we learned to approach his daily anti-Bush rant? If not, why would we bother reading this trash? These are some of the issues that mean nothing to me as Froomkin tries to think of a new trick that will keep himself employed under President Obama.

Froomie, how about if you print hagiographic minutae about President Obama while occasionally criticizing Bush for retiring quietly to Texas and the lecture circuit.

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Re: Switching Gears From Bush to Obama

posted at 12/30/2008 6:02 PM EST

taroya

First post: 12/23/2008
Last post: 8/12/2009
Total posts: 97

Unfortunately, or fortunately, depending on your point of view, I treat all politicians with skepticism.
I think it will be easy to hold Obama accountable for his actions; he is pretty up front about things on his site, change.gov, he based his campaign on grassroots, and is still basing his ideas for growth on that. He does approve, and use, open communications. Bush never did.
On the other hand, I have also noticed that although all of the issues that most concern people are represented, so far there are no actual hard answers. Then again, the guy is not yet President, so really, what can he say? He does not yet have the authority to stand behind any hard answers. I definitely believe that he will once he has the actual authority.
As for Bush, I never voted for him. He is a liar, through and through, and I did my research on the first race, and saw him for what he was back then. Actually, I can't really even articulate precisely how much I despise the man. He should have been impeached long ago. How is what he did different from Nixon?
Bush reminds me of an old boss that I had. I work in IT, and for some inexplicable reason, under this boss, there never seemed to be sufficient funds for continuing training. Come to find out, he had been using our budget to line his pocket. Did he get fired? No. Was he prosecuted? No. He got away with it. And NO, that is not sufficient support for his behaviour. It was wrong, period. Bush's behaviour is wrong, period.
I do not have forgiveness for the guy. Will not ever have it.

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Reality vs. Spin

posted at 12/30/2008 9:24 PM EST

hlabadie

First post: 11/16/2007
Last post: 10/30/2009
Total posts: 919

How about we hold Obama to the standard that previous presidents had been held to -- the facts versus their spin on the facts? When they converged, we approved, and when they diverged, we asked questions until we found out why they diverged. With Bush, there was initially too little insistence on finding the points of divergence. We assumed a set of facts as Bush laid it out, without sufficient checking. Then, when we did find out the truth, we failed to hold him accountable. When Obama diverges from reality, we should insist on an explanation. But, until that happens, let's just get the facts straight. The facts will set you free.

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New Dog, Same Tricks?

posted at 12/31/2008 10:22 AM EST

bigredag

First post: 12/31/2008
Last post: 12/31/2008
Total posts: 1

I've been wondering myself, actually alot, how you were going to make this transition given the initial goodwill that is flowing into the Obama coffer. However, goodwill buys you nothing once you've stated your position and made your decision "as president". Let's let him get sworn in, then let's keep it simple and keep it the same. Plus, I seen no reason to shy away from the initial and undoubtedly obvious comparisons that we are all going to make between our current and our new presidential administrations. It's just that we've got good 'ol Dan to put them into print for us. Thanks Dan.

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Focus on the Press

posted at 12/31/2008 10:58 AM EST

dadasrc

First post: 12/31/2008
Last post: 12/31/2008
Total posts: 1

You should focus on the press coverage and make sure they hold our administration accountable. Ultimately their cowing by an overly secretive and manipulative White House allowed Bush to be reelected for a second term. Had the New York Times revealed all it knew prior to 2004, we might be reelecting Kerry.

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Keep watching the Bush gang

posted at 12/31/2008 11:24 AM EST

hairguy01

First post: 12/31/2008
Last post: 12/31/2008
Total posts: 1

I'm sure there will be plenty to write about Obama and whether he lives up to his promises but I think the best days of Bush coverage are yet to come. When the public and prosecutors finally get a look at what remains of the Bush gang's paper trail indictments probably won't be too far behind. No doubt Rove, the wingnut commentariat and the RNC will try to dismiss any investigations as 'old news', 'backward-looking', etc. but there has to be an accounting for the last eight years of rampant criminality. You can do the reading public a continued service by reminding them when necessary of the particulars of current cases and why it's important to hold at least a few of the weasels to account. Examples must be made or we're certain to get a repeat.

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Switching gears

posted at 12/31/2008 11:24 AM EST

hello3

First post: 10/10/2008
Last post: 4/15/2009
Total posts: 4

Let us not forget that the Post and the NY Times supported Bushs decision to go to war in Iraq. So maybe it is not about switching gears from Bush and his lies and deception but switching gears to the real role of journalism. Which is to do their homework. The Post the Times, swallowed whole Bush war fabrications. The press was not aggressive enough regarding the torture instigated and condoned by that abominable administration. So maybe the "new" role for the press is to just do its job. Research don't swallow whole, question, analyze, use intelligence and don't be cowed and herded.

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Re: Switching Gears From Bush to Obama

posted at 12/31/2008 11:26 AM EST

eschweibenz

First post: 12/15/2008
Last post: 12/31/2008
Total posts: 5

The real question is how long after January 20 until you are fired? My bet is that you last until around May 2009. At that point, even your liberal masters will realize that your 15 minutes of infamy have expired. Don't worry though, I am sure that, e.g., the Iranian and Syrian governments could use someone like you to write anti-american columns. Alternatively, perhaps you could assist in launching rockets at Israel from the Gaza Strip - I understand that there are some recent job openings in those positions.

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White House What?

posted at 12/31/2008 11:27 AM EST

wistlo

First post: 7/16/2008
Last post: 5/4/2009
Total posts: 9

"White House Watch

As of today, this column's name is changing from "White House Briefing" to "White House Watch." I am delighted with the new name -- in fact, it's what I originally proposed this column be called when it launched three years ago."

Just continue in that original spirit. I often found myself uncomfortable with your obvious incredulity and indignation over what you had to report, until I actually actually read the story and ended up with the same reaction.

I would be surprised if the outright deceit of the past eight years continued coming across the President's podium. Fear not, as I am sure there will be other issues for you to explore: Hubris? Unclear policy direction? A new "best and brightest" bubble? Internecine fights among the staff?

I'm speculating, but we'll know soon enough. I'm looking forward to seeing you document it all.

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Electing Mr. Obama for President - Priceless!

posted at 12/31/2008 11:36 AM EST

Mill_in_Mn

First post: 2/19/2008
Last post: 5/21/2009
Total posts: 8

Mr. Froomkin's column is one of the few indispensible information sources - thank you for your work this past year, hope you keep going!

I assume politicians shade truth in their direction. But Mr. Bush and Mr. Cheney took lying to a new embarassing low by our political leaders.

It will be nice to have a president who's words are likely to be the truth again. And have the 4th estate report vigorously about the veracity of those remarks somewhere near when they're expressed. Both will be different from the last 8 years

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Re: Switching Gears From Bush to Obama

posted at 12/31/2008 11:49 AM EST

TJLinBallston

First post: 8/31/2007
Last post: 6/10/2009
Total posts: 8

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Switching Gears

posted at 12/31/2008 11:49 AM EST

wendystevens

First post: 12/31/2008
Last post: 11/23/2009
Total posts: 16

After eight years of lies and slight of hand, I hope that we can learn how to trust again. This country is in the same state as children who suffer through a painful, nasty abuse of a parent, or have to endure an unpleasant
divorce . We are all standing on one foot, waiting for the lies and cheating to begin again. We have been stung badly and are wary and distrustful of trusting.
I also hope the the free press in this country has learned to be wary, and to challenge the administration as the Bush administration was not challenged. The press gobbled up the Bush lies and fed them to us as fact. The press, our agency of discovery and truth in this country dropped the ball seriously until the past few of months when it was too late to undo the damage.
We all need to be hopeful, cautious and listen very carefully to everything that is said by ANY administration. We cannot survive as a nation if another dishonest, deceitful administration is allowed to lead this country.

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EASY

posted at 12/31/2008 11:54 AM EST

LT369

First post: 12/31/2008
Last post: 12/31/2008
Total posts: 1

All we need to do to anticipate the next 4 years (if he makes it that far) is to observe what's going on in Illinois ... the Daley machine finally made it to the White House!

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Re: Switching Gears From Bush to Obama

posted at 12/31/2008 11:55 AM EST

bekabo

First post: 12/17/2008
Last post: 10/8/2009
Total posts: 4

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The party's over...

posted at 12/31/2008 11:57 AM EST

mwalimu

First post: 12/31/2008
Last post: 12/31/2008
Total posts: 1

I'm sure you're in the same boat as Jon Stewart, Letterman, Leno, etc. The Bush administration was the gift that kept giving. Let's face it, bad news is more interesting than good news. I'm sure the Obama people will give you something to write about, but I'm hoping that it's rather tame stuff.

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Bush, Cheney and other criminals

posted at 12/31/2008 11:58 AM EST

chopin224

First post: 12/27/2007
Last post: 11/17/2009
Total posts: 31

Why does the Reagan administration have their reunion in the prison library? Because every GOP admin produces a large group of convicted felons. 39 felony convictions from that admin. This one will be no different. How do you know when a Republican is lying? His lips move.
However, the long nightmare is over. We have a president now who wants to hear opinions contrary to his own and from all types of people, not just loyal supporters. As The chairman of the joint chiefs of staff said, with the current administration, they only wanted to hear from you if you agreed with every policy of Bush's, where as Obama wants to hear honest opinions. I will be so glad to see this scum cleaned out. The horribly sad part is all of the lying and deceit led the deaths of thousands of Americans and several hundred thousand Iraqis.

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I hope you are as diligent and truthfull with Obama as you where with Bush.

posted at 12/31/2008 12:01 PM EST

wowisdabomb

First post: 12/20/2007
Last post: 3/23/2009
Total posts: 10

Otherwise you lose your credibility.

Firstly.. the crisis in GAZA..

Why has Obama taken the 5th amendment? Hiding behind the one president statement until the 20th?

Either he is completely in line with Bush policy, or he is radically so opposed that he is just waiting to unleash on Israel for this mess, but then why wait?

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Re: Switching Gears From Bush to Obama

posted at 12/31/2008 12:02 PM EST

theuglytruth

First post: 10/21/2008
Last post: 12/31/2008
Total posts: 6

Simple; we keep track of all of Obama's promises and we hold him accountable. And you do it daily, and add your own (blatantly obvious) bias with a side of anonymous sources with no credibility.
Seeing how Obama is keeping all of Bush's defense team in place, and the war in Afghanistan showing no signs of slowing down. You can start there.
I am a Bush supporter and I will evade from Hating on President Obama; unlike the press.

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Re: Switching Gears From Bush to Obama

posted at 12/31/2008 12:03 PM EST

TJLinBallston

First post: 8/31/2007
Last post: 6/10/2009
Total posts: 8

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