PRESIDENTIAL MANAGERIAL STYLES

It is pretty clear that politicians don't like Obama's managerial style.  I'm amazed they don't seem to know what it is.  His management style is what I imagine that of Warren Buffet's is.  Buffet buys good companies and keeps the management in place and let's them continue to run their companies.  So if Obama is the CEO of a conglomerate (sounds reasonable), he lets his CEOs run the ball.  In this case it is Senator Harry Reid, leader of the Senate, and Representative Nancy Pelosi, now minority leader of the House.  He let them run the ball on what is called Obamacare (actually the PPACA), it was the same with Dodd-Frank, and also with the recent government shutdown and near disaster of the debt limit.  I haven't followed other victories as closely so I don't know how much they were involved in getting of other successes such as of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."

Though the PPACA is much more conservative than I like, it is a beginning

The problem with this managerial style with politicians is that they all have egos that won't quit.  They all think they are God's gift to humanity.  They all want to talk to the Big Boss and are frustrated when they have to settle for talking to their CEOs.  This is true of Democrats of the President's party as well as the opposition Republicans.  And it is also true of the media.  Somehow the media can't get enough access though it seems to me they have a lot.  At least after the fact, they like the former President  Bill Clinton style better (My memory is that when he was president, the Republicans did everything in their power to screw him.).  The glad handing, good ol' boy, type of politician. The thoughtful, introspective type of politician is not as much fun.

The Republicans rolled him so often because he is by nature a compromiser, but finally he caught on and said, "No more!"  He didn't realize for a long time that the current crew that controls the House, in particular, views compromise as a sign of weakness.

INCREASING INCOME TAXES ON THE WEALTHY

In light of the election, we are hearing some different thoughts from some conservatives.  Perhaps the most interesting is from Bill Kristol of the Weekly Standard (https://mail.google.com/mail/?shva=1#inbox/13af5f57502c4dbf):

“I don’t really understand why Republicans don’t take Obama’s offer to freeze taxes for everyone below $250,000,” he said. “Make it a million? Really? The Republican Party is going to fall on its sword to defend a bunch of millionaires, half of whom voted Democratic and half of whom live in Hollywood and are hostile.”

And he is quite correct.  Seven of the top 10 richest members of congress are Democrats and Nancy Pelosi is #12.  So they are doing it to themselves  I like to say that these are the wealthy with a conscience.  The truth is, however, that most wealthy people take advantage of tax loopholes (Mitt Romney being just one example) so raising the top income tax level will not hurt them.

Besides, there is the implication put out that if the income tax level is raised to 39.6% it will be on their entire income, whereas it actually is just on the sum ABOVE $250,000.  Thus if you made $300,000, the 39.6% will be just on the $50,000 above $250,000 for an increase of just $2,480 over the 35% rate.